Chapter 8: Secret of the Liquid
They days had past, but still no news on the ingredients on the liquid and Alister wasn't quite done deciphering the journal. Lara decided to go check out some old ruins of castles, in hopes of finding something out. Vianca stayed back at the manor this time due to well wanting to be near to Alister just in case. Vianca finally figured out how to float and was sitting there floating in the library as Alister walked around grabbing books. He was using other books to compare to things in finds in the journal. Vianca looked over at him and sees him working. She smiled and looked at the bookshelf he was at. There were so many books that she almost thought there were thousands. Alister looked to be frustrated and she floated over.
"What's wrong, Alister?" She asked as she got him to look at her.
"I can't find this book. There a structure that is mention in the journal and I know there is a book on it here somewhere," Alister said as he continued his search. Vianca looked over his shoulder at the name of the structure and then looked up higher on the shelves. She scanned the books and found on with a green cover. The name of the structure was in gold letters on the spine. She grabbed it off the shelf and descended down behind Alister.
"Do you mean this one?" She asked as she held it out to him. He turned around and his eyes widened.
"Yes, that's it! Where did you find it?" Alister asked as he took it. Vianca chuckled and pointed up to the higher selves. Alister looked up and sees the missing spot on the bookshelf. 'Ah, so that's where it was. If I would've known that I would have gotten the ladder and saved you the trouble." Vianca laughed again and just smiled at him.
"I don't mind helping. It's the least I can do for all that you've done for me so far," Vianca said as she kicked at the ground. "I want...I want to help you Alister. I care about you." Alister looked at her as Vianca looked at the ground. He put down the books and gets Vianca to look at him.
"I care about you too Vianca, and I'm glad you want to help," Alister said with a smile. Vianca smiled up at him. Alister grabbed the books again and walked with Vianca back over to one of the couches. She slowly took the journal as Alister began to read into the book that she helped him find. She looked through the journal at the different entries. She came across one that caught her interest. She decided to read it while Alister was busy, but she didn't read aloud.
"November 14th 1872,
There is something wrong with the place my father told me about. He took me there yesterday after me begging him to take me to a dungeon of some sort. I can feel something wrong here. There is a weird presence, but I don't think he can sense it like I can. I looked around and found this weird piece of jewelry that was broken. It looked like a green emerald tied with some leathery wraps. I suppose someone dropped it, but I don't know."
Vianca dropped the journal as she read that part. It happened to so many more. It happened to more people after her, maybe even before her. She pulled her knees to her chest and was hugging herself, burying her face to hide her emotions. Alister turned and sees Vianca. His eyes widened and went over to her quickly, dropping the book he was reading. He placed his hands on her shoulders and tried to get her attention.
"Vianca? Vianca? Are you alright?" Alister asked as he became very concerned. She didn't respond and continued to keep her face down. He bent down to get a better look at the situation and look of worry took over any emotion he had. "Vianca, please answer me. What's wrong? You have to talk to me, please. Please, don't shut me out now." He waited again as he stared at her. She raised her hands to her head and gripped her hair as if something was truly troubling her. She spoke softly, but loud enough to be heard.
"How many?" She asked softly. Alister looked at her confused at the question.
"How many what, Vianca?" He asked. She looked at him and he saw what appeared to be tears running down her face.
"How many people suffered this fate that I have been given?" She said as she looked down again. "I can't bare the thought that the others who went through this didn't make and I am the only one. Why am I the only one?" The tears kept coming as she continued this break down. Alister managed to get her out of the position she was in and hugged her.
"Hey, come now, Vianca. It's alright, I got you," Alister said comfortingly as he patted on the back to try to get her to calm down. "I don't know how many people went through this and I don't know how you were the only one that seemed to work, but I do know that I won't let it happen again. I promise." Vianca hugged him tightly and just cried. It took a few moments, but she let go of him and he looked at her.
"I'm...I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me," She apologized as she wiped some of the tears away. "I read something in the journal and I guess…." Alister put a hand on her cheek which cut her off.
"It's ok, everyone has one of these moment. Yes, there not all the same, but it's ok," Alister said reassuringly. "If there is anything bothering you, anything at all, you can come talk to me ok. I'm here for you and I always will be." Vianca stared at him for a moment and a small smile appeared on her lips.
"How did I find someone as kind as you?" She said as another tear slips from her eyes. Alister reached over and wiped it away for her. He was smiling at her with pure kindness.
"You're the one that made the vow, you tell me," He said as he picked up the journal she dropped. Vianca looked away with what looked to be a small blush.
"Um...hey I found something in there," Vianca said as she slowly took the journal. She opened it back to the page she read. "It says that….there was another place where this happened maybe we can find more clues there?" Alister looked and his eyes widened.
"That's the place I was looking up," He said as he picked up the book he dropped and pointed to a picture in the book of the ruins. "Well, I guess we both found something." Vianca smiled at him as he chuckled.
