Krob

Author's note: this chapter is from Seraphina's point of view

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Aldus gave me the lantern to hold, and I followed him through the narrow dark hallway that had no other passages or doors that could lead in or out of it. None that I could see, at least. The path in front of us was flat, but I had a feeling that we are descending.

"How do people enter this place?", I asked. After a few seconds of not getting a response from Aldus, I rephrased my question: "Can anyone else open that passage in the wall of the church, or is that something only you can do?"

"To my knowledge, I am the only one.", Aldus responded and after a few seconds, he added: "However, some creatures are not limited by physical barriers in order to reach a certain destination."

"Like ghosts?"

Aldus chuckled at my question. "Do you believe in ghosts, Serina?"

I was not sure what is funny. "I saw a werewolf. I am an immortal. It is not impossible that ghosts exist."

Aldus hummed but didn't confirm or deny my statement.

"Do you think that Lazarus will let me see his wolf form?", I asked while trying to break the silence. Aldus seemed deep in his thoughts and I was nervous after what happened at the fair.

"Would you like to see it?", he asked in a flat voice.

"Yes. I remember you saying that you can change your appearance. I would like to see that as well."

"Sure. Soon.", he mumbled grumpily, and I took that as a warning to stop disturbing him.

About two minutes later, we reached a heavy wooden door that seemed hundreds of years old.

Aldus waved his hand in front of the door and grabbed the big black handle. The door opened with a loud creaking sound that made my hairs stand on ends.

The current eerie scene reminded me of horror movies, and this was definitely a place where scary things are bound to happen. The fact that we were chased by a mob, entered through the wall that opened magically, and we made our way through a long dark medieval-looking tunnel didn't help in brightening up the mood.

I was two steps behind Aldus, and I observed the big dark space that was sparsely lit with lanterns.

"Wait here.", Aldus told me, took the lantern from my hand, and moved swiftly to the left.

I used this opportunity to get identify things in the massive room I found myself in.

The wall in front of me was filled with shelves that held boxes of various shapes and sizes and… jars. There were numerous jars filled with things, and it reminded me of Aldus's lab in Venice where I saw a brain floating in a jar.

Under the shelves at about the height of my waist, was a long table that had worn-out books and parchments. Further on the left, I saw more containers, some of them glowed faintly or released light smoke.

In the middle of the room was a big stone table and I could see signs etched into it.

I was observing the right wall, which was lined with drawers when Aldus approached me while holding something I could not identify.

"How are you feeling?", Aldus asked while not removing his gaze from the oval-shaped spiky device in his right hand.

"Uhm… curious.", was the best I could think of.

"Can you try to recreate the feeling you had while we were at the fair in the alley?"

I realized that the device in his hind must be for measuring something.

"I will try…" I closed my eyes and remembered the puppy and Aldus's words and the sadness filled my heart. It was not as intense as previously, but it was the best I could do.

"Hmm… this is not enough…", I heard Aldus mumbling from my left.

I continued focusing, but I could sense that the more I thought about it, the more my feelings dulled.

My eyes fluttered open.

"Is this…? AHHH!"

An uncontrolled scream escaped my lips when I saw the creature who was standing in front of me.

He was about the same height as me, but his appearance of a dried-up body was appalling. It was like a human that withered, leaving bones and shriveled grayish skin on his body. The creature's completely black eyes were dull and devoid of any spark, and where the nose should be it was a nub with two holes in it. He was wearing a tattered dark gray cloak with a hoodie that reached the floor and covered most of him while revealing his face, neck, and arms, but I could imagine that the rest of his body looks about the same.

I wanted to scream and call Aldus for help, but I was unable to move. I was unable to make a sound. I was petrified.

"Master, can I eat her?", a crackled wheezy voice came from the creature and I felt cold sweat running down my spine.

Did he say that he wants to eat me? And who is that Master the creature is talking to? Is there more of them?

"YES!", Aldus exclaimed from behind me and the only thing that prevented me from falling on the ground was that my body was completely frozen in fear.

The creature extended its bony hand toward me, and I swear that he smiled as his dried-up lips opened, revealing darkness where teeth and tongue should be. Its mouth cavity looked like an abyss that was about to suck me in and I could not move a muscle.

The bony finger was one inch away from my face when Aldus slapped his hand.

"She is not food, Krob."

The creature called Krob exhaled through its nose sharply. "You said 'yes', Master."

"Not for the food question. 'Yes' was for the readings I'm getting.", Aldus said to the creature like he is scolding a child.

Even with his distorted features, I could see that Krob was disappointed with Aldus's words. Krob slowly rubbed the hand that got slapped.

About a minute of awkward silence passed before Aldus glanced at me and then at the creature: "Serina, this is Krob. Krob, this is Seraphina… my daughter."

I could not believe that Aldus spoke like nothing strange is happening. There is a dried-up corpse in front of me who wants to eat me!

"I didn't know you have a child, Master. A big one at that.", Krob wheezed.

Aldus waved his hand, indicating to Krob that he will not talk about it. Aldus was too engrossed staring at the instrument he was holding onto, and he didn't care to explain to Krob his family situation.

I stood without moving, and every time I involuntarily blinked I feared that I will provoke the Krob creature. What the Hell is going on? And why is Krob not moving away from me?

It took a few endless minutes (or seconds, or hours) for Aldus to speak up.

"Serina, this is amazing!"

"What is?", I asked in a whisper, aware that Krob is observing me intently.

"Krob, give her some space.", Aldus said flatly when he noticed that Krob is too close and that I am beyond uncomfortable.

Krob moved two steps backward, in a smooth motion, like he was gliding and I found it easier to breathe. Not because of the distance, but because the creature obeyed Aldus. It made me feel safer.

"I am brilliant!", Aldus praised himself shamelessly. "I knew that emotions will trigger your ability, and this worked perfectly."

It took me a few seconds to realize… "You brought me here and didn't warn me about Krob's existence so that you can test something while I die of fear?"

Aldus lifted his gaze from the instrument and looked at me blankly.

"You are an immortal, Serina. How can you die of fear?"

'That was not the point, damnit!', I screamed internally.

My body was buzzing from anxiousness. Was it because of the fact that Aldus set me up only to get a reading? Or due to the fact that I have no idea what is going on? Or maybe it was the stress from the incident on the street where the mob from the fair was chasing after me? This day was too overwhelming, and it was still far from over.

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See Krob's photo in the comments...

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