36

Elizabeth realized that this was the last moment as she felt her breath seize in her throat. Oh, my God, we've reached the end;
This concludes the discussion. She experienced the sudden and vivid impression of being in the midst of a lucid dream, which is a dream in which the dreamer is aware that they are dreaming but are unable to alter the dream in any way or wake up from the dream. Her muscles were frozen in place.

Fear emanated from the other people in the room, and she could feel its cutting edge emanating from Katherine who was standing next to her. His illumination swept over the items that were beyond Denis, but Elizabeth's eyes were unable to make any sense of them at first. After seeing various angles, planes, and curves, something suddenly came into sharper focus for her. A pale white face that was twisted in a hideous fashion to the side
...

She was unable to let the scream escape her throat. It turned out to be a statue, and many of its characteristics were recognizable. They were identical to the inscriptions that were found on the top of the tomb. This tomb was an identical duplicate of the one that they had just emerged from. Except for the fact that this particular one had been ransacked, with the stone lid being shattered into two pieces and tossed against the crypt wall. Something that looked like frail ivory sticks was dispersed around the floor. Elizabeth feverishly tried to convince her brain that it was merely marble and fragments of marble, but the brain would not listen.

They were the broken and crushed remains of human bones.
Denis did a 180 degree turn.

Her heart-shaped face swung back and forth, giving the impression that her blank eyes were scanning the gathering. She landed in a position where she was facing Elizabeth head-on.

Then, with a startled shiver, she tripped and lurched forward abruptly, like a puppet whose strings had been severed.

Elizabeth just just managed to catch her before she fell completely. The brown eyes that peered up at her, dilated and bewildered, were Denis's own scared eyes. "Denis? Denis?" she yelled. Elizabeth questioned, "But what exactly took place?" Where did it end up going?

"I have arrived."

A hazy light could be seen emanating from above the looted tomb. No, Elizabeth, this is not a light.
thought. She was able to see it with her eyes, but the light that she was seeing did not fall inside the typical spectrum. This was something that was more odd than infrared or ultraviolet; it was something that the human senses were not designed to see. It was being shown to her, drilled into her head by some higher power from the outer world.

She said, "The Other Power," as her blood began to rapidly freeze. "No, Elizabeth," he said.

In the same manner that the vision was not light and the voice did not have a sound, the voice did not have a sound. It was as still as a starry night, and miserable. It brought up a specific memory for her.

In the same manner that the vision was not light and the voice did not have a sound, the voice did not have a sound. It was as still as a starry night, and miserable. It brought up a specific memory for her.

Honoria Fell's voice could be heard saying, "I've been waiting for you," although it was very quiet. "Here, at least, I can talk to you in my own form, and not via Denis's lips. Pay attention to what I have to say. Your time is limited, and the threat is significant."

Elizabeth finally rediscovered her voice. But what exactly is this chamber, and why did you bring us here in the first place?

"Because you asked me to, and because until you asked, I couldn't show you, this is your battlefield."

"I don't comprehend."

"The congregation of Fell's Church took the time and effort to construct this crypt as a last resting place for me.
my body. A hidden location for one who had secret talents throughout their life. Similar to Denis, I knew things that no one else could know, and I saw things that no one else could see."

Denis said in a husky voice, "You had psychic abilities."

When I passed away, they constructed this monument for me so that my husband and I may sleep in peace. However, after a number of years had passed, our serenity was disrupted. In those days, people referred to it as witchcraft. However, I never used my skills to do anybody any harm.
Honoria's appearance changed as the eldritch light ebbed and flowed about her. It polluted my resting place and scattered my bones. It built its home here. It went forth to work evil against my town. I woke up. "Another Power came to Fell's Church, full of anger and devastation. It defiled my resting place and scattered my bones.

"Ever from the beginning, Elizabeth, I have tried to caution you against doing that. It makes its home in this crypt under the cemetery. It has been keeping an eye on you as it waited for you. Occasionally taking the shape of an owl"

An owl. Elizabeth's thoughts raced forward. An owl, like the owl she had seen nesting in the belfry of the church. Like the owl that had been in the barn. Like the owl that was in the black locust tree outside her home. An owl. Elizabeth's mind raced ahead.

She thought of a white owl, a hunting bird, a carnivore, and then she recalled a gigantic bird formed of mist or snow, rushing after her, focusing on her, full of bloodlust and animal hatred...

"No!

" She sobbed as the recollection washed over her.

It was only when she felt Katherine's hands on her shoulders and his fingers pressing in almost painfully that she was pulled back to the present moment, where Honoria Fell was still talking.

"And you as well, Katherine; it has been keeping a close eye on you. You were the target of its hatred long before Elizabeth was. It has been annoying you and playing games with you as a cat might with a mouse. It despises those you hold dear. It is rife with love that has been tainted with poison.


Instinctively, Elizabeth turned her head to look behind her and saw Merit, Alaric, and Matt standing still. Denis and Katherine were standing close to Elizabeth, but Dominic... where was Dominic?

Instinctively, Elizabeth turned her head to look behind her and saw Merit, Alaric, and Matt standing still. Denis and Katherine were standing close to Elizabeth, but Dominic... where was Dominic?

"Let's Do the Snow Dance!

" Merit said in a stern tone.

"Yes. "We have to warn those people," Matt said. "Everyone at that dance-" "We have to warn those people," Matt continued. "And this time, they will kill until the last of them is murdered."
"Until the mind that controls them is taken out of the equation, you will never be secure." The murdering of

will go on. You are tasked with eliminating the Malevolent Power, and it is for this reason that I have sent you here.

There was another shift in the light, and it seemed to be fading away. "You have the guts, if you can find it," the voice said. Be strong. This is the only assistance that I am able to provide for you.

Elizabeth started out by saying, "Wait, please."

The voice spoke in an insistent manner, paying no attention to her presence, and said, "Denis, you have a choice. Your abilities are a secret, and with that comes a duty. They are a gift as well, but one that may be revoked at any time. Do you intend to give up possession of them? "

Denis shook her head and said, "I don't know," while exhibiting signs of fear. I am in desperate need of time... yet there is none. You must choose." The light was fading away, collapsing in on itself.
Denis looked up at Elizabeth with eyes that were confused and unsure as she sought for guidance. Elizabeth murmured, "It's your decision. You have to decide for yourself."
Denis stepped away from Elizabeth, without assistance, moving back to the light. "I'll keep them," she whispered in a hushed voice. "I'll deal with them some ways. " It was my granny who accomplished it."

A trace of something that looked like amusement flickered over the face of the light. "You've chosen well. They are available for your usage as well. This will be the last time that I communicate with you." "But-"
"I am deserving of this relaxation. The battle is yours," she said, and then the brilliance began to dim, as if it were the final embers of a smoldering fire.
Now that it was gone, Elizabeth could feel the strain all around her. Something was about to happen. Some kind of crushing force was either moving toward them or hovering over them. "Katherine-"