Secret Of The Crest

by Demetra Gerontakis

‘Yes, there have been some attacks. Two of them in the forest and one in the hostel. One of the victims was killed by Fani but I took care of him.’

  Gregor was looking at Cassandra who heard this for the first time. She gave no reaction it was as if all of this was normal to her.

  ‘There is someone else out there though and is very messy with the victims. They were killed brutally. Whoever they are, they do not only feed, they are out to kill.’

  ‘Your mother and I will gather some others and scan the woods thoroughly. Come to where the two rivers connect tonight and we will tell you what we have found. Until then, keep Cassandra and your tenants safe.’ Cassandra smiled. It was nice to hear her real father care for her.

  ‘At the river at eight then?’

  ‘Yes, we will get to the bottom of this.’

  ‘Cassandra, you have given us a great joy wanting to be a part of our lives. Thank you for making that choice and accepting us as your parents’ said Vasili. ‘Come, Maria, we have work to do.’

  Maria went up to Cassandra, stood on the tips of her toes reaching up to her and kissed her on the cheek, then kissed Gregor and said, ‘You have my blessing for bringing my daughter to me. You both have our blessings. They parted and went in different ways.

  Gregor was now running practically to a point where Cassandra could not keep up. ‘What’s the rush?’ she said.

  He knew had a date with Rebecca and he was going to be late if they didn’t hurry. ‘I have promised your friend that I would take her into the city today. I don’t want to stand her up, you know.’

  Walking back into the hostel, Cassandra turned to Gregor and thanked him for the opportunity he gave her to meet their parents.

  ‘Cassandra, I’m happy you are here and even happier that you have decided to stay. Everything here belongs to you. Enjoy it. Now I have got to get going; I’ve got a date!’ He dashed off to call on Rebecca.

  Sarah and her fiancée were coming down the stairs with their suitcases.

  ‘Oh, Cassandra, good you’re back. I was afraid we were going to be late’ Sam said.

  ‘Yes, well, about that… ah... I’m not leaving. I mean I’m going to stay a while longer. Besides, Becca can use the company.’

  ‘Just great; four of us came, only two of us are leaving. Hey, Sam, maybe you’d like to stay on too!’ Sarah said sarcastically.

  ‘I’m sorry Sarah. I need to get to know my family better before I leave and Rebecca is your sister. Aren’t you glad she will have me to keep her company for awhile?’

  ‘You’re right. I hate it when you’re right! You’ve always been the sentimental one and I the selfish. I’m a little jealous that we can’t stay too.’

  ‘Come on, sweetie, I’ll be home soon. My other home I mean… you know what I mean!’

  Marina had come to the door to escort the couple out.

  ‘Mrs. Marina, thank you for your hospitality. Considering all the unexpected events that took place, we still had a wonderful time’ Sam said shaking the woman’s wrinkled hand.

  ‘You’re welcome, my boy. The next time you visit, I hope that there will be a next time, I want to see that you have married pretty Sarah.’

  ‘I sure will!’ They said their goodbyes to everyone else and left the hostel feeling and ache at heart.

  Marina followed behind and gave them an umbrella to fight off the drizzle that had silently begun. ‘It’s only a drizzle now but by the time you get to your car it may be a shower.’

  ‘Thanks again, for everything!’ said Sarah.

  Cassandra held the door open until her grandmother came through it once more.

  ‘Come, my dear, join me for a snack.’ The two women sat in the diner and had a light brunch brought to them.

  ‘You have really decided to stay with us?’

  ‘Yes, grandmother. At least until I get to know all of you and especially my parents better.’

  ‘What about your life’s dream; the competition for the scholarship? New York?’

  ‘Family, is priority. The competition is held once a year. I can take part next year. My family comes first, my career second, perhaps even third.’

  ‘Has Mano taken the second place in your heart, my beautiful Cassandra?’

  ‘You already know me much to well. Yes, he has. I don’t know him all that much but I believe we connect very well. I have met many nice men but none made me feel the way Mano makes me feel. He’s serious and makes me feel that I can count on him, that he can keep me safe. The only other men hat have ever made me feel that way were my father and Gregor.’

