Spellbound Chronicles – Blood Line

by Suzanne Maguire

  Throwing off the covers, she jumped out of bed and partially opened the curtains. She was greeted by a glorious day. The first of their few days holiday, and freedom. She pulled her watch from under the pillow; nine o’clock She shook her head, certain she’d set the alarm for eight. Oh well, the extra hour will have done me good, she concluded. There wasn’t a sound from Aron’s room. Nothing unusual in that, though.

  Neve was already at the kitchen table engrossed in a newspaper with a cup of tea to her lips. Larna’s favourite cereal, a bowl, a jug of milk and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice (without the bits) indicated her place. A similar arrangement of Aron’s favourites was across from hers. Larna took a huge helping, drank the juice and wiped her mouth on a piece of kitchen roll. In record time she had thanked her grandmother and made her escape upstairs to see if Aron had surfaced. Up, washed and already dressed, Aron ran past Larna heading for the stairs. Larna turned and was close on his heels. Neve had taken her second cup of tea into the garden to inspect the roses. Larna watched as she appeared to be talking to herself and nodding at the replies. As she wandered further down the garden, Larna shared her crazy dream with Aron.

  Her brother ignored her and continued stuffing his face with chocolate cereal. Larna hated it when he did that. Eventually he put down his spoon, finished his apple juice, wiped his mouth on the back of his hand, leaned over the table and looked Larna dead in the eye.

  “What are you going on about now, sis?”

  “Haven’t you heard a word… too busy scoffing… I said… ”

  “I heard what you said. Some nonsense about weird trees and a boy who looks like a dog. I’ve heard it before.” He pulled a funny face and waggled his fingers in a mock-scary manner. “What’re you gonna dream up next, eh?”

  Larna was not about to give her brother the satisfaction of knowing he’d succeeded in rattling her cage or goading her into a reply. Then Neve entered the kitchen and Larna just made it to Aron’s side in time. He grinned at Larna. “Yaya. Larna says… ” Her right hand shot up and clamped his mouth. At the same time, her left hand grabbed the back of Aron’s top and dragged him outside.

  “Just a bit of fun. Can’t you take a joke?”

  “Stop it now!” yelled their grandmother. “Remember your promise!” Her voice carried through the cottage like a loudspeaker. I bet mum didn’t get away with much when she was growing up, thought Larna. Sometimes she thought Gran had eyes in the back of her head and radar-flapping ears. So the two of them cleared the table, put the dishes in the dishwasher and then raced each other up the stairs, the dream and Aron’s taunts forgotten.

  * * *

  Teeth hastily done, the GPS, clues and key-ring safely hidden in Larna’s pockets, she joined her brother in the panelled hall. It always smelled of lavender polish and gleamed from years of TLC. The grandfather clock began to strike ten. Having successfully banished the spectre to the back of her mind, Larna patted her pocket and nodded. Keeping her promise to their mum, she felt a keen responsibility for Aron’s safety as well as her own. But what harm could come to them on a bright sunny day if they stuck together?

  Neve’s empty cup was placed on the table next to her neatly folded newspaper. The back door being wide open, it didn’t need Einstein’s brain to work out that she had returned to the garden. They found her feeding the birds and topping up their water bowls and tubes of peanuts and seed. Balanced on the garden gate, Larna noticed another unusually large black crow. Could it be the same one from yesterday? As she watched, it appeared to be staring straight back at her. Full of confidence, not frightened, challenging even.

  The staring competition was abruptly halted as Larna was distracted by her Gran putting the spare seed back in the garden shed. She’d been talking to the pair of them for a quite a while, but Larna hadn’t heard a word.

  “I have to go out for a while, I’m afraid. The pantry and freezer need restocking.” She glanced at her watch. “I shouldn’t be too long. You’ll be fine on your own for a while, won’t you?”

  Aron and Larna exchanged looks. “We’ll find something to do, Yaya, don’t you worry.” Aron told her. “Take your time, have a cuppa and a cream bun while you’re at it.”

