“Thank you.” Geoffroi bowed slightly and clasped it around his neck.
“And your second request?” Ikelia asked.
“I am in need of your aid to help me hide the second page. I do not know where I can hide it.”
Ikelia placed the bottles back on the shelf, rearranged a few bowls, and paced along the length of the table.
Geoffroi crossed his arms and focused on the spider web crack on the plaster wall to his right. “It needs to be somewhere sacred. A place demons are not familiar with. A place they despise.”
Jacques arched his brow, rubbing at the sword’s hilt, and then his eyes lit up. “A chapel. It must be a chapel.”
Ikelia halted mid-stride and curled her lips at the corner. “I know the perfect one. Do you have the book?”
“No, but I have the second page.” Jacques dug his hand under his cape, pulled out a folded page, and handed it to her.
Ikelia unfolded it and rubbed at the wrinkles to flatten the paper. After taking a drop of Jacques’s blood with the same pear knife, she murmured while gliding her hands over it. “I poured thee my soul, my blood. Conceal thy words in flood. A secret word must be read. And the following words will bleed.” She paused and met Jacques’s eyes. “Now the clue:
Above a small hill lay a home.
And green men peer out under the dome.
Thirteen crisscrossing arches behold,
with angels singing must be told.
Cubes like teeth thus showed,
pierce one and the door shall glow.
Part the sea like Moses
to find the bundle of red roses.
Only then you shall see
what is destined to be free.
But beware if you are not the heir,
for damnation you shall declare,
for the false burden you shall bear.”
Jacques’s chest rose and fell, and he released a long breath, as if an invisible wall had broken to release him. “It’s done.”
Ikelia studied Jacques’s face. “Do you still have the words to open the seal to hide the items you wish?”
“Indeed I have.”
Ikelia handed him the page back and warned, “One must be very careful. Damnation will fall upon anyone who is not the heir. I cannot foresee what the damnation will be or cause. It will depend on the state of mind of those around.”
Geoffroi rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m confused. I do not understand.”
Jacques patted his friend’s arm. “No need, my brother. I know what I’m doing. The witch sometimes speaks in riddles.”
Ikelia narrowed her eyes disapprovingly at Jacques. “Riddles are for those with no real magic.” She extended her arm, and a stream of blinding light shot out from it to the wall. As if a hole had been punctured through the wall, an empty blackness appeared against the light.
“Impossible,” Geoffroi muttered, backing away.
“Real magic, not riddles,” Ikelia stated. “Go.” Her stern tone woke Jacques out of his daze. “It will take you where you need to go.”
“Where are we going?” Jacques spoke over the wind circling around them.
“The future,” she hollered with a smirk. “Don’t worry. You’ll love it there. It’s the perfect place, but you have been warned. What you see, you must not repeat.”
Just as they took a step into the light, Ikelia dropped her arm. The portal vanished. “Quick, hide inside this barrel. A dark presence lurks.”
Chapter 17
Lucia
Jacques and Geoffroi remained standing, frozen, instead of hiding inside the huge barrel as Ikelia had instructed. Ikelia growled in annoyance and flicked her finger. The barrel lid flipped open. Then she clapped her hands once. Jacques and Geoffroi jerked, as if she had physically pushed them, and then they climbed in and settled themselves inside. With another flick of her finger, the lid slammed shut. Ikelia raced to the door, whirling her arms in graceful circles. Silver light curled and bent in the direction of her hands. Words, frantic and desperate, spilled out of her mouth.
Father flashed his wings, spread wide and strong. The length covered all of us, pressing us back even farther. “Do not make a sound,” he urged. “Though we are invisible to this world, a supernatural being who’s alive from our world can sense our presence. I’m shielding you with my wings.”
I dared not move. Not knowing who or how many were on the other side terrified me. Ikelia’s panic to conceal the door scared me breathless.
“Ikelia,” a deep voice sang, sounding too friendly, sending shivers through every inch of me. I’d heard the voice before, but I couldn’t pinpoint who it was. “I know you’re in there. Why bother to hide when you know I can break the barrier? You’ve got interesting collections. Do you actually sell them?”
