Book of Secrets Read online

  “I will thank you again, my queen and prince.” Myrtle said as politely as she could. The queen nodded and walked together with Lucala away. Sanrod closed the door and disappeared. Myrtle turned around, the furniture was her not made from ice but from a strange black stone.

  “And so the trap closes.” She said before she walked towards the bed.

  The Wintercourt

  Myrtle didn’t got time to really wake up, the dressmaker of the queen Madam Silvertreat came early to her chamber. The little woman with long dark green fingers, pulled away the thick pieces of fur from her while she was still sleeping. “Raise and shine, mortal. I don’t care about your beauty rest. I’m here because my queen wanted for me to waist my talent on you.”

  Myrtle stood up, from the black stone bed. She still wore the torn dress.

  “What is this piece of garbage, what a poor of quality and I need to say bad form of design. Who made this?” Myrtle looked to the dress, she had too agree with the spider woman.

  “Mister La Threat, and I want you to know I hate this dress.” Madam Silvertreat nodded.

  “I heard that woman in the Foundation wear pants like the man, are you one of those woman?” This time it was Myrtle’s turn too nod, she even smiled a little. Myrtle didn’t know why, but she liked the woman with spider fingers.

  “It easier to move in.” Myrtle simply said. Myrtle saw that the woman pressed her lips.

  “Well maybe my talent isn’t wasted on you after all.” The woman pointed that Myrtle had too stand in the center of the room.

  “Madam Silvertreat, I have too worn you. I’m not the fashion type, so I don’t know which color looks good on me and which not.” Madam Silvertreat stared to grin.

  “Beautiful, than you give me all the reins.”

  MADAM SILVERTREAT MEASURE her up, like mister La Threat had done. Only Madam did it with care.

  “You can take off this, dress. If you can call that a dress.” Myrtle did what Madam Silvertreat asked of her, Madam walked toward the bag that Myrtle didn’t saw there before, she took a piece of paper and a jar full of spiders out of it. “Well let me see. I can’t have you walk here in just pants. The queen would kill me, but maybe with a wide skirts just above the knee.” One of madam Silvertreat’s fingers did go over the piece of paper. “Yes, I can see it. Maybe a piece where the top is a pants are stuck together, with a skirt long piece of spider silk around it. To make it more you.” Myrtle listened to Madam Silvertreat’s words al what the woman was saying sounded indeed like somethings Myrtle would wear. “Now for the color, that light-green was indeed your color. But I can’t make all your garments light-green, so I’m doing also some black and white.” The woman nodded as she answered her own question and bowed again towards her bag. “Let we begin with the dresses, and than over too our more advance project.” Madam Silvertreat took three more jars out of her bag and turned the lids of the jars, she putted some pieces of the paper with the designs in the jars. “Just a moment, my spickywicky’s are trained in one specific color. So I only need to put a design in the jar, I assume that La Threat told you how this works?” Myrtle shook her head.

  “Not that I remember it.” Referring to the glamour that was on her.

  Madam Silvertreat cringed.

  “He didn’t, hmm. Well than there is nothing to stop me, we need to wait anyway. The spickywicky’s that weave the fabric are specialty trained too do so. The spickywicky’s need a piece of color and the design to perform. Also the lovely creatures are eating other fabric, that is where your crapped dress is gonna end up. But they are recording the design and then when I let them go, they will weave it. It’s so simple.” Myrtle had to confess that it indeed sounded easy, but before she could say so Madam Silvertreat pointed to one of the jars. “Ah, it looks like the light-green spickywicky’s are ready to perform there piece of art.” Madam Silvertreat picked up the jar and turned the lid from it, for the second time. This time she putted the open jar on the ground, meanwhile the spiders crawled out.

  MYRTLE FOUNDED SAVE to breath when the three dresses and a trouser suite were done.

  “Mortal girl, thank you for your inside.” Madam looked to the four mannequins that now where standing in the room, clearly proud of her own work.

  “I have to thank you, madam. They are wonderful.” Myrtle said, she couldn't keep her eyes of them. Madam Silvertreat pulled up her shoulders.