"Let's go tell the others," Vianca said as she got up off the couch. Alister nodded and led her out. They came into a lab like room where Zip and Lara were. Zip was playing with the liquid that they had found trying to figure out what it was. "Whatcha doing?" They both turned around and sees them.
"Vianca, Alister, maybe you can help us figure this stuff out," Lara said as she turned back to the phial that Zip had in his hands. They walked up, Vianca on one side of Zip and Alister on the other.
"I don't know what to make of it. It doesn't seem to be made of anything besides random flowers and some other liquid which is hard to pinpoint," Zip said as he continued to swish it around.
"Have you tried all the tests?" Alister asked. Zip looked at him in a slight annoyance.
"Of course I have, but I can't figure it out," He said as he accidently threw his hand to violently and some of the liquid came out of the phial. The liquid flew threw the air and landed on Vianca's hand. Vianca's eyes widened and she yelled in pain. She flew up a bit holding her hand close to her. Alister goes over to her quickly.
"Vianca, what's wrong? What happened?" He asked as he became very concerned. She looked at the liquid in Zip's hand as he got up a bit.
"Keep that away from me," She said as she held her hand close to her chest. Zip looked at the liquid and that he was holding and put the cork back on it quickly. Alister managed to get her to come down a bit.
"Here let me see," Alister said as he got her to look at him. Vianca slowly showed them her hand. The spot that hit her hand was now stained black and steam slowly rose from it. It seemed to sting her so much that it brought her to tears. "What is that stuff? It's basically burned her. What on Earth did you bring back with you Lara?" Lara thought for a moment and then walked over to see it for herself.
"Remember the journal entry, the witch needed the substance. What if this is what it's for," Lara said gesturing to Vianca's hand. "It might be a way to keep spirits in check or something similar. Let me see that phial." Zip handed it to her and she opened it again. Vianca went behind Alister in fear of whatever that stuff was. She took a small toothpick and got some of the liquid on it. She handed the phial back to Zip who took it cautiously.
"If you plan to use that on Vianca, then I won't let you," Alister said as he kept Vianca behind him. Lara raised her own hand up slight and touched the liquid to her skin. Nothing seemed to happen as she pulled the toothpick away. She went over to get a napkin and wiped it away. She looked her hand over and sees that no such black mark was left on her.
"It seems that this stuff doesn't affect people…." Zip said as he looked up at Alister. "Maybe Lara's right, it only affects spirits, but we don't know that for sure." Alister looked back at Vianca who continued to hold her own hand. Vianca looked up at him with a scared expression. His eyes softened at the sight.
"Well, I won't allow any further testing. I am not letting Vianca get hurt by whatever the hell that liquid is," Alister said angrily. "I understand that it was an accident before, but I won't allow it." Vianca looked at the liquid and thought for a long time. The witch need it and seemed that it was hard to make if she would chase someone just to get one phial back. What if…..
"Alister," Vianca asked as she tapped his shoulder. Alister looked at her, his full attention now on her. "What if the extra ingredient is something that no one can get normally? What if it's blood….of a royal?" Alister's eyes widened at the thought.
"That would explain why she would kill a king," Lara said as she threw the napkin and toothpick away. "I suppose that would explain it composition." Zip looked at the liquid and then at Lara.
"Does that mean I am holding some dead king right now?" He asked as he looked back down at the liquid. Vianca looked down at her hand. She sees that the black stain was dissolving into the steam and the light green glow returned.
"It seems that the...burning effects doesn't last forever," Vianca said as she held up her hand to Alister. "It looks like it dissolves into steam." He takes her hand and looks it over and sighs.
"I'm just glad you're alright," Alister said as his grip around her hand tightened slightly. Vianca looked over at the stuff in Zip's hands and then back down.
"I knew that I sensed something ominous. I just didn't know what it was," She said. "Now, I know. It was coming from that phial." Zip looked down at the phial again and then placed it down.
"Well know we know that if we can find places where kings were well murdered, then we may find some more clues," Zip said as he rubbed his head. Vianca remembered what they came in here to tell them.
"We think we found the next ruins to go to," She said as she took the book from Alister and handed it to Lara. "It's mentioned in the journal that another amulet was found there. Maybe we can find more." Lara nodded and handed the book to Zip.
"Zip, make the usual arrangements," She said. Zip nodded and ran off. She looked at Alister, who gripped the necklace for a second. "Is she coming to or is she staying here?" Alister looked at Vianca, who in turn looked up at him.
"I won't make you do anything you don't wanna do, but I will ask." He said as he stared down at her. "Do you want to go or do you wish to stay here?" Vianca thought for a moment and then sighed.
"If I go, we have a better chance of finding an answer," She said as she looked away. "I will go, but Alister." Alister looked at her confused.
"What is it?" Alister asked as he stared at her, he handed the amulet to Lara before looking directly at her. Vianca reached up and kissed his cheek. Alister's eyes widened at her action and stared down at her.
"Stay safe, I want to see you here when I return," Vianca answered with a small smile. She soon disappeared without another word back into the amulet. Lara chuckled to herself and left Alister to ponder what just happened to him.