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Tradition
Inherited Power
Rich had spent the last 50 minutes sleeping, although there was no rest gained. He couldn't shake the disturbing dreams he had. This one was one of the oddest, for he saw a weird amagimation in front of him, and three figures fighting it. One he did recognize. It was his father, and again, he saw the flaming sword. He had seen that sword somewhere before, and then it hit him as he thought of the company his parents had owned. It was the sword of a Paladin. In his dream, he said, "I thought that was a made up being."
He heard a voice aside of him say, "What was?" He turned to see Yvette standing next to him. In this dream world, she looked more beautiful than ever, and it brought him some comfort to his mind.
He turned to her and said, "The Paladin. According to lore, the Paladin is a knight of honor, and wields a sword which burns with fire in the presence of evil. I thought it was fictitious, but here I see the sword of a paladin, in my father's hand." He couldn't make sense of it.
Yvette just held him and said, "Maybe it means something. Maybe it's a title you are meant to hold." He doubted it, but he didn't want to say that, and then he saw it in her eyes. She was serious about it.
He held her close and said, "How do you know this is true?" It was the only thing he could think of saying. The strong feelings she had shown in her responce had gotten to him.
She just kissed him and said, "I know. Isn't that enough?" He nodded, for she was right. She knew, and had believed it, not because of what it was, but it was what she believed.
He started to kiss her when he heard a voice say, "Richard, were almost there." He blinked and awoke in the car he had fallen asleep in. Soon Yvette openned her eyes as well. Emmet, who had woken him just pointed to the distance and said, "There it is, your ancestrial home."
Rich had only seen it once or twice before, long ago. Now it was his turn to own the castle. He heard Yvette go, "How old is it?" He would have asked the same, since he couldn't remember the age of the castle, but it had to be near 1000 years old.
He heard Elizabeth say, "It's almost as old as the tower of London, however, the Cale family is older than the castle." Rich almost shook his head in amazement. He never figured that his family went that far back. It almost boggled his mind.
Rich then realized what he stated before they headed to England. "Emmet, would they be any tours going on today?" He watched as Emmet nodded. Rich then said, "I'll have to have everyone leave."
As they neared the parking lot, Rich saw a look of horror cross Emmet's face as he said, "Liz. Look." He felt the breaks slam and he quickly snapped his hand to stop Yvette. The sudden shock might have caused her to tense up. He heard Grimore meow in fright as the sudden jolt awoke the sleeping feline.
Rich looked forward and said, "She's here, isn't she?" They nodded and Rich felt a devilish grin cross his face. "Would she claim to be a friend of the family?"
He watched as a devilish look crossed Emmet's face as he said, "Yes she would. I think I know what your thinking. I'd like to see that."
He felt Yvette move his arm and say, "See what? What are you planning?"
They started to get out of the car and get their stuff. While they were doing that, Rich said, "Wait and see, my love, wait and see." With that, they all headed to the castle. As they approached, a man went to stop them. Rich just pulled out his wallet and showed his driver's license. The man quickly stepped aside, almost like he had already known what to do. Rich turned back to Emmet and said, "How did they know?"
Emmet just smiled and said, "I phoned when you phoned me. I thought it might save some time." Rich had to thank Emmet on that one. He was right. The men just backed away and called for security.
When they reached the door, the man who had approach Rich just said, "When you give the word, sir, they will escort the people out." Rich started to have a bad feeling. Power tended to corrupt people, and Rich was slowly getting such power.
As they entered the castle, Rich's ears were assulted by a high annoyingly feminine voice say, "I can't say when it was when we last saw his Lordship." Rich groaned at that thought. That his family had the royal title of Lord. He shook his head.
He heard Emmet say, "That's her." There was a look of shock as well as a look of antisipation on the man's face.
Rich softly said, "Alright. Let's see if we can startle her, big time."
He started to walk in her direction, and he heard Yvette say, {What are you up to?} He knew what she meant.
He responded, {I'm going to make this lady sorry she said those words.} He heard her giggle a bit. When he got close enough, he said, "Excuse me, ma'am, but did you say you know the owners of this fine castle?"
He noticed that the woman was pleased with his responce, but the husband had a look of fear on his face. She just said, "We have been friends for a long time."
Rich smiled and said, "I bet you saw his Lord and Ladyship on," he had to think of a date. A date he knew was phoney. He quickly thought of the perfect date. He quickly said in the mind link, {Yvette, what day was it that Emplate attack the first time, when my father came to the school?}
She thought for a moment and then said, {Dec 10}
Before she could finish he just said, "it was a December 10th, although the year escapes me right now. I do know that he was at a function in the area."
The woman appeared to have taken a bite at the line. "Oh yes, we indeed met there. His lord ship told me all about his daughter." The woman just shot her own foot.
