Chapter 40

Axel's POV

I found Sarah in the library, her usual sanctuary in this cursed mansion. She was engrossed in a thick, leather-bound tome, her face a picture of concentration. But even the library's walls, lined with centuries of knowledge, couldn't protect her from what was coming.

"Sarah," I said softly, stepping into the room. She looked up, her eyes immediately searching mine for answers. She knew something was wrong.

"What is it?" she asked, her voice steady but laced with concern.

I closed the door behind me, ensuring we wouldn't be overheard. "Eleanor and Victor discovered the chambers and know that your aunts are gone."

Her eyes widened, and I could see the wheels turning in her mind. She had freed them days ago, but the Blackwoods were only now realizing it.

"They were supposed to sacrifice them tonight," I continued, my voice low. "The Blood Moon demands blood. With your aunts gone, they'll be looking for someone else to offer."

Sarah's face went pale. "Do they think it was me?"

"They're suspicious," I admitted, moving closer. "Eleanor, especially. She's relentless, Sarah. If she doesn't find out who freed them, she'll resort to black magic to uncover the truth."

"Black magic?" she whispered, horrified.

"Yes," I said grimly. "She'll perform a ritual-one that can pull secrets from the depths of someone's soul. If she does, she'll know everything."

Sarah swallowed hard, the weight of my words sinking in. "What do we do?"

Before I could answer, the ground beneath us trembled. It was subtle at first, like a distant rumble of thunder, but it quickly grew stronger. The walls around us began to groan, and then, to my horror, dark red liquid seeped from the cracks. Blood. Thick, crimson streams cascaded down the walls, pooling at the baseboards.

Sarah gasped, stumbling to her feet. "What-what is this?"

The mansion seemed to breathe, its groans turning into low, guttural growls that vibrated through the floor. The air grew dense, oppressive, as if the house itself was alive and watching.

"The Blood Moon," I said, my voice tight. "It's getting closer. The mansion feels it. Everything in this place-it's tied to the demon. On nights like this, it all comes alive."

Sarah clung to the edge of the table, her eyes darting around the room as the walls continued to bleed. The ground shook again, harder this time, sending a stack of books tumbling to the floor.

"Axel, this isn't normal," she said, her voice trembling.

"No, it's not," I replied, steadying her as another tremor rippled through the room. "The mansion is reacting to the imbalance. It knows the ritual hasn't been fulfilled yet."

As quickly as it began, the chaos started to subside. The growls faded into an eerie silence, and the walls stopped bleeding. The ground stilled beneath our feet, but the oppressive atmosphere lingered.

Sarah looked at me, her face pale and drawn. "Is this going to keep happening?"

"Until the Blood Moon passes," I said. "Or until the demon gets its sacrifice."

She shook her head, her eyes filled with a mix of fear and determination. "They'll come after me, won't they? If they think I freed my aunts, Eleanor won't stop until she's sure."

I hesitated, then nodded. "That's why I'm here. I needed to warn you. You can't let her see your fear, Sarah. If Eleanor senses weakness, she'll dig deeper."

Sarah clenched her fists, her resolve hardening. "What about you? Won't they suspect you, too?"

"I've given them a plausible explanation," I said. "I told them your aunts might have slipped their chains because of how much weight they've lost. It's bought us some time, but not much."

She nodded slowly, her mind racing. "Then we have to be ready for whatever comes next."

"We will be," I assured her. "But you need to stay vigilant. The closer we get to midnight, the more unstable this place will become."

As if to punctuate my words, a faint, echoing growl reverberated through the mansion once more.

___

Sarah POV

"What do we do?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Before Axel could respond, the ground beneath us shuddered. The vibration was subtle at first, like a low hum, but it grew stronger with each passing second. Then, to my horror, dark crimson liquid began to seep from the cracks in the walls.

"Axel," I breathed, stepping back as the blood trickled down, leaving thick, glistening trails.

The mansion groaned around us, a deep, guttural sound that sent shivers down my spine. The air grew heavy, oppressive, and the walls seemed to pulse, as if they were alive.

"It's the Blood Moon," Axel said, his voice steady despite the chaos. "The mansion is responding to the imbalance. It knows the ritual hasn't been completed."

I pressed myself against the table, my heart pounding. The walls continued to bleed, the dark liquid pooling at the baseboards. The growling grew louder, echoing through the room like the breath of a beast lurking just beyond sight.

"Why is this happening?" I asked, my voice trembling.

"The mansion is tied to the demon," Axel said. "On nights like this, it becomes a living entity, reacting to the energy of the ritual. Without a sacrifice, it's destabilizing."

The ground trembled again, harder this time, sending books tumbling from the shelves. I clutched the edge of the table, trying to steady myself as the room seemed to close in around us.

"Axel, it's getting worse," I said, panic creeping into my voice.

"It will," he said, moving closer to me. "Until the Blood Moon passes or the demon gets what it's owed."

As if on cue, the mansion let out a final, bone-rattling groan. Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the chaos subsided. The growling faded into silence, and the walls stopped bleeding. The ground beneath us stilled, but the air remained thick with tension.

I looked at Axel, my chest heaving. "Is this going to keep happening?"

"Until the night is over, yes," he said. "And Eleanor will stop at nothing to ensure the ritual is completed. She'll come for you if she thinks you're responsible."

A cold dread settled over me. Eleanor's suspicions were dangerous enough, but now I had to worry about her dark magic uncovering the truth.

"Why are you telling me this?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"Because I don't want you to face this alone," Axel said, his gaze intense. "You need to be prepared. Eleanor will push you, test you. You can't let her see your fear."

I nodded, trying to steel myself. "And if she finds out?"

Axel's expression darkened. "Then we'll have to find another way to protect you. But for now, you need to stay strong. The Blood Moon is close, and things are only going to get worse."

The mansion groaned again, a low, ominous sound that sent a shiver down my spine. It felt as if the house itself was watching, waiting for the ritual to be completed.

I clenched my fists, determination flaring within me. "I won't let her break me."

Axel nodded, but his eyes remained troubled. "Good. Because if Eleanor gets her way, none of us will survive the night."