Chapter 9: The diary

It was dark when Lara was told to stop the car. In front of them stood a house. It was clearly inhabited, but not abandoned and, although it seemed to be rather old, it was far from recalling the ruinous conditions of the place they previously visited.

Lara also noticed that it was standing in a rather isolated place, so that nobody would see people coming in and out of it. It seemed perfect but for the fact that there was no escape way except for the one they had come from.

IsisDeiyan opened the door of the house and led them to the interior of the house, turning on the lights as she entered. There was no trace of dust, what made Lara thought that it had been used recently.

"This is one of the meeting places of the Council." Said IsisDeiyan, as if reading her thoughts. "Very similar to the one you where you meet me the first time."

"It's a good play to hide." Commented Lara.

In Fact it was designed more as a place for isolation than as a hiding place. It's quite enough for thinking." Replied IsisDeiyan with a smile. She led them to one of the rooms on the ground floor, which had a table and several chairs and which, Lara thought, was probably something like a dinning-room.

"Sit down, please." IsisDeyan asked them. "I imagine you want some answers. I'd rather explain you everything in the morning, but I'm afraid none of you would be able to sleep in the whole night if I did it. So asked whatever you want to know."

However, as much as Lara wanted to start asking al the questions in her mind, there was something that just prevented her from doing so. Maybe it was the plainness with which the woman in front of her had talked or maybe it was just natural distrust. After all, she never trusted people she had just met. Well, she had trusted Kurtis, but "that" had been different, although she wasn't very sure why. Lost in her thoughts, she was surprised to hear IsisDeiyan's voice breaking the silence again. Lara realised that, by his surprised look, Kurtis must have also been thinking about something similar.

"About 1500 years ago, a woman called Isobella, my elder sister, decided to build herself a living place, on a small island. However, she found out that a lot of people came to her seeking refuge. So she turned her residence into a fortress, which could only be opened from the inside. She let the people living there rule themselves, but took for herself the task of protecting them from outside world. It wasn't long before people started calling her their queen. The rest of the story isn't important know. What is important is that she carried a detailed record of every potentially dangerous artefact, including the keys."

"Then, how did she come to lose one of the keys?"

"In the last few years, she realised that there wasn't any need of her protection anymore, so she decide to close her fortress and retire. Ellein wouldn't accept it. She always had too much of a strong character to accept that." She explained, with a hint of bitterness. "She took the key from Isobella when she killed her."

"So you let her betray."

IsisDeiyan only nodded.

"What are you going to do about her?"

"About her? Nothing. The official belief is that she would fall into her own trap, but, in my opinion the Council has always been too optimistic. They aren't use to the way real world works. They're almost unable of thinking ill of anyone."

"You don't seem to share their 'always look on the bright side of life' philosophy."

"I was brought up here. That's why I wouldn't give her the chance to use the keys."

Silence fell again over them. This time, it was Lara who started talking.

"What were you doing at Glastonbury?"

"I had come to give you this." She replied showing the small book in her hands. "It was Isobella's diary. As she was the one who take care of hiding the keys it may contain some useful information. It starts just after she built her fortress and received the artefact known as the secret of life. It ends just before she was murdered. You may find it interesting, as well as useful. You are welcome to ask whatever you want after reading." She said putting the book on the table in front of her. "But I'm afraid that that will be in the morning."

With that she finished the conversation and left the room. It wasn't long before Lara reached for the small diary and started reading it. No matter how dangerous the situation could be, she couldn't waste the opportunity of laying her hands on an ancient object like that. Besides they may learn something useful from it.

At first sight it seemed in surprisingly well conditions. It didn't have as many entries as a diary of its age should have and each of them was pretty short and direct. As they didn't have much time, she should have to read only the ones that could lead them to the keys.

I knew She would come. She could not keep it after what we talked. Things like the one She had created are never to be used, never to have existed. She had carried it with her and agreed to leave it here, under my supervision.
It will be a burden, but there's no other place I will trusted it to be. I'll seal it in one of the underground chambers, so that none of the people who come her looking for help would be ever able to reach it.

She would help me lock it, but I would keep the keys. I would send them away, as there is no point in keeping all of them here.
I was surprised Ellein has offered to help. She didn't seem to like the idea of creating a Council and me though she wouldn't like this decision either.

I've finally decided to send one of the keys to the religious men living at Glastonbury. Two of the men of the Council have come with me, more as a company for the journey than as protection.
However, on our way home, we have come across unexpected wanderers. Obviously, they had heard about the keys and wanted the safekeeping of one of them, but not even they would dare to attack a daughter of the woods. So, we have talked and despite my better judgement, I have agreed, on the condition that the remaining one will go to their direct enemies and hunters, that now have started to call themselves Lux Veritatis. After all, it would be much easier to bring together all the keys if they belong to the same side.

During this last years, I've come to understand that my time is about to end. There's no longer need for this place.
I'm sure the Council will understand it
My dear little sister won't and I fear her betrayal. But if that is the way it should be, so be it.

And at last, treason. The cries of the people can be hear down in the galleries. I wonder if there would be a time in which this day will be narrated, would there be a poem for Isobella's fall? My only comfort is that of knowing my two youngest sisters are out. They will figure a way out of this mess.

Lara finished reading the last entry and was about to close it, when she was stopped from doing so by a sound of protest.

"Hey! I haven't finished it yet!" Said Kurtis from behind her.

She turned her head and find Kurtis reading the remaining entries of the book over her shoulder. She started to feel slightly annoyed by his behaviour. However, she said nothing and decided to wait until he lifted his head. But he only raised his head from the book when he too finished its reading.

By then, Lara was a bit more than slightly annoyed, although she wasn't very sure whether it was because of him reading over her shoulder, which she knew was a childish reason, or because he had managed to pass totally unnoticed for her. And it was really getting on her nerves the way this kind of things 'tend' to happen in his presence.

It seemed as if the alarm that used to ring in her head whenever she was in danger didn't work anymore. Or maybe it was just that, despite her natural distrust of anyone, she didn't think that he was a danger anymore.

And it was then, that she realised that she had been looking into his eyes, those beautiful blue eyes, the whole time the argument with herself had lasted. Even more angry with herself than ever, she rose from her chair and exited the room without exchanging any word and leaving an astonished Kurtis wondering what the hell was wrong with that woman.

I wonder if anyone remembers about this story…I'm really sorry for the long long delay, but I've had a huge amount of things to study from university, so… sorry again.