The Obsidian Crown, page 14
“Did he say why?” I asked, worried.
“He is not in the habit of explaining himself to me. But when you get back. I need you to go over isosceles triangles and their proofs, you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” I said as I grabbed my things from my desk and slowly left the classroom.
“Hey! Over here!” I could hear Hailey’s voice, but I could not see her because she was hiding behind a column.
“What are you doing here? I need to go to Prof—” I began to say.
“That was me. Don’t worry about that. Let’s go!” she said as she dragged me by the hand.
“I found a lot of things in the book. I found something that had passages about a crown under “The Rise and Fall of the Magic Dynasties”, right after something called “The Old Dominion and the New Realms” after something called “Fundamental Studies on Thaumaturgy” and a few pages under the heading “The Trifama Act of the Higher and Lower Realms”. Towards the end, there was a metallic page embossed with a huge tree. It showed big branches, a huge trunk that took up most of the page, and the roots were so finely and intricately carved into the metal but after that metal page, the rest of the sections of the book were locked. I tried to unlock the second section by pricking my thumb again but it didn’t open.” She stopped and took a deep breath.
“Yes, those are all very interesting but did you find anything we can use?” I asked taking advantage of the momentary gap in air time.
“Yes. The crown is connected to all the negative power in the world. Don’t ask me how the magic works but it can channel it a single point. It was given as punishment to the king of the third dynasty. The weight of the world was on his head because he decided to take it upon himself to usurp all three magical powers. An abomination to the natural order of things as agreed to by the three kings with the Tree of Knowledge,” she began again in rapid chatter.
“Huh? What? Slow down. Start from the beginning so I can keep up,” I said while I picked up my backpack and swung it over my shoulder.
“Sorry, I’m just so excited. The book ...umm...of I don’t know what to call it, the book of lines,” she said, giddy with anticipation. “Wait, just wait.” She dragged me into an empty classroom and laid the book on the teacher’s table.
“You can read it later but I want to tell you what I learned so far,” Hailey said. “To wield the power of the crown, first, you must be able to take it out of the Kerberian Box. Then, the crown and the blood of whoever is carrying the box must be given freely. This will protect the next bearer from harm if he tries to use it. If he tries to use the crown without these conditions being met, then the bearer will be punished to carry the weight of the world instead of being able to use it on others. That’s why, back in the day, they had a whole ceremony called the Passing of the Crown. Apparently, it is witnessed by the whole kingdom to ensure that everything is above board.”
“That’s amazing! You got all that already?” I said. But something in the back of my mind was bothering me about what she said. I just couldn’t place it.
“Yes! I did,” she answered with pride. “I wasn’t sure how I was doing it but the information seemed to just flow. I didn’t know I was going to be able to do it, you know. It’s seemed pretty difficult when we … this morning…Hello! Are you still with me?” Hailey asked.
“Yes, it’s just that night when I was holding the box and we were debating about the power of the crown, I—Nevermind. Go on, what else?” I said as we gathered our things to walk to our classrooms.
“Maybe that’s why they tortured Doctor McFool, okay, McGrath, because she is the current bearer of the crown!” she said, regaining her previous bravado.
“Wait! What did you say?”
“I said, maybe that’s why they tortured Doctor McGrath because she is the current bearer of the crown!” she repeated.
I raised my hand, and she stopped talking. “ Hailey, wh..what does that mean? Does that mean it’s over? We’ve lost? Are you saying they have the crown and the blood of the bearer? So, so now they won’t need anyone else. That my parents are…now expendable…that they could even possibly…be…? No, it can’t be!”
I couldn’t even let myself say the word. As if doing so could turn it into reality. I couldn’t hold it anymore.
“I… actually don’t know, Monty. I suppose we can only wait and see,” Hailey said. “Look, I’m really sorry, I was so excited about my discovery that I couldn’t wait to share it with you. I didn’t think for a minute what my conclusions would mean to you,” she continued, deflated.
I stood there with my head hung low, pretending to stare at the book in my hands.
I swallowed the lump in my throat that was threatening to burst into a full-blown emotional breakdown, “Hailey, I can’t just sit around while they are possibly killing my parents.”
“I didn’t want to say this to you but we didn’t really see your parents in reality. That was like a dream. I grant you, it’s a strange dream, but we don’t even know if that was real. It could be the product of wishful thinking.”
“I don’t buy it! I know my parents are still alive!” I shouted. I felt so bad doing that but I needed to say it. I needed to make her believe it. I needed to believe it.
“Monty, don’t. It’s been almost a month and a half. The police say the likelihood of finding someone—”
“I know what they say and they have already decided I murdered them!” I yelled. My arms wrapped so hard around my books that they hurt. I didn’t know what else to do. I just needed to get the rage out of my system. Without thinking, I swiped the book from her arm.
“Hey! Watch it!” Hailey exclaimed in horror as the gem-laden book rattled on the concrete floor.
I was almost as surprised as Hailey with what I did. I felt so ashamed for doing it, but I felt trapped by my circumstances. Still I couldn’t apologize to Hailey. Doing so could mean she was right, and it was a possibility I could not, would not allow.
