Chapter 10

** The Keeper's Ego**

**Athena's Point of View**

Arion, Lirael, and I finally reach the towering obsidian gates of the Keeper of Lost Souls' domain. The place is as ominous as it sounds: dark, brooding, and covered in an inexplicable mist that seems to have a vendetta against optimism. I'm still clutching the ancient scroll, which feels heavier with each step.

The gates creak open with a sound that suggests they're both ancient and slightly annoyed at being disturbed. Inside is a grand hall that looks like it was designed by someone who really liked the color black and had an unshakable belief that more chandeliers equals more power. There are at least a dozen of them hanging from the ceiling, casting a dim, dramatic light.