Re: Log: Carver/Claire in Rome
Carver didn't try to see through the darkness. His eyes would not adjust. Instead, he closed his eyes and gave a silent prayer. He prayed this was not a demon leading him to death. He prayed that they could make it back to the hotel safely without the Inquisition finding them. "We never should have come here, bella." He whispered. The catacombs breathed, like they heard a visitor they needed to greet and Carver reminded himself that he needed to focus.
Cecilia's song started again and when he opened his eyes, he could see a sliver, translucent figure turning a corner a few feet ahead of them. Claire would not be able to see it, but she'd be able to sense the presence of something other-worldly. Carver didn't waste any time, following the figure of his would-be-saint through the empty catacombs.
A few yards into the maze and voices started to murmur. Ones that even Claire could hear. The dead speaking to them beyond the grave. Restless with their fate and unhappy with the world built on top of their corpses. A skeletal hand reached for Claire, tugging at her jacket and if she tried to fight it off, the skeleton would not resist. The bone would crack and the spirit would leave the lifeless body. The dead were not stupid enough to pick a fight with the Bellatora.
Deeper they went until they were brought to a narrow passage, barely big enough for them to squeeze through. Carver saw Cecilia walk through the middle wall where bodies were stacked on top of each other like bunkbeds for the dead. Carver panicked.
"No! No, she-" He let go of Claire's hand and started digging past the bodies, moving ancient bones full of spiderwebs to the side as he dug for his saint. At first it seemed impossible they'd find anything, but then he found a stone out of place. When he pushed it, there was a click and the entire wall moved, pulling them inside a secret chamber.
The chamber was large, a stark contrast to the cramped hall they were just in. It was dark, ancient and lit only by blue flames flickering from their hanging lanterns. There was an alter in the middle, draped in tattered cloth. On the alter was an urn.
A voice called to both of them: "Here is a piece of your soul, Carver. Take it and escape through that chamber." The voice was beautiful, feminine. Strong. Cecilia. Carver didn't hesitate, he went for the urn, opened it and then turned to Claire to show her what was there: a stuffed bear prize from the fairgrounds.