Leo and the cloaked figure stood frozen at the foot of the stone stairwell, their eyes locked on the low, guttural growl rumbling from the creature before them.
At first glance, it looked like a dog… but there was nothing remotely canine in its presence.
Its skin was stretched taut over its bones, the colour of burnt charcoal, merging perfectly with the castle's weathered stone. Red eyes glowed like molten embers in the gloom, and from its jagged maw, strings of thick saliva dripped to the floor, sizzling faintly against the blackened flagstones.
The cloaked figure slowly raised its weapon, the rusted curve of the blade glinting under the rising moonlight.
Its hood tilted slightly, eyes fixed on the beast, which snarled and barked in sharp bursts.
Grrrrlll~
Leo's fingers curled into fists. His breath came uneven, not from fear but anticipation. "What do we do? Has Dracula already noticed us? Is this his guard?"
The cloaked figure's head moved side to side in a slow,
