The Three Enigmas: The Diamond of Strength

Chapter 19

The Dark Forest was not so Dark in this light, but everything was tinted in an unlit shade of green  Rebeckah's heart beat punded in her chest, while cold air swelled in her lungs. She ran, but grudgingly so, having to tell herself to pick up her feet and carry on with each step she took. And after a tedious hour of running, Rebeckah finally emerged on the other side of the Dark Forest, Manheim Manor towering over her. Not daring to stop until she made it inside those doors, she sprinted to the moat, and repeated a spell to bring it down. Once across, Rebeckah put it back up and sat down on the hard cold floor of the entryway, glad to be back in the comforting walls of her castle.

Sleep haunted over her like a ghost as she lay there, waning it to come and master her. But instead Rebeckah told herself she had to let James and Rupert know she was okay, so she hoisted herself off the floor and began to walk down the corridor. "Rebeckah!" she heard he name called sharply after about 10 minutes of walking. It was James. He came spiraling at her like a bat out of hell. He crashed into her and out his arms around her tightly. Rebeckah did the same, taking reassurance in the fact that even if he was annoying, she would always have James. 

It was quite unusual to hear James crying about anything at all. Back in the Mortal World, the most he showed emotion about was being angered, or upset over a sports team's loss. Rebeckah rubbed his back while he crying into her shoulder, "I thought you were dead." He finally managed to say.

"I thought I would be too, for a while there," she said,still caught in that awkaward position.

He came up and looked at her seriously. "Why did you take so long?" he asked. They began to walk down the hall. "Rupert and I sat for hours, dreaming up horrible things about why yu were gone. We thought you were captured, killed or even tortured."

I would've sent you a message, a nuntius charm, if I got a spare moment. You would've heard from me," she said stoically, she was much too tired and scared to show much emotion at all. 

"So, then, what's your story?" he asked, obviusly just wanting to know if she had the diamond. Rebeckah froze, she certantly did not want them to know that she was flirting and fratrenizing with the enemies son. They'd cut off all her ties, make sure she can't write or send him a message. She knew that they were looking out for her lie they were a father. Which was quite nixe, considering she never had a father to protect her in the first place.

"I'd rather tell you and Rupert at the same time. Where is he?" she asked.

"He's in the courtyard," said James, taking a left turn and following the the path to the Courtyard. They approached Rupert, who was sitting on a bench, looking sick and terrified. Rebeckah stopped in her tracks at the sight of his green face. Rupert was always tough, and stoic, Rebeckah sometimes even thought him to be a sociopathic. "Rebeckh," he said in relief. he bounded up to her and gave her a tight hug. "Thank God you're okay," he panted. He drew up, and said, "Do you have the diamond?"

Rebeckah pryed herself from his grasp and sat down on the bench where Rupert previously sat. She stared blankly into the rose bush, trying to hide her emotions so maybe they wouldn't have to see the hate she felt for herself. Making sure she wouldn't have to see the disappointment in their ees. "I don't have it," she said simply. 

"You don't?" they both asked, sounding upset but only slightly surprised. 

"No, I know where it is though," she said hopefully, trying to smoothe things over with them. "I broke into King Azazel's office and found it written on a sheet of paper." Rebeckah deliberately left out the party, Damon, the feelings she had for him, and the betrayl she felt by being his friend.

"Did you take the piece of paper?" asked James.

"Of course she didn't," said Rupert defensively, and speaking for her. "Rebeckah's too smart to do that. then Azazel would know someone has been snooping."

Rebeckah still didn't look at them. "We're going back tomorrow," she said. "At midnight. Damon will... I mean, I will show you. And then, we'll steal it." she said, nodding her head in agreement with herself. 

"We thought that you mihgt have given up," said Rupert in an admitting tone. 

"I'm not a quitter," Rebeckah reminded him. "But I'll be quitting soon if I con't get sleep." At which she left to go to her room. She climbed up the stairs and took a right, closing her door gently behind her. She stripped off Seymoure's dress, and was left in her bra and undies. She delved under the soft covers, sighed, and remembered back to what Damon said about protecting her. 

Amid in her loveful thoughts for Damon, Rebecca fell asleep easily.

She dreamt that it was a nice, fresh spring day, the kind that made you hopeful and chased away your winter worries. They were both lying in the deep green grass at gazed up at the clouds and sun above. Breathing in the crisp and sweet smellng air, Rebecca turned and saw Damon's thoughtful face looking directly into her eyes. He mouthed words but no sound was audible, "what was that? I'm sorry I couldn't hear you?" 

But instead he gave up his blabber and kissed her full on the mouth. It was like sucking on sugar that kiss was, sweet and addicting. After he pulled away, she said, "I want more Damon." But when her eyes opened he was gone. Here and gone again just like the clouds they were looking at.

When she woke up, Rebeckah found herself crying. She didn't know why. Over her mother, a need for Damon, and also, the pressure that was squeezing every muscle she had to bits. She pulled herself out of bed and walked over to the lounge to find Rupert and James talking hurriedly on the couch. "How do you suppose it'll work though? She was very vague, wasn't she?" said James.

"I think we ought to trust her. Afterall, she was there not us," Rupert replied.

Rebeckah stepped into the room and announced loudly, "Should i stay for this conversation?"

"Oh, Rebeckah!" said Rupert in shock. "We were thinking of coming to get you."

"Too kind," she remarked in a mock tone. She went over and sat on the couch. In front of them was a map of the Hostiban castle. She pointed to a small room in the east corner. "That's King Azazel's study," she announced. "When we go tomorrow, we're going to enter in the window behind here. To find the diamond, you have to repeat a spell that opens a cave. In there, the diamond lies."

She looked at them expectantly. "You're certain?" asked James, as if to cover up the silence. 

"Absolutely." Rebeckah couldn't help but wonder if she was putting herself and her family in danger. She'd rather she go alone, and die there, than put James and Rupert in toruble. What if Rupert postponed ther finding the diamond, so he could lead them into an even worse trap. Rebeckah had fluttering feelings for him, just ready to take off. But the prejudiced truth was that because he was Hostiban, she could never trust him completely. Despite the suave ways he had and the way he made the butterflies in her stomach take flight, she could never hand over her trust. But she knew that trusting him meant a hopeless failure, or a triumphant victory.