It was dark inside the cave. Magnus was walking in front of me and the remaining people were walking behind me. The path was very narrow. The walls were closing on me threatening to smother me. I was getting more claustrophobic by every second. It would be a pity if I died here before I even saw Jane. Then slowly, a red light started to illuminate the path. Just like they show in the horror movies. The red light also showed Magnus walking in front of me calmly. I didn't dare to look back. I could only hope everything was going according to our plan.

The narrow path curved and Magnus disappeared along with the turn. I followed him to emerge into a large cathedral-like chamber just like Mitchell had described. The ceiling was raised so high that I couldn't even see it. We were inside a boulder. How was this possible? Then again I had seen my share of impossible things in these few days. I shouldn't question it.

A large pit of fire was present in the center of the chamber. Many people had already assembled in the chamber behind the pit. A wrought iron fence was preventing the people from getting too near it. I was awed. The fire was burning in crimson red, unlike anything I had ever seen. I walked into the chamber quickly not wanting to block the people behind me. I stared at the place I had already seen in the video Mitchell had left. It was creepier than in the video since I had a feeling that every pair of eyes in this place was trained on me. The people who followed me joined the existing group of people. Magnus didn't stop here. He was continuing towards another entrance in the cave. I followed him. Shadows of people were dancing on the wall in different shapes. Glowing torches were fitted on the walls at regular intervals to provide lights. Now we were out of sight of the remaining people as we entered into another part of the chamber.

This was a hallway leading somewhere. It was darker compared to the glowing red chamber out there. The ceiling was so low I had to almost stoop to walk through. I felt like I was taking a walk through my worst nightmare. The hallway had so many paintings painted in black color on the sand-colored walls. I could make out the symbols of the inverted pentagrams, skulls, and flames. There were so many others I couldn't understand.

Finally, the hallway ended and we stepped into an even darker part of the cave. I could make out the faint outline of a door with bars. Then I heard Magnus snapping his fingers and suddenly the flames in the torches came to life making me jump out of my skin.

In that light, I had seen ten cells in front of me. Small cells with bars closing them. They looked like cages used in zoos to keep animals in. In one of those cells, my friend Jane lay unconscious. Her cell was the only one in which there was light. Every other cell was dark as an abyss.

"Jane!" My voice sounded fearful. I didn't care about the hooded man. I was at the cell in a second.

"Jane! Wake up!" I shouted holding the bars in my hands. I was getting hysterical with panic.

"She's fine." Magnus's voice sounded cool behind me. "She's just unconscious."

"Let her out. I brought the pearl with me. I'll give it to you." I said disgust filling every word coming out of my mouth.

"I don't think so." He said. It was too late when I saw a lean wooden log being taken out from inside his cloak and hit me on the head. That was the second time I passed out cold, this week.

Noah's POV:

The cave was unbelievably hot. The cloak was stifling me inside. Kevin and I were standing amidst the witches and wizards of the cult trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. We managed to get into the cave with the others without anyone noticing us. The distraction through Naina worked and no one looked at us like Kevin said. But laying low became very difficult when I saw my girlfriend being led away into a dangerous-looking entrance by a murderer. Kevin's hand on my wrist was the only thing stopping me from sprinting in that direction and tackling that Magnus to the ground. People were talking with each other excitedly. Naina's entry caused quite a stir among these people. My gaze wandered among them and was finally fixed on the fire pit in the center of the chamber. Kevin said that we had to throw the pearl in this fire to destroy it. I had no idea why we were waiting.

"Can't we just destroy it now?" I whispered to Kevin. He shook his head no.

"Magnus had lifted the spell on it. Only then we can use the fire." He said slowly so no one but I could hear it.

But why would he lift the spell for us? Kevin was so confident on his part. I was not. All this was weird to me. And I was angry. This was not a great combination. After what seemed like an eternity, Magnus came out of that entrance. But he came alone. There was no Naina. Kevin's grip tightened on my wrist as I tried to wrench my hand free. I was furious. Where was she? What did he do with her? I knew something like this would happen. That was why I was so against this plan.

Magnus walked to the center of the chamber directly in front of the fire pit. He was glowing red and looking eerie. A hush fell over the place which was filled with chatter earlier. Everyone was now standing in attention.

"My brothers and sisters," His voice boomed through the chamber. "This is going to be a remarkable day. The traitor is found and our rightful property has been restored. Tonight, we are taking the first step in fulfilling our desire. To take revenge on the very people who had wronged our ancestors. There is no need to hide anymore. There was no need to live in exile anymore. We need not hide from each other."

Saying this, he removed the hood covering his face. His face was glowing red as the rest of him. I knew him. I had seen that face somewhere. It seemed familiar. But where did I see him exactly?