The Obsidian Crown, page 18
Taylor whirled around and faced Hailey and me, eyes blazing with mixed rage and pain.
“Please go and don’t tell me anymore about any magic crap. Don’t get me involved in any of your quests. Have the police handle this. Let them do their jobs. Can’t you see what you’ve done! You have been so willing to sacrifice so much, including us, to what end? We’ve lost the crown, we not only failed to rescue your parents but now they are going to get killed anyway, Doctor McGrath is next door beat up to a pulp, and your precious Kieran turned out to be a traitor! I know it won’t be fair to ask you to stop looking for your parents but please stop playing with people’s lives! Just stop playing with our lives!” She turned away as her voice cracked and fresh tears streamed down her face.
Hailey took me by the arm and led me out of Blaise’s room. “Let’s go. She needs her space.”
She led me back to the hallway and into the elevator. Hailey pressed the “L” button for the lobby.
As soon as the door closed, I lost all control. My nerves were raw from the fight. My chest felt as thin and fragile as a cheap Christmas ornament. Seeing my friends like that crushed my heart into a million pieces. The painful lump in my throat that comes only when I cry seems to have taken permanent residency.
“This is all my fault. Taylor is right. People around me get hurt,” I said, pounding on the elevator wall. My knees buckled under me from the weight of my guilt. I didn’t stop or tried to fight anymore. I slumped on the floor, just letting it all out.
Hailey pressed the Stop button to halt the elevator. She put her arms around me and said, “It’s not your fault, Abigail. Don’t worry, it will get better.” It was the first time since we met that she called me by my first name. But even that held no consolation to the pain I was going through. I released every hurt through every drop of tear, every sob, and every wail.
She gave me the space I needed and when I was too tired to cry any more, she pressed the button and the elevator resumed its descent. It reached the bottom and the door opened to the faces of Detective Dewitt and Detective Mercado.
CHAPTER 23
The Black Rose Bookstore and Antiquary
I stepped out of the elevator, then looked at Hailey and said, “You were saying?”
Hailey shrugged and mouthed, “Sorry”.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t the tragically intriguing and oh-so-mysterious Ms. Montserrat.” Detective Dewitt’s voice boomed in the hospital lobby. “Why am I not surprised? I hear there’s a missing boy from Thurgood, another in a coma, and Doctor McGrath was beaten up beyond recognition. Isn’t she your psychologist? Yes! I believe she is! What happened?
Did she finally get you to confess your crime and you had to silence her? Or you had your mob connections torture her and bomb her office.”
There was a time when I would have pummeled this guy. But this is not the right time and place. Remember what Uncle Jake told you, “He who angers you conquers you.” I reminded myself.
I stood there staring at him, livid in anger but not going for his bait. “Not talking to you without my lawyer,” I said coolly.
“What, no! She didn’t beat up the Doctor? We rescued them—” Hailey protested.
“Oh look, you even got a friend now. Is she speaking for you now that your lawyer uncle is not around?” Dewitt cut in.
He looked at Hailey and said, “Be careful how you choose your friends, with this one you could end up as an accessory.”
“You don’t know anything! And what about my rights to remain silent and to an attorney do you not get?” I said.
“Yaw wight, s’pose yaw tell us all ‘bout it, at the station,” Detective Mercado said through a seed he was trying to crack with his teeth.
“Suppose we don’t and I call my uncle first and tell him how you are harassing and detaining the two of us,” I said.
“Fine. Go! But I am warning you, don’t leave town, don’t get into any more trouble or so help me, I will arrest you next time I see you.” They both stepped aside. Detective Dewitt bowed his head in mock formality and pointed to the hospital exit doors, which opened automatically as if on cue.
“Just a few more days! Tick tock, tick tock!” he called out. We ignored him and walked out of the hospital before the detectives could form another sophomoric thought.
“We need to find clues. We need to get to the Sanctuary and quick,” Hailey said.
“You got that right!” I agreed.
We went straight to Doctor McGrath’s office. The place was very dark, but I noticed that the barricade used to board up the office had been pried open, and the yellow police ribbon that said “Crime Scene. Do Not Enter” on it had been torn off and left on the ground. I heard noises coming from the office. I pulled Hailey away and made her hide with me behind the ficus tree. “Shhhhh, someone’s in there.”
She nodded without saying anything. We didn’t have long to wait. Soon, a man with silver hair came out of the office. He pushed the broken door and stepped on the mound of yellow police tape on the floor. He bent down, cursing as he pulled the tape that was stuck on his shoes. We pressed our backs harder to the wall behind the plant. Apparently satisfied he was not dragging any more police tapes with him, the man left.
I was able to breathe easier as soon as he walked out of the building.
“Trifama,” I said before Hailey could even ask the question.
“Oh, so… there really is a mob connection.”
“Well, she does but I don’t know if my parents do. As my uncle said, let’s not speculate on things we do not know. Let’s go.” I entered the darkened office with Hailey right behind me.
Hailey said, “I will search here. You go inside the office. Let me know if you find the journal.”
