Ethan stared at the creature before him, its eyes as large as bronze bells, yet entirely black, without a trace of white. The darkness seemed bottomless, swallowing his gaze whole.
"I'll ask you again," the monster rumbled, lifting its head. Its voice carried the weight of centuries. "Was it you who caused the commotion above?"
Creak… creak… creak…
The sound echoed through the hall as the creature shifted. How long had this thing been sitting here, unmoving? Ethan wondered if its very bones had rusted in place.
"The noise wasn't me," Ethan blurted, his eyes darting nervously. "It was a crow—some overgrown crow tearing apart your nest!"
At that, the bull-headed figure froze. "A crow?" Its tone grew colder, harsher. "I despise crows more than anything…"
It snorted, and a rush of white vapor burst from its nostrils. Ethan staggered back. That wasn't just hot breath—it reached him like a blast of icy wind. His body shivered as a chill stabbed into his soul.