  She smiled. “I’ll be home for one o’clock to make lunch. So if you go out, please be back by then.”

  “Okay,” they chorused.

  “How far can we go, and can we use the GPS?” Larna asked eagerly.

  “I’d prefer that you waited until I return. Just an added precaution, for your safety. After all, you don’t understand yet what could be out there.”

  “How far can we go without the GPS, then?” Aron was insistent.

  “No further than the big tree,” was the very definite response as she pointed into the woods. Aron scrunched his face and said sarcastically, “Which big tree Gran? Can you be more specific, there are so many.”

  She smiled, “You will recognise it. It’s big, it’s very old and gnarled. Unlike any other. It has peculiar shaped dark green leaves right at the top. You can’t miss it. In fact, if you concentrate very hard on the trunk, it has been known for a person to see a face in the bark staring back.”

  “Why, though? Why not past that tree?” Aron grumbled.

  “Just to be on the safe side. If anything happened to you, I’d never forgive myself. Your mother wouldn’t either. And just because… ” Disappointment was painted across their young faces, “I’m sorry, I know how frustrated you must feel and you were looking forward to exploring the area. But I have very good reasons why you shouldn’t wander so far while I’m out.”

  Aron pouted. “What possible reason could there be?”

  “I’m afraid you’ll just have to accept my judgement and ruling on this.” She was quite firm this time. They knew to leave it at that.

  Neve picked up her bag and car keys from the hall stand and the two of them followed her out to the garage in front of the shed. “If you do go out, make sure the doors are locked.” She took the key out of the lock and showed it to them. “Then put the key in the old tin box under the seat in the back porch.”

  Larna picked it up and rattled it. There were keys inside for many doors. “Don’t you ever get confused?”

  “No, but unwanted guests do. Trust me.”

  Completely covered with variegated ivy, the garage was perfectly camouflaged and when she hit a button hidden by the foliage on the wall, the door slid silently up-and-over. Easing herself into a small red open-top MG, she reversed out of the ancient building.

  “Remember you two, if you do leave the garden, promise on your honour that you’ll stay together. Under no circumstances separate.” Her voice and eyes warned them she was deadly serious. They agreed without a murmur. With a final nod of approval, she released the hand-brake and as she drove away the garage door quietly returned to its disguise as an overgrown hedge.

  Larna and Aron walked round to the front of the cottage and watched the little red sports car until it reached the end of the drive, turned right and disappeared out of sight.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Silence, except for the birds and rustle of ornamental grass as a slight breeze caught it. Sitting on the bench in the garden contemplating how soon they could use the GPS, Aron turned his head and looked at his sister. A smile tipped the corner of his lips, slowly pulling them into a wide grin. They stared at each other for a few seconds, then simultaneously scrambled up and ran to lock the back door, their grandmother having already done the front. They put the key in the tin box and pulled on jackets that hung in the back porch.

  With a “Let’s go!” from Aron, they made what their mum would call an unseemly dash for the garden gate. In spite of jostling each other, they reached it together and grabbed the top bar. Just as quickly they let go, as if they’d received a mild electric shock. It looked very heavy but in actual fact was as light as a feather. It creaked open in slow motion of its own accord. Larna felt great excitement, but it was tainted with a touch of guil
t because this was the very first time they were about to deceive Yaya. She pulled out the GPS and held it up to see which direction they’d have to take. It faced north, the way their grandmother had pointed.

  “Will we keep going if the cache is further than the boundary tree, Larna?”

  “I’m not sure, what do you think?”

  “Can’t see any harm if it’s not much further.” He glanced back. “I mean, Yaya’s not here so she won’t know, will she?”

  “Good point.” Larna began to weaken. “You never know. The cache could be on this side of the tree, anyway.”

  “So there’s no reason to stop us finding out then, is there?”

  Larna gave in. It hadn’t taken much to persuade her.

