The castle was quiet. Fin sat on the stone floor. Every muscle was sore. His head throbbed. The Mark on his chest glowed a dull red. His domain felt weaker than usual.
Meg coughed. She pushed hair out of her eyes. "Fin? Are you okay?" Her voice was shaky. She looked nervous.
Arachne got to her feet. She wobbled a bit, one hand pressed to her side. "My Lord," she said, her voice tight. "That was the Abyssal Lock. I never imagined. The old stories are true."
"Stories?" Fin asked. His throat felt dry. He stood up, a bit dizzy. "What stories?"
"It's a prison," Arachne said, her eyes looking distant. "The first Admins built it. To contain things they couldn't destroy. Things from a very long time ago."
Fin didn't ask what was before that. He needed to know something else. He looked around the main hall. It was empty. Just the three of them.
"Scarlet," he said, his voice sharp. "Mara. Where are they?"
Meg looked confused. "Weren't they with us?"