  ‘He’s a wonderful young man and he suits you. You have chosen wisely.’

  Cassandra smiled shyly and blushed. ‘Then I have your blessing.’

  ‘You’ve had my blessing since the day you were born.’ She kissed Cassandra as she got back up. ‘Back to work. You enjoy your day.’

  Cassandra was about to get up when Gregor sat down at the table. ‘Not so fast sister! We need to talk about tonight! I’m having second thoughts about you and Mano coming along tonight.’

  ‘Why? You said yourself that I can take care of myself!’

  ‘Cassandra, this is serious. I don’t want you or Mano getting hurt out there. Besides, if you two are with me, truth be told, I will be distracted. Please do me the favor and stay here. Enjoy your evening with him. He seems to be a so interested in you, Cassandra. I’m asking you, it’s not an order. No Dracopoulos would ever take orders, why would you?’

  ‘Alright, brother. I will stay behind. You have convinced me with your sneaky sweet tactics and those begging eyes. I’ll stay here but I can’t speak for Mano. You’ll have to take it up with him.’

  ‘That’s the thing see... I figure if you tell him that I have already gone and that I didn’t want the two of you to come along, he won’t have much of a choice. He will end up enjoying his evening with you. I, on the other hand, will leave a little earlier to go over whatever our parents might have found out.’

  ‘Okay, I don’t see that I have much of a choice. How about Becca? Does she know what is going on?’

  ‘Mo, I’m going to tell her in a bit.’

  ‘Talk to me about what?’ Rebecca said giving Gregor a sweet quick kiss on the cheek.

  ‘Rebecca, sit down with us; we need to tell you something.’

  ‘We? No, you do,’ added Cassandra,’ I’m off to pretty up. I’m meeting Mano soon! See you both later!’ She got up and left.

  ‘Okay, love, what’s on your mind?’

  ‘Well, with all the attacks that have been happening, I need to make sure that no one else gets hurt. My parents and I are hunting them down tonight and hopefully we will be lucky enough to capture them. I might be a little late to get back and I don’t want you worrying.’

  ‘That’s it? That is what you wanted to tell me?’

  ‘Yes, that and that I am anxious to meet your parents. When are they going to be here?’ Gregor slyly changed the subject before Rebecca had the chance to ask further about the hunt.

  ‘They are coming the day after tomorrow and we will have to drive into the city to pick them up, so perhaps we should postpone today’s stroll into the city for then, I don’t want to burden you.’

  ‘Its no burden but as you like. Now, since I cannot take you into the forest for a stroll because of the drizzle, can I interest you in a game of chess and a hot cup of tea?’

  ‘Certainly! But I must warn you I have been playing since I was six so you don’t stand a chance.’

  ‘We shall see about that!’

  Gregor and Rebecca spent the morning playing chess and laughing over silly little things but all the time Gregor’s mind was on the evening’s possible dangers. He knew how to cover the fact that he was else where. Rebecca had noticed he was troubled.

  ‘Hey, I got an idea. Would you like to take this game up to my room?’ Rebecca asked. “

  ‘Are you asking me, a perfect gentleman to come into your sleeping quarters?’ he joked.

&nb
sp; ‘I most certainly am. Does that make me sleazy, love?’

  ‘Not at all! Even in your room I will not leave my guard down and will win this game no matter what you try to do to distract me. Let’s go!’

  Rebecca knocked on the door to see if Cassandra was inside. There was no answer. It was the first time she was actually happy to have to look for her key. Once inside, she was disappointed to hear the water running in the bathroom. ‘Are you going to be long?’ she asked.

  ‘Oh, you’re back. I’m almost done. I’m running late. Mano and I are meeting soon but I can meet you later for lunch downstairs.’

  ‘That will be great. I’m pretty busy myself, ah… so... see you at two?’

  ‘Sure!’

  Rebecca locked her door on her side and giggled quietly as she started undressing Gregor. They hadn’t any time for each other with all that had been happening and jumped at the chance to take advantage of the moment.

  ‘Is this the way you play chess?’

