I hope you enjoy chapter four! Warning contains a lot of visual imagery :D Sorry guys but it is necessary.
Rubbing her head Celeste slowly sat up and felt her breathing return to normal. She waited patiently for her eyes to adjust to the dark. Torches on the wall did little to spread light through the cave, despite the glowing flames blazing furiously. The sandy stone walls were crumbling in places and this gave the tunnel an eerie and ancient feel. It was almost like every inhabitant, even the squeaking bats had long ago deserted this solemn place.
Celeste began to walk and admired the sketches that were strewn across the cavern walls. Many held unsettling themes as red marks were smeared across the shadowy figures. Suddenly, one caught her eye. A young woman was surrounded by black squiggles and both of her hands were raised upwards. A castle on top of clouds stood proudly and crystals that were jutting out from the cavern wall made it seem as if this kingdom would be constantly bathed in light. There was a bunch of trees hastily drawn in the middle. They were surrounded by a grey and purple mist that weaved in between them. Finally underneath was an abundance of flames in a dazzling orange and red soaring upwards. Both of the bottom and middle sketches were joined to the young woman by a silver and piercing yellow chain.
Passing the sketch Celeste's heart began to beat faster and she immediately recognised one of the enochian words that were carved into the stone above it: Apocalypse. She continued to stumble blindly through the dark. She had no way of knowing if she was heading in the right direction and was relying fully upon her instincts as her only companion and guide in the gloom.
Suddenly, Celeste brushed against a fine wire and felt the ground beneath her feet start to tremble. Attempting to unfurl her wings Celeste realised with horror that they refused to move. 'Must be some sort of ancient spell!' Celeste thought to herself as she had no choice but to use her legs to run away from the ground that was beginning to collapse as it chased hungrily after her. How many centuries had it been since the black abyss had sampled such a fine feast?
This temple was built upon blood. Heroes from across the centuries had been brought here like worthless cattle and they had been slaughtered to appease the Gods. The people would gain nothing from the sacrifices as the Gods did not reward them yet the blood did not stop flowing. Instead the Gods demands kept rising. Perhaps they thought the Gods would reduce the terrible evils of the world such as the plague or simply as a means of not incurring their wrath?
Celeste kept running and did not bother to repent. If she was destined to die here and if her soul was going to rust then she was not going to give the so-called Gods any satisfaction. Even if she did send up a prayer, who in their right minds would listen to a creature such as herself?
Relief flooded through her as she entered a circular dome and the ground appeared to stop pursuing rumbling in failure as the last remaining pieces of ground plummeted into the pitch black pit.
In the middle of the room her uncle's sword Albion was lying on the ground. Despite the state of the other relics or more so the fallen heroes' equipment that Celeste had managed to make out in the dark, Albion's steel was stainless. Whereas the others had been covered in rust. Gingerly, Celeste picked up the sword and held it aloft. A large chunk of the ceiling caved in with a groan as it crashed next to her. Quickly she placed the sword back into its sheath and gripped it firmly.
Celeste realised with horror that the floor was now rapidly disappearing and her wings still were not cooperating. She could not hold back a scream as a large, spectre like hand consisting of shadow began travelling towards her. An orb of light came hurtling down from the sky through the gaping hole of what used to be the ceiling. Smashing into the hand, the hand started to retreat and sink back into the bottomless pit.
With frightened eyes Celeste eyed the orb warily even though a part of her felt reassured by its unexplainable presence. Before Celeste could react the orb enveloped her and she swore it felt like she was being lifted by caring hands. It was almost like the orb was protecting her. Briefly Celeste was blinded by the white light and when her vision returned she was standing outside the now a pile of rubble, temple of Akon. 'Boy that was a bit close for comfort.' Celeste thought to herself as she tried to remove the sickening images from her mind, such as suffocating if she had become trapped under those ancient bricks. Her mysterious saviour was still bugging her. Its touch seemed so familiar and yet foreign at the same time. Had that orb been a soul of someone she used to know? Brushing these thoughts aside Celeste unfurled her wing and shook them and watched as the dust flew up in the air, tickling her nose before it disappeared on the wind.
Beating her wings Celeste began to soar higher and higher until she reached a wind current that supported her gently; allowing her to glide effortlessly. She relished her new found freedom and decided a nice slow fly back to the motel would do her the world of good. So long as she concealed herself in the clouds if she spotted any aircraft as to not cause the humans panic, everything would be fine.
For all of you who stuck with this chapter thank you. A lot of emotions for me when writing this. I cannot reveal why but let's just say certain things will become apparent in my other story (one of the series one also no name for the series as of yet). Please feel free to review. Any criticisms positive or negative are accepted.