Book of Secrets Page 8

  “But he didn’t rape you. He raped use!”

  “And I killed him for it!” Myrtle snapped, at him. Sarra’s eyes widened.

  “Sorry?” Her voice was filled with disbelieve, clearly not believing Myrtle. Myrtle closed here eyes and sighed, why did she need too repeat herself.

  “I killed Varaln Foxcrest, last of his name.” Sarra looked to Lucala. “Tell me please that she is joking.” She still didn’t believe Myrtle.

  Lucala sighed.

  “I wish I could, Varaln Foxcrest came into the palace with an amulet he got from Myrtle Hunter. He froze us up, but I gave her an amulet that protects her against glamours before that. That is how she saved my mother.” Sarra looked towards her.

  “Dead, he is dead.” Now she was the one shacking, so much that her legs collapsed.“I can’t believe it. Maybe I don’t want to believe it.” White apparitions appeared around Sarra, slowly the apparitions take more shape. Until there were white woman, Myrtle wanted to swung a sword at the white woman closes to her.

  “Myrtle Hunter, no they are not dangerous.” Lucala said as softly as possible. Myrtle looked over her shoulder.

  “Are you sure?” Lucala nodded.

  “They are Witte Wieven. They feed of the bad experience, until the feelings of that experience are gone. Those feelings attracting the creature of this land. My blood will not help against that kind of smell.” Myrtle sighed.

  “It looks like we have that break after all.” she said reluctantly. Lucala nodded and they walked towards a big rock, she sat down on the ground and laid her head against a big rock. “I think I’m gonna close my eyes for a moment.” He shacked her.

  “Don’t fall a sleep, you can have a concussion.” Still her eyes closed, maybe she was stubborn.

  “Please wake me every thirty minutes.” Before he could answer, she fell asleep.

  Cemetery of the living

  Lucala’s cold hand, how felt warm in this land, shock her awake.

  “Myrtle Hunter, they are gone.” Myrtle opened her eyes, her friends stood around her. Her head felt not so heavy before she went asleep.

  The back of Lucala’s hand touched her forehead.“How do you feeling?”

  Myrtle gave him a smile, her hand took his.

  “I’m not gonna say that I’m feeling fine. But I feel better.” Lucala smiled at her.

  “So you was just being stubborn?” Myrtle watched past Lucala towards Sarra and nodded.

  “I just was being stubborn, I’m sorry?” With the help of Lucala she stood op. Eldric didn’t look at her. “Eldric how are you felling.”Tears appeared in his his eyes.

  “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean it.”Myrtle shook her head and walked towards him.

  “You don’t have to be sorry, Eldric. I know you would never said those things out loud without help.” She swung her arms around him, her mussels protested against this sudden movement. He sobbed on her shoulder.

  “He did things to Sarra and I needed to watch while he did it. And when he was done with her, he did it to me. He did it also to me.” his voice stumbled. Myrtle bit softly on her lip, al the time she could imagine what was going on behind that wooden door.

  “I know there was something happening, but I was also glamoured, so I couldn’t fight back. I’m sorry I wished I fought harder.”

  “You couldn’t fight harder, the glamour was very strong. According to my mother. Al the time you two were talking she was trying to break it. That is until she called your name, Myrtle Hunter.” Lucala laid a hand on her free shoulder. “And you fought when you where free of the glamour.”

  Eldric nodded, and took a step back. He reached his hand out towards Lucala.

  “I HAVE TO APOLOGIES to you too. I have said things that I shouldn’t.”

  Lucala shrug his shoulders, but took Eldric’s hand. Myrtle looked at Sarra how was very quiet during this conversation. Myrtle walked towards her. “Are you okay Sarra?”Sarra gasped to breath and nodded.

  “Why you say such stupid things Myrtle? Prince Snowflake should we walk on, this place is giving me the creeps.” Lucala wanted to point out that she should call him by his name. But Myrtle shook her head.

  “It is not far, Sarra Shylton. The tomb of the Keeper of the Key is close by.” Lucala said. Eldric let his head fell down.

  “Did you say tomb, Prince Snowflake?” his voice was trembling again. Lucala nodded, and swung an arm around him.