  ‘It sure is and here is my next move!’ Rebecca pushed Gregor onto her bed. Gregor was amazed at the playful girl and still couldn’t believe how happy she had made his previously miserable life.

  His lips came to her neck. He stopped for a moment thinking it was too soon. Then he heard her sweet voice telling him to continue.

  ‘Don’t stop, do it, I want you to.’ He made the smallest puncture with his teeth and drank from her ever so gentle as she gave off moans of ecstasy. This game would not be over for a while. They had both indulged into a sensual adventure that surpassed even their own expectations.

  Chapter Nine

  The day went by quicker than a summer storm and it was in no time that the sky had turned into a starlit blue. Gregor had prepared his gear. Cassandra, Manos and Rebecca had spent their afternoon playing board games after lunch and hadn’t realized it was almost time for dinner. Marina couldn’t stop pacing back and forth worried about the attacks and felt sick to her stomach that the past was now being repeated. Her memory took her back to the day Cassandra was taken away to escape the ghouls. Finally, Marina stood perfectly still behind the reception desk her eyes filled with fear as she saw once again the events that took place that night.

  She had become a fearless woman after that but now; family was at stake once more. As she gazed through the tiny caged window, she saw not the tree braches brushing against the glass, but the forest fire at Elias point in the forest. She saw the slaughtering of the family who lived in the house there. The ghouls had left remains everywhere within a mile’s radius and then set the fire.

  Marina looked around searching for Gregor as she stumbled upon the many other bodies of the villagers that were left for dead. Racing through the woods in the dark, she prayed that Gregor would still be alive. His parents had also been looking him. A whole day went by and Marina hadn’t found him.

  Heartbroken and tired, she couldn’t even see where she stepped and as she dragged her feet, collapsed. At an arm’s length way, she saw a new horrid sight. Lying in front of her was her best friend, Sophia, ripped up and almost decapitated. The woman let out an awful cry. Her voice full of despair, cursed the ones who did this and ran straight towards the ghouls only to be torn apart by what she came across. In front of her, stood her daughter in law and her son Vasili with mouths dripping of blood. They had been turned into ghouls. They looked at her intensely while she fell apart dropping to the ground screaming.

  ‘No! No! No!’ They turned their bloody faces from her and ran into the forest.

  Now, Marina was deeply lost in her thoughts. Gregor interrupted them. ‘I must go, it’s time!’

  ‘Go! You have my blessing and may God be with you and bring you back safely!’ The woman’s heart was burdened with a weight like no other had ever set on it.

  Gregor left through the back door without saying anything to the others. He was off unnoticed. He left earlier than he should have but he wanted no distractions and needed time to plan. There was no room for mistakes. He had done his best to take the ghouls down. He took a horse and galloped to the meeting point. Maria and Vasili arrived only moment’s later.

  ‘Where is Cassandra?’ his father asked.

  ‘I left her behind. I’ve only just found her; I can’t take a risk.

  ‘I trust you’re right.’

  ‘The caves are where we should start. Every cave, every inch of every cave and we mustn’t separate. We know not how many there are.’

  The horse was left tied to a tree while they set off on foot for the first series of caves that lay at the foot of the west mountain side. Searching for tracks in the scattered dirt, they found nothing. Evidence of ghouls was easy to find as they don’t care about anything else but feeding.

  As they came to the entrance of the first cave, Gregor abruptly stopped.

  ‘What is it?’ Maria asked.

  ‘Look over there!’ he showed a branch that hung right above the cave into the entrance. ‘That is a freshly made bird’s nest without any birds in it.’

  ‘They may be in here’ Vasili said as he reached for the nest.

  ‘Be cautious!’ said Gregor.

  His parents were both very strong ghouls but there were older ones who were much stronger than them and if they were out numbered, that would mean their death. Vasili found nothing in the nest.

  ‘You are right. What would push the mother bird to take her infants and run?’

  Gregor was silent. He opened his flashlight and entered the cave first. There was a deafening silence inside the cave. Neither a bat flew nor a rodent scurried. “This is most unusual”, Gregor thought.

