Chapter Two
Suri stood in a small shop that had been cunningly marked Tailor’s, her arms folded tightly as she continued to shake her head at the little man. He was relentlessly producing costume after costume from the various racks about the room.
“Come on Suri it will be fun,” Sabrina begged, gripping her own peasants dress in her hands.
“My idea of fun isn’t tramping about in the forest, Bri. If I wanted to camp I would have stayed at home.”
“It’s Midsummer’s eve,” Sabrina reminded her, as if that alone would sway her mind.
“It’s tradition,” the little man supplied from across the shop where he was still looking for a suitable costume.
“I hate to camp, even in jeans and sneakers, I have no desire to camp in a dress,” she complained, continuing to shake her head when he held up another ridiculous costume.
“It will be fun,” Sabrina begged from where she was standing by the dressing rooms.
“No…not fun,” Suri answered, shaking her dark head at her sister. “With our luck we’ll get lost or eaten.”
“Nonsense,” the little man laughed, throwing a dark green dress over his shoulder then began searching the racks again.
“We have a guide Suri, a strong sturdy man to take care of us. And if we win the scavenger hunt…”
“I know, I know, you told me. Tickets to see a play in London and a nights stay in some fancy shmancy hotel,” Suri interrupted, picking at the ends of her dark, mid length hair with the tips of her fingers.
She really wasn’t all that annoyed with her sister’s plans for the evening and like Sabrina said, if they won the scavenger hunt it would mean freedom from humdrum Ville. Four days here was more than plenty, they’d already done and seen just about everything, but this was the icing on the cake.
They would have a guide and the first clue. She liked games and was pretty good when it came to solving riddles, so that was the tolerable part. The part of the night she wasn’t happy about was being out after dark, in the woods. She’d never been crazy about camping…or hiking for that matter.
The thought of hundreds of beady little eyes, that she couldn’t see, following her as she walked, made her skin crawl. But she knew Sabrina wouldn’t go alone, so what choice did she have?
“Please Suri,” Sabrina begged, clasping her hands together, her dark eyes pleading with her sister.
“Fine.”
“Yeah!” she squeaked then disappeared into the dressing room, laughing as she changed.
“Suri is it?” the little man asked, crossing the shop to where she stood, a green and brown bundle in his arms.
“That’s right.”
“Do you know the meaning of your name?” He smiled brightly at her, his pale eyes twinkling.
“It means princess,” she answered. She’d always loved her name, especially when she was little. She’d pretend she was a princess bouncing around the house from morning to night in her Halloween costume, without a single care in the world.
“That is right, and as that is your name, that is what you will be this night.” He handed her the bundle of clothing. “Midsummer’s eve is a night of magic and wonder, anything can happen.”
“I don’t believe in magic,” Suri whispered, struggling to force thoughts of her childhood aside.
“To each his own.” He winked at her before pushing her toward a vacant dressing room.
Suri changed quickly; shrugging the dress on over her head then stood looking at her reflection in the mirror, feeling as she had years ago when she was a little girl. Giddy and dreamy as if anything was possible.
Though the dress was comprised of her two least favorite colors she was surprised to see how good it looked on her. The dark green overdress fell nearly to the floor, gathered up on one side, showing off the deep brown of the under dress. The sleeves of the brown dress fit snug and long, reaching nearly to her knuckles. The full sleeves of the green dress were pulled up at her elbow neatly bringing the two gowns together.
She shook back her dark hair, her eyes fixed on her reflection and how strange she looked. She hadn’t dressed up since the last time she’d gone trick-or-treating and that was years and years ago. She had to admit it was kind of fun, dressing up like she was a kid again.
“Come on Suri we have to be back to the hotel by a quarter to six.” Sabrina reminded as she paid for their costumes.
Suri picked up her clothes and opened the door, doing her best to hide the fact that she was enjoying herself from her sister
Sabrina only looked at her wide-eyed; she was dressed as a peasant from head to toe in a long blue dress and deep blue surcoat. She’d braided her dark hair that had always been left down, long and straight. She looked much younger, Suri mused to herself, as she crossed the shop to where her sister stood by the counter.
“I want your dress,” Sabrina teased, walking around her sister, a wide smile on her face. “You look good.”
“You owe me Bri, so don’t press your luck. But thank you.” Suri did her best not to smile but her mouth wouldn’t obey.
