by Mary Ting
What was Clarissa doing there? Had she found anything? My attention went to the wall with markings. No, not markings…drawings. One I recognized was the Knights Templar emblem. My mind tangled with thoughts. Did they gather here for meetings? Or perhaps they escaped here. As I admired the hieroglyphs and tried to decipher their meanings, a flash of light caught my eye on the adjacent wall.
Strange. Had I imagined it? I ran my hand along the cold ridges and shivered at the thought of touching something ancient and sacred. Backing away, I stared at the wall and waited for another flicker of energy. Nothing. I waited more long seconds.
Feet shuffled from behind me. I hid behind one of the three-foot walls. One of Cyrus’s demon female servants appeared holding a picnic basket and went to the same wall I stared at a second before. I debated speaking to her, but I stopped when she spoke to the wall.
“I’m here. It’s time for your meal and wash.” She didn’t sound thrilled to be there.
She had to be crazy. Who was she talking to? I carefully edged around to get a closer view, but I didn’t see anything.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t,” she said and placed a hand on the wall.
Perhaps the person on the other side begged to be released.
Some kind of light flashed like paparazzi, and wind blew out from the wall. As she stepped in, I ran for the opening, but I was too late and collided against the invisible barrier. Damn it! Who was on the other side? My gut told me Cyrus had locked up someone important. It could be anyone who tried to kill him from the past decades. He had many enemies.
I backed away when I heard grunts and people’s voices—not just anyone’s voices, but my friends. Why were they there? It dawned on me that the third clue had brought them there. With one way in or out, I had no choice but to stay and hide. At least that was what I told myself. My heart took a crazy dive at the thought of seeing Lucia, and I prepared to feel emotions I tried to suppress.
Ikelia
That day was no different, another ordinary day. But the person who appeared out of the dark shadows was not Cyrus’s slave, but… I dropped to my knees and held my breath.
A tall muscular figure with a hood over his head, sporting a warrior-like suit, entered cautiously. He was no longer a boy, but a man. I let out a whimper as tears pooled in my eyes. My son. My boy. My Eli. I knew the second he entered it was him. I felt the motherly bond. I had cast a spell on us so that if Cyrus ever separated us, no matter how much time passed, I would feel that invisible tug in my heart, and I’d know Eli was with me.
How big he had grown in the years I’d been gone. Guilt slammed into me. He lived grieving me, thinking I was dead. But I grieved for him too.
When Eli eased closer, my heart crumbled. All the time lost, all the unnecessary sadness. Oh Eli, can you see me? See me, Eli. See me. I tried to speak into his mind, but the barrier prevented me. Damn you to hell, Cyrus!
Eli followed the path. I could no longer see him.
“Eli,” I shouted. My effort failed.
Damn it! I had to get his attention. How? My magic didn’t work, which I already knew, but I had to try. No weapon. Nothing I could throw except… I picked up a handful of pebbled sand and tossed it against the shield. The light from the energy flickered. It hardly made a dent, but it was all I could do. So I did it again, again, and again, until I finally got his attention.
Good boy.
Eli traced the invisible barrier with his curious eyes, but he had no idea of the barrier. I inched closer when he placed his hands on the wall. Cyrus made sure the barrier could not be opened without his permission or unless he gave the power of authority to see me, like the way his servant heading toward me could. Eli leaped away and hid behind somewhere.
“I’m here. It’s time for your meal and wash,” she said nonchalantly, as if she didn’t want to be there.
I had to think fast. She could get me out. But would she betray Cyrus? I had to try. “Listen. I need your help. You know I’ve been kidnapped. Please help me out. He’ll never know it was you. You can let me out and then report to him. Tell him I wasn’t there when you arrived. He’ll believe you.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t.” She walked right through. I thought about capturing her and forcing her to let me out, but my instinct told me she wouldn’t give in, loyal to Cyrus till the end.
