Chapter 20:

2nd night: Part six

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Yay! Shadow Knight's back! I thought for a moment that you'd stopped reading!

Also, you guys, we've reached 40 reviews!!! Thanks a lot, you don't know how happy I am!!!

And one more thing, to Reece1, if you look at my profile, I put up one disclaimer for everything. I can never remember to put a disclaimer into my stories; it always slips my mind, so instead I decided to just put up one in my profile, so that even if I do forget it'll still be there.

Now, for the big news. This story's progress is going to be going slowly, at least until I finish "Quest for Kyuusai" and until after June 20 (See below for explanation).

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The Corridor, the long hallway Lina had seen Zelgadis in, was one of those rooms that no matter where you were you're always on edge. Maybe it was the cold atmosphere, or the occasional strange noise that echoed on and on, but it sent shivers down her spine.

Lina had been mumbling to herself about how she was going to murder her brother when they finally got out of the mess he had put them in as she approached the locked door. Her flashlight was the only comfort she had as she fitted the carving to the door. When the familiar unlocking sound reached her ears, she sighed and slowly pulled the doors open.

The instant she did, a gasp was released as her eyes widened in surprise. She had known the mansion was big, but big enough to hold a giant hole in the ground?

The floor was pure dirt, and there was actually some light in the room, however faint. There was a large ledge that led around the square hole. Beneath that was another ledge, and it continued like that, following a pattern that resembled a staircase. At the edge of each ledge was a latter that led to the next "step". Around the first ledge, the one she stood on, there was a dirt-made railing that only stopped to give room for the latter. Supporting the structure were four large pillars with strange symbols on them Lina didn't recognize.

Slowly, Lina approached the "railing", and looked down to the bottom of the pit. In the center of the bottom was a large, flat carved stone in the shape of a rough circle that acted kind of like a place mat. There were five stones that stood up on top of the circle, outlining a pentagram. At the foot of each stone there was a symbol that matched one on the pillars, except the one at the top.

And there was a large door. Lina nearly had to do a double take. A figure stood before the door. A very familiar figure. Lina gasped, startled.

"Zel!" Lina blinked, and he was gone. For a moment, her stubborn, almost fearful expression, softened. She pitied herself. She truly was helpless without her brother. But he was her only family. She loved him dearly, and he was the only one who understood her.

She sighed and headed towards the latter. As she approached it, she looked at the pillars. The symbols on it weren't in any order, and quite frankly looked… demonic. They were slanted and slashed into the dirt-covered pillars, in red, what she hoped to be, paint. The entire sight was enough to make her shudder.

Slowly, she descended the latter, shivering as the temperature got colder and colder. It seemed to take hours before she reached the bottom. It was dark where she was, nearly completely void of light aside from her flashlight. The dark had a feeling to it she didn't like. At all. It made her want to run and hide.

The area was littered with small pebbles and stones, making Lina even more nervous for if she ran and fell, she would surely hurt herself. Guided by her flashlight, she slowly made her way towards the door. She was nervous, or perhaps scared was the better word, though she might never admit it. Every movement caused her to skip a step and a heart beat. At one point, she craned her head to look closely at one of the stones. She moved her head so fast her hair came around and hit her in the face. She nearly shrieked and dropped her flashlight.

She muttered a string of blunt curses as she got on her hands and knees, fumbling for the light. But it had plans of its own, as it only rolled away, towards the door. She was, she realized, on a down hill slope. Somehow it didn't surprise her. She winced at the pain in her legs as she crawled around, one arm outstretched for her flashlight, and to make sure she didn't run into anything. Somehow, the flashlight had clicked off and she was now left to only her maternal instincts. Nervously, she began to hum, and slowly words began to softly fill the empty silence.

"Yuuhi no beni yo

Tengai o gandou

Himitsu o kuuki sageru

Hitori Ja nai

Zutto---" (See below for more info.!)

She stopped as she heard her own echo. She didn't know what had made her think of that song; it brought more sad memories than happy. It was a song her mother had taught her when she was still in the "There's a monster under my bed!" stage. It had always soothed her, even now. Lina could clearly remember that sometimes at night, before her brother had met Mr. Gabrief, she would have horrid nightmares about her mother. Her brother, her own hero, would softly sing the melody until she fell to the gentle arms of sleep.

Her voice, though it could've been strong, was soft and gentle, almost like a shy little girls', but it seemed to mirror the way her mother had sung it so long ago.

She smiled with a ting of nervousness as she successfully found her flashlight and clicked it on again. Her head shot up as the sound of someone talking, or rather moaning, filled the space her song had left vacant. She was up top her feet in a moment's time and looked around. She stopped as realization struck her; the voice was coming from behind her.

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Cliffhanger! Heehee Review, okay?

1- On June 18, 19, and 20 is when I'm going to be going to my first Ice-skating competition! I'm really stressed out, and that's why updates are gonna be a little slow. Wish me luck!

2- The song is called "A Waiting Maiden's Melody", and belongs to me. As in, it's copyrighted so don't steal it! Mind you, that's a shorter version of it; the original has one more verse to it. If you want a copy of the long version and/or translation go ahead and ask! I'll just need your email!