In the dark on a throne, a winged creature watched Rye and the others. A streak of light moved in a circle in front of him. The luminous light revealed his face.
He had prominent fangs and fur so long it drapped on his face. He had long black horns that curved over his head.
In the ring of the light, the creature watched as they carefully walked down their new path. The healer of the third party suddenly screamed.
Everyone turned in her direction.
As torches on the walls spontaneously lit up they saw her lying on a bed of bones.
Rye ran to her.
"Are you okay?"
He asked as he pulled her up. She nodded looking at the bed of bones.
"Rye, we met at the healers' guild," He introduced himself to her.
"Ariya, I remember you," she replied.
"There may be creatures here, let's tread carefully," Uvilus cautioned.
Face walked over to the bones and picked one up.
"I don't think a creature killed them," Face said in a low tone. Brav leaned in close then turned to the others.
"She says they were not killed by monsters," Brav mentioned.
"How can she tell?"
"She said there are no bite marks," Brav relayed her answer to them. Yash and Uvilus looked at each other after they heard Face's answer.
As they kept walking down the path they arrived in a room. They spread out and searched for clues.
"How are we supposed to find the Skull of Happiness if we don't know where we are?" Yash asked Uvilus as they looked around the room for clues.
"Guys!" a voice rang out summoning everyone to it.
"Apa, what did you find?" Ariya asked their thief.
"A trap door," Apa said knocking on the wall. She pushed a loose brick on the wall and it groaned. She pushed her body against it and others joined.
They managed to push it open. It led them to a similar room. There they found a skeleton leaning against the wall.
On the walls were tally marks.
Yash runs his hand over them, "This is not good," he said.
"What is it?" Oh asked staring at Yash.
"Whoever was here counted the days. By the look of things, they were trapped here for a while," Yash explained.
"We don't have enough food to stay that long," Oh added.
Back in the dark room with the throne. The creature got up and walked over to a door. He walked down the stairs and through a series of hallways.
Soon the creature arrived at a six-inch metal door. He opened it and walked in. Inside a creature of a similar species lay frozen in a chrysalis.
Connected to the chrysalis was a tube through which a glowing liquid flowed. The creature drew a circle in the air.
Once again, the creature watched them. Light orbs rose from them.
"Awake soon my love, come back to me," the creature said caressing the chrysalis.