“Cloaks, ladies.” The shopkeeper held a deep burgundy cloak out to Suri and a thick black one to Sabrina.
“Thanks,” They offered in unison and left the shop, making their way back to the hotel to place their clothes in their rented room and join the others who were participating in the Midsummer’s eve festivities in the lobby. The large room was near bursting with people, all dressed in medieval garb, and all eager to win the prize.
“I think he liked you,” Sabrina teased as they stood against the wall, waiting for instructions.
“Who?”
“The tailor guy.” Sabrina continued, a smile plastered to her face.
“He is too old for me Bri, and you promised no matchmaking while we are in England? Remember? You get a vacation from your life and I get a vacation from you pushing,” Suri reminded her, annoyed that she would imply such a thing.
“Don’t get mad Suri, you look good. I’m jealous that’s all.” Sabrina wrapped her arm around her sister, hugging her tightly.
“Don’t be, I feel like a Christmas tree, here trade me.” She handed her burgundy cloak to her sister and took Sabrina’s, draping the heavy black cloak about her shoulders just as a tall man, with a thick accent, stood up on a chair and began stating rules and safety precautions.
“Stay with your guide and follow the rules, if you get caught cheating you automatically forfeit. Good luck,” he announced motioning to the door of the hotel.
Each group picked their first clue out of a rustic wooden bucket when they left the lobby and were appointed a guide, according to their clue.
Suri looked at their guide with a raised brow and flushed cheeks. He was model material, tall and built and wow. He was dressed as a knight in the traditional colors of Norick, green and gold. She ignored Sabrina when she tried to get her sisters attention, with no doubt something smart to say about the hottie they got to spend the night with.
She was freed from her sisters meddling when the clock struck seven and the game was on. The quiet little town erupted in a swarm of people, all off to win the game and the prize.
Their first clue led them to the tavern where the next clue was hidden under a bench, but the second clue sent them north, into the forest to find a tree.
Suri lifted the skirts of her gown as she followed their guide into the trees, mumbling under her breath as she went. “A tree, Bri. We’re looking for a tree,” she complained as they wandered further into the forest.
“He’s kinda cute, huh Suri?” Sabrina whispered, completely breaking her promise as she nodded to their guide, trudging along ahead of them.
“No, he’s not,” Suri snapped back, her voice a low whisper, her face flaming red as she glared her sister down.
“I always liked a man in uniform,” Sabrina sighed, jumping to the side when Suri smacked her arm.
“Here it is,” he announced, pointing to a cluster of trees before them.
Suri wandered about the cluster, half-heartedly looking for the clue, mumbling as she went. “A tree, original.”
“Having fun?” he asked, coming up behind her.
“Tons,” she replied, smiling at him, thankful it was growing dark and he wouldn’t see that she was blushing.
“Justin,” he offered, extending his hand to her.
“Suri.” She took his hand and shook it, trying not to look as embarrassed as she felt.
“Pretty. Your name, I mean, well…”
“Thanks.” She released his hand, turning her attention back to the trees. “How about a hint?”
“That’s cheating,” he teased, just as Sabrina let out a cry of victory and came running over to them, waving an envelope in the air.
“One hundred and fifty paces due east and then north fifty more, to the rocks where you will find wonders galore.” Sabrina handed Justin the clue that turned them east and took them further into the trees.
When it seemed like an eternity had passed and it felt like they’d gone a lot further than a hundred and fifty paces Suri voiced her concern. “You are counting, right?”
“I thought you were counting,” he mused, his accent swirling about in the air around them.
“That’s really not funny.” Suri tried to keep her spirits light but the sun was rapidly disappearing, bringing all manner of sounds to her ears as the night creatures crept out from hiding.
“North ladies, and fifty more will take you to the rocks.” He pointed, then waited for them to go on ahead.
Sabrina searched the rocks high and low for the clue, enjoying herself completely while Suri stood by watching her.
“You’ll not find it that way,” Justin remarked, coming up behind her, his arms folded across his chest. “If you don’t hurry it will be dark soon and you won’t be able to read what it says until the moon rises.”
“Are you telling me you don’t have a flashlight?” Suri looked him over, noticing for the first time, that he carried nothing more than a small walky-talky on his hip.
“Now where would the fun be in that?” He continued to smile at her as Sabrina found the clue and came bounding over to them, opening the envelope as she ran.
“South five hundred paces next to a stream, I think.” She squinted at the writing in the dim light, trying to be sure, then handed the clue to Justin, who turned them south.
