Bloodbound

Bloodbound: The First Clue (part 1)

The sound of boots on stone echoed through the damp corridor. The dim light from Elias’ torch flickered along the walls, casting long shadows that seemed to twist and move. Lila walked a few paces ahead of him, her steps careful but confident. She had a map in hand, an old piece of parchment that looked as fragile as the building around them.

They had been at this for days now, tracing leads and following fragments of ancient lore that had brought them to this crumbling cathedral. Hidden beneath the foundations of a forgotten church in an equally forgotten part of the city, they had uncovered the first real clue to the location of the Temple of Blood. At least, that’s what Elias hoped.

“How much further?” Elias asked, his voice breaking the heavy silence.

Lila didn’t look back. “The map says there’s an antechamber ahead. If the records are right, it’s where the priests used to conduct their rituals. That’s where we’ll find the clue.”

Elias nodded, though the skepticism lingered in his mind. He had been searching for the temple for centuries, and every lead had turned into a dead end. This time felt different, though. There was a weight in the air, a sense of anticipation that he hadn’t felt in years. But anticipation was dangerous. It made you reckless.

He glanced at Lila, who moved with a sense of purpose, the torchlight catching the sharp angles of her face. She hadn’t spoken much since they had left the city, and Elias could tell she was still sizing him up, still questioning his motives. He didn’t blame her. Trust wasn’t something that came easily—especially when vampires were involved.

As they continued down the corridor, the air grew colder, the walls narrowing as if the space itself was closing in around them. The faint scent of decay lingered, and Elias’ senses sharpened instinctively. Something felt off.

“Stop,” Lila whispered, holding up her hand.

Elias froze, his eyes scanning the darkness ahead. He couldn’t hear anything unusual, but Lila’s instincts had been right before. Slowly, she crouched down and examined the floor just in front of them. It was cracked, but not in the way age would have caused. This was recent, and deliberate.

“A trap?” Elias asked, keeping his voice low.

Lila nodded. “Looks like it.”

She traced her fingers along the stone, revealing thin pressure plates embedded in the floor. They were nearly invisible, worn with time and covered in dust, but the danger was clear. Elias knelt beside her, studying the mechanism.

“Step on one of those, and we’re done for,” Lila murmured.

Elias reached into his coat and pulled out a small knife. He pressed the blade against the edge of one of the plates, testing its movement. It shifted slightly, confirming their suspicions.

“Let’s go around,” he said quietly.

Lila gave him a quick nod and stood, carefully stepping around the trap. Elias followed closely, his eyes scanning the walls for any further dangers. The cathedral had been designed to protect something—probably whatever clue they were looking for. And if there were traps this far underground, it meant they were close.

As they rounded a corner, the corridor opened into a small, circular chamber. It was cold here, unnaturally so, and Elias felt the familiar chill that often accompanied places steeped in old magic. The air was thick with the scent of damp stone and decay, and in the center of the room stood an altar, covered in dust and cobwebs.

Lila approached the altar cautiously, running her fingers over the surface. There were symbols etched into the stone—ancient, barely visible through the layers of grime. She squinted, brushing away some of the dust to reveal more.

“This is it,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Elias moved closer, studying the symbols. They were old, predating most vampire lore he was familiar with. He recognized a few—marks of protection, warnings to trespassers—but the rest were unfamiliar. It wasn’t surprising. The Temple of Blood was supposed to be the origin of vampirism, its location shrouded in mystery for centuries. Any clues left behind would have been hidden or forgotten over time.

Lila pointed to a specific set of markings at the base of the altar. “These symbols here—they’re coordinates.”

Elias’ eyes widened. “Coordinates?”

Lila nodded. “They point to a location in Eastern Europe. Somewhere in the Carpathians. It’s remote, but I’ve heard of other ruins in that area that date back to the same time period. If the temple exists, that’s where we’ll find it.”