The Quarter Moon (Afterlife saga)

by Stephanie Hudson

  ‘Number 26 is facing you Ahead,

  And a door with no number is not a coal Shed,

  So take a deep breath and greet the Dead,

  To find the still heart of one Paul Whitehead’

  I couldn’t help but jump up and down like happy fool, all the while slapping Sigurd on the arm like he should join me. Of course, he didn’t but it was nice that I got a smile for my obvious enthusiasm.

  “So, where to next?” I asked reading through the riddle again. Sigurd looked down over my shoulder and re-read the verses himself and it only took a second for him to say,

  “This way.” Then, grabbing the crook of my arm, he led me down the open passage way to catch up with the rest of the group. We continued to pass the black doors of the coal sheds which all had flimsy looking locks on them that would be one simple kick away from opening for someone like Sigurd. See...! There it was again, with the breaking and entry thoughts. What happened to the days where my main thought process was about course work or which gloves to wear with what outfit?! Well, that one was easy to answer and began with a capital D…

  Draven.

  Even thinking the name had me both aching inside and walking faster to get to this bloody heart! Ok, so I doubted there would be any blood after all this time, which brought on the next morbid question in my mind…what would a 240 year old heart look like?

  “You still with me, øjesten?” Sigurd’s question brought me out of my daft thoughts and back into the now. I nodded and started to concentrate on the numbers on the doors. I only pulled my arm from his hold when I got to the first door without a number. It was unlike all the other doors which had been made from panelled wood, but this one was smooth glossy black.

  “This must be it.” I said going up to run my hand over the door as if trying to judge what lay behind.

  “No it isn’t.” Sigurd’s voice burst my bubble and I quickly found my hand no longer touching the door. Instead it was firmly encased in a much larger hand and being pulled in the opposite direction again.

  “But it had no number and the book said…”

  “That is number 17, look…the next door says 16.” He pointed to the door as we passed.

  “So…it still didn’t have a number on the door, so that means…” Once again he cut me off.

  “That means it didn’t have a number on the door, but it is still a coal shed and according to the crazy shit the Oracle told us, that’s not what we’re looking for.” Ok, so he had a point there!

  He continued on pulling me and it was only when we were by door number 12 and I nearly tripped over a drain on the floor that he slowed down. However, this wasn’t because I had to practically run to keep up with his long legs, nearly falling over myself to do so, but because we had caught up with the group. They were all filing into a space where a set of double door had been opened up. I looked to see the numbers on the doors and even though ten didn’t have a number, the other side of the double doors was numbered 9. Which meant that one of the doors we walked though now, actually was the door with no number, just like the riddle said.

  “Please gather round.” The guide said and I let Sigurd pull me further inside past the others so that we were closer to the back. The feeling of the dark behind me was unnerving for one reason only and that was because I could almost taste the humming power emanating from Sigurd who stood at my back. I looked behind me and gasped as I saw the shadowed serpents seeping out from behind his back as though they had finally been allowed to break free from the confines of their flesh and bone cage.

  “What are you doing?” I whispered in desperate tones.

  “Ssshh and relax, soon no one will see us anymore, my øjesten.” I swallowed the worried lump down and scanned the room for anyone who was looking at us even more strangely than usually. I was just about to do as suggested and relax when our guide spoke up,

  “Welcome everyone…

  To the Deadhouse.”

  Chapter 37

  The Deadhouse

  The Deadhouse wasn’t what I expected it to look like, although what exactly I was expecting I didn’t know. But one thing was for sure and that was I definitely wasn’t expecting a horror movie boiler room. The small bricks that made up the walls were painted thick white which had long ago turned a dirty colour thanks to the damp streaks running down the walls from the overhead pipes. I couldn’t tell how far the room went on as the darkness we stood in prevented it, but it was only wide enough to fit a car and not much else either side.

  One thing I was certain and that was it definitely didn’t lack the creep factor! As I had been pulled past the group I did have chance to notice the small recesses that held plaques either side of the walls making four in total. The only light in the room came from the open doors and a metal gate which obviously added to the security. This was left sticking out, causing looming shadows to branch out on the pale floor.

  I felt Sigurd’s arms surround me and then I tried not to scream out as his shadowed serpents did the same. It was a strange sensation, somewhere between a light touch from a cold hand and a damp mist travelling over your skin. My senses reacted by leaving a trail of tiny bumps over my body as they slithered around my torso. I jumped in Sigurd’s hold when one of the heads reared back and hissed at me.

  “Calm lille øjesten, they won’t hurt you… Légy jó a háziállatok, nem ijedt a kis drágám” (Means ‘Be good my pets, don’t frighten our little darling’ In Hungarian) Upon hearing the foreign words spoken by their master, they pulled back and made little crooning noises that sounded very similar to a purr.

  “Won’t someone see us?” I whispered, rising to my tiptoes and turning my head to the side so my cheek rested on his chest. His two misted snake buddies shook their head at the same time he whispered his answer as a negative.