  “I can tell you all about this world if you want.” Eldric sighed.,

  “I would rather that you not tell me everything.” Myrtle looked at Sarra, how smiled.

  THE THICK CLOUDS DROWN back and made place for a full cold moon. Myrtle heard that the Grimmhouds still followed them. She looked over her shoulder but they didn’t showed them selfs. Lucala also looked over his shoulder from time to time.

  “I would rather that they leave us be.” Myrtle nodded, and looked again over her shoulder. Her hands where resting on her swords, from the corner of her eye that his hand was also resting on his sword. Luckily it was no longer quite, the hounds and other undead creatures, produced a lot of welcome sound. They only thing Myrtle wished was for fresh air, the sour smell of some molt filled the air.

  THEY LEFT THE FOREST of dead trees behind them, the where now standing on the edge of a massive field that was surrounded with a rusty iron fence. The fence was broken up by a rusty gate, with a rotten wooden plate. The text was no longer visible. The field beyond the fence was filled with tombstones, the fog was thicker here than in the forest.

  “Nice neighborhood, are they taking on new tenants?” Myrtle needed to bite on her lip, so she wouldn’t laugh. Sarra’s sarcastic remark, perhaps, a bit inappropriate. Still, it broke the tension slightly. In the distance there walked something or someone, Myrtle couldn’t see it. Something what made her uncomfortable.

  “It is lively in the Land of the Dead.” Myrtle looked at Lucala how nodded.

  “This is odd, normally you would be lucky if you see one or two inhabitants. Maybe they sense that there are mortals in there realm.” said Lucala, Myrtle heard a slight tremble in his voice. Myrtle’s gaze went over the cemetery.

  “Is the tomb on this cemetery?” Lucala nodded.

  “This is the only cemetery in the Land of the Dead.” He wanted to walk through the gate, when the growling of the hounds became louder. Myrtle turned around the Grimmhounds closed in on them.

  “What do they want?” Eldric ‘s voice breaks the words. Myrtle didn’t know it either.

  “Lucala, take him beyond the gate!” Myrtle drowning her swords, left from her Sarra put an arrow on her bow.

  “Sarra follow them!” The hounds didn’t came any closer.

  “No, I don’t leaving you behind!” yelled Sarra towards her.

  Myrtle looked at her.

  “Go, I will be fine. I hope.” Sarra nodded, and walked backwards. Myrtle’s gaze went back to the hounds. Until her eyes caught something between the trees. She narrowed her eyes, it was a person. Then her eyes widened, she know the person between the trees.

  “Daddy?” She whispered. Her father nodded, but dispersed again.

  “THE HOUNDS, THEY ARE drawing back!” Eldric was right the Grimmhounds turned around and run towards the forest. Myrtle knew what happened, she shook her head.

  “Myrtle Hunter what is it?” Lucala asked, he was to far away how could he see her father.

  “The hounds, they are chasing a new pray. My father.” Myrtle said softly so that only he could hear it.Lucala walked towards her.

  “Are you sure?” Myrtle hand goes towards the chainlet.

  “Yes I’m sure. It was him.” she saw that Lucala looked to the forest edge.

  “Do you wanna follow him?” He asked her, a bit louder. So the others could hear there conversation. Myrtle’s gaze went from him to her friends.

  “Yes I wanna go after him, with al my heart. Only we are here to finish a job and that is what we going to do.” Myrtle turned away form the forest. �
�Lucala show us the way to the tomb of the Keeper of the key.”He nodded and walked past her.

  “This way, let us explore our new neighborhood.” he joked. Eldric flinched.

  “Great, now Prince Snowflake has the same humor as my sister. Not something I suspected.”

  THEY WALKED PAST THE various tombstones, by some it looked like the grave was very fresh. By some the earth is starting to move when they walked past it. Eldric flinched by every sound and movement. He was afraid of dead, even to say the word made him distressed and Myrtle couldn’t blame him. This was the first time she had seen a real graveyard. Of course she have seen a graveyard in old movies or photo’s. But never in the Foundation the old grave were dig up years before her parents were even born and the bodies cremated. So there was no way that the souls of the dead could find a way back to the Foundation and loved ones.

