Chapter 10: Skeleton Coast
The jeep was taking speed through the town as Karel's followers were chasing them. Elizabeth wasn't in the mood for this, not now, not ever. As she saw the helicopters flew to the direction of the Skeleton cost, she knew Karel was in there. She looked at Kurtis and then hearing his voice "We need to dodge them and get their before Karel those."
"I know." She sighted "There's one way to dodge them. We need to hide."
"Where?" He asked.
"Oh, you'll see. I know this place better than these bustards behind us. Just hold on." She said took the Jeep into full speed. She got far enough to hide before they could see where. Elizabeth went into the street that leads to the beach "There's a place down here that I know pretty well. They won't come look for us here."
"Well at least there are interesting things down here." Kurtis said looking at the people who are selling staff on the streets.
Elizabeth parked the car behind some tree, that no one can see them. She claimed out with Kurtis following. "Now to blend into the crowds of tourists." She said and through Kurtis a hate and another t-shirt that was in the back. She took a jacket and a scarf. "Let's go mingle."
They walked back to the people who were selling staff. Up to the stairs you could see more people going in and out at the hotel and restraints. Then Kurtis heard her say "Let head up to the hotel, I promised if I was ever in the area that I'll say hi." She said and head to the stairs and walked up with Kurtis following.
Up top they could see the whole area but Kurtis saw that the hotel was a café also. "So who is in here that you must say hi to?"
"An old family friend. I grew up in this hotel, well not lived her just hanged out with family and friends." She answered.
"Why did you always hung here and not at other places?" He asked as they headed in, a couple of the waitresses and waiters smiles at her and one came up to her before she could answers his question.
"Elizabeth, you're so big." The waitress said hugging Elizabeth. She was old and half colored and Kurtis then her Elizabeth talk. "Marie, I'm not a teen anymore."
"I know, But the last time I saw you, you and Jacque were laughing and eating with our jokes, how is he. Is he still in Windhoek?" Marie said.
"I don't know, I haven't seen them since I was 19, But I will say Lloyd is doing well, he's been work with me." Elizabeth answered.
"Oh Lloyd, his not been here for ages." Marie said.
"Yh, well he is stubborn and not a boy anymore. You must see him now you won't even recognize him." Elizabeth said and saw Bertis coming to them. "Hi, Bertis how's the hotel business going without my uncle?"
"Oh things aren't going well" Bertis told her.
"What do you mean?" She answered with shock and Kurtis could see it.
"Money. The place is going out of business" Bertis said.
"If its money you need, I'll give some. This is another half of my home." Elizabeth said and took out her cheque book and wrote the amount on it.
"No I can't take your money." Bertis answered.
"There's no arguing with me, you're taking it. I don't want to visited again and know that the place is closed." She said and gave the cheque to him.
"Stubborn like your mother. Thank you." Bertis said and took the cheque.
"We can't stay long; I just came to show my face. I have business in the Skeleton Coast." She said to Bertis.
"The Skeleton Coast, didn't you hear what happened there yesterday?" Bertis said with fear in his voice.
"What? Bertis tell me what happened." She asked with anger. She knew that Karel must have something to do with it.
"Satellites picked up an ancients structure down there and Argeologist have been digging there ever since and found..." He stopped his face was showing fear.
"What did they find" Kurtis asked before Elizabeth could.
"Who are you?" Bertis asked.
"My partner, now tell me what they found?" Elizabeth said to Bertis with frustration.
"They found Aliens or that's what they say." Bertis answered with a sight.
"Aliens. Not likely." Kurtis said.
"And what else could it be?" Bertis turned to Kurtis.
"Bertis, you're not gonna believe me if I tell you." Elizabeth told him.
"What is it Elizabeth?"
"Kurtis and I have worked on a project called the Nephilim and there is a something down there that leads to more answers." Elizabeth explained.
"Nephilim, The Hybrids of the biblical times. No it's not possible." Bertis answered.
"It is and if we don't go now I'm afraid the world will be in danger." Kurtis replied.
"You don't believe this do you Elizabeth." Bertis asked as he frowned at Elizabeth.
"I'm afraid I do. There's a lot in this world that normal humans don't know of. I have seen a lot of things and this isn't surprising me but Kurtis is right we have to move. I'll see you guys again."
