Demon Legacy: The Curse of the Amulet

The Curse Part I

We heard someone screaming. “Someone…anyone…HELP ME!” Hoping that it was the professor or last of his colleagues, we rushed toward the scream, which led us through the kitchen to the door Alex had reported finding it locked. When Captain Muller tried it this time, however, it opened easily, without force.

We rushed down the cellars steps to be greeted by large room covered with cobwebs, filled with shelf of wine bottles, decayed food, and barrels of dirty water.

“Great! There’s nowhere else to go!” said Parker.

“The scream came from in here,” said Captain Muller. “Maybe there’s a secret entrance.”

We spread out and started our search of the cellar.  We didn’t leave any stone untouched, we looked everywhere but found nothing. We were checking the wall when Carl suddenly stumbled upon a loose block. When he pushed it, the whole room started to shake. The wall pivoted, revealing to a secret room.

With caution we each passed through the opening, entering an ancient hallway. The torches on the walls were lit. We heard another scream, and could tell that we were getting close, but soon we ran into traps.

The first one was a common trap, used to prevent intruders moving forward. Parker accidently step on a loose stone which with a click sound, caused small spears flying out from the left and right of the wall. We have to wait to see how fast they were moving and run at the right time. Fortunately we all came out of it without injury. The next one was the trickiest one of them all. We came to a doorway, where the stairway wrapped itself around the supporting column which was centre in the room. We proceeded carefully one by one. The staircase was shrouded in darkness, so we had to use our torches to light our way. We were moving carefully, step by step, not knowing how deep the ground was. It was maybe by luck that Carl and I notice something on the far side of the wall. As we went down, there were silver statue head of lion, carved into the wall with fierce expression on them. Their eyes were ruby red, and their months were wide open as if saying that “I will devour you whole”. But the confusing things about their months were that it seems to have another hole, small and invisible. It was Carl who call out the warning first “Everyone run fast, those aren’t normal decoration, their flame throwers!

As soon he has spoken those words, the lion eyes glowed red and with whoosh sound came the flame from the mouths. I was inch away from the first one and was manage to escape it. However the room temperature intensified and the stairway was becoming hotter by the minute. We have to escape from the flight of steps as soon as possible or otherwise we would end up like burn toast. It wasn’t easy passing this trap as we have to watch out for the flames which were coming in different direction. But thanks to Professor Instruction in letter, we manage to break away from the stairway. It was difficult and some of us got slightly burn but we were finally out of harm way, for now. I have to admit that this trap was quite impressive but what bother me the most was how they were activated. We didn’t step on any device that would trigger mechanism; did we step on anything or touch something on the column? Or was it self- activated? Whatever the reason was, it didn’t matter as we escaped the flame. As we came to the landing, we found old and rotten skeletons but also a recent burned corpse, which is few feet away from the stairway. We couldn’t identify that whether it was one of the professor colleagues or a misfortune adventure, all we knew that he/she died a painful death.

“How did the professor and his colleagues even got to the chamber with such deadly traps to guard against intruders? Parker asked.

“They are researchers after all; they must have known that there will be traps, created to guard the amulet. Secondly they might have come prepare for the trap or they were smart enough to avoid the trap someway.” Captain said.

I was not sure about the last part; such luck is exceedingly rare. I believe someone or something wanted the Professor and his people alive (remembering about the myth) to find the amulet, however I know that woman is trying to stop anyone who come to look for amulet so question that I need to know is truly the amulet curse or there is something that curse it. I already decide that once we find the professor and last member of his party we will leave without the amulet.

