Chapter 3

Somnium chimaeram visum est hominis. Qui mortuus est sicut somnus iumentorum. Tantum tempus desideria cognoscit et somniorum. Patrem tuum, tempus et vita manibus habentur.

A strong noise similar to the one produced by the engines of an airplane invaded the tiny cave and as I was reciting one by one the words of that spell, the stone in my hand was getting incredibly hot and acquired an spectral orange glowing, until what seemed first as an ordinary stone became a sort of a melting crystal, so translucent that I was able to see my burning skin through it. I tried to throw it to the side as the pain was getting unbearable but it was fused with my hand. The noise was increasing rapidly and was drilling my head. The Horseman was standing next to me and he took me by my forearm squeezing tightly. A second later the light of the torch the Horseman had lighted, extinguished and through the darkness just the glooming glow of the stone could be seen.

Tic, tac. Tic, tac. Tic, tac.

''A clock?"- I tracked the place looking for the mechanical instrument that was originating the sudden sound but when I was giving a step forward the ground gave such a strong jolt that I thought an earthquake was taking place. I turned afraid to look at the Horseman but to my horror I could not see him. I could not see anything. Everything was pitching black and then… I just floated… My feet were not touching the ground and I was just floating in the dark emptiness.

Tic, tac. Tic, tac. Tic, tac.

I tried to move. I tried to kick but I could not feel any solid surface, I just felt the weight of the book in my arms, the burning in my hand and (even if I could not see him) the grip of the horseman in my forearm. My body was turning slowly and I could not stop myself to think about those Discovery Channel documentaries of astronauts because that was exactly how I was feeling now, floating and turning in a complete un-gravitational emptiness. I cannot say how much time did I stay in that state but then I started to feel so dizzy…

Tic, tac. Tic, tac. Tic… tac…

Finally, stopped… and now?

It was as if a giant vacuum turned on and swallowed all the darkness around me. A supernatural force threw me with violence against a hard layer of snow. I gave several flips hurting my back and my legs and the book was thrown before I finally went to a stop.

"OH GOD!" – I screamed in shock and pain. Finally, that stone from hell detached from my hand and I tossed it away from me in rage. I stood up fast; I could not bear the gelid snow against my naked legs. The sudden blaze of sun left me startled and it took me a few seconds to adapt to the sudden brightness. When I was able to process the scenery around me, I was shocked.

"What in the hell…?" - It was so cold, and I could just see some spare trees and hills on the distance. - "Shit, shit, shit, WHAT'S GOING ON?" – I said to myself.

Shivering, I went to the place where the book had fallen and when I was just a few steps away from it, the whining of a much-known horse froze me in the act.

I saw him… a huge horse, black as coal was coming closer to where I was and its master, riding on it was all dress in black. "He is here." – I thought. "The Headless Horseman."

No headless anymore… I saw him coming bending his body to take the book and I was just able to take notice of his pale features and his wild dark hair because just a split of a second later I jumped over the book and missing the hooves of the giant horse by mere inches. I grabbed the book and without looking back I run as fast as I could to wherever direction I could be safe. It was just so useless as the man gave a roar of war and went after me. A blow in the head, a contusion in my scalp and the book was gone from my hands while I was falling once again in the snow. Desperately I saw him hiding it in an old leather sack. I was about to scream with rage but then my hand brushed against something solid and warm, I looked through the corner of my eye and there it was: The yellowish stone, still warm; still transparent. I hid it as well as I could within my breasts and my bra and I allowed the Horseman to pull me up from the ground and to put me in his lap on the horse.

-"Where is the stone?" – He asked, muttering his words with a dry and much accented voice.

I stared at him in shock, his thin and cracked lips were apart showing his teeth which were not human at all, instead they were sharp fangs, his cheeks were sunken and the color of his baggy and wrinkly eyes were of a beautiful shade of blue that kind of compensated the horror that his mouth was. I felt a sudden and unapproved blush in my cheeks. - "Are you really that stupid, Alice?" - I mentally kicked myself for found him mildly attractive though all the troubles and physical abuse he has gave me. Maybe I was suffering of the so called Stockholm's syndrome? Was I like those women that always choose the abusive man and enjoy being submissive? Why can I just stop to ask myself questions and better focus on the current situation? The only thing I was sure about was the cold. I was literally freezing and I tried my best to think clearly but maybe for the contusion I suffered, the Horseman's face started to fade. I closed my eyes feeling the impending need to sleep but opened them once again when the man shook my shoulders.

-"Where is it?" – This time his voice was angrier and I was able to recognize his heavy accent as one of a German.

-"Where am I? – I finally was able to articulate a question. – "Why is it snowing? It is July… Isn't it?

The Horseman gave me an exasperated glance and huffing fiery he took my neck with his giant hand and squeezed it; I started to miss the air. I tried to take deep breaths but the cold air caused me incredible pain in the chest. A few tear drops went down my cheeks and I was sure I was destined to die in that very same moment but the Horseman let go of me and I started to cough gasping for the gelid air.

-"I am the one doing questions in here." – He said. – "Tell me, where is the stone?"

-"I do not know." – I lied and in a pleading whisper I said –"I am very cold. Please, please help me."

The Horseman looked thoroughly at me and he roughly passed a gloved hand over my head and through my chest and legs. In any other situation I could have think of that action as a severe invasion to my personal space but at this moment I just wanted to close my eyes and let myself fall in the heavy slumber.

