The air in the room grew heavy as Elizabeth finished recounting the events at the Ashworth estate. Her voice trembled as she spoke of Eddie's suspicions about the Church and Walter's tragic end.
"Eddie always had his suspicions about the Church," she said, her hands clutching the edge of the table. "But I dismissed it as paranoia." She paused, tears welling in her eyes. "He was right all along."
The siblings stood frozen, the weight of her words crashing over them. Damien bit his lip, his fists clenched tightly. He tried to hold back the tears, but they spilled over anyway, streaming down his face.
Elizabeth handed Damien and Sarah a tissue. "I know how it feels. The weight of thousand years old problems suddenly dropping on your shoulders,"
Damien's shoulders shook as he took the tissue, his anger and sorrow warring within him. Elizabeth turned and picked up a torch from the table. "Follow me," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Sarah and Damien exchanged a hesitant glance before trailing after her, Palmer following silently behind. Elizabeth led them to a hidden passage beneath the estate, the air growing cooler as they descended into the shadows. The torchlight flickered against the stone walls, casting long, dancing shadows.
After several minutes of walking, they reached a massive door. Elizabeth produced a key from her pocket and unlocked it with a heavy 'clunk'. The door creaked open, revealing a dark, cavernous room. Dust particles floated in the air, illuminated by the torchlight, as if the room had been untouched for centuries. Yet, as Elizabeth pulled a lever by the door, the room lit up, revealing its pristine interior. The walls were lined with ancient books and artifacts, meticulously preserved despite their age.
"Edward claimed he saw things in his dreams," Elizabeth explained as she stepped inside, her voice echoing in the vast space. "Some of which he came here to jot down. Others, he didn't even remember writing." She paused, her gaze lingering on the shelves. "Your dad and mom were the only ones who believed him."
"Just like Josh Montgomery," Sarah murmured, her eyes scanning the room.
Elizabeth nodded. "That's why I called Palmer." She glanced at him. Palmer's scarlet eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
Elizabeth finally found the book she was looking for—Edward's journal. She flipped through the pages, her fingers trembling slightly. "There's one he jotted here," she said, her voice low. "Hinting at the gods abandoning the guardians and withdrawing their blessings." She stopped on a page and pointed to a passage. "Ah, here it is,"
The text read:
"Lo, the gods did turn their faces from the guardians, and their blessings were withdrawn, for the world had sunk deep into the maw of corruption. So great was the shadow of evil that it consumed all, sparing not even the sanctity of the holy Church. Yea, the very creations of the divine, forsaken and left to wander in darkness, did rise of their own will, seeking paths of deliverance by their own hand and strength. For in the absence of celestial favor, they forged their own fate, though the road was fraught with peril and the heavens stood silent."
Elizabeth looked up, her eyes glistening. "After the Valencourt massacre and the theft of their orb, this quote struck Eddie. He called your mom and dad in top secrecy using the guardians' private line to explain everything. They planned to meet here, at our estate, but…" She hesitated, her voice breaking. "The Church owned that line. They must have heard the conversation. That was the night Elias and Jasmine were raided."
The room fell silent, the weight of her words pressing down on them. Damien's breath came in short, ragged bursts, his face contorted with fury. Veins bulged on his forehead as he struggled to contain his rage.
"I will make each and every one of them pay," he growled, his voice trembling with barely restrained anger. "Even if it's the last thing I do!"
Sarah placed a hand on his arm, her touch gentle but firm. "Even if you want to make them pay, how do you plan to do it?" she asked, her voice calm despite the storm raging in her eyes.
Damien whirled on her, his face flushed with anger. "You sound awfully calm, Sarah, even after what you just heard."
"Relax, Damien…"
"Don't tell me to relax, Palm—" His words died in his throat as he turned to Palmer. The vampire's expression was cold, his scarlet eyes glowing with an intensity that sent a shiver down Damien's spine. Palmer's rage was palpable, a silent storm brewing beneath his calm exterior. Damien faltered, his anger momentarily eclipsed by the sheer force of Palmer's presence.
Sarah broke the silence, her voice soft but steady. "So they really did abandon us… Even though the one thing they most want to protect will likely fall into wrong hands soon?"
Elizabeth shook her head. "If it's being abandoned, I wouldn't be so sure." She flipped through the journal again, stopping on another page. "Here, this part," she said, pointing to a passage.
The text warned:
"When the five become one, the Fallen shall rise. But beware—there is a key hidden in the shadows, unknown even to the gods."
"Apparently, he doesn't remember writing this one," Elizabeth said, her brow furrowed.
"This! I've seen this before. This exact same passage." Sarah exclaimed as she pulled out Josh Montgomery's journal from her bag and opened it to the corresponding page. "I didn't understand what it meant when I saw it either."
Damien frowned, his anger momentarily forgotten. "Huh? How's that possible?"
Palmer stepped closer to examine the journals, his expression unreadable. But as he leaned in, a sharp pain shot through his head. He staggered back, his hand flying to his temple. The connection to the estate guards flared, and he felt it—Valen was being pushed to the brink.
If Valen, one of his strongest creations, was on the verge of death, then the threat was dire. Without a word, Palmer vanished in a flash of crimson light, leaving the others staring at the empty space where he had stood.