  As they moved through the gate, Larna saw the crow again in the middle of the path, watching. She patted the side of her leg hoping it would come to her, but no. It stood as still as a statue, just a few feet away, and as Larna walked towards it, it took off in the direction they were going. She wished she knew the real reason why they weren’t supposed to go too far from Yaya’s cottage. The restriction had put a slight downer on things, especially given the emptiness she felt at not having their dad there to guide them.

  Larna took her father’s envelope out of her pocket and opened it. The clues were printed clearly on a single white sheet folded in the middle. Needing two hands to read the note, she asked Aron to look after the GPS for a minute. After a brief read of the clues, she focused on the GPS that Aron was holding out in front of them. Still pointing in the direction of the boundary tree, she had a final battle with her conscience. In the end Larna decided it was all or nothing.

  “Okay, come on then!” They took their first steps through the brightly painted gate together and entered the wood, side-by-side like a couple of conspirators. Larna noticed that the ground was trodden down, almost flattened in places. “Doesn’t look much like unchartered territory to me,” she commented as they proceeded with their mission.

  There seemed to be not more than four types of trees and lots of birds flying around, chirruping. Larna smiled. They didn’t seem to have a care in the world, though she knew nature could be very harsh to the unwary. Some soared upwards, turned and swooped down almost to the ground. She had no idea what they were called. Then a blackbird landed on the path, right in front of them. Any closer and it would’ve been crushed underfoot with her next step! They had to stop dead. Larna didn’t think it realised they were there at first. After pulling a stubborn worm out of the ground, it flew off with its next meal.

  They ploughed through some wild honeysuckle, their mum’s favourite flower, its scent filling the air and reminding Larna how much she would be enjoying this. They walked slowly for about two minutes, following the GPS and the clues from the list. But the cache wasn’t where they thought it would be. Disappointed they began again, going further into Sherwood. It took them another five minutes’ search to find a tree which resembled their grandmother’s ‘big tree.’ They sat down either side of it, studying the patterns in the bark. Yes, yes! Larna thought she could definitely see a face and she tilted her head slightly to the right to confirm it. Aron came and sat on the grass next to her and proceeded to point out a different face he’d spotted when he squinted his left eye a little.

  “This has got to be it! Now what?”

  “I don’t know. Want to go on, or turn back?”

  Aron’s face dropped at this second suggestion. “Carry on as planned!” he exclaimed. “At least until we reach the place where it’s buried.” When Larna didn’t comment he continued, “Don’t forget, we can always change our minds at any time – but not right now.”

  So, throwing caution to the wind, that’s what they did. They continued walking for another few minutes until they reached the place where the clues kicked in. Turning, the big tree could still be seen. (Well it would have been if you looked in a straight line and could see through a solid mass of trees, that is.) In any event, they’d gone further than they’d anticipated. Aron glanced at his watch and urged, “Hurry up, it’ll soon be time to go back.”

  Holding up the paper, Larna cleared her throat and read, “Look for a mound of large stones. Ten yards to the right, two tree stumps close together. Then twenty yards north of the tree stumps we will find a circle of trees different from all the others. Once located, we’ve to stand in the centre and there we will find the cache.”

  They continued their search. A few minutes later Aron shouted that he’d spotted the mound. To be more precise, it was a heap of rocks about knee-high, carefully stacked stone upon stone. Giving each other a high five, they felt elated and couldn’t wait to follow the next clue, all thoughts of their promise to Yaya gone with the wind.

  “Okay. Now, ten yards to the left.”

  “How far is that in metres and centimetres?” Aron asked innocently.

  “Three feet in a yard and ten times three is what, Aron? You work it out.”

  Aron laughed. “Just testing.”

  They walked on until Larna felt a tingling sensation and knew they were getting close.

  “Great. This is easier than I thought.” Aron said.

  Larna was first to spot the two tree stumps and ran towards them. “Now we’re supposed to look for a circle… ” she murmured, walking north of the two felled trees and counting her steps. “One. Two. Three. Four… ” Soon she reached an area that was different. A clearing surrounded by trees.

  “I’m sure this is it.” Frowning, it all seemed so familiar. “I don’t believe this!” Larna blurted out. “Pinch me, Aron.”

