Secret Of The Crest

Secret of the Crest

Demetra S. Gerontakis

Chapter One

   Upon the foot of a gargantuan mountain range, somewhere in northern Greece, in a village called Terovo, was set a small old fashioned  hostel made of timber that stood alone smothered by the deep forest and overwhelmed by the sound of the roaring waters of the Louros river that ran nearby. The main road that passed a couple of miles from the hostel through the village, was the only one and allowed civilization into these parts. The trout were abundant in the Louros River and gave reason to the villagers to become great sweet water fishermen. Although, few had stayed in this isolated village. Most of the younger men had moved to the city to pursue a life of excitement. Here the days went by slowly.

   In Terovo, the sky was seen briefly during the day because the two mountains that faced each other were so close together that the sun just peeked through for one perhaps, two hours a day. A place of isolation, where the sounds of nature became annoying to those who lived there in opposite of when they heard a passing car on the main road which was for them, a sweet melody. Terovo, a very beautiful but secluded village had many folk tales that had been told repeatedly through the generations. Many of those who had visited had heard the stories of old, about strange creatures and mysterious disappearances. Some visitors would stay at the hostel for a night or two to satisfy their curiosity about the stories or rumors that had been told for ages and others would stay just to enjoy the wilderness and nature's peaceful sounds. Others came to photograph the uniqueness of this terrain. This was the reason Cassie had come.

   She parked her beetle under the shady maple trees next to the river, got out of the air and took a deep breath of the fresh air whilst closing her eyes. Cassie was a beautiful twenty three year old student from west Yorkshire, England. Her complexion was dark and her black as night eyes gave the impression that she was from an exotic island or the Mediterranean. Her slender body was fully shaped in all its curves. She had long dark curly hair that fell over and barely hid her voluptuous bosom. Of course, the truth was that Cassie’s father was an Englishman from a long bloodline of Englishmen who were all very wealthy. Her mother was also from England, from a small province called Fobbing.

   Here she was though, appreciating her surroundings and taking in all that nature had to give her as she picked up her mobile phone to call her friends, who were meeting her. Realizing she had no service, she roamed around as to catch a stronger signal. It took her a while, but she finally got through and finally heard the ring tone. Just then, a car pulled up behind her. She recognized her crazy friend hanging half way out of the car window.

   ‘Were you calling us?’ asked her best friend, Sarah Holmes.

   Sarah was a twenty two year old, blonde, blue-eyed girl and Cassie’s friend since, the first day at kindergarten. They knew everything about each other. Her sister Rebecca and her boyfriend Sam accompanied Sarah. Where Cassie went, Sarah went. They were like sisters.

   Sarah was also, closely followed by her sister and Sam at all times. Therefore, as a result, they had all travelled to Greece to be with Cassie.

  Cassie studied photography at Sheffield University. She had entered a competition on wildlife and nature photos. Her father had mentioned that there was a beautiful place in Greece that was worth seeing and now here she was.

   ‘Of course I was calling you, who else I would be calling out here, I hardly have a signal’ she said.

    ‘It’s a surprise you made it on time, I suppose you stopped at every pastry shop you met on the road to try the Greek pastries?’

  Cassie knew Sarah’s addiction to sweets and that she could not control herself when passing a shop, she would no doubt stop to buy an assortment. Sam interrupted their warm glances and tight hugs.

   ‘How about a hug for me, dark eyes?’

   Sam had given Cassie that nickname from the moment they were introduced, three years ago.

   ‘Sure, hi! Sorry that I was so caught up with your fiancé, but I know her weaknesses, she could keep all of us waiting for hours, just to have a taste of heaven, as she, calls it! Now, give me some real sugar, you loveable teddy’ she replied. They gave each other a friendly embrace. The car door slammed; there stood   Rebecca with a pale look on her face and quite out of it.

   ‘Becca, did you like the trip?’ Cassie asked.

   ‘Cassie love, the view I would say was breathtaking if I had seen any of it’, she replied. ‘I took a nausea pill after the first couple of miles of the twisting and turning road and slept the whole way here. I’m sure you’re going to show me every point I missed in your photo series of these parts.’