Rich just smiled and said, "Funny, I thought his Lordship had a son."
The woman shook her head and said, "No, it's a daughter."
Rich listened as her husband said, "Hyacinth, you don't know if Lord Cale's child is a son or a daughter."
The woman whispered back, "Quiet Richard, he doesn't know that. Besides, Lord Cale is away at the moment, and if he arrives back, I shall recognize him." Rich had to surpress a laugh, even though it was harder to surpress the tear.
Rich then looked at the man and said, "Richard, that happens to be my name as well. Maybe I should introduce myself properly. I am Richard Cale Jr., Son of Lord Cale." He noticed that the woman's eyes went wide. He then said, "And that particular day, my father was in Massachucetts helping me get settled into school. As for meeting Lord Cale, ma'am, that will have to wait until you pass on. He was murdered about 36 hours ago, and by family tradition, I must dwell in the castle for about a week." Then in a loud voice, he said, "Everyone, you are instructed to leave the castle. Security will show you to your cars, and refund your money for the tour. The castle will be open for touring in about a weeks time. Take care all." He return to Yvette, Emmet and Elizabeth, and smiled as Emmet and Elizabeth were laughing.
He heard Elizabeth say, "Did you see the look on Hyacinth's face?"
Emmet just responded, "I wish I had the camera."
Yvette walked over to his side and said, "Does this mean the castle is ours for the week?" She kissed him on the cheek as he nodded. Soon, they would be residing in the castle for the duration of a week.
Once everyone had left, Yvette followed Rich as they took their luggage to a room. It was one of the few bedrooms in the old castle that had been converted over to modern electricity, but it would serve for one week. She also noticed that it had a king size bed in it. She looked at the fabulous bed and said, "I guess one would expect that for a Lord."
She saw Rich place the carry case holding Grimore down. He openned it and the cat leaped onto the bed. "I guess so, but I never knew my father held that title." She looked at him in surprise. She would have thought that someone would have mentioned it. He then said, "I'm learning alot about my family that I never knew before." She could tell that he was telling the truth.
She walked over to his side and said, "Looks like this is a week for surprises." As she held him, she kissed him. It seemed almost romantic. When she was Emplate's prisoner, Yvette dreamed that one day, a knight in shinning armor would save her from the monster. Her dream had come true, in a way, except her knight was just becoming a knight.
When he ended the kiss, he smiled and said, "Maybe we should look around a bit today. We still have some hours of daylight left."
She nodded and said, "Maybe we might find some secret passages, or hidden rooms." Then she thought some more about the castle, and remember some of the stories about castles. The though scared her as she said it, "Do you think there might be a dungeon?"
She noticed that he was thinking about it when he said, "Maybe, this castle is pretty old. It could very well be." The thought didn't set to well with her, remembering the time she had been imprisoned. She saw that he knew she was uneasy with the fact as he said, "Don't worry. If anything at all, they just show it on the tour." She felt him put his arms around her in a protective, caring way. It did make her feel a little better.
After he let go of her, she said, "Shall we go exploring now? I guess I want to find out more about this 'home' for the next week." She was ready to explore. She watched as Rich closed his suitcase and led them out the door.
As he closed the door, Rich said, "Best place to start are rooms not on the tour. I don't think that places on the tour would be linked to secret passages." She had to nod in agreement and then thought again. She knew that Rich always thought.
With that thought running in her mind, she said, "Maybe we should check the rooms on the tour first. You once said that in plain sight is the best place to hide something."
He looked at her and smiled. "Very true, and the library is on the tour, so a secret could be in the bookshelves there." He ran off in the direction, and she followed. She then noticed that Grimore was following them. She thought that this was very odd behavior for a cat. When they reached the room, she saw that Rich was already checking all the bookshelves. "If it's in here, the door handle should be on the bookshelf."
She started to search the bookshelves and came across something odd. It was a book with an old binding, like it was from many years back. She read the cover aloud. "Mutants and Medival Times."
She noticed Rich came over and said, "That makes no sense. Didn't mutants like us show up in the later part of this century?"
She looked at the book and said, "I always thought so, but there are some older. Jean once told me that Sinister was from the 1800's." She then reached out to pull it out, but when she pulled it, the bookshelf next to it swung open. "It's a hidden switch." She went to look down the door that had just openned and found a dark stairway. "Shall we do down?"
Rich took her hand and said, "I think so, it just feels like we need to go down there." She could feel that feeling to. They had to go down to the lower level. As he lead the way, the stairway got darker and darker. They were almost proceding in pitch black. Then he stopped, and she did as well, as a flame appeared in the air. It was on a torch. He just said, "I've never seen that happen before. It was like magic."
