Page 39 of Wolf Trap

I screwed my face up. “Well, those poor angels, one thing for sure, if Adara hasn’t burned their remains, they could well be here.”

Pushing past me, Anthony scowled. “You really are a pessimistic lot!”

“No,” I replied, “just preparing ourselves.”

Nodding he said, “True enough.”

It was locked. Obviously.

Both Anthony and I cast our hands over the lock, the door. You could feel an energy. It was faint but there, nonetheless.

“Lycaon, can you shove your shoulder into the door, please?” Anthony smiled.

“You want me to break it open? Sure.”

He did, Lycaon almost launched himself into the door, and a clunking sound echoed as the fittings of the locks shifted. It didn’t break down the door, though.

Humming to himself, Anthony stopped, glancing at Lycaon. “Ta mate.”

Extending his arm, Lycaon offered, “It didn’t work!”

Anthony ignored him, called me over, muttered some words in my ear, which I repeated as he weaved a spell with his fingers.

We jolted as the sounds of metal grating on metal, then wood as the enchantment unlocked the door.

Rolling his lips, shoulders hunched, the vampire opened the door.

12

SECRETS

We all gasped at the sight before us. A massive ornate gilded altar that sat in between two towering silver sphinxes, their scarlet eyes glinting as the light caught, and a rich aroma of frankincense washed over us.

The pewter walls were adorned with hieroglyphics, their intricate designs etched into the metal. Striding towards the altar, Anthony beckoned us.

“Solomon’s temple?It is exactly as described in the bible. This, then, is the seal of Solomon?”

He held his hand over a ring, it’s centre with round sigil runes depicting the secrets of wealth, judging by all the gold and the occult runes. At least as far as I knew…

Hakon reached out to touch it, but Anthony smacked his hand back.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Can’t you feel the magic? It’s like static electricity in the air. So, is this, ah…”

He glanced up.

Behind the gildedaltar hung another sigil. Similar to the seal of the Solomon ring, except in the centre the letter A.

“So, is this where they get their power?” I gasped.

Lycaon tutted, “This and all the artefacts they steal and the blood they harvest. So, Anthony, you’re the expert on the King of Solomon. This looks like the lost temple. Though I see no Ark of the Covenant.”

“That’s, well, that’s another story. I see they’ve acquired the Spear of Destiny, which was being protected by the Nephilim.”

“So, do we take the ring, the Seal of Solomon?” I asked Anthony.

He shrugged. “It is tempting, isn’t it? I mean, it’s just there, waiting for someone to pick it up. I can wield it, heck I used to own the thing! But what’s the betting that as soon as I pick it up, something bad will happen?”

I sighed. “I’d say there’s a high chance of that happening. I’m surprised nothing’s happened to us yet, to be honest. Adara has had many chances to kill me and Lycaon, so I can only guess at this point all of this is some kind of test. So, you know a lot about the King of Solomon, the Ars Goetia, so how come it’s here, if you owned it?”

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