Elizabeth turned to Kurtis as they moved back outside. "Let's go to the Jeep and get moving. If Bertis is right about this then I fear Karel already knows about it."
Kurtis stopped at the jeep and frowned. Elizabeth looked up and saw it, something wasn't right "What is it?"
"If there are more sleepers out there than Karel will try to awaken them" Kurtis answered.
Elizabeth claimed into the jeep with Kurtis following after. She took the wheel again and looked to his side "If your right, his gonna need a Lux knights blood to do that." She started the engine again and they moved into full speed again to pick up the time wasted here. It was a long trip from Swakopmund and stopping for a chat wasn't going too happened to soon again. As they exited the town onto the highway to Hentiesbaai, Kurtis thought of what Elizabeth said earlier and he then said "I wonder whose blood Karel wants?" She didn't look his way just sighted.
"I think mine; the dream that DeCombel had, was about me being experimented on. The thought of it makes my spine going numb."
"What about Lara, Chris said it was about both of you?" Kurtis asked and looked her way.
"He didn't say but I don't think it's a good thing." She uttered.
"It's never a good thing if Karel has something to do with it." Kurtis mumbled.
There was silence after he said that. Elizabeth had remembered what Karel did not a few hours ago. She was angry and hurting, she hated this, she hated that there was even more of her past that he would've shown but the problem was that he was trying to make her weaker. Her thoughts went on and on.
They past Hentiesbaai and other towns. Then drove onto the dirt road leading to the Skeleton coast. Elizabeth was deep in her thought and this lead to the jeep going over its limits. She wasn't going to show Karel more pain just how pissed off she was but the her pain of seeing her friend die again in front of her, the thought that she almost died twice wasn't making it easier for her.
Kurtis could feel she wasn't in coping with what had happened and the car would've rolled if she turned it or something else but then he spook. "You feel alright?"
"Elizabeth came back to reality and saw how fast she was going. She started to slow down the car and was now driving the normal speed limit, the question made her head going mad but was she going to scream her anger out. "I'm fine" She snapped. She stopped the jeep and claimed out, she walked off into the distance and Kurtis then claimed out and went after her. I mustn't pisses her more off, she bite my head off, he thought and now stood next to her and saw the anger and pain in her eyes and the tear that fell onto her cheek. "Elizabeth, I'm sorry"
She sighted and struggled "No, I'm sorry." She turned around and faces Kurtis "Karel must just stay out of my away"
"Hell if I had a dime for the times I killed he and he came back." Kurtis said "I can't wait to destroy him."
"It's not that easy and you know it. If the Black Angel doesn't work and I don't track those Golden Daggers down, Karel wins." She sighted again and headed back to the Jeep. Kurtis followed after "I just wished my father told me where he had hid them." Kurtis uttered.
"Me fucking to, He had to left them somewhere but I was up and down in America, nothing." She said and claimed into driver's seat again.
Kurtis claimed back into the passenger's seat and replied "Maybe he hide them outside of America."
"But then he would've left a clue for you, Kurtis." She said and turned the engine on again and headed on with the trip. Kurtis just sighted and looked out of the window with frustration. Father where did you hide them, he thought.
It wasn't that long when they reached the Skeleton Coast. They found the digging site fast and not far away Karel was waiting with his followers. Kurtis and Elizabeth took out their guns and aimed for them. "Well if it isn't the two warriors, Elizabeth you can join me in the new world. Are you sure you want to be a part of a dying order that has now hoped. I must say your father joined us." Karel said with a smirk on his face.
"Fuck off Karel, I'll radar die before I work for you." Elizabeth yelled at him.
"Then you don't give me a choice." Karel shape shifted into Chris and wasn't going to change.
"Elizabeth, don't be tricked." Kurtis said as he heard her gasp when Karel had changed.
Karel came closer and Elizabeth aimed her gun at his face. Kurtis got his Chirugai ready, for any attacks. "Come on my baby, I love you remember." Chris-Karel said and came closer to Elizabeth who was shaking and then the whole area change into another place she knew too well. The Army and this wasn't what she wanted to see. "Karel fuck of" Elizabeth said with anger and shot him in the head. He wanted her to safer and so he made blood come out of Chris's head wound, where the bullet hit him. He was lying on the ground. "Elizabeth, don't fall for it." Kurtis yelled at her.
"The scene was now showing Elizabeth and Chris on a mission and it was a mission worth forgetting.
