Dryad felt the urge to find Sir Alvard and Virgil. Hoping against hope that something bad didn't happen to them.

Now that she had known the dark secret, the mansion felt eerie. It felt like all those stories about ancient evil spirits were right. There was truly something... and haunting this place, probably the late souls that have been sacrificed since centuries ago..
What should she do? How much danger was she putting herself into?

Meanwhile Haze exploring each corner of the library again to find some clue, Dryad walked outside the library as she just remembered,

"Right! This mansion has a basement level!" Dryad exclaimed. At least, that was what Sir Alvard told her.
"Haze! I'll come down to the basement!" she told him first before leaving.

"Alright. Be careful! Come see me again as quickly as possible if there's something. Okay?"

"Got it," she nodded.

She never had a chance to go downstairs as long as she worked there. So, she didn't know where the stairs that led to the basement were. Her curiosity took over as she walked around.

Dryad stopped abruptly before the entrance to the dining hall.

"What is that sound?" she stopped, almost forgot to breathe.

There was a faint sound of iron chains.. somewhere.. like a chain dragged on the floor.
Then the chains moved again, clinking against the floor. Dryad stood frozen. She didn't dare to move, not for one moment, afraid of what would come next. But she felt she had no choice. She looked up to the grand staircase. Did the sound come from upstairs? She wondered. No.

Strange. As long as she worked here, she never realized this sounds before. Or could it be the chain sounds covered by the hustle and bustle of butlers everyday?

Then, she luckily found a narrow corridor between the hallway with stairs on its right side.

"Oh! So here it is! the stairs to the basement!" she said. She took a small peek to see if it was really empty. It appeared so.

As quietly as possible, she tiptoed down and walked through the corridor until she reached a black wooden door. Yes, it seemed that the sound came from inside!

Hesitantly, she was thinking whether to knock on the door or just leave? But before she could decide, a sound came from inside.

"Who's out there?" said a voice. A woman's voice.

"Who's inside?" Dryad asked back. She gulped.

"Who am I speaking to?" asked the voice. "Are you a member of the staff?"

"Yes, I'm one of the staff." replied Dryad cautiously. "I'm Sir Alvard's assistant at the grand library."

The door opened, revealing another lady, maybe in her first thirties.
"Come in," said the lady.

"Come in?" Dryad asked, cautiously repeating the question.

"Of course. Come." said the lady, holding the door open for Dryad to enter. "Please, sit"

Dryad stepped through the threshold. She sat on the chaise before the fireplace. As the lady moved, the sounds of clinking chains filled the room. Dryad's eyes widened a bit, the lady's foot chained to a pole! But the chain was long enough so she actually could move freely around the room instead of being restrained. The chains rattled loudly, the noises echoing around in the big room.
But that wasn't even the weirdest thing. She noticed how clean the room was. No dust particles floated around and everything else was as neat and tidy as could be.

"So you're one of the staff, huh? What's your name?" asked the beautiful lady.

"Uhm.. Dryad. Who are you?"

"Allison," she said. "Do you know who I am?"

"Huh? No. Who are you then?" Dryad asked the same question again.

she chuckled softly, "Oh, you silly..., I am Lord Vlad's wife."

"W..what?" Dryad furrowed, "Lord Vladislav's wife?!"

"Uh-huh," Alisson nodded. "Now, why do you look so surprised?"

"Of course! Why would Lord Vlad chained his own wife? I mean..." Dryad trailed off as she heard the chains rattling louder.

"You have the nerve to question my husband's actions," Alisson said.

Dryad frowned, there were too many things in her mind but she didn't know what to say.

"Well then.. You seem to have a great amount of questions to ask, but you have no idea where to begin!" Alisson laughed lightly. "How's everything upstairs? I heard some noises hours ago. Very loud and made this mansion a bit shaken, you know? I almost thought there was an earthquake."

"Do you know what has happened upstairs? No.. I bet you don't. Everything is like a disaster and not a single person is here! It's only me and Haze now."

