_Anya’s POV_
I could not breathe.
My entire body felt frozen as I stared through the tiny keyhole.
The room inside looked ancient. The stone walls were cracked and dark with age. Parts of the ceiling had collapsed long ago and wooden beams hung above the room like broken bones. Thick black stains covered certain parts of the floor and walls. Dust floated through the candlelight slowly like smoke.
But it was the candles that frightened me the most. There were dozens of them. Maybe even hundreds.
Black candles burned across the room in strange circles and patterns. Their flames flickered unnaturally even though no wind entered the room. The air inside looked thick somehow....almost heavy.
And the symbols…
My stomach twisted violently.
Dark red symbols covered the stone floor. Some we