Ikelia closed her eyes, pressing both hands on the door. Her lips pinched and eyebrows knitted in the center.
Crash. I flinched as glass shattered in the other room.
“Oops, I hope you didn’t need that. I hope it wasn’t anything valuable. I would hate for you to have lost something passed down from your ancestors.” Tap. Tap. Tap. “You know, you really shouldn’t have glass cases. They’re not stable. So breakable.”
Ikelia’s fists tightened on the door. She began to rock, her fists on and off the door, as if trying to make up her mind.
“You’ve been naughty, Ikelia. Helping a wanted one does not go well with Cyrus. He’s not happy with you. In fact, he demanded I find you. So here I am. I know you’re here. You want to know how I found you? I followed your human pets.”
The voice seemed closer, right by the door.
Screech. I cringed, unable to cover my ears. The piercing, high-pitched noise made my skin crawl.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are, or I will drag you out. I’m growing very impatient.” His tone grew fierce and hard.
Ikelia rolled back her shoulders, craned her neck, and heaved a long breath.
“I will break and burn everything if you don’t come out on the count of three. One…two…what an interesting clock. I wonder what will happen if I drive my sword into it?”
Ikelia waved her hand, but instead of opening the door, she melted through it in a hurry. I’d thought she would wait it out again, but the clock seemed important to her.
“Well, hello, Vince. What took you so long to find me? And there are no humans here. It’s just me, my lonely self.” Ikelia’s tone sparkled with confidence and bravery.
“What are they saying? What’s going on?” Jack whispered.
“I’ll tell you later,” Abel said.
“Stop talking,” Brody mumbled.
“Enough,” Milani spat.
“Why are we all talking?” Harper huffed.
“I feel like I should say something.” Hugo shrugged.
Uncle Davin brushed his face. “See what I have to deal with? Immature, I tell you.”
“Quiet,” Father said in loud whisper.
“I can’t hear,” Jack said again.
I had forgotten Jack didn’t have super hearing. “He can’t.” I shook my head to Father. My eyes locked on his begged him to do something.
“Go through the wall, but not all the way. I will do my best to keep us hidden.” Father waved his wings to move us forward. We moved together, one step in front, dissolving into the plaster and wood like ghosts.
“What’s so special about that clock, Ikelia? Why come out when I mentioned the clock?” He stood just above it, keeping one eye on it.
I remembered that demon. He had tried to kill a family the first time Eli and I astral traveled. I imagined a hidden person popping out of the clock.
Ikelia leaned back against the door and looked at her fingernails as if she was bored while the other hand stroked the dagger on her belt. “What do you want, Vince? Why bother to come? You know how this will go. You’ll try to capture me, but I’ll humiliate you by kicking you out. Run along to Cyrus and tell him you couldn’t find me, and maybe h
e won’t butcher you.”
Vince hissed and whipped out his sword, and in a flash he was in front of her. Pointing the tip on Ikelia’s neck, he said, “Don’t mock me, little witch.” He lowered his gaze and the sword. “No necklace this time? What a pity.” He clucked his tongue and raised his hand to show her the same sunburst necklace Eli had around his neck.
Ikelia shoved the sword out of the way and paced toward the broken glass. “You can keep it. It won’t protect you, and it certainly won’t harm me. Besides, you don’t know the spell. You weren’t worthy to have one passed down to you. What a shame. It’s quite useful when you know how to use one.”
After she walked in a complete circle, she bent down on her knees and placed her hands a few inches off the pile of shards. At her mumbled words, blue, red, gold, and green pieces lifted in the air and pressed together, forming a beautiful three-foot-tall vase I had seen earlier on top of a small wooden table. The item had glued itself back together.
“There.” Ikelia clapped her hands two times and strode toward the door. “Good as new.” She smirked. “It’s like you were never here. Your magic is no match for mine. You’re in my domain. Don’t forget that. And I believe you have something that is mine.” She wiggled her index finger. The sunburst necklace Vince held flew into her hands and coiled around her neck.
