The Coming From the Shadows Series
Coming From the Shadows: Lydia
Previous Instalments:
- The Growth of the Old Oak: Part 1 – Secrets of the Imperium: Chronicles of the Mason Family
- The Growth of the Old Oak: Part 2 – The Hidden Artefact: Secrets of the Imperium Unveiled
The Growth of the Old Oak
3
Introduction:
October, 1905 A.D.
From Wyoming to New York; from New York to Calais – The Mason Siblings, had been experiencing a variety of different discoveries as of late – their first time leaving their home Estate in Wyoming to meet with their mother at a meeting in New York with the Imperium’s grand-leader; Victor, Isabelle; their mother had convinced Victor of her children’s skills – Victor the sanctioned their assignment to collect an Artefact from Southern Europe – the Balkan Region.
From New York to Calais; the Siblings got a taste of their first experience of Europe; of France, it made Morgan and Jakob unease, while their sister; Erin, often detached with a morbid fascination in things no one else would, was unmoved by their arrival in France – instead, she found an interest of her own during their time in Calais – an encounter with a British Girl with an aura she found fascinating, though she never revealed this to her older brothers.
From France though; the Mason siblings learned from the French Cultists ‘The Roosters’ a Cult directly linked with the Imperium, that the Artefact they sought was in the Balkan Region – Specifically, Bulgaria, they intended to travel via train, moving from France to Italy, from Italy to the Austro-Hungarian Empire – it’s disconnected system of rails proving a challenge themselves simply to cross a disjointed European Empire of multiple-ethnic regions that all vied for their own direction.
Morgan remained the stoic and pragmatic leader of their trio; his Short, well groomed Dark Hair and Green eyes.
His Younger brother by two years; Jakob – his shoulder length brown hair and deep-brown eyes, he was the grounding force, a balance between the pragmatic Morgan and their much darker younger sibling – Jakob provided the brains compared to Morgan’s hands on nature with firearms.
Erin; she stood out as an oddity; almost ethereal, her pale complexion, raven-hair and green eyes; eyes far colder than her brother Morgan – she looked upon the world with detached intensity, and she had turned silence into a weapon; an unconscious mastery, she simply unnerved people to no end just by her presence alone.
Chapter 1:
Bulgaria
When the Mason siblings finally arrived into Bulgaria after days of restless travel they had arrived into the town of Bankya; it was a small unassuming settlement with the foothills of the Lyulin mountain – the air was crisp and carried the scent of pine and damp earth.
As they stepped off of the train, a man detached himself from the small crowd; his eyes flickered between the three with a curious look – he was Bulgarian, dark and weathered feature, a neatly trimmed Mustache – his name, as he announced with a slight bow was Aleksandar, his tone while welcome was obsequious “Welcome to Bankya” he said; his eyes settled on Erin for a moment, her pale face contrasting with her dark hair – the intensity of her stare simply unnerved him “I am here to escort you to our…, facility”
The ‘facility’ as Aleksandar claimed turned out to be nothing more than some run down dilapidated building on the outskirts of the town, it was ostensibly just some warehouse with heavy reinforced doors, a presence of armed men betrayed its purpose – this was a staging ground from the Imperium within he region, a place that allowed the Bulgarian Cultists; ‘The Cult of Rila’ to plan out their deeds in cooperation with the Imperium’s grand-design
As Aleksandar led the three inside; Morgan felt a sense of unease – the air was thick, a stench of incense, or perhaps something else, it was indefinable, but deeply unsettling.
The Cultists themselves were hard and fanatical; their eyes burned with a disturbing fervour.
Aleksandar turned a moment, finally addressing the three siblings once again “This is where you shall be preparing for your…, ‘expedition’..” he told them, though Jakob noted his tone seemed off, like there was something being kept secret, but glanced to were Aleksandar gestured.
