“So this is it? This is where Lilith lives?”

“Just follow,” Annora said through gritted teeth. I noted how much heavier her breathing had suddenly become as we neared the entrance.

I’d expected a more salubrious abode for such a renowned witch. At least a castle of some sorts. I found it hard to believe that she could be living in this damp cave.

Annora led me forward, deeper and deeper, until we reached a door. As soon as she placed her fingers on the handle, it clicked and swung open. The next chamber was dimly lit by lanterns that hung from the walls, unlike the pitch-black chamber we’d just left.

We walked for several minutes hearing nothing but our echoing footsteps. After this winding tunnel we reached another oak door. Annora reached out once again, her hand now shaking. I gripped her shoulders and turned her to face me. Her face was pale and sweaty, her lips tightly pursed.

“Just let me in, you can stay here,” I said.

She shook her head. “I’ll come with you,” she said, her voice hoarse.

Although I didn’t want her in the same room as Lilith and me while we had our conversation, clearly now wasn’t the time to argue. Once I’d come face to face with Lilith, I’d be in more of a position to ask Annora to leave.

She unlocked the door and, as I stepped forward through the door and into an odd circular chamber, I was immediately overwhelmed by the stench. Something dead and rotten, like decaying flesh. The smell was intensified tenfold thanks to the lack of air in this dim room.

The dusty floor sloped downward, leading toward a strange dark pool in the center of the chamber. I scanned the area, but to my disappointment, there was nobody here.

“Where is she?” I asked.

“Shh,” Annora hissed.

She gripped my hand and led me down the slope to the pool of liquid. The closer I got to it, the more unbearable the smell became.

Annora seemed quite unfazed by it. She hurried forward until she was standing right at the edge of the pond.

“It is me,” she said, her voice shaking. “Annora.”

I took a step back as ripples began to form in the dark liquid. Soon enough, it parted to reveal a motionless corpse floating in the water. The corpse of a woman. Until she sat bolt upright. Black eyes shot open, gleaming as they reflected the dim lighting in the chamber. Her skin was thin and rotten. Where it had disintegrated around her forehead, bone was visible. A tuft of hair hung limply from her scalp, which was otherwise shriveled and bald.

“What is this?” I breathed.

“Lilith,” Annora whispered. “The last Ancient among us.”

Chapter 32: Caleb

Chills ran down my spine as I stared at the ghostly form.

Her shriveled lips parted, and ancient witch tongue spilled out.

“Why are you here?” she croaked, her voice rasping against my ears.

I had been around Annora long enough to be able to detect witch tongue, though when I spoke I wasn’t able to express myself well. I wasn’t sure that she would understand me but I had no hope but to try.

I was still in shock. I had believed that all the Ancients had passed from this world centuries ago. I couldn’t understand how one could have survived for so long.

Most of all, looking at her, I felt a crushing feeling in my stomach. I’d come in hopes of finding a solution to Annora’s misery, in hopes of finding a cure for her, a recourse. Looking at this creature of nightmares, I couldn’t imagine she’d do anything but add more darkness to my already pitch-black life.

Annora stepped in front of me and curtsied.

“Your Grace, I have come here with this vampire because he wishes to turn into one of us.” She looked conflicted even as she spoke the words, but she knew she had no choice in the matter if she ever wanted to regain a semblance of peace in her life again. Annora knew how stubborn I could be.

Lilith’s black eyes settled on me as she clucked her tongue, looking me over from head to foot. She retched suddenly. Black fluid dripped from her mouth into her cesspool. She looked back up at me, wiping her mouth with the back of her sharp bony hand.

“He’s not ready,” she said, looking back at Annora.

Annora and I exchanged glances. I saw relief in her eyes more than anything.

It was now time to take matters into my own hands.

“Leave, Annora,” I said, “I want to speak alone with Lilith.”

Annora glared at me. “Only if Lilith wants. She may not want to waste any more of her precious time with you.”

I scowled and turned back to look down at the disgusting creature. In the best witch tongue I could manage, I looked her directly in the eye and said, “I wish to speak with you alone, if you’ll let me. There is more to me than you perhaps realize.”

Lilith gargled. I wasn’t sure whether that was supposed to be a snort or a chuckle. Whatever it was, she was shaking her head. Not a good sign.

“Please,” I said.

Annora gripped my arm. “She doesn’t want to speak with you, Caleb.” She began to tug on me and pull me back toward the door.

I broke free from Annora and glowered down at Lilith. I didn’t know what possessed me—I could only assume desperation—but with one leap I dropped into the pool with the odious creature.

I thought the pool was shallow, but I found myself falling, the weight of my body sucking me down into the grime. It took all my strength to not be sucked under completely. I managed to keep my head above water. It was so heavy the substance felt almost like quicksand and it was a constant struggle to remain above the surface. Luckily I had the strength of a vampire. Any mere human would have been sucked right under, probably never to be seen again.