[Nyxia]

The sound was echoing for her as well, but not so much that she couldn't pin what it was. Her pulse all but stopped as she closed her eyes to listen better, shutting off her sense of vision was a good way to heighten her other senses to the world. She could hear the footsteps, whatever it was it was above them; and it was struggling with the weapon which it dragged on the ground, she could hear the soft grunts and breaths short but heavy. That was bad news all the way around, and she had no way of knowing what the hell was up there. Her quicksilver eyes burst open and turned on Korrё in a second as she brought her fingers to her lips, motioning him to follow them to follow her further into the darkness. She knew they couldn't risk the sounds of their footsteps being heard, since the thing above them seemed pretty heavy, meaning it was a "big, bad, and ugly." As she always termed them, and those were the worst kind of thing to come up against. L lifted herself off the floor, allowing herself to hover just inches above the floor, hoping he would do the same.

[Nyxia]

For being male, Korrё wasn't as dense as most women would have taken him for. When he saw the diluted fear in her shimmering eyes, he had a feeling his gut had been right all along. This would have to be the worst time to realize that, two vampires trapped by frightened monks and shrine goers and now being chased by something that he could only imagine was terrifying; all while trying to protect a tiny kit that seemed destined to die in this place. It was enough to bring out his cynical side a bit once more, something he tried not to do. Right then though he didn't actually care that much, as he followed L's lead in hovering into the next chamber beyond the stair way. It was as dark as the last one had been, only the chamber to its right was dimly lit by pale moonlight from outside. That had to mean that they were only one level below the shrine, that could give them an escape if the creature above them could be easily confused.

[Nyxia]

They were not so lucky as to be able to hide to well, L determined when she heard the creature sniffing near the stair case entrance in the chamber behind them. For the second time in this night L found her mask of perfect self-control slipping. Her fangs elongated in her mouth and she braced herself for a fight, since the kit would have a scent. She would have cursed aloud if she thought it wouldn't draw the things attention, but again it may have been too late for that as well. Her eyes aglow with worry and dark anger turned to look at the other darkling, what the hell were they going to do. The creature had started to descend the first few steps, still sniffing the air audibly; it was hunting them and she knew it, but other than run like hell there was almost nothing else they could do. Hell if she was going to go up against something that intended to kill her, she was at least going to get a good look at it.

[Nyxia]

Korrё was frozen in his place, hearing the almost deafening sound of the metal hitting on the steps as the creature came down the four steps. He was sure they were finished; him, L and Miyu, he shrank back into the darkness. It was more disturbing to see L go creeping carefully to the edge of the chamber's wall, he watched from the shadows near the back of the chamber in mild horror as she did this. He too could hear the creature's sniffing at the air like a rabid beast hunting its meal, and just as L peered around the corner the sniffing stopped. Korrё knew if his heart still beat like it should have it would have dropped to his feet, dread soured his stomach as he waited for the thing to attack her. The silence hung thick in the air around all of them as they waited, then an soul quaking roared howl rose into the air around them. It was so forceful that the stone walls shook around them, causing bits of stone and dust to crumble away from the ceiling and walls. The dust lingered in the air as did this terribly sickening feeling of otherworldly proportions, something that invoked both the images of rotting flesh and unspeakable torment the creatures howl had invoked. It was the first time he'd ever felt that, and it wasn't something he was eager to feel again soon. Clutching Miyu to his chest Korrё waited wide eyed, watching L from his place as she watched whatever was on those stone steps.

[Nyxia]

The thing which had come down those steps was a gruesome thing; it's body looked like something that had been stitched together out of dead parts, except the head, the head had some massive metal helmet that looked like a sideways pyramid. When the sniffing had stopped L was almost sure it had found them, until the beast threw its head back and roared that terrible sound. That was the point which she could tell the helmet was a part of flesh because she could see where the skin was what appeared to be welded to the bottom of the helmet. For a moment after the beasts howl, L felt a terror she'd never known was in her, like this whole world was about to turn itself upside down. The creature then looked around the lower floor, as though it waited to see if anyone came fleeing out. Seconds ticked away to minutes, as both L and the beast waited. It again sniffed the air through its helmet, making this sick sound as it did. It seemed to L that the creature couldn't find them, maybe it didn't know what it was looking for; maybe the vampire scent wasn't something it could pick up. She hoped that was the case as she watched it descend two more steps, its massive metal sword, caked in dried blood dragging behind the beast. When it saw nothing, the thing once again let out a howling roar. It wasn't until the second time that L realized what that feeling it invoked was, as a hopelessness washed over her with a great deal of power; mixing with both fear and pain inside her.