“Its quiet,” Suri stated when she couldn’t take the night sounds any longer.
“I’m counting,” Sabrina informed them from the other side of Justin.
“Scared of the dark are we?” he asked, his voice light and friendly.
“Not the dark so much, it’s the animals that wander around in the dark that I don’t like.”
“Not to worry, the worst you’ll find in these woods is a mouse, fox, bore, maybe a wolf or two.” He laughed when Suri stopped and stood blinking at him in the darkness.
“But with so many people out in the woods, they will surely be hiding.” He walked back to where she stood, took her by the arm and pulled her forward. “I’m teasing.”
“Not funny,” Suri scolded once she could find her voice.
They continued deeper into the forest as the full moon rose high in the sky, dimly lighting their way. Justin began humming a merry tune, kindly breaking the silence between them.
“Have you worked here long?” Suri asked, trying to keep her mind off the dark shadows and night sounds that seemed to close in around them.
“This is my first summer.”
“What?” she blurted, hardly believing she was wandering the woods, at night, with the new guy.
“Not to worry, my family used to vacation here every summer. Midsummer’s eve was always my favorite event.”
“Did you ever win the prize?” Sabrina asked.
“No, it’s harder than you might think. The closer you get to the end, the harder the clues become. One year no one found the prize.”
“That’s because there are a million trees out here. They could be a little more specific.” Suri murmured under her breath. “What’s the big deal about Midsummer’s eve anyway?”
“Magic, anything is possible on Midsummer’s eve. This night gave people something to look forward to. Something to think about when the drudgery of everyday life wore them down. Midsummer’s eve meant a night of revelry, feasting, dreams and magic.”
“I don’t believe in magic,” Suri whispered as the sound of a trickling stream met their ears.
“Everyone believes in magic,” Justin chided moments before the stream came into view.
“Ha, you don’t know my sister. She won’t even read fairy tales to her nieces,” Sabrina supplied, causing Suri to feel a little betrayed.
“Really, why?” he asked, bringing them to a stop next to the bubbling ribbon of water.
“It doesn’t matter.” Suri walked away, searching the bank for the next clue, wishing she’d never allowed Sabrina to bring her here.
She had a hard enough time enduring her sister’s questions and lectures, about how life is what you make of it, when in a blink of an eye it is all forgotten as if it never was. Her mother was so young, she was only fifty-eight and now she only remembered flashes of her life and that was on good days.
Suri pushed the thoughts of her mother aside and wandered along the stream, the lowered voices of Justin and Sabrina fading into the other noises of the night.
She wanted to be happy, to go back to school, date, marry and someday become a crazy mother like her sister. But none of that had ever seemed right. Maybe it was because she really felt as though it didn’t matter if she had all those things if one day they would all be forgotten. What was the point in making memories if you couldn’t remember them?
A glimmer of white caught her eye, pulling her attention to the tall grass near the bank where a crisp envelope was lying neatly in the midst of abundant vegetation.
She wiped at a tear with the sleeve of her ridiculous dress, retrieved the envelope and ripped it open to read the next clue.
Two miles west you’ll pass the test, the end is drawing near.
Have a care and stay aware, for danger’s lurking here.
“Corny game,” Suri whispered, making her way back to the others. The sooner they finished this, the sooner she could go to bed and forget today ever happened.
A good two hours later they crossed the gravel road that had taken them to the hotel. The undergrowth was thick and snatched at the fabric of her dress, causing her to hate the little man at the shop.
“How will we know when we’ve gone two miles?” Sabrina asked, her voice beginning to sound a bit winded.
Justin paused and looked around at the dim surrounding, his brows drawn together as if he were concentrating.
“Don’t tell me we’re lost.” Suri pulled at her heavy cloak then wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand.
“Not lost, we just aren’t where we’re suppose to be,” he answered, looking up at the moon with a scowl.
“Isn’t that the same as being lost?” Suri followed his eyes to the moon the edge of panic creeping over her.
“No, I believe we’ve been going south west instead of west, we simply need to retrace our steps and try again.” He offered her a smile, attempting to tell her he was in complete control of the situation when in fact he was a bit nervous himself.
“I hate to be a party pooper, but I need to rest for a second or two.” Sabrina removed her burgundy cloak, her blue sleeves gleaming in the moonlight.
