Grayson's Veil: Part II (On Hiatus)

Eilif walked down the candle-lit halls with a purpose in his fast-paced steps. Emotions flickered over his features like the shadows flickered over the walls, unable to hide them behind the mask he wore whenever he dealt with the counsel or any of the high-standing Lamia’s. There was too much happening to continue the mask.

His footman was missing. He had sent him out days before to slaughter Grayson and bring him his head as a trophy, only to find out from Richard’s Lycan pack that there was an altercation that caused many to be injured, a few deaths, and their Alpha, along with Lenore’s husband and familiar, to go missing.

Eilif gritted his teeth together at the idea of Lenore’s husband still being alive.

It hung over his head like foul poison.

Clutching his fists behind his back, Eilif hunched over and hurried further down the corridor.

When he was finally met with a wooden door, he quickly looked over his shoulder to make sure the servants were not near. Satisfied, he threw it open and was met with stone stairs descending into the dark. Though there was no light, he knew they led down to the dungeon which held his secrets.

He walked cautiously down the steps, trying to be as silent as possible. Even though the Councilors and other Lamias never had interest in the dungeons, Eilif still felt the need to be stealthy when it came to this.

Coming to another door that was made of solid iron, Eilif pushed it open. The door protested with loud creaks and groans, making him grimace and harshly remind himself to oil the hinges before his next visit. When it was open enough for him to enter, he slipped into the cold, dark hallway.

Closing it behind him and locking it, he turned to the closest sconce with a lit candle. He could see just fine in the dark but wanted the ambient glow of the fires. It seemed to calm the turmoil that was dwelling in the depths of his soul.

He grabbed the candle and started walking to the first tall fire pit. The bars around the center acted as a precaution since there were accidents of his creatures touching the fire and nearly setting the castle ablaze.

He lit the first one. The wood crackled and burst to life, effectively lighting its portion of the corridor.

As he walked the length of the dungeon, keeping his head low due to the low ceiling, he would stop and light each fire pit. The shadows danced to a beat that Eilif could not hear, giving light when there was none.

When he reached the end of the long corridor, Eilif turned and examined the dungeon. The walls were made of stone brick and dried mud, same as the floor. There was a heavy wooden door on each side every fourteen feet with four large silver chains running across each of them.

They were made to keep what was inside, inside.

There was also a small hole that was covered with a silver shield on each door at eye level. Eilif lifted the one he was closest to, wanting to inspect what was behind it.

Dirty stone brick lined the floor and walls, chains for wrists and ankles hung on one side of the wall while the opposite had a straw bed. There was a bucket in the corner that was overflowing with urine and feces.

The smell coming from the room made his stomach constrict and cramp.

There was no light, but with Eilif’s enhanced eyesight he could see the man in the middle of the room, huddled in a fetal position on the dirty floor with sick not too far from him.

EIlif waited for the man to acknowledge him.

Minutes ticked by while his patience started to thin. He knew the man was alive, he could hear his shallow breathing and slow beating heart.

With a string of patience left, Eilif tapped on the door. The man instantly flinched, then slowly looked over his shoulder.

“Ah, you are alive. How do you feel?” Eilif inquired not unkindly.

The man slowly turned over so he could get up. He stood on unsteady feet, knees wobbling side to side while taking a step forward.

When he was a few steps away from the door, he flung himself at it causing a loud bang to echo throughout the dungeon.

“W-what d-did you do to m-me?” The man stuttered out; his voice raspy from a dry throat.

Eilif studied him under the dancing fire. The skin on his face was peeling and turning green. A pungent smell was emanating from him, causing EIlif to take half a step back.

The man gagged, then spewed up black liquid, covering the door on both sides. Eilif took another step back, being cautious not to touch the bile.

The door sizzled marginally, and little wisps of smoke floated in front of Eilif’s face. He was pleased, the man’s transformation was coming along nicely.

“Just an experiment, my good man. You are making history in my world. Be proud. Feel honored that I chose you to be a part of this.” Eilif explained. He shut the peep whole while the man continued to cough and splutter out more black liquid.

He moved on to the next door, opening the silver cover again. This time the man’s transformation was complete.

The man was officially a Ghoul.

The ghoul was wandering back and forth in its cell, limping and dragging its feet while spewing vile liquid along its path. It would try to talk but the odd tentacles wriggling in its mouth made it a difficult task to accomplish.

Satisfied, Eilif shut the cover and moved to the next.

This cell had a normal man in it. He was sitting on the straw bed, hugging his knees and rocking back and forth.

“Do you wish to leave?” Eilif spoke to him through the peephole.

The man’s head snapped up. He blinked several times, trying to figure out if he was dreaming or not. When he saw that Eilif was real, he ran to the door.

