The wind grew sharper as the landscape around them changed. The once-dense forest thinned, giving way to jagged rocks and barren soil. A sense of foreboding hung heavy in the air, a silent warning that neither Elara nor Kael could ignore.
"We're close," Kael murmured, his voice barely audible over the howling wind.
Elara nodded, her eyes fixed on the horizon. There, silhouetted against the dark sky, stood the ruins of Bloodstone Keep. It was a towering structure, its walls blackened and crumbling, yet it radiated an undeniable power. The keep seemed to defy the passage of time, its jagged spires clawing at the heavens like the skeletal remains of a forgotten giant.
Elara tightened her grip on the hilt of her dagger as they approached. Each step felt heavier, the weight of the curse pressing down on her chest.
"Stay close," Kael said, his tone serious. "The wolf will feel this place before you do. Don't let it take control."
Elara glanced at him, noting the tension in his jaw. Despite his calm exterior, she could tell Kael was just as wary as she was.
"Have you been here before?" she asked.
He shook his head. "No one who values their life comes here. But I've heard the stories."
"What stories?"
Kael hesitated, his eyes scanning their surroundings. The wind carried strange whispers, the faint sound of voices that seemed to echo from nowhere.
"They say Bloodstone was cursed long before Alaric made his pact," he said finally. "It was a place of power, a crossing point between our world and the spirit realm. That's why he chose it as his stronghold. But after his death, it became something else. A prison, maybe. Or a trap."
Elara's heart pounded. The closer they got to the keep, the stronger the wolf's presence became. It stirred within her, restless and hungry, as though drawn to the place.
"We don't have a choice," she said, more to herself than to Kael. "If the answers are here, we have to face whatever's waiting for us."
Kael didn't reply, but the look in his eyes spoke volumes.
---
The Gates of the Keep
The massive gates of Bloodstone Keep loomed before them, their iron surface rusted and scarred. Symbols had been carved into the metal—ancient runes that seemed to pulse with faint, otherworldly light.
Elara reached out to touch one of the symbols, but Kael grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
"Don't," he said sharply. "These runes aren't just decoration. They're wards, meant to keep something in—or out."
Elara pulled her hand back, a shiver running down her spine.
"Then how do we get in?" she asked.
Kael studied the runes for a moment before pulling a small vial from his pack. Inside was a dark, viscous liquid that shimmered unnaturally.
"Blood magic," he said, uncorking the vial. "These wards were made with it, and it's the only thing that can break them. But it comes at a cost."
Elara hesitated. "What kind of cost?"
Kael didn't answer. Instead, he poured the liquid over the center of the gate. The runes flared to life, glowing bright red before dimming and fading entirely. The air filled with the sound of grinding metal as the gates slowly creaked open.
Elara felt a wave of nausea wash over her. The wolf inside her growled, uneasy.
"That didn't feel like a good idea," she muttered.
"It wasn't," Kael said. "But we're past good ideas."
---
Inside the Keep
The air inside Bloodstone Keep was cold and stale, heavy with the scent of decay. The walls were lined with faded tapestries, their once-vivid colors now muted and lifeless. The floor was cracked and uneven, the stone stained with what looked suspiciously like old blood.
Elara's footsteps echoed as she moved cautiously through the main hall. Her senses were on high alert, every nerve in her body screaming that they were not alone.
"What happened here?" she whispered.
Kael didn't answer. He was staring at something on the far wall—a massive mural that seemed to shift and shimmer as they approached.
The mural depicted a scene of chaos. Wolves and humans clashed in a bloody battle, their forms twisted and grotesque. In the center of the chaos stood a figure—a man with glowing amber eyes and a crown of jagged thorns. Alaric Drayton.
"It's him," Elara said, her voice barely audible.
Kael nodded. "This must have been painted after the pact. It's a warning."
"A warning about what?"
Kael's gaze darkened. "What happens when you let the wolf take over."
Elara's stomach churned. The mural seemed to pulse with life, the figures writhing and snarling as though trapped within the stone.
"Let's keep moving," she said, tearing her eyes away.
---
The Wolf's Lair
The deeper they ventured into the keep, the stronger the wolf's presence became. Elara could feel it pressing against her mind, clawing at the edges of her control.
"Stay focused," Kael said, his voice steady. "Don't let it in."
"I'm trying," she snapped, her frustration mounting. The wolf's hunger was growing stronger, feeding off the energy of the keep.
They reached a spiral staircase that descended into darkness. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and rot, and the faint sound of growling echoed from below.
"This is it," Kael said, gripping his sword tightly. "The heart of the keep."
Elara took a deep breath, steeling herself. She gripped her dagger, its silver blade gleaming faintly in the dim light.
"Whatever's down there," she said, "we face it together."
Kael nodded, and together they descended into the darkness.
---
The Beast Below
The chamber at the bottom of the staircase was vast, its walls lined with jagged stone that seemed to pulse with an unnatural light. In the center of the room stood an altar, its surface slick with blood. Surrounding it were the remnants of a ritual—broken candles, tattered scrolls, and bones.
But it was the creature by the altar that drew Elara's attention.
It was massive, its form twisted and grotesque. Its fur was matted and dark, its eyes glowing with the same amber light that had haunted Elara's dreams. It was neither fully wolf nor human, but a horrifying amalgamation of both.
"Elara," Kael said, his voice tense. "That's not just a wolf."
She swallowed hard. "What is it?"
Kael's grip on his sword tightened. "That's Alaric."
Elara's blood ran cold. The creature let out a low growl, its eyes locking onto hers. It bared its teeth, a soundless snarl that seemed to reverberate through the chamber.
"Stay back," Kael warned, stepping in front of her.
But Elara shook her head, her heart pounding. "No. This is why we're here. I have to face him."
The creature took a step forward, its movements deliberate and predatory. Elara met its gaze, the wolf inside her stirring in response.
"Alaric," she said, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her. "I'm not here to fight you. I'm here to end this."
The creature hesitated, its growl faltering. For a moment, Elara thought she saw something human in its eyes—a flicker of recognition.
But the moment passed, and the beast let out a deafening roar, charging toward her.
"Move!" Kael shouted, raising his sword.
Elara braced herself, the wolf within her rising to meet the challenge.