  “The reason we are in the Deadhouse is to see these five tombstones you can see on the walls. Charles I’s wife Henrietta Maria of France was a devout Catholic and when coming to this country she didn’t come alone. In fact, she brought her whole entourage with her and, needing a place to practice their religion, Charles let her build a chapel in the grounds, which used to be situated in the Northwest wing. The chapel was designed by a man called Inigo Jones and when the new building of Somerset House was commissioned to be rebuilt in 1774, one Sir William Chambers had the chapel demolished. But for reasons unknown, other than his admiration for Inigo Jones, he had five of the tombstones found, kept and stored here.” I listened to the guide explain the strange events that led up to the very room we were now stood in and wondered why these tombstones. One thing was certain and that was I couldn’t wait to get a good look at them!

  She continued to talk briefly about each one, but I quickly found myself distracted by the feel of bands of muscle pulling me deeper into the dark obscurity, one consumed by the shadows he ruled there.

  “What are you…?”

  “Silence now and trust me, sweet øjesten. It is time to let my Ouroboros hide us from view.” I decided it was wise not to argue and this turned out to be right when the group started to move on to the next stop on the tour. I let out the breath I had been holding until the guide shut both the gate and double doors, locking them behind her. I was about to call out when Sigurd’s hand clamped over my mouth.

  “That would be foolish, honey.” He spoke directly into my ear and it became the only sound over my pounding heart in the solid darkness. He gave me a moment to let my panic go and only when he felt my pulse slow did he release his control.

  “You alright now?” He asked me softly and I nodded as he still gripped my chin in a loose hold.

  “Good girl, now let’s get to work.” He let his hand drop from my face and took my own hand in a gentle grip.

  “But how, I can’t see a thing?” I asked hoping he was about to whip out a torch or maybe a mobile phone app that flashed Morse code.

  “That’s where I come in handy.” He assured me.

  We stopped moving and I felt his han
ds on my shoulders turn me slightly. I heard the whoosh of material moving back and then the small glow where his eyes would be. One came through like a silver light, where the other was a flame torched snake that circled his eye.

  “I gather this means you can see in the dark?”

  “And the stuffed animal prize goes to cutie here… now you look at the book and I will read out the tombstones to you.” I smiled in the dark at his funny response and then pointed out the obvious.

  “That’s great and all, but I forgot to buy my set of night vision goggles…although they are now on the list…”

  “Not going to be a problem. Get out the book.” I did as I was told and only when I felt his hand over the cover did I quickly move a step back. The last thing I wanted was a trip down nightmare lane again! He didn’t say anything but his actions made me shriek out. His slithering guard dogs snaked round me to hold me still and when I felt my elbow bang against something hard sticking out of the wall I knew it was for my own good.

  “Ok, ok, I get the picture…down boys.” I spoke to the shadows and another hissing purr was my answer as they released me, trusting that I would stay put this time. My attention was soon caught by the glowing red letters from the Oracle, that now burned brightly on the page. This combined with the smouldering light from Sigurd’s eyes was enough for me to at least see my hand in front of my face.

  “Now what?”

  “Read the fourth verse” I took the book into my hands now feeling the slight heat it gave off.

  “To your left is a name you know well, But the date 33 won’t get you into Hell, So move away and look for another, One that speaks fondly of the Queen Mother’…what’s that supposed to mean?” He didn’t answer me straight away but I felt myself being moved to the right side of the room.

  “The other one you were stood in front of had the date 1633, so let’s try this one…next verse”

  “Ok, let’s see… ‘Skull and cross bones isn’t down to a wooden leg,

  For he was a doctor, so no need to beg, for he doesn’t hold the organ that you seek, it’s not even on this side, so go take a peek’…ok so what do you see?”

  “Well this guy was obviously the doctor so let’s go back to the other side and see the only other one there.” I again felt myself being shifted around until we must have been opposite the one he spoke of. We stood in silence for a minute and then after Sigurd exhaled loudly he said,

  “Next one, Keira.”

  “Oh right, sorry…umm…ok it says, ‘So leave the doctor alone And look around the space, for once you find the ½ topped cross, you need to look under the pace’…pace no wait do you think she meant place?” I said re-reading that part again.

  “No, the one we’re facing has a cross above it, the date 1691/2 and the words ‘requiesc in pace’ at the bottom…what’s the last one?”

  “The date 169 and a half…well that’s weird… I wonder what that’s about?”

  “Focus, Keira.” Sigurd said trying no doubt for patience.

  “Ok, ok, my bad… last verse is ‘Look to a number 7 set in pale stone, the one you seek will rightfully sit upon the 7th throne, your lovely name you will no doubt find, and…”

  “And?” He prompted.

  “And an old withered heart lies waiting behind…Sigurd this is the one! Can you see it?” I said feeling my own heart soar that we had finally come this close. I waited for an answer from Sigurd but after too long of waiting I felt out for him in the dark and tugged on his arm.

  “What is it…? Sigurd speak to me.”

  “This life for Immortality, the 7th of May 1674…” His voice sounded strange, as if talking to himself and caught in the unbelievable.

  “So this is it?”

  “Keira it has your name…Queen Catherine and talks of the third sonne, the Queen mother and…”

  “So what, that just means we found the right one, just like the verse said.” I didn’t understand where this strange reaction was coming from. He almost sounded too far away as though trying to figure out something that wasn’t there for everyone to see.

