Smoke drifted through the narrow tunnels like a living thing—curling around the ancient stones, whispering past carvings worn down by time.
Hope coughed as she helped Celeste to her feet. London stood ahead, shielding them with his body, golden light faintly pulsing under his skin.
"What the hell was that?" he asked, eyes scanning for danger.
"A shockwave," Hope said. "But magical. Controlled."
Celeste clutched her head, breathing heavily. "It felt like it was inside my skull."
London turned to Hope. "Do you think it was a trap? Something set off when we touched the map?"
Hope frowned. "Maybe. Or maybe someone knew we were here."
They started moving again, faster now.
Celeste lagged behind slightly, her fingers brushing her temples, where an invisible presence still clawed at her thoughts.
> They don't trust you. They'll leave you behind. Just like everyone else…
"No," she whispered. "Not now…"
---
In the East Tunnel – Jessa and Raphael
Raphael crouched by a split in the stone wall, eyes narrowed. "There's a draft here. Another chamber maybe."
Jessa nodded, hands glowing with soft witch light. "Let's check it out—carefully."
They squeezed through the narrow opening and emerged into a strange room filled with broken glass orbs and strange glyphs carved into the floor. The air crackled with raw magic.
"Spellwork," Jessa murmured, "but… dark. Experimental."
"I can smell it," Raphael growled. "Whoever was here used blood. Human."
Jessa stepped closer to a shattered orb. Inside was a cracked mirror fragment, but not reflecting their image. Instead, it showed a brief flicker—
Richard, chained to a wall, eyes glazed.
"Dad…" she gasped.
The vision blinked out.
"We need to tell the others," Raphael said.
But before they could exit, the stones behind them shifted—and sealed shut.
---
In the Crystal Hall – Stephen and Daemon
Stephen wrapped a cloth around Daemon's bleeding arm. "You're lucky I'm here, bro. This is what I call vampire first aid."
Daemon grimaced. "We have to get through that wall."
"Did you miss the part where it almost turned you into a kebab?"
Stephen moved closer to the dark crystals, holding up a pendant from around his neck. The crystals hissed.
Daemon frowned. "Is that—Mother's charm?"
"Yup. Kept it secret. Kept it safe. Don't be mad."
He pressed it to the crystal and murmured a chant in Latin.
The crystals hissed louder—but then retracted slightly.
A hole opened.
Daemon looked at Stephen, surprised.
Stephen winked. "Told you. I'm more than just charming looks and devastating cheekbones."
They slipped through—only to find a chamber filled with magical bindings. And in the center—
Richard.
Eyes closed. Floating in place. Strings of blood magic holding him in a cocoon.
Daemon stepped forward. "We found him."
Stephen raised a brow. "Now we just have to not die getting him out."
---
In the Vault – A New Player Arrives
The boy wandered through the chamber, humming softly. He studied the map, flipping pages of the journal, then turned toward a crystal mirror embedded in the wall.
"Show me the groups," he whispered.
The mirror swirled.
Hope, London, and Celeste stumbling through mist.
Jessa and Raphael trapped in a chamber.
Stephen and Daemon facing Richard's magical prison.
He grinned.
"They'll come for him. Of course they will. But one of them won't make it back."
His fingers danced across a set of glowing runes, activating three more glyphs throughout the underground complex.
Each glowed red.
Traps laid. Pieces moving.
He stepped back, folding his arms. "Let the game begin."
---
In the Corridor – Hope and London's Close Moment
The tunnel opened into a cavern lit by glowing crystals. Celeste wandered a few feet ahead, distracted by the strange lights.
Hope and London stood close together.
He looked down at her. "I don't like this place. It feels like everything's trying to break us apart."
Hope gave a small smile. "Then we don't let it."
London hesitated. "Hope… there's something I've been wanting to say."
She looked up. The glow from the crystals caught in her hair, turning her into something ethereal.
"I feel it too," she whispered, voice catching.
London leaned in, their lips inches apart, breath mingling in the stillness—
"GUYS!" Celeste shouted from ahead. "You need to see this!"
They both froze.
London blinked. "Really?"
Hope laughed softly. "We'll get a better moment."
They followed Celeste into the next room.
---
Elsewhere – Celeste's Temptation Deepens
Earlier, before she found Hope and London, Celeste had been alone.
In the shadows of the tunnel… someone appeared.
A boy. The same from the vault. Pale eyes, ancient presence.
"You're not like them," he said gently. "You know they'll never see you. Never choose you."
Celeste swallowed. "Who are you?"
"Someone who understands what it's like to be second. To watch others shine while you get forgotten."
"I'm not forgotten," she whispered.
"Aren't you? Even now—Hope is the one with the power. The legacy. You're just… extra."
He circled her.
"I can show you how to matter. Just say the word."
Celeste trembled. "I… I need to think."
He smiled. "I'll wait."