FanStory.com - The Unwilling Heir - chap 32by Begin Again

An icy gust of wind swept through the room, causing the curtains to billow and the candle to sputter. Esther's body trembled. Her eyes darted around the room and then back to William. "The others have gone to the ballroom to retrieve the portrait, but without you —"

Her head snapped up, her eyes scanning the room. The once-distant howling had escalated to a deafening crescendo, and Esther could feel the demons' presence, their energy growing stronger. She knew they were there to intimidate and drive her away from William.

"I'll not leave his side," she yelled, with very little conviction. "I believe Sebastian. He says we are safe."

The shadows grew darker, and the air thickened. She swallowed hard, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her. Holding the cross, she repeated, "Sebastian says you can't harm us. This cross will keep you at bay."

High-pitched laughter echoed around the room, cruel and mocking. A voice hissed, "Sebastian cannot save you. He is not here."

The mansion's walls shuddered, and the demonic howling reached an agitated state. Pictures fell from the wall, and a bookcase with all its decaying books toppled over, landing a mere few feet from William's bedside.

As the shadows closed in, Esther gripped the cross tighter and screamed, "Sebastian!" Her cry rang with desperation as it echoed throughout the mansion.

*****

James and the others strained against the heavy door, desperate to open it. They pushed and pulled on the door, but it would not budge.

"It's stuck!" James's eyes widened with fear. "Something or someone is holding it shut."

Billy yelled, "Sebastian, can you hear me?"

The howling and screaming grew deafening. Large chunks of plaster fell from the hallway ceiling, and heavy dust filtered through the gaping cracks around the door, making breathing difficult. Coughing and gasping for air, James pounded his fist against the door and called out, "Sebastian!"

Lorrie pointed at the doorknob. "It's opening."

A blinding light pierced through the narrow opening as the door moved, revealing Sebastian, his white robe torn and blackened, but his celestial form glowed. Behind him, a swarm of shadowy figures, writhing and twisting, snarled as they tried to overpower him.

Horrified, Madeline screamed, "We've got to get out of here."

Sandra nodded, "Go, Madeline, run. We'll follow you."

As soon as Sebastian cleared the threshold, a sudden silence fell over the ballroom. The howling and screaming ceased abruptly. He slammed the door closed, leaning breathlessly against it.

The mansion's floors creaked and groaned underfoot, and the plaster crumbled around them. Sebastian's glow brightened as he laid his hands on the wooden doors. "Your darkness can't withstand the light. This place will not hold you anymore. Your souls are condemned to the house of Satan."

The ballroom trembled violently, and its foundation gave way as the structure collapsed, sending shockwaves through the air. The thick dust and debris filled the hallway, obscuring everything in sight.

Lorrie's eyes widened with fear as she yelled, her voice trembling, "What's happening?"

James's voice rose above the chaos as the walls cracked and crumbled. "The ballroom is collapsing. We've got to get out of here."

From inside the ballroom, the remaining demons let out a chorus of despair and rage. The ceiling buckled, sending large chunks of debris crashing down. The floor split open like a gaping wound, and the ballroom imploded, engulfing everything in a cloud of dust and rubble. The oppressive darkness faded gradually, leaving a hazy light in its wake.

As the group escaped up the staircase, an eerie silence covered the destruction they'd narrowly escaped.

******

At the top of the stairs, glorious rays of sunlight filtered through the windows like a new dawn, offering hope to the group as they wearily trudged up the stairs.

"We made it!" Sandra gasped, her voice filled with overwhelming relief.

Will leaned his great grandfather's portrait against the wall as the other men joined him, choking and shaking their heads in disbelief.

Lorrie, exhausted, sagged against a wall, her stout body heaving as she gasped for air. She clutched the contents of the lockbox in her grip as if it were life itself.

Madeline stood beside her, disheveled and covered with a thick layer of dust. "What about Esther and William?" she turned to Sebastian, her voice quivering. "Are they okay?"

Sebastian, his celestial glow dimming as he recovered, nodded. "I must get back to them. The demons have weakened, but they are not all gone."

*****

Esther's eyes widened with fear as she screamed again, "Sebastian, help us!"

Darkness engulfed almost the entire room when a brilliant ball of light suddenly appeared next to William's bed. In seconds, it grew in size, and Sebastian appeared. His voice was powerful and unwavering as he spoke. "You have no power here. You've been sentenced to damnation."

Most of the demons faded into the walls instantly, but a few recoiled yet remained, their glowing eyes dimming beneath Sebastian's celestial glow as they hissed. Yet, one by one, they vanished into the shadows, dissolving into the air.

Astounded by Sebastian's power over the demons, Esther gaped as she looked around the room. "Your — words — chased — them away."

"Not my words, but the power of our faith." Sebastian smiled at Esther. "You were brave to stay with William."

She nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. "Thank you, Sebastian. I couldn't have done this without you." She opened her hand and stared at the cross she clutched before handing it to Sebastian.

"No — it is yours to protect you and William through eternity."

Esther's shimmering shadow glowed as she materialized into her earthly form. A sense of hope filled her being. The long-lost beauty of yesteryear etched her face, and her slim frame straightened with determination. She smiled. "We can do this. You and the others will make it possible."

