Secret Of The Crest

by Demetra Gerontakis

‘What?’ snapped Cassandra. ‘An animal can’t do that.’

  ‘Legend has it, that because ghouls have lost their earthly lives while being lost souls who didn’t believe in Christ, they return to feed on the living. Not to survive as a vampire would but believing that, if they drink from the blood of Christ’s descendents, especially the very innocent one’s, they will also be in communion. In this, perhaps be redeemed for their sins and be given the chance to move on and rest in peace finally, without the thirst for vengeance. That is the reason why they make a cross shaped scar with their nails and then drink from that very point. If the victim struggles to keep the ghoul from drinking then those sharp nails are used to shred their throats.’

  Gregor poured himself another glass of wine.

  ‘What did you mean when you said that was a ghoul originally?’ asked Sarah.

  ‘You are all aware that all things evolve while generations pass. As time went by, the ghouls didn’t become extinct but changed. The new generations mutated somehow.’

  ‘You’re pulling our leg now, right?’ said Sam. ‘This is like from a horror movie.’

  ‘I wish I were’ answered Gregor. ‘Long ago, ghouls took the lives of the living; some did not though, the reason for that unknown until today. Their victims were only bitten for their blood and left alive which then turned into a lesser kind of ghoul. That generation could walk among the living during the night and day unlike vampires or the original ghouls. They can do anything a human can only they have no need for sleep, drink or anything else a human need to survive. Of course, they can do all these things if they wish to. That is why it was so difficult to recognize one amongst us. The way for them to survive was by drinking the blood of the innocent victim without promoting death. Again, unlike the original ghoul clan who fed on corpses and anything that had a heartbeat. The attacked woman had had her head ripped off. Her heart torn out and all three parts of her were buried separately to insure that she wouldn’t return to life as a ghoul. I never saw it but my grandmother makes a great Alfred Hitchcock!

  She had told me that after the night of the attack there was no hope of feeling secure. There hadn’t been an episode since she was a child. She told me that my mother was so frightened for our very lives she sacrificed her own needs to secure our safety. The morning my father evacuated the inn leading out every tenant, mother wrapped my baby sister in a blanket and literally begged a newly wed couple to take her with them and raise her as their own. I don’t remember all that, but I do remember her turning to me at some point. She said, “Gregori, I love you so much, I can not let you be in harms way, get your bags. This nice couple will take you home with them, somewhere safe I promise it will only be for a while.”

  I saw her bite her lip. She held her tears best she could. My mother knew she would never see us again. Her tears escaped and fogged up her beautiful eyes. I remember yelling at the top of my lungs. “No, mama I won’t go, I won’t!” I ran out the front door in a panic and shaking like a leaf from fear of being taken away from the life I knew by some strangers.

  I hid myself in mother nature’s arms. I cried for hours until my crying led me to exhaust and eventually to sleep. My grandmother, who was a very tough woman and still is, had seen many wars, death and hunger. Those alone had made her a very determined woman. After both my parents disappeared searching for me that day, she too began to search. It was fortunate for me she did or I might not have been alive today. She found me in shock so much so I didn’t recognize her. I was dirty and starved. It wouldn’t be but for days before she would hear my voice again. I had changed.’

  Gregor drank the very last sip of his wine and then stared down at his watch.

  ‘We should retire now. It is late. I apologize for keeping you all up so late. We can continue another time if you’d like’ he said.

  ‘There is nothing to apologize for. We have enjoyed the evening and I, for one, am anticipating to hear the rest of the story’ Cassandra said smiling.

  ‘Yes and thank you for sharing that story with us. We’d all like to hear the rest soon’ continued Rebecca.

  She stared at Gregor and blushed. She had become infatuated with him from the very moment she first saw him yet, she had not shared her feelings with her sister nor her friends.

  ‘Goodnight to you all then. Sleep comfortably and in the morning at ten sharp we shall meet here so that I may give you all the ultimate tour of the mysterious forest in safety’ Gregor said jokingly.

  ‘Goodnight, ten it shall be!’ Cassandra said. Then looking at her friends she added.

