Book of Secrets
A Thicket of Thorns story, Volume 1
Nathalia Books
Published by Nathalia Publishing, 2021.
This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
BOOK OF SECRETS
First edition. May 31, 2021.
Copyright © 2021 Nathalia Books.
ISBN: 978-1393235408
Written by Nathalia Books.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Prologue
Daddy
A Change
Dakkar La Croix
Varaln Foxcrest
Fox in sheep’s clothing
Out of the Fox den
The Wintercourt
Snow covers all even the Truth
They are back
Land of the Dead
Cemetery of the living
Keeper of the Key
I can explain
Epilogue
Dedication
Further Reading: Nova Babylon
Also By Nathalia Books
About the Author
About the Publisher
Prologue
Slowly Myrtle regained consciousness and she tried to look around, but the room was so dark she couldn’t see anything. Where was she? How did she get here? Her hands were covered in a slimy substance and the air was filled with the smell of rotting flesh, urine and sweat.
IN A FLASH, HER MEMORIES returned. Myrtle pushed her hand to a cold stone substrate, it didn’t move. Also not when she pushed her other hand to it, still shaking she push herself up until she felt her feet under her.
How was she still alive? That was the question has been in her mind the whole journey, but she hadn’t been able to find the answer. Where were her friends, she needed to find them. She opened her mouth ready to call their names, but the words wouldn’t came out of her mouth.
SHE TRIED TO TAKE A step but her foot got caught on something with a smack, she fell back onto the ground. As quickly, she got up again her body screamed from the pain. Had the monster heard her? She stumbled across the dark space in searching for some light.
Her head was pounding, her stomach turning. The last thing she remembered was the monster coming out of nowhere. It had knocked her to the ground before she could to defend herself.
IF ONLY SHE HAD LISTENED to her father. He had warned her about the dangers of the Thicket of Thorns. Again she fell and this time she stayed on the ground. Her eyes were heavy and in her mind, she could see her father’s face.
But that was nothing more than a memory.
Daddy
How peaceful it was, the sun warmed Myrtle’s pale face as she sat on the stairs that led to her house, the wood creaking in the gentle summer breeze. She sighed and closed her eyes, letting the world around her disappear. Her ears filled with the sound of cars speeding across the asphalt, and kids playing with a ball. The white oak tree across the street her rustled softly. She didn’t have to open her eyes to know that the leaves were turning red. Summer was coming to an end, which was why she had fled the house. Her father could hardly wait for the hunting season to begin, but her parents fought over it every year. She was proud of her father. His job was to track down the inhabitants of the Thicket and make sure they didn’t want to come back to the Foundation, but it was dangerous work.
THEIR VOICES CAME THROUGH the stone walls of the house.
“What will we do if you don’t come back, Eldar! Myrtle is only ten!”
“Calm down, Melanie! I’ve been doing this since I was sixteen, I know what I’m doing.”
“Your parents probably said that too, until they didn’t come back. Do you want Myrtle to grow up like you? Fatherless?”
“Don’t you dare to involve my parents!”
“It’s too late for that, Eldar they have been involved since the beginning!” Myrtle sighed. It was the same conversation every year. Myrtle had to agree with her father; her mother knew she was marrying a hunter. “Do you know what Myrtle said at school? She wants to become a hunter herself!”
“And why not, It’s a great job!”
“It’s dangerous Eldar! She’s too young!”
“She’s ten, I knew when I was four.”
“You were an orphan when you were four!”
“Our daughter will never have to go through that! You’ll be here!”
“Yes, I’m here! I’m here when she has another nightmare, I’m here when she picks another fight with a boy, I’m here when she tries to sneak out of the house in the middle of the night, armed to the teeth!”
“What?”
“She wanted to go to the hunters’ headquarters, she wanted to go to you Eldar.”
Myrtle brushed back the raven-black hair that had escaped her braid, pushinig it behind her ear. Her mother was exaggerating, as usual. The last time she tried to slip out of the house, she only carried twin swords, but her mother was right about her wanting to go to her father.
SUDDENLY, HER EARS filled with music of an ice cream truck.
“Myrtle, Myrtle!”
Myrtle kept her eyes closed for a moment, but when she opened them, she was looking into the emerald eyes of ruby-haired her best friends.
Bye, peace.
“Hi Sarra, hi Eldric, what is it?”
Sarra folded her arms.
“Jeez, sorry to hear that we’re disturbing the great Myrtle Hunter.”
Myrtle sighed. “Sorry.” She pointed at the house with her thumb.
“Those two do nothing but argue.”
“That’s no reason to be rude.”Sarra dropped her arms. “Anyway, did you see the white ice cream truck?”
Sarra pointed, and Myrtle’s gaze followed.” There was indeed a white truck down the street, surrounded by children. At first glance it was nothing more than a normal ice cream truck, but according to her father, everything seemed normal, until you look closer.
MYRTLE NARROWED HER eyes and noticed that the back of the truck was completely covered with thorny branches.
