Neverending Stairway

The stairway winded spiraled downward in an elegant arc, casting layers upon layers of shadowy bars as Daphne lifted her candle to it. 

It was difficult to tell where exactly the staircase led to, and even the farthest rays of light could not penetrate the complete darkness. 

  Daphne's heart thudded, not knowing what awaited her down there. 

The darkness was familiar at this point, but there was something distinctly different about that one in particular. There was almost a shroud of magic to it, shielding its true view from sight. 

Images of the cursed dungeon she had been trapped in flashed before her mind. She could still see it so clearly. 

The bloody red flowers. The pulsating walls. The pounding heartbeat. The monstrous dog. And that giant padlocked door that seemingly was the entrance to nowhere. 

Could this be the secret entrance to the dungeon? 

Or were there even deeper mysteries buried within this abyss?