After leaving the stairway, we walked through another hallway which was well lit, so we had no need of our torches. The hallway was the same as the one we encounter above, so with cautious, we check each stone and the floor, searching whether there wasn’t any switch or loose stone that will active yet another trap. After checking thoroughly the hallway, we move ahead. After half an hour, we came to another chamber, when we entered, we were at first astonished that there was no door that would lead us to another chamber, it was death end. Once inside the chamber we check the surrounding. It was constructed in the shape of right cylinder with 2 meter radius and 6 meter height. In the centre of the chamber was a well and within the well contained golden coins, probably from Edmund IV time. There were two statues of nuns located at each side of the well facing opposite to each other. Both statues were holding mirror that was reflecting the light which was coming from the small holes above them, into the well. Above the statue, was the statuette of serpent dragon head, with its month opened showing its long tongue, with yellow reptilian diamond eyes. The only way we saw to get out was above us, a vault door with bars. Seeing a way out, we relaxed ourselves, knowing there is an exit but the problem how to reach it?

     “Captain, what are we suppose to do now? How are we expected to get up there?” Finn said.

“Don’t worry, the professor had described about this trap clearly” he then takes the letter out of his jacket and walks toward the well. After reading the letter he looked at the treasure within. “No wonder people never have been able to reach the amulet after this trap” Captain said sorrowfully folding the letter back into his jacket.

“What do mean Sir?” I asked.

“Well the coins you see in the well, they are instrument that active the trap” Before we could say anything he continue, pointing toward the dragon head statue “If we were to take any coins from this well, it will disturb the reflection of the water causing those dragon to start pouring water into the chamber. The result as you will know be that we all will drown here.” Captain said slowly.

“Alright sir, we got the idea how the trap work but did the professor mention anything about solving it?” Carl asked disappointed.

“Yes. In fact, we will use this as our transport to go up.” From his backpack, he produces a yellow inflating float boat. “In order get to the bottom chamber, we have to trigger this trap, but instead swimming, we will use this to float up to the door” Captain said, looking up.

“But Sir it seal tight and what I can see from here, I don’t even see keyhole or blot that can open it.” Alex exclaimed.

“That true but I think you all have not thoroughly seen the room, look above, beyond the dragon head” The captain said staring past the statue head. At first I didn’t notice it but then, there it was! It was some sort of tunnel where the water drain somewhere after the room has been filled up. I was surprise that we haven’t notice it until the Captain told us.

“Right, that tunnel will lead us to a different room but only one of us can go through it as the tunnel becomes narrow as it goes further.” He turned toward me “So Derek since you are skinniest of us all, you will be the one to open the door” Captain said smiling at me.

“Sir, if may I ask? Are you sure about where this tunnel will lead to? I mean, doesn’t it go outside a river or something? I asked.

“Negative Derek” Captain said shaking his head. “According to the professor letter the tunnel wouldn’t lead downward into a lake or river but rather it will go upwards. When you will go up, you will enter another room above this one, there you have to open the trap door with a key, which would be hanging near the pool when you come out.” Captain explained.

“So Derek, are you prepared to do this? Captain asked me curiously.

“Is that a question to asked Captain? Of course I’m ready to do it” I said confidently.

With that, everyone was blowing into the inflating boat while I was taking off my gear, making myself a little bit light to swim and cross the tunnel. Within fifteen, everything was ready. The captain took the coins, triggering the trap. The door behind us closed and the dragon head started to flood the room. When the water had reached our ankles level, we climbed onto the float boat.

As water level rose so did we. As we reached close to the tunnel, I jumped into the water and swam toward it. Unscrewing the screw of the tunnel, I took a big gulp of air and dive down into water, swimming into the tunnel. The best time I can remain under water without oxygen tank was about seven minute approximately, so I have to do my best to move fast before I ran out of air. The Captain was right about the tunnel going upward; it kept on curving upward until I saw a light up ahead. With only few second remaining for me wanting air, I speed up my movement, passing the tunnel and entering a large area.  It was just like any other pool, the only difference was that it had human bones and skeletons. Above I could see the light coming from above. I emerge from the water, gulping a large amount of air. I climbed out the pool and started to look for the key. No doubt I was in the top room; I could hear the water rushing beneath me. Nothing much was in this room, it was empty. The only thing I notice was the door that leads down by stairway; a wooden panel near it, wall torches lit up and in the centre was the trap door. Wasting no time I search for the key which was hanging few feet away from the pool. It was not long before I could hear the shouting of my group.