  ‘He’s kidding right? Who can sleep after everything he just told us?’

  ‘I don’t believe in ghouls’ said Sarah.

  ‘Yeah, even if they existed at one time they don’t now, otherwise he wouldn’t take us out into the woods tomorrow.’ added Sam.

  ‘Come on, let’s go get some shut eye!’ Rebecca exclaimed.

  They all dragged their legs up the steep flight of stairs to their rooms.

  ‘Goodnight ladies.’ said Sam.

  ‘Goodnight you guys, sleep tight!’ Sarah whispered.

  Cassandra and Rebecca whispered back and shut the door behind them. Sam closed their door quietly and took Sarah into his arms.

  ‘Finally alone!’ he said as if fed up.

  ‘Sammy, you naughty boy! It’s so quiet now and the girls are right next door!’ Sarah reminded him. ‘I hope you’re not seriously thinking… well, you know.’

  ‘Oh, but not only am I thinking it, I am practically doing everything that is coming to mind!’ he said as he caressed her body and kissed her neck.

  He then pushed her up against the wall and lowered her zipper a little at a time sliding his fingers up and down her back giving her goose bumps.

  ‘Sam, you know I can’t resist when you do that, honey!’ said Sarah giving in.

  ‘That’s why I’m doing it baby and be aware that I have really bad intentions for you tonight’ he was saying while kissing her in between the words.

  Sarah had given in to Sam’s devious plan and responded to his call. In the mean time, Cassandra had fallen asleep already, exhausted by the days events. The wine was exactly what she needed to unwind and relax. She hadn’t yet put her head on the pillow and she was dozing off. Rebecca on the other hand wasn’t dreaming but she was fantasizing about what it would be like to be held in Gregor’s arms. She blushed looking into the mirror as she let that thought into her mind. She said goodnight to Cassandra but received no answer. Peeking into the room she saw that Cassandra had fallen asleep so she put out the two table lanterns and left the one hanging on the wall burn. Closing the joining door behind her she whispered.

  ‘Goodnight Cassie, sweet dreams love.’

  Rebecca had no intention of sleeping that night. She had been swept away by Gregor’s story and all she could think about was how she could get a chance to be with him alone. She freshened up her make up and hair and grabbed a lantern. She took a deep breath and walked out of the room. Rebecca went down stairs to where she found Marina locking the doors and windows.

  ‘Mrs. Marina, could I possibly get a glass of warm milk? I can’t seem to get to sleep’ she said, all the time hoping that Gregor would pass through.

  ‘There won’t be any fresh milk until morning dear but I will prepare a chamomile and honey for you, it always works. Get a book from the shelves over there I’ll be right back.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Rebecca replied.

  Then she browsed through the books, took one in her hands and made herself comfortable on the armchair that Gregor was sitting in earlier. She could smell his musky cologne all over the chair. As she drowned her body into the armchair and swept quickly through some pages she eventually fell asleep. A few minutes later Marina came in with the chamomile. She put it on the table next to Rebecca and gently lifted the book out of her hands not wanting to wake her but Rebecca woke instantly.

  ‘I’m sorry dear, I was hoping I wouldn’t wake you. You were slee
ping so peacefully I believe the chamomile is no longer needed. Drink it anyway; it is nature’s gift to the human nervous system. You will sleep like a baby tonight.’

  ‘Thank you, I am sorry to have put you to trouble, it seems that you are the only one up so late working. Isn’t anyone else helping you tonight, that boy Fanis or Gregor?’ Rebecca asked.

  ‘Gregor has gone off to rest and Fanis had his day off today, he will not be back until tomorrow morning. Besides, it is not to busy so I can handle things well enough by myself, considering my age.’ she replied.

  Rebecca sipped her chamomile quickly now that she had been informed that Gregor was not going to show up tonight and thanking Mrs. Marina once again she went off to bed. A very dark shadow stood in front of her on the upper floor as she came closer to her room. Although she was scared she still found the courage to ask.

  ‘Who’s there?’

  She received no answer but the shadow quickly moved toward the end of the hall way and disappeared. Rebecca ran into her room and jumped into bed. She couldn’t get the image of the shadow out of her thoughts. It had seemed to her that it was a manly figure that was slouched forward.

