Chapter 24

The Door Beneath the Mountain

Chapter Five: The Door Beneath the Mountain The chamber beneath Poenari had fallen silent. Marishka stood beside Mihail, staring into the darkness where the second ancient door had appeared. King Mathias approached slowly. "That door was not there before." Marishka nodded. "It was hidden by magic." Mihail looked at the strange symbols carved into its surface. "Can you open it?" Marishka studied the markings. "Perhaps." She placed her hand against the stone. Immediately, the symbols began glowing green. The door trembled. A voice whispered through the darkness. "Daughter of the old magic..." Marishka pulled her hand away. "You know me?" "Your blood remembers." Mihail looked at her. "What does that mean?" Marishka didn't answer. The door slowly opened. Beyond it stretched a vast underground passage illuminated by pale blue crystals. King Mathias ordered his soldiers to remain behind. "We don't know what lies ahead." Mihail looked at his father. "Then we should find out." Marishka nodded. Together, she and Mihail entered the passage. They walked for what seemed like hours. Ancient carvings covered the walls. Marishka recognized some of them. "These symbols tell the history of Poenari." Mihail looked closer. "What do they say?" "Long before this castle was built, a guardian protected these mountains." "And the power Barabus wanted?" "It wasn't a weapon." Marishka stopped. "It was a prison." Mihail's expression changed. "A prison?" She nodded. "Something was imprisoned beneath the mountain." A sudden chill passed through the corridor. Mihail looked into the darkness. "What?" Marishka whispered: "Something that wanted to rule the living." Far behind them, Lord Barabus opened his eyes. He was lying upon a stone floor in a chamber he had never seen before. The shattered pieces of the enchanted mirror surrounded him. A faint voice spoke from the darkness. "You wanted power." Barabus slowly rose. "Who are you?" "You called me." "I called the guardian." "No." A shadow moved across the wall. "You called something much older." Barabus stared into the darkness. "What do you want?" The voice answered: "Exactly what you want." Barabus's eyes narrowed. "And what is that?" "To rule." Barabus smiled. "Then we understand one another." But the darkness laughed. "You still believe you are my master." Barabus's smile disappeared. Marishka and Mihail reached the end of the passage. There stood an enormous underground hall. At its center was a circular stone platform surrounded by twelve ancient pillars. Upon the platform rested a crystal unlike anything Marishka had ever seen. It glowed with a soft silver light. Mihail approached. "What is it?" "The Heart of the Mountain." Marishka spoke the words almost reverently. "It was created to keep the ancient prisoner asleep." Mihail looked around. "Then why is it glowing?" Marishka's expression changed. "Because someone is trying to awaken it." A deep vibration shook the chamber. The crystal flickered. Then a crack appeared across its surface. Mihail stepped backward. "Marishka." "I see it." Another crack appeared. Then another. Marishka raised both hands. Green light surrounded her. "I need your help." Mihail stood beside her. "What do you need me to do?" "Believe in me." He smiled. "I already do." Their hands met. Green and blue light flowed across the stone platform. The Heart of the Mountain began glowing brighter. For several moments, the cracks stopped spreading. Then— A voice echoed through the chamber. "Marishka." She froze. Mihail looked around. "Who said your name?" Marishka stared at the crystal. "I don't know." The voice came again. "You carry the blood of the first guardian." Marishka's eyes widened. "No." Mihail looked at her. "What is it saying?" She whispered: "It says my family has protected this prison for generations." The crystal pulsed. "And now the prison is failing." A tremendous roar shook the underground hall. Dust fell from the ceiling. Marishka looked toward the passage. "Barabus." Mihail drew his sword. "You think he caused this?" "I know he did." Suddenly footsteps echoed through the corridor. King Mathias appeared with his guards. "Marishka!" She turned. "Father!" Mathias looked at the glowing crystal. "What is happening?" Marishka answered quietly. "The prison is breaking." The king's face became pale. "Then we must leave." Marishka shook her head. "If we leave, whatever is imprisoned here may escape." Mihail looked at his father. "Then we stay." Mathias looked at his son. For a moment he saw not a young prince, but the future king of his kingdom. "Very well." He raised his sword. "We stand together." A deep laugh echoed from the darkness. Barabus stepped into the chamber. His clothes were torn, but his eyes burned with unnatural determination. "You should have left when you had the chance." Mihail raised his sword. "Barabus!" The lord looked toward Marishka. "You finally discovered the truth." Marishka stared at him. "What have you done?" Barabus smiled. "I opened the prison." King Mathias shouted: "Why?" Barabus turned toward him. "Because the power inside that prison can give me what no crown ever could." Marishka stepped forward. "You will destroy the kingdom." Barabus laughed softly. "No." He looked toward the cracked crystal. "I will rule it." The crystal suddenly shattered with a deafening sound. A wave of silver light swept through the chamber. Everyone was thrown backward. When Marishka opened her eyes, the Heart of the Mountain was gone. And beneath the broken platform stood a vast black doorway. From beyond it came a whisper: "At last... I am free." Marishka slowly rose. Mihail stood beside her. King Mathias lifted his sword. And Lord Barabus stared into the darkness with a smile. He had finally awakened the power he had sought. But he had made one terrible mistake. He had forgotten to ask whether that power intended to obey him. To be continued...