Secret Of The Crest (5 page)

   My mother held her hand over my eyes to protect me while she herself turned her head the other way. The sight was horrific some of the guests said. Others were throwing up. One of our lady tenants had had her throat ripped open and had bled to death outside the inn as she tried to make her way for help. She had fallen two feet away from the door.

   My father got to her too late and he asked for a sheet to cover the bloody body. Then he asked one of the guests who was also a doctor to come see the body and tell us what animal it might have been that attacked the woman. Spiros, the doctor told my father he had never seen such an animal attack before and that we couldn’t be sure it even was an animal. He then suggested that my father call the police. Dr. Spiros told us with certainty that the attack could have been done by someone human and that it could even have been done by one of the guests. Why he said that, we didn’t understand. My father looked deeply into his friend’s eyes and said, “
What do you mean Spiro? That one of the guests could…”
and then his question was silenced by his friend’s affirmative nod of the head. My father called out to my mother, “
Eleni, it’s happening again
.
Everyone, go home quickly and lock yourselves indoors!
” he shouted to his guests.

   They all had a look of terror in their eyes and it seemed that they knew what was happening because not one of them asked questions. I, on the other hand had many even though I was so young. Then my dad asked my mother to keep Cassandra and me in eye’s sight at all times.’

   ‘Who was Cassandra?’ asked Sam taking that very question out of everyone’s mouth.

   ‘My sister was named Cassandra that day, after my mother’s mother’ replied Gregor. ‘Cassandra was only a baby and my mother ran quickly into the other room took her and then me by the hand and told me to run quickly into the sala (lounge). We sat together the three of us while watching my father lead out every last guest. He also led the tenants that were staying at the inn to their rooms after checking each one thoroughly. The strange thing was that before he took each one up he asked to look into their eyes. I had no idea why. I would soon find out though. When everybody was finally in their rooms, my father came to where we sat and embraced us and said, “
You must all stay here together while I search the entire inn and grounds so that I can be sure it is safe. Do you understand?
” My mother replied, “
Yes
” as I nodded my head.

   My father went up and down the entire inn opening and closing doors, looking inside of closets, the basement and the outer premises. He took a long time. Cassandra, just a baby was awake and cried endlessly as it was passed her feeding time. Our mother rocked her back and forth and hushing her hoping all the time that she would fall back asleep but nothing of the kind would happen any time soon. Cassandra cried even harder.  Then mother sat down and began to feed her while she looked up at the windows and again to the front door anxiously waiting for father to return.

   My sister had at last fallen asleep. I remember falling asleep myself in the large armchair. I woke up to the sound of the slamming door Father came in concerned and disappointed. He had found nothing. His eyes bled with anger. We all slept together in the lobby that night along with our tenants who were called to come back down. Father explained that it was better that we all stay together until things were back to normal. The guests asked questions but my father told them it was much better that they were informed by the authorities after they put the pieces together. He also told them that upon their departure they would not need to pay for their stay due to the inconvenience.  We were all taken to a better place by Morpheus as we dosed off in the early hours. That morning I was awaken by loud conversation at the front desk.

   Mother begged a couple  to take my sister with them as they were leaving the inn that day. I remember her tears distinctly as she wrote on a piece of paper that she was giving her daughter to a nice couple because she was unable to protect her. I know this because she read it a loud as she was writing it. Soon after that, mother disappeared and my father who went looking for her never came back either. Story tellers said that he went mad after loosing both his wife and baby girl. My grandmother didn’t find me until three days had passed. She told me that I was in the woods sleeping under some bushes. I couldn’t recall how I got there. She brought me back home and nursed me to good health again.’

   ‘So, in reality, you really don’t know what happened to your parents or if they are alive somewhere?’ asked Rebecca. 

   ‘Yes, we cannot be sure since, traces of them were never found.’

   ‘Who was your father looking for that night, who did he think was in the house?’ asked Sam. 

   ‘There is a legend in these parts and perhaps in some other parts of Greece about the undead.’ Gregor said.

   ‘You don’t mean zombies?’ Sarah asked giggling.

    ‘He probably means vampires.’ said Sam. ‘Right?’

   ‘Not exactly, the best word for them in English I guess would be ghouls.’ Gregor’s eyes had become dark and mysterious.

   ‘What exactly is a ghoul? I’ve only heard of them during Halloween.’ Sarah asked with the sound of tease in her voice.

   ‘Ms. Sarah, not everything of folklore and myth are make believe. Many stories are quite true or partially true. Ghouls just so happen to be one of them.’

   ‘So tell us about them!’ said Sam.

   ‘A ghoul is originally a once human returning from their eternal sleep. Unlike vampires who make victims only to survive, ghouls show up to torment the lives of those they come to. Jealousy and rage control them for having lost their lives while others go on living. They are devious, nasty entities who walk the earth with a burning hunger for human blood and souls. That night, when the doctor examined the woman who had been attacked he noticed some very distinctive details about the attacker. First of all, the scratches found on the woman’s body were full of soil. We could have concluded right then and there that they were made by a wild animal but that wasn’t all. The marks were purposely made into the shape of a cross and then were bitten into with sharp teeth draining a small portion of blood from the unfortunate woman.’

   ‘What?’ snapped Cassandra. ‘An animal can’t do that.’

   ‘Legend has it, that because ghouls have lost their earthly lives while being lost souls who didn’t believe in Christ, they return to feed on the living. Not to survive as a vampire would but believing that, if they drink from the blood of Christ’s descendents, especially the very innocent one’s, they will also be in communion. In this, perhaps be redeemed for their sins and be given the chance to move on and rest in peace finally, without the thirst for vengeance. That is the reason why they make a cross shaped scar with their nails and then drink from that very point. If the victim struggles to keep the ghoul from drinking then those sharp nails are used to shred their throats.’

