A Necessary Sacrifice...?

The still air was damp, clinging to the skin and dampening LiangLin's hair. Wafts of air condensed and swirled up towards the dark roof from his every breath. Bare stone walls grew patches of moss, the only source of light the quivering flame of the oil lamp left on the far corner of otherwise scarcely decorated cellar. 

A bed for two was shoved against the only clean-looking wall, but LiangLin paid it no attention as his darkened nails scratched at the wooden door before pushing at it lightly, testing the resistance. It was locked on the other side, and when he tried to put more weight on it, a faint golden light could be seen from between the cracks. 

The door was magically enforced to lock him in like a prisoner.

Blood red eyes reflected the flame as LiangLin hissed in annoyance. With no way out of the cellar, LiangLin pulled the bedcover he had flung over his shoulders tighter, trying to withstand the cold that made his snake slow to near hibernation.