Secret Of The Crest

by Demetra Gerontakis

  ‘Shoot, love. I don’t mind at all. What do you want to know?’

  Rebecca had been anticipating this moment when she daydreamed he would ask about her love status. She acted all calm and cool but inside her heart was racing quicker than a cheetah on a hunt.

  ‘Are you in a relationship back home?’ he asked.

  ‘If I did love, he would either be here by my side or I wouldn’t be. I haven’t really had luck with finding my prince charming. So, I’m as unattached as they get!’ she replied happily.

  It was all too obvious that she provoked him to make his mood. Cassandra was so passionate with her work she slowly began moving further and further into the woods forgetting all the time that she was supposed to stay in view’s distance. Gregor and Rebecca had begun to let each other’s feelings for one another show through their conversation while she showed Gregor her camera explaining in great detail every part of it.

  ‘You are very good at this. Are you too studying photography?’ he asked.

  ‘No, love. I have, we all have had photography as a hobby since we were all kids. One Christmas, our parents came up with the idea that we all received the same gift from old St. Nick. Mainly so we wouldn’t suspect he didn’t exist and so that we would have a common interest when we were together other than goofy toys and game boards. That Christmas morning we all opened our presents and found our first cameras. Well, me and the girls I mean because we didn’t know Sam back then. Any way, we went outside that Christmas morning and took pictures like crazy. We developed them and made tons of albums in a very short time. That is how it all began.’ She smiled.

  Gregor stared into Rebecca’s eyes signaling his wish to kiss her. As he slowly leaned towards her and just before she gave her lips willingly to him, a scream pulled them away from each other and left them in question. The group reconnected immediately, all except Cassandra who was missing. Gregor was now very tense and more worried than any of them were. They were all unsuspecting of the possible consequences.

  ‘You must all stay right here, exactly at this point all together. No matter what do not separate from each other! Do you all understand me?’

  ‘Yes, yes we understand!’

  ‘I’m going to find Cassandra but I don’t want any of you to be lost.’

  Gregor ran into the woods following the direction he heard the scream come from. He ran deeper into the forest scanning for Cassandra. Again he heard someone not screaming this time but sobbing. He was lucky to find Cassandra where she sat crying.

  ‘Cassandra, are you alright, were you attacked?’

  Gregor wouldn’t forgive himself had his sister been hurt just as they had been reunited. He didn’t want to lose her again. Cassandra looked up at him as he pulled her up and hugged him tightly relieved but shaking.

  ‘I’m sorry, I… I shouldn’t have gotten so preoccupied with the shooting; I was in the forest and didn’t even realize it!’

  ‘The important thing is that you are alright. You are alright aren’t you?’

  ‘Yes.’ Her voice was trembling.

  ‘What happened? Why were you screaming?’

  ‘Two very pale people, a man and a woman grabbed me by surprise and held me against my will. The man held my arms as the woman went for my throat. I thought they wanted to strangle me. Then something very strange happened.’

  ‘What was that?’

  ‘The woman lifted my chain in her fingers and asked me where I am from. When I told her I am from England she asked me what my name is. She had a very deep almost sad voice. I told her my name was Cassandra Williamson. Immediately she let me go and turned away telling the man to leave. He asked her what she was doing and she answered him, “Vasili, not now!” And they quickly ran off.’

  Gregor was surprised.

  ‘Did you say she said Vasili?’

  ‘Yes, why do you ask?’

  Gregor bit his lip.

  ‘That is a common name in these parts, we cannot know who it was since there are many with that name here.’

  ‘What did they want of me, Gregor?’

  ‘I am sorry, but from the way you described their moves I am sure they were ghouls.’

  ‘If that is the case, then why didn’t they rip me to shreds?’

  ‘I haven’t an answer for you but I am grateful that you were left unharmed. Now, let’s return to the others before they come looking for us’ Gregor said in a hurry wanting to avoid more conversation. Cassandra on the other hand didn’t want to let it go.

