Summary: The Second Hand Heroes Investigate the summer house, Eddie meets Uncle Pedro, the Sibunas fix the phonograph and learn some interesting information.
Evie's Notes: Heyyyyyy... sorry for the long wait. My computer died and I didn't have the money to fix it for a while. I hope you all are having a wonderful week ! As always, thank you so much your support of this story, it really and truly means the world to me 💜! We are almost to 1000 hits! I hope that you all enjoy the this new (longer) update 🌺.
All of the adventure and treasure hunting movies KT had watched growing up had not prepared her for the amount of hiking she would be doing as an official treasure hunter.
"The house is just up and over the hill here" called Eddie as the trio walked along the abandoned train tracks. While it was true there was a more direct route to the house by gravel road, the secondhand heroes did not want to risk anyone catching sight of them as they snuck over to the summer house.
"It's a good thing Peppermint thought to get us in shape this summer, though I never really thought we'd be using that training" grunted Joy, as she accepted the boost Eddie offered her to climb up over the wall.
It only took a few more moments for the group to finally reach the Frobisher Summer House. Eddie broke out his trusty lock pick and set to work jimmying open the locked window to the study he had used back in September.
"Be careful, I don't think anyone should be here… but given our luck we'll end up walking straight into a society meeting" warned Joy after the trio successfully found themselves in the summer house's study.
"So do we split up or?" suggested K.T.
"Stay together!" whispered Joy and Eddie at the same time, the pair both having painful flashbacks to their respective kidnappings.
"Ok, great! Start at the bottom and work our ways up?" agreed KT
"Yeah. Eddie, you mentioned that you were able to trigger an entrance to the cult space last time you were here. Do you think you could do it again?" asked Joy.
"Sure, just give me a sec" agreed the American boy, as he shuffled through the desk drawers looking for the false bottom he had found last time.
A loud click and an ominous woosh signaled the release of the bookcase lock, and the fake wall swinging open to reveal the foreboding stone steps down into the apparent basement and cult space.
Now that Eddie was no longer racing to stop a cult meeting and save his friend, he took the time to take in the details including a strange phrase carved into the stone arch of the entryway.
"lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate… abandon all hope all ye who enter here. Well that's inviting" translated KT, only to squawk at the strange looks the pair sent her. "What? Eddie speaks French and Joy speaks Spanish. Why is it so shocking that I know Italian?"
Shaking his head, Eddie just pushed forward, turned on his flashlight and stepped through the archway down into the depths of the cult space.
* Scent of Lavender * Scent of Lavender *
At the bottom of the stairs the trio found a long hallway with two rooms. The first doorway led to a stone room with several mannequins dressed in red robes and different animal masks. Joy shuddered as she took in the familiar Jackal mask, her mind unwittingly filled with flashbacks to her time kidnapped by the society.
"Well this doesn't look great" quipped KT as she eyed the robes warily.
"That sums up the society pretty well" snarked Joy.
"This is some seriously creepy shit" muttered Eddie darkly as he poked around in a few of the room's cupboards, not really knowing what he was looking for and fearing what he would find.
"Let's check out the other room" suggested Joy, eager to get away from the ominous and chilling golden masks.
The other room seemed to be a mix between a library and a witch's kitchen. The stone walls had been hollowed away to create bookshelves on which ancient and heavy looking tombs stood. KT made her way towards the silver and black wrought iron podium in the center of the room. Lying innocently open on the stand was a large cracked black leather book with silver fastenings. Glancing at the open page, KT gasped in horror as she read the title "Blood Sacrifices". Scanning the page, the fear continued to mount as she took in horrific information.
"Eddie, Joy! you guys are going to want to see this".
The pair hurried over to where KT was reading. "What is it?" asked Eddie.
"On the night of the full moon, the eight acolytes must exchange a young soul as an offering to the gods. Upon completing their eighth exchange, Ra will smile upon them and bestow the lifespans of those souls upon the acolytes, thereby freezing their aging for another 80 years" read KT, her voice wavering.
"It looks like Victor and Vera found a non-elixir based way to extend their lifespans" muttered Eddie darkly.
"It seems his moral argument to not kill anyone has officially run out… most likely Vera's influence" mused Joy. "Gods only knows what would happen if he got his hands on the cup and some elixir. I'm sure he wouldn't hesitate now to exchange one of our lives for true immortality".
"KT does the book say if there is there any way to stop this?"
