Chapter Three

Jarvis was right that the majority of the castle was warmer. Upstairs, the hallway was very modern and toasty and the rooms were also fortified against the chill of the stone building.

Scotch gawked when he peered into one spacious room with its king-size bed. "Are you kidding me?! This room looks big enough for three or four people!"

"Each one of you will have a separate room," Jarvis said. "They're only meant for one person each."

"I could get lost in a room this big!" Scotch exclaimed.

Radley gave Kalin a silent look. If Kalin wanted and if nightmares still plagued them here, Radley was still willing and wanted to share a room.

Kalin silently nodded in agreement. There was certainly plenty of room for them both here; he had to admit he was curious to know how much space they would have if they tried to share a king bed. Their twin beds at home weren't always very comfortable for sharing.

"There's also a connecting bathroom for each bedroom," Jarvis said.

"That's pretty cool," Radley said.

After everyone chose a room and their luggage was placed in them, Jarvis took them all on a tour of the castle. There were so many rooms, it was hard to keep track of them all and what each one was for. It seemed that there were countless drawing rooms, sitting rooms, and other rooms with names that just confused everyone but Radley and Marty. Even after Jarvis explained what each room was for, some of them were still baffled.

Scotch decided not to think about it any more. "Are there secret passages? There's always supposed to be secret passages!" he said.

"Oh yes, unfortunately," Jarvis sighed. "Master Marty's great-uncle always enjoyed playing in them as a child, and sometimes as an adult he would hide from unwanted visitors in them."

"He was always a character," Marty said, shaking his head.

"That sounds so cool, though!" Scotch said.

"I don't suppose anyone wants to see the family crypt?" Jarvis said.

No one did, although Marty figured he needed to go pay his respects to his great-uncle. But he decided he would do that later and have Jarvis take him down alone. After the tour, everyone went to their rooms to settle in and rest up for dinner.

Radley was leaning forward, his hands on the stone windowsill as he looked out, when Kalin appeared in the open doorway. "Radley?"

Radley turned with a smile. "This is some place, isn't it? Marty's really got a good thing here."

Kalin nodded. "I don't know if the Bunch will find it a satisfactory vacation spot, though," he remarked, glancing to the lingering fog out the window.

"Scotch sure loves it anyway," Radley chuckled. "He says it's the perfect Halloween spot."

Kalin gave a genuine smile. "It's good he's perked up again."

"I'm sure relieved about it," Radley said. "I just hope he won't do something dangerous. I know he'll want to find the secret passages Jarvis didn't show us."

"I wonder why he didn't, actually," Kalin frowned.

"Maybe he was afraid of Marty hiding in them," Radley giggled. He soon sobered. "I don't know how things will go tonight when his aunt and uncle come over. I was going to ask him what they're like."

"He wasn't happy about them coming," Kalin said. "That says a lot right there."

"I know, but they're not as bad as my family, or so he's said," Radley said. "Still, if they try to protest his inheritance, that's pretty bad too."

Kalin nodded, indignation and anger in his eyes. "They're greedy and selfish." Then he came closer and his expression faltered.

"Kalin?" Radley stepped away from the window. "What is it?"

Kalin sighed. "Just thinking about Marty's family problems . . . and then his problems with Billy . . . it makes me think about all the loved ones I caused trouble with and ended up losing."

"Yeah . . . but those problems are all fixed now," Radley said, stepping closer to him. "They're still your loved ones now."

"I know, but I can't help wondering . . . what if someday something happens with us too?" Worry flickered in Kalin's eyes. "Even when things get fixed, they're not the same. The Enforcers are gone forever, as are those days when the four of us all lived together and shared everything. I . . . I'm not sure I could handle it happening again." He looked away.

Radley looked at him in surprise, but his expression swiftly softened. "Hey, Kalin . . ." He laid a hand on Kalin's shoulder. "You're older and wiser now, and neither of us have any intention of losing what we've got. We made a vow, remember? Friends for life. For me, that's as sacred and binding as a marriage vow, even if there's no official piece of paper to say that."

"Marriage vows aren't sacred or binding for a lot of people," Kalin grunted. But he finally smiled. "I know it would be for you, though."

"Yeah." Radley winked. "Maybe some of that is my Catholic upbringing, but I think mostly it's just that I'm a very loyal person. Yusei never stopped fighting for you. I won't either. And okay, so I can't guarantee nothing will happen, but I'm almost 99.9% sure of it. Not just because of my feelings, either. After everything you've been through, you'll be bending over backwards to make sure nothing happens again."

