“It’s possible that this was before the Reaper became greedy for the relics. They may have moved the group to Italy and put the statues up to keep him out.”
“I still don’t understand how the statues work,” Jake said, “or why the cross keeps the person protected. I felt like I was in a bubble when I passed through them. It was one heck of a rush. Not to mention scary as hell.”
“I felt the same way. And I assume he can’t pass them even with a cross.”
“That’s the part I don’t get,” Jake said. “It’s not logical.” Not that any of this was. “I guess they took his cross when they kicked him out.”
“I think so,” Kendall said, touching her cross again. “I think I’m wearing it.”
“Nathan’s cross? It’s crazy that he would end up with any of their crosses, but this one…”
“I know, but this looks just like the one my father wore.”
“If your father is the Reaper, then he’s probably long since stolen anything hidden near the abbey.”
“Unless it’s hidden deeper inside the tunnel, and there are statues guarding it. OK, let’s hurry before the others get there.”
But there were already a few people out. Lights flickered here and there as people walked the ruins. It was a beautiful night. The temperature was mild for October, the sky was clear, the stars brilliant—a perfect night for exploring ghostly ruins, which sucked when you were going on a covert mission. But most of the lights were nearer the house. The Lady Chapel was at the other end of the abbey.
The ruins looked like skeletons. Jake wanted to believe that was the reason for the knot in his gut, but he didn’t think so. “Let’s get this done.”
Kendall paused every now and then, and tilted her head, as if listening. Jake couldn’t hear anything but the sounds of night. It must be a burden to know things you shouldn’t.
“I think it was here.” She pointed to a section in the front of the chapel.
Jake grabbed a nearby lantern and placed it next to the wall. They searched the stones, but none seemed loose.
Kendall worked beside him. “I think it’s here.”
“You sensed something?”
“No. I see a crack. Give me your knife.”
He handed her the knife, and she scraped the edge of a stone. “Look. There’s a crack.”
He held the lantern closer. “That could be one side of an entrance. Let me try.” He scraped at the edges of the large section of stone and found the outline of a door. “I don’t see any way to open it without tearing up the stones. We need tools.”
“There has to be a way to open it. The monks did it, and they didn’t have tools. You work on clearing it, and I’ll keep looking for a latch.”
“Look for a circle,” he said. He worked at the crevice. Centuries of dirt and footsteps had packed it tight. After a few minutes, he had it cleared.
“I think I’ve found something,” Kendall said. “This stone feels different.”
It was an ornate cornerstone. “It’s round,” Jake said. “That’s a good sign.”
“Kendall! Jake!”
“It’s the group,” Kendall said. They stood up as the others approached, each of them carrying a lantern.
“You’re already here,” Halle said, looking relieved. “We were going to walk around for a while before the séance. I have a good feeling about tonight.”
Jake wished he did. “Good idea. We’ll be here getting ready. I think with a little more meditation Kendall’s senses will be more open to the spirits.” He glanced at the stone behind Kendall. “Twenty minutes should have her in tiptop spiritual condition.”
Everyone agreed, and the group hurried off.
“This stone moves,” Kendall said, touching the ornate stone. “Should we give it a try?”
“We should probably wait until later tonight when no one is here. I doubt the hole has been disturbed in a few centuries. It might be noisy.” And rigged with a booby trap.
“What if Art tells someone? He heard me say the secret tunnel was in the Lady Chapel.”
Jake didn’t think it was wise, but she was right about the kid. He checked to see if the area was clear. The closest group was near the abbot’s kitchen. “Let’s see what happens.”
“I hope light doesn’t shoot out like it did in the catacombs.”
“I’ll do it.” Jake pushed the round stone and heard a soft rumbling sound.
“Something’s happening,” Kendall whispered.
“Move back in case it’s a trap,” Jake said. They both stepped back, and the wall started to slide. The creaking sounded loud in the quiet of night. “Damn. That’s loud.”
The wall slowed. “It’s stuck,” Kendall said.
“It’s old.” Jake pushed against the door, and it opened a little farther.
“I see steps,” Kendall said, holding the lantern near the opening.
“Someone’s coming,” Jake said. They scrambled to close the wall. “Sit down and pretend we’re meditating.”
They dropped to the ground just as the group appeared.
“Is everything all right?” Sandy asked. “We heard the strangest groaning coming from over here.”
“Kendall was meditating,” Jake said. “Sometimes she’s loud.”
“Well, are we ready then?” Halle asked.
There would be no getting rid of them until they’d had their séance. He and Kendall would have to come back later tonight to check the priest hole anyway. It was too noisy to attempt with people around. “We’re ready.”
“Do we want to have the séance by King Arthur’s grave?” Halle asked.
“Yes,” Alice said, and Larry, Rhonda, and Sandy agreed.
Kendall seemed distracted as they walked to King Arthur’s grave. Jake couldn’t blame her. He wanted to know what was inside that priest hole too. Was it possible that they’d found something no one else had? If anyone knew about it, there would be some record.
The group got into position, sitting close to the gravesite. Once again, Jake sat next to Kendall and held her hand. Rhonda managed to get on his other side. Larry sat beside her, then Halle, and Alice sat on Kendall’s left. “Join hands, everyone,” Kendall said. “Close your eyes. Clear your minds of everything but King Arthur.”
Jake closed his eyes this time. After that last séance he couldn’t help but wonder if there was something more to his childhood dreams of King Arthur than just a kid’s daydreams and wanting to feel like he was special. Most boys wanted to be superheroes or soldiers or knights, but there had been times when his dreams felt real. He hadn’t told anyone except Lilly. She hadn’t made fun of him. She understood. She was the one who woke him if the dream got too intense. Hell of a coincidence, he thought. He’d been obsessed with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table as a kid, and now he was on a real quest.
They sat in silence for a while, and then Kendall spoke. Jake had seen psychics on TV and movies, but there was something about Kendall’s voice that was different. “King Arthur,” she said so softly it was a whisper. “We’re here.”
Jake felt a shiver, and Rhonda squeezed his hand. He thought he felt a breeze at his ear. Kendall called softly again, and he felt as if he were leaving his body. Like he had when he had made love to Kendall the first time. He still didn’t know if he’d imagined or sensed that couple making love in a forest, or if it was a spillover from Kendall’s visions. Maybe everyone had some kind of sixth sense. People like Kendall were just more developed.
The feeling intensified. He couldn’t hear anything except the sound of horses and men shouting. Then he was on a battlefield. A tall knight on horseback motioned to him, and they rode down the embankment toward the enemy. He felt a kinship with the man, as if they were brothers. And he felt a dreadful sense of betrayal, as if he had done him a great wrong.