Chapter 14: Forgotten
The mountains weren't as kind as they once seemed. The biting cold was no longer just a chill—it was a warning. The snow that crunched underfoot carried the weight of something dark, something ancient. Every step that the brothers took up the mountain was a step further from safety, from comfort. The wind howled with a kind of fury, as if the very air was trying to drive them back.
As the first light of dawn hit the peaks, the world below remained silent. It was as though even the earth itself was holding its breath.
"I swear, next time I reincarnate, I'm choosing somewhere with better weather," Lucien muttered under his breath, tying his scarf tighter around his neck, his voice a mixture of annoyance and exhaustion.
Ayden, trudging ahead with his head down against the wind, shot him a sideways glance. "At least the monsters around here are frozen stiff. We have that going for us."
Rei, walking beside Cain, remained silent. Her eyes were far away, scanning the world around them, taking in more than they could see. Cain noticed the way her fingers moved slightly, almost imperceptibly, as if brushing against something invisible. It was a quiet reminder that Rei was always aware, always listening to the things that others couldn't hear.
"This mountain is sacred," she spoke suddenly, her voice cutting through the cold air. "But not to us, not to humans, and not to vampires. To something older. Something that doesn't like visitors."
Ayden raised an eyebrow. "Great. Cryptic mountain warnings. That's exactly what I needed today."
Cain, who had been lost in his thoughts, finally broke his silence. "It's not the mountain we need to worry about. It's what's guarding it."
Rei glanced over at him, giving him a long look. She wasn't asking for more information, just understanding the weight of the words he had spoken. But the moment passed, and she moved ahead, leading the way as they approached the mouth of the mountain's hidden temple.
At the entrance, the stone doors were overrun with thick vines, frozen into place by the harsh winds. It looked as if time itself had been sealed inside the temple. Lucien stepped forward and placed his hand on the door, feeling a strange, pulsing energy beneath his fingers.
"This doesn't look welcoming," Lucien muttered.