Chapter 14 – The Sanctuary and the Sin

The Sanctuary and the Sin

The monastery loomed over them, its stone walls ancient and weathered by time. Though its doors had closed behind them, the feeling of unease did not leave Eleanor. The air inside was thick with the scent of old parchment, melted wax, and something else—something deeper, almost metallic, like dried blood.

Gabriel led them through the dimly lit halls, their footsteps echoing against the stone.

"This place will hold," he assured them, though his voice carried the weight of uncertainty.

Eleanor pressed a hand to her wrist. The mark Lucian had burned into her skin still pulsed faintly, as if it knew he was watching from beyond the monastery walls.

She turned to Victor. "Do you think he'll wait for us to leave, or will he find a way inside?"

Victor tightened his grip on his sword. "Lucian isn't known for patience."

Maria scanned the darkened corridors. "Then we better figure out why Gabriel brought us here in the first place."

The Monastery's Secret

Gabriel led them into a candlelit chamber, where old tomes and scrolls were stacked high. At the center of the room stood a large, round stone altar, covered in faded inscriptions.

"This monastery was built long before Black Hollow even existed," Gabriel said, placing a hand on the altar's surface. "It was a place of worship, but also a place of war. The monks here were not just scholars—they were guardians."

Zane crossed his arms. "Guardians of what?"

Gabriel met Eleanor's gaze. "Of the truth. Of the weapons meant to fight beings like Lucian."

A hush fell over the group.

Maria stepped forward. "You mean to tell us… that somewhere in this monastery is a way to kill him?"

Gabriel nodded. "Yes. But finding it will not be easy."

Eleanor swallowed hard. "Then we don't have a choice."

Victor rested a hand on his sword. "We find the weapon, and we end this."

The Curse of the Marked

As they searched the monastery, Eleanor couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

The shadows in the corners seemed darker than they should be. The torches flickered, though there was no breeze. And every so often, she swore she heard whispers.

Lucian's voice was silent, but his presence was here. Watching. Waiting.

Then—the pain struck.

Eleanor stumbled against the wall, clutching her wrist as the mark flared with white-hot agony.

Victor was at her side in an instant. "Eleanor!"

She couldn't answer. Her breath hitched as a searing heat spread through her veins. It felt as though fire was coursing through her blood.

She heard Maria curse. "What's happening to her?"

Gabriel knelt beside her, his expression grim. "The mark… it's reacting. He's trying to pull her back."

Eleanor bit down on a cry, her body trembling as the pain reached its peak. And then—she saw him.

Lucian.

Not in the monastery, but in her mind.

She stood in a dark void, and before her, he smiled.

"You can't run from me," he murmured, stepping closer. "You are already mine, Eleanor."

She tried to move, but the darkness wrapped around her limbs, holding her in place.

Lucian touched her cheek, his fingers cold against her burning skin.

"You feel it, don't you?" His voice was soft, almost gentle. "The power growing inside you. The mark isn't a curse. It's a gift."

Eleanor's breath caught. She did feel it.

The burning in her veins wasn't just pain—it was something else. Something alive.

Lucian tilted his head. "You don't belong with them. You belong with me."

"No," she whispered.

He smiled. "Oh, my dear, you can lie to yourself, but not to me."

And then—a blinding light.

Eleanor gasped as she was pulled back into reality.

Victor was gripping her shoulders, his expression tight with worry. "You're back."

Gabriel let out a slow breath. "He tried to take her."

Maria's expression darkened. "Then we need to move faster."

Eleanor wiped the sweat from her forehead, her heart still racing.

Lucian was getting stronger.

And worse—so was the power inside her.

The Door Beneath the Monastery

They finally found it—a hidden passage beneath the monastery's chapel.

The air grew colder as they descended the stone steps, their torches barely illuminating the endless dark. The deeper they went, the more Eleanor felt the mark burn.

Then, at last, they reached it.

A massive stone door, covered in the same symbols as the mark on Eleanor's wrist.

Gabriel ran a hand over the carvings. "This is it."

Zane frowned. "And how exactly do we open it?"

Eleanor already knew.

She stepped forward, pressing her marked wrist against the door.

The stone shuddered. The symbols glowed.

And slowly, the door creaked open.

Beyond it lay a chamber untouched by time.

And at the center of the room, resting upon a stone pedestal—

The only weapon that could kill Lucian.

To Be Continued...