  THE SMALL TOMBSTONES made place, for statue’s of modern angels and other more creepy creatures. Eldric who walked for here together with Lucala. One of the statue’s moved and almost grabbed Eldric by the arm, he screamed so hard that Myrtle without doubt could say that every creature on the graveyard heard him. Quickly she looked around, the undead surrounded them.

  “I think your blood is finally working, Prince Snowflake.” Whispered Sarra just hard enough so that Myrtle and Eldric could hear it too. Lucala nodded.

  “I’m thinking you are right, Sarra Shylton.” Lucala lay a hand on Eldric’s shoulder. “Are you alright, Eldric Shylton?” Eldric shook her head. Myrtle squeezed her eyes. Maybe Lucala was right when he told her, that it was not wise to bring him. Myrtle opened her eyes, there was nothing that she could do about it right now.

  “Let’s move on, guys.” Myrtle walked past the statue, that moved. It looked much on one of those gargoyle, she had seen on pictures of old churches. It didn’t move when she walked past it. Still the eyes of the stone creature lighted up.

  THE REST OF THE STONE creature’s let them be. A few opened there eyes when Myrtle passed, it felt like they looked only at here and not to her friends. Myrtle shivered for a moment, and was glad when they left the statue’s behind them. Now the grounds where filled up with small buildings of stone. The color of the stone was hiding behind a layer of green molt.

  “This neighborhood becomes better and better.” said Sarra. This time Myrtle didn’t hold her laugh back, it filled the air. Some of the undead looked over, but she didn’t mind.

  “Myrtle Hunter, the tomb of the Keeper of the key is close.” Said Lucala. Myrtle nodded, Eldric looked around.

  “How do you know, Prince Snowflake?” he asked. Lucala moved his finger to his lips,

  “listen.” Myrtle closed her eyes, what does he mean. Then she heard the melodious sound of water.

  “The tomb is standing close to a river.” She smiled, the hand form Sarra toughed her.

  “It is good thing he loves you, if we where here alone. We wouldn’t know that and just entered every tomb we could find.” Sarra said. Myrtle nodded.

  “Did La Croix mention a tomb?” Sarra shook her head,

  “No not that I think so. But Eldric did the most of the talking. La Croix doesn’t like me that much.” said Sarra. Myrtle sighed, that was something they got in common.

  LUCALA STOPPED BY THE edge of the river. Myrtle looked over his shoulder, the water was dark red.

  “Is this blood?” Myrtle asked, she saw Lucala nod from the corner of her eyes. Quickly she looked around, her gaze was captured by a tomb of black stone. She narrowed her eyes the stone was not covered by the molt.

  “Prince Snowflake, please tell me. That, that tomb is not our tomb.” Eldric asked.

  “I’m truly sorry, Eldric Shylton. But it is the tomb of the Keeper of the Key.” There was a bridge of rotten wood leading over the water, the tomb was not only surrounded by the river, but also by weeping willow. The dead wood was covered with light-green Spanish moss. Sarra walked straight to the white doors. “Don’t touch those, Sarra Shylton. If you do the Keepers hunt begins.” Sarra turned towards him.

  “Maybe it is a good idea that we eat something first. You know, like our last supper.” Eldric looked with disgust towards her.

  “Please don’t say stuff like that?” Sarra sighed and sat on the cold ground. But Eldric was not done with his sister. Myrtle smiled, and walked towards Lucala. She was met by his cold aura.

  “He, what is wrong?” she asked while she laid a hand on his shoulder. Lucala gave her a smile back.

  “Why do you think that there is something wrong?” He asked, Myrtle draw her hand back and shivered. Lucala nodded to the doors.

  “Those doors are made from white oak. The rumors has it that is to keep the feyfolk out. So that means that you have to go without me, Myrtle Hunter.” She swung her arms around him.

  “Is that all?” He shook his head.

  “No I wanted to warn you, I never heard a story about somebody that goes is also came out.” Myrtle closed her eyes.

  “Dammit so this is our last supper.” Lucala nodded, and looked away from her.

  “I only can beg you not to go in.” She bit softly on her lip.

  “Eldric told you why we need that book, so you know we have to.”

  Lucala shook his head again, this felt like a goodbye and she hated goodbyes.