  “So we also need to make you a nightgown, so you don’t have to sleep naked or in one of my masterpieces.” Myrtle was used to the tickling feeling of the spiders legs.

  “What ever you think what is best, madam. Madam Silvertreat grinned again.

  “You are gonna wish you never said that.”

  MYRTLE NEEDED TOO AGREE with Madam Silvertreat, when the little woman left she and her spiders made two more dresses, one nightgown and a bathrobe. Which she was wearing when Lucala entered her bedroom.

  “How do you feeling?” he asked. Myrtle sat on a bench, she drunk some ice tea that Sanrod had given her. She looked from him to the mannequins.

  “Well, I learned about how clothing is made here. So I feel a little bit smarter than yesterday.”Lucala nodded and grinned a little.

  “May I sit?”

  Myrtle smiled and also nodded.

  “You may.” she replied. Sanrod appeared and bowed.

  “Those my prince want something to drink?” This was the first time that Myrtle heard him speak. Lucala ordered the same thing as her was drinking and Sanrod went away to get it.

  “Did Madam Silvertreat behaved herself?” Lucala asked. Myrtle frowned, what a weird question.

  “Why do you ask me this?” He started too laugh, was she missing something. After what happened in Varalns fox den, she was staring too doubt herself.

  “Madam Silvertreat can be a lot.” he finally explained, after catching his breath. Myrtle nodded.

  “Well, it seems a I’m not a complete wast of her talents.” Prince Lucala looked towards the mannequins and nodded in agreement.

  “I can see that. She really out did herself, but now you have a problem.” Myrtle closed her eyes, she knew what he meant.

  “I need to pick one too wear.” He nodded again, he was acting different from yesterday. He was warmer at least that is how she would describe it.

  “My mother has invited you too diner.” He said when he took a sip of ice tea, that Sanrod brought him. Myrtle’s gaze went to the window, the world outside was already getting dark.

  “Really we worked all day?” Lucala laughed and stood up.

  “Like I said Madam Silvertreat can be a lot.” Myrtle drunk up the last bit of her ice tea, before she also stood up and walked towards the mannequins.

  “Do you have a favorite, my prince?” With his cup of black stone in his hand, he walked towards her and nodded.

  “Love the light-green one, but because you wore that color yesterday. So the black one is a close second.” He pointed with his free hand to the dress. Myrtle nodded, she had to agreed with his choice.

  “Thank you my prince.”

  Lucala let is head fall for a little bit.

  “Please, call me Lucala. Myrtle Hunter.” Myrtle opened her mouth, but Sanrod came into the room.

  “Your grace, your mother was looking for you.” Lucala grabbed her hand and planted his lip on the back of it.

  “I see you very soon, Myrtle Hunter.” He let her hand go and walked way. By the door stood he still and looked over his shoulder. He gave his cup to Sanrod. “I left something on the bench, it is for you. And don’t worry about the price, you still own me a dance. O and my mother requested you wear your hair lose.” Myrtle wanted too respond on that as well, but he walked out of the door. Which Sanrod closed after him.

  MYRTLE STARED AT THE door, he was so nice compared with yesterday. Myrtle walked at the bench, there lays a little black box. That wasn’t lying there when she stood up. With great care she opened the box, in it was a thing silver chainlet with a snowflake as pende
d. She closed her eyes and thanked the prince in silence. Quickly Myrtle chanced into the dress that Lucala picked out. She was brushing her, when he walked into the room again.

  “Are you ready for diner?” He asked. She looked at box with the chainlet still in it, he looked at it a little disappointed.“You don’t like it?”

  Myrtle looked from the mirror.

  “That is not it, I love it really. But Lucala why give it too me?”

  Lucala cracked a smile and grabbed the chainlet out off the box.

  “Well the pended is glamoured, with an anti glamour. So glamours don’t have effect on you, when you wear it.” He hang the chainlet around her neck. Her hand goes towards it, when her hand touched the cold precious metal she let is fall down.