“Don’t try anything crazy,” the woman said as if she knew my thoughts. “Cyrus put a spell around the prison. Nobody is allowed out unless given verbal permission by Cyrus, and he hasn’t done it for you. If you try to go through the shield, you’ll only bounce right back in. Knowing Cyrus, he might have a surprise waiting for you, one you’ll never forget.”
I released an annoyed sigh. “We’ll see about that,” I murmured under my breath. The servant placed the basket of food down, and I got the tub that appeared when she came for me.
Low voices, hardly audible, caught my attention, and I forgot the slave girl was there. I recognized Brody and Milani, but I had never met the rest of Eli’s friends. It dawned on me why Eli hid when he could have greeted his friends. Either Cyrus had Eli wrapped around his finger, or his friends had kicked him out of their group for being under Cyrus’s control.
Eli poked his head up, ready to head back. No, Eli. Come back. My pulse raced at the thought it would be my only chance to get his attention. I needed to do something drastic. Without a second glance or thought, I took a leap of faith toward the barrier. Instead of breaking through, I slammed into it, flew backward, and collided against the wall. I dropped to the floor, aching and sore.
“Lady. Are you all right? I told you what would happen,” she reminded me. I pushed her back when she gave me her hand.
“I can tell—” I began until she interrupted me.
“I hear voices. There are too many visitors here. We’re going to be traveling.”
Frantic, I stood up to face her. “No. Don’t move us. I’m tired of changing my home. Please.”
Home. I laughed at that word. After I saw Eli in good health and himself, I knew I had a good fighting chance to break his bond with Cyrus. Excitement and happiness coursed through me. I knew what I had to do. I was even prepared to kill the slave girl if I had to. I had no weapon. I had to use my hands. But could I really bring myself to kill her? It would make me no better than Cyrus. Then how would I get out?
She lowered her head, a sign of respect. “You’ve been here quite some time. It’s about time, anyway.”
“No, you don’t understand. I need to talk to my friends.” I searched for words to convince her, but nothing would have made sense to her. I searched for Eli in my limited view, but I couldn’t find him. I hadn’t seen him leave.
With a wave of her hand, we were gone.
Chapter 16
Lucia
We astral traveled to England and jumped into a hole covered by a round slab of cement. A stone on the ground. To cover what was found.
“Wow, look at this place.” Jack surveyed the walls and the ceiling.
Milani rubbed her arms, shivering. “Do you see rats or big bugs?”
“Keep your voices down.” Abel’s eyes turned crimson bright, adjusting to the darkness, but lit candles flickered every few feet. It seemed impossible. Candles would burn out, especially with the hole covered up and limited air.
“These aren’t candles. They appear to be crystals. They’re so pretty.” Brody placed a hand over one of the lights, situated on a divider wall that didn’t reach the ceiling.
Uncle Davin smacked his hand. “Don’t touch it.”
Brody frowned, his lips pouting. “I wasn’t gonna. Give me some credit.” He cradled his hand and rubbed at it.
Uncle Davin rolled his eyes. “Teenagers. You act like children.”
Zach sped down the long walkway with his glowing bow in front. Light on his feet, he made no sound, but when the others followed, Uncle Davin rubbed a hand over his face.
“Quietly. Move quietly,” he mumbled under his breath.
As I moved along, I examined the rocky walls, lagging behind the others. How and who had built such a place underground of all places? Pretty cool place indeed. To find the answer. One must travel underground. Either an angel or an Elementa had to have created such a place. Eternal light could not be given to a human. Human beings were remarkable, and such a place could have been dug up and then covered up afterward.
I froze.
A breeze brushed up against me, like an invisible cat rubbing my leg to get my attention. I knew that feeling, that soft caress of a lover’s touch. Only one person could produce a euphoric sensation without physically touching me.
“Eli?” I whispered, my heart pounding. “Are you here?” I swallowed nervously. Why would he be there? Did he figure out the third clue? Had Cyrus forced Eli to track us down?
I kept walking, ignoring my instincts.