“Derek, hurry it up and open the door!” Finn shouted.

With that, I grab the key and opened the trap door. By the look of it, the water flooded the room more quickly than estimated. The Captain and the other were just under the trap door. One by one I pulled them out to safety.

“Well that was a close call Derek” Carl said aggravated.

“Sorry” I said.

“Well it doesn’t matter now” The Captain intervene “we are still alive aren’t we? So let move”

“Sir, I want to ask about the panel near the doorway” I said. The captain turned his attention toward the wooden panel. “Ah yes, the professor mentioned about a panel in the letter, it said that panel is connected to the drain system for the room below us. If we leave with the professor team, we will use this panel to drain the water from the room while we are on the float boat” Captain said.

“Sir, there is something that doesn’t make sense” Alex Spoke.

“About what?” Captain asked.

“I can understand that the professor and his team somehow manage to invade each of these traps that we passed through but what about this one? I mean are we sure that the screaming that we heard even belonged to the professor or one his colleagues? And if so, how they manage to pass this trap once again? I find it highly improbable that they would have another float boat to come down otherwise by now we would have caught up with them.” Alex said suspiciously.

That was quite an excellent question that Alex asked, we heard the screaming not far off. It’s is logical that by now we should have caught up to them. But the funny thing is that we heard no voice after we enter the hallway and I don’t see any float boat or rope that they could have used to enter or escape. Could it be possible that the screaming was just our imagination? And if it was real then whose was it?

“The only way we could know the truth is by asking them. If they are still alive, we will ask them” Captain said. Wearing my gear back, we continue downstairs to the next chamber.

There wasn’t much light on the way so we had to use our torches again but unfortunately some of them ran of batteries, so we compel to use only one torch light. The way to chamber was simple and straight, trap free but I wouldn’t hold my breath just yet. On the way I heard that same voice again inside my head but only this time it was a bit stronger “If you keep going this way, you will die at its hand. So please turn away now before it’s too late” I want to tell her badly my plan but if I spoke then it wouldn’t happen as I have thought. So, I Ignore the voice and kept on moving forward.

We finally arrived to next chamber and what a room it was. The room was lit up so well that we could see clearly. It was in the shape of a trapezium, with a approximately area of 234 centimeter, 16 feet height, upper base 12 and lower base 14. Above the ceiling we could see thousand of keys hanging, each had different colors and shape of countless animals. In the four corner of the room, we could see statute of raven also known as the messenger of death by many; with it wing wide open and its ferocious face ready to attack any intruder. In front of us was a straight platform that leads directly to huge bronze door with five key holes in it. Below us contains thousands of piecing spikes, looking sharp as ever. There were skeletons, pierce into the spikes and skull hanging by it eyes socket on one of the spike. So one wrong move and we would end up like those people. As we approach the door, we notice the symbols above each key hole, each in a shape of some sort of animal.

“I’m guessing that we have to pick the keys from above and fit them in these keyholes, resembling the symbol” Finn said after studying the shape.

“You’re right Finn” Captain said “In order to open the door, we have to insert the right keys that resembles the marking above each keyhole.”

“So did the professor mention which keys to insert?” Parker inquired.

“Yes, he did, so I will call the name out while you all collect them, Finn will insert them” Captain said. With that we collect the keys that resemble the animal which the captain called, mermaid for water, phoenix for fire, Pegasus for air, gargoyles for earth and lastly unicorn for spirit.  Finn inserted each of the key inside the door and turned them around.

With a clicking sound, the door started to open slowly; we hope that was the end of this trap but we were wrong. How it happened and why it happened, we did not know but suddenly the platform started to move with great speed, we only got a minute to move from the platform or we will end up death. The door only allowed one person to pass through, each one of us passed as quickly as possible. The last person to cross through it was our Captain who almost fell down due to less gap. But fortunately I was able to grab him just in time; with the help of other, I was able to pull him up. It was close call for all of us; each of us took a large breath in.