Kurtis saw Chris heading into a building Elizabeth lead the group to another building and then she heard a gunshot. But before the army Elizabeth went in the scene change back to the real world and Kurtis breath out when seeing the real Chris and Lara running to them and Chris caught his Phirugai in his hand. He used it to cut the flashing of the past. Karel disappeared after they arrived and the followers took off in the helicopters.
Elizabeth was on her knees all this time and Chris run to her hugging her on the ground "its okay I'm alive, I'm here." He said as he held her shaken body against his warm on. She embraced him tightly and was breathing in and out trying to calm herself. He's touch made it easy for her to calm down but this wasn't just about Karel but the gunshot that she remembers in the army. Shaking the thought of she looked Chris in the eyes and kissed him deeply.
Kurtis stood there locking eyes with Lara but broke them when another figure came out from far. Kurtis lowered his gun to see the familiar face. "Richard Croft, glad you're alive and kicking."
"Likewise, Kurtis, and how's your father doing?" Richard asked.
"His dead, but I guess his doing well up there." Kurtis said ironically.
"I'm sorry to hear that, your father was a great man." Richard said.
Elizabeth and Chris stood up and walked to them and as they came near Richard added "Elizabeth Clark, you look better than I remembered."
"Hm, well you look good for someone whose suppose to be dead." She said with a mocking tone.
"Ha-ha, well that a story for later, are you alright." He said.
"I'm never better. Did you guys find the third artifact?" She asked and took a deep breath, still trying to get back to reality.
"No, the artifact has been moved." Lara said with a tone of disappointment.
"Well the last artifact is down there." She said and pointed out to the dig site.
"Do you think it's still there?" Chris asked.
"I'm sure of it. There's one thing Karel needs to get to the artifact and he doesn't have it." She said and took out the book she collected in Alexandria. "This book tells of all the treasures of the LV and to get to this artifact we have to open the Gates of hell bay using our weapons." She said and pulled out the Flame Thrower.
"And this gate is here, you're sure of it?" Lara asked.
"Yes, The Skeleton cost is known for two things, the land God made in anger and the gates of hell." Elizabeth pointed out to history.
"You know your staff." Richard said.
"Not really, I grew up in Swakop and we learned one or two things of the Coasts in social science." Elizabeth explained.
"Well let's go find the artifact." Lara said and walked off.
"Maybe you And Lara can go and find it; I'm not in a good mood to go down there." Elizabeth told Kurtis.
"She's right; I don't want her to get hurt. Her mood will mess this up." Chris said as he stood next to her.
"Well okay, you guys stay up here then." Kurtis said and headed off in Lara's tracks.
Elizabeth walked to the jeep's direction and calmed in at the back to lie down. Chris followed her and claimed in front and kept her company. Richard kept standing and took out a breath of the fresh ocean air. Lara and Kurtis disappeared into the dig sit.
Lara and Kurtis walked and walked in endless corridors and finally found a door or it looks more like a gate. "This must be the Gate of hell." Lara said trying to read the language and found it as Latin. "It says only a warrior can open the gates, you're up warrior-boy." Lara said and move passed him to let him do his magic. Kurtis took the Chirugai and place it on the gate's lock, The Chirugai started to grow orange and the power shot out let both Kurtis and Lara fly in the air and against the wall hard.
Kurtis got up and run to Lara who was now trying to get up. The pain was wasn't what she was used to but she pushed Kurtis away and got up. "Nice try Yankee but I'm fine."
"As you wish miss stubbornness." Kurtis mocked and walked to the now opened gate.
"Don't try me." Was Lara's word's as she passed him and entered the room that held the weary object they were here for. "This is too easy." Lara said and looked around for traps, Nothing.
"It looks like another easy one." She added and took the artifact just in time to hear a voice from behind. "Thank you Miss Croft and Lux knight for opening the gates." Karel's voice was full of an evil tone and Lara didn't like it.
"Karel, why don't you just go to hell?" Lara snared at him and Kurtis got his Chirugai ready.
"Oh, Miss Croft." Karel Laugh and out of nowhere Karel throw a bolt of energy at Kurtis.
Kurtis didn't even see it coming and was no knocked to the ground hard. "Kurtis!" he heard Lara's voice before he fell into unconsciousness.