  ‘It’s just my imagination. No one disappears like that unless it’s Houdini. I should say no to second drinks’ she said to herself and closing her eyes she fell asleep.

  Before anyone had really gotten rested the sun rose and yet the day was misty. Looking out her small window, Cassandra saw a thick fog lurking over the river bank. She thought it looked like a scene from a horror movie but at the same time was serene and beautiful. Cassandra went into Rebecca’s room and pulled the covers off her.

  ‘Wake up sleepy, it’s almost eight. We should get going if we want to eat breakfast before leaving.’

  ‘Tell me that this is a dream and in reality I have four or five hours left to sleep’ Rebecca said whiningly. ‘I have tossed and turned all night! I had terrible dreams none of which I remember and I can’t dream of coming along today, sorry!’

  Rebecca turned on the other side and pulled the covers up over her head.

  ‘Becca! You get up right this minute!’ Cassandra demanded. ‘You know we can’t work without you. Besides today should be extremely interesting since Gregor will be our personal tour guide.’

  At hearing this, Rebecca sat up in bed all wide eyed and smiley.

  ‘I’ll be ready in ten minutes!’ she said.

  ‘What’s that on your neck?’ asked Cassandra.

  ‘What, what is it?’

  ‘You have some blood on your shoulder.’ Cassandra said again.

  Rebecca rubbed her fingers against her shoulder looking into the mirror.

  ‘I have no idea. Do you think there are bed bugs in here?’

  ‘No, silly! You probably scratched yourself during those dreams you said that you saw’ answered Cassandra. ‘I’ll be downstairs, don’t be late!’

  Cassandra closed the doors behind her and went down to meet the others. Mrs. Marina had prepared what seemed to be picnic baskets and had them laying out on the front desk.

  ‘Good morning, Cassandra dear, can I bring you some coffee?’ the woman asked.

  ‘Good morning, no thanks, I will take some with the rest of the group in a while. Can I help you with what you are doing here until they come down?’ Cassandra asked.

  ‘You are so very considerate my dear but I will take care of it, thank you. You seem to be a very caring person Cassandra; you must have been raised by wonderful parents.’

  ‘I’m not really but when it comes the older generation it’s kind of my soft spot because I never met my own grandparents and I kind of visualize them in every older person.’

  ‘That’s ashamed. Do you mean you haven’t met your grandparents from both your mother and your father?’ asked marina.

  ‘Yes, mum’s father was killed in an automobile accident and my grandmother died of sorrow, her heart failed her. My pop’s parents were on a trip in Japan when that devastating earthquake happened and they survived the earthquake but not the tidal wave that followed it. Their bodies were never found according to the officials, after twenty days of searching they are presumed dead’ said Cassandra.

  ‘That is unfortunate my poor girl. I am sorry for your losses. I too, have lost loved ones but, that is for another time. Here come your friends.’

  Sam and Sarah came down the stairs and over to where Cassandra was.

  ‘Well good morning sunshine and here we were thinking we were the first ones up. Where is Becca?’ Sam asked.

  ‘She was kind of tired, didn’t get much sleep last night so she’s kind of dragging her feet this morning’ she answered. ‘She will be down shortly.’

  Rebecca came running down the stairs all cheerful and ready to go.

  ‘Good morning buddies! Let’s eat, I’m famished!’

  They all went into the restaurant and took breakfast. Sarah looked at Rebecca and asked her whispering.

  ‘What happened to you? I know you’re wild but that’s ridiculous!’

  ‘What are you talking about?’ asked Rebecca.

  ‘I’m talking about all those scratches on your back and legs and that you look as pale as a ghost!’

  ‘Oh, you’re right but it wasn’t wild sex, it was mosquitos.’

  ‘You’re kidding, right?’

  ‘No, I was scratching all night, I hardly got any sleep and I feel drained this morning. Blood sucking mosquitoes!’ Rebecca said full of anger.

  ‘Shall I tell you something strange though?’

  ‘Sure’ said Sarah.

