Page 17 of Beauty and the Grendel

As I explained the intricate details of the trap, Harlow’s hand slipped into mine, her touch a silent promise that we would face this together. No matter what horrors lay ahead.

I led Harlow back to my castle, my mind racing with the new knowledge of the Camazotz’s presence on Earth. As we stepped into the vast library, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. The ancient texts and tomes that lined the shelves held the answers to countless mysteries, and I hoped they would provide the key to defeating this new threat.

Harlow’s eyes widened as she took in the sheer number of books. “Griiq, this is incredible. I’ve never seen so many old texts in one place.”

I smiled slightly, running my fingers along the spines of the nearest volumes. “My people have been collecting knowledge for centuries. When I left Cainedor, I brought as many books as I could carry. I knew they might come in handy someday.”

We settled at a large wooden table, and I began pulling books from the shelves. Harlow joined me, her brow furrowed in concentration as she scanned the pages for any mention of the Camazotz.

Hours passed as we pored over the texts. My eyes grew heavy, but I pushed through the exhaustion, determined to find something that could help us.

Suddenly, Harlow’s voice broke the silence. “Griiq, how did the Camazotz come about? Where did it come from?”

I sighed, leaning back in my chair. “The Camazotz is an ancient creature, born from the darkest depths of the universe. Legend says that it was created by a powerful sorcerer who sought to harness the power of fear itself.”

Harlow’s eyes widened. “A sorcerer? Like, with magic?”

I nodded. “Magic is real, Harlow. It’s a force that flows through all living things, and some have learned to harness it for their own purposes. The sorcerer who created the Camazotz was one of the most powerful of his kind.”

I stood and walked to a nearby shelf, pulling out a dusty tome. The embossed cover had strange symbols, and the pages crackled with age as I opened it.

“According to this text, the sorcerer used a dark ritual to summon the Camazotz from the void. He believed that he could control it, and use its power to conquer his enemies. But he was wrong.”

Harlow leaned forward, her eyes fixed on the page. “What happened?”

I traced my finger along the faded ink. “The Camazotz turned on its creator, consuming him in a frenzy of blood and terror. It then began to spread like a plague, feeding on the fear of all those it encountered.”

I closed the book, my heart heavy with the weight of the past. “My people managed to trap the Camazotz, centuries ago. We thought it was gone for good. But somehow, it found its way to Earth.”

Harlow placed her hand on mine, her touch warm and comforting. “We’ll find a way to stop it, Griiq. Together.”

I met her gaze, feeling a surge of hope despite the danger that loomed ahead. With Harlow by my side, I knew we could face anything.

We turned back to the books, our resolve strengthened by the knowledge of what we were up against. The Camazotz may have been born from darkness, but we would bring it into the light.

Suddenly, the unmistakable screech resounded through the stone halls of the castle.

Chapter 13

Harlow

The air hung heavy with dread as Griiq and I raced through the winding corridors of the castle, our footsteps echoing off the ancient stones. My heart pounded in my chest, a relentless rhythm that matched the urgency of our pursuit. The Camazotz’s malevolent presence seemed to seep into every crevice, a suffocating darkness that threatened to engulf us.

“How did it get inside?” I really didn’t expect an answer.

“I’m sure it broke a window and came in, or busted through a door. This old place has many doors leading outside. The staff can’t keep watch on all, and until now, I hadn’t thought about adding a security system.” Griiq’s words sounded sad and guilty.

“It’s okay. Maybe we can trap it here.”

“It’s here to kill us. It knows we know about it. We’re being hunted.”

“We can’t keep running forever,” I panted, my lungs burning with each labored breath. “We need a plan.”

Griiq’s eyes, once filled with warmth and understanding, now glinted with a fierce determination. “I know, Harlow. But what can we do against a creature of such immense power?”

I bit my lip, my mind racing as I searched for a solution. The Camazotz’s thirst for blood, its vampire-like tendencies... An idea sparked to life, a flicker of hope amidst the consuming darkness.

“Vampires,” I blurted out, my words tumbling over each other in a rush of excitement. “What if we treat it like a vampire?”

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