I turned on my phone’s flashlight feature and looked around. The place was still in a state of chaos; all kinds of papers strewn all over the place, broken furniture, and shattered glass on the floor. I proceeded inside, trying not to make any noise. I was pleasantly surprised to find the bookcase right away. I reached on top of it and felt a soft leathery book.
“Good job! Where did you find it?” Hailey asked.
“Exactly where she said it would be.”
Hailey took the phone from me so I could flip the pages. They were mostly blank.
“For a witch, this book of spells is rather sparse, considering it only has three incantations: How to open the Sanctuary, entering the dream of another, and a protection spell. There’s not even anything on throwing fireballs,” Hailey observed.
“Maybe we will find other books of spells there. Wait, what time is it?” I said.”
“It’s 9:15 p.m.,” Hailey answered.
“Hold on, let me text my uncle. He will be worried.” I pulled out my phone and texted my Uncle that I was with Hailey, studying. After reminding me that it’s a school night and I should be back home early, he said good night.
“We can’t go to the school library to get into Sanctuary tonight, the gate is closed,” Hailey said.
“I need to get in there. I only have three days left before they charge me. But that doesn’t even matter anymore. If I can’t figure out how to make the crown work, that crazy dagger-hood lady is going to kill my parents in two days. I need to figure out how to get to the Sanctuary.”
“Wait, what about the Black Rose? Maybe we can use that fireplace there to go back into the Sanctuary.”
“We will need to use it without permission,” I said.
“Do we have any choice?” Hailey said.
I couldn’t think of one. So I shook my head. “It’s not like we know where Elwood lives.” I let out a long sigh. This was our only entry. I pulled out my cell phone again and searched for the Black Rose Antiquary and Bookstore. “We have to hurry, they close at ten.”
I called a cab and told the man he would get a good tip if he got us to the bookstore before closing time.
When we got there, it was too late. It was dark, and the parking area was bare.
“Sorry, kids. It sure looks like ya jass missed it,” the cab driver said.
“It’s ok. You can leave us here,” I said.
“Ya sure, ya want me to leave ya here? Seems like the place is closed now. Maybe ya wanna come back in the mornin’?” he said.
“Oh, it’s ok. We can knock. We’re friends with the owner,” Hailey lied.
“Ya, okay but ya be careful now. Looks awfully ghoulish place ta me.” When we didn’t say anything, he added, “Well, see ya then. Call if ya need another ride.”
We waved to him goodbye, pretending nothing strange was happening.
After a few minutes, we were looking at the ancient Victorian mansion that somehow looked more towering and ominous in the cold silver light of the moon. “How do we get in?” I asked. It says “Closed”.
“You look in front, I will go to the back,” said Hailey.
“Ok, let me know if you find a way in.” Then I heard a rustling of leaves, “What was that?”
“What was what?”
“I heard something, I think there’s someone else here.” I said.
“It’s the wind. You’re just a little jumpy. Maybe you should use your flashlight. I’m ok with the light of the moon. Are you going to be ok?” Hailey asked me.
I nodded, but I could feel my skin crawling. I turned on the flashlight and started to work my way around the perimeter of the house. When I got to one side, I heard the rustling again. It was coming from the direction of the Elm Tree. I shone my light on the tree and was reminded of the mound of dirt in front of it. It looked eerie and mysterious. It was just a tall black mound of dirt with nothing growing on it. I rubbed my arm with my free hand as I shuddered. I thought that mound was creepy the first time I saw it, and this night, I was certain there is something other-worldly about it. I focused my eyes on the miniature hill. I was sure the rustling was coming from there. I strained my ears, waiting for whatever it was to make more noise, but the mound just stood there staring back at me. I finally decided to move on, all the while feeling that I was being watched. I tried a couple of windows, but they were bolted from the inside. Then I heard my cell beeped. It’s Hailey.
[Hailey: I found a window, come to the east side of the house.
Abigail: Okay, on my way.
Hailey: Hurry.]
I started to go forward to the next corner and realized it was in the wrong direction and turned back. Mental note: Figure out your east and west before your next breaking and entering. I found the open window and started to climb in. I had one leg through the window when I heard faint rustling from the dirt mound next to the elm tree again. I was too scared to look, so I clambered into the café as fast as I could.
“Shhhhh, clearly you don’t know the first rule of B&E. Be quiet!” Hailey said in a stern whisper.
“Yes, but…but…I think we’re being followed.”
Hailey looked out the window and shook her head. “The sooner we get out of here and into the Sanctuary, the better we’d be off.”
I agreed and followed her to the second floor.
CHAPTER 24
The Destroyer of Kings
Aside from the only illumination coming from tall windows letting in silvery, soft moonlight, casting eerie shadows of swaying trees, it was pitch-black in the house.
“This place looks even creepier than before,” I said.
“If that is even possible,” replied Hailey. “Let’s just get on with it.”
“Now what do we do?”
Hailey took the journal from my hand. It just says using your hands, pull energy from around you, and concentrate the force into one will. When ready, recite words: “Volvere sanctuarium.”
But I don’t know if this is going to work for us. We are not Xanas. We don’t have magic.”
