Curse of the Oak

Chapter Nineteen

Mountains were springing up around her, taking Des back to the real mountains she once visited in Switzerland. She remembered viewing them with their ice topped peaks, enchanting her in a world filled with ice and snow. However, the mountains she was currently looking at were topped with something more. They were topped with knowledge and wisdom of the past. Hopefully hiding the secrets, she been looking for in the past hours.

The piles of books were beginning to grow into the majestic mountains all around. Des began to feel like a prisoner as she become entrapped by the ancient archives. The words holding her prisoner until she found what her eyes had been searching for. The game of I Spy was beginning to make her eyes pop out of her head, making her vision blur and vowing to never look at a book again for the next couple of days.

Although, Des was bound and determined to not give up. Her mind had been taking her back to the vision she experienced. Every detail and image she saw played inside her mind. And every time it replayed, she noticed a new detail she didn't see before like her family's crest embellished on King Richard's shield. Or the fear Herne portrayed when he saw the innocent people slaughtered by unnatural ways. All of it was building up to a storm, but not just any storm. This storm was filled with darkness and death. One Des feared that would linger longer than others suspect.

After going through her mother's tenth and last journal, she shut it disappointed to not discover anything that may help her. All her journals spoke about her time as Queen of the forest, along with her journey of discovering more about her ancestors. And just like Des, there was no one to teach her about her history. Her mother's parents were killed just after she was born. Desiree's mother commented it as Urwik's way of taking away a joyous moment from the family. And even after scanning through the countless tales of the other creatures, Des longed to implore. But Des made herself stay on task, which lead to nothing.

There was no ancient text about the symbol shaped from the mutilated bodies. Des took a minute to think about the innocent lives laying there. When she took in the image, she not only saw mature beings, but youthful ones as well.

How could anyone do something like that?

To take an innocent life was a coward's way to live in this world. The time of distress was beginning to set in.

She thought back to the dream. She imagined King Richard, seeing him in his early life. He hair had been the color of dawn and shined under the crown. She also saw how worried and anxious he was. Almost as if he was hiding another secret.

Irritated and annoyed with her failed attempt, Des threw the journal aside, causing the books to create a landslide, clumping them on the floor until there wasn't a single one left on the table. With a deep sight, Des got on the ground and started stacking the books.

The door behind her creaked open, revealing Lucy standing by. Her calming and composed expression stood out from behind her glasses. She walked over placing a cup on the table.

"Doing okay?" Lucy asked Des.

Leaving the rest on the floor, Des pulled herself back into her chair. She massaged her temples, hoping to remove the headache of frustration that was beginning to set in.

"You tell me," Des said sarcastically, not wanting to give too much away. When Des first walked in and requested to go into her mother's old office, Lucy gave her a prying look. However, Des quickly recovered saying it was about hunters' stuff, hoping to learn more about the realm.

Only nodded, Lucy unlocked the door and left her be.

Until now.

"It's hard for one to tell another something," Lucy laughed. "Especially, when one is so secretive. I cannot help you when I don't know the whole truth."