Two more taps. Was it truly Darla behind the door? No one had jumped out to grab me, so it wasn’t a bad guy. I wanted to believe with all my being it was Darla. But if it was and I had found her, how was I going to get her out?
* * * *
I made my way back up the stairs, down the passage and through the tapestry. This time I went through the door at the end of the hall. My only thought was getting back outside so I could find Luke and Freddy. We could come up with a plan to get back inside and get that door at the bottom of the staircase open.
The door swung open, and I was expecting to walk into another empty room, but this time the room was full. This room was identical to the other. Mirrors hung from one wall, wooden patterns ran across the floor and glass chandeliers hung overheard. But the chandeliers weren’t turned on. The room was mostly in darkness, except for a glow of candles in the center of the room. A dozen candelabras circled the middle of the room, and each large black candle holder held six lit red candles. The flames from the candles created eerie shadows that danced across the mirrors. Everyone was dressed in cloaks and masks. People closest to the door turned when I entered. I had no choice now, but to go inside and try to act like I was supposed to be there. I smiled and nodded my head as I walked into the room, and as I did a loud voice boomed overhead. “The time is finally here!”
A man stood on a platform in the center of the room, surrounded by the candelabras. The man on the platform wore a red robe and a bright orange mask covered his face.
The man raised his hands, and his voice. “Everyone, everyone, thank you for coming!” He made a sweeping gesture with his arm. “I know you’re as excited as I am that the time is upon us. We’ve waited so long for this day.”
I immediately recognized his voice. It was Macaven, the man who murdered my father.
The crowd began to move forward, and I moved with them. Silence fell over the crowd and bodies pushed in. Everyone’s attention was on the man in the red robe.
Someone led a white goat up onto the platform. The goat struggled to get free, but it was held tight. The goat was lifted and put down next to Macaven. It was only when Macaven took a step forward that I saw the stone altar. They had tied the goat to it. They were going to do a sacrifice. An animal sacrifice.
A large knife was handed to Macaven. He held it high in the air with both hands. The knife came down fast and sliced across the goat’s throat.
Applause sounded from the crowd, and they began to chant the name, “Macaven” as blood gushed onto the altar.
I felt my legs begin to buckle.
He was killing the goat like he’d killed my father.
Macaven raised a hand in the air, and everyone fell silent. “I know we’ve waited so very long for this day. Many of you have newly come into our fold to be a part of this fantastic journey we’re about to embark on.” He wiped the blade of the knife across the sleeve of his robe. “As you know I’m Donald Macaven, grand master of the Garuda Guild. For a hundred years, they’ve forced our people away from the traditions that had in the past made us one of the strongest Guilds. For a hundred years, we’ve stood by and watch as other, weaker guilds, used naive rules to steal our power and influence. Our weakness forced us into submission, but no more. No more will we follow the ways of others. We’ve been and always will be true leaders of our kind. We’ve magical royalty pumping through our veins.” He began to walk around the stone altar. “I know many of you who have entered our fold over the last year are not blood kin.” He raised his hand again. “But that doesn’t mean that you’re not family to us. You’re all closer now than blood could ever be. For you’ve helped shed blood in our name for our cause. You’ve done what had to be done in order for us to raise ourselves back up toward greatness. Without your help, we wouldn’t be here now on the precipice of a new age.” He raised the knife high in the air. “I know there were some who refused to be a part of this great adventure, and at this moment I think we should take a moment and bow our heads in silence for those lost to us, for those poor souls who could not, or would not, see the way to true enlightenment.”
Everyone around me bowed their heads. I did the same. What the heck was going on? Who were all these people, and what was this enlightenment he was talking about?
I had to get out of here and find Luke and Freddy. I started to take a step back, but before I could move away Macaven lifted his head. He raised up the dagger and swiftly brought it down into the middle of the goat. He slashed across the goat’s midsection, and blood and guts started to ooze out onto the stone’s surface.
He shouted and raised his arms. “We call on you, the dark powers beyond, the forces that can show us the way to the true calling.”
The goat’s blood and entrails poured down onto the altar, and a swirl of orange began to form above the stone. I realized that Macaven was calling on spirits.
Faces began to form within the orange cloud. Faces with expressions frozen in torment and pain and, as these spirits opened their mouths, wild, terrified shrieks filled the room. Banshees, he’d raised up banshees.
I began to move back in earnest this time, but I only took one step before a shock of recognition ran through me. One of the faces in the mist looked familiar. There was something about the nose and the lips… I took a step forward and watched in absolute horror as the spirit of my brother James floated past.
“James,” I whispered his name, and as I did my brother’s spirit changed direction and headed toward me.
I took another step forward, my hand outstretched. “James.”
Before I could move, arms grabbed me roughly from behind, a hand covered my mouth, dragging me back into the shadows. I struggled against my assailant, but he was stronger than I was. I was shoved to the back of the room. I broke free and twirled around, my hands forming into fists. I started to take a swing, but then froze when I realized it was Luke standing in front of me glaring down at me.
