The voice echoed through the chamber.
"WHO HAS COME TO OPEN MY PRISON?"
The golden walls trembled.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Mason stared at Darius.
Mason: "You said you knew what was in here."
Darius didn't answer.
Zack noticed the change in his expression.
Zack: "You don't know, do you?"
Darius: "Silence."
The voice came again.
"I HAVE WAITED."
A deep vibration traveled through the floor.
The First Wolf stepped backward.
Mason had never seen it afraid before.
Mason: "You know what that is."
First Wolf: "Yes."
Zack: "Then tell us."
The First Wolf stared at the altar.
First Wolf: "The creature beneath this tower was the first ruler of the wolf bloodlines."
Mason: "The First Wolf?"
First Wolf: "No."
It shook its head.
First Wolf: "Something older."
The stone beneath the altar cracked.
A massive claw pushed through.
CRACK.
Zack grabbed Mason's arm.
Zack: "What is it?"
First Wolf: "Its name has been forgotten."
Another claw emerged.
First Wolf: "Because everyone who knew its name died."
Darius backed toward the doorway.
Mason noticed.
Mason: "You're leaving?"
Darius: "This wasn't supposed to happen."
Zack: "You said you controlled everything!"
Darius: "I said nothing of the sort."
The altar suddenly shattered.
A tremendous roar exploded through the chamber.
The force knocked Mason and Zack to the ground.
From beneath the broken stone rose a gigantic wolf-like creature.
Its fur was blacker than the surrounding darkness, but silver markings burned across its body like cracks in moonlight.
Its eyes opened.
They were completely white.
The creature looked at Darius.
Creature: "YOU."
Darius froze.
Creature: "YOU HAVE BROKEN MY SEAL."
Darius: "I came to claim the Gate."
The creature tilted its enormous head.
Creature: "THE GATE?"
A terrible laugh shook the chamber.
Creature: "YOU STILL BELIEVE THE GATE BELONGS TO YOU?"
Darius took another step backward.
Darius: "Stay away from me."
The creature lowered its head.
Creature: "YOU BROUGHT ME MY KEY."
Its gaze shifted toward Mason and Zack.
Mason felt his necklace burning against his chest.
Zack's began glowing brighter.
The creature's expression changed.
Creature: "Two heirs."
Mason stood slowly.
Mason: "What do you want from us?"
The creature stared at him.
Creature: "Nothing."
Mason frowned.
Creature: "I WANT WHAT IS ALREADY MINE."
Zack: "What's yours?"
The creature's gaze settled on their joined hands.
Creature: "THE BOND."
Mason immediately stepped in front of Zack.
Mason: "You're not taking it."
The creature smiled.
Creature: "YOU THINK YOU CAN STOP ME?"
Mason's eyes flashed silver.
Mason: "I don't know."
Zack stepped beside him.
Zack's eyes flashed gold.
Zack: "But we're going to try."
The creature stared at them for several seconds.
Then its smile widened.
Creature: "GOOD."
The entire tower shook.
Creature: "I HAVE BEEN ALONE FOR A THOUSAND YEARS."
Its claws dug into the stone.
Creature: "FINALLY..."
The creature rose to its full height.
Creature: "...SOMETHING WORTH FIGHTING."
Darius suddenly turned and ran toward the doorway.
The creature's head snapped toward him.
Creature: "WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING?"
Darius stopped.
The doors slammed shut.
He slowly turned around.
For the first time since Mason had met him...
Darius looked terrified.
And Mason realized something terrifying.
Darius hadn't brought them here to control the creature.
He had brought them here because he needed them to survive it.