“Lucia.” A deep voice halted me, giving me pleasant goose bumps.
“Eli. I know you’re here. Are you here as a friend or a foe?” I slowly turned.
A ghostlike figure outlined by dark mist stood before me. He gave me a quick smile, but there was so much sadness in his eyes. Mine pooled with tears. Extending my hand, I skimmed my fingers over the mist. Though my fingers went through, the dark shadow twitched as if he could feel my touch. “Eli. I miss you.” I had to let him know. “I’m working hard to solve the clue, to break the bond between you and Cyrus so you can come home. Can you hear me?” I searched for his eyes that flickered back and forth from brown to crimson, sometimes disappearing completely.
A mist hand stroked my cheek, and slowly like a drifting fog, he covered me whole. “I miss you, Lucia. I’m doing my best to stay in control of who I am.”
“I know,” I breathed, trying to not fall apart. Though a part of me hesitated. Was Eli in control as he said? “Why are you here?”
“Clarissa…she…something…ask Clarissa.” Eli’s mist form faded as his words began to break up.
“Wait. I don’t understand.”
“Cyrus. I have to go.”
Lucia. Come quick. What are you doing? My brother spoke to me telepathically.
I’m coming.
Wisps of Eli’s mist trailed behind me as I ran, but when I reached my team, the last trace of him had vanished. Sliding beside Zach, I too admired the hieroglyphs on the wall.
“Where have you been?” Zach scolded. Sometimes it annoyed me when he worried too much.
“I was looking,” I snipped.
“What do you think it all means?” Milani tilted her head sideways. “Is the treasure here, or do we need to figure out whatever it’s trying to tell us and then get the treasure somewhere else?”
Jack ran his finger along the dents and ridges of a stick figure of a man on a horse. The Knights Templar symbol was the next carving. Pictures tell many stories. Of the adventures long before.
“Can you decode it?” Abel asked me.
“I’m trying,” I gritted through my teeth. I didn’t mean to sound upset, but seeing, feeling, and being so close to Eli had me all knotted inside.
Brody grunted and scratched his head vigorously. “I don’t get it.”
Uncle Davin squinted, his finger and thumb rubbing along his chin. Then he stepped far back, almost to the other wall. I stood beside him to get the whole view. But beware. Not all tells true. Within lies a symbol.
“This cave was built after Jacques de Molay,” Uncle Davin said. “The treasure is not hidden here. The clue had to be written by someone else, directing us to the treasure in steps. If you examine the stick figure drawings, we can assume they are the Knights Templar from their emblem, the cross on the shield.”
“How about that one?” Zach pointed at the last picture of the first line. “Seven figures. I think this means seven original Knights Templar.”
“But…” Milani scrubbed her face. “They’re tied to a pole and— What is that?”
Brody squeezed his eyes and shook his head. “Is that fire?”
“The original seven were burned at the stake along with others,” Jack said, stiffening his shoulders. “King Philip had them arrested, there’s no doubt about that, but there are many stories behind the Knights Templar, so no one knows for sure the exact date of execution and what really happened.”
Abel released air from his lungs, clearly annoyed. “So were they burned or not?”
“They were,” Jack confirmed. “Luckily, many escaped, so I believe these pictographs are from someone Jacques trusted.”
“We should astral travel back—” Zach and I both said in unison, but he let me finish.
“Before the time of their death,” I said quietly.
Everyone stared at me as if I had grown a horn on my head.
“It’s morbid, I know, but maybe we’ll find something useful. We’re obviously not understanding its meaning.”
Uncle Davin nodded. “Lucia is right. As sick as it sounds, we might find something.”
“Wait,” Milani said and aimed her finger on the second line. “I think this one is a temple. And the symbols lined next to it appear to be like carvings we saw at Rosslyn Chapel.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Brody said enthusiastically. “That one looks like the green man, next to it is the angels playing bagpipe, and then three pillars. Master Pillar, Journeyman Pillar, and the Apprentice Pillar. I’m proud to remember that much.” He chuckled.
