Darius hid within the folds of his father's robe. He did not like these expeditions into the caverns.
The people down there scared him greatly, for they wore bizarrely decorated costumes, which when seen only in the half-light looked very threatening to such a small child.
He could hear the sound of trickling water and the whole enclosure smelt exceedingly damp. The rock was warm to the touch, and incense wrote over the notes of the vaporous mould.
Women, or perhaps young men, were veiled all in black, moving all about. They blended with the shadows well, for their faces were covered also.
They transported the offerings and replenished the firelights - some had trays to sup from, some drove out the rats and swept the halls.
Smaller caves were hollowed out from the larger one.
When an usher in black led them into an anteroom Darius saw his face through the veil, and how his skin was black too - shining like polished wood.
-Gabriel Brunsdon, Puck in Hell, Azlander Series
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