Vince’s eyes darkened. He trembled with rage, ready to pounce on her, but instead raised his arm toward the glass cases.
The top of one of the glass cases shattered outward, and glass splinters blasted in the air. From inside the case, a small dagger flew toward her as he threw the one from his belt.
I gasped and then held my breath. Had she seen the second dagger coming for her? I twitched, ready to bolt to her rescue, even though I knew I shouldn’t, but Father pressed his hand on my shoulder, firm and strong. He knew me too well. I had failed Eli, and I couldn’t just sit back and do nothing for his mother. I had enough guilt as it was; I didn’t want to add more.
The first dagger stopped inches from the spot between her eyes, but the second one nicked her leg and dropped to the ground with a loud clang. Blood soaked the dark fabric, but she made no sound. I was pretty sure she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of hurting her.
“Are you bleeding? Pity, I guess you can’t handle more than one at a time. You’ve been warned, but you can surrender anytime.”
Vince raised his hand again. Five daggers bolted from under his cloak fast as lightning. They jabbed her cape and pinned her against the wooden door, two daggers on each side and one between her legs, while some sort of darkness swirled around her. Magic light, only visible to supernatural beings.
“Well, well, well, what will Cyrus think of me now? I think he’ll butcher you instead of me. What do you think?” He took a step toward her with each word. Caressing her cheek, he spoke again. “It’s too bad we’re not on the same side, precious witch. Such a waste of a pretty thing. Now my eyes will be sore from missing your enchanting face. There aren’t many beautiful things that hold my attention in this world.”
“Shut up. Let me go,” Ikelia spat, wiggling herself to get free.
Vince pushed back. “Don’t even bother. Don’t you know about my special daggers? No magic can break my spell.”
Ikelia’s lips spread wide in a smug grin, like she had something up her sleeve, but she did nothing nor said nothing to break the daggers’ spell. “Don’t worry, Vince. You know I always have something handy, even if it isn’t on me.”
Vince whipped his head toward the wall, straight at us. Could he see us? Impossible. Father shielded us. Vince raised his chin and his nose twitched, like a dog sniffing the air. “I was right. You do have a human—not one, but two?” He beamed a mischievous grin. “Stay right there.” He didn’t look at her, but instead placed his palms flat against the wall just feet from where we looked through. “I feel so much energy coming through the wall. Perhaps someone or some beings are spying on us.”
I stiffened and held my breath as he tapped the wall. Ikelia watched with narrowed, daggered eyes.
“There’s nothing there, idiot. Touch the wall all you wish.” Ikelia scoffed.
“Release the wall, Ikelia, or I’ll hurt you more,” he threatened, eyes cold and unyielding.
Every inch of me begged her to do it, only because I had no idea what torture Vince would inflict on her. I already knew she wouldn’t die. Vince had said he was to take her to Cyrus, and I had watched her die when Eli and I astral walked to the day of her death. But then I thought of Jacques and Geoffroi. What took Vince so long to figure out humans were on the other side? Did they come out of the barrels? Oh please, let me be wrong.
When she didn’t answer, a smaller dagger flew out from the glass case and dug into Ikelia’s leg, the same spot where she had been nicked earlier. Her body curled inward, but the restraints held her in place. Her face blanched and eyes rolled back, but she didn’t make a sound.
“Release the barrier, Ikelia,” Vince demanded, his tone harder and colder.
When she did nothing again, the dagger twisted, digging into her flesh. That time, she cried out. She must have released the shield unwillingly for Vince to smile so smugly.
“That’s a good girl,” he cooed. “I think I’ll have fun with your pets.” He winked at her, and one of his feet slipped right through the wall.
I panicked. We had to help Jacques and Geoffroi. But before I could mutter a word, Ikelia closed her eyes and then shot her eyes open toward the clock. The pendulum stopped ticking, frozen in place. As if the clock held the power of time and space inside the store, everything stilled, even Vince, who was almost through to the other side. One heel stuck out.
