Belladonna's breath caught in her throat and Alaris seemed to have gone still above her - he had definitely noticed too. By now, he must know that the woman had seen them.
The steps of another person approaching into the room made the woman look away, and Alaris used that moment to move them deeper into their hiding place.
If the meddling stranger should try to investigate the situation, he would have to kill her. The thought delighted his dragon but that was an unwise mess he didn't plan to leave. It would be better if his thirst for hearts and blood would reign free another worthy day.
“It is time for the speech, mother.” A feminine voice said, it most likely belonged to the person who had just stepped in. “You are crying again.”
The soft ruffling sound of dresses and chains filled the air for a moment.
Belladonna frowned.
What were they doing?
She was crying again. “I’m alright, my dear. You go before me.”
“Mother?”
“I will be right behind you, I promise.”
Belladonna's heart skipped a beat, as she heard only the clicking boots of one person leaving the room.
Why was she waiting behind?
She probably wanted to investigate what she had seen. What kind of powers did she have? Would it be possible to knock her unconscious? Would that be enough?
But Belladonna’s present worries met a quick end when she heard the woman leaving too. The door slammed shut with a thud and there were clickings— she was locking the room?!
Her blue eyes bulged and she looked up at Alaris, her question coming out muffled against his hand. That was when she noticed one thing - she could see him.
The woman had left a source of light behind. She had probably forgotten it due to all her crying. Or, was this intentional to help them? That didn't make any sense! Was this—
“We need to get out of here before the passage closes.”
The Passage!
Belladonna had forgotten all about that!
Alaris looked quizzically at the flameless golden lantern that was left behind on the floor before looking away. He pressed his finger against his lips signaling for her to remain quiet.
He had no idea what trick this lantern held or why it was left behind.
They had to be careful.
Quickly they started searching around for the gem. Something caught Belladonna’s attention and that was the sarcophagus in the middle of the room. Moulded on it was the image of a lady.
Suddenly, Belladonna felt lightheaded. Her legs moved on their own accord, her mind trapped with obeying the directions of the thing that was luring her to the sarcophagus.
She didn't fight it.
It felt too compelling to be disobeyed.
Her hands moved over the moulded art. The art had her hands together and curved, like there was supposed to be something there.
An idea flashed through Belladonna's mind.
This must be the Bearer.
Alaris said she was dead, so maybe she was buried here, along with the Life Gem.
Her hands traced the “Bearer’s” sculptured hands.
“Ouch!” She pulled her hands back immediately as blood flowed from her cut into the top of the sarcophagus where the moulded art was on.
Something had cut her!
She stepped back as something sudden happened. The top of the sarcophagus shifted, like an invitation.
Luring.
Belladonna staggered back, bumping into Alaris and goosebumps laced her back. She looked up at him with questions in eyes and without a word they both stepped forward to push the stone coffin open.
Alaris stopped her and stepped forwards to do it alone instead, but just at that moment a black smoke engulfed out of the coffin and pulled Belladonna towards it.
“Alaris!”
Alaris shot his flames at the stone coffin as he tried to pull Belladonna out of the grip of the smoke but it didn't work.
Instead, the smoke held him captive too and pulled them both into the sarcophagus and sealed it right back.
Buried alive with no trace of them ever being there.