“How the hell that happened?” Alex yelled in angry.

“You are asking us…. We are as surprised as you” I spoke gasping.

“I guess we must have misunderstood the trap” Carl said laying his back on the wall.

“No, we didn’t misunderstand the trap, we just didn’t understand the purpose of the trap” Finn said softly.

“What do you mean Finn?” Captain asked.

“What Finn is trying to say is that we didn’t make any mistake in choosing the keys that were needed to open the door however what we didn’t except this. Whether we open the door or not the trap would have trigger” Parker said.

“I see, this whole time we believe that we were avoiding triggering the trap but instead we activated it ourselves” Carl said calmly.

“Either way, we invaded this trap, so let take some rest here and move on later” Captain said.After having a snack break and getting some sleep, we were fresh and ready to move forward. Once again we have to move down step which took more than half an hour, however during the trip down, I felt suddenly cold. It was not the usual cold you feel in the winter however this cold was evil and mysterious, it was abnormal. I felt this cold when the chandelier almost felled on us, so what does this mean? Was something there? Lurking in the shadows? I being paranoid, with all the traps we pass, I’m over thing things, calming my nerves I continue on moving forward.

We finally arrived to the last chamber, the room before the underground chamber where the amulet was kept; we were now close to the professor and his colleagues. However as soon as we enter the room the door closed behind us, leaving us trap within the chamber. We were locked in and had no light to shed in this darkness (as our torches light were out of batteries). It was pitch black and we couldn’t see anything, then suddenly the chamber lit up by itself. We were in circular room, equal to size of water chamber but few feet higher in height. There were six pillars near the wall, five circling from left to right while the sixth one stood in the middle connected by carved line to the others. They were quite tall and broad; each had a triangle head at the top. At the bottom were wall torch that lit the room and there was something written on it. We each choose one pillar, the Captain took on the far left followed by Alex, Parker, Finn, and Carl. The middle was my. I read what was written on the pillar, the sentence was carved in Latin language. Although my Latin language have never been my strong point but I manage to understand some word on the wall yet the sentence was in old English.

“"quatuor broth'rs th're es in hac es in omnibus, quæ rdinary b'rn togeth'r. Quarum prima est, et afflictio nev'r. et in secundo engluts nev'r plena. tertia, et bibens, et triginta est. in quarta cantat canticum nev'r bonum. This was written on the wall so if I translate this, it would be saying “"Th’re art four broth'rs in this 'rdinary that wast all b'rn togeth'r. The first runs and nev'r wearies. The second engluts and nev'r full. The third drinks and is always thirty. The fourth sings a song that is nev'r good”

It sort of a riddle and by writing the right answer, it might revealed the secret door or stair that might lead to the underground chamber. However, what will happen if the answer is incorrect, would some sort trap trigger or we remained trap in the room forever? I dare not thing the worst yet. My concentration was broken by Carl voice “Captain, did the professor mention anything about riddle in his letter?”

“Yes, he mentioned about riddle but unfortunately, he had no answer for this as the riddles are different for each person who comes to this room. He has written that if one of us gets one incorrect answer, a hole beneath him/her will open, and he/she will get swallowed into an unknown room, forever trap within the darkness unless one of us can solve the entire riddles” Captain said anxiously.

“Sir, I find this strange. We can simply move even before the trap is activated” Alex said calmly.

“Don’t be a fool Alex! This trap is specially design so that once you give the wrong answer, you wouldn’t have any time to escape, and you will disappear instantly.” Captain said angrily.  

“So it seems that we all have to be very careful about this trap. I suggest that the person best at solving riddle should answer the riddle or at least explain it to us” Parker shouted from the left side.

“Derek it seems that you have to save the day again, you are the best in solving puzzles and mysterious. So we will shout our riddles and you can give the answer” Carl said confidently.

But Sir isn’t it against the rule for this trap? How could be sure that only