“Great, but what does it mean? We need to go back to Rosslyn Chapel?” Abel sighed.
“Maybe.” Uncle Davin closed his eyes and then opened them. “The third is a drawing of caskets. Why?”
“There.” I dared to touch the wall etched and carved by people long ago. “On the last line. Seven swords are linked together. You think we need seven Templar swords?”
Uncle Davin considered my questions and then said, “Jack, Gustavo, Harper, and Hugo have one each. Eli has one, but we don’t know how to get it from him. That makes five. How do we find the last two?”
“Maybe one is in here?” Zach said and began to search.
Uncle Davin clapped his hands twice. “Well, what are you all waiting for? Go.”
The underground cave was not that big, but there was nothing besides the eternal lights. No one moved.
“Let me try something.” Milani waved her hand, speaking in her magical language. The pictures began to move, creating…what?
“It’s similar to the vines on the Apprentice Pillar,” I offered.
“Wow, Milani. Great thinking.” Brody patted Milani’s back. “What does this mean?”
Milani shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“I found it.” Zach’s voice bellowed from the other side, at the dead end of the cave. There were three swords lodged into the wall, about half deep. Each sword had a symbol on the hilt.
Uncle Davin extended out his arms. “Don’t touch it. Everyone back away.”
“Which one?” Abel sounded frustrated. “The one with a rose, a sword, or the plain one?”
I took our paper clue out of my pocket and read it. “Not all tells true. Within lies a symbol. One must discover. Or be left to drown.”
“Pick the rose,” Milani said. “That has to be it. It’s on top of the whole freakin’ ceiling.”
“Who’s going to take it out? I don’t want to drown.” Brody began to breathe faster, walking in circles. He stumbled and braced himself by resting his hand on the wall.
I realized everyone swayed too, or was it me? Then the ground shook like a mini earthquake and dirt fell from the ceiling.
“What’s going on?” Milani whimpered, her hands over her head.
“Lucia, pick the sword,” Uncle Davin ordered when the ground shook again. “Hurry.”
“Is the underground cave caving in?” Milani cried.
“Me? Why do I have to pick?” I squealed.
Lucia. Run! They’re coming.
“Eli?” In my rising panic, I said his name out loud.
“Where?” Milani grabbe
d me. “Is he here? Eli?”
Run!
I believed Eli. The ground shaking had to mean something. “Cyrus’s demons are here. We have to go,” I said quickly.
“I’ll grab the sword,” Zach said. “But which one?”
“I don’t know. What the hell does ‘not all tells true, within lies a symbol’ mean?” Uncle Davin balanced himself when the ground shuddered again. “Just get the sword. Milani, get ready to get us out.”
Zach reached over to grab the sword, but instead of pulling it out, he flew backward and slammed against the wall.
“Zach.” As I helped him up, demons popped down from above with their fangs out and crimson eyes beaming like headlights.
I willed my sword and my bow. With my right hand I swung at the demons attacking me while I used the bow to shoot silvery lights or used it like a staff to block their blows.
Abel and Brody became monsters themselves and tore through demon bodies with fangs and strength. Milani used her fireballs to incinerate them to ashes. The more we killed, the more kept coming.
“Someone grab the sword please, and let’s go home.” Uncle Davin jabbed, sliced, and blocked with his sword like a master. As soon as he saw a demon form, he leaped to the ceiling and eliminated them. Any that escaped, we took care of them.
A group of five demons surrounded me with knife-like fangs, and they were ugly as hell. I tried not to wonder if they were human turned demons as I struck them with my sword. Four demons left. If I could only move two feet closer, I could grab hold of a sword. But which one?
As I fought off the demons that had surrounded me, clashes of metal on metal, grunts, and curses echoed throughout the cave. The eternal light didn’t even flicker from the movement or the breeze. I used the walls as my momentum and flipped over four demons, and then used my sword and bow to rip right through their guts. Two demons left.