  “That doesn’t answer my question, that explains what it does. Not why you giving it to me.”His smile grew.

  “There is no way I can’t fool you, Myrtle Hunter.” Myrtle shook her head.

  “After what happen, what do you think.” He nodded.

  “Fair enough, it is what you said. You have being through enough, now you have a way to defend yourself.” Myrtle looked now at him over her shoulder straight into his ice-blue eyes.

  “Thank you, Lucala.” Lucala was standing so close, his lips almost touched hers.

  “We should be going, it is not wise to let my mother wait.” But he did not move a muscle, like he was frozen. Myrtle was the one who broke this silent spell, by closing her eyes. Lucala stepped away, she didn’t only hear his footsteps. Myrtle also felt that his cold presence faded away. Slowly she stood up, and turned around. He was wearing a black suite with a crest embroidered on his chest.

  “You look very handsome, my prince.” She knew he didn’t expect a compliment, but she gave it anyway. He offered his arm towards her. “Thank you, Myrtle Hunter. That garment let you look like a blossom in spring. Not that I know how that looks like, but it is a nice expression.” Myrtle took his arm, and together walked out of the room.

  MYRTLE LOOKED AROUND the dinner hall, it was a large room made out of ice and black stone. On the walls were hanging embroidered tapestry how where picturing some horrible event. The used for blood red was overwhelming her.

  “Myrtle Hunter, you look wonderful.” The queen was sitting on the head of the table. “Come sit in the middle of the table.” She pointed towards a chair, that was standing exact in the middle of the table. Lucala escorted her to the chair, and pushed it more towards the table when she sat on it. “A fine gentleman, my son. Don’t you think, Myrtle Hunter. That is something he got from his father.” Myrtle smiled at the queen.

  “I’m sure that the prince got more good traits from you, your grace.”

  The queen raised her black stone cup.

  “I gave you my thanks for that well placed compliment.” Lucala also raised his cup.

  “Yes, very well placed. But I will never know, I never met my father and you mother don’t want to speak about him.” Myrtle felt the temperature in the room drop. The queen opened her mouth, but was interrupted by the servants how where placing the food on the table. A giant bowl of salt was placed next to Myrtle’s plate. Myrtle looked at the queen, maybe she was forgotten she wanted to say something. Or she wanted the matter lay to rest, however the queen was grabbing from the plates. Myrtle looked over the table, and al what she was seeing was cold food.

  “O, yes I forgot to tell you that we don’t eat warm food here at the wintercourt.” said the queen, her voice sounded a little enjoyed. Myrtle looked at the queen again.

  “Thank you for telling me this, your grace.” said Myrtle with a fake smiled, and grabbed some food.

  “Also all the food that is standing here on the table is safe for you to eat. But if you don’t trust it, you know were you can find the salt.” Myrtle knew that this was a test, with a little spoon she poured some salt on her food. To let them knew she had learn from her mistakes.

  “Again you got my thanks, your grace.” said Myrtle before taking a bite.

  AFTER DINER THE PLATES of food where removed by the same servants how placed them. A musician with a violin entered the dinner hall, Myrtle saw directly that he was a mortal. He walked to a place in the corner, and stared to play. Myrtle was the first one to admit she didn’t had a taste for music, but the song he was playing sounded sad.

  “May I have this dance?” Shocked Myrtle looked at Lucala, who was now standing next to her.

  “I have to warn you, I can’t dance.” she said reluctantly. It was true, her mother even send her to dance lessons. But she was so bad at it that the teacher send her away. Lucala smiled and grabbed her hand.

  “According to some I’m a great teacher.” He pulled her from her chair, and took her into the middle of the dinner hall. With great patience he did what he could, but when the music ended she couldn’t call it a dance. “We will resume this lesson tomorrow.” he said with a great smile on his face. She assumed his toes where not laughing at all. Myrtle bowed her head.

  “Just admit it, I’m terrible.” Lucala didn’t admit, in fact he didn’t move. She looked to the queen how looked to be frozen as well. Her eyes widened and her hand did go towards her chainlet. Her gaze did go to the sword that was hanging on Lucala’s belt.