Hailey stood there in shock with her empty hands in front of her. She looked at me, shook her head, and stared at the book lying on the floor.
“So they are not even looking, are they? It’s only up to you and me to find them and if you won’t help me, then I have to do it on my own,” I said.
“I’m not saying I’m not going to help. I’m just saying...I just don’t want you to have high hopes that may never materialize,” she answered quietly.
“I get it. But, Hailey, even with all this information, we can’t do anything until we find someone who is a Xana. We can’t go up against them without one.” I said, still somehow unable to bring myself to apologize.
“Let’s just drop it. You’re right, there’s not much we can do right now,” she said in a voice that was cold and devoid of emotion.
“Hailey, please understand…” I started to say but I couldn’t finish it.
She looked at me, waiting for an apology that didn’t come. She shook her head again and got down on her knees to pick up the book. She checked it for any damages as she said. “Actually, I was wondering if you might be up to visiting Doctor McGrath. We haven’t seen her and Kieran since we left them with the paramedics. Maybe we can ask her where we could find other Xanas.”
I was glad for the change of subject and said, “That’s a good idea. Maybe we can ask her about what this means too. I mean, she’s the only magic … Xana, we know. I mean, aside from the Victorian ghost and he doesn’t qualify as a person,” I quickly followed up.
“Why don’t you come over tonight and we can read the book together. I might have missed something,” Hailey said, pushing the book back into her backpack.
“Yeah, let’s go after class.”
“What about detention?” she asked.
“Look, Hailey, my uncle has only five days left to prove my innocence or I get charged. My uncle is brilliant but he’s not a Xana. I can’t afford to sit in detention.”
“Hospital it is then,” she said.
CHAPTER 16
The Sorceress
I woke up in a dark cave. It was the same one with the jagged crack running from the dome through the floor. Hailey was immediately visible just a few feet behind. I motioned for her to follow me.
“How did we get here?” I asked.
“You tell me, Monty. All I remember is that we went to the hospital, and found out that they don’t have a record of the Doctor. So we went to wait for your uncle to take us to the Doctor’s house to see if she’s there,” she answered.
“Yes, I remember we decided to analyze the book further while waiting. Then, suddenly we are here. We must have fallen asleep or passed out somewhere.”
“Well, that’s comforting,” Hailey murmured sarcastically, as she looked around in the semi-darkness. We searched for the source of the light and saw the flickering fire in the cavern.
Hailey gave me a look, placed her forefinger over her lips and then leaned her head towards the bonfire. I nodded and we made our way to the cavern, staying within the darkness and careful not to make any sound.
Amid the circle stood a woman so bent with age she was stooping over a cane. Her hands were gnarled, and her nails so overgrown that they looked like claws. She wore a threadbare robe of dark grey with a hood covering her face. Hanging from her belt made of rope was a dagger. On the table behind her, we saw the hideous black crown.
I froze. They already have the crown. We might be too late. I tried to shake myself out of my defeatist thoughts, I said, “That must be the Sorceress”.
Hailey nodded in understanding. “And that must be the Obsidian Crown.”
I nodded.
In front of the Sorceress was Doctor McGrath. She was kneeling. She looked like they had been beating her. Her right shoulder slumped down as if broken.
Behind her were three hooded men, this time with swords in their hands.
“I’m glad we figured out how to open the Kerberian Box and get the Crown out,” her voice raspy but full of pent up rage. “But you will also see,” she paused. She turned to the Obsidian Crown and lifted it off the table using her mind. The crown floated in the air momentarily, then sailed across the room, stopping over Doctor McGrath’s head.
“Please don’t do this.” The Doctor’s voice was quivering in fear. She tried to crawl away from the Crown. Suddenly she stiffened and was apparently held in place by some unseen force.
I gasped and grabbed Hailey’s arm. “No! That crown will kill her!”
“What? How do you know?” Hailey said in alarm.
My memory was flooded with the vision of the hollowed skull of the petrified king.
“I’ve seen it before.”
“When? Never mind, this is not the time. We need to help them,” Hailey said.
I nodded and braced myself for the attack.
We were about to rush in when the Crown dropped on top of the Doctor’s head. “Take it off of me! Please!” the Doctor screamed in terror.
Hailey pulled me back. “It’s too late!”
Shivers ran down my spine. Sweat trickled from my temples. I stood still, waiting for the Doctor to turn to ash. The Sorceress pointed one gnarly finger and the Crown was pushed lower down on the Doctor’s head. She screamed as the thorny metal base scraped at her scalp and forehead.
But her cry was drowned out by the guttural voice of the Sorceress. “It does not work!” she said, yelling each word. “Now, all you have to do is tell me how it works, and all this pain will end.”
“I don’t know how it works,” Doctor McGrath groaned, her voice hoarse. “Please, stop hurting me. I don’t know.”