She could tell he was amazed. She then noticed that other torches had lit up, leading to a door. As they approached the door, she noticed that it was a metal plate, with a inscription printed on it, and the imprint of a sword. She looked at the words and said, "I think this door is locked and only you can open it."
She watched as Rich read the inscription. "It appears to translate into the language of the reader, since it looked at first like English from this region from long ago. 'Beyond these doors are the tomes of the Paladin Cale. Only the Paladin Cale can open this door with his sword.' That's weird since I don't have one."
Yvette then heard Grimore meow and the cat was off. She looked at Rich and said, "I wonder if Grimore might have an idea on that." She was starting to get majorly suspicious at the cat's actions, as they started to follow the feline.
Rich just said, "I've always suspected that Grimore was more than a cat, but I don't know how to explain it." As they followed the cat, Rich said, "Grimore has been with my family for as long as I have known, which is longer than any cat should live." She noticed that the cat ran into a room. As they entered the room, she saw Rich stop in surprise. All he could say was, "I don't believe it."
She looked with him. There, above the fireplace, was the sword from the dream. The cat sat there, looking up at it. She just said, "It's the flaming sword, from the dream." She watched in awe as Rich just reached up and took it down. All of a sudden, it burst into flame. She now knew what the dream meant. Rich, like his father, and his grandfather, was the next one to hold that sword. Rich was the next to hold this strange title, but a very honorable title.
Rich felt a power surge through him as he held the sword. It was an almost awe-inspiring power, but something else was happening. His mind started to open up. Everything he had seen in his life that he had repressed started to surge through into his mind. It was almost more than he could handle. He started to fall to the floor. He felt Yvette catch him. He saw the concerned look in her eyes as she said, "What's wrong?"
Rich weakly smiled and said, "All the memories from the past are coming back at me. A little to much for me to handle right now." He looked at his watch and said, "Maybe we should turn in for the night. I think that whatever is behind the door will wait until tomorrow, for it may take a day to get through it all."
She helped him up and they walked to the bedroom that they had left their stuff in. When they got there, she just helped him onto the bed and said, "You rest here while I get ready in the bathroom." He nodded as she got her stuff together and went into the bathroom. When he met her, she was timid, shy, and scared. Now, she was different. She was free from the horror she had endured for part of her life. She was now free of that, and she also filled an emptyness that had been in his life for years.
As she was getting ready for bed, Rich felt Grimore jump on the bed and walk over to his side. He smiled and petted Grimore. "You know Grimore. Yvette means alot to me. I wouldn't have asked anyone else to come here with me." The cat purred with approval. He then said, "I think you like having her around, too. I've never seen you so happy." The purr got louder. He continued petting the cat and said, "Ever since I met her, my life has been different. Yes, I've made a few more enemies, but with Yvette I don't have to fear them as much. Well, except for Emplate." He then noticed the cat stopped purring, but it's ears purked up, like it understood what he said. He then said, "Don't worry. Gen X helps us, and protects us. We are like a family."
He then noticed Yvette coming out of the bathroom. She was wearing a blue night shirt that extened down to the floor. She came over to the bed and sat down next to him. "Were you talking to Grimore?" He nodded and she started to pet the cat. "Well, why don't you get ready for bed. I'll keep Grimore company." He nodded and went over to the bathroom. As he got ready he started to worry. What if Yvette would have a nightmare? Everything at school was slowly made to handle if it happened, but some of her clothes were still not prepared for such an occurance. He quickly got ready and headed into the bed room. He saw that she was under the covers and still petting Grimore. She just said, "He likes me alot."
Rich nodded and climbed into bed. "He and I tend to think alike at times." She giggled at that and he said, "I hope you don't have a nightmare tonight." She nodded and he kissed her good night. "Sweet dreams."
She smiled and said, "They will be if you're in them." He smiled back at her and outened the light. Soon enough, they were in dreamland.
Grimore just stretched his legs as he looked at the two sleeping forms to his sides. He couldn't believe it when he first saw the girl. Rich had found her again, but Rich had unfortunately found himself against someone that his parents tried to keep him seperate from. Grimore quietly left the bed and started to roam the halls. As he roamed, he had many thoughts running through his mind. How did Rich and Marius find out about each, unless it was by dumb luck. Grimore never believed in luck. He believed in destiny, and maybe that was what brought the two boys to encounter each other. So far, he could only figure that neither boy knew of the contact between their families. The cat slowly made his way to a gallery room, where Rich's parent's portraits were up. The cat watched quietly as they started to glow. As the glow slowly intensified, he just said, "So it begins. The title moves to the next in the family." He headed back to the room with his keeper. When he reached the bedroom, he was not surprised to find that even in their sleep, Rich and Yvette would find a way to keep each other in comfort, as in their own sleep, Rich had embraced Yvette. Grimore quietly got on the bed, and curled up on the pillow above their heads, and fell into a restful sleep.