  ‘When I was looking in the mirror at the scratches on my neck, I heard a squeak of a door. I went over into Cassandras room where I thought the noise was coming from but there was no one there. I thought “well great, now I’m hearing things too!” As I was leaving the room though, I noticed the wardrobe door was wide open. I went over and looked inside but still I saw nothing. Nothing but my own reflection in the mirror inside the closet door, of course. I could swear as I turned to leave I saw a shadow. Am I seeing things or am I just exhausted from sleep deprivation?’ Rebecca asked.

  ‘I think you need a good breakfast and lot’s of juice and coffee!’ said Sarah.

  After breakfast they all went back to their rooms to get their back packs sand equipment. Cassandra was the first back down to the lobby. She noticed that Gregor had taken Marina’s place behind the desk. She stood at the desk quietly watching him for a while believing that he hadn’t noticed her.

  As she raised her hand to hit on the bell, Gregor spoke.

  ‘Are you just going to watch me or are you thinking of saying good morning.’

  He turned at gave her a clever looking smile.

  ‘I thought you were so preoccupied with your work that you hadn’t noticed me and good morning to you too!’ Cassandra said returning the smile.

  ‘I may be busy but my eyes are everywhere! Now, can I be of some assistance, young lady?’ Gregor added.

  ‘No, thank you. I’ll be getting some breakfast and I’ll be back here at ten.’

  ‘You do know that’s less than an hour from now, right?’

  Cassandra looked at her watch.

  ‘I hadn’t realized the time had passed already. See you in a bit!’ she said and rushed into the dining area.

  Gregor stared at Cassandra. He wanted to get to know her better; his curiosity about her was eating him up. His eyes followed her into the diner all the way across from where he stood. He watched her as she ate, spoke and laughed with her friends. This went on for a few minutes until the sound of Rebecca’s nagging voice brought him to attention. Rebecca came down the stairs cursing her mobile phone.

  ‘Stupid phone, I haven’t gotten a signal since we got here! What’s wrong with you! For goodness sake!’

  She pounded on the device taking out all her frustration on it. Her eyes looked up for a moment and saw that Gregor was looking at her silently from behind the desk. Her mouth dropped as she felt so embarrassed but sh
e didn’t let that stop her here.

  ‘I haven’t got a signal and I haven’t made a call since we arrived. I would really like to call home. Good morning, Gregor. Can you please tell me if the antennas are working around?’

  Rebecca really did want to call back home but at the moment all she wanted to achieve was an introduction to a conversation with tall, dark and handsome. She wanted him to notice her.

  ‘Good morning Rebecca.’

  ‘Oh please, call me Becca’ she said.

  ‘Okay then, Becca, the problem is that we are at a most difficult point in a high mountainous area smothered among the tall trees of the forest which both create a barrier for the aerial lines. We seldom get a signal out here. If you like you are more than welcome to use the land line phone here at the front desk other wise you would have to walk all the way to where you left your cars. That is where the signal gets better.’

  All the while Rebecca had focused on his lips, wondering if they were as good at kissing as they were at speaking.

  ‘Becca?’

  ‘Yes, yes of course. I should of thought of that, silly me. I will try later, ok?’

  ‘Might I ask how you slept? You look a little tired.’ Gregor said.

  ‘I didn’t sleep that well, it’s obvious. I think the wine was too much and I am better off with cocoa before bed time. Gregor, would you like to join me for a cup of tea this morning?’

  ‘I would love to but I need to finish up here if I‘m going to be ready by the time you all finish breakfast. Maybe next time’ he said.

  ‘Okay, your loss. See you later!’

  Becca met up with her friends in the diner. Gregor’s eyes fell upon Cassandra over and over again. Then his thoughts changed and he wondered if anyone had noticed the scratches on Rebecca. He couldn’t resist the temptation the night before. Rebecca was so innocent, vulnerable and available. Resisting the taste of innocence was unbearable. Now the thought of being able to keep away and withstanding the temptation should he again get the urge to taste her blood was torturing him.

  ‘I must be stronger!’ he thought to himself.

  His Grandmother slapped him out of the trans.