  “LADY’S AND GENT, HERE am I Varaln Foxcrest. Last of his clan and the rest of the formal nonsense.” Myrtle was standing with here face towards him, trying to stand so still as possible. He walked right towards her, did he know she was not frozen? He laid his hand on her shoulder and sighed.

  “What a wast, but sorry little hunter. You left me with no other choice, then to kill you.” He petted her hair and walked on.“Ah your grace, what a wonderful to see you.” Myrtle heard that he took a few more steps. Without blinking she turned towards him, will she was pulling the sword. She swung the sword towards Varaln. He did a few steps, before he turned. Surprise and anger where burning in his eyes, he opened his mouth clearly to say something. But she shook her head, she wouldn't give him a chance.

  “Here is I, Myrtle Hunter daughter of Eldar Hunter. I made promise to kill you and now I will.” Myrtle run forward with the sword ready to strike, but Varaln stared to wobble. He fell towards the floor his head rolled away, leaving a trace of blood behind. Myrtle stared at it, Varaln Foxcrest was dead. He was really dead and she was the one who killed him, with one swing of a sword.

  A HAND WAS LIED ON her shoulders.

  “Are you alright?” Lucala ’s voice it melted something inside her away and made place for something else. She shook her head and gave him back his sword. When he putted it away, Myrtle saw something shiny around Varalns neck. She knelt and picked it from his neck, it was the pendant she traded for information.

  “What is that?” Lucala knelt next to her and she gave him the pendant. “Where he got this?” He yelled, so loud she had to cover her ears.

  “I gave it to him. It was part of the deal we made about information.” she saw the confusion shimmering in his eyes. Lucala looked from the pendant towards her.

  “Do you know what this is?” Myrtle shook her head, but stood up. Varaln told her when she made the trade, human don’t release what they are trading away. Again an exemple of her failing her friends and herself. “And for now I don’t care. I’m going to my room.” She walked away, she could her the queen behind her scream her lungs out from anger.

  MYRTLE WAS ALMOST AT her room, when she heard his footsteps closing in.

  “Wait!” Lucala grabbed her arm, this she pulled herself lose.

  “Please let me go, I just killed a someone.” she shivers now she spook it out loud, Lucala nodded.

  “I know.” He grabbed her hands, your burning up. She closed her eyes and pulled him closer. Before he know what happened she planted her lips onto his. He didn’t pushed her away, he just pulled her closer. Her mind slowly faded, until she pulled back.

  “I’m so sorry.” Myrtle sighed softly. He shook his head, she saw in his eyes that his mind still didn’t know w
hat just happened. With a smile on her face she walked away. Her body was still shivering from the adrenaline. She entered her chambers, her hands where on her lips. She walked towards the bed, the door behind her swung open. She turned, but she didn’t got time too think. Not that she wanted too think, Lucala ‘s lips where again on hers. The things that happened to her faded away. His hand slide over her body, he took his mouth from hers for just a moment.

  “If you want me to stop, just say so.” That was maybe the wised thing too do, but she pulled him closer.

  Snow covers all even the Truth

  Myrtle woke up and she didn’t needed to look behind her. She felt his cold presence through the fur, where she was sleeping under and he on. With a smile she turned and looked how still laid there with his eyes closed.

  “Good morning. Myrtle Hunter.” His eyes opened and a big smile appeared on his face, she could see his snow-white teeth.

  “Good morning, my prince. How did you sleep?” Myrtle asked with a smile of content. He pulled his shoulders up.

  “I don’t know I was to tired to notice I was asleep.” Myrtle felt that her face were slowly turned red.

  “I’m sorry, not that I regret it. I enjoyed it but it also made me forget.” He frowned.

  “What did you want to forget.”

  Myrtle closed her eyes, were to start.

  “I want to forget what happened to my friends, I want to forget were I am.”

  “Ooh.” Lucala replied, she opened her eyes and saw the disappointment on his face.