The Drapevine: Chapter 27 - Sister and Half Brother

Arlie told Harrison everything when she got back from town with Brian. He was mad at first, but then realized he should have suspected something like that from Erin.
She assured that Erin would be all right, and that she could feel Erin coming close to what she was looking for.
Harrison had no idea what that was but he hoped she would find it, and fast.

Erin opened her eyes, and the first thing she saw was the cold dark walls.
What the hell! Where am I !?
It took a minute for her to register what she was last doing.
"Oh yeah" she grumbled as she got up.

She searched and searched. She came across more stones that would unlock doors and she even came across cut gems that were worth a lot of money.

Putting those stones in the their fitted hole gave Erin a sense of accomplishment.
The sooner she could figure this place out, the sooner she could get out of there.

Each treasure chest was clue, leading her to certain areas.
Most of the castle had a mysterious feeling to it, some left her awestruck and others..

well.. others left wishing that she never entered it the first place...

"AGHHHHWHATTT!" Her first reaction was to punch the poor skeleton, sending it's fragile bones flying, bouncing off the walls and finally to a clattering haul to the floor.
"Never again" She said out loud.
That was one thing about opening random doors, you never knew what was behind them.

Her arms became use the beating and became stronger, he muscles more defined.

Her enchantment-breaking skills became better and better as she swiftly allowed herself to open more difficult rooms to the castle.

"No.." Pushing open the stone wall she was set in a spooky scene.
It was like jail. And it felt like death.
The skeletons made things worse then it had to be. But she would just remember how they couldn't do anything, as she punched one to pieces by mistake.
She laughed at loud to this, but her laughter was cut short to a chill that ran down her back and to her very bones.

A force pushed her into the water, screaming as she fell in.
She came back up alright. With another keystone.

This one, the last one she hoped.

She walked in the front entrance, feeling not so brave. As she walked in she felt something pulling at her. It was an odd feeling, like someone was trying to tug at her shirt to pull her in a certain direction.

It took her a while to jimmy open doors, but she finally reached what seemed like the "master room". The tugging stopped here but she continued to search the room.

But to her dismay, she only found gems.
Walking back to the hall way the tugging continued again. She tired loosening her shirt a little, tugging too, but she realize that it wasn't working.

She walked through to the dinning area, collecting loot and treasures on her way. That's when she spotted something unusual.
Right when she made eye contact the tugging turned into a feeling of contentment.

She lifted up the heavy axe, suspending it into the air.
This is so odd She thought, feeling it as it got lighter and lighter as she held it up.

"Is this what I've been looking for?" she questioned out loud, feeling the smooth wooden handle.

As if it were trying to answer, the axe lit up, power surging, making it glow.

The light seemed to consume Erin.

She had found what she was looking for.

I need to tell Arlie... She looked around But I still haven't seen the whole thing She said, examining the castle.

Okay these things are getting annoying! She thought, slamming the stone into its place

"Awwwwwweeeeeee" she said out loud.
It reminded her of her wedding..
But her thoughts soon changed as she remembered where she was.
No, no ew. Who would want to get married here!?

She went further and further. Not only was she still exploring but looking for a way out as the entrance was still blocked.
She stumbled upon an art room. Pottery was decorated, blank canvas's were ready to be painted.

Erin felt relief as she got into the hardest room to enter.
It shined and dazzled,

Potions were everywhere,

And as soon as she stepped into the room she heard and felt a great thud. Too her amazement she looked out the window and saw she could finally leave the grounds.
She took the potions and set off, running across the castle.
She couldn't wait to see her husband, and tell Arlie what she discovered.

She walked out the front, closing the doors behind her. She really was great full to be out of the castle. She took her first step home.

She came across the old door remembering what a challenge it had been to open it when she first came.
With the slightest touched it opened.

"Ahh, you've made it out alive I see" Vlad careened from outside the grounds.
Erin took her time over to where Vlad stood. She was scared and her heart was beating fast but she wasn't going to show it.

"It's over" Erin said, trying to calm him down, seeing the anger in his eyes.
"It's not over until I say it is" He said, his hands on his hips. He laughed at her

She slapped him hard across the face.
That made him REALLY angry. "Don't you treat me like that" he snarled, advancing on her.
"Don't tell me what to do, little brother."
"AGGGH" he screamed, lunging at her.

But he was no match for Erin.
"You can't win!" she shouted as she struggled to keep him still.

A final punch and he was on the ground. Erin pulled out the axe and waved it through the air.
I gust of wind flew by, or out of it, Erin couldn't tell, and sent him to his knees.