Chapter Three: Don't Say His Name

"Come on." Sarah started towards the door of the large, moss covered stone foundation, then abruptly side stepped it, moving toward the back of the citadel. The others followed unenthusiastically. Sarah stopped, her eyes moving quickly over the wall in front of her that surrounded the large structure. She stepped forward, the wall only inches from her face. For a moment, Bonnie was sure she would walk into it, but she turned and disappeared.

"What the . . ." Bonnie began. Sarah stuck her head out from behind the wall grinning madly.

"It's a trick wall. Seems like there's nothing there, when really, there is. Bot you 'ave ta be careful, even if you 'ave powers. You might walk into a real wall. It's 'idden well, now come on." They followed her behind the wall. Bonnie shivered as a rat scuttled somewhere near by. The place was murky, grimy, and dank.

Spooky!

She thought.

It is, isn't it?

A voice hissed inside her head. Bonnie jumped. Matt moved closer to her, and grabbed her hand. She held onto it as if for dear life. Sarah stopped walking.

"We're here . . . Where's Caroline?"

"She's right . . ." Matt turned but his finger pointed into opened air.

"Shit!" Sarah hissed, and broke away down the opposite hallway in a run.

Caroline. This way.

Caroline walked down the brooding hallway, trying to find the source of the voice. To her, it seemed to be coming from in front of her. She had no idea that the voice was in her head. Caroline stopped in front of a wide chestnut door. It was covered in symbolic carvings. Cautiously she tried the handle, and pushed open the door. It was very heavy. She shrieked as she walked into a mess of cobwebs. Brushing them off, she headed deeper into the room. She couldn't see five inches in front of her face. Unexpectedly a lamp flickered on. Caroline stared at it. The oil lamp was old. The fire that burned within it…was black. Her eyes became glazed.

The book!

The voice hissed.

Read the inside cover of the book! Now!

Caroline's gaze slowly went over the room, and rested on a softbound, black leather book trimmed in gold. As if in slow motion Caroline picked up the book, and flipped it open.

"My life has changed. I am a creature of the darkness. I feast on the blood of the living. I am death. I am Antonio Annex Staver."

"No!" Sarah screamed, running into the room. "Caroline…don't say 'is name!" It was too late.