In a blur, the Sorceress was in front of her and slapped her face hard. Doctor McGrath fell over. The crown toppled to the ground. The old woman pointed one crooked finger and it sailed back to the table.
“What about you?” she asked, addressing someone else.
“I... I ...don’t know anything. Please! Let me go!” came an almost inaudible answer.
That was the first time we noticed a bundle of clothes on the right-hand side of Doctor McGrath.
One of the hooded men pulled him up and took off the sack over his head. When his face was revealed, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Kieran’s face was bloodied beyond recognition.
Doctor McGrath started to sit back up. “Leave him alone. He doesn’t know anything. If you release me, I can ask Abigail. I can put her back under hypnosis. But you have to promise me that you will let them go. I will not be party to murders.”
Hailey and I looked at each other in shock. Quickly, I looked at the cave and anything that could lead me back to it.
Then, there it was again. I know someone else was there. I could feel the presence.
I looked at Hailey. The frightened expression on her face could only mean she felt it as well.
“Hailey, let’s go, there’s someone else here with us,” I whispered.
She nodded and moved closer to follow me.
I saw a glimmer of a silvery light at the end of another tunnel. “This way.”
Barely breathing in fear, we briskly walked towards the light. It felt like we were never going to get through the tunnel when a few minutes later, we arrived at the opening.
As we emerged out into the light of the moon, I looked back in the direction of where I thought we came from, and there, on top of the hill, was a dilapidated mansion. It was at the end of the street, cracked from the top to the very foundation. I looked around, but I didn’t recognize anything else.
I closed my eyes to see if I could hear or feel anything from the presence. It was unmistakable. It was right behind us. I opened my eyes and grabbed Hailey with both hands.
“Hailey, we are being followed. Whoever it is, he or she is very close. We need to get out of this dream. We have to wake up. We need to wake up!”
Hailey took my shoulders and shook me violently. “Ouch!” I said, feeling my neck protest against the force.
“Well, that didn’t work. Sorry,” she said, shrugging.
Then I heard a chime and somebody calling my name. “Abi, I’m here. Abigail? Hello.” The male voice was reaching me in near-indiscernible echoes. It’s coming in louder but not nearer.
“Hey, can you hear that?” I said.
“No, what is it?
“Little bells ringing like a wind chime and someone calling my name,”
“Riiight, did you eat today, because you’re sounding a little cray-cray,” she said.
“Abi, are you home?” repeated the male voice. I realized its not coming from the cave. “I think it’s my uncle, at the door! He’s going to find us unconscious,” I said. Panicking, I slapped Hailey hard, she grabbed my hand and all of a sudden, we found ourselves sprawled in my living room floor.
“We better find a less violent way to wake up next time,” Hailey said, holding her cheek.
“Sorry, I really am,” I said, cringing.
I heard my uncle’s voice again. This time it was very loud and impatient. He’s outside at the front door.
“Yes, Uncle Jake, We’re coming!” I yelled back.
We rushed out to see him at the door about to ring the doorbell again.
“Where have you been? And what’s so important?” he said in a huff.
“Could you please drive us to Doctor McGrath’s house? I think I’m getting some memory back and I must see her right away. I just don’t want to lose them again.” I said in a pleading voice before he could ask any more questions as to why I haven’t answered the door.
That mollified him; he walked back to the car while pointing at Hailey and me to the passenger side. “Get in! She will be happy with this news.”
When we got there, my uncle went up to knock but there was no answer. After a few tries, he asked us to check the back of the house in case she is with a client.
“Looks like she’s not here either. With her office broken into, maybe by the Trifama, I wouldn’t be surprised if she left town,” my uncle said.
“Why do you think the mob is responsible for the attack?” I asked.
“I don’t know. I’ve been hearing rumors about her mob connection but nothing concrete. Look, you might as well hear this from me, but somehow the press learned about her and the mob, and are now saying that the Doctor is training you to take over your father’s business, whatever that means,” he said wearily.
“Wow, the rumor mill just doesn’t stop, does it? I said sarcastically.
“No, it doesn’t. Just hang in there, kiddo. They can’t prove anything. Let me take both of you home.”
“Thanks, Uncle Jake. Hailey is staying the night. We have a lot of homework to do.”
Hailey and I got in the car, but none of us spoke until we got home.
“Poor Uncle Jake. He doesn’t even know what he’s really up against,” I said after I waved goodbye at him and closed the front door.
“What are we going to do now? It’s one step forward, two steps back,” Hailey asked.
“We are out of cards, we don’t have the box, it’s been opened, and they have the crown.”
“Worse, if the dream is true, then you’re right. It does sound like they might still have your parents, the Doctor and Kieran! We have no one left.” I could hear the desperation in Hailey’s voice.
This time, I was the one on the cautious side. “The Doctor said “them”, we don’t really know who else are in that cage”, but even when I said those words, my heart skipped a beat. Consciously, I dared not let myself hope that my parents were still alive.
Hailey had the book out, and we were both pouring over it inch by inch. We kept talking about the different translations of words, but after a while, we got so tired, we decided to call it quits and get some sleep.
