by Yume
* * *
That night, I had not a single nightmare.
When the morning came, I could not wait to see Len. I wanted to tell him how his good-night kiss had done me a great deed, blessing me with a sweet dream.
However, they did not look happy when they saw me go down stairs. Uncle Adam and Oma turned to me looking nervous. Jim went up to greet me. Behind his forced smile, I knew something was up. Len looked worse. He was sitting in an armchair, holding a piece of paper.
“What…is happening?” I asked, wondering why all the Grimmel servants had gone.
No one answered. I walked up to Len and snatched the paper from him. He stood up but did not stop me. It was a letter from his brother.
To the foolish and useless brother of mine,
Do not view this letter as a simple message but a declaration of war. If you do, still, care a bit for your family, it would be wise of you to show up. I do not wish to capture you with violence for I believe a defect like you also deserve some dignity. The girl who has been accompanying you will perish soon. If you do not want this to happen, you are advised to take action right after you read this. There is one antidote in my hands and it is the only one as well. To get it is an easy task for you. You only have to come and tell me the location of the Great Cane of Ancestors. Then, I will consider making both of you as my servants and spare your life. Do as told and no one will suffer. You have to bring her along as well. You cannot hide her from us forever. I shall have the right to meet my brother’s future bride. Am I not right?
Signed,
Carmine
I handed the letter back to Len.
“Lucard, we mustn’t go.” Jim said.
“We have to.” Len said. “But Alice will stay. I will get the antidote.”
“He will not give you the antidote if you go alone.” Jim said.
“We will think of something.”
“Carmine is not stupid.” Uncle Adam said. “He can figure it out if we play tricks. Even if we use the magic potion to turn Oma into someone looking exactly like Alice, he will know because the whole Morganthe family knows how to use this skill.”
“Yes, even Viktoria did it back then.” Jim said. “You cannot hide Alice from them now.”
“What should we do?” Oma asked.
“I am thinking.” Len said. “Carmine will not kill me. I can bring Alice along. I will threaten him to hand over the antidote and release Alice. Only after doing so will I tell him the location of the Great Cane of Ancestors.”
“What is the Great Cane of Ancestors?” I asked.
“It is a symbol of power. Each royal family has it.” Jim said. “A king has a crown. A Great Cane is only given to the leader of the family. Only with it, one is proved to be the master of the land.”
“Do you really know where it is?” Uncle Adam asked Len.
“I guess so.” He said. “Is it supposed to be a stick?”
“Yes. A very normal brown stick. Only when you become old enough to be the next leader, it will shine and turn gold in your hands. You saw Antone holding it in the portrait. At that time, he was seventeen, just old enough to inherit this property.”
“Father gave it to me one Christmas.” Len said. “I thought it was some kind of silly presents. I kept it in my place. I never thought it is the legendary Great Cane.”
“So, Tristen has expected you to be the next leader long ago!” Oma stated.
“Where did you hide it, Lucard?” Jim asked.
Len turned to look at me.
“You don’t mean that place…” I thought.
“Yes.” Len said.
“Alice knows where too?” Jim asked.
“I showed her.” Len said. “Remember the gift we did talk about?”
“The library! You hid it in the secret room!” Jim said.
Len nodded.
“Listen, Lucard,” Uncle Adam said. “We must save your family and Alice. I have people from five royal families.” He stopped and turned to Jim. “Including your family, Jaymes.”
“They agreed to help?” Jim looked as though he did not care.
“Yes, the Lockwoods will support us with a hundred of blood souls and your parents,” Uncle Adam’s face became more somber. “They are awfully worried about you. Since you have run away from home with Lucard, they have been searching for you. They want you home as soon as things are over.”
“I am not going back.” Jim said. “Even if they agree to help, that won’t be enough to drive me home.”
“Why did you run away from home?” I asked. I knew why Len did so because he was on an escape, both from the trouble of becoming the next Morganthe master and the threat of his siblings. I did not realize Jim had been homeless for the previous few months.
Jim did not answer. Len spoke instead. “His parents are trying to find him a bride. He did not want it so he ran away.”
“I am not returning unless they take back their words about my marriage.” Jim said firmly.
“I believe they will.” Uncle Adam said. “They are quite desperate to have their only son back. Knowing a war will soon begin, they did not hesitate to give us a hand. Either it is for the friendship between two families or for your safety, we accept with much gratitude. An army is now ready. All of us have been waiting for this moment for a long time, the moment to defeat the Morlettes. We should have sufficient people to fight with them, but the Morlettes do not know yet. They only think there are Grimmels to deal with. The others will assist us secretly and by then, the Morlettes will know they have underestimated us.”
“Are you sure this works?” Jim doubted. “If we fail, it will be the end for all of us.”
“It should work. After all, Jaymes, your family has the best reputation of hunting. The army they provide should hunt the Morlettes down fast. And that is also the only plan we have discussed and could come up with.” Len said. “We have no time.”
“I will meet Carmine as he has demanded.” Len said in detail. “After I save Alice, I will trick him to some other places. When Carmine is gone, you will start the attack and break into the house. I believe father and mother are imprisoned somewhere in our house. Someone will have to save and free them. Without Carmine, Carmina and Viktoria will be powerless. It is easy to tackle them. I will face Carmine alone.”
“That is a perfect idea.” Uncle Adam said. “Once Alice is saved, she will be taken to the human world. The Morlettes will not do her any harm because we cannot cause riots in the other world.”
“Wait.” I put up my hand. “I object to the plan.”
“Why?” Jim asked.
“It is too dangerous.”
“We all know it is dangerous but you will be saved.” Oma said.
“I don’t mean it is too dangerous for me but for Len.” I said. “Len, I have a bad feeling about this. I don’t think you should meet Carmine. If you said he is clever, that would mean this can be another trap.”
“True.” Len agreed. “As soon as he sees me, he will capture me and you, but as long as I do not reveal the location of the cane, he has to keep me alive. Nobody knows except you, Jaymes and me, but then, Carmine thinks I am the only one who knows. No matter what, I must get the antidote for you.”
“Wait, we miss Zander.” Jim said. “He is also in the gang.”
“I don’t think he will do anything.” Len said. “He is only under Carmine’s control. He is never that bad.”
“Are you sure?”
“I will have my plan to make him stand on my side.” Len said confidently. “We used to be quite close.”
“I hope your plan succeeds. If not, we can be in danger. He is strong.”
“I know.” Len nodded.
“We have to prepare for the leave.” Oma said.
I was still not yet ready to react. Everything happened too fast, just like a flash. What was I supposed to do? Something told me it was not as easy as they planned. Something bad was surely going to happen. In no time.
