The secret of heritage

Part 2

In the middle of the night, waking up, I looked at the clock — it was three in the morning. Whether it was my stomach telling me to go down for a snack or my intuition, I left the room and walked through several corridors, where I saw someone in the dark.

After looking closely, I realized it was Amelia. She stood motionless, like a gecko trying to blend in with the surroundings.

— Amelia, is everything alright? Are you going somewhere?

She looked at me, confused, as if she hadn't even heard.

— Um... I'm here...

She started, but I interrupted her with a question:

— Maybe you'd like to join me? I'm going to have a snack; my stomach won't let me rest.

— Yes, Amelia replied.

As we descended to the kitchen, which is located in the basement, the staff was asleep, so I had to prepare something myself.

Amelia, surprisingly, was wearing the same clothes I had met her in last night at the cafe, as if she hadn't even gone to sleep.

Unexpectedly, she asked me:

— Have you been interested in the history of this estate? It seems too sinister.

— Actually, I haven't been here long, and yes, this castle looks so mystical, although it's quite cozy. But maybe it just seems that way.

I opened the refrigerator, looked it over: there were many prepared dishes, but since I love sandwiches, I took out buns, cheese, and butter, made a few sandwiches for myself and Amelia, and brewed green tea. We started eating our sandwiches.

— I haven't had such delicious sandwiches, Amelia smiled.

— These are just sandwiches. The cooks would definitely make them better.

— Do you have a large staff for house maintenance?

— Yes, about twenty people. Actually, I'm not even familiar with them. I've only seen the staff who care for the garden outside and the cook a few times, but I haven't met the others yet.

— Evelyn, tell me about your aunt. Who was she? How did she get this estate?

Amelia's words again reminded me of the mysteriousness of this place.

— Actually, I didn't even know my aunt, and it's strange to me why this estate was passed down to me. It's still a mystery to me, and I, unfortunately, can't describe my aunt to you — she was like a ghost to me.

— And how did she die?

At that moment, I began speaking simultaneously with her and asked:

— Amelia, tell me about your parents or relatives with Marcus?

Unexpectedly, Amelia got up and abruptly said, as if I had offended her, that she was tired and wanted to go to sleep. I didn't stop her, just wished her a good night. Her behavior seemed quite strange.

Around four in the morning, I went up to my room on the third floor and went to sleep.

I was awakened by the sound of birds singing and the noise of ocean waves. I looked out the window — the view was incredible, worth all the money in the world! Every day waking up in this room, I couldn't take my eyes off the early ocean waves.

I looked at the clock — it was half-past ten in the morning.

I needed to get up and help Amelia and Marcus with finding the hotel. However, something kept bothering me: how did they end up at the cafe, which is the only one near my estate? This is a dead zone, and all the hotels located in the city center are far from my house. But, as they said, the map just led them here by mistake, and they accidentally ended up in the cafe near my house.

Going down to the hall on the first floor, I saw Amelia and Marcus. He was the first to greet me:

— Good morning! How did you sleep?

— Didn't your sister tell you what a feast we had at night?

— Yes, thank you for feeding her. She loves to eat at night.

Unexpectedly, Amelia elbowed him and looked at us with a hurt expression. We all started laughing loudly at this situation.

— Evelyn, could we stay here for a few more days and keep you company?

Asked Marcus and continued:

— Of course, if we don't bother you with our presence. We really like this place, especially the ocean. We'd like to explore this area a bit. What do you say, Amelia?

Amelia looked confused at her brother but silently nodded.

I agreed with their proposal, as I didn't have any friends in this town yet, and I thought, why not.

After that, the three of us set off for a walk along the ocean.

— What do you usually do in your free time? Amelia asked.

— In my free time, I love reading books. What about you?

Marcus was the first to start talking:

— We love traveling and getting to know new places. Especially your estate is very interesting; it has its own atmosphere.

Looking at Marcus, I remembered my childhood friend Darius. They both had dark hair and piercing dark eyes. They and Amelia looked about 25 years old, while I was 20.

Amelia is a tall brunette who loves stylish clothes, while I always prefer comfort, choosing jeans and oversized T-shirts.

I'm short — only 160 cm, slender, with blue eyes and long blonde hair. Enjoying the view of the ocean and the warm sunny day, we approached the house, where Tarion met us.

— Good day, Tarion. What do you have there?

— Good day, Evelyn. This is a box your aunt left for you. I was instructed to give it to you personally.

The box was covered with dark gray material, worn from time and with a strange symbol on the lid.

— Why didn't you give it to me earlier?

— I can't answer that.

— And why is it so important that it can't be left with other things?

— Sorry, but I can't disclose the details. Your aunt indicated that it should only be opened in solitude. It's part of a special condition.

— I understand. But why are you so nervous?

— Just doing my duty. I wouldn't want anything to go wrong. It's important to follow every detail now.

— Alright, I'll take the box. Thank you for your concern. And also, can we talk about what's next?

— Sorry, but I must leave you with the box. After that, please open it in peace. Everything you need to know will be written inside.

— Alright, Tarion. Thank you.

— You're welcome. If you need any assistance, don't hesitate to reach out.

Pointing to the dining table, he noted that lunch was ready.

Lunch was exquisite: roast meat, grilled vegetables, various salads, homemade bread, and desserts. After the guests enjoyed the meal, I suggested they rest in their rooms, and I went to my bedroom on the third floor to finally open the box.

Inside the box, I found a letter and an amulet — unusual, glowing with a blue light. The letter contained text that seemed strange:

"Evelyn, I leave you this amulet. Let it be your guide in unraveling the secrets of our family home. Though we never had the chance to meet, I am sure you are the only one I can entrust with this legacy. The estate staff will be your allies. Do not hesitate to seek their assistance.

The amulet should always be worn, hidden from prying eyes. It will not activate until you find the inner key to its power. On the lower floor, next to the kitchen, there is a hidden room waiting for you. Only there will you be able to understand all the secrets it holds and learn more about me. Trust only your intuition.

Your Aunt Isabella."