FanStory.com - The Unwilling Heir - Chap 31by Begin Again

END OF CHAP. 30

Will nodded and added, "If my memory is correct, there's a line of portraits circling the ballroom. With enough people, we should be able to quickly check for a man in uniform and retreat, hopefully with the portrait in hand. How long do you think we will have, Sebastian?"

"Five, six minutes at the most. You'll need to separate, each taking a portion of the room. You'll have to move fast because the demons will be seething and ready to attack."

Having remained quiet during their discussion, Esther finally found her voice and asked, "What about you, Sebastian? You said five for six minutes. What happens if you are protecting us and —" Her voice quivered, and she stopped, unable to put her thoughts into words.

Billy finished her sentence. "She's right. You're putting yourself at risk, and it's not your fight."

The glow surrounding Sebastian's celestial being shimmered brighter than ever before as he spoke, "The council chose me to guide you in this search. I do it with the faith that my Shepherd will protect me from the evil demons. I shall walk through the valley of the shadow of death. I will fear no evil, for He is with me. His rod and staff will comfort me."

Benny murmured, "Amen."

Lorrie nodded, her anger cooling, but her resolve unshaken. "We do this together," she said firmly, still waving her finger for emphasis. "All of us."

"Alright, alright," he conceded, his tone softening. "You win. But we must all be careful. This might be our only chance."

*****

CHAPTER 31

Lorrie busied herself in the kitchen, baking fresh pastries and a pot of hot coffee, trying to control her mounting anxiety. The smell of butter and sugar filled the air, mingling with the tension in the air. Different scenarios of what might happen today swirled through her mind, each more unsettling than the last.

The rich aroma wafted throughout the house, drawing everyone to the dining room, where there seemed to be little conversation. Small groups huddled together, murmuring occasionally as they waited nervously.

Sebastian saw Esther enter the room, and he immediately went to her side. "Esther, I need you to stay behind with William today," he said urgently.

"But everyone —" Her eyes scanned the room, focusing on those she had grown close to. "I can't —" Her voice trailed off, her face a mask of worry.

Sebastian's smile faded. "William needs someone with him. If left alone, the demons might target him," he explained, his voice grave.

Esther gasped, her translucent form fading slightly. "Sebastian, I don't have the power to defend us."

Sebastian took her hand and pressed a gold crucifix into her palm. "But he does. You will be safe, I promise," he assured her, his eyes full of conviction.

Trembling, she closed her fingers around the cross and nodded, trusting Sebastian's word despite her fears.

"Go — be with him. You've waited so long to be by his side. He needs you, and maybe he will share another clue. I'll come to you as soon as we return."

Still doubtful, she searched for Madeline, but she hadn't arrived yet. Sebastian understood and added, "I'll tell her I've asked you to stay with William. Madeline will understand."

Esther nodded and slipped out of the dining room, stopping at the doorway to glance at the people willing to risk their lives for her family and the others. Sighing, she hurried through the mansion hallways back to the man she loved.

*****

Standing at the top of the staircase, James looked at each person, reading facial expressions and assessing their true feelings about entering the mansion's bowels.

"Before we open the door and descend the staircase, I want everyone to think hard and long about what we are doing. There are no promises of the outcome if the demons attack. Sebastian has only the power he was given and nothing more. If you turn back, it's your right, and no one will think less of you."

A few murmurs drifted through the group, but no one stepped away. Satisfied, James opened the heavy door and started his descent. The steep, narrow staircase appeared to disappear as they entered the darkness.

Sandra and Madeline remained close to Lorrie, whose flashlight cast eerie shadows on the walls. The others followed close behind, their footsteps echoing ominously.

As they reached the bottom, both mortal women reached for each other's hand as flashbacks of their last journey down this hallway rushed through their minds. Though she didn't remember the actual loss of Victoria, a sickening feeling filled Sandra's stomach, praying none of them would meet that same fate.

Sebastian stood closest to the door outside the grand entrance to the ballroom. His celestial presence created a protective barrier against the howling and whispering demons lurking in the shadows, forewarning each of them of what awaited inside.

Sebastian, standing tall and radiant, his celestial light cutting through the gloom, gave a final nod to the group. "Remember, we have five minutes. Stay close and trust each other, but time is of the essence."

