Secret Of The Crest (14 page)

   ‘You, my love, are the only thing I see. The only really good thing in my life, my sunshine.’ He kissed her cheek.

   ‘Come on guys! Start taking pictures. It’s wonderful up here!’ Cassie yelled. She had forgotten everything that had happened for a moment. The scenery was one they had never seen till now.

   They were at the highest point of the forest on a mountain top that people don’t get a chance to ever get to.  A giant eagle’s nest sat just a few feet away and they all took pictures at the same time, at the same theme.

   Sarah and Sam left their cameras and started clearing stones and pebbles to set down their lunches. It was beautiful. It felt right and Cassandra was extremely peaceful at the moment. The morning went by tremendously fast as they did their best work ever. While they worked, Gregor watched Rebecca in amazement. He admired her ability with the camera and he loved that she was such a dedicated friend not once questioning all of her friend’s quests. Rebecca was spontaneously beautiful but to Gregor the most important quality was her character. He then turned to look at his sister thinking that she was not at all different from the rest of their family, she was only raised differently but her DNA carried all the characteristics of a Dracopoulos. 

   The hours continued to go by and none of them asked to eat lunch. It was as if they were made full with the air they breathed. A few more hours had passed when Cassandra called out.

   ‘That’s a wrap! Good work guys, this is going to get me in for sure’

    ‘We all know you can survive without eating but some of us need fuel to go on, so if you think we may have possibly earned it, dark eyes, can we sit down and eat at last?’ Sam nagged. 

   ‘Okay, I guess you’re right. It is quite late. Our lunches have become dinner!’

   ‘Yes, it’s half past six already we should eat a bit and get moving it will be dark soon’ said Rebecca.

   After eating Mrs. Marina’s packed meals and some last glances at the exquisite view as the dusk came the group took the trail back to the hostel.

Chapter Six

   ‘I’d like to take you all fishing tomorrow. If you haven’t any plans’ Gregor asked at the dinner table.

   It had been a long and tiring day and all of them felt good with what they had accomplished but also that they were now done and enjoying each other’s company over a nice dinner.

   ‘You haven’t gotten the chance to see the lighter side of the forest.’

   ‘What do you say, friends?’ Rebecca added. ‘Shall we go one last excursion just for fun this time?’

   ‘I can’t see why not; it will be fun after all that hard work that Cassie has put us through. Why working long hours like slaves? For the love of God, it would be absolutely selfish of her to turn down Gregor’s lovely offer!’ Sam said jokingly but serious all at the same time.

   ‘Oh, alright! Let’s do it before all your wining kills me!’ Cassandra continued on the humor.

   ‘There is no need to wake up too early, we can leave about nine. So, it’s settled then.’

   A group of boar hunters came in to have dinner. Gregor knew them. He asked to be excused for a moment and then went over to their table to greet them. He shook hands with the men and welcomed them sincerely as he did with everyone. 

   ‘We have been expecting you; it’s so nice to see you again. How was hunting today? Any luck?’

   ‘Actually, Gregor, we would like to talk to you about that. Is there somewhere we could meet later after dinner?’ The hunters seemed troubled.

   ‘Sure! Meet me in the reception hall at about half past nine and join me for a cigar. We could talk about whatever is troubling you.’

   ‘Alright then, because it is of great importance and I can’t ignore it so, we will be there.’

   ‘Enjoy your meal, gentlemen!’ Gregor was disturbed by the man’s last comment. He kept thinking what could possibly be so important it couldn’t wait?

   He had now returned to his table and sat down. Rebecca scooched over and took his hand in hers.

   ‘Gregor, love, can I ask a favor of you?’

   ‘What? A favor? Now you are doomed, so much for your single life style’ Sam said playing his usual self.

   ‘Oh, shut up, you fool, who asked you anyway?’ she snapped.

   ‘Of course you can ask anything of me, you know that. What is it that you would like?’

   ‘I would like to have my parents flown in later next week. Perhaps on the weekend because I don’t find it appropriate to announce our engagement over the phone. I will call them later tonight and tell them that I will be staying on after Sunday, when the rest of the group will be departing and that it would be  a nice chance for them to escape for a bit as well as to supposedly escort me back home.  My father will love the idea. When they arrive I can properly introduce you and together we can announce our engagement. After they meet you and see who you are, they will be able to leave in peace that they left me in goods hands and won’t worry me. What do you think love?’

   ‘I believe that you are not only beautiful but brilliant as well. I think it is a wonderful idea! What do you want me to do?’

   ‘I’ll arrange their flights but can you drive me to the airport to pick them up?’

   ‘You know I will!’

   ‘Another matter is if there is a room available for them to stay in for a few days’ she continued.

   ‘Even if there were no rooms, I would accommodate your parents by sleeping outside my self. Fortunately there are two vacant rooms for next weekend.’

   ‘Alright, then!’ Rebecca said happily and continued. ‘I’ll call them now!’ She gave him a little peck on the cheek and went to the front desk to make the call. She was like a child with a pure heart. Playful and fun but her appearance was sensual and sexy.

