Page 44 of Full Moon
Chapter 21
Torben
I followFeray and the others through the house, the floorboards creaking beneath our feet. Feray leads us to the next location, her steps deliberate and heavy with purpose. My bear stirs uneasily within me, reluctant to embrace the idea of destroying her father's old home to uncover the clues he left behind.
Tearing apart this house feels like desecrating a grave. It's a sacred place filled with memories and history. The wolves boarding up a house after someone dies is similar to what bears do. Instead of making the entire house unusable, we close off the bedroom of the departed, preserving their essence.
Feray pauses, staring intently at the paneling under the staircase. I see the moment resolve hardens in her eyes. With a determined growl, her claws sink into the wood, ripping it apart. Each splintered piece reveals a growing darkness behind it and yet another door hidden from view.
Easton steps forward, an orb of fire hovering above his hand, casting flickering light into the newly exposed space. I scan the area and notice a nail high above Feray's head. A key danglesfrom it, catching the light. Stretching up, I retrieve it and offer it to her.
She beams at me, gratitude and determination shining in her eyes. She places the key in the lock and turns it. The mechanism whirls and clicks, unlocking the door and allowing it to swing open with a groan.
"I wonder what's down there?" Feray murmurs, peering into the darkness.
"I'm not sure, but it smells wet, whatever it is," I reply, my nose wrinkling at the damp, mildew scent.
Easton takes the first cautious steps into the stairway, a small ball of flames dropping from his hand. It falls for about ten feet before hitting standing water with a sizzle.
"It's going to take me a while to dry it out, depending on how deep it is," he says, continuing his descent.
"Why is there water on this level and not the deeper one?" Feray asks, her gaze shifting between me and Diaval.
"Maybe there's a natural spring that was too close to where your dad dug?" I suggest.
"We're in the tundra," Diaval states, his eyes fixed on the water. "It should be frozen solid this close to the surface. There's a reason the water is still liquid. Be careful of anything living in the water." No sooner does Diaval mention it than Khal steps forward, stripping off his clothes in preparation to shift and explore. Khal's shift takes him quickly, and his huge basilisk slithers into the darkness. Several hisses and loud splashes echo around us. The water ripples like waves on the ocean.
"We need to go after him," Feray says, starting down the stairs.
"No." I grab her and throw her over my shoulder.
"Torben, let me go... Khal needs help!" She pounds her fists against my back.
"Easton, can you check on him?" I turn to him, and he nods. This time, he shifts with his clothing and takes off in the last direction we saw Khal go. The fire from Easton's phoenix lights the way, illuminating several statues of creatures I've never seen before.
"Well, that's odd," Diaval says as he descends the stairs.
"What is?" I stare at the creatures, noticing they are bipedal and grotesque.
"The first one closest to here is a Bheur Hag. The others are lesser hags under its control," Diaval explains clinically.
"Why would my father put them down here?" Feray asks, settling down as she watches the statues warily.
"They kill and eat their invaders. Basically, they are the perfect guard dogs." Diaval states plainly.
Khal and Easton make their way back.
"What did you find?" I ask Easton as soon as he shifts back.
"More research and skulls. He has a viable dragon egg in the lab." Easton looks at Diaval, and I see a flicker of emotions move over his face—surprise, concern, and anger.
"He what?" Rage contorts Diaval's features, his usually composed demeanor slipping.
I set Feray down quickly, and she rushes over to Diaval. "Let's learn why he has the egg, and if it truly is viable, we'll take it withus. We can raise it if its family is dead." Feray gently caresses Diaval's cheek, trying to soothe him.
I move past them and into the chamber. Various tables fill the open area, each one displaying an assortment of skulls. The first table catches my eye with a Kodiak skull and a label reading "Child of Earth," listing the strengths and weaknesses of my species. Her father was cataloging different species to better understand how the star works.
Diaval stands frozen, staring at an egg on a pedestal. Feray walks over and snuggles close. "What species is it?" she asks softly, reaching out to caress the scaled surface.