"We will do this — with William's help." His glow brightened as he moved closer to William and held his hand. "My friend, you are a fighter, and now it's time to help the others complete what you started long ago. It's time to heal."

A low groan slipped from William's lips, drawing Esther's immediate attention. Her heart pounded as she stared at the man she'd loved so long ago. His body was quiet and lay still, but something was different.

Esther caressed his face, her touch tender and loving. "William, you can do this. Come back to us —" Her voice lowered to a whisper as she leaned closer to him. "To me — please, William, come back to me."

Slowly, as if responding to her plea, William's fingers twitched, and then his eyelids fluttered until he opened his eyes.

As their eyes locked, a wave of emotions she'd locked away a long time ago flushed through her, and she cried, "William — my sweet William — you're awake."

The air shimmered with energy, and Esther recognized the spark in his eyes as he fought to return to them. His voice was barely audible as he stared into her eyes. "Esther?"

"Yes, William, it's me."

Still slightly disoriented, his eyes drifted around the room, taking in Sebastian's glowing form and returning to Esther. "Is it over?" A sadness crept into his eyes as he asked, "Did I fail?"

Esther's head snapped toward Sebastian. "What do I tell him?"

Sebastian knelt beside William's bed before he spoke. "Even in your unconscious state, my friend, you brought everyone closer to redemption. They have the first clue — the portrait. Unfortunately, Victoria made the wrong choices and paid a price." He smiled. "But you did not fail."

William reached for Esther's trembling hand. "And you — you stayed by my side after all I have done?"

"Shhh — save your strength, William. The others need you." Esther tried to comfort him.

"The others?"

Esther's glow grew brighter as her heart filled with love. "I met Will and Billy."

William smiled as he struggled to prop himself on his elbows. "You saw both of them?"

"Yes, they are here to help us find your hidden treasures."

William's eyes shifted to Sebastian. "You mean — it's not too late?"

"It's never too late, William." As his celestial form disappeared, his voice remained, "Now it's up to you."

*****

In the dining room, Lorrie quickly set wash basins of warm water, towels, and soap on the table, allowing everyone, especially Madeline and Sandra, to wipe away the dust and debris covering their bodies.

The men gathered together and, taking great care, opened the letter they'd found in the lockbox. The thin paper threatened to crumble when touched, and the ink had faded. Will laid it on the table, gently smoothing the creases.

A chorus of questions sprang from the group. "What's it say, Will? "Does it tell us where the treasure is?" Is it a clue or not?"

Will looked at the paper and then shook his head. "I can't read it. It's written in Italian, I think."

Billy moved around the table, stepping closer to Will's side. Peering over his shoulder, Billy studied the paper. His eyes narrowed as he tried to decipher the words. "That's grandfather's writing."

James looked at the paper and then at Billy. "Are you sure?"

Billy nodded. "He raised me. He was a stickler for me learning to write properly and to read."

"But — this is in Italian."

"Our ancestry originated in Italy. I was schooled on our heritage for many long nights. Grandfather was proud of who we were and wanted me to remember it all."

Will's voice was a mere murmur when he spoke to Billy. "He must have been very proud of you. My youth was wasted on riding horses, hiking in the mountains for weeks, and falling in love. My death —"

Billy grabbed his father's arm. "Your death was a tragic accident. Grandfather spoke highly of you, and his grief was deep."

Frustrated, Benny yelled, "But what does he say about the treasure?"

Will's eyes glistened as he smiled at his son. Turning back to the table, he asked, "Can you read this?"

Billy studied the paper. "I'm not sure. My Italian could be better, but he is writing about our heritage. He wrote — Mio figlio, il professore, torna a casa — which roughly means he's talking about his son, the professor."

"That doesn't make sense. I wasn't a professor."

Sandra joined the men. "Maybe, since your grandfather hid the letter with the portrait, he is referring to the general's son."

Will laughed, "Nice one, Sandra. Show up the guys."

A bright red flush covered Sandra's cheeks. "I wasn't —"

Billy laughed, too. "I think he's teasing you, Sandra. Just trying to lighten the mood."

"Oh, sorry." Sandra glanced at the men. "I'm here to help, right?"

The men responded in unison, "Right!"

Wanting to take the attention off her, Sandra asked, "Can you read any more of it, Billy?"

"I think he's talking about a friend, but he names a place, not a person. It says - la biblioteca Ã¨ tua amica, meaning the library is your friend." Billy sighed and studied the end of the paper. "There's a funny scribbling drawn at the bottom, and beneath the drawing, it says - Le risposte arrivano dal libro. Answers come from the book."

Still impatient, Benny complained, "Why so cryptic? When someone gave me a job, it was simple. A name and get it done."

Billy nodded at his friend. "I know, but Grandfather didn't know who would find this letter. He had no idea if it would be us."

"What's the scribbling look like, Billy? Is it a map of something? And what book has the answers?" James pulled out a chair and lowered himself into it. "Are we any closer than we were?"

Still staring at the letter, Sandra asked Billy, "What does that drawing look like to you?"

Billy stared at it and then laughed. "I might have drawn that as a kid or something very similar. It's a boot." His eyes met Sandra's, and then he added, "It's Italy. He wants us to find a book about Italy in the library."