There was a pile of supplies; rations, climbing gear and a collection of antiquated firearms, from Morgan’s view – they served no real purpose, the rest of the equipment could be of use, depending on its age though, his hand instinctively went to the revolver hidden beneath his jacket, he was glad he brought it, he wouldn’t want to rely on the weapon’s that were being provided for their expedition
After a moment to discuss further; Aleksandar led the three to what would be their living quarters for the time being; as rudimentary as they were, they would do; Erin though paid little attention to Aleksandar, instead she twisted somewhat, she was listening to a sound that seemed to blend in with the surroundings, but, it still held enough of a distinction for someone if they paid attention – Morgan noticed his sisters strange behaviour, though he put it down to the same feelings he had – that she simply did not like their current surroundings
Chapter 2
The Whispers of the Mountain
The outskirts of Sapareva Banya
At a small encounterment close to the town of Sapareva Banya; a small camp had been set up along the mountainous hillside, shrouded by woodland; a meagre fire crackled and cast dancing shadows along the faces of the two sat close together.
Khariton – a Man in his late Twenties, he stared into the flames, his brow furrowed, the scars of the Russo-Japanese War remained a lingering memory that followed him, and now, added to this was the discovery of an organization that he had learned of trying to control his homeland – while he was still learning about them, he knew he had to stand against it – the Imperium’s activity had cost him his momentary peace in Siberia, a place he sought to seek refuge following the war, if he hadn’t, it is possible that his companion; Evelina would not be alive to this day.
He wore his usual modified Great Coat; a hood had been attached, presently it was pushed back; beside the log he was sat on was his rifle along with a bag containing other piece of equipment.
Evelina sat beside, partially leaning against him – of a similar age to Khariton, her eyes lingered on the dancing flames and listened to the crackling of the wood – Evelina had been a victim of the Cultists operating on the Imperium’s behalf in Russia, their interests in an ancient site led them to Siberia, unfortunately, Evelina had been captured along several others by mistake of simply being there at the time.
If not for Khariton, she certainly wouldn’t have survived – she had become his partner, his confidante and his only light within the bleak existence.
“The activity has increased” Khariton said; his voice was a low grumble, almost gravelly “The Bulgarian Cultists are buzzing like wasps”
Evelina nodded; her eyes not leaving the dancing flames of the fire “I can confirm your suspicions love; from what I could learn in the town; visitors from all other; British, French, German, Spanish and rumour of Americans now coming; all seem to be connected together, meeting with the local Bulgarian cultists, so, we can safely assume they are all connected to the Imperium’s sudden interest in this land”
Khariton narrowed his eyes a moment “The Imperium, it is like a hydra; it refuses to die, they spread the globe; but what is it that draws them here”
“There is an artefact in the mountain peaks of Musala; it has been…, active since February, they don’t know what has triggered it, but something clearly has” she told him
Khariton slowly nodded; shifting his hand a moment and gently squeezing Evelina’s hand into his own “We’ll stop whatever they are doing in those mountains” he then shifted his eyes upwards along the mountain as he thought
Chapter 3:
Echoes in the Stone
After a few days of travel; a new morning dawned, grey and overcast – casting a pall over the rugged landscape; the Mason siblings, accompanied by a handful of Bulgarian Cultists and their assigned guide; Aleksandar, had begun their trek along the mountain.
The higher they got, the colder the air grew – the steeper the path, and things began to get more treacherous.
Eventually though; they reached the mouth if a forbidding cave; here, Aleksandar stopped, his face pale in apprehension “This is as far as I go” he said, a tremble hinted within his voice “The uh…, the temple, it is not a safe place for those unprepared”
Morgan raised his eyebrow; his hand rested on the revolver “Prepared for what?”
