The Vampire Flame (Vampire Sorceress Book 3) by T.L. Cerepaka

Author:T.L. Cerepaka [Cerepaka, T.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: urban fantasy
Publisher: Annulus Publishing
Published: 2018-03-31T16:00:00+00:00

The stone giant took up most of the hallway, its arms crossed in front of its chest, its head bowed on its massive chest. It looked kind of like a Roman soldier, except with clawed fingertips and a strange golden javelin stuck to its back rather than a sword and shield. The stone giant smelled of dust and mud, even though the hallway was completely dry and there was not a hint of water anywhere.

I immediately drew Domination from its sheath. “I don’t know what this is, but I’m ready to fight it if we have to.”

“I don’t think we will,” said Lucius.

I looked at Lucius. “Why do you say that?”

“Because it’s clearly just a statue,” said Lucius, gesturing at the stone giant. “It can’t get up and attack us.”

I looked at the stone giant again. Lucius, as usual, was right. The stone giant’s feet were built into a base on the floor, which meant that the statue couldn’t walk over to us even if it wanted to. Still, the sight of the statue made my spider senses tingle, and I wasn’t even a Spider-Man fan.

“Then what is it doing in here?” I said, looking at Lucius. “Another one of the Mistress’ tricks? Or another one of the Maze’s traps?”

“I have no idea,” said Lucius. “I’ve never seen anything quite like it. But whatever it is, I doubt it is safe.”

I opened my mouth to point out that Lucius was just stating the obvious, but then I heard stone shifting against stone and looked at the statue again. It had raised its head to look directly at us with empty stone eyes. Although I still doubted that the statue could walk, I nonetheless held Domination before me defensively, though I wasn’t sure how good a sword would be against a creature made entirely of rock.

“Intruders,” said the statue, its voice deep and booming. “A vampire and a half-vampire. I’ve been awaiting your arrival, though I didn’t expect you to get here so soon.”

“You knew we were here?” I said. “How?”

“The Maze knows,” said the statue simply. “As for my name, I have no name but the Questioning Rock.”

Lucius’ eyes widened. “You’re the Questioning Rock? Interesting.”

“You’ve heard of him before?” I said, looking at Lucius again.

Lucius nodded. “Yes. Vampire lore states that there exists a rock which asks complicated riddles of anyone who tries to pass it. The Rock is said to exist in the Maze, but some legends claim that it exists deep within the most ancient human ruins well away from civilization. I always thought it was just a myth, because no one had ever seen it before, but I guess it’s real.”

“I am quite real, Lucius Red,” said the Questioning Rock, “as you have now discovered.”

“Do you actually ask riddles of people?” I said, looking at the Questioning Rock. “Or is that part of the legend wrong?”

“Riddles, questions, inquiries, and more are all my domain,” said the Questioning Rock. “It is how I spend my time, thinking of riddles and questions to ask those who try to get past me.

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