"Haze?" the lady tilted her head.

"The other librarian," Dryad answered. "And everyone mysteriously disappears!"

"Haha.... Oh, you, silly girl. They're not disappear! Well, of course no one here! Because this is the day! The ritual is about to begin, anyway," said Alisson. "Everyone is preparing the site."

"ritual? What ritual?" Dryad asked.

"What?! You don't know?" Alisson asked back, raising her one brow.

"Know what?" Dryad asked again.

"I thought you came here to pick me up! So you're not from the Ashmedai Sect, then?"

"Huh?! No! What is that anyway?!" Dryad exclaimed, completely confused and scared.

"Ah... I see it now," Alisson chuckled, her laughter sounding more mocking this time. "So you just came here by accident, after all. Ah. Very well, since today is the end of my life, I will just tell you. It won't make any differences, after all."

Dryad gulped as she was aware of what Alisson might reveal.

"Once every five years, one person had to be sacrificed to the God of Ashmedai, for the sake of Basilisk House's endless prosperity and power. Well.. you see, but there is one condition. The chosen one must have a connection to the head of the house, physically and spiritually. Now that the head of household is Lord Vladislav, of course the chosen one must be his wife or lover who had been... ah, you know.. engaged in such a romantic activity. You understand?"

Dryad's eyes widened in disbelief. Shivers ran down her spine as she wondered how can Alisson be so calm when explaining all of these things?! This is not normal!

"And the chosen one is you?" Dryad's voice slightly trembled as she finally understood what the mysterious secret meant. Her heart skipped a beat in fear. "Oh God! And you don't mind?! At all?!"

Alisson chuckled, "No. Of course, not at all. It is an honor to die for our beloved lord. After all, we owe him a lot of favors."

Dryad wanted to scream at Alice's statement but knew it wouldn't do her any good, instead she tried to control her breathing, trying to calm herself.

Alisson spoke again, "so... I thought that you came here to pick me up as the preparation was complete? No? Anyway, no one is allowed to go down here, except Lord Vlad himself! You surely have a gut, huh?"

"I was just following the sounds of your chains and it led me here," Dryad said. "And, no. I didn't come here to pick you up! If I could.... If only I could.. I want to free you instead!" Dryad said. She didn't know why she had that stupid idea of bringing Alisson out of there.

"Free me?!" Alisson's eyes widened.

"Just... come to your senses! You are about to be killed but you just act calm and seem happy? Do you realize that there is still a chance to survive now?!" Dryad tried to reassure her.

"I can't," Alisson said.

"Why?" Dryad asked.

"Because I love Lord Vlad. Very much. I will do everything in my power for his sake. Besides, no keys can unlock this chain because it is enchanted. Sounds crazy, right?"

"Yeah! Totally crazy!" Dryad agreed. Almost frustrated. "And I think if you refuse to get out of here, you are just as crazy!"

"Oh. It's okay! It's okay if you don't understand!" Alisson said. "But I don't want you to get yourself further into trouble, so.. I suggest you go back to your working room and hide while everyone is preparing the ritual. Try to hide and don't let yourself be caught by someone!"

Dryad looked Alisson dead in the eye: she looked determined and sincere.
"But what about you?" Dryad asked.

"Oh.. I am fine. I am just fine," she smiled. "I, somehow, like you, Dryad. Years passed and you are the second person I can talk to beside the Lord himself. Our encounter might be very short, but I consider you as a friend already. Now.. go." Alisson shooed her away, leaving her alone again.
"Oh! One thing. After I die, maybe Lord Vlad will look for another one to replace me. You understand? Or perhaps... you won't mind becoming his future bride and..."

"And then sacrificed like you? No!" Dryad interrupted Alisson firmly.

Alisson's eyes turned darker, but she smiled as if never cared about her life.

Without thinking twice, Dryad ran out of the room and headed back to the library.