   Gregor poured himself another glass of wine.

   ‘What did you mean when you said that was a ghoul originally?’ asked Sarah.

   ‘You are all aware that all things evolve while generations pass. As time went by, the ghouls didn’t become extinct but changed. The new generations mutated somehow.’

   ‘You’re pulling our leg now, right?’ said Sam. ‘This is like from a horror movie.’

   ‘I wish I were’ answered Gregor. ‘Long ago, ghouls took the lives of the living; some did not though, the reason for that unknown until today. Their victims were only bitten for their blood and left alive which then turned into a lesser kind of ghoul. That generation could walk among the living during the night and day unlike vampires or the original ghouls. They can do anything a human can only they have no need for sleep, drink or anything else a human need to survive.  Of course, they can do all these things if they wish to. That is why it was so difficult to recognize one amongst us. The way for them to survive was by drinking the blood of the innocent victim without promoting death. Again, unlike the original ghoul clan who fed on corpses and anything that had a heartbeat. The attacked woman had had her head ripped off. Her heart torn out and all three parts of her were buried separately to insure that she wouldn’t return to life as a ghoul. I never saw it but my grandmother makes a great Alfred Hitchcock! 

   She had told me that after the night of the attack there was no hope of feeling secure. There hadn’t been an episode since she was a child. She told me that my mother was so frightened for our very lives she sacrificed her own needs to secure our safety. The morning my father evacuated the inn leading out every tenant, mother wrapped my baby sister in a blanket and literally begged a newly wed couple to take her with them and raise her as their own. I don’t remember all that, but I do remember her turning to me at some point. She said, “
Gregori, I love you so much, I can not let you be in harms way, get your bags. This nice couple will take you home with them, somewhere safe I promise it will only be for a while.
”

   I saw her bite her lip. She held her tears best she could. My mother knew she would never see us again. Her tears escaped and fogged up her beautiful eyes. I remember yelling at the top of my lungs. “
No, mama I won’t go, I won’t!
” I ran out the front door in a panic and shaking like a leaf from fear of being taken away from the life I knew by some strangers.

   I hid myself in mother nature’s arms. I cried for hours until my crying led me to exhaust and eventually to sleep. My grandmother, who was a very tough woman and still is, had seen many wars, death and hunger. Those alone had made her a very determined woman. After both my parents disappeared searching for me that day, she too began to search. It was fortunate for me she did or I might not have been alive today. She found me in shock so much so I didn’t recognize her. I was dirty and starved. It wouldn’t be but for days before she would hear my voice again. I had changed.’

   Gregor drank the very last sip of his wine and then stared down at his watch.

   ‘We should retire now. It is late. I apologize for keeping you all up so late. We can continue another time if you’d like’ he said.

   ‘There is nothing to apologize for. We have enjoyed the evening and I, for one, am anticipating to hear the rest of the story’ Cassandra said smiling.

   ‘Yes and thank you for sharing that story with us. We’d all like to hear the rest soon’ continued Rebecca.

   She stared at Gregor and blushed. She had become infatuated with him from the very moment she first saw him yet, she had not shared her feelings with her sister nor her friends.

   ‘Goodnight to you all then. Sleep comfortably and in the morning at ten sharp we shall meet here so that I may give you all the ultimate tour of the mysterious forest in safety’ Gregor said jokingly.

   ‘Goodnight, ten it shall be!’ Cassandra said. Then looking at her friends she added.

   ‘He’s kidding right? Who can sleep after everything he just told us?’

   ‘I don’t believe in ghouls’ said Sarah.

   ‘Yeah, even if they existed at one time they don’t now, otherwise he wouldn’t take us out into the woods tomorrow.’ added Sam.

   ‘Come on, let’s go get some shut eye!’ Rebecca exclaimed. 

   They all dragged their legs up the steep flight of stairs to their rooms.

   ‘Goodnight ladies.’ said Sam.

   ‘Goodnight you guys, sleep tight!’ Sarah whispered. 

   Cassandra and Rebecca whispered back and shut the door behind them. Sam closed their door quietly and took Sarah into his arms.

   ‘Finally alone!’ he said as if fed up.

   ‘Sammy, you naughty boy! It’s so quiet now and the girls are right next door!’ Sarah reminded him. ‘I hope you’re not seriously thinking… well, you know.’

   ‘Oh, but not only am I thinking it, I am practically doing everything that is coming to mind!’ he said as he caressed her body and kissed her neck.

   He then pushed her up against the wall and lowered her zipper a little at a time sliding his fingers up and down her back giving her goose bumps.

   ‘Sam, you know I can’t resist when you do that, honey!’ said Sarah giving in.

   ‘That’s why I’m doing it baby and be aware that I have really bad intentions for you tonight’ he was saying while kissing her in between the words.

   Sarah had given in to Sam’s devious plan and responded to his call. In the mean time, Cassandra had fallen asleep already, exhausted by the days events. The wine was exactly what she needed to unwind and relax. She hadn’t yet put her head on the pillow and she was dozing off. Rebecca on the other hand wasn’t dreaming but she was fantasizing about what it would be like to be held in Gregor’s arms. She blushed looking into the mirror as she let that thought into her mind. She said goodnight to Cassandra but received no answer. Peeking into the room she saw that Cassandra had fallen asleep so she put out the two table lanterns and left the one hanging on the wall burn. Closing the joining door behind her she whispered.

   ‘Goodnight Cassie, sweet dreams love.’

   Rebecca had no intention of sleeping that night. She had been swept away by Gregor’s story and all she could think about was how she could get a chance to be with him alone. She freshened up her make up and hair and grabbed a lantern. She took a deep breath and walked out of the room. Rebecca went down stairs to where she found Marina locking the doors and windows.