Chapter XXX

"But remember, Oxyvi—some truths are better left buried," Alec whispered, his voice barely audibles over the intense blowing winter winds. His grin was unsettling, a mix of excitement and trepidation. I shook my head, wondering if I was losing my mind. The castle had that effect on people—twisting reality, blurring the lines between sanity and madness.

"Alec," I began, my breath catching in my throat. "I need to tell you something. Someone manipulating my thoughts, the ghosts here—they're not ordinary spirits. They hunger for something deeper, something beyond the veil of life and death." I scanned the Hall, half-expecting a shadowy figure to materialize. "They want you dead."

Alec's eyes darkened, and he took a step forward. "They are Manipulating you? How?"

"They whisper," I replied, my voice barely audible. "In dreams, in waking moments. They plant doubts, fears, desires. They feed on our vulnerability." I hesitated, then added, "They spoke to me through you, Alec."

His gaze hardened, realizing why he is coughing out blood, and he wiped a trickle of blood from his lips. "What did they say?"

"That there's a force—a cosmic knot—that thrives on suffering," I said, my words trembling. "I don't understand how I'm connected to all this. But it's ancient, older than time itself. The curse—the prison—it binds us all. Nyx, Kier, you, and me. We're pawns in a game played by him and shadows."

Alec's laughter was bitter. "And the guard? Why did they kill him?"

"He was digging into the castle's past," I replied. "Uncovering its secrets. But now we're doing the same, Alec. We're unraveling threads that should remain woven. We might be digging our own graves."

The wind howled, carrying with it the whispers of forgotten souls. Alec's eyes flickered with determination. "Then let's dig deeper," he said. "Let's uncover the truth—even if it consumes us."

And so, we stepped into the castle, our footsteps echoing through its haunted halls. The shadows clung to us, hungry and insatiable. But we pressed forward, driven by curiosity, fear, and a shared destiny that defied time itself.

The castle's ancient stones seemed to hold their breath, as if exhaling would disturb the restless spirits that lingered within. Sunlight filtered through the cracked windows, casting elongated shadows on the uneven floor. The air was thick with a musty scent—a blend of decay and forgotten memories.

As we ventured deeper, the walls closed in, pressing against our shoulders. Cobwebs clung to our skin like icy fingers, and the torches flickered, their flames dancing in protest. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the distant echo of dripping water—a sound that seemed to originate from the very heart of the castle.

Alec's footsteps echoed, each one a deliberate intrusion into the castle's secrets. His eyes darted from corner to corner, as if expecting the shadows themselves to leap out and confront us. I followed suit, my senses heightened, attuned to every creak of a floorboard, every rustle of fabric.

The portraits lining the hallway were frozen in time—stern-faced nobles, their eyes following us with disdain. But it was the eyes of the painted children that unnerved me the most. Hollow, soulless orbs that seemed to see beyond the canvas, into the depths of our souls.

The wind whispered through the cracks, carrying with it half-formed words—a chorus of lost voices. Were they warning us or beckoning us further? I couldn't tell. The temperature dropped, and I pulled my coat tighter around me, feeling the weight of centuries settle on my shoulders.

And then, from the darkness ahead, came a sound—a soft, mournful melody. It wove through the air, tugging at my heartstrings. Alec stiffened; his gaze fixed on the corridor leading to the castle's heart. "Do you hear it?" he whispered.

I nodded, unable to tear my eyes away from the shadows that seemed to dance to the tune. "It's the shadows again" I said. "They're going to kill us."

"We have already past that phase now. If they wanted, we be dead by now." Alec said sternly. "Let's find something to thrive on later."

I had no answers. Only more questions. The eerie atmosphere clung to us, seeping into our bones. The castle held its secrets close, like a lover unwilling to let go. And as we stepped forward, drawn by curiosity and fear, I wondered if we were merely players in a cosmic drama—one that had begun long before our time, and would continue long after we were gone. But....

The thought lingered like a shadow in the dimly lit corridor. Why hadn't the ghosts or shadows simply attacked us outright? Why this intricate dance of whispers and half-truths? Alec's eyes bore into mine, seeking answers that eluded us both.

"They want us to find something..."