Damon nodded, a gentle smile on his face as he glanced at Sylvia, who nodded back in turn.
The strange voice echoing from the rotten corpse urged them with a plea soaked in desperation—"Free me…"
"Sure, why not…" Damon smiled faintly. "Just give us a minute…"
He began to back away slowly, the others instinctively following his lead as they inched toward the door.
Valarie's voice suddenly echoed, eerie and almost childlike in tone.
"Ahhh, you guys are going to the door… wait—wait! It's not what you think…"
Damon sneered as his hand reached the door's surface.
"Do we look stupid to you? No one seals something with magical chains without a reason."
Valarie gasped in disbelief. "Wait! I didn't mean free me from the chains—I was talking about freeing what's left of me… from the rot… wait—wait…"
Damon didn't even pause. He began pushing the great door close.
"I'll teach you runecraft! I'll… I'll show you the path! Please—don't leave me here…"
