Shackles Of The Past

Chapter 17- Things of the wicked

To fear death,

is to fear life.

~Seneca.

***

Elvera stealthy walked into the room. It was quiet and carried the air of something dangerous. Something more foreboding that what she had witnessed from the abominations. Something worse and again dangerous.

She made access to the underground path and into the tunnel, slow and cautiously, the stair unyielding to her firm yet alert steps. Her senses heightened, sharp and focus on any strange sounds or movement that defer from hers.

It was just her and her navigations, detecting any foreign or mysterious presence but so far, she had slipped into the passage with ease as she didn’t dare look back for anything that could hinder her precisions.

And finally, she was lead to the treasure’s resting place.

Time froze as she stared at it. Nothing else mattered than seeing the Book she had been searching for over centuries. What she had lived all her life for one purpose she gazed at. Different emotions swirled through her, threatening to pour, but she held still. Not yet, Elv.

With her head heavy with different thoughts, the only thing she was focused on was retrieving it. She had waited for so long, so long to finally be able to find it. All her life, she had devised plans, plans worthy yet of risk, but she had done it despite the costs.

And finally, here it was, right in front of her, seated in a resting place. As she intended to grab it, a sudden sharp-like arrow approached, flying to her direction with a force that pushed her to the ground.

One of the arrows bruised the side of her cheek, grazing the veil at the lower part of her face and she hissed at the scratch. She was stunned, her eyes widened in misinterpretation. Did she miss something?

If it wasn't for that force, she was certain she would have been as dead and gone right now! Her heart didn’t cease with its thumping, as it pulsated with vicious beatings. She sighed, trying to calm her nerves.

With a sharp breath, she got on her feet. But she looked around warily, to the ground, and back to the Book. Her eyes fell on the tombstone besides the statue that held the stone firmly and the words carved on it. Sangius Clavis, it was what it said.

Latin. She realized. She pronounced it again, getting the faint meaning of the words. She translated the first word as 'Blood' and the next was 'Key'. It took her another second to realize the meaning of the ancient language.

And a silver knife was kept at one far corner. With a low growl, she counted her step and towards it. She made sure to track each, careful not to put her feet into the hideous traps.

Taking hold of the knife, she slit her palm without much thought, letting her blood flow into the silver statue's mouth. It seemed to generate her with sudden energy that she could feel slithering every corner of her being.

And when she was done, careful enough, she stepped back.

At first, nothing happened. The place was generally silent and her brows squinted in confusion. What could she be missing again? Before she could take a step, the ground shook slightly and rumbled under faint pressure.

The Book glowed both in darkness and light, as the illumination shone upon her ghastly face with the brightness and shadowy nature it brought. And she trembled upon the sight.

It was magnificent, its glory shining upon her, it brightness washing over her very soul. The beauty of it was beyond words. Was beyond what she had imagined it to be.

Elvera was so lost at the magnificent view that she forgot her purpose at that moment. She shook her head and quickly grabbed it out of the statue's hand. But the moment she did, the light died out from the Book and she made her way out.

Through the stairs she ran along, the passage closing from behind. She continued, wishing she had some sort of power to teleport out of this tunnel as the stairs appeared to be growing of immerse size and increasing the further she stepped on one.

And when she finally did, she let out a sigh.

It hadn't been up to another minute when she was caught with the Lord's aide whom appeared to be making his way there taking her to a subtle halt.

He stopped her. "What are you doing here, Advisor?" He spoke in a foreign language, his brows curled up in surprise as he observed her.

Elvera's eyes stretched at his sudden appearance before returning back casually. Although her mind refused to stop reeling with the word danger that she forced herself to open her mouth.

"I-His Grace sent me on an errand," she said with a straight face, her courage never wavering. The veil that covered the lower part of her face moved with the movement of her lips when she made those words. "I shall take my leave. He seemed to be in a hurry when he sent me." Her hands held the Book securely hidden behind her back and she bowed.

He didn't look quite satisfied with her response and it made her uneasy. “His grace?” he asked, voice with uncertainty. "May I remind you His Grace never sends anyone to this part of the castle, most exclusively, his chambers?” His voice was rough and gawky, with the way he spoke as though emphasizing every word with its incomplete teeth and ragged skull.

He wore a red garment that covered his skeletal body and his bony fingers dangled mindlessly to his side when he floated not walked, approaching her without any reasonable doubt of his last sentence and trapping her right that time.