  ‘I can’t quite understand what happened back there. She was going to do something bad to me and changed her plans when she saw my necklace. Her eyes became gentile and her growl had ceased. Then, when she heard my name her eyes turned sorrowful and I felt her pain as she turned away. She looked as if she was sorry for attacking me’ Cassandra was saying.

  Gregor asked her in an angry voice now.

  ‘Did she say she was sorry?’

  ‘No, but her face sure showed it.’

  ‘Cassandra, they were ghouls! They do not say sorry or ask for any forgiveness! They do not repent and they have no feelings what so ever! All they care about I is to drink from you. Do not let your guard down for a minute when you are out here again!’

  Gregor tried his best to make her hate the ghouls by scolding her.

  ‘Okay, okay, I get the hint!’ she replied but inside she let her questions arise.

  ‘Let me see your necklace, please!’ he told her in a lower toned voice.

  She pulled it out and to his eyes came forth a beautiful gold locket with two old worn pictures. One was of a Cassandra as a baby and the other of her mother. He looked at it for a moment and closed it shut again. Engraved upon it was a cross and decorated around the cross was a chainlike line entwined with the letter D many times around encircling the cross. In the back it was engraved “Cassandra” and the date of her birth.

  ‘Well,’ Gregor said lying through his teeth, ‘There is a cross on this necklace and that is what stopped them from their hideous act!’

  ‘Yes, but where do the questions she asked fit in? Why didn’t they just run when they saw the cross?’

  Gregor realized it wasn’t going to be easy to make Cassandra forget the incident.

  ‘They probably realized hitting on an outsider would cause international panic and they might lose their feeding ground if more hunters were brought in to seek them out.’

  ‘Perhaps you are right! I hadn’t though of it that way. I was so terrified I still can’t think straight! I’m surely not going any further than where the group is again!’ she said and continued. ‘And you know what’s worse? I didn’t get the chance to take a picture of them.’

  Gregor called out to the rest of them that were now in his site again.

  ‘Okay, listen up. We all need to stay together at every moment from now on because we almost had an attack.’

  Everyone looked at Cassandra. Sarah went next to her to ask if she was alright.

  ‘What’s wrong with you? Didn’t Gregor tell us to stay in sight? What would we have done if something awful had happened to you, love?’

  ‘I am absolutely fine and I am sorry that I scared you all but I didn’t do it deliberately. I actually got carried away. Anyway, it was a close call.’

  While all the commotion was going on Sam took pictures one after the other of Cassandra as she explained then he stopped for a moment and asked her a question.

  ‘Cassie, tell us all about it!’

  ‘There’s really not much to tell only that we thought ghouls were in the past but obviously they are in the present as well. I was almost attacked by two of them but for some reason they changed their minds and took off in the woods.’

  ‘For goodness sake, love. What were they like?’ asked Rebecca.

  ‘They were pretty much the same as us only they were pale and had kind of a humpback. I am really sorry I got carried away and upset you all but I suppose it was best because now we will all be more careful out he
re! Shall we continue now back to our trail?’

  They all smiled and agreed. Gregor lead them as he spoke.

  ‘Let’s go up to the mystery points but I won’t tolerate anyone leaving my presence.’

  Sam seemed a little nervous.

  ‘You are going to be able and protect us from wild animals, bear traps and ghouls right?’

  ‘I will protect you with my life so long as you are not off on your own!’ he replied.

  ‘And who will protect you if needed, friend? I am almost sure that in danger I would run away leaving you all behind.’ Sam had a yellow steak down his spine from when he was young he was afraid of almost everything.

  ‘Thanks for being honest but believe me there will be no need for you to come into that position’ Gregor said.

  Rebecca was envious. She wished she had been the one in danger and that Gregor had run off to rescue. Then she was taken in by the lovely memory of her and Gregor right before the screaming started and considered herself fortunate. She thought to herself what might have happened between them had the incident not occurred with Cassie. Had she even screamed five minutes later. Rebecca day dreamt on and on wondering when their next chance to continue what they started would come.

