by C D Muller
Silver knocked on the door again. Chaliss finally opened up the door and her eyes widened.
“You?” she gasped out. That was a response Selena was not expecting. It was as if Chaliss knew him.
“What…what are you doing here? What happened?” Chaliss quickly looked down at Selena and almost screamed.
“She will be fine. She needs to be taken inside. Everything is taken care of. My partner went to report to Phantom Dust. However, there is a change in plans.”
Chaliss, at first, looked confused, but she did not question him further. Instead, she nodded.
“I understand,” she whispered.
Silver led her through the cottage and towards her room with Thor trotting behind. He stood outside Selena’s door while Silver escorted her inside.
“I promise everything will be all right,” he whispered, helping her sit on the bed.
Selena looked up at him, wanting to speak, but no words came out. There were so many questions she wished to ask him.
“Here, I believe I owe you this.” He dug through his pockets and pulled out a vial filled with red liquid. “This will help your cut. Just apply it to the area with a cloth and it will be healed by evening,” Silver reassured. “Please know this. You are not alone. You have allies. Your secrets are safe with us.”
Silver got up from his spot and walked towards the door, regaining his posture, but stopped when Thor remained outside. He bared his fangs.
He has a familiar scent. Can we trust him?
Silver looked at him with a calm expression as Selena reiterated what her dragon said.
“You can’t. All you need to know is that you two are safe. Thor, you’re the only one who can take care of her right now,” he said with a sly grin.
Chaliss seems to know and trust him. Who is he exactly?
Selena repeated his words once more.
“Who am I? Let’s just say that I’m a very old friend.”
Chapter 6:
Selena questioned Chaliss about Silver and how the two were acquainted before going to bed the next evening.
“He’s the Empress’ henchman. Don’t always trust everything he says. Sometimes I can’t even stand him.”
“Why is that?” Selena asked.
“He can be annoying. He usually despises being around others and speaks ill of anyone he meets. Please get some sleep. I will need your help with the chores tomorrow.”
When she left, Selena rolled over to look out the window to see Thor curled up beside their usual spot. Earlier that day she saw him climbing up the branches and practicing gliding to the ground. His wings were about three times his body size. She eagerly waited for the day that he would learn to fly.
“I wonder what he dreams about,” she whispered to herself.
The moon hung directly overhead with stars that were like candles that charted the skies.
Selena was deep in slumber, caught in a woven dream.
She found herself standing in Helshire Village near where her house would be with the sound of footsteps running from behind her.
She quickly turned around and gasped when she saw the man whom she recognized as Gundisalvus run through her as if she were a spectral spirit. Not long after, she saw a ghastly creature emerge from the shadows. It was an enormous black snake with a red crest mounted on its forehead with an eerie figure mounted on top. A large scar ran through its left eye.
A small sound escaped from Selena’s mouth, but she had no urge to move. The creature slithered by as if she did not exist.
As it continued its course, Selena turned around and began running in another direction out of fear, hoping to escape her nightmare.
However, she found herself running into Gundisalvus once more, leaning against the brick wall to his house, trying to catch his breath. He held a scroll in his hand, but quickly stuffed it away in his cloak. His arm bled uncontrollably.
The hissing grew louder by the second. Selena looked behind her and the creature appeared again. Gundisalvus gave a whimper and ran into a dead end.
He turned around and found the creature approaching him. It snapped its fangs, giving a hiss in pleasure. He ducked and ran out from the side before it had a chance to strike. It immediately turned around to continue pursuit.
Selena tried running alongside with him, but he picked up the pace as the snake slithered passed her.
It lunged forward and snapped its fangs into his side before recoiling back. Gundisalvus wailed out with pain and fell to the ground. The rider jumped off the snake’s back as it came to a halt before him and walked towards the frail man.
“Y…you?” he gasped out. The figure’s smile made Selena quiver with fear.
The ghostly image pulled a black sword from his sash and pointed it in front of his face.
“Where is it?” he hissed.
“I…I don’t know…what you’re talking about,” Gundisalvus choked out in reply.
The figure kicked him in the side.
“I will not ask you again. Tell me where it is or you will suffer a fate worse than death.”
Gundisalvus spat to the ground in reply.
“I will tell you nothing! The Divines help my poor soul!”
The figure began kicking him in the sides once again and in his stomach before leaving him to bleed to death.
However, when his attacker was out of sight, Gundisalvus forced himself to stand up and limped back to his house. As he stumbled, he kept muttering repeatedly, “the key is in the nest… the key is in the nest…”
Her vision grew dark once again. Selena found herself and the ill-fated war General standing in what appeared to be like a cave after her surroundings became clear. Before her was a large stone table with two empty seats in front of dusty bookshelves. Papers and rolls of parchment were scattered all across the top with a leather bound journal lying over the mess. The apparition of Gundisalvus stumbled and fell in the chair. His hands shook as he grabbed the book and attempted to write what would have been his final words.