   ‘About tomorrow,’ Gregor began, ‘make sure you all get dressed warm enough and a second set of clothes wouldn’t hurt. Fishing in the river isn’t as easy as it seems. Sometimes you fall in.’

   ‘Okay, we’ll meet you tomorrow morning then’ said Sarah.

   ‘How about the fishing rods, do we have enough?’ asked Sam.

   ‘No fishing rods necessary, Sam. All we need is fishing cord and some cheese bread bait. We have plenty of both! The wild trout out here bite in no time!’ Gregor informed.

   ‘Goodnight, then, we’ll see you all tomorrow’ Sam said as he took Sarah by the hand and they went to their rooms.

   Now Cassandra and Gregor were alone at the table. Gregor saw that she had been distracted almost all through dinner.

   ‘Cassandra, you’ve been pretty quiet tonight.’

   ‘Yes, I’m sorry. I have been thinking of which way would be best to confront my parents.’

   ‘I need to meet with the hunters for a while. Would you mind if I left you alone for now?’

   ‘No, Rebecca will be back soon anyway.’

   ‘I will be back to escort you both upstairs.’

   ‘There’s no need, we are all kind of tired. We’ll go upstairs and relax a little until you come to say goodnight to your fiancé. See you later.’  Cassandra waited patiently for Rebecca to come back. Gregor took his glass and went into the reception lounge.

   The three hunters were waiting for him. He detoured a moment to pick up a box of cigars which he brought over and passed around to each of them.

   ‘Well, gentlemen, I hope you’re not going to tell me about the room service’ he joked.

   ‘Gregor,’ said one of them, ‘things are much more serious than room service.’ The look on Gregor’s face changed as he sat down waiting to here what the man had to say.

   ‘Mr. Gannaris, what is troubling you? I must say that I have been very curious the last hour and a half.’

   ‘We were out hunting as you know. We started early this morning but for some reason we couldn’t find any wild animals. Not a dear, not a boar, not even a bear. What’s worse is that we heard no animal sound what so ever. No birds singing, no frogs, not even an insect sounded in a forest filled with creepy crawlers and life in general. There was only the sound of long silence amongst the trees.

   After the sun came up we finally came across a pack of baby boar that ran right across our path. We were hidden among the bushes. We all aimed our rifles toward them but before we could shoot, they were mauled right in front of our eyes by some kind of… ah; I don’t know whether they were humans or animals because we could only see them from behind and we were shocked by how fast it happened. Blood and boar flesh everywhere. They couldn’t be human but they stood on two feet. We stood there quietly until whatever they were left. Then we went closer to see the boar. It had been ripped apart literally. Before we had the chance to think to ourselves, what the hell just happened, a manlike creature with a very pale face came out from within the trees straight at us. I lifted my rifle frightened half out of my wits as it came for me. I found the courage and shot twice injuring it. I thought it was pretty bad at first but obviously I was wrong because it disappeared into the woods at the speed of light.

   Up until now I heard crazy stories about creatures up in these parts and I had fun telling them down to the younger hunters, I never believed them though, not until now that I have seen them with my own eyes. We loaded up our gear and started to search for our other two friends who were at another point on the boar trail. They weren’t at the point and we couldn’t find them anywhere around there. What are we going to do? They haven’t contacted us and they haven’t come back yet.’ The man seemed to be worried to death, scared and full of question. He wasn’t in the position to continue and the next hunter spoke out.

   ‘We think that it would be best if we go out and search for them but we don’t know the area that well and were hoping that you would come with us so that we might be successful and so that we don’t get lost ourselves.’

   Gregor looked at the first man with great sympathy and then looked up at the other and said, ‘Prepare yourselves, then. We leave in an hour!’

   ‘Thank you!’

   ‘We’ll meet here, like I said, in an hour.’ Gregor went over to where Rebecca was. She had just finished her call and Cassandra had been waiting for her in the large armchair.

   ‘Rebecca, we need to talk.’

   ‘Okay, but just a heads up, my parents agreed to come next week. Actually they were thrilled.’

   ‘That is great!  Now I need you to go upstairs with Cassandra and get yourself a goodnight’s sleep. I will be going out with the hunters on a search for their friends who got lost in the woods. They need my help to find them.’

   ‘Do you think they may have come across Georgio?’

   ‘No, they probably just rolled off the trail and can’t find their way back. Everything will be fine. You two get some rest and we’ll meet here in the morning’

   ‘Sure, love, I am beat!’  She tiptoed to reach up and kiss him goodnight. ‘You promise to be careful, right?’

   ‘I promise you.’

   Cassandra also worried. ‘Brother, be careful!’ 

   Gregor bent over and kissed her on the head.  

   ‘How nice it is to have two women to care for you! I assure you both I will be fine. Now go get some rest!’ The girls dragged their feet up the stairs.

   Gregor returned to the desk where he met his grandmother’s distressed look.

   ‘Grandmother, I am going out again. Unfortunately, the hunters have lost some of their friends and I am afraid there may have been an attack. I hope that I am wrong but I feel that Georgio might be behind it.’