Chapter 7: The Amulet’s Secret
“Move, Evelyn!” Tristan’s shout echoed as he yanked her up the spiral staircase, the howls of spectral hounds clawing at the air behind them. The stone steps were slick with damp, the air thick with the reek of wet fur and decay seeping through Rosehaven’s walls. Evelyn’s boots slipped, her sword banging against her thigh, the rune on her palm pulsing hot as a forge. Torches sputtered in their sconces, casting wild shadows that danced like the hounds themselves.
“Where are we going?” she gasped, her breath sharp, the rune’s burn spiking with each snarl from below.
“Somewhere they can’t follow!” Tristan’s voice was strained, his scarred hand gripping hers as they rounded a corner. He shoved open a rusted iron door, its hinges screeching, and pulled her into a hidden chamber. The door slammed shut, muffling the hounds’ growls, but their claws scratched at the stone outside, a relentless scraping that set Evelyn’s teeth on edge.
The chamber was cramped, its air heavy with mildew and old wax, lit only by a single candle flickering on a dusty table. Shelves of crumbling scrolls lined the walls, their parchment curling like dead leaves. Evelyn’s chest heaved as she leaned against the cold stone, her sword still drawn, the blade glinting in the dim light. “Will this hold them?”
Tristan bolted the door, his hands shaking, a fresh bruise darkening his wrist. “For now. But they’re drawn to this.” He pulled a silver disc from under his cloak, its surface etched with swirling runes that glowed faintly blue, pulsing in time with Evelyn’s rune. “My amulet. Forged in the Twilight Citadel. It anchors my time magic, lets me glimpse the past, but it’s a beacon to Azrael’s creatures.”
Evelyn’s eyes widened, the rune on her palm flaring as she stepped closer, the candle’s flame wavering. “That’s how you’ll help me stop this curse? By… what, jumping through time?”
He nodded, his jaw tight, sweat beading on his brow. “Controlled glimpses, yes. But every jump costs me.” He rolled up his sleeve, revealing more bruises, purple and pulsing, snaking up his arm like veins of dark magic. “The Citadel’s magic isn’t kind. It’s why I’m… like this.”
Her anger softened, a memory stirring, Tristan, years ago, carving their initials into a rosewood tree in Rosehaven’s garden, his laughter warm as summer. She lowered her sword, the blade clinking against the stone floor. “You never told me it hurt you,” she said, her voice softer, the rune’s heat easing. “That day by the tree… you promised we’d face everything together.”
His eyes met hers, haunted but warm. “I meant it, Evelyn. Still do.” He clutched the amulet, its glow casting blue flickers across his scarred face. “Let me show you what it can do.”
Before she could protest, he pressed the amulet, and the chamber blurred. The air grew sweet with rose petals, the mildew replaced by the hum of bees. They stood in Rosehaven’s garden, years ago, sunlight filtering through the trees. Young Evelyn, barely twelve, laughed as she chased a younger Tristan, his hands smeared with sap from carving E & T into the rosewood. Evelyn’s heart ached, the memory sharp, her resentment melting under the weight of their past.
“Enough!” she said, her voice trembling as the vision faded, the chamber’s cold stone snapping back. The rune pulsed, grounding her, but her mind felt fragile, like glass ready to crack. “Can it show me Rowan’s betrayal? I need to know how deep this goes.”
Tristan’s face darkened, his fingers tightening on the amulet. “It can, but it’s dangerous. The more we jump, the more it frays your memories. You could lose yourself, Evelyn.” His voice cracked, and he stepped closer, the scent of rain still clinging to his cloak. “Are you sure?”
“I have to know,” she said, her voice steel despite the tremor in her hands. “Rowan pushed me off that cliff. Azrael’s hounds are slaughtering villages. I can’t stop until I understand why.” The rune burned, urging her on, the voice from her visions whispering, Seek the truth.
Tristan nodded, his eyes heavy with worry. “Then we’ll jump. But you need to brace for what you see. Rowan’s not the man you loved.” He reached for her hand, but the chamber door rattled, a low growl vibrating through the stone.
“My lady!” Lila’s voice, shrill with panic, burst through as the handmaiden flung the door open, her braid swinging, her face pale as bone. “The hounds, they’ve breached the outer gates! The guards can’t hold them; they’re tearing through the courtyard!”
Evelyn’s heart lurched, her sword snapping up. The air grew colder, the candle flickering wildly, its wax dripping like blood. “How many?” she demanded, striding toward Lila, the rune flaring hot.
“Dozens,” Lila gasped, clutching her iron key, the metal clinking against her belt. “Their eyes… like fire, just like the villagers said. They’re drawn to something here!”
Tristan cursed, gripping the amulet, its blue glow pulsing faster. “It’s the amulet’s magic. They sense it, like moths to a flame.” He turned to Evelyn, his voice urgent. “We need to jump, now. Somewhere safe, where we can plan.”
Evelyn hesitated, the howls growing louder, claws scraping closer, the stench of decay seeping under the door. “Jump where? We can’t leave Rosehaven to those beasts!”
“Somewhere in the past,” Tristan said, his hand hovering over the amulet. “We’ll find answers about Rowan, but it’ll hurt, Evelyn. Truths like that always do.” His bruise pulsed, and he winced, but his eyes locked on hers, steady despite the pain.
She nodded, her throat tight, the rune’s heat a fire in her palm. “Do it. But if we jump, we’re finding out exactly what Rowan did, and how to stop Azrael.”
The chamber shook, the door splintering as claws tore through the wood, a snarl like breaking bones filling the air. Tristan gripped the amulet, its runes blazing, and raised his other hand to her. “Take my hand. Now!”
Evelyn clasped his hand, the rune sparking at their touch, and the world blurred, the howls fading into a rush of wind. But as the time-slip began, Tristan’s voice cut through, sharp with warning. “Evelyn, this jump, it might show you more than you’re ready to face.”