After the story Arachne had told her about it, Eva expected it to stare at other people. She cursed herself for not paying attention to it during its brief stay at the dorms. Had it been staring at people then? Had it stared at Devon the night her master arrived?
The spider-demon had laid down on their bed–Eva’s side of their bed–and was nuzzling the pillow. Eva nudged Arachne. The demon’s eyes narrowed as Eva pointed out the skull.
The destruction of the skull still ranked high on Arachne’s wish list. Eva still wasn’t ready to offend Ylva. She doubted she would ever want that.
Arachne reached up and tried to twist the skull back forwards. The skull wouldn’t budge and Arachne’s sharp fingers didn’t leave the slightest mark.
Eva attempted the same thing. It turned right around to her with barely any effort. Almost as if it turned on its own. Eva stopped turning it just before it faced directly at her.
Arachne tried again, twisting it back away from Eva. She managed it without any problem. Arachne gave off a low growl and shrugged her shoulders.
Eva faced the skull directly towards herself. She pointed past the wall. “She’s a friend. Don’t hurt her.” Eva didn’t know if the skull was going to hurt Juliana, or even if the skull could hear her. Still, it couldn’t hurt.
Few things managed to get under Eva’s skin these days. The skull certainly wasn’t one of them. She decided to believe the hel’s words when Ylva said it wouldn’t hurt her. There was a bit of fear for other people, but so far it had been completely benign.
Eva grabbed the potions for Juliana and headed back to the common room to await her master’s call.
—
The church they came to had seen better times. It was an old American church. It had a single room and a high steeple at the top. The steeple contained a bell at one point in time, but it had fallen along with a large portion of the roof. The hole it punched through the floor was clearly visible from outside the open double doors.
Eva looked back over the hill they had climbed.
During daytime, the church would overlook a large valley and grassland that once held a town. The town built in the valley was built during the frontier days. It was long since abandoned, leaving the rotting remains of wood structures scattered around.
“The catacombs beneath the church are where our interests lie,” Devon said. “The witching hour is drawing close, be on your guards.” He whipped around his flashlight and trudged into the building.
Eva wondered for a minute if he was playing up the drama for Juliana. He used to do that when Eva first started accompanying him on jobs. Always some quip about how they were sure to die horribly even in the most mundane of jobs.
The blond in question seemed more concerned with an aching backside after another ride on Arachne.
Eva sent out a few small light spells, illuminating the dark corners of the chapel. Nothing seemed out of place, apart from the hole in the ground and the musky scent of rotting wood.
She thought about trying to take a peek down the hole. The thought quickly vanished. Having rotting wood crumble away and falling into catacombs would not be fun on the best of days. With necromancers running around the thought sent chills up Eva’s spine.
With Juliana and Arachne just behind her, Eva followed her master to the opposite end of the chapel. He pulled open a trap door just behind where a priest would stand to give their sermon. He shined his light down the hole. A shiny metal ladder led the way into the dark pit. It was obviously a recent addition to the church.
“Arachne,” Devon whispered, “you’re up first. Anything we see is likely hostile. If there are any humans who don’t immediately attack, I’d like them disarmed for further questioning.”
The spider-demon shrugged and jumped down the hole, ignoring the ladder completely.
“Eva, you’re her backup. Girl–”
“Juliana,” Juliana whispered.
“Whatever. You’re after Eva. I’ll watch our backs.”
Eva tossed a small light spell to the bottom of the pit. It was deeper than she expected, but not deep enough. Eva stepped straight to the bottom, also ignoring the ladder.
Lacking the methods for a speedy descent, Juliana climbed down the ladder. The moment she touched the bottom and stepped out of the way, Devon appeared in her vacancy.
Eva turned and marched after the eager demon.
The dirt walls narrowed as they progressed. Mush and fibers clung to Eva’s fingers as she brushed a hand against a wall. Not an enjoyable experience.
Archways began opening up to the sides of the tunnel every few feet. Arachne ignored them completely.
Eva tossed a light down one. A solid wall of bones, mostly thigh or arm bones by the look of it, met Eva. The wall ran up to her chest and was capped with a line of skulls.
She left the light in the first alcove as she moved down, checking each. They were all the same.
Some seemed to have a row of smaller skulls topping the wall. Young children.