  I was about to ask him to explain himself further, but his sudden actions stopped me. His fist shot out and hammered straight through the tombstone ahead of me, making me jump out of the way. The sound of crumbling stone raining down on the floor echoed along the walls. I could also hear his hand moving around in the hole he’d just brutally made.

  “Come here.” Before I could move to the order, his shadowy friends once again found it fun to play with the Human and moved me over in front of him. I could swear the little devils were trying to tickle me!

  “Now, I am going to put your hand in there and I want you to grab it.” Sigurd instructed, making me wrinkle up my nose.

  “No, no, you can go for it…in fact, I insist.”

  “Keira.” My name came out as a warning.

  “But it’s gross.” Ok, so my argument wasn’t a mature one.

  “I’m sure you will be fine and I think we can safely say it won’t bite…besides no demon can touch it remember, so unless you think our guide is up to doing extra occupational duties, then I suggest you get it over with.” I groaned at the thought and before I could back out and shy away from my duties as Supernatural ambassador, I held my breath, put on my best disgusted face and shoved my hand right into where Sigurd had left a gaping hole.

  “I’ve got it.” I said quietly when finding more than just air with my probing fingers.

  “Good work øjesten, now pull it out and put it straight into your bag…that’s it.” He instructed as I pulled the material wrapped package from inside its resting place. Once it was firmly in my bag, I breathed out a sigh of relief.

  “Oh, thank God.” In return, the feeling of a massive weight lifted and floated away with the week’s turbulent events. We had the heart and now nothing could stop me from getting to Draven…

  Nothing.

  Once Sigurd had assured me he would see to the evidence of our thievery and busted us out of the Deadhouse, he relocked it and we silently found the quickest exit. For the most part he remained silent, if only for the brief muttering to himself. This was after we were back on the stone walkway heading away from the coal sheds, when he asked to see the book one last time. Then without any explanation he repeated two lines in the last verse to himself and I couldn’t help the shiver that washed over me.

  ‘The one you seek will rightfully sit upon the 7th throne,

  Your lovely name you will no doubt find’

  After this he didn’t elaborate and for some reason I couldn’t bring myself to ask. In fact, it was only when we were back up near the fountains did we finally speak to each other.

  “What was that?”

  “I have to go.” We both spoke at the same time but I was the only one to reply and shouted,

  “What?” In response to his abrupt need to leave.

  “I’m sorry but I have to see someone.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

  “You’re leaving me?” I asked in a small voice, trying not to get upset at the idea of going this alone again. He must have heard the waver in my voice as my emotions got the better of me. He took a deep breath, stepped closer to me and raised his hand to cup my cheek.

  “Lille øjesten.” He used a thumb to wipe away the single tear that escaped, one I wasn’t even aware had grown and slipped away from me.

  “I will come back for you little one, but you must make me a promise.” I nodded, not trusting words right now, words that would no doubt bring on more useless tears, feeding the feeling of hopelessness.

  “I want you to take the heart, go straight to the hotel and stay there until I return…can you do that for me?” He sounded so deep and soft. Listening to the way each word drizzled goosebumps along my skin, there was no way I could have denied him anything.

  “I can do that but tell me…”

  “I can’t tell you why Keira, not yet. I will just have to ask you to trust me again…you will do that f
or me…yes?” I bit my bottom lip, looked away for a second and then after taking a shaky breath, said what he wanted to hear and what I knew to be true.

  “Yes Sigurd, I can do that for you.” His released a breath and let his hand slip round to grip my neck. He pulled me into his embrace and held me to him for silent minutes which gave me the secure strength needed to face being alone once again. I had become so dependant these last few days on my shadowed knight, that I felt a little hollow at the thought of walking away from him. Vulnerable would be new word choice of the day and I wanted to cry like a little lost girl at the prospect.

  I mean, what if he didn’t come back? What then? No, I couldn’t think like that! I had trusted him this far, with my very life in fact, so I needed to man up and just keep on trusting him! So with that in mind, I hugged him tighter before letting him go.

  “You’ll be back.” I said in way of confirmation. He smiled down at me and said a gentle,

  “Yes sweetheart, I will be back for you.” I let those words float over me like a comforting blanket I wanted to hold onto, until I watched his large hooded form walk away from me. I then looked up to the clear sky, took a deep breath and after looking over my shoulder to see the main entrance of Somerset House one last time, I walked away giggling.

  “Goodbye, Seaman’s Hall.”

  The rest of the day was spent with me staring at the gauze wrapped package of Paul Whitehead’s heart, sat on the suite’s coffee table. Was it strange to be shocked that it was in fact heart shaped? I don’t know what exactly I expected to find, definitely not in a nicely wrapped Tiffany’s box that’s for sure but really…just a bit of mummified wrapping was all it took to gift someone with your heart. I wondered if Sir Francis Dashwood just sat it on his coffee table that day and stared at it.

  One thing was for sure and that was how quickly the day went by just watching something old do a whole load of nothing in the sitting room! My gaze wandered to the massive windows that showed London in all its lit up glory and I couldn’t help but ask out loud,