The Dark Path: Stygian Days

Constants, Variables and Infinity (1)

[Miles’ POV]

“Sierra will be alright. She took a rough beating but I predict that she will be on her feet in a few days.” Jamie said as she walked down the stairs of Enzo’s house. It had been a long journey from Amesbury to Enzo’s town. Sierra was badly injured and needed medical attention. Archer was nowhere in sight.

I was woken up by a security guard at Stonehenge. I had to answer a few questions but fortunately, they allowed me to call Enzo. I still had no explanation as to why Tyson and Sylvia attacked me, why they sided with Alessandro, what they wanted with the pages and where they had been and gone.

“That’s pleasing to hear.” I said grimly.

Jamie walked up to the sofa area where Enzo and I waited.

“I gave her some herbal medicine. Don’t expect any miracles, though.” Jamie said as she sorted the folder that she was carrying. “You should have told me that the Stone Elemental was hiding the pages at Stonehenge. I understand that he would have kept the pages in the Forbidden Chambers as it is one of the safest places but to send you in there was not very clever of Mr Brunel. It was fortunate that you were strong. Archer would have killed Sierra.”

“Mr Brunel was very vague about what we would encounter. I’m still surprised that I was not affected.” I said.

“The Forbidden Chambers have elements that do not obey our will. It is such a forbidding place that even Mother Nature herself would only go there as a last resort. The forces there can drive a human to insanity. Only those who have the spirit to persevere may leave that place without so much as a scratch.”

“A spirit to persevere…or maybe I haven’t experienced anything tragic yet.”

“Perhaps.”

“Another question; What happened to Mr Brunel? He was dead and older when we left the chambers.”

Jamie corrected the glasses on her nose. “I know as much as you do. I am still looking into it and have yet to find any leads.”

Enzo rubbed his chin as he spoke. “Brunel was never in good health for the past few weeks. Maybe he had a sudden heart failure and died while the three of them were in there?”

“We are not ruling out natural death yet. The investigation is in its early stages and conclusion is not expected to be made anytime soon. I will update you if I find anything.”

“That’s fine. When I left the chambers, two old faces where waiting for me. My friend, Tyson, and his sister, Sylvia. I was surprised to see them but they weren’t very friendly.”

“Yes, I know about them.”

“And you did not bother to tell me?”

“The information that Mother Nature keeps are not free handouts. You will know what you need to know. Anything else is deemed unnecessary.” Jamie walked over to the window and looked out at the snowy streets. “I should not be sharing this information with you but things are not looking good. Before I reveal what I must, you must agree that what is said in here, stays here. Word of our conversation must not reach Mother Nature’s ears. You may wish to share it with Archer, if you find him, and Sierra, when she wakes up.”

I nodded and sat back. “Alright, let’s hear it.”

Jamie cleared her throat before she spoke. “Many centuries ago, the power of the wind was controlled by a single elemental as were the other elements. One wind elemental decided that humans should worship elementals. Few would have called it animism. Mother Nature frowned upon his ideas, however. Arguments struck and a long ferocious battle ensued over a long period of time. The humans were caught in the middle and many died. The ones who survived assumed that the gods were angry and were unaware of the real reason.”