Chapter 7: Legend of the Krsnik

“Priest Roko, I’ve brought our Lord as requested.”

“Not fast enough,” The High Priest looked out to the skyline, past the door searching for whatever monstrosities dominated the night sky tonight , “Come quick, everything will make sense, we don’t have much time, hurry.” The Priest rushed to the altar and opened a book placed at the center of it; Peter rushed beside him to see the content inside. It depicted a man who transitioned into a bear, which then roared out at the ghouls, Strigas and monstrous demons who swarmed at it, not unlike the carvings he noticed when he first awoke on the ceiling of his bed’s canopy.

“Those creatures want you because you’re Lord, true, but there is a far more important reason. The Zrinski are a noble house for far more reasons than simply the silver mines they founded. You come from a family line directly related to the Krskin, the only people who have the powers needed to hold back the monstrous & demonic in times like these.”

More metallic cries echoed throughout the Cathedral. The screams of men in the distance followed.

“I know you’re not our former Lord, true, but you clearly come from the same family line. I can hold the form of the Krskin for a few moments, but it’s too taxing on the clergymen’s bodies to maintain. Our original Lord’s Great Grandfather was said to have held his form from Dusk til Dawn during The Last Night of The Striga. The High Priest in the Capital, Ragusiic, he’ll know how to teach you of this power. It’s the only chance for our people now.”

“But you can teach me, can’t you.”

The metallic screams boomed through the Cathedral walls as one of the striga’s above descended down towards the cathedral, blowing out the candles surrounding them. “There’s a trap door in the catacombs below, it’ll get you outside of the city walls. I’ll give you as much time as I can.”

“But-”

One of the Striga landed outside of the cathedral’s entrance. It cried out, mimicking something of an owl’s screech. Peter struggled to make out the creature in the newfound darkness, but its glowing yellow eyes were unmistakable. The outlines from its two rows of razored teeth spit out saliva and traces of blood as it dripped across the floor. In a flash, a silver glow radiated around them and the priest transformed into something that resembled an albino bear, with his deep crimson eyes and bright white pelt that evidently glowed, even in the dark. It pushed Peter & Jakov towards the back of the cathedral, next to the statues depicting some sort of saints. Jakov opened the door, leading to a lengthy staircase, “Your grace, this way’s the catacombs. We have to go.”

Peter watched in awe as he saw the shining bear move at a speed his own eyes struggled to comprehend. As the Stirga flew down to capture the beast in its talon-like feet, the bear lunged at the Striga and tore at its midsection once in range. The Striga released that metallic screech that would freeze most beings in their tracks. Yet the Krskin remained indomitable. It roared back with a bestial force that froze the Striga in its tracks as it collapsed onto the floor. Its yellow eyes stared up at the beast, frantically looking for any sort of escape, but it was far too late. The bear bit down on the Striga’s throat, ending its reign of terror.

Yet, in that moment, the flash of silver light emitted from the creature and reverted the bear back into a man. The High Priest shook terribly and vomited out blood, struggling to keep himself from collapsing onto the marble floors of the cathedral. More metallic cries boomed throughout the cathedral, warning of what was to come. Soon more striga flew down from the skies, furiously howling upon finding their slain sister on the cathedral floors. They turned their sight to the battered Priest. He held up his hand and exposed a silver ring on his pinky finger.

One of the Striga lunged at the Priest and he punched forward. His ringed fist made contact with the striga’s leg and the smell of burning flesh emitted from it. While the striga shrieked out in pain, it was not enough. With its talons, it severed the Priest’s arm from his body, detached his arm limply turning lifeless as its blood soaked across the Cathedral floor.

Peter turned back and dashed for the crypt, seeing more than enough to know what would happen to the priest next. Jakov closed the crypt door and shoved the wooden plank in place, deadbolting the cavern holding the dead from the outside world above. He pulled one of the sticks doused in beeswax and used the flint and steel nearby to start a torch. The next one he handed off to Peter. The two dived deeper into the catacombs, aiming to make sense of the labyrinth they found themselves in while the cathedral door shook and threatened to fracture ever so slightly from the striga pounding on it to get inside…