All these years he served the Lord, never had he been sent down here to retrieve or run errand. Having a mere advisor whom he was in a far bigger position over was nonetheless unconvincing to him. Other reasons be it, running an errand in a place other than his chambers didn't settle with him well, knowing fully no one else knew this particular passage. Including him.

He had only followed the strong intoxicating scent that led him to this place which he was certain didn't belong to the Lord, in his chambers. And the guards securing the entrance were off sight. And it could only mean someone else were in there.

He had left, following the scent of perhaps the intruder not having enough time to raise alertness. If he did, the person might have been long gone.

And when he trailed, it got him to see the person he least expected to see.

Elvera struggled with the words to come up with not liking the twist. She had to leave. But she couldn’t, not with him trapping her wholly, making her unadjusted to the fair trial.

Still keeping her façade on, she spoke with that same demure as before. "And I don't need to remind you how His Grace trusts me with his personal assignment concerning the development of the kingdom. You know me too well to arouse unnecessary suspicions against me,”

“Not in his chambers, of course,” he reasoned.

Elvera didn’t respond. But the silence between them was becoming uncomfortable and she said, “I don’t have to inform you before carrying out His Grace instructions.”

"Not at all," he responded. "Pardon my intrusiveness then. If His Grace had sent you, it's only right that I know of it." His eyes trailed from her face to her hands behind her back. He sniffed. "What's behind you, Advisor?"

It was at that instant Elvera’s throat went dry. Her face suddenly paled, knowing where this was heading. It was only a matter of time before he realized what had gone missing.

The moonlight came in through the window, revealing the hour approaching midnight especially when the bell had tolled. The darkness became palpable, suffocating not the creature but the upcoming victim.

She gathered herself, standing tall. "I need to attend to His Grace immediately,” she diverted when he blocked her way. Her heart refused to mute, just her senses ringing different bells of alarm. She cursed inwardly and with a raised brow, "Yes?" she asked, feigning ignorance.

"The thing His Grace had sent you on…” he started. “… I assume I should have been aware by now," his curiosity bubbled up again, causing her inner struggle to surface.

“That I’m not certain. I was only given the order.”

“And what where they?”

"His instructions were strictly not to let any eyes see what he had requested for.” She managed to give a convincing response without restrain and said, “Oh, pardon, I forgot you lack the eyes. Socket perhaps?” she shrugged lightly when he responded with a low growl. "I'm simply following orders." She completed. “I’m sure you are very conversant with the punishment for breaking his rule. You wouldn't want me disobeying, would you?”

He raised his head to meet her eyes with displeasure in them. Ever since this lady appeared, he caught the smell of something fishy about her. From her all-too-good façade and polite demeanor was something he found hard to accept. Humans were known for different facades and he suspected she was one of them. A spy? He believed.

But to his disappointment, he couldn't trace a finger at any fault. Whatsoever he dug into, came out abortive, and her future, he predicted no harm. She was like the others. Even with that, she as still suspicious in his eyes.

"Hmm?" she asked, snapping him out of his thoughts and gaining back his attention.

His face hardened briefly before he opened his mouth to speak. "I apologize… I was only being security conscious. Pardon this one," he gave a small nod, his pride not letting him bow.

Her eyes dimmed as a result of her false smile. "You wouldn't mind if I will be excused. I have pending matters to attend to. His Lord isn't found of tardiness."

He nodded and excused himself, giving her way. “You’ve been summoned at the council, Advisor, about the recent death of the nun. But I’ll let them know your situation.” She heard him say.

“That would be very kind of you,” she faked an appreciation and he didn’t respond.

Elvera sighed in relief internally when she sneaked the Book securely to her side and to her front, making her way out. She felt his menacing gaze burning her back, but she gave no effort than to ignore his stare.

She only released the breath she didn’t realize she held for long when she was at a safe distance, as she made her way out without complaints and piercing glares angling towards her direction.

As soon as she was out of sight, the creature looked at the cave downwards. Then he looked at the door, before returning his eyesight to the former. Without much thought on it, he made his way down the stairs, taking the same portion of steps but in a much wider way downwards.

He needed no torch to see through the darkness, no eyes to guide his movement as he could see through anything. And the first thing that greeted him was the exact magnificent statue. His eyes narrowed at it.

Wasn’t this…?

It was at that moment his attention focused solely at the statue, something giving him the hint. What was foreign, he hadn’t realized. But then his gaze fell on the empty statue’s hands, widening them in realization and it was at that instant his anger flared at his clumsiness. "THE BOOK HAS BEEN STOLEN!" He alerted…

***