“We’re already here. We might as well try,” Hailey said with just a hint of edge in her voice. I felt she was trying to be open-minded but still resistant to the idea of magic.
“Okay. Okay,” I said, worried Hailey might reach the limit of her patience.
“Just close your eyes and do what the instruction said. Concentrate,” Hailey ordered.
I closed my eyes then I opened them and focused on the fireplace, just as the Doctor did.
“Volvere Sanctuarium!” I commanded.
A green fire appeared in the fireplace.
“Shall we?” I asked Hailey, pointing to the fire.
“I hope we’re going where I think we’re going,” Hailey said.
I shrugged.
We stepped into the fire, and before I could finish saying, “So do I.” We were swept away into the circular vortex that goes into the River of Time. Soon, the green of the fire started to meld into the blackness, and I saw the now-familiar undulating blobs of green and black. My stomach still gave a lurch whenever my body carried the centrifugal force of passing green globules. Some unquantifiable time passed, but to me, it felt like we were taking too long in the river. I need to get the Sanctuary right away. I am running out of time. Soon after, we emerged on the other side of the fireplace, right into the Sanctuary.
“Nice job!” Hailey said.
“Thanks but that took entirely too long. Let’s get to work. I haven’t much time.” I couldn’t keep the impatience from my voice.
Hailey was taken aback by my irritated response. She backed away from me with her hands up in the air in mock surrender, saying, “Whoa. Whatever you say, boss!”
I took a deep breath and gave myself an attitude adjustment, and said in a softer voice, “Sorry, I’m just getting very nervous… it’s just there so many things I don’t know. I can barely open a portal, it took me weeks to figure out the box and now I only have hours to figure out how the crown works.”
“I get it. No harm done.”
“We need to review the book. It must say how the crown is activated,” I repeated, trying to sound more enthusiastic this time.
“Good idea. Except I left the book in my locker, remember?” Hailey said, cringing.
“Oh that’s good to know,” and my annoyance was back.
“Hey, I didn’t think it was a good idea to take it with us to the mansion,” Hailey protested.
“No, you’re right.” I felt embarrassed that she picked up on my apparent discontent.
“Let’s see.” Hailey closed her eyes and tried to remember what she read. “It said, first, you need to open the Kerberian Box with the blood of the bearer. Two—” Hailey muttered.
“We should just get the book from your locker,” I suggested.
“Good idea. How are we going to do that?” Hailey asked.
I grabbed the journal back from her hand and went in front of the fireplace one more time. I closed my eyes and concentrated. “Volvere Sanctuarium!” The fire turned green again.
“Yes!”
“Shall we?” I asked.
“After you.”
We entered the fire and exited out the other side into the Sanctuary.
“Why are we still here and where was the River of Time?” I wondered aloud.
“Beats me?” Hailey said.
“Okay, well the portal thing is not working. Tell me again what you remember.”
Hailey sat down and put her elbows on her knees, and rested her head on her palms. “I just remember something about the blood of the bearer.”
“Alright, that makes sense. The Doctor looked like they took a lot of blood from her. Why is the crown not working?”
“I don’t know. We need the book of lines,” Hailey answered in exasperation as she plopped down on one of the over stuffed sofas. Then she pulled the Doctor’s journal again and scrutinized it. “There are pages missing,” she said, running her finger down the inside of the spine where pieces of torn paper were left behind, Then she took it to a nearby lamp and scrutinized the blank pages. “Do you have a pencil?” she asked. I searched my pockets and found one. She grabbed it and started to shade the page.
I was deep in thought about the crown. I didn’t think this was the right time to be doodling or whatever it was Hailey was doing. Then I had a thought. “Hold up, do you remember if the fire was blue or green? I asked.
“It was green. Just like that.” Hailey said matter-of-factly while pointing at the fireplace with the journal. We stared at the flame as it slowly went back to normal hues.
I pulled out my cell phone. “Oh, man, no signal.”
“What do you need?” Hailey asked.
“Latin word for library.”
“Bibliotheca,” Hailey said without even thinking.
I gave her a sideways glance. “Are you sure?”
Hailey shrugged. “Look I won Spelling Bee when I was a kid on the word bibliography. Same root word.”
I walked over to the fireplace once more and said, “Okay, here goes. Volvere bibliotheca!”
The fire turned green. We went through it, and we were still in the Sanctuary.
“Ok, this is not working. Are there any other words you know for bibliotheca, I mean library?” Hailey said.
I didn’t answer. I felt so frustrated at that moment, but I knew that all my pent-up emotions would just come pouring out the minute I try to speak. I opened my lips, but nothing came out. I hung my head low so Hailey couldn’t see I was falling apart again.
“Monty? Are you okay?” Hailey asked. When I didn’t respond, she added, “It’s going to be fine. You and I, we’re going to get to the bottom of this. Don’t worry.”
I shook myself out of my funk. I needed to have some physical activity. I couldn’t allow myself to wallow in self-pity or become paralyzed by anger. I knew I was annoyed because we don’t have the book. Blaming Hailey was convenient, but it was not really fair. I forced a smile on my face and said, “Yeah sure. I’d feel better if we can get to the book.”