He placed his hand on the doorknob, turned it, and opened the doors, revealing the long-forgotten ballroom. Dust particles danced in the faint beams of light. The once magnificent chandeliers hung precariously, their crystals dulled by years of neglect. Torn draperies moved as an unseen breeze crossed the room, and the temperature plummeted. The furniture lay upside down. Scattered ashes covered the marble floor, remnants of Victoria's effort to burn the book before her demise. The sound of hissing and whispers grew louder.

As he stepped into the ballroom, Sebastian's light intensified. He raised his hands in the air, his voice resonating with divine authority. "Stop! By the power of my Lord, I forbid you to pass." The demons recoiled, hissing and writhing into distorted shapes, but they did not retreat.

James ushered the group into the room, rattling off instructions. "The ladies can check the area to the left. Benny and Ryan take the section to my right. Will, Billy, and I will move to the far side."

Everyone fanned out, their eyes scanning the portraits on the walls, grabbing any with a man in uniform. There wasn't time to check each one, so when their arms were full, they raced into the hallway, dropped them on the floor, and then returned to their hunt.

With her keen eye for detail, Lorrie spotted a large ornate frame partially hidden by fallen drapery. As she struggled to remove it from the wall, she called to the others, her breath visible in the frigid air. "Over here."

Madeline and Sandra rushed to her side. The three women fought to remove the painting of a stern-looking man in a Civil War uniform from the wall. His eyes seemed to follow them, silently witnessing the unfolding drama.

Sensing their excitement, the evil spirits began frantically swirling in the shadows. Some tested Sebastian's power as they passed his barrier, staying close to the vaulted ceiling. Sinister laughter echoed off the walls, sending chills through everyone.

James, usually the one to act, hesitated, his eyes darting between the swarming demons, Sebastian, and the women with the portrait. His voice shaking, he called to Sebastian, "Is there time?"

Concentrating on keeping the demons at bay, Sebastian failed to answer. James yelled to the others, "Time's running out."

Benny, materializing and then fading away, fought to steady himself as he rushed toward the women. He pointed at the wall, yelling, "There's something behind it."

Billy and Will joined them. With a swift pull, the men loosened the anchors holding it, revealing an old, rusted lockbox inside a hole in the wall.

Suddenly, the room vibrated, and the walls shook violently, crumbling in places. The demons surged forward, their dark forms becoming more defined and menacing. Sebastian's light wavered under the assault, and the group felt the icy grip of fear tightening around them.

"We need to open it!" Lorrie shouted, fumbling with the box. Her hands, usually so steady, shook violently.

Sebastian strained to hold back the dark forces and screamed, hoping to be heard above the demons' howling. "Hurry! I can't hold them much longer!"

With a burst of adrenaline, Sandra grabbed a nearby brass candlestick and slammed it against the lock. The box sprung open, revealing a key and an ancient, tattered letter. "This must be it!" she exclaimed.

The demons made a final, desperate push as the group retrieved the contents. The flames from the fireplace came alive, their seering tips flicking like wild tongues, extending into the room. The hisses and howling built to an ear-piercing crescendo as the dark shadows wiped above them near the ceiling, dipping closer with each moment.

Sebastian, his light now blindingly bright, unleashed a wave of energy, forcing the evil spirits back. "Go! Now!" he commanded.

The group, clutching the key and letter, raced towards the doorway. The ballroom walls seemed to close in on them, the shadows stretching and grasping. They reach the hallway, hearts pounding and the sounds of the demons' rage echoing behind them. They collapsed outside the ballroom, gasping for breath, their bodies trembling from the ordeal.

Lorrie screamed as she looked behind her. "Where's Sebastian? We can't leave him." Terrified, she cried, "We've got to go back."

Struggling for air, she pushed herself off the floor, but James grabbed her arm, holding her back. "You're not a match for the demons, Lorrie, and neither am I."

Sobbing as she leaned against him, she moaned, "We can't leave him, James. We can't."

"She's right." The men raced back toward the ballroom as the howling intensified. Plaster fell from the walls, and the ballroom door slammed shut. Billy and Will pushed against it, but it wouldn't open. Both men stared into each other's eyes, feeling defeated even though they'd found the first clue.