Sherlock Holmes: The Shadow From Beyond by Erik Branz

Author:Erik Branz [Branz, Erik]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Mysteries & Detectives
Goodreads: 22816575
Publisher: Smashwords Edition
Published: 2014-07-02T12:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Hidden Horrors

The two had gathered their bags and turned to exit Lebda’s study when Holmes stopped suddenly. He held up his hand signaling to pause as a eerie sound crept into the study from beyond, a low deep moaning, somewhat human in nature but twisted, painful. They waited another moment, Holmes now holding his finger to his lips for silence, then again the sound repeated, distinct yet remote.

“The sound is coming from behind this wall tapestry Watson. Although faint and muffled, I can discern its origin.” With that said he pulled aside an ornate weave depicting a mountainous scene to reveal a paneled featureless facade of wood behind. Then the moaning once again, low and painfully long, emanated from behind the wall somehow. “There is obviously a passage of sorts behind the wall. Here Watson, pass me the candle there on the mantle. Good, now light it. Excellent! Let us now find the seal.” and with the candle in hand Holmes traced an outline of a rectangle where the flame flickered against a drought of air that escaped from behind the wooden barrier. Then with nimble fingers he explored the fine edges of the paneling until; ‘Click’ the sound of a latch releasing was heard. Holmes then applied pressure to one of the panels and a complete section of the wall swung further inward on rusty squeaking hinges. A sudden waft of cool air confronted the two companions and abruptly extinguished the candle held in Watson’s hand. They re-lit their hand torches and stepped onto a creaky wooden staircase that descended, twisting, into unknown depths below.

The stale air in the confined stairwell was musty with the essence of mold, animal musk and the sickly sweet scent of decay. Now less obstructed by the wall, the labored moaning echoed upward more clearly, a dire beacon that urged them downward.

A flight lower Holmes encountered the outline of another entrance in the stairwell ahead, slight illumination from outside revealed another hidden doorway. With another minor application of pressure the door opened inwards, as the one on the flight above had. There was a thin tapestry blocking the way. Holmes pushed it aside to reveal the lower floor of the mansion, the parlor where they had broken a window to gain access earlier. “Leave this door open Watson, if we must return this way in haste this exit will shorten our distance to the outside world.”

From this point onward the walls of the staircase passage changed from wood to stone, indicating that they had reached the subterranean levels of the estate. The air chilled with each step downward, the darkness broken only by the hand torches they carried, the silence only by the curious wailing moan ever repeated in the depths below. Eventually a light appeared ahead of them, an eerie blue illumination that flickered against the walls of the passage and revealed the bottom of the stairwell. Watson noticed that the scent of animal musk was heavy and dominant here.

The passage opened

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