Silver Bullet, Seraph’s Sword

Prologue

A hollow dripping sound echoed ahead in the tangible darkness. The faint roar of the underground river taking a plunge somewhere in the distance was the only thing guiding their path. They had been underground for perhaps six hours now, only moving further down. Although her eyes could largely adjust, they could only gather the general outline of the stalactites surrounding them and the river's edge.

Her companion, on the other hand, had no such sight, stumbling blindly by her side and grasping her hand to lead the way. He felt the rough and yet slick surfaces of the rock walls around him continuously, as his height had previously caused him to obtain a small wound on his forehead. The blood had long since dried, but it wasn't an experience he'd appreciate again. He wanted to strike up a conversation, but it seemed as though she was intensely concentrated on guiding them, and he didn't want to interrupt her train of thought.

He stiffened as she reached out her arm and stopped him abruptly. She twitched her ears to listen. He didn't dare speak now.

Seconds before she could move on her own, he threw her into the water, a previously inaudible clicking sound growing loud enough to make him uneasy when he stepped onto a piece of wood laying at their feet. Letting out a loud scream she attempted to stifle, she raced back toward him. Flames had already engulfed where he stood, and she wound up slamming herself into the cave's wall just on the other side of the fire, because the sudden brightness had entirely blinded her vision, perhaps its exact intention. Blinking slowly, a dull pain emanated from her skull, quickly becoming sharp as the illumination reached her eyes. She winced, everything becoming more blurry.

Failing to even notice the several large pieces of burning flesh on her body, she began to realize that she hadn't tackled him from the flames. Tears beginning to roll in confusion and pain, she called out his name over and over and over, finally finding him about 20 feet ahead of her. He widened his eyes at her, his body and mouth entirely wrapped and covered in silver chains. She'd never understand how she didn't hear the clanking sound they should've made when they'd emerged. Finding the material peculiar, she seized two large handfuls and yanked. It seemed to have zero effect on the chains, but it caused her to fall to the ground with an agonizing scream, a hissing noise escaping her hands as the skin singed off.

He managed to wiggle the chain from his mouth enough to speak, calling back to her in a calm but firm voice, "Don't worry about me. Go and find your father. Get some kind of help!" Sobbing, she shook her head violently, about to try the chains again, when the slab of wood he was laying on began to creak forward. He hoped for dear life that this was a dream. Where were any of these traps coming from? What in the world were they hiding in their shrine, and why was it already equipped to prevent strangers? After all the risky campaigns they'd pulled, this was not the one he expected to go out on. Even with her powerful resistance, a mystical pull slid the board into the river. "Please," he begged. The fall wouldn't end her, but she'd never be able to get these chains off herself, and if she didn't leave quickly, the local leaders would find her and could do far worse than this cavern could.

She whimpered in response and stared at him for a second. "No," she teared up, her voice wavering. With a sudden jolt of inspiration, she shakily reached into her bag and pulled out a tiny vial.

"What is that?"

She walked into the water, the current rushing her and the board forward. Jumping up on the board, she wrapped her arms carefully around the exposed part of his neck. "Just trust me," she whispered, barely grazing under his ear with her canines. He twitched in surprise as a small scratch opened up, hearing the soft hiss of her tears evaporating off the chains. All he could do was watch as she poured the smallest drop from the little vial. The burn was incredibly violent, perhaps more painful than anything he'd ever felt. Knowing she'd never turn him, he assumed the next most likely possibility. Figuring the silver would soon be able to kill him, he felt further frightened, but his adrenaline was already going faster than should be possible. He really hoped she knew what she was doing.

Her heaving sobs were nearly audible above the swift waters at this point as she did her best to stare into his eyes, which were now watering uncontrollably from the pain. As the plunge ahead drew nigh, any conversation they might have had would've been drowned out by the crashing river. "Please don't die," she cried, hugging his neck so tight, it almost choked him. The waterfall approached at a deafening roar, and her skin continued to sizzle and steam as she leaned against him, acting as a shield for the drop ahead. Just as they went over the edge, he passed out from the black boiling wound that had now spread from behind his ear to across his shoulder. Only a few seconds later, not knowing when the concrete slap of water or solid stone would hit, she blacked out as well from her own burning flesh.

Klove awoke with a jolt, sweat dripping down her arms onto the mattress. The same nightmare again. Why couldn't she ever leave it behind?