Chapter 33: Vulnerable
Arabella's eyes widened momentarily as though just recalling the important detail, "Besides the clothes on my back, I'd picked a match box and an oil lamp since I knew I'd be going through a tunnel. Though it turned out, I hadn't any need for it. There were enchanted torches all along the path and once I'd reached the cave, moonlight greeted me. Its deepest point isn't that far from where we now stand,"
And with that, through the stoney mouth of the cave they both went. Arabella tightened her hold around Silas' arm as even though sunlight permeated the cavern, its sheen had been weakened by the shadows lurking within.
A fine breeze blew by, confirming the presence of at least a second outlet to that hollow. The draught led them to a large boulder clogging the way forward. One that Arabella could have never been able to move by herself.
"You traversed this tunnel on your own, you said," Silas had uttered a statement, but his tone carried a hint of disbelief.
"Yes, I did, and that boulder was not in my way," she paused, throwing her eyes down right by one of the walls surrounding them, "Oh! Here is the lantern I'd left," she let go of his arm and bent down to take the lamp and lift it up, leaving a small paper match box on the ground.
The winds threading the cracks between the walls and the boulder bore several odors and dust particles that came to tickle Silas' nostrils, forcing the vampire to clasp a firm hand over his nose and mouth.
He turned away from the blocked passageway to meet Arabella's concerned eyes, "What sort of traps lay behind this rock?"
"Yuniper trees that bred rampant nets of green to cover walls, ceiling and floor, jagged and untamed shards of laced silver protruding from every side. It was how I'd sustained many cuts despite walking as slowly and carefully as I was able to," Arabella placed the lantern back down, "Even for me the air inside felt thick and barely breathable," she went quiet, but after Silas had failed to stifle a cough, more words spilled out of her, "Master, If I may, we should leave this place. If you don't believe my words, then we may come back another day once we figure out a way for you to venture inside safely,"
A little hunched, Silas said nothing and simply turned around and began to move away from the boulder, immediately followed by Arabella.