Aleksandar avoided his gaze, his own eyes darted nervously about not only at the entrance, but to positions higher, as if looking for a threat lurking nearby “The…, artefact awakened in February; it is dangerous, and…., many have died in their attempts to reach and claim it”
Morgan exchanged a wary look with Jakob – this information had not been passed onto their mother, a lot of things were shrouded in secrecy, there was much that was clearly not provided, he doubted their mother would have been so quick to send them if she was fully aware of the circumstances surrounding what was really going on in Bulgaria “Perhaps” Jakob started “We should return to the town; send a telegram back to New York; to our mother, let her know what we have learned here, ask what she would suggest”
Morgan thought; he was going to agree, then he heard Erin speak; his eyes shifted towards her – Erin had been observing the scene with her usual unsettling detachment, when she had spoken, she spoke softly, but clear “We are being watched”
“What do you mean?” Morgan asked; his eyes shifted, he could see Aleksandar and the Bulgarian Cultists seemed to have backed up as they too looked around
“I feel eyes on us” she said softly; slowly shifting her gaze around the caves entrance
Morgan; shifting his eyes to the cave entrance felt uneasy; it was not a usual feeling, but, he was starting to feel it – he turns his attention to find that the Bulgarian cultists had already begun retreating back down the mountain, they hadn’t even made any attempt to alert them – it was obvious that they were aware of something “Why would they just eave us here with no support” Jakob questioned
“I don’t know” Morgan answered “But, perhaps you are right, we should…” he stopped, hearing movement, he unholstered his revolver, raising it quickly as he moved in front of both Jakob and Erin.
Chapter 4
A Warning in the Wilderness
“They leave because they know what lays beyond this cave” Khariton tells them, he steps out from the cave, the wind now beginning to pick up causing his great-coat to begin fluttering, his hood rippled alongside his face; beside him, Evelina emerged from the shadow of the cave – he watched Morgan moved and raise the revolver
Shifting his eyes, Khariton decided to move in front of Evelina, he shrugged his left shoulder causing the strap of his rifle to drop and he gripped the rifle in front of him, unlike Morgan, he didn’t raise it, simply held it as an indication he would be prepared to use it if he needed too
“Who are you!” Morgan demanded; his voice cold, hard
“I am simply here to warn you” Khariton responded simply
“Warn us about what?” Morgan sneered
Khariton sighed; he was use to this sort of interaction amongst those he encountered from the Imperium “Lower you weapon kid” Khariton told him calmly, though he sounded almost bored as he glanced away briefly “I am not here to fight you”
“We’ll listen to what you have to say” Morgan said; his eyes narrowed “But, I am not lowering my weapon”
Khariton shook, exasperated, his head as his eyes returned to Morgan “Those Cultists are not telling you the truth; the temple you are seeking is far deeper underground than you have been told; filled with traps, ancient mechanisms designed to protect what is within; it is a prison, not man-made either, I have watched people vanish past the threshold of its entrance to never return”
Morgan scoffed “”We’ve come a long way..”
Khariton cut across him “Yes; your American; I know you’ve come a long way; but don’t be stupid!” he snapped “You do not understand what you are dealing with; this temple is not something you can simply enter and walk back out, you cross that threshold, you’ll never leave again”
“You sound like some madman; we serve the Imperium, and it is our duty to carry our the task assigned to us” Morgan snapped “Who are you to tell us what to do”
“I am trying to help you!” Khariton raised his voice over Morgan; he looked at the three with a mixture of pity and frustration “Your all young yet; you go beyond this cave, and descend to its depth to find that temple, breach it; you’ll never be seen again; you’ll be a forgotten footnote in history like so many others”
With a final attempt to push; Khariton spoke calmly once more “Just turn back; inform your American brethren that you have been lied too; deceived”
Morgan shifted his gaze to Jakob; Jakob was more interested in taking the advice, Erin simply stood in silence, observing the whole exchange with an unnerving intensity; Morgan finally decided to stand down; he wouldn’t walk his siblings into a potential death trap.
Khariton observed carefully, moving the rifle, returning the strap back over his shoulder, and subtly gestured for Evelina to move, as he also moved, both shifting uneasily while Morgan kept his revolver raised – though Morgan did finally lower it, allowing for the two Russians to begin walking off unthreatened, the Mason siblings, they too decided to turn back – they would head for the nearby town with intentions to send word back to their mother in New York to find out what she wanted them to do.
Written By: Westley H.
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