The Howl In the Dark

The journey to the next fragment led Elizabeth and Elias deeper into the heart of the Wulfridge Moors, a vast expanse of desolate land cloaked in mist and legend. The moors were known for their treacherous terrain, but more so for the creatures that roamed under the cover of night—werewolves.

Elizabeth walked cautiously, gripping The Bloodbound Veil close to her chest. The silver ring from Witchmoor Abbey now adorned her finger, its faint glow offering her a small measure of comfort. "Do you think the werewolves will know we're here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Elias cast a wary glance into the fog. "They always know."

The words sent a shiver down Elizabeth's spine. Stories of the Wulfridge Pack had haunted her childhood—massive beasts with eyes that glowed like embers, creatures cursed to walk between human and beast, hunting under the full moon. And tonight, the moon would be high and full.

"We should move quickly," Elias said, scanning the surroundings. "The fragment is hidden within the ruins of Blackthorne Keep, deep in the heart of the moors. But the werewolves… they won't take kindly to trespassers."

Elizabeth swallowed hard. "Then let's not give them a reason to find us."

They pressed on through the fog, the distant sound of a wolf's howl sending her heart racing. The moors stretched endlessly before them, dotted with ancient stone markers covered in strange runes. Elizabeth ran her fingers over one, feeling the hum of old magic pulsing beneath its weathered surface.

"These were placed here by the first guardians," Elias explained. "To keep the balance between the Veil and the creatures that cross it."

Elizabeth frowned. "Did it work?"

Elias sighed. "For a time."

As they neared the crumbling silhouette of Blackthorne Keep, the wind picked up, carrying with it the scent of damp earth and something more primal—wet fur.

"We're being followed," Elias murmured.

Elizabeth's grip tightened on the book. "What do we do?"

"Keep moving. If we run, they'll see us as prey."

The ruins loomed ahead, a towering relic of a forgotten age. Broken stone walls jutted out of the ground like jagged teeth, and the remains of a grand hall stood in eerie silence.

Inside, the air was thick with the weight of centuries. A great hearth, long extinguished, stood at the center, and faded banners bearing the sigil of a wolf's head hung in tatters from the walls.

Elizabeth's gaze swept the room. "Where would the fragment be?"

Elias studied the architecture, his eyes narrowing. "Look for anything out of place."

Elizabeth moved toward an old wooden chest tucked beneath a collapsed archway. As she knelt beside it, she noticed claw marks raking across the wood—deep and deliberate. Her pulse quickened as she slowly lifted the lid.

Inside, nestled within folds of velvet, lay an ornate silver amulet etched with the same sigils from The Bloodbound Veil. The fourth fragment.

Elizabeth reached out, but before she could grasp it, a low growl echoed through the chamber.

She whipped around to find a towering figure standing in the doorway. The werewolf's eyes burned with a golden glow, its fur matted and thick. It bared its fangs, saliva dripping as it stepped forward.

Elias moved quickly, drawing his silver dagger. "Stay behind me."

Elizabeth's mind raced, her fingers brushing against the book's pages. She frantically searched for an incantation, whispering under her breath.

The werewolf lunged.

Elias dodged, slashing at its side. The creature yelped but didn't back down, its snarl vibrating through Elizabeth's bones. She found the words she needed and shouted them aloud.

"Lunae vincula, contine!"

A silver glow burst forth from the amulet, wrapping around the werewolf like chains of moonlight. The beast howled in rage, thrashing against the magic, but the spell held firm.

Elias didn't waste a second, grabbing Elizabeth's hand and pulling her toward the exit. "We have what we came for—run!"

They sprinted through the ruins, the werewolf's enraged howls echoing behind them. The mist thickened around them, and Elizabeth's lungs burned as she pushed forward. They didn't stop until they reached the edge of the moors, where the ancient warding stones still held power.

Only then did they dare to catch their breath.

Elizabeth held the amulet tightly, feeling its warmth against her palm. "That was too close."

Elias nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "One more fragment left."

Elizabeth exhaled slowly, staring into the distance. "Where is it?"

Elias's expression darkened. "In the one place no guardian has dared to enter since the Veil was shattered."

Elizabeth's heart sank. "Where?"

"The Crimson Court."

The words sent a chill down her spine. The Crimson Court was the heart of the vampire aristocracy—an ancient fortress deep within their territory, where the most powerful and cruel of their kind ruled.

"We'll have to be smarter than we've ever been," Elias said gravely.

Elizabeth nodded, determination steeling her voice. "Then we'd better be ready."

As they gazed into the darkness ahead, the weight of the final piece of their quest pressed heavily upon them. The Crimson Court awaited—and with it, the darkest enemy they had yet to face.