   ‘You betcha!’ Cassie replied. The four of them stood there a while enjoying the sounds of nature and looking at the majestic mountains that engulfed them.    ‘Shall we get started?’ Cassie asked. ‘We have a long way to the hostel from here and it will be getting dark soon.’

   ‘What do you mean; can we take the car there?’ Rebecca asked.

   ‘Sorry, this is where the road end for wheels, we on the other hand, will be walking a half hours way along the river bank trail that you see down there. That leads to the hostel. I told them that we will be there by eight so let’s get a move on.’ The sun had set and the small group loaded their baggage on their backs and was finally on their way. While walking along the river trail, Sarah began speaking.

   ‘What made you choose this particular setting for the competition?’

   Cassie smiled, ‘Daddy told me that he had visited this village with mum the year before I was born. It was the last trip they took together before having a family and settling down. He said he had the very best memories and that the scenery was unforgettably lovely. He also told me that the pictures I would take here would probably win the competition.’

   ‘So tell us, what will the reward be for winning the competition?’ Sam asked.

   ‘First price is a scholarship in New York’s most famous photography studio school where the professor  of high tech photography will work with the winner for a year, teaching, promoting and introducing the winner to famous people and famous magazines’ Cassie replied.

   ‘Now I see why you have been so enthusiastic about this trip. It’s your dream come true’ Sarah, noted.

   ‘It sure is. I have been waiting for a break like this since we were in senior year of high school, when I had made up my mind about becoming a professional world known photographer. Besides, this isn’t only a perfect place to show my skills but from what I’ve seen so far it’s the perfect place for short holiday, God knows we all need it.’

   As they kept the conversation going strong the whole way with all kinds of subjects, they scanned the woods they were walking through with great enthusiasm. Looking to their right and left, they noticed beautiful wild flowers between the bank’s rocky trimmed side and the squirrels peeking from behind the tree holes. The fish jumped in and out of the river waters and made splashing sounds making them think that someone was throwing stones into the water. It had become dark and just ending their conversation Cassie announced in a voice full of satisfaction.

   ‘Well, there it is!’

  Everyone looked ahead of them deeper into the trail where it abruptly ended at the dark log cabin hostel veiled by climbing greenery that entwined in complete disorder with each other camouflaging the small inn. The lights within the hostel were very dim looking from their view afar.

   ‘Are you sure that is it?’ Sam asked.

   ‘Oh, I’m very sure.’ Cassie replied. ‘Dad said that I will know it when I see it because there is no where to go after that.’

   At that moment, a very old woman came out of the inn holding a lantern in one hand and a crooked wooden stick in the other to help herself along the pathway. She slowly moved toward them. She slouched awfully and wore a long black dress and a black headdress that all gave her a witchy look. When she came at a distance, she thought was close enough she stopped abruptly pulled up the lantern to her face and asked.

   ‘Which one of you is Cassandra?’ 

   ‘I am Madame’ replied Cassie with a great big smile.

   ‘Come closer, let me see you better child.’

  The old woman put down her stick lifted out the lantern to Cassie’s face and with her other hand stroked her face gently. She was not witchy at all; on the contrary, she seemed quite gentle and full of affection. A tear started to build in the corner of her eye as she quickly lowered the lantern to her side and bent over to retrieve her stick.

   ‘Please don’t be frightened,’ said Cassie.

   ‘I know you must be afraid in this secluded region but we really are the ones you have been waiting for.’

   ‘That you are!’ said the woman. ‘Follow me; I will lead you to your rooms. My name is Marina and if there is anything I could do to make your stay a better one don’t hesitate to ask.’ She said in a deep accent.  The woman then led them up the narrow trail and into the hostel. Upon entering all of their eyes rolled around on everything that was before them. It was a large room, full of antique furniture, which was from a few centuries back in time. It was embellished with priceless pieces of art. The colors that decorated   the room were brown, burgundy, and highlighted with black wrought iron candleholders and chandeliers that hung from the ceiling. They were not the electric type but instead supplied with thick candles.

   At the desk there were oil lamps standing in line waiting to escort visitors to their rooms. To the right of the reception desk was a wooden staircase that led to the very few rooms on the upper floor that accommodated guests for centuries. To the left was the dining room.

   ‘This place must be from before my grandmother was even born’ Rebecca said.