“I will take the secret with me to my grave… I will take the secret with me to my grave!”
Selena woke up.
She rose before the sun did. She quickly ran over to her window and looked at the rumored haunted house. She knew that no one had ever lived in that house for years, since the writer’s death. Selena thought that she would have to somehow sneak into the house without Chaliss knowing. She knew that piece of parchment she saw in her dream had some vital importance. Whether or not it was in there, she somehow still felt the urge to check inside. It was almost like the house itself was calling to her.
The more she thought about it, the more excited and determined she became.
She grabbed a cloak and placed some of her clothes under her blanket to make it look like she was still asleep in her bed. Before she left her room, she was surprised to see her sleeping dragon curled up on the floor.
“He must have come inside to check on me last night,” Selena said to herself. She softly walked out, hoping to not disturb him.
The cold chilling winds of winter settled through the village, leaving icicles hanging from the rooftops.
The wooden house was three floors high. A lamppost stood out front as if it were protecting the parcel of land next to the dead tree. There were two chimneys: one in the front, and the other in the far back on top of the small extension.
Selena quickly ran to the house and carefully walked up the three stairs that led to the front door. Four little windows were above the white painted door with a window to its left, while two windows sat above. The third floor, which Selena assumed was the attic, had a window with closed, white drapes. Half expecting it to be locked, she grabbed the doorknob anyway to be sure. Selena reached into her pocket and pulled out a very thin metal rod. She struck the lock with the rod and began moving it around. After a few minutes of no success, she stopped and gave out a huff. She was not strong enough to kick the door down. However, she remembered in the dream that Gundisalv
us kept muttering, “the key is in the nest.”
She quickly turned around to examine the nearby tree’s branches and saw it sitting at the very top, looking as though it were abandoned long ago.
“Nest, as in bird’s nest?”
She thought that it would not hurt to try, so she walked over to the base of the tree and began climbing its branches. She struggled at first, but her curiosity kept her going. Selena reached up to feel around for anything that felt metallic. Her heart skipped a beat when she felt an unnatural shape in her fingers. It was a rusty old key. It had to be for the house.
Selena quickly climbed back down and ran to the front door, sticking the key into the lock. She heard a click and the door creaked when she slowly opened it. Full of excitement, she quickly walked inside and closed the door without locking it.
The first floor had two bedrooms in it, linked together by a couple of steps. Selena did not notice them at first, and found herself toppling over and almost landing face first on the dirt-covered floor.
A parlor sat in the front of the first floor and a kitchen was in the rear. The interior walls and ceilings were horsehair plastered, but covered with white paint. All wooden furniture was painted brown, including the mantels, doors, and baseboards, which were made of wood. Both the kitchen and parlor had a fireplace. Despite how long the house had remained vacant, there was not too much wear and tear. Instead of furniture, it wore dust and cobwebs, with slight chipping of the paint.
Selena looked around both the parlor and the kitchen, but she found nothing. She then recalled her dream and tried to remember the bedroom she was taken to.
Selena walked up the stairs to the second floor, where there were two more rooms, one having its own fireplace that shared the same chimney as the one in the parlor.
Both of the bedrooms were similar to that of her dream, so she searched. However, she still found nothing. Her only chance was to get to the third floor.
The staircase was incredibly narrow and winding. The sun was beginning to rise as soon as she reached the attic, the last bedroom that Selena believed to be Gundisalvus’. An old bed frame and a wooden chair sat alone behind the white curtain veil.
Selena swore under her breath. Chaliss would be home soon, so she scrambled towards the door until a small, white slip caught her eye. It was sticking out a little from the side of the bed frame. She slowly walked to it and pulled it out. It was a small piece of parchment delicately folded into fourths. Her hands shook as she unfolded it and read it: It lies beneath the starry skies.
“But what is it?” she asked herself.
Her heart stopped when she heard the sound of the door open on the first floor. Selena quickly stuffed the piece of parchment into her cloak and ran to the window to see two cloaked figures standing at the entrance.
At first, she thought it was Kain and Silver, who she met before. She left the room, but stopped when she heard voices right below her feet.
“She’s in here. I can smell her fear.”
“I would love to tear her limbs right off.”
Heart racing fast, she slowly walked down the staircase and entered the first bedroom with the fireplace. She thought of going underneath the bed, but knew that was too obvious. Instead, she darted to the hearth. Parts of the brick inside the chimney stuck out; she used them as a step ladder as a way to climb inside the chimney to try and escape. She slipped and scraped her knee against the edge. When she attempted to catch herself, her eyes landed on a hidden chain that was fastened to the side. As their footsteps grew louder, she immediately pulled on the chain. Selena heard rumbling from the wall facing her. It opened like a door, leading to what appeared to be a tunnel that lead to a spiraling wooden staircase that went down. Without a moment’s hesitation, she walked through it and saw another chain on the other side. Curious, she pulled it as well and found that the wall responded by closing itself again, just as the cultists made their way into the room.
