The stairwell is awful, the steps deceptively frail and she denies the urge to flinch once again, as a bone-chilling crack resonates throughout the air. Scowling, she continues down what seem to be never-ending stairs. Taut features twist further, brows furrowed and lips drawn into a snarl. The air is stale, cold and unbelievably disgusting.
It reminds her of when she first found the previous Lord's diary, when she rescued that werewolf pup, when she found Malachi's mother… it reminds her of a lot.
(The stench of ashes and blood grows stronger. Her heart skips a beat.)
Briefly pausing, she reminds herself of why she's here, why she's in this dusty, dirty, dank stairwell; why she wants (needs) to do this. She carries on.
Calloused, slender fingers nervously stroke the strong, sturdy fabric wrapped around the blade, which shifts with each step… yet fails to produce noise. Which is good, except the constant silence is driving her crazy…
(Had drove her crazy, slowly but surely centuries ago as she lived and lived and lived... but they lived, died and repeated the cycle. Reborn, rise, rinse, descend, repeat. Birth, life, death- repeat. Wake, wash, sleep. Repeat.)
The silence is deafening.
How long has passed? minutes, hours, days? Should she take a break; rest and replenish her body's growing need for food, water and rest?
The door, dark like obsidian and similarly foreboding, answers her question- no.
Again, she grasps the material around her blade. Deep breath in, slow breathe out. Ba-dum. Ba-dum.
She opens the door.
Her scream is silent.
Aaron is- was- a man of honour, of virtues and righteousness. Despite his lone-wolf, slightly snarky attitude, his habit of travelling separate from the group (due to years of travelling alone, living in isolation…) he was a kind man. A good man, that helped her without need nor question, who stayed by her side as one-by-one, her friends left, who she loved-
That isn't Aaron. It can't be. He couldn't- wouldn't have killed Little Alina, her light, her hope, their daughter-
Little, blank eyes stare back at her.