  “No, you don’t. I know saver options to pay off that debt.” He told her and she believed him, tears sprung in her eyes, quickly she pushed them back.

  “Lucala, I love you. But I really doubt that Dakkar La Criox except anything else than the book.” He was the one who cursed.

  “Hé, snow bunnies. Are you two coming. If not Eldric is eating all the food!” yelled Sarra

  “I’m not!” yelled Eldric in response. Myrtle let Lucala lose and walked away. He grabbed her by the arm and puled her back. He gave her a kiss on her lips, for a little moment they where standing like this. Until he pulled back.

  “So Myrtle Hunter, did you say you loved me?” With a smile in her face she slapped him. When he looked back she buried her head in his chest, this was goodbye at least for now.

  Keeper of the Key

  “Eldric, before we go in I wanna give you a choice. Lucala can’t come. So do you want to stay with him.” Myrtle wanted to have that choice, for a quick moment she looked to Sarra and she nodded. She wanted to give him that choice as well. Eldric closed his eyes, and gave her a smile.

  “Thank you, Myrtle. But I did knew, what it meant when I took this job. I’m gonna come with you.” He looked to his sister and she nodded. Myrtle gave him a smile.

  “Well then there is no going back.” For a moment she looked to Lucala. He didn’t look to her. Sarra walked to the white doors and pushed it open. The hinges creaked violently, it brought her for a moment she was in the hall of parents house and for her father’s office.

  “Let the hunt begin.” Myrtle said softly.

  THE HALL WAS LONG AND dark, the ground was very slippery. With her hand against the wall trying to find her way in the tomb.

  “How long is this going on?” Myrtle hissed to Sarra.

  “Do you want to let the Keeper of the key know where we are.”

  Myrtle looked over her shoulder, the only thing she could see of her friends was a shadow in the light. But she saw Sarra ’s ponytail move, when she shook her head. Myrtle did an other step forward, something cracked under her feet.

  “What, what was that?” Eldric ‘s voice faltered. She took her foot up, before she set it down. Again something cracked.

  “I have an idea, but do you really want to know?” Myrtle waited for his answer.

  “On a second thought, no.” Eldric said quickly. Myrtle did another step forward, ignored the cracking.

  THE HALL TOOK A TURN and Myrtle took it. They were blinded by an explosion of light. When her eyes where used to the light, she wised for the darkness to come back. They where skeletons on the ground, of lose bones. Under it was lying splashes dark brown flooded. Myrtle walked on trying not to
look down. But it was impossible to not stand on something. She didn’t want to look back to her friends. She wanted to reaches the next corner.

  “Myrtle, slow down a bit.” Sarra said. Myrtle squeezed her eyes shut.

  Fear was taking her in a grip, she tried to shook it of.

  “Myrtle.” said Sarra again. Myrtle grabbed the corner of the wall, and pulled herself towards it. Her feet slithered with bumping in to some bones.

  “Myrtle just wait, a moment.” She heard Sarra’s voice coming from far, Myrtle looked finally over her shoulder. Sarra and Eldric were not far behind her. Her breath got stuck in her throat. Behind her friends stood a figure, in a hood covered in blood, his hands were nothing than long curved nails. He didn’t came any closer, he just stood there. Waiting for something, but before she could say anything. The figure disappeared, the sound of rusty chains scrape against each other ringed in her ears.

  “Finally we got up with you.” Sarra looked at her. “Myrtle, are you alright? You look so pale.” It was like waking up from a nightmare, slow. Everything detail fresh in her head. But Myrtle nodded.

  “Considering, we are standing between the dead.” Sarra looked around her and nodded.

  “Yes, maybe my question was misplaced.” said Sarra, with traces of a forced smile on her face. Myrtle looked to Eldric, his face was whiter the fresh snow. In his eyes she saw the regard, that he not stayed behind by Lucala.

  WHEN SHE TOOK THE NEXT corner, Myrtle wised she never entered this tomb. In this hall the torches, with there green flames. Shined there creepy light on dead body’s where the blood is still pouring out. Some dismantled parts where laying across the hall. Myrtle put her hand before her mouth, the smell of decay made it difficult to breath. She walked further in the hall, this time her eyes gazed over the body’s. The words of Lucala echoed in her mind.