"It mentions that if the society fails to offer the eight sacrifices in eight months, their lives will be forfeit and the souls offered will be returned"
"Wait! We can actually get Jason back?" clarified Joy, her eyes lighting up with hope.
"It seems so, all we have to do is stop the society from offering the sacrifices"
"Oh yeah… piece of cake" scoffed Eddie.
* Scent of Lavender * Scent of Lavender *
Eddie nervously approached the black car that was parked outside the gates. The driver's window rolled down to reveal Alana and Greg grinning at him.
"Hey mate! I'm so glad you agreed to come with us" greeted Greg.
"Uncle Pedro is so excited to meet with you today, hop in!" chirped Alana.
Calmed by his new friend's warm welcome, Eddie opened the door and took a seat in the back of the car.
* Scent of Lavender * Scent of Lavender *
The trio drove for about twenty minutes to the edge of town. Greg pulled up to an iron gate, guarding a foreboding looking manor. Eddie did his best to push down the worrying feeling that was beginning to grow in his chest. Greg quickly punched in a code causing the gates to slide open allowing the high school trio to pull through.
Putting the car in park, Greg and Alana hopped out of the car signaling Eddie to follow them. The front door of the manor opened to reveal a well dressed elderly man in a three piece suit and a cane.
"Ah! My favorite niece, welcome Alana"
"Hi uncle Pedro! You remember my friend Greg?"
"Of course, welcome back young man" smiled the man, his eyes glinting in the afternoon sunlight.
"And this is Eddie, the Osirian!"
"Edison Miller. I have waited a long, long time to meet you, Osirian. I am Pedro Englavista, and I look forward to working with you".
"It is a pleasure to meet you Mr. Englavista. I was thrilled to learn that there was someone who knew about the Osirian powers. Obviously my predecessor went crazy and passed on before I was able to learn about my new role, and my father refuses to speak about this".
"Well I look forward to being able to pass on my knowledge. One of my greatest regrets is not being able to help your predecessor when his sanity started to slip" shared the man sorrowfully.
Feeling significantly more comfortable, Eddie excitedly followed the man inside the house for tea and to talk . Greg and Alana begged off saying that they were going to go walk around the property while the pair talked, given that they did not really care about all of the Osirian stuff.
Tea went really well and Eddie learned a lot about Rufus and Sarah during his time with Mr. Englavista. Apparently the man had been on the same archeological dig crew as Sarah and Rufus, which was where he had helped Rufus and Sarah with their Chosen One and Osirian skills. After about two hours Alana and Greg returned explaining that they really needed to get back into town. Eddie thanked their host and promised to return again soon. As the trio drove home, Eddie wondered if he would be able to bring Nina with him next time to meet Pedro Englavista; he was sure she would appreciate meeting someone who had known Sarah.
* Scent of Lavender * Scent of Lavender *
Monday afternoon the Sibuna club found themselves gathered around the newly fixed phonograph in the secret room. "Are we ready to do this?" asked Nina looking around at the group.
"Definitely!" grinned Fabian, a slightly manic look bleeding into his eyes.
Turning the crank, Nina activated the phonograph causing the ancient machine to spring to life and blare its long awaited message.
"Sarah, if you are listening to this the unthinkable has happened." played an eerily familiar voice for all Sibunas.
"That's Frobisher-Smythe" announced Amber, a queasy look on her face.
"Your mother and I have much to atone for, the worst being leaving you alone. There were many treasures which Louisa and I gained during our work, but one in particular has the power to bring about the most terrible consequences for the entire world. For your protection and that of the world, Louisa and I took it upon ourselves to break the key to this treasure into four pieces. The four pieces have been entrusted to the members of my expedition party. Sarah, it is up to you to find these pieces, form Tutenkahman's staff and unlock our safe. Once inside our family's vault I ask that you and Rufus combine your powers as Chosen One and Osirian to destroy the pharaoh's sledge. I shudder to think what would occur should someone with the wrong intentions were to mount it and be taken into the afterlife. Good luck my love, I know that you will make the right choice and bring honor to our family name" finished the robber baron as the machine creaked and squealed to a jarring stop.
"Well… that sucks" muttered Jerome after a few moments of silence, perfectly summing up the feelings of the other six Sibunas.
"How are we supposed to find these pieces?" asked Lili.
"You guys are the descendents, you should know what he's talking about, right?" theorized Fabian.