He had on a black cloak and a golden mask, pushed up onto his forehead. “Are you insane. You can’t confront a banshee. It’s suicidal.”
“It was James, my brother James, did you see him?” My words came out in a rush.
Luke stood looking at me, his expression one of shock. “One of the banshee’s is your brother?”
I nodded my head and a tear slid down my face.
“Colina, how did your brother die?”
I turned away, not able to say the words.
Luke grabbed my arm and pulled me out of the room, through the door and into the hallway.
He stood behind me, his voice low. “Tell me what happened to your brother?”
“He was there and then he wasn’t. They did something to him. I didn’t understand it at the time. I could hear his screams even after his body fell to the ground.” I leaned back against him. “Does that mean that the dark wizard has bound his spirit?” I held my breath, hoping his answer would prove my worst fears wrong.
“It makes sense. Macaven could have bound your brother’s spirit to him, to do his bidding. If he did, it means James is one of his banshees now.”
At Luke’s words anger filled me. “No! We have to help him.” I started toward the door.
Voices could be heard shouting on the other side of the door.
Luke pulled me back. “We have to save Darla. Now that the ceremony has distracted everyone, we can search for her.”
“I think I know where Darla is.”
Luke’s fingers dug into my arm. “Where?”
I pointed toward the tapestry. “Through there, there’s a hidden passage, and then a set of stairs and at the bottom of the stairs there are rooms. I think your sister is in one of those rooms.”
More shouts could be heard from the other room. Luke looked from the door to the tapestry. “We have to get her out. Our best chance is now while everyone is busy.”
“But James…”
Luke interrupted me. “Your brother is dead. There’s nothing we can do for him. But Darla is alive.�
� He reached over and pulled up my mask. “I’m sorry Colina.” He brought his face close to mine. “James’s spirit couldn’t come to you because Macaven has bound him.”
“Is that why, when I called my family, I could only make contact with my mother? But what about my father?”
Luke turned away.
“You know something about my father? Tell me!”
Luke turned back toward me. “There’s no time for this, we have to go after Darla.”
“What did that madman do to my father?” This time I begged.
Luke didn’t say anything for a few seconds. He stood there looking as though he was trying to decide something. A grim expression crossed his face when he finally spoke. “When I was researching, trying to find what ancient spells they could be trying to do, I came across one that involved a dagger. I got close to the platform, and I got a good look at the knife. I think it might be the same one they killed your father with.”
I let out a sob.
Luke reached up and wiped away a tear from my cheek. “If I’m right and he’s using the same ceremonial knife, the one I recognized from the books, when he killed your father, your father’s soul became trapped in the dagger.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Macaven needs dark magic to power the old spells. He wants to create something, something that can wield power. Something bigger, something not of this world. From what I heard people saying in the crowd, tonight he’s making preparations for an old and powerful spell. He’s trying to bring forth…” he stopped.
“A spirit? Like the banshee?”
“No something far worse.” A look of fear crossed his eyes. “A demon.”
Another burst of sound from the room. Whatever they were doing in there, they were enjoying it. They had looked on with enthusiasm as Macaven killed a goat. What would they do when he started sacrificing people? The thought sent chills down my spine.
Luke must have been thinking along the same lines and an expression of fear and then outrage crossed his face. He looked at me and said in an angry voice, “A demon isn’t a spirit, not in the strictest sense. It’s a combination of spirits, their essence combines. Makes something bigger, darker, different. Macaven would have had to kill a lot of men who had evil in their hearts.”
His words shocked me. “My father was not evil!” My voice was full of outrage.
“No, but he was powerful. Once Macaven had a collection of souls, the essence of those souls, their blackness, their pure evil would gather together to create a demon, but it’s not enough just to gather the souls. Macaven would have to form this being, this dark thing, to bring it into our world and to do that he’d need power. Lots of power.”
“And you think that’s why he has been killing people?”
“Right now we have to save my sister. I heard them say, there are going to do more sacrifices at midnight. Colina, we don’t have a lot of time.”
“But James…”
Luke raised his hand and stopped me. “We free my sister and then we will find a way to help your brother.”
Everything Luke said made sense. The reason my father’s and brother’s spirits had never tried to contact me was because Macaven had bound their spirits to him and now they were both part of his sick and twisted plan. I had to find a way to set them free.
Chapter Sixteen
How to Kill a Dark Wizard
Luke turned toward the door. “Freddy’s still in there, on the other side of the room. We split up, and were keeping watch for you.”
“How did you get the cloaks and masks?”
He touched the silky black material. “We came in a side door. They had these all laid out on a table for people to take.” He took a step and put his hand on the doorknob. “I’ll go get Freddy.”
I started to follow.
He pointed toward the tapestry. “You wait in the hidden passage. I promise I won’t be long.”
“We should stick together.” If he was going back in there, I was going with him.
“From the sounds they’re making, who knows what kind of twisted magic they may be doing in there. I've got a better chance on my own.” He turned and faced me. “Colina, I promise we will find a way to help your brother once we get Darla out.”