-"You are bleeding."

I frowned and passed my hand over my face. My nose was bleeding profusely and the blood was dripping slowly down my chin.

-"I am not feeling good." –I muttered. My teeth were chattering and with an involuntary impulse I inclined myself against the chest of the Horseman putting my arms around his waist trying to get some of his heat, I heard he gave a muffled gasp of surprise but I didn't care at all, I just closed my eyes seizing finally that exquisite moment of drowsiness, but I was interrupted by a soft patting in my cheeks.

-"Don't sleep. Keep your eyes open."

-"What?"

The Horseman took off his long cloak and wrapped my legs and my torso with it then he put one arm around bringing me closer. With his free hand he took the reins and gave another cry of war making his horse rear up and galloping fast. It was so hard not to fall asleep, even though all the sudden jolts and bumps. I felt another flow of blood coming out of my nose and I saw shiny stars. I lost my consciousness.

. . .

When I finally woke up, I was suffering of the most hideous headache. "What the hell happened?" I wondered. I was lying on a wide bed in a room without windows and very spare furniture. On the brick wall was a fireplace burning and next to it lying in the floor I saw the cloak of the Horseman and his leather sack. I remembered what had happened and nervously I took my hands to my chest hoping the stone was still there and effectively, there it was. Now I just needed to get the book. I got up and took the sack snooping through his belongings: Old clothes, a shaving razor, a brush, rope, a knife, a small sack with coins, a bottle of something that looked like medicine, but no trace of the book. I heard the noise of steps coming from the ceiling and I frantically threw everything back into the sack but then something caught my attention: It was a lacquered black case of about 12 inches long that was hidden among some dirty cloth, the curiosity overpowered my sense and I pulled up the latch with trembling hands opening the box. Inside there was a gleaming dagger with a carved silver handle in the form of a snake and two emeralds mounted as its eyes. I looked at it, surprised to find something that rich among the worn-out belongings of the late Headless Horseman.

-"Put it back."

The hiss of the Horseman startled me. He was leaning against the frame of the door looking at me with his arms crossed against his chest.

-"It was not my intention. I am sorry."

-"Oh yes, yes it was your intention. You are looking for the book I suppose."

I did not answer him; I stood up slowly and gave a few steps towards him.

-"Where am I?"

-"You are not in the position to ask any question." – He said. –"Where is the stone?"

-"I don't know."

The Horseman grabbed my shoulders and shook me violently lifting me off the floor. I was astounded into think this was the very same man that saved me from death just a few hours ago. He threw me into the bed and jumped over me holding my wrists together against the pillow with one of his hand and cupping my cheek with the other. His face was so close to mine that his warm breath gave me the shivers.

-"Where. Is. The. Fucking. Stone.?!"

-"I DO NOT KNOW!" – I panicked; I did not know what to do but certainly I did not trust this man. I was just hoping to find the book and luckily come across a spell to send me back home. I could not stop myself from crying and my sobs seemed to appease his rage. He freed me from his grip and moved away from me. I sat on the edge of the bed trying to control my tears. Why was I condemned to this? I looked at the Horseman while he rummaged in his sack. I had to play along until I could figure out where did he hide the book.

-"Take off your clothes." -He said and tossed at me some of his. Trousers, an old thick cotton shirt and a grey cape made of a very heavy textile. -"Put them on. We are leaving."

I looked at myself and I realized my white tank top was stained with dry blood and my sandals were missing. The Horseman was staring at me from the other side of the room and I realized he was not willing to leave.

-"Hmm, would you mind ?"- I said quietly.

The Horseman pierce me with his eyes and with a husky voice he suddenly said:

-"I haven't had a woman for almost 200 years."

He came closer and sat down next to me; I froze and fixed my gaze in the floor. His pale fingers run up and down my thigh so softly and slowly that I felt the fuzz of my back went up and my skin turned to goosebumps. I gave him a nervous look and he leaned closer moving a few strands of hair away from my neck and pressed his warm mouth against the tender skin. I unconsciously gave a tiny moan and closed my eyes; this action seemed to encourage him to give a step forward and he lightly bite me with his fangs giving me an electric shock that went throughout my spine. I opened my eyes astonished and separated from him.

-"I.. I cannot." –I got no idea what to say to him. He was totally unpredictable, and it was impossible for me to choose the right words that did not turn him in the demon that he obviously was. – "I am sorry, I am not going to… you know… I don't even know who you are."

The Horseman stared up and down to me and let go an annoyed sigh. He opened and closed his mouth licking his lips thoughtfully choosing his words. Finally, he put his hands together over his lap and breathed deeply telling me in a soft voice:

-"I was used to be known as Kommander Klaus Schaffer, leader of the Hessian Mercenaries and one of the biggest terrors of the American army." – He stopped for a moment, cracked his knuckles and continued with an agitated voice –"Today is Monday, the 27th of December, 1779. I died the 28th and I have been dead for 235 years. But now, I am back here, I am alive again"

-"What?" – I could not believe what I was hearing.

He stood up and reached the door and before opening it he just said:

-"Get dressed, we will leave immediately."

-"Wait!" – I said moving fast towards him. –"How did you become the Headless Horseman? Why do you still want the stone?"

-"Who wouldn't want that power?" – He simply said sneering at me. And he left leaving me with thousands of questions.