Chapter 75


    The chicken walks into the kitchen and pecks at random crumbs on the floor.


    ‘This ce is incredible. ‘Do you think I could get a tour?’ I ask of Yiselda.


    ‘Of course, as a Midnight Coven member, this is also your home now, she says proudly. She leads us


    down a lengthy corridor. I’m perplexed because the Covenstead appeared to be enormous from the


    outside, but this hall seems to be at least twice the length. As we proceed down the corridor, I notice


    that there are no doors, only old picture paintings of witches who were members of the midnight coven


    until they died or were killed. Ie to a halt in front of one to observe its beauty more thoroughly. I


    take a step back. As the artwork moves, I leap back and scream. The witch in the portrait briefly bends


    her head and smiles before returning to her previous stance.


    ‘Luna, what is it?’ Lc replies, concerned, as she ces a hand on my shoulder. I point to the portrait.


    ‘She moved, she said.


    Oh, yeah, they all do that.’ She shrugs.


    ‘You could have given me a heads up?’ I grumble.


    ‘Luna, we’re in Pandora’s Box, silly. ‘You should expect anything here, from your brightest dreams to


    your worst nightmares,’ she giggles.


    I roll my eyes and proceed to follow the others. When we reach the end of the corridor, there is no door,


    only a mirror. I nce at the reflection of all of us, confused.


    Are there no doors?’ ‘This is simply a mirror, I say.


    Yiselda and the other smile and walk through the mirror. It ripples like water as they walk through it. I


    reach my hand out and quickly poke it with my finger-the mirror ripples. In astonishment, 1 then put my


    entire hand through. Someone on the other side takes my hand and pulls me through.


    “Hurry up, slowpoke,’ Riaughs.


    Yiselda leads us along an irregrly shaped corridor with three doors, one in front of me, one on the


    left, and one on the right.


    The sleeping quarters are via this door on the left.’


    I follow her through the door and into a corridor with ten doors.


    ‘These are all bedrooms, she says as she opens the closest door.


    The bed is a big mattress that floats above the floor, with silk bedding dangling from the sides.


    Furniture moves around the room as though it has its own mind. Candles float above the bed, softly


    lighting the space.


    ‘All right, then, I answer, knowing this is out of the ordinary but not knowing what to say. A mahogany


    French wardrobees to a hait and faces me. I’m not sure if I should say hello. Magnus will think I’m


    insane if I start talking to furniture. Instead, I walked out of the room cautiously.


    The others join me, and we make our way back to the corridor with the three doors.


    ‘This middle door leads to the library, and another door in the library leads to the enchanted garden,


    adds Yiselda.


    We walk into the library. There’s a beautiful globe of the world. I spin it carefully and appreciate it.


    There are a few little tables where we can read. As I approach certain books, I notice that they are


    quite old. ‘Book of spells, Book of potions, Book of magic, Book of wards, I read various titles,


    Al the back of the library, there are two double doors. Fern opens them, and my mouth drops open in


    awe at the beauty. Like fairies, there are small balls of light floating around. I chuckle as I see the cutest


    garden gnome statues, some with their belly hanging out. I’ve never seen such lush trees and a


    colourful abundance of flowers. Toadstools, some of which were taller than me. Ie to a halt as I


    notice something beyond the bushes. It’s quite big and white.


    ‘Is that a horse?’ | ask.


    Everyoneughs as Fern responds, ‘No, Luna, it’s a unicorn.’


    ugh this time until the horse steps forwards, a horn illuminating a white light on its head,


    ‘Wait! ‘It’s a unicorn!’ I say this while pointing at it. ‘I thought you were joking?’


    ‘No, I was serious,’ Fern says,ughing.


    ‘This ce is incredible. I can’t believe you’ve got a unicorn here!


    I stroke and pat the unicorn softly. ‘She is lovely,’ I say, Yiselda remarks. ‘Her name is Star.’


    ‘Hello, my name is Nina,’ I say with a smile. Star gently rubs her head on my face.


    I look over at the garden gnomes and kneel in front of the one with the red cap and green shirt with its


    belly hanging out. My face is millimetres away from his.


    ‘I swear he had his hands on his hips, and now he’s waving his hand?’


    The gnome suddenly leans forwards, snatches a kiss off my lips, and smiles. I flush and then growl.


    ‘You, you tiny gnome! You can’t simply steal a kiss like that! I’m mates with Alpha Magnus,’ I growl.


    Snickering, the chubby gnome turns and rushes into the bushes.


    The witches are trying hard not tough.


    ‘It’s time to see the rest of Pandora’s Box,’ says Yiselda.


    We walk out of the library and into the hallway with the three doors.


    Now, the door on your right is one you should never enter on your own. The Vampire King and his


    minions are held under spell and ward in the dungeon.’


    When the door opens, there is nothing but darkness. There doesn’t appear to be a floor.


    Yiselda says, ‘Materialise, and a book emerges in her hand. She sets it at the foot of the door on the


    ground. ‘Sprouto Spawniate, she says, casting.


    The book expands five times in size, then multiplies and stacks up, forming a book staircase.


    ‘Wow, that was cool, I say. Yiselda beams.


    Everyone takes their wands and flicks the tip, sparking a heatless me that illuminates the dark stairs.


    They make their way up the steps. I grab my wand, flip it for light, and proceed up the stairs. Inside is a


    ck wooden door with a white circle containing sigils.


    ‘These sigils you see are wards designed to prevent the Vampire King from fleeing. You never, ever,


    ever wipe them away.’ Yiselda states sternly. I nod.


    We enter the dungeon once she opens the entrance. It’s gloomy and dark. I can hear a variety of


    threatening noises. Shrills, moans, growls, and hisses. Many cell doors have little green and grey


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    hands reaching out to me. I’m struck by how long their


    ws are. When I get closer and see countless little goblin creatures with razor-sharp fangs snapping


    and gnarling, I gasp and cover my mouth. They try to reach deeper through the bars with their long


    dirty ws to grab me. They’re various shades of green and grey, with ck eyes, and I know I’m


    looking at some of the most frightening creatures I’ve ever seen.


    Grimghouls,  describes them. They’re horrible little things. They have shark-like razor-sharp teeth


    and can rip anyone to shreds in seconds. ‘They have a hunger for flesh, she exins. The concept


    makes me shudder. We proceed deeper into the dungeon When I gaze into the cells, I notice that the


    darkness moves.


    “Howe it appears that something is in there, yet no one is in there?’ | ask.


    Shadow Reapers,  calls them. They are shadow entities, they hide in the shadows, so you don’t


    notice them. They suck themselves down your throat and take control of your thoughts and body. They


    make you see things that aren’t there. They hallucinogens that cause you to perform crazy things,


    typically leading to your death or the killing of others.


    re


    I back up a few steps,


    ‘Yeah, no thanks, I say, frowning.