Floating just above the surface of the plinth was the largest gemstone I’d ever seen. It was like a white diamond in its crystal clarity. Its countless facets caught and refracted the red light that filled the chamber, casting prismatic colors in every direction. At first, I had thought the massive gemstone was still, but now I realized it was slowly rotating, suspended in mid-air above the surface of the black polished plinth.

My breath caught in my throat as I gazed upon the item. It was as large as a basketball but teardrop shaped, rising to a sharp point at the top and broadening to a broad, fat base.

As I watched, I became aware that sound was coming from the crystal. It vibrated and hummed like a chorus of distant voices singing over thunderous, far-off drum beats. The sound gave me gooseflesh. Kyrine’s tendency for the dramatic was on display again, I guessed.

Well, now that I had found this gemstone, what was I supposed to do with it?

Clearly this white crystal was the dungeon core, the heart of the mansion, and in its glistening facets, I guessed, dwelt the conscious spirit of Kyrine. There was nothing else here, and everything in this dramatic setup was designed to bring my attention to the crystal. There could be no doubt that this was the dungeon core that Belinda had referred to.

I was beginning to regret not asking Belinda or Astrid what I was actually meant to do with the crystal now I’d found it. I couldn’t exactly turn back to ask, what with the bolted doors behind me. I’d just have to make my approach and see what happened. There was nothing else for it.

The crystal continued to hum and vibrate with a distant, dramatic music as I took my first few steps on the bridge, but as I continued to approach, the sound faded to a distant, steady rumbling.

Halfway across the bridge, I began to feel more confident about the situation. If what my Outworlder handlers had said was true—and by this point I didn’t really doubt it—then I was essential to Kyrine’s continued progression as a dungeon. Sure, Kyrine had killed some other candidates, but by the sound of it, they were pretty sub-standard Keepers, their genetic material diluted by years of interbreeding with regular humans. Not like me. According to the Outworlder women who’d brought me here, I was as a more genetically pure Keeper as the others they had tested.

The thought put a bit of a swagger into my stride. Surely, Kyrine wouldn’t really want to cause me harm if I was the means of her progression?

That particular question was answered in the form of a tremendous roar. The ear-splitting sound was immediately answered by two more roars. All three came from different directions.