“I’m going to call daddy.”
Myrtle sprang up and climbed the rickety stairs. She banged on the door with her fist, and the shouting in the house stopped. The door opened and her father stepped out.
“Is anything wrong, little hunter?”
Myrtle nodded and pointed. “The ice cream truck is in our street.”
Her father’s gaze went to the ice cream truck.
“Dammit, the season hasn’t even started yet. What is Larry doing here?”
He disappeared inside, his footsteps buzzing then reappeared.
“Melanie, I won’t be long.”
He focused on Myrtle and her friends. “Myrtle, Sarra and Eldric. Go inside the house.” Myrtle nodded and beckoned her friends to come inside. Her father ran down the stairs in the direction of the ice cream truck.
“WHAT IS YOUR FATHER going to do, Myrtle?” Eldric sat down on the worn-out couch in the living room.
“That ice cream truck is part of the hunter’s organization.” Myrtle said as her mother entered the living room with three glasses of lemonade on a tray. “Eldar has gone to see if he can help the rider.”
MYRTLE STUDIED HER mother. How was she so calm? She had just been fighting with her father about this very subject.
“Eldric and Sarra, drink your lemonade. Then Myrtle and I will take you home.”
Sarra was about to argue, but Melanie shook her head.
“The fact that the truck was here in the street is a sign that the season has started early. Which means that it is no longer safe on the street.”
SARRA REACHED FOR HER glass. “Which means that we will soon be moving to granny�
�s again soon. Can’t we sleep here? If what you say is true, we won’t see Myrtle again until school and that will only start again in a few weeks,” said Sarra.
Eldric nodded violently. “It’s an eternity, lady Hunter. Please, I’m sure our parents won’t mind.” Myrtle also looked at her mother. It was a good idea then and wouldn’t be without her best friends.
“I’ll call your parents to see what they think. But for now, I can’t make any promises.”
Melanie left the room and Eldric now also took his glass and sipped. “Myrtle what’s in this lemonade?”
Myrtle shrugged and took a sip. “It’s vervain.”
ELDRIC NODDED. “WHY was that again?”
Myrtle sighed, as she had already told him many times. “It’s a protective herb.” Sarra drained her glass in one gulp.
“I’m glad we don’t have to drink this stuff every day. My taste buds would die.”
“It’s not that bad. My mother swears by it.”
“What do I swear by?” Melanie came back into the room.
“Vervain.” Melanie nodded.
“Correct. the children of the night don’t like the smell.”
“What did our parents say, Lady Hunter?”
Melanie was about to answer when, the doorbell interrupted her. Melanie left the room to open the door.
“Where are those brats!” Sarra and Eldric cowered as, their father stomped into the living room. “You two are going to walk home now, and I don’t want to hear a peep from you.”
“REALLY EDWARD, I DON’T mind that they’re here,” Melanie said.
The tall man with the ruby-colored hair softened a little.
“I know Melanie, but these two had promised to clean up their rooms. Tomorrow they will go to their grandmother and they have been thinking of ways to get out of it for a week.”
Melanie sighed. “And we were one of those.”
SARRA AND ELDRIC GOT up, but Myrtle just waved.
“Hello, uncle Edward.” He was not really her uncle, but every time when she called him mister. He asked her to call him uncle instead, so she did. He smiled.
“Hello, Myrtle. Say hi to your father for me.”She nodded as her friends left with their father. Her mother sighed and came to sit next to her.
“Be happy I’m a teacher, Myrtle.” Myrtle pressed her lips together and nodded.
NIGHT FELL AND MYRTLE sat on her bed in her light green nightgown. Her father still hadn’t come home. Her arms were clasped around a teddy bear, a gift she got from her father a few years ago, to keep her company when he wasn’t home. Finally, the front door opened and Myrtle heard her mother’s voice. She slid off her bed and threw open her bedroom door to find her father already in front of it.
“Daddy!” She threw herself into his arms.
“What is this? I wasn’t gone that long, was I?” He pushed her away and looked her in her eyes. “You have to be brave, little hunter. In a few weeks I have to go back to work and then I am counting on you.”
Myrtle dropped her head.
“But I’m not brave, daddy. I am very scared.” He started to laugh. “Admitting that you are afraid is what makes you brave.” Myrtle nodded, but not with much enthusiasm.
“So to bed with you. It is already way past your bedtime.” They walked back into her room and she climbed into her bed. She laid down, and her father pulled the covers over her and her teddy bear.
“Daddy?” He knelt beside the bed.
“What is it, little hunter?”
“Are you scared sometimes?” To her surprise, he nodded.
“Yes, little hunter. I’m afraid I won’t come back every time I walk out the door.”
“But you go anyway?” He nodded again.
“I do. Fear is useful to warn you, but you should never let fear guide you.” He took her hand. “Promise me, little hunter, that you’ll never let fear hold you back.” She nodded.
“I promise, daddy.” He smiled, stroked her head and got up.
