His Dark Obsession

28. In the Crypt

ZEDKIEL.

“Maybe if I can get in and try to see if something is stuck…” Zlahra says, falling to her knees and peering into the tiny opening.

“None of us are going to fit down there.” I say, unease filling me.

“And you may be the smallest of us all, but I think you forget that your ass is far from tiny.” Kash says bending down beside her.

“Piss off.” She hisses, shoving him right where he’s injured.

He curses as he clutches his shoulder and looks forward again.

“Force won’t work. The building is in ruins.” Ziahra says, looking up.

“Let’s try to pry it open.” I suggest, letting go of Evelyn’s hand as she steps back silently.

It takes the four of us to pry the sandstone entrance open, pulling and pushing the rocks that should have repositioned themselves.

I hear something crack and break and the stones begin moving again and we all move back.

“Thank the gods,” Ziahra says.

“More like us for getting it working. You were giving up hope, remember?” Kash reminds her arrogantly.

“I doubt you did any of the hard work. You’re pretty useless with that injury.” She taunts him back as she edges forward.

That darkness I can feel, the chilling, sinister vibe of this place growing stronger.

“Should we draw straws to see who goes first?” Kash mocks and exhales done with his antics.

Can he not feel the evil? He smirks as he pushes past me.

“I’ll lead.” He offers, brushing past Ziahra who was about to take her first step. He smirks mockingly at her.

“I do hope you fall and break that face of yours.” She sneers.

“You sure you want to ruin this face?”

What the fuck is with these two?

He confidently takes the first few steps. Ziahra steps onto the first step slowly, the stone crumbling from beneath her feet.

hand?” Kash asks, looking

brow. “No, I’m perfectly fine. Don’t tell me you’re

scared of having to be in your presence.” Kash shoots back. “Even the

push you.”

balance, and I

then back at the entrance, the weight of the situation

down,

in next, and

going to be ok.” I

She nods.

stairs are never ending and I don’t let go of Evelyn, who is right

the bottom Ziahra says a single word, and torches held in sconces

quick glance around makes it clear that we are not just in any room, but in a

the twelve tombs that fill the room. Each one sits on a 1-foot pedestal, and each is fully covered in

yet one is open,

for the first time,

yet.” Ziahra replies as she heads to the altar that

breathes as Ziahra began lighting some

doing magic in a crypt? This screams dark arts.” Kash

something as cheap as magic.”

really stop me…” Kash counters

shoots back, her eyes darting to the tombs. “That one there looks cosy and it has your name all over it.” She taunts him, giving him a scathing look before she turns back to

where she pointed, and I think just picturing that puts him off. His gaze flickers to Evelyn and t think I see the flash of sympathy in his eyes,

notices the large black stone coffin that’s being strangled in dead vines

ivy got on the tomb… Was there a time when this place breathed

beneath the surface, the air is

yourself in there?” Ziahra

coated in sugar, aren’t you?”

and who knows what else, if you don’t shut your

fucking bickering!”

I’m feeling aren’t helping

and turns to

“Gray…”

a

was beginning to wonder if I’d have to give him one for her lack of

forward, raising his head