CHAPTER 12: Of Secret Stairs and Nightmares
Theoden looked at me sternly from behind the dim torch light. His eyes bore down upon me with an expression of almost fear.
"What are you doing here?" He demanded. I got up onto my feet and looked at him squarely in the eyes.
"I might ask you the same question, Theoden King." I answered. There was something fishy about this door, and I was going to find out what it was.
"You shouldn't be wandering through these halls at such late times." He answered.
"I was just heading to my quarters." I answered, dusting off the front of my dress, "but I don't think I'd be wrong in thinking there was some sort of explanation for why you are wandering through the halls. I thought you retired to your quarters hours ago." He glared at me and then his face relaxed into a sly smile.
"I came for water." He said simply. Liar, I thought.
He nodded his head slightly and then walked past me into the hall. But I remained in front of the stair. Something about his behavior struck me as odd, and I knew that it had something to do with the stair.
I waited until he had disappeared to turn my attention back to the small mysterious step. I made sure no one was looking and then kneeled down beside it and closely examined it. Well, there was no obvious things about it that made me suspicious, but after a closer look, I found to my surprise that the "wall" above it had a five-inch gap between it and the step itself. I was tempted to stick my hand under it, but after a small amount of common sense, I decided against it, and instead I stood up and felt around the wall for some sort of a switch or knob that might help to reveal more of this hidden staircase. I heard a sudden creak and hastily hid myself behind a nearby pillar.
Two obviously drunk men stumbled out into the hallway, laughing and singing. I held my breath when they passed by very slowly.
"Fredrick—" stuttered one of them drunkenly, "they been saying that---that girl. You remember her? She knows the wizard." They both laughed loudly and disappeared around the corner.
I rolled my eyes and slipped out from my hiding place. They were just like all men here; rude. I had never met them personally, but even from a distance I could tell that the one that spoke was Thed, one of the royal guards.
I turned my attention back to the stair.
"Think, Maddy!" I said to myself. "Think about all the Nancy Drew books you've read!" I stood back from the wall and put my hands on my hips. There to be some way to expose the rest of the stairs, or why else would there just randomly be a stair leading down to nothing? It didn't make sense.
Half on impulse, I felt my way along the wall beside the stair, looking for some kind of a lever or loose stone.
I gave up after an hour of searching.
"Damn." I muttered angrily to myself. Frustrated, I leaned dejectedly against the pillar I had hid behind earlier,
Creak
I flew back onto my feet in an instant and stared fixedly on the pillar. It had twisted in a complete circle, revealing a lighter colored section in its wood. I looked at it closely…no, that couldn't be…a hinge? I placed my hand on the small space near the middle of the pillar and felt around. Suddenly, there was a small popping sound and a small portion of the wood swung open to reveal a lever inside.
I pulled it forward.
Little did I know that the small action would lead one of the biggest mistakes of my life.
I looked over at the stair as the wall began to move back, revealing several more steps. The wall stopped and I saw what would be the first of many landings in that staircase. The stone was cold and bluish gray, and looked neglected. Over all, it didn't look the least bit inviting.
But bold little me…nothing could stop me. I was determined, and that was that. No one stops Maddy Lunderburg when she puts her mind to something.
People had always told me that I was brave; bold enough to accomplish anything I wanted. Not one time before in my life had I thought that these qualities would bring me so close to the arms of death, and lead me away from all of my sense and instinct. That night would haunt me for the rest of my life.
I walked down the stairs slowly, a small lump of regret forming in my throat. I was only on the third step, but already I felt tired, as if a thousand pounds were pushing on every inch of my body. The air was already thick, and a musty, dead smell pierced my nostrils. I kept my hand on the wall for extra support. I felt like someone had broken all of my bones at once, and an unknown source of pain attacked me from the inside and I could feel tears welling up inside me. I was almost on my knees…Then it happened.
Something reached up from the darkness and grabbed my throat. I screamed in both surprise and sudden painful shock. Then it wrenched me forward and threw me head-first down the stairs. Then blackness.
My blackened sleep would have been better. I should have never opened my eyes; I should have dwelled in my estranged sleep for longer. Nothing could have prepared me for what happened next.
Even before I opened my eyes I could tell that it was pitch black. I dared not move, for I knew that whatever had thrown me down the stairs would notice if I got up. So instead I just closed my eyes again and wished with all of my conscious thoughts that this was some sort of a horrible nightmare. But No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't wish away the icy stone below me, or the stale air that encircled me.
There was wicked from somewhere in the darkness.
"Our friend is sad." A voice announced, followed by more laughter. The voice was purely male. This time I sat up. There was no use in pretending now.
"Who are you?" I asked gravely. The laughter abruptly stopped.
"She seems…strong." A second masculine voice said, "We should keep her for longer."
"Yes," agreed the first speaker, "she does seem different than the others…"
"You haven't answered my question." I said. I tried hard to appear calm, but on the inside I wanted to burst out crying. The two of the speakers laughed.
"I am Lestat." The first speaker said. "And this is my good friend Ithen." I almost choked. He couldn't be Ithen…there was no possible way. He had died right alongside of Theodred. He was the second in command…Theodred's best friend. The first speaker laughed again.
"Are you frightened?" He asked. All around me candles burst into brilliant fiery life and I looked at the shadowed face of my captor. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined the horror that stood before me…
Author's note: tee-hee! I left it at a cliffy…but don't be mad at me. Hey, I have an idea. If I get at least 15 reviews, I will update the story this weekend. So those of you who want to see what happens next, review!
And this is R.K. Binx, signing off!