  ‘Right, Becca?’ Cassandra asked for the third time waking Rebecca up from her daze.

  ‘Excuse me love, I was somewhere else for a moment. What was it you asked me?’

  ‘We all agree to hearing the rest of Gregor’s story, right?’

  ‘Why, yes. Of course we do. I remember that you left off saying that you always took your whistle because-’ Gregor abruptly turned to look down taking a thick chain out of his pocket which had interrupted Rebecca’s statement. He then lifted the chain up in them what was a long chain with a small black whistle hanging off the end of it.

  ‘This is that very whistle. I have carried it with me ever since. After all, a promise is a promise!’ he said smiling.

  ‘I never left it behind but I never was in need of using it either.’

  ‘You mean to tell us that you have never been in danger after that one incident?’ asked Sam.

  ‘No Sam, I have been in danger more occasions than can be said but I always felt that once I used the this whistle it would mean that I was afraid of facing things myself. As a result of that feeling even when I was in a very serious situation I broke the promise I had given to my grandmother and faced every situation by myself no matter how frightened I was.’ Gregor turned away and continued walking. ‘After that very first account in the woods with the ghouls and the hunter I had become quite fearless anyway. I realized in a short time that for some reason the ghouls wouldn’t harm me when we crossed paths. They spoke to me. I was innocent.’

  ‘That is like what happened today with me!’ said Cassandra.

  ‘Are you saying that they are friendly?’ Rebecca asked.

  ‘On the contrary, you can never put your guard down with these creatures. They may be thirsty and take advantage of the situation or even worse, they may just rip their victim to shreds, that is their nature. There are some ghouls though that keep in hiding. Hidden from all human sight, they usually come out during night to feed on the blood of animals. For this reason we call them the shadow ghouls. These creatures never want to be seen and will drink from a human only if all other options are unavailable to them.

  Ghouls are nothing like werewolves. Ghouls are intelligent and what ever they do, they do it consciously. As I grew older I would go into the forest after it was dark out searching for one of the shadow ghouls. I wanted to quench my thirst of curiosity as to what they were like. Finally, one night after many that I had brought myself in the deep woods, I saw a shadow come up out of the bushes into the moonlight. It took no notice of me what so ever, it only focused on a small animal which I could not see very well to distinguish the kind. It striked the animal quicker than lightening and with its claws ripped its upper torso and drank from it. The creature then stood up and started back into the bushes when I caught its attention as my foot crunched over a maple leave on the ground. It stood there just watching me, as I, it. I slowly started to move in its direction, unafraid and wanting to see it from a closer distance but as I closed in a few more feet it vanished in an instant. It was gone.

  Here we are. A few more meters and you will see the most beautiful of scenery in these parts.’

  They had now reached the top of the mountain trail. Sarah and Sam had been holding each other’s hand the whole way but now they let go of each other taking out each of their camera’s and started to ask questions one after the other.

  ‘What is this point called?’ asked Sam.

  ‘Yes and what is the altitude up here?’ asked Sarah.

  ‘We are at a seven hundred and twenty meters altitude. The mountain itself is called Xirovouni which means the dry mountain but this very point is called Billy Goat Station because at one time many billy goats grazed here.’

  ‘There aren’t any now?’ asked Cassandra.

  ‘Unfortunately no, but we consider ourselves fortunate because of their nonexistence gives reason to ours. By this I mean that the shadow ghouls have fed on them instead of us. Take your shots and we will move on to the next point called catarachtes which means waterfalls’ Gregor explained.

  After a small shoot of multiple photo shots the group moved on swiftly finally reaching the end of the trail. What they saw before them was breathtaking. There in front of them was the waterfall surrounded by the greatness of the mountain rock and the greenness of the plentiful trees. They weren’t maples or elms but tall pines and evergreen trees at each side that stood between the rays of the sun and the ground.