[Nyxia]

He watched her flinch slightly at the second howl that rippled through the air around them, his heart sank at the sound and sight. Could they really fight whatever the monster was, likely not if just a sound it made could make both of them flinch and cower so. He was almost resigned to his fate when the strange sound of scraping metal on stone started to move away from them, heavy footsteps going up the stairs. From his place Korrё could see L relax some, her slender body leaning against the stone wall before her. The relief wouldn't last long though, once up the stairs the creature let out a roar that reminded him of the flame hounds he'd met in the other worlds; it screamed before the sound of smashing stone was heard above them followed up with another mighty scream roar. The sound of metal colliding with stone once more before the enraged monster began to make its way down the hall for the chapel area which was sealed.

[Nyxia]

L was pretty sure the thing was done with that area for the time as long as they long as they kept themselves quiet it probably didn't know where they were. Turning back she glanced at both Korrё and the kit he was calling Miyu, well she might at least like the name. Well they'd lost one exit, with that thing wandering around in a fit of rage above them, they'd have to figure out some other way out. Carefully she started for the chamber to their left, it was dark, slightly damp and blissfully lifeless. No matter how much she wanted to believe that thing would go back to whatever dark hole it came from, she knew they would likely encounter it again. The only real hope the pair had was to keep moving and see if they couldn't find another way out.

[Nyxia]

Quickly he was behind her, unsure of where they were going or what she was up to. With that thing running around could she really want to still hunt whatever she was after, was she actually that insane. He was holding the sleeping Miyu tightly as he hurried to catch up. "What are you doing?" He whispered harshly at her, this was not what he'd thought it would be doing when he'd ended up here. Following the fates pull was one thing, facing the end of his life at the hands of what-the-hell-ever that thing was not part of the deal. Besides who knew what else could be wandering these corridors, likely the answer was something equally dangerous.

[Nyxia]

If he was going to question her every step, L swore silently that she was going to take the kit, Miyu and feed him to that thing just for the sake of peace. "I'm trying to find an exit that won't involve running for our lives, since I can bet you can't shadow step." She told him very calmly. It was a sort of calm before a storm deal since she was about to loss her ability to care about this all together. The thought had never yet crossed her mind that there could be other things similar to that running about down here, just that the one she knew of was above them and angry. She could sympathize to an extent, as she was beginning to get a bit flustered herself in this massive maze like building. They'd argued across this small chamber room, and now stood squarely in the center of it, before them were three paths not counting the one they'd come from. "So smarty pants, which way do you want to try?" She growled at him gesturing at all three paths with her hand in a dismissive wave.

[Nyxia]

He stood silently for a few seconds, summing up everything around them. Distantly he could still hear the frustrated and angry wails and screams of the creature, and he shivered to even think about it. His eyes glanced once more at the cold and snowy chamber to their left, it was slightly lit from the moonlight; but that didn't guarantee anything accept snow would get on them. He knew she was being sarcastic with him, but as was his peaceable way he would let it slid, since arguing would only attract that thing back to them. Finally Korrё let his shoulders sag a bit in defeat, and shook his head at her. "No." He whispered, allowing L to feel like she won this round. To his eyes as well the chamber dead ahead of them was lifeless and dark, maybe dead wasn't the best word for that either. His mind was a dizzying whirl of thoughts and feeling which he could feel washing away from that thing above them, sure it was feeding him, giving him more strength. It also frightened him to know what it felt, the inhuman rage and the dark murderous thoughts which he could almost hear; that thing was definitely not from any of the worlds he'd known, maybe a lower circle of Demonal, but those he'd stayed out of.

[Nyxia]

Satisfied that she had made her point and earned the silence she wanted from him in the meantime, L made a scan of the three chambers once more. An hour had passed them by, which may have left them a fair amount of time, but she wasn't willing to chance having to give in to the Sleep here with that thing roaming these desolate halls. Two of the rooms were dark, one she couldn't even see through the shadows they were so dense; the other was just the normal pitch of night. Then there was one that was lit by moonlight filtered through small holes in the ceiling, that looked like a bad idea to her right off. Above the pair the ceiling shook, sending loose stones falling around them like snow; and the sound of scrapping passed over them once more. L knew she'd have to think fast, the shadows were the easiest to hid in; and something from within the room was drawing at her mind, almost motioning her to come into it's folds. "Check the south room, would you?" She asked the other vampire quietly, that darkness which drew her was also dangerous and she wouldn't risk another's life.

