Alicarde arrived at the Aquifer Chamber, his violet eyes scanning the vast space. The chamber was massive, with high, vaulted ceilings supported by old stone pillars.
The walls were slick with moisture, and the air was thick with the stench of decay and blood. Scattered around the chamber were several Strigoi, their grotesque forms slinking in and out of the shadows, their eyes glowing with malevolent intent.
In the corners of the chamber, crude cages held human prisoners—mostly pregnant women, small children, a few men, and another group who appeared to be in the midst of a horrific transformation into Strigoi.
At the center of the chamber was a large, ominous ritual site. A blood-red magic circle was etched into the stone floor, pulsating with dark energy.