  “What? Why?”

  “Just do it!” Larna thought for a second, “On the other hand, don’t. Knowing you, it’ll hurt too much and leave a bruise.”

  “I thought it was supposed to.” His grin told his sister he would have enjoyed it. “Don’t you start going weird on me again, Larna.”

  “Remember me telling you about my dream last night?”

  “I was busy eating if you remember. Anyway, what about it?”

  “All this was in my dream. That’s why I asked you to pinch me in case I was still asleep.” Unable to keep the astonishment out of her voice, she opened her arms to the trees.

  “Don’t be stupid, Larna. You must have been here before, with Yaya or Mum.”

  Aron was seriously beginning to annoy Larna. “I have not!” she insisted. Then she looked at the clues again. “This is definitely the right place.” Walking to the centre of the clearing, she turned to look at her brother. Little shocks of electricity made the hair on the back of her neck and arms stand on end as she felt a rush of adrenalin. She knew the cache was somewhere in the circle – but where? It hadn’t been made easy. The ground was covered with layer upon layer of newly fallen leaves. Odd really, considering it was late spring.

  Both of them hunted anywhere they thought a cheap plastic box could be hidden. Only when Aron kicked up a pile of leaves and stubbed his big toe did they find what they were looking for inside a partially buried, hollowed-out log. The corner of a red object stuck out. Larna bent down, swept away the rest of the leaves and pulled out a heavy box with an ornamental lid. Not the usual type, this was a heavy metal one. A streak of golden sunlight shone on it and they gasped as it began to glow a blazing red through the dirt. Aron was so excited his knees buckled, dropping him to the ground next to his sister. After a few seconds staring at it, Larna plucked up courage and slowly lifted the lid.

  What a disappointment! There was only a rusty old key and a piece of thick yellowed paper which looked as if it had been ripped from a book. No log-book, items or goodies left by previous hunters. Maybe we’re the first, Larna thought, picking up the key and rubbing it down the front of her jacket. Its weight surprised her. On closer inspection it was the same shade of red as the box, and the faster she polished, the more details became visible. As sunlight struck the shaft, she saw that the widest part was encrusted with red gem stones, sending off sparkling rays in all directions.r />
  “Now that’s impressive”. Aron said in awe.

  He picked up the note and began to read. Larna guessed something was up because he changed colour and pulled a worried face. Without another word Aron thrust the paper into Larna’s hands. As she read it out loud and clear, a spike of fear shot through her chest.

  To Larna and Aron,

  Time is running out for us and we desperately need your help.

  You are our link against the forces of evil,and our only hope.

  Trust Clement for guidance.

  We wait in time to meet you.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Out of total disbelief, Larna was unable to read any further, but after a few minutes she recovered her composure and tried to reason it out.

  “It’s probably somebody’s idea of a joke,” she muttered with a false sense of bravado. “But then nobody knows we’re here – only Yaya. And she wouldn’t frighten us like this, would she?” (More of a statement than a question.) “I doubt it’s Dad’s doing. He’s the only other one I can think of.”

  “Let’s have some fun and solve the mystery, Larna. Come on, what can possibly happen?” Aron grinned, but sensing his sister’s shock he tried a different tack. “Besides, what have we got to lose? We’ve come this far! Go on, Larna, where’s your adventurous spirit?” Larna saw him slyly crossing his fingers behind his back. It ruined the moment.

  Seemingly from nowhere, and yet from all around, an irate voice said, “Oh do make your mind up, Larna! We haven’t got all day. I have to agree with Aron, though I take issue on the fun. This is a very serious matter.”

  Together they gasped, “Who said that?”

  “Look up and to your right, you will see who,” came the reply.

  Looking upwards and shading their eyes with their hands, the two of them strained their necks to see where the voice was coming from.

  “All I can see is that dumb black crow again,” said Aron, shrugging his shoulders.

  “I strongly object! I am neither taciturn, stupid nor uncommunicative! And I am certainly not dumb, don’t you know.” The voice was put out. Annoyed.