Chapter 35: The Third Fallen

Frannie peered around the corner.

Green grass lay like a blanket along the soil. Patches were freshly dug up, while the parts that remained untouched by conventional means were coated in glistening water. The smell was that of a fresh dew, sun slowly descending and giving the area an orange glow. Rabbits dashed through, as well as squirrels and the one monkey.

A wooden ladder was raised against the wall. Grass stains, as well as thorny vines, were evident on the worn down birch. Next to it, two Kult members, faces hidden by a blank white mask and hood over their heads.

Their cloaks weren't the usual attire. Instead of solid black, it was a deep, bloody red, with green silk lining along the arms that captured and held light strongly. They stood hunched over, arms swaying aimlessly, almost motionless.

"There's two," Frannie told Shine. She looked back at her best friend, watching her toss a small hand shovel into the air, catching it by the handle. Shine held a familiar glint in her eyes, one Frannie hated to see, as it brought back awful memories.

The glint, however, was slightly different. Her eyes still glowed their strong violet, but the evil that ran wild was now under complete control. Never again, in Shine's heart, did she wish to bring harm to anyone she cared for.

"Let's get to it then." Her voice was low, strong and powerful.

Shine stood, dropping the tool and joining Frannie to look around the corner of the house. Neither Kult members moved, shoulders rising and falling. Nudging her, Shine looked at Frannie and smiled. She held her palms inches apart, a small sphere appearing in a gust of small air. It began to expand, stopping at the size of a volleyball. She held it firmly in her hand, the two locking eyes and smiling smugly.

Frannie moved ahead, crouching down low and crawling through the grass. Shine hugged the wall with her back, peering around to keep an eye on the Kult members. Both guards seemed to remain clueless to their presence, only moving to swap spots like routine. Every couple minutes, they would turn back to back, facing outward instead of inward at the Garden.

The Garden had multiple open pathways to enter and exit, the only one plausible for them to steathily use being the furthest spot amongst the trees. Once she was in position, Frannie placed her fingers in her mouth and whistled loudly. The guards looked at her quickly, dashing side by side through the patch of grass.

"Now! Serving 0!"

Shine knocked the ball of magic into the air. It flew, arching over the Kultists, Frannie jogging forward a bit and sliding. Bumping it back upwards, Frannie added her own magical essence to the already powered up sphere. Shine let her wings burst from her back, flying like a bullet after the magic. Raising her palm, another magic sphere appeared in her palm, and she threw all her might into the single spike.

The volleyball crashed down on the two, the resulting explosion ripping the Kultists apart, leaving nothing left but a smoldering crater. Shine landed next to Frannie, and the two quickly bound up the ladder as another group of Kultists rushed over to investigate the commotion. The girls peered over the edge of the roof, before smiling at each other and making their way further across.

As Garuga said, there was a small construction in plain sight. Old, the metal rusted from constant seasons of rain and snow. No door, just an open cage with chains hanging down the sides. Shine fearlessly stepped inside, hands grazing the metal, examining its strength.

"Old," She stated obviously. "But I think it can support our weight. Unless you gained a few."

Frannie faked a laugh at her, crossing her arms and stepping inside, visibly tense and hesitant when Shine pressed the big red button on the panel. The gate swung shut with a loud thud, the elevator crying with a loud whirl, before snapping downward.

Frannie held onto Shine as it dropped, faster and faster, only slowing down once it reached the first floor. It jerked to a halt, the two losing balance and hitting the metal floor. Groaning from pain, the elevator oozed the remainder of the way to the basement, stopping completely with another, yet softer, jerk.

The girls stood once the gate pulled itself open and stepped out. Frannie held her rib, fighting back the pained tears of a fractured bone. Shine looked at her friend, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"Nope," She muttered, hands glowing as she began to heal herself with magic. "I'm taking the stairs when we go back up."

Once most of the pain had faded, Shine and Frannie crept down the hallway. Mana was flowing along the walls, holding itself in a strong, thick cloud of power. It sent goosebumps through the pair's bodies, disturbing them enough to consider turning back.

They couldn't.

They wouldn't until they figured out what was down there.

The lights started to dim the deeper inside they went. Faint snaps of blown bulbs, surging currents with nothing to keep them contained. Water was in thick puddles along the floor, holding a smell so foul the two gagged when they caught a whiff. With the smell was the scent of blood, charred flesh and bone, mixed with a strong lingering alcohol and blackberries in the air.

All together, it made for a very sickening experience.

They came towards a staircase, and the door shut tightly. Shine gripped the rusted handle and pulled, the wood scratching and crying against the floor with its metal bottom. Opened wide, darkness shot out around the two, hair blowing back and balance broken from the intense winds. It only ceased minutes after, sweat dripping down both their faces, eyes wide as they picked themselves back up, and hesitantly, descended down the wooden steps.

What met their gaze, left them in a trance of speechlessness and fear.

There had been a large cellar under the mansion, possibly about three to four times the size of the whole house itself. It was dark, blue candles lit all along the stone walls to capture the essence of shadows.

There was an evil air about the cellar, coupled with the many piles of aged bones. A man was in the corner furthest from them. Blood oozed from his missing right arm, left hand holding the freshly made stump to prevent any more of the red liquid from leaving his body.

His eyes were slashed, and clothes torn to great ruin. The dark light somehow illuminated his singed skin and lack of body hair. Terror was in his vision, so strong and true. Mouth agape as he whimpered and begged, but the creature before him would offer no solace.

The truck sized hand rose, and came down swiftly. Dark claws pierced the man's chest, blood pouring out in quick succession. Ripping out his side, large teeth came down around his head, and a wet tearing sound echoed in the cellar. The girls watched on, blood spurting, a light encasing the creature and illuminating its body in full.

The neck rose, and turned. Red eyes watched the pair, blood and saliva dripping from its snout. Darkness escaped its nose, scaled wings stretching out wide. It roared, loudly, shaking the structure and bounding towards the two.

Shine and Frannie turned on their heels, rushing up the wooden staircase as the Dragon ripped it from its place, sliding across the cellar floor. 

Watching the two slam the door shut, it lowered its head and closed its eyes. A gentle whimper could be heard, the lights dimming and darkness claiming the creature once more.

Shine and Frannie both stumbled over their feet, rushing back to the elevator and slipping inside, dropping to their knees and hitting the button together. The machine slammed its gate shut, whirring to life and snapping upwards. The two leaned against the metal walls, eyes locked on one another, fear holding both strongly.

Shine's hands were shaking without pause, sweat coating her palms and face.

Frannie hugged her legs, shutting her eyes and whispering calming prayers. Once they reached the top, they remained where they sat, thoughts holding a burned image of the Dragon in their brains. The darkness it released was that of anguish and hate, of wanting to be left alone to itself. It was a creature of the shadows as far as that title could describe, if not more.

"That… That thing…"

"A true Dragon," Shine confirmed. "We… We have to tell them."

"I can't even move," Frannie replied. "... Did… Did you feel all of that magic energy…"

Shine paused for a moment, nodding. "Strong is an understatement. That thing is a freak of nature." She stood slowly, holding her hand out. "Let's go. Staying here means a bigger chance of getting caught, and I for one, don't want to risk getting eaten by that thing."