“Sleep tight, little hunter.” She turned so she could watch him as he leaves.
“Sleep well, daddy.”
A Change
With a sigh, Myrtle looked at herself in the mirror. Her raven-black hair was caught in a single braid down her back.
“Myrtle. Sarra and Eldric are at the door!” Her mother appeared in the doorway of her bedroom.
“Thanks, mom. I’m almost finished.” She was sitting on her bed, her teddy bear in her hands. Her mother sighed.
“Isn’t it time you got rid of that?” Myrtle shook her head and squeezed the stuffed animal. It’s been ten long years since her father left that time and never returned.
“I miss him mom.” Her mother walked into the room.
“I know, I miss him too.” Myrtle bit her lip. Her mother knelt before her and tried to take her hand, but Myrtle pulled it away.
“There will be a time in your life where you have to let him go.” Myrtle raised so quickly that both her mother and teddy bear both fell to the ground.
“As long as La Croix won’t say what happened, I’ll believe he’s still alive!” Tears came to her eyes. “As long as no body has been found.” Her mother stood up.
“I know, Myrtle.” Myrtle shook her head.
“Then why am I not allowed to train with the hunters? Why did you remove almost every trace of daddy from this house?”
“Because I can’t lose you too, Myrtle.” Her mother lays down a hand on Myrtle’s shoulder but Myrtle shook it off.
“My friends are waiting for me.”
MYRTLE STRODE DOWN the hall and paused at the door that led to her father’s office. She slowly reached for the door handle, but before her hand touched the cold iron, she withdrew her hand and walked on to the front door.
“Hey, hey. There you are! Finally!” Sarra leaned against the white oak with her arms folded. Eldric was squatting next to her, and immediately jumped up when he saw Myrtle.
“We have to show you something.” Sarra punched him.
“Idiot, what did I say.” He rubbed painfully where Sarra had just hit him.
“I’m sorry I’m late. I really am. It was my mother, you know how she been lately.” Sarra just shrugged.
“Let’s go before Romeo drops more beans.” Sarra turned and her ruby ponytail hit Eldric.
“She is always the sunshine from this group, isn’t she.” Eldric joked before chasing his sister. Myrtle glanced quickly at her house, her mother was standing in the doorway.
“WHERE ARE WE GOING?”
She recognized the neighbourhood they walked through, it was not far from the white market. An old department store full of market stalls, you could find everything there. Weapons, fey artifacts, lost dreams and more.
“You’ll see.” Sarra’s sharp answer was very sharp, more than usual. What was going on? Eldric walked next to Myrtle.
“You have to forgive her, it has been ten years since... Well you know” Myrtle nodded and knew immediately what he was talking about. Their parents and her father were on the same mission, but her father’s body was never found. While her father had been reported missing for ten years, their parents were pronounced dead. The thoughts that her father was somewhere took over her mind, but she shook these thoughts out of her head. She’d promised him that fear wouldn’t stop her and she intended to uphold that promise.
SARRA WALKED INTO AN alley that Myrtle knew was a dead end. Without saying a word, she followed her friend into the alley. As she expected this street turned out to the Thicket. Eldric looked at her hopefully so she frowned. Something wasn’t right here, she gasped as she saw a small movement in the Thicket.
“It’s a portal!” Eldric nodded.
“This portal leads to Fearie, according to market sources.” Myrtle looked from him to Sarra and back.
“No way.” said Myrtle.
“Yes way.” Eldric jumped from one leg to the other, very rarely has she seen him so excited.
“Eldric and I have been hired
to go through this portal to look for the Book of Secrets.” Myrtle frowned.
“Hired by whom?” Sarra sighed.
“That isn’t important for now, the question is will you come with us?”
Myrtle’s jaw dropped in surprise, did she hear this right?
“The offer will not last forever.” Myrtle nodded slowly as she considered the proposal.
“Do you know where the book is?” This was not a question of fear, this was a question of caution. At least that was the thing she told herself, to her relief, Sarra nodded.
“Our client suspects that the book can be found in the Land of the Dead. But because no portal in this area goes directly. We need to find a way, when we are in Fearie.” Myrtle nodded again.
“Then we can better start with the preparations. When are we going?”
“Tomorrow.” Myrtle’s thoughts went straight to her father’s office; maybe he had some notes about the fey.
“Well then I’ll see you guys tomorrow.” Myrtle turned away from her friends. “Make sure to leave your most precious memory here, So you don’t lose it on the other side of the portal!”
“MOM, I’M HOME.” HER mother stuck her head out of the kitchen.
“They asked you, didn’t they.” Myrtle looked at her mother, not knowing what to say. Her mother walked out of the kitchen.
“Sarra and Eldric, they asked you to go with them on their search for that cursed book.” Myrtle nodded.
“And you said yes.” She nodded again. Why did it feel like she had done something wrong?
“Did they tell you about their debt to La Croix?” Myrtle shook her head in shock, no they hadn’t said anything about that. She frowned.
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