Lara pocket the artifact in her backpack and took out her guns. Starting to shot at the enemy in front of her. She dodges his energy bolt and aimed again. Bullets won't kill him; she thought and looked at Kurtis as she dodges another attack. Shit I'm dead if I don't get out of here. Then out of nowhere came a spinning fire like Chirugai and another Chirugai-bladed on. Putting Karel on fire and cutting him that he disappear in agony. Lara looked up to see Chris and Elizabeth as they caught their trusty weapons in their hands. "Thanks but how you know that we need help."
Lara run to Kurtis's side and tried to awaken him as she heard Elizabeth's voice. "Before Kurtis went unconscious he mind called us."
"And we came down to your rescue. I knew Karel won't just run away from his prize." Chris said and saw Kurtis awakening.
Kurtis looked up to see Lara's face first. She was so close to him and then caught Chris's stare and then Elizabeth's. "Glad you guys got the message." He said and got up with pains in his body.
"What happened?" Elizabeth asked.
"Karel come and surprised me with one of his bolts." Kurtis answered and turned to Lara "Thanks"
"Don't be." Lara said and looked at Chris and Elizabeth "So what now?"
"We head to DR Congo. It where the brothers are waiting." Elizabeth answered. "We'll get the next artifacts location there and then we set of for our missions."
No one said a word and headed out of the dig site and back to their Jeeps. They headed for their next direction DR Congo. The trip is more or less 3 days on the road and with Lara and Kurtis in the on jeep with Lara's father in the backseat wasn't going to help them from talking to each other. Elizabeth and Chris was in there own jeep leading the way.
They arrive at a hug house that is big you can put Croft Manor and Clark manor together to from this large of a house. This was the stronghold and Lara could see why. Did all the Lux Veritatis came and hide here, she thought and followed the knights into the main halls. They were great by Limoux "Welcome to my family home." Lara was shock to here that this was his family home. "Isn't it the stronghold?" She asked.
"There are 10 strongholds in the world and 8 of the brothers lived in them. Limoux's family lives here, Guilhelm's family lived in America, Bogomil's family in Asia, DeCombel's family in Australia, my family the Occitan in Southern Africa, Vasiley's family in Czech Republic and finally the Montsegur's family in Greenland." Elizabeth explained.
"and the other 2 for?" Lara asked.
"The other two are for hiding. There are on in Britain and one in Antarctica." Kurtis answered.
Lara didn't ask more questions and was shown to her room by one of the brothers. Elizabeth went to their tech room and took out her phone and dialled a number. Soon someone one the other line spook. "Hallo, Edward speaking."
"Edward its Elizabeth, How fast can you get here and how fast can you let Zip know?" She asked.
"To let Zip know in five minutes and get to you well I must say tomorrow morning, need me to bring supplies?" He asked
"Yes and let Zip know to bring Lara's also. We need all the help."
"Got it, over and out." Edward said and hanged the phone up.
Boys and there toys, she thought and pocketed her phone and sat down in front of a computer. Later that day everyone was ready, settled in and all. They all got together in the hug tech room to hear what Elizabeth's plane is.
"Okay if everyone is ready. Let's begin." Elizabeth said and took a deep breath. "Kurtis and Lara, I want you guys to find the location of the artifact that was supposed to be in Mexico. Chris, you and the brothers get ready to head into the Lux Temple when we have a location. Richard, you can help me in the search for Karel and his hide out. Any questions."
"Just one, Why you going after Karel." Vasiley asked.
"We need to know what his planning and where. We need to proper ourselves. anything else." She said.
"Where do u thing we must started looking for the lost artefact." Lara asked.
"I'll give the ancient artefact book. there must be something there that will help." Elizabeth said and picked her backpack up, taking the book out and handing it over to Lara. "If there nothing more, I'm gonna ask everyone to where a white fabric around there left wrists that we know who you really are. I like to know when I bump into Karel whose pretending to be one of you. Agreed."
Everyone nodded and got up and left, Elizabeth walked out into the open air. She then walked of into the town ahead, it was just 20km to walk and she wasn't going to sit around and make small talk. She needed to get her head straight.
Hours passed and Elizabeth never showed up, everyone even Chris got a little worried about her. They called her phone, no answer and drove around looking for her, no sign. Where can she be, Chris asked himself in a worry. Karel was out their and he's loved one also, who knows if he caught her again. They drove and called until night fell on them.