“What was that?” she heard one of them ask.
“I don’t know. There’s nothing in here.”
“Keep looking. She will have no where else to hide.”
Selena backed away from the pretend wall and immediately took the stairs. A sense of excitement and adventure overwhelmed her as she made her way through the old, cave-like bunker. The stairs eventually brought her to a room with a large stone table and a chair with an old skeleton sitting in it. Many empty flasks were scattered all over. Vegetation grew through the cracks in the walls with water dripping from the ceiling. A couple of old bookshelves sat in the corner with scattered and shredded texts and rolls of parchment.
Selena walked over to see what appeared to be a tattered journal resting near the skeleton’s hand on the tabletop. Being as careful as she could, she pulled it away to read a two hundred year old scribbled entry.
I await for Death. I feel hungry and tired… so very tired of running. The venom is taking its toll on me. This is the end. My secret goes with me to my grave. I hear him coming…
Her hands trembled as she closed the book and set it back where she found it.
“Maybe the secret won’t have to stay with you. Perhaps I can help you find peace,” Selena whispered. She felt comfort in the somber silence.
Chapter 7:
After making sure that those from the Obsidian Order were gone, Selena made her way back home and ran inside as fast as she could. She bolted through the front door and past Chaliss, leaving her with a baffled look.
“Good… morning?”
Selena stopped and turned around.
“I’m…. sorry, Matu,” she breathed out.
“I don’t know where you’re going in such a hurry, but at least have some breakfast,” Chaliss said as she held up her basket of sweet bread.
“Thank you! Is Thor still inside?”
“I believe so.”
Selena took a few bites of her food as she made her way back to her room. She wanted to tell Chaliss about what happened, but the cultists were gone. Chaliss wouldn’t believe her and even if she did, Selena was not supposed to go into the condemned house to begin with.
Thor, are you still here? Are you awake?
Thor stood by the corner with a crushed rat in his jaws. She suddenly felt sick to her stomach and looked away as he gobbled it down and began licking the blood off his talons.
I’m sorry. I was just catching myself some breakfast.
It’s okay, but you know that I hate looking at you catching and eating prey.
It’s not much different in you eating meat.
At least the animal is already dead and it’s prepared.
Thor rolled his eyes at her but noticed her demeanor.
Are you all right? You’re acting like you’ve been running away from something.
Thor jumped up on top of her bed and sniffed her hand.
She recalled all of the events from earlier to her dragon. When she finished, she pulled out the piece of parchment to show him what she found.
I found this, but it doesn’t make any sense.
She read it to him. Thor tilted his head off to the side and she could tell that he was as baffled as she was.
What do you suppose it means?
Thor shook his head.
I don’t know. Maybe it has to do with Ragnarok?
Her eyes lit up with excitement.
Then that means that he was right. I bet you that this is probably a code phrase for its hidden location!
That would be great, but why did you go in there in the first place? I told you that I would keep you close to me and you’re still wandering off! You could have been killed!
You sound like you could be my mother.
I’m not trying to mother you, but you are my rider and my friend. I swore to the Divines that, after choosing you, I would protect you.
* * * *
Hours after the sun set, the same two cultists with a new, third companion who were at the house earlier returned to the village on horseback. The res
t of the village already had gone to sleep for the night. The lampposts died out. The settlement was shrouded in darkness.
“She was in there, Commander Azrael,” one of them hissed.
“Then she is still here in the village. She’s not going anywhere,” their companion deemed Azrael noted. “We will soon need to bring more from the Order here to trap her in like a cornered rat. There will be no escape for her.”
“Don’t underestimate her. Both her and that dragon are quite elusive,” the second responded coldly.
“She’s just a child. She poses no threat to me.”
The three cultists stopped in front of the door and got off their horses. It was still unlocked from earlier and practically hanging off its hinges. The one who addressed Azrael earlier touched its rotting frame. It immediately ignited and crumbled away before them.
“Check every inch of this house. Leave nothing un-turned. We need to make sure that she’s not in here, and that that insane old war general hadn’t left anything behind.”
With Azrael’s order, the two of them began stripping the walls down. They broke down any old cabinets and dressers, searching through every single crevice until they were satisfied and moved on to the next floor, and so on.
When they finished their work, the first follower stated: “There is nothing. What now, Commander Azrael?”
Azrael growled and withdrew his sword. With one fell swing, he sliced through one of the bookshelves clean in half.
“Ugh! I need to report back! You two, finish up here and meet me back at the portal!”
He marched back outside, mounted his horse and rode off. The two followers of the Order did as he commanded, but as soon as they began, one of them was struck in the head with a rock. They looked at each other in confusion until they were hit once more.
They both turned to see a small young boy wearing a white jacket standing in the doorway. The moonlight was shining off his white hair and glasses.
“It’s about time you two noticed. Not much for being intelligent, I’ll say.”
The two cultists did not offer a rebuttal.