“Yes! Yes, I will do anything. Please let me out! Something is down here that is not human, it moans and pukes while screaming in agony. I am going mad!” The man desperately clawed at the door, not caring that pieces of the wood were getting stuck under his fingernails.

Eilif hushed the man until he was calm, only just small tears streaking his face instead of the hysteria that had consumed him. He produced a small vial with black blood in it, tipping it back and forth as he waited.

“I have a proposition for you. If you consume what I have here,” he showed the man the vial, “And let me study you, I will let you go within four days.”

The man glanced back and forth between the vile and EIlif, his face showing his confusion.

“What is it?” The man whispered, afraid of the answer.

Eilif shook his head. “Nothing for you to be worried about.”

The man stared at the vial, then lifted a shaky hand.

Smiling, Eilif carefully slipped the vial through the hole. “Drink it all, don’t mind the taste. It is bitter like medicine.”

The man nodded, not really listening to Eilif anymore. He popped the cork off and tossed the liquid back, consuming it as fast as he could. When he finished, he dropped the vial. The glass shattered loudly, making some of the creatures start to run and bang on their doors.

“ENOUGH!” Eilif yelled, making the creatures go quiet after a small protest.

Turning back to his newest experiment, he watched the man start to shake and gage.

“What did you give me?” He strained to get out.

“Oh, nothing too special. Just dead Lamia blood.” Eilif smiled wickedly.

The man’s eyes bugged out at the confession. He grabbed his throat and groaned.

“You lied to me!”

Eilif shrugged at the accusing words. “I said I would let you go in four days. I just never specified in what condition you will be in.”

With those parting words, Eilif shut the cover harshly.

Everything was going perfectly. All the slaves he took from the Mattis household were doing exceptionally well, exceeding his expectations.

Just like Gregory Mattis promised.

Eilif ignored the rest of the creatures and made his way down to the last door next to the stairway. He gently put his hand on the door and gulped.

He was not looking forward to facing what was behind the thick wood.

As gently as he could, he opened it, pushing it quietly so no other sounds disturbed the tranquility the room was providing. Within an instant of the exposure, his palms became slick with sweat and eyes started to mist.

Turning, his gaze instantly fell on the figure in the center of the room.

Eleanor.

She was laying on a table, a white cloth covering her naked body. There were several candles lit against each of the four walls, making her face look gaunt and her skin look sickly.

A fly buzzed near her, landing on her cheek. The insect only reiterated that Eleanor was dead.

Trying to hold in a sob, Eilif stepped closer to her.

“This was never how it was supposed to be. My dear Lenore, I am so sorry I could not save you,” Eilif cried while draping himself onto her body in a protective way.

He hugged her midsection while weeping silently for the bride that could have been.

After many hours of crying and staring off into space, Eilif finally let Eleanor go.

He stood up, straightened his shirt, and righted his hair.

He brought a hand to her face, cupping her shallow cheek lovingly.

“I am sorry you are down here with my creatures. If the Council had found you, they would have made you into a feast for the Lycans. I could not allow that. So, I brought you down here and hid you.”

Eilif sighed, stroking her skin with his thumb. “I will prepare you a funeral. And it will be just me and Richard,” his features darkened at the mention of his missing footman. “If I can find him.”

Deciding not to delay any longer, Eilif dropped his hand and began to step back.

He was about to turn when the candle flames blew out.

Eilif froze in his confusion. There was no moving air in the dungeon, not even from the grates that only produced the sound of running water from the mountain.

With his heightened eyesight, he looked around the room until he was facing the door. It was still closed shut, emphasizing more that the candles should have stayed lit.

He furrowed his eyebrows, until he heard a small footstep behind him. Skin against stone.

Eilif turned and instantly went for the intruder’s throat.

But in a blur the intruder ducked away from his hand and grabbed his throat instead.

Surprised by the intruder’s strength, Eilif was pushed up against the wooden door with a thud.

With his eyes closed, Eilif grabbed the intruder’s wrist, only to pause.

Their wrist was incredibly small.

The hand on his throat tightened as he felt the intruder lean in. A faint scent of death and flowers invade his nose, making him suck in a sharp breath.

Eilif opened his eyes.

Eleanor stood in front of him, her newly long canine teeth bare in warning and ready to tear flesh. Her skin was icy cold, making his own start to ache under her hand. Her hair that he had brushed lovingly after she passed was hanging over her face and covering most of her naked body. When he looked directly into her eyes, he saw unbridled hunger.

A smile reached Eilif’s lips, even though there was none on hers.

“Len-“ He was about to say her name happily and lovingly, when she dove for his neck and bit into the artery, painting the door behind him red.