  The cold waters fell into a circular crevice at that point of the mountain creating a spring. Then, in turn the suns hot rays that shot through the trees on the spring lifted a hazy like fog that appeared just over the surface of the glimmering waters. An eagle flew over their heads surprising them and circled around them many times as if to impress his rarely seen audience. Everything about this point was heavenly. Not many people knew about it and if they did it was difficult for them to reach the destination without a guide. Each of them was left in awe as they gazed at the wondrous topography.

  ‘We will carefully follow this path and continue under the falls into a cave where we can picnic; let me warn you all to be cautious because it is very slippery due to the mist of the waters on the rocks so, please watch your steps’ Gregor warned them.

  The friends agreed and started to follow their guide down a grassy path which was wet and slippery covered in a coat of moss and mud. Each of them took small steps being as cautious as possible as they learnt watching Gregor lead. They were so close to the falls now that they could not hear the birds chirping anymore for their voice had been smothered by the waters roar. They all stood still for a moment as they took the most magnificent pictures yet. Cassandra had forgotten everything that had happened earlier as she was ecstatic with the view that she was now taking in.

  ‘If this doesn’t get me the scholarship then nothing will!’ she thought to herself.

  Chapter Four

  Gregor lead them under the falls through the wide opening into the cave. From inside the view was unexpected. None of them had ever seen through a waterfall before and it was a delight to see nature from that angle. As they continued doing so, Gregor set down his backpack, took out a table cloth and set it down right at the very edge of the cave so that they could slightly feel the waters mist as it came down abundantly. They all took out their lunches and canteens spreading a picnic feast.

  ‘I have been coming here since I was twelve. I had then stumbled upon it by accident. I explored every inch of the cave and many times I took a sleeping bag with me and stayed for hours at a time’ Gregor said.

  ‘It’s fascinating!’ said Rebecca. ‘But how could you possibly want to be here alone? Although, it is very beautiful and serene still, I would never want to be here alone.’

  ‘You are right
to think that way because, as reality has it, most dangers could be found in a cave. Snakes, scorpions, wolves and even bears. Worst of all, Ghouls. Which might come here on a full moon’ came the reply.

  ‘How do you know that for sure?’ asked Sarah.

  ‘Like I said before, I came here often. I once saw that on a full mooned night, ghouls gathered here. I then stopped coming during the fullness of the lunar. I would return with the new moon as to be sure that I would be alone.’

  Sam grabbed a second sandwich and with a full mouth he spoke.

  ‘If we stay here after dark tonight we may be accompanied by ghouls?’

  ‘That is most likely.’

  Cassandra looked at the both of them.

  ‘It wasn’t that frightening to meet a ghoul now that it has passed me but I really wouldn’t want to live through it again so now that you informed us of that possibility, I say we eat and quickly get the bloody hell out of here!’

  ‘We sure will. We need enough time to reach our next point called pigadaki which means little well.’

  All of them agreed, continued eating and conversing for a while longer. Gregor was now quiet. He didn’t want to talk about ghouls anymore. He didn’t want to know what his sister would think of him once she knew the truth. He surely didn’t want Rebecca to be afraid of him. Not now that he had fallen for her. As the friends made small talk, Gregor was drowning in his thoughts.

  All of them at once turned their head toward the right side of the cave’s opening where they heard a conversation. The voices approached quickly. For a moment all of them were silent as dead. They watched as a couple walked through the passage under the water and into where they stood. The woman stood tall and confident. She spoke first looking very surprised.

  ‘Gregor! What a lovely surprise!’

  The woman, a beautiful slender woman with long curly brown hair and emerald green eyes smiled at him.

  ‘Elizabeth, my dear Elizabeth. I haven’t seen you in ages, you look stunning as always’ Gregor said.

  ‘Thank you, I could always count on your lovely compliments unlike Giorgio here. You look pretty good yourself by the way.