[Nyxia]

Two hours had passed since he'd entered the south room, and since he and Miyu had explored the two chambers beyond it. One had a massive stone door that lead to who knew where, the other was just a three walled room that was partly caved in. Currently he was leaned against the doorway which lead to the south chamber rocking Miyu back and further to keep her from fussing, waiting for L to return. She still hadn't, and honestly he wanted to call out to her; every time he got up the nerve to however, that thing would either roar or simply pass over head and Korrё immediately thought better of it. He was starting to get annoyed with her disappearing act when he heard the one sound he didn't want to hear, the sound of the scraping metal on stone. The heavy footsteps weren't shaking the ceiling, they were on the stairs. No, that thing was headed down their way. Korrё scrambled, there wasn't any escape; the way he'd gone he knew that door wouldn't budge. In a rush of thoughts, least of which was what he would encounter beyond that door way, with only a handful of quick steps he was across the room and within the absolute shadows of the doorway. Oddly with a sudden crack the reminded him of glass shattering, the room lightened some, at least enough to see.

[Nyxia]

With a pop, the darkness which had wrapped itself around her was suddenly gone; like wisps of smoke it trailed from her body, still clinging to her aura. It had taught her, showed her it's power and in exchange she would give it what it wanted, to rid itself of the beasts who sucked at it. Slowly her eyes opened to the physical world around her, a hard adjustment to the almost non-existent light within the room. Her body was heavy, her soul felt more so; that was not what she'd thought she'd encounter down here at all. From her place curled on the floor she could make out Korrё's shape, moving further into the room, feet getting closer to her legs. "Step on me and die..." She mumbled slowly sitting up on the stone floor, behind him she could see it, one of the parasites moving down the stairs. It would take her another few seconds to get to her feet, her head felt even heavier with that motion. Years of unlife had made her feel immune to such physical drains on her body, she wasn't use to the feeling, nor the feeling of power she had. With another glance at the thing, she ignored Korrё's grumbled remarks as she stepped closer to the doorway. She wasn't able to think with the haze which buzzed in her skull still, "Go forth and drive back the parasite from my home." A female voice whispered within her skull, and strangely Lucina obeyed it. Another step put her at the edge of the empty doorway, her hands came up and seemed to hover in front of her; with the sound which followed the dark mist that suddenly snaked from her hand was like an explosion, deafening to both her and Korrё. It set the beast back, and for the first time the thing looked more confused that terrifying to her, it wouldn't last for long as she somehow knew, but for now they would be safe. With that the haze lifted from her mind, the presence pulled away from her and the dim world grew brighter; which she disliked as it left her blind for a second.

[Nyxia]

Korrё glanced down at the floor when a familiar voice almost caused him to hit the ceiling, "If you wouldn't take naps on floors, likely no one would..." He grumbled in return, watching her with a very unhappy glance. She'd left him to almost get killed by that in order to lay around on a stone floor in the dark, well some vampire she was. She wasn't moving all that quickly, and of course the crazy she-vamp was going straight at the thing; honestly he was just sure she had a thing about getting herself killed. He was not sticking around to see her walk straight up to that thing; with bundle in hand, Korrё headed for the doorway to the back of the room. He was almost through it when the explosion racked his entire body, sending him forward into the dark room on his side. He'd only managed to land that way because of a mid-air turn so as not to land on little Miyu, who was mewing loudly and beginning to claw at her blanket. "Hush, little one. Hush." He whispered rubbing her little head, still amazed at just how velvety her fur felt under his slightly calloused fingers. It took his a moment, but he twisted around to look at L and the darkness which was like a screen around the doorway. This was new, and though helpful, also gave him an ill feeling.

[Nyxia]

She could be sorry for tossing him on the floor that way, if first she cared, and second she was willing to stop long enough to apologize. She was neither, and thus rushing to the back area; L only pulled him to his feet without a word and shot into the next room. She her vision was still tunneled but she didn't feel like stopping to see if that passed, she was more concerned with finding her way out of the place; after all she had to live to return to the manor. For a moment, wrapped in her thoughts, L didn't realize that her feet were moving without her knowing where she was going. She could still feel the presence, pushing at the edges of her mind like a guide in the empty rooms. This was getting weirder than it had been, and it had been weird to start. When she stopped, L found herself in a chamber which she had a feeling was towards the chapel area once more. Another hour and a half had ticked away from them, and she could feel the sleep starting to pull at her; dawn would come in two more hours and they had to find a place to rest in peace by that time.