“I see a large tree stump over here, lets rest for a moment and decide what to do.” Justin helped Sabrina through the underbrush to the stump he’d spoken of. Suri followed them lifting her skirts above her knees as she walked and plopped down on the massive stump next to Justin and her sister.
Her heart fluttered wildly, a sudden gust of wind pulled at her hair and then it was quiet, terribly, terribly quiet.
Suri placed a hand over her heart feeling its steady rhythm beneath her palm. It was too quiet, the kind of quiet that gives you goose bumps and tells the soul something’s not as it should be.
Justin and Sabrina were talking softly as though nothing was wrong. But she felt it, a strange feeling hung thick in the air. She could feel the silence of the forest closing in around her.
Suri turned her head to the right and saw the fallen tree that belonged to the stump she sat on and shuddered. It was once an ominous presence with thick rough bark and mangled, gnarled branches reaching out like monster hands, that seemed ready to snatch at anything within reach.
“I think we should go,” Suri whispered as she stood, her chest tight as though it was being crushed.
“What Suri?” Sabrina asked softly, pushing to her feet, followed by Justin.
“Go, we need to go,” she whispered not knowing why she was keeping her voice low only that she felt it was important to do so.
“But we haven’t found the clue yet. Justin thinks that if we walk west for a while we should come across the next clue.” It was then that they heard it, the sound of men’s voices, the clink of a bridle and the whinny of a horse.
“What was that?” Suri asked, stepping up closer to Justin her heart pounding wildly in her ears.
“Its okay Suri, voices are a good thing. It’s probably just another group,” he assured her.
“On horses? Wouldn’t that be considered cheating?” Sabrina asked when the shapes of a large group of men on horseback came into view on the road.
“I don’t know those men,” Justin whispered his posture suddenly tense. “Go further into the trees, anyone involved in the scavenger hunt would be…” His words came to an abrupt halt as he turned and looked up at the faces of a dozen or so men all of whom were on horseback, looking down on them with venom in their eyes. Thick beards covered their faces and heavy linked armor enveloped their bodies, causing them to gleam in the pale moonlight.
“Your master leaves you Norick scum,” one of the men hissed, his voice a harsh whisper against the silence.
“What?” Justin asked in bewilderment. He didn’t know these men who sat towering before them. He’d been told nothing of this, something was wrong. These men were not employees of Hotel Norick, and judging from the mans thick accent these men were French. “Who are you?” he asked, taking a step backward, edging closer to where Suri and Sabrina stood.
“Take them.” The gruff man whispered, drawing a sword that was all too real to Suri’s eyes.
“Run!” Justin yelled spinning around to face them, he lurched forward then collapsed, his limp body falling across the tree stump, an arrow sticking out of his back, just above his shoulder.
“Justin!” Sabrina screamed her hand gripping her sister’s. And then he vanished as if he’d never been there at all.
“Demons.” The man pointed his sword at the stump, aghast with what he just witnessed.
Sabrina took advantage of their stunned silence, yanking on Suri’s hand quietly telling her to run. They pushed forward, their hindering dresses gathered up in their arms, their hearts pounding as yelling filled their ears.
Suri dodged a tree, releasing Sabrina’s hand, turning right when her sister turned left and disappeared into a thick grove of trees. Suri glanced over her shoulder, then stumbled over the undergrowth falling to her knees, catching the attention of her pursuers, pulling them in her direction. She was alone. Where was Sabrina?
She jumped to her feet, but that was the best she could do. Fear washed over her in a wave of panic so strong she could only stare at the brutes as they thundered toward her, their teeth bared, swords drawn.
This has to be a dream, this can’t be real. “Wake up Suri, wake up!” she pleaded with no luck, she remained where she stood, numb with terror.
A thunder of hooves rose up behind her as the men they’d seen on the road flew past her, swords drawn as they attacked the barbarians who shot Justin.
She blinked in disbelief at what she was seeing, still trying to convince herself that it was a terrible nightmare brought on by too much history and not enough sleep.
Swords clanked, horses snorted in protest as their riders pounded upon one another, until the weaker of the two fell to the forest floor with a sickening thump that turned her stomach.
This was worse than anything she’d ever seen on TV and prayed it was nothing more than a highly skilled group of actors, hired to make the scavenger hunt a little more exciting.
Suri jumped back as the gruff man who’d spoken to them fell to the ground before her, a deep gash in his scull. She bumped up against a tree, her hand clutching her throat as she lost everything she’d eaten for supper.
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