Alea
I awaken abruptly, covered in sweat as if I had been running for miles, and the sound of birds chirping helps bring me back to reality. I look around at the now bright study I had taken shelter in. Seeing that the room had very dark burgundy wallpaper with many dark stains now spotted throughout the room. I unwrap myself and stretch with a yawn. I decided to see what else I could discover in the manor.
My thoughts go right back to the strange door under the main stairs, the door that was pulling me to open it. I was both scared and excited to find out what it might hold. The manor was undoubtedly a home for the witches before the vampire rise. The covers that I was able to read were on incantation basics and the history of magic.
I grab my bag and first go outside to see the manor now that the sun is in the sky. I take a moment to enjoy the warmth of the sun on my skin, while being within the wall, I always covered myself in my cloak, no matter what season it was. Keeping my identity hidden and making others assume I was a vampire helped keep me safe while I was out.
Today, I would enjoy the freedom this spot outside the wall has given me; it had been such a long time since I could let my hair down and not worry about anyone attacking me for my blood. I have only had two close encounters where I felt the pain of fangs on me, but only one had punctured the skin. Neither vampire survived to expose me as the witch I was; they seemed to let their guard down when they thought they were about to take a bite.
Taking out some rope, I walk a bit and find some promising spots to set down traps. I hope to catch a rabbit or at least a squirrel to eat today. I, like most humans in Cana, ate mostly wheat gruel, if you were lucky, a vegetable or two. I did, however, know of a nice apple tree not far from the wall opening. Though from how long I walked to find the manor, it would be a walk back, and I felt it was too soon to go near the wall opening. I only had a few rations left on me, and I needed to make them last. I would have to ask Hendrik in the letter I sent if he could get something to me soon, along with what I was owed for the mission.
I turned to walk back to the manor, seeing it in the daylight, I noticed how big it was. The excitement to explore riled up inside me, but I still needed to send the letter to Hendrik. I headed back inside quickly and went straight to the study. I did what I could to clean off the desk to use and began writing the letter to Hendrik. Letting him know where I was holding up, and I would be at the manor until further notice.
I fold the letter and place it in an envelope, and seal it with an incantation only a witch from Hexerei would be able to undo. I then use my chalk to draw an incantation on the desk, making a triangle with the symbols I needed to send it to Hendrik's. I grab from my bag a small blue gem and place it on the symbol at the tip of the triangle, and place the letter in the middle. Pricking my finger, I bring a bit of blood from the wound and let it drip onto the gem as I say my next incantation to send the letter.
The familiar warmth coursed through my body as I spoke the words, and the letter started to softly float above its spot and then spun before disappearing from my sight. I sit down in the chair to give myself a moment, the spell taking a good amount of energy from me. I leave the markings and the gem in their place in case Hendrik sent anything my way, it would stay connected until it was destroyed.
I then leave the room and start exploring the manor again, this time seeing it in full light. I walked back into the large living room I had walked through the night before, seeing that it was painted a light pink. Just like in the study, water stains were blotched throughout the room, but it was much worse here. After the rain, I could see water had been blown in through the smashed window and was running down the walls. Sleeping in the study was most certainly the best choice.
The old furniture looked horrible, and the old paintings were water-damaged and falling apart. I then noticed on the ground a broken portrait of what I assume was the family that used to live here. An older man who most likely was the father stood tall, his grey and black hair slicked back. He stood with pride, an arm around the waist of the woman beside him. She also stood beside him with just as much pride in her stance, her tight black curls pinned back perfectly in place.
In front of the couple sat two people, a man and a woman, each taking on features from the parents who stood behind them. My eyes kept going to the woman on the couch, her bright green eyes seeming to bore a hole into me. I shook off the weirdness and began moving down the hallway.
As soon as I reached the door under the stairs, I felt the same pull as I had the night before, though it didn't seem as strong. I took in a deep breath and reached for the knob, surprised it was unlocked. With the kind of pull it had, I had assumed it would be locked, so I opened it. I find wooden steps leading down into darkness.
"This leads to a dark basement," I said aloud. I double back to the study and grab the candles I had found and strap my daggers back onto my wrists. I noticed a small candlestick holder under some books and placed the candle in the holder. As I reach the door again, I have a lit candle for some light as I descend into the darkness.
I noticed the farther I went down the stairs, the stronger the pull felt. It hadn't just been the door calling me; it was whatever lay within. The air was damp and musty from any water that seeped inside over the many years. I could almost taste the mold in the air; it made me scrunch my nose. Though it was better than having to run through the sewers. I could hear the sound of scattering animals, most likely rats, scattering as they heard me walk down the stairs.
Once I hit the dirt floor, I swung the candle around and suddenly jumped back. The only thing in the room was a table and a coffin that lay on top. I knew vampires sleeping in coffins were mostly a myth and a stereotype humans put out about vampires for as long as I have lived. Most vampire houses I raided only had a standard bed, but with thick curtains to shield them while they slept.
I then noticed that the pull I had been feeling this whole time was coming from the coffin. My curiosity drew me closer, my feet feeling like they were moving on their own. As I get near the coffin, I notice the lid has inscriptions carved deep into the wood. It was a very basic locking incantation that any witch I knew could easily break open. Whoever they laid to rest inside must have something very important if they locked the entire coffin. Though any witch could undo the incantation before the rise of vampires, this was a sophisticated spell to keep out intruders or magic-less vampires.
I set the candlestick down on the lid and pull out my special dagger, and go to mark out each symbol in the correct order. One by one, I dug a slash into each one, feeling the magic dissipate from the coffin. I even let out an excited giggle as I dug at the last symbol and fully broke the sealing spell. I pick up the candlestick and move to open the lid, but I jump back when I see it is opening on its own.