"Not me" muttered Alfie
"Me either" added Patricia
"Well I guess we start by going through your belongings and see if that turns up anything" decided Nina.
* Scent of Lavender * Scent of Lavender *
The Sibuna club decided to start with Alfie and Jerome's room. The boys set to work going through their trunks as the others searched the closet and desks.
"Itching powder, whoopee cushion, walkie talkies, zombie mask, ooh chocolate!" muttered Alfie.
"Guide to making money fast, book of easy scams, scarf, blazer" echoed Jerome.
"Come on Alfie! Think old, dusty, artifacty" snapped Nina, as she sorted through one of the boxes from the boy's closet.
"I can't think of anything my parents gave me like that" admitted Alfie.
"Same here. My mom barely fed us, much less gave me a valuable heirloom. What about you Trix?" scoffed Jerome.
"I'd know if I had an ancient artifact," scoffed Patricia.
"Guys come on! We need to solve this!" worried Fabian.
"I guess it's time to go ask Joy," decided Nina.
* Scent of Lavender * Scent of Lavender *
"I can't do this" worried Joy as she stared at the cursor blinking on her laptop screen.
"Come on JJ, just hit send" encouraged Eddie, rubbing her shoulders from where he stood behind the couch.
"But what if I don't get it?"
"You definitely won't get in if you don't submit it" K.T. urged her girlfriend.
Taking a deep breath, Joy hit enter. With a whoosh and a little ding, the screen let the singer know that her University application had been accepted, there was no backing out now.
"Great! Now that that's handled, let's get back to work on our project. Have you figured out how you want to showcase a family tradition yet?" questioned KT
"Yeah, my family has this little nursery rhyme that is kinda haunting and cool. I figure if we pair it with some chords and Eddie lays down a beat we're guaranteed to get an A" answered Joy.
"That sounds cool! How does it go?" asked Eddie, setting up the music mixing program on his laptop.
"Upstairs Downstairs Outside in, always search to conquer sin…" sang Joy, only to be interrupted by her housemates as they stampeded into the room.
"Joy! Joy! Family Heirlooms, do you have any in particular?" demanded Fabian hurriedly.
"No?" replied Joy, confusedly. "What's up with you guys. We're trying to work in here"
"Let's just get back to it" sighed KT hitting record again on the computer.
"Upstairs Downstairs Outside in, always search to conquer sin. High and low in dale and hill, seek ye all to mend all ill. There is just one thing you'll need…" sang Joy, only to trail off confusedly as Jerome and Alfie each echoed her song. "Wait? How do you guys know that nursery rhyme? My dad made it up" she demanded.
"No, my parents made that song up" disagreed Alfie.
"Nope, my mom did. Probably the only nice thing she ever did for me and Poppy" argued Jerome.
"Definitely not! My mom made up that song. She would sing it to Piper all the time, I would sneak over to her bedroom and listen to it when my mother would put Piper to sleep" chimed in Patricia.
"Keep singing" ordered Nina, a sharp look in her eyes.
"There is just one thing you'll need…" sang the group, only to differ on the next line.
"In the parlor the lines will lead" ended Jerome.
"The lodge's heights are hot indeed" crooned Alfie.
"In the place of rest you will succeed" sang Joy.
"In the summer house beneath the weeds" finished Patricia.
"You got it wrong" accused Joy, glaring at the trio.
"No you all got it wrong" scoffed Patricia.
"Can someone just tell us what this is about?" asked Eddie.
"Never mind!" dismissed Fabian, ushering the Sibunas out of the room, the manic look back in his eyes.
"Guys don't you realize what just happened?" asked the boy once the group of seven were safely in the atrium. "If I'm right, your parents did tell you how to find the artifact".
"The rhymes are clues on where to find the missing pieces of the pharaoh's staff! Fabian! You're a genius!" exclaimed Nina, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
"Ok, let's start with the parlor tonight, after lights out" suggested Amber.
"Sounds good. Until then let's split up and get some homework done" added Patricia. Placing a hand over her eye she signaled the others, "Sibuna!".
Evie's Notes 2: Thank you all so much for reading 💕! I hope you enjoyed this update, let me know your favorite part of in the comments! I hope to see you all in the next update 💗!
I love hearing from y'all! Let me know what you think of the chapter and the story as a whole in the comments or my Tumblr House-of-Secrets! Have a great week and stay safe! - Xo Evie🌺