  They walked through the cave, searching every narrow passage way, but it was not occupied by anything or anyone. The search continued on through three more caves that were also dead ends.

  ‘It’s been three hours and we haven’t found a track! Is it possible the attacks were made by a by passer?’ asked Maria.

  ‘It is a possibility but we need to be sure.’

  ‘Gregor, what about the old railway cave on the other side of the mountain,’ Vasili reminded.

  ‘You’re right, I had forgotten about that one!’ The cave was a long distance from where they were.

  ‘It will take us over an hour in this rugged terrain to get there, even at our quickest pace, but we haven’t a choice.’ They continued through the dark thick woods becoming aware again of an eerie silence. The only sound that was heard was that of their speeding hearts beating.

  ‘Do you hear that?’ said Gregor.

  ‘I don’t hear a thing, actually,’ Vasili said.

  ‘Neither do I’ added Maria.

  Suddenly, the sound of the leaves crunching up against the ground all around them got their full attention. All their senses were at peak. As they looked around them they realized they were now surrounded by more than a half a dozen ghouls that were not from here. Stangers from another territory were now a head-on threat to them.

  ‘Vasili! Good to see you again!’ said the tallest one, ‘I assume you are on a hunt.’

  ‘Who are you? I don’t recognize you?’ Vasili answered.

  ‘Come now, friend. I haven’t changed that much since the day we went our separate ways. It’s me Alexander. Remember I told you one day we would meet again?’

  Vasili had a quick flashback, his blood rushed through his body and with fury straight to his head. He was the ghoul who had turned him. He had been sucking on the blood of the children. When he grabbed Gregor to leave him lifeless as he did the others, Vasili pleaded with him to let the child go and take his blood instead.

  “Do not turn my son, turn me!” he had cried that night. Alexander had agreed but after Vasili, he went back on his word and sunk his teeth into Gregor’s young neck, leaving him almost unconscious to die. Drained at the time but powered by a father’s pain and rage, Vasili followed close behind Alexander’s tracks into the forest for miles. Deeper and deeper into the woods he went until they came to the borders between Greece and Albany,
a place called Kalpaki.

  Aware he was being followed, Alexander turned back at the pointing rifle and before passing over the fence, he looked into Vasili’s eyes and said, ‘Think of it as a gift I have given you and don’t worry, we will meet again. I promise.’

  Vasili was paralyzed at the thought that they would. Before he shot the rifle, the beast had fled. He shot anyway. He shot off all his cartridges. Here they were again face to face. Vasili was baffled at Alexander’s appearance. He was unrecognizable, dark, and full of evil. They had grown up together, had families and at one time even worked together for a while. After becoming a ghoul, he decided to be of the worst kind. His soul was dark and it reflected.

  ‘Let me introduce you to my sons. You surely don’t remember them. I, unlike you, turned them myself. From right to left is Pavlo, Thanasi, Lefteri and Thomas. This is my youngest, Ares!’ he said as he showed to his left side.

  ‘You turned your own boys? You are even sicker than I thought! I should have blown you to pieces when I had the chance, you sick bastard!’

  ‘Now, now, don’t be mean, its not you. Besides you didn’t have the guts. You were always of such a delicate nature. Too delicate if you ask me. It made my stomach turn. Even as kids you let all the butterflies we captured fly away again. I wanted to dissect them and watch how they suffered. You drove me mad! But let bygones be bygones. No use bringing up the past. So what, or should I say who, are you hunting?’ Gregor, who watched with extreme anxiousness, felt that was the tip of the iceberg. The last words from Alexander’s mouth freed Gregor’s anger.

  ‘It’s you we’re hunting! Too bad you dragged your sons into this war! You don’t belong here and you are not staying! The way I see it, right now you have two chances. Either go peacefully and never come back or die. In a few minutes you won’t have a choice and you will surely die!’

  ‘Oh! What big words from such a little existence on earth! So, history repeats itself. Your father let me live then. His mistake and the reason I’m here. If and I say I were to leave now I would surely be back again. A day in which your descendents would be playing in the woods and I’d rip out their hearts when I’d be hungry just as I wanted to do to you!’