Ikelia pushed herself off the wall with great effort. She had five holes the size of fists on her cape. She pulled out the dagger in her thigh, tossed it aside, and covered her wound where blood seeped out. Her magic stopped the bleeding, but she still winced in pain. Then, heading right for the wall, she leaped to the other side.
“Jacques and Geoffroi, I told you not to come out,” Ikelia reprimanded, tugging on their capes. They had stood next to the door, most likely trying to eavesdrop.
“I heard you cry out.” Jacques winced.
“You’re hurt. You’re bleeding. What’s happening?” Geoffroi rambled, worry in his eyes.
“No time to explain. Hurry, I must send you now. I won’t be able to hold him off much longer.” Yellow light spewed from her raised hand like a long pole, extending to the back wall. The hole widened like before. “Go. It will take you to the place you must go. Don’t forget the words to the spell.”
“Thank you, Ikelia. We will not forget this.” Jacques nodded solemnly and stood by the light, waiting for his friend.
“It was a pleasure meeting you.” Geoffroi bowed slightly.
Both glanced over their shoulder to Ikelia one last time, stepped into the light, and then disappeared into the darkness.
“Hurry. We follow.” Father lowered his wings and shoved us. “Go.”
Just before the portal closed, we jumped through. Where we would land, nobody knew except for Ikelia, whose eyes blazed, looking toward the direction where Vince once froze in statue form. He was gone.
“Coward,” she murmured.
Chapter 18
Lucia
We landed. The dash for the light so fast some of us took flight. Even still, it nearly split some of us in half. As for me, since I was the last one to pass through, I’d lost my balance and dropped to my hands and knees like a dog. Zach, Jack, and Abel fell on their butts. Milani snickered, watching Harper and Hugo bump into each other. Father and Uncle Davin arrived standing, poised and elegant.
I lifted my hands from the cool surface of the hard stone to stand, and as I raised my head to survey the surroundings, I gazed in awe and wonderment. We were inside a chapel—not just any chapel, but a chapel in Scotland with ancient history and extraordinary stone carvings. Though Jack had told us we needed to go to Scotland,
I had done my own research on the net when we got the second clue. My findings told me it was Rosslyn Chapel, but I wasn’t a hundred percent sure. The human world and words often confused me, but standing in the center of it all confirmed my hunch had been right. Ikelia sent us right to it.
I reached out to the ray of sun striking through the colorful stained-glass windows, highlighting parts of the pillars. To be surrounded by what man had once crafted humbled me. Angels might be more powerful, but humans, they were the true makers.
After I assessed the perimeter, all seemed quiet, but I thought it strange when no visitors wandered into the nave in the late afternoon. I had no idea of the visiting hours, but I had expected to see someone.
“Whoa, where are we?” Brody asked, turning in a circle, absorbing the exquisiteness.
“Poem of stone, powdered with stars. That is how people have described the carvings, this chapel,” Jack informed us, eyes wide. “William Sinclair is one awesome dude, or was.”
“Who’s he?” Harper asked.
“Who is he?” Jack spat, sounding offended. “William Sinclair is the mastermind behind this chapel. He’s the founder. Life expectancy was thirty-five back then, but he lived until roughly seventy-four. It took fifty years to build this chapel.”
Harper scowled. “Excuse me for not knowing. Wasn’t the chapel part of speculative theories concerning a connection between Freemasonry, the Knights Templar, and the Holy Grail?”
Jack shrugged. “I have no idea. No one can really say. However, it was featured in the 2003 bestselling novel The Da Vinci Code.”
Harper traced the curve of the arches with her eyes as we paced farther along. “The next novel on my list.”
“You don’t have time to read. In fact, you don’t like to read,” Hugo commented, running his hand along the smooth surface of the pillar.
Hugo jerked when Harper patted her sword on her brother’s butt. He scowled and headed to another pillar.
“Wow. Just wow.” It was all Milani could say with lips parted, tilting her head way back and making a complete turnabout. “Look at that.”