James’s spirit was in there bound to that madman. “Can you make someone release a banshee?”
Luke put both hands on my shoulders. “You can kill the wizard. As soon as a wizard dies all the spirits bound to him are released.”
I clenched my fists. “If I kill Macaven my brother’s spirit goes free?”
“It’s not as easy as it sounds. He’s a black wizard. A black wizard that’s been practicing ancients spells. He’s more powerful than anyone I’ve ever come across.”
“And my only powers are raising the dead and helping spirits cross over.” I grabbed his arm. “Do you think I could force my brother’s spirit to the other side like I did to Thomas’s spirit?”
Luke shook his head. “Not while Macaven has him bound. His magic would hold your brother’s spirit here. You’d have to somehow break his spell to release James.”
“If I could get the dagger, I could slit Macaven’s throat like he did my fathers.” The words that came out of my mouth surprised even me.
Luke’s fingers dug into my skin. “That’s the anger talking. It’s an enchanted dagger. Killing Macaven with it, you don’t know what that might do, what spell or thing that might set free.” He let go of me and said in a soft voice, “Trust me, we’ll find a way to release your brother, but right now we have to get my sister.”
Without another word, Luke walked through the door and shut it quietly behind him.
I stared after him. I could free my brother by killing Macaven, but even if I wanted to, how could I kill a powerful black wizard? I made my way behind the tapestry, into the passage and stood at the top of the staircase, waiting. Minutes passed, and there was still no sign of Luke or Freddy. I was starting to seriously worry, when I heard footsteps coming down the passage. There was no place to hide, no place to duck into, and if it wasn’t Luke and Freddy I was in real trouble.
Freddy called out. “We come in peace.” He wore a black cloak and held a mask in one hand.
I gestured down the stairway. “I think Darla is in a room at the bottom, but I couldn’t get in, there’s a heavy lock on the door.”
Freddy opened the cloak and revealed the bag hanging over his right shoulder. He patted the bag. “No worries, I brought a few things that might help.”
We made our way down the stairs and stopped in front of the door.
Freddy took off his cloak and put the bag on the floor. He opened it and rummaged around, finally pulling out a pair of bolt cutters.
“What didn’t you bring?” Luke asked.
Freddy smiled up at us. “Like the boy scouts, I’m always prepared.” He broke the lock.
It was just a gut feeling I had that Darla was in there. We had no real idea what we were about to walk in on.
Luke took the lead and leaned his hand on the door. “Stay behind me.”
Freddy passed me a flashlight. “I’ll stay out here as look out.”
The door swung open and I followed Luke inside swinging my flashlight in a wide arc. It illuminated the room showing two dozen bodies sitting or lying on the floor. Some of them had on dark hoods, others turned and looked at us. Their captors had placed gags on their mouths and bound their hands and feet with thick rope.
As I shone my light across fear stricken faces, I realized that these were the ones who’d refused to join Macaven’s ranks. How could someone round up innocent people to be sacrificed? How many had they already killed? I could feel the anger building inside me.
I finally came across a face I recognized. Darla didn’t have on a hood, but there were bruises on her face. Someone had blackened one eye and cut her lip. Luke rushed toward his sister. Crying out her name, he fell to the floor beside her. He pulled out a pocket knife and started to cut
the ropes biding her hands.
I realized in horror that they had hacked off her beautiful hair. Where golden strands once fell almost to the floor, her hair was now short. It was chopped hazardously around her head above her ears . I reached up and touched her face. “Darla, what did they do to you?”
Tears were rolling down her cheeks.
Luke reached up and grabbed one edge of the tape covering her mouth. “This is going to hurt.”
Darla nodded her head, and Luke yanked.
A cry of pain escaped Darla’s mouth. Her hand reached up and touched her brother’s face. “You found me. I knew you would.”
They embraced.
I didn’t know how much time we had, but there were a lot of people to untie. I moved to the body closest to me and started to work on the ropes when I heard Freddy’s voice.
“Someone’s coming. There are lights down the hallway heading this way.”
Hands grabbed at me. “We have to get out of here.”
“But we can’t leave them,” I said, looking around at the bodies filling the room. Eyes pleaded with us to save them. The looks on the faces, the fear in their eyes, we couldn’t just leave them.
Luke pulled me roughly to my feet. “We can’t help them if we get caught. We have to get out of here now!”
I wasn’t going to leave them to be slaughtered like my family. I fought against him, but Luke pushed and shoved me out of the room. Freddy had Darla’s arm and Luke was manhandling me roughly down the passage.
At the end of the passage was another set of stairways. I didn’t have a choice, I headed up. We went through another narrow passage, but instead of a tapestry at the end, this time we came to a door.
Luke opened it and stuck his head inside. “It’s clear.”
We made our way out of the mansion, toward the patio, and back into the bushes. Darla rushed into Luke’s arms. Luke was holding his sister as she cried softly into his shoulder.
Freddy dropped his bag and went over to join them. The three of them stood there, huddled together.
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