"That's true," Kalin admitted.

"And I still think Marty and Billy can patch things up," Radley said. "No, it won't be the same as before for them either, but I meant it when I said it could be even better. They're also sadder and wiser now, and they'll cling to a mended friendship with everything they've got."

"Maybe you're right," Kalin said. "Maybe there's nothing to worry about." He sighed and looked past Radley to the window. "But that's what people always think, isn't it? And then they don't stay together."

"You know, there's actually a song like that," Radley said. "It talks about how people say 'forever' but don't really mean it, and those fake forevers end after a few years. The guy wants a real forever." He laid his hands on Kalin's shoulders. "That's what you've got with me, Kalin. The only thing that can tear us apart is death. And even then, I know we'd both fight to stay together anyway."

Kalin finally smiled more. "You're right." He laid his hands on Radley's and then hugged him close.

Radley returned it. "So, what do you wanna do for the afternoon?" he wondered. "Should we explore the place like Scotch and Biff no doubt will?"

"I think I'd like to just rest for a while," Kalin said. He stared at the bed. "I've only seen beds that big in Lector's house."

"Yeah, they're really something, huh?" Radley smirked. "My parents had a bed that big. I was fascinated by it, but I wasn't allowed to get up on it."

"It looks like there'd be room for almost all of us to get on it at once," Kalin said. He went over and laid on it. When he sank down, his eyes widened in surprise. "It's so soft too. . . ."

Radley chuckled gently and went over to lay on it as well. "Wow, you're right, this is really soft," he said. "It must be filled with feathers or something." He relaxed on his back and clasped his hands on his chest.

Kalin burrowed into the pillow. "I should go back to my room," he mumbled. "The door's open and some of the servants might see us."

"Then let them see," Radley said. "They'd probably catch us sooner or later anyway." He smirked. "It's more fun to share this experience with each other instead of being alone."

Kalin smirked too. "It is," he agreed.

They both soon dozed.

xxxx

Scotch certainly was raring to go exploring, and although reluctant, Biff figured as usual that he would be going too.

"We don't even know where the secret passageways are," he objected as they headed down the hall.

"Part of the fun will be finding them!" Scotch said. "We can try pulling on books or designs on the mantle, just like in the movies!"

"This isn't the movies, nimrod," Biff scowled. "And we might end up finding a secret way down to the crypt!"

". . . Yeah, that's true." Scotch stopped walking and frowned. "I don't want to cause any trouble. . . . I just wanted to have some fun. . . ."

"I know," Biff sighed. Scotch was definitely more concerned about the possibility of his behavior harming someone after both Biff and Radley had been hurt at different times. That was good, but at the same time, Biff didn't want to see his enthusiasm deflated—especially when there had been much less of it lately.

"Okay," he said at last. "Let's look for a secret passage. It's okay. Jarvis didn't say any of them were dangerous."

Scotch immediately perked up again. "Really?! Yes!"

Biff had to smile as Scotch hurried up the hall, pressing on different parts of the wall and hoping to find a trigger. When he actually found one and a panel swung open, revealing another set of stairs, he rushed inside with glee.

Biff snapped a picture of the scene with his phone before following his friend in. "If we get stuck in here, I'll send this picture to Radley so he'll know where the opening is to get us out," he explained.

"You're always really resourceful," Scotch said admiringly.

"I've gotta be, to keep you safe," Biff grunted.

They wandered down the stairs and along what seemed to be an endless hall. When nothing more seemed to happen, Scotch swiftly grew restless. "Oh come on!" he exclaimed. "There has to be more to it than this!"

"Maybe there's not and we should go back," Biff sighed.

Scotch froze in almost the same instant. "Shh! I hear voices . . . that aren't ours!" he added. He hurried over to where the sound was the strongest and pressed himself against the wall to listen.

"What are we going to do?!" a worried female voice exclaimed. "We've tried so hard to keep the secret of this beautiful place. But these people—all of them, even Master Marty!—are in the dyne industry. They'll want to tear it down, stone by stone, just like everyone else who knows!"

"Now, you're worrying too much, Aggie," a male voice answered. "Master John willed the castle to Master Marty even though there were plenty of other choices. He knew what his grand-nephew did for a living and he still chose him! That should say something."

"It says he was off in his head, and it will only help Martha and Jonathan's case to contest the will," Aggie moaned.

"They'd be fools to bring it up," the male snorted. "They don't want the secret to get out either!"

"What secret?!" Scotch hissed in disbelief. "What does dyne have to do with anything?!"

"I don't know, but this don't sound good," Biff frowned. "If they're wanting Marty out of here so bad, maybe they'll try to hurt him! Maybe all of us!"

"They wouldn't do that!" Scotch protested. "That only happens in books and movies!"

"After everything we've been through? Don't count on it!" Biff retorted. "And keep it down! If we can hear them, there's nothin' to say that they can't hear us!"

Scotch's eyes widened and he fell silent.

"You know we can't keep it secret forever," Jarvis interjected now. "I am not in favor of keeping Master Marty in the dark."

"Let's see how he handles himself tonight and then decide," the unidentified voice said.

"Technically, I'm over all of you and I could simply choose to do as I see fit," Jarvis said.

"Yes, but you respect all of our viewpoints," Aggie said. "We don't have anything to worry about from you." A door opened. "And I still have cleaning to do before tonight."

"And I have food to make," the unidentified voice said. "Let's talk about this again after dinner."

Jarvis gave a heavy sigh as their footsteps faded up the corridor. "If only you could have held out longer, Master John," he said aloud to the room. "But I still have faith in your decision, even though Master Marty's . . . fashion sense leaves something to be desired." He also left the room, shutting the doors after him.

". . . Well, that was super weird," Scotch frowned. "Let's go back and tell Radley and Kalin and everybody!" He held up his phone. "I took a page from your book and I recorded the whole conversation! I hope it really picked up. . . ."

Biff stared in surprise and approval. "That's great, Scotch," he said. "Just as long as nobody on the staff finds out."

"Oh, they're probably okay," Scotch said. "We just need to make sure to get them on our side!"

"Jarvis, maybe, but those others are harder sells," Biff said.

"He's the big cheese, though," Scotch said. "If he'll trust us, maybe all of us together can persuade the rest of the staff!"

Biff sighed and shook his head, but he had to give a resigned and affectionate smile. Scotch generally was optimistic. It was a worry when he wasn't.

"It's worth a try, anyway!" Scotch insisted.

"Yeah, okay, it's worth a try," Biff consented. He pulled his phone back. "Come on, let's go find the guys."

Scotch scrambled after him as his phone's flashlight danced across the stone walls. "I wonder what kind of stone they used here," he remarked. "Look how it actually sparkles! That's so epic!"

"Maybe it's granite," Biff said. "It can do that."

"It doesn't look like granite sparkle, though," Scotch said. "It looks like . . . like dyne sparkle!" He stared at Biff with wide eyes.

Biff stopped walking and looked back. "Dyne?!" he exclaimed in disbelief. "Is that possible?!"

"Maybe?" Scotch shrugged. "The castle's been here for centuries! Nobody knew what dyne was in the past! Maybe they just thought it was really rad, hard rock and used it for sculpting!"

Biff shook his head. ". . . It'd sure make sense why the staff'd be scared of everybody," he conceded.

"Yeah, seriously! Can you imagine all the people who'd like to tear the place down to get at the dyne?!" Scotch exclaimed. "Radley would never be that greedy, but Malcolm and Lawton sure would!"

"And there's probably a lot out there like them," Biff said. "Including Marty's aunt and uncle, maybe." He snapped some pictures of the walls. "Let's show these to Radley and see what he thinks."

"Yeah! And we can bring him down here too!" Scotch said.

As they hurried down the hall and towards the stairs, the heavy stone panel suddenly swung shut with a crash. Both boys jumped.

"Um . . . uh oh," Scotch said. "Do you think that was on purpose?"

"I don't know." Biff hurried up the stairs and pushed on the wall. "It's stuck now, though."

"Aww, come on! There has to be another lever that opens it from in here!" Scotch exclaimed. He started pressing frantically on the wall.

Biff paused to get out his phone again, but then he stared and scowled at the screen. "The signal's dead," he announced. "I can't call or text Radley! I should've known it probably wouldn't work in here."

Scotch cringed, but looked at his phone too. "Oh man. . . ." He drew a shaking breath. "Well, it looks like we've got two choices—stay here and yell and hope somebody hears us, or go back down to that room and see if the wall opens into it."

Biff sighed. "Let's go back down."

He gave the wall one last, suspicious frown as he stepped away from it. He had to hope with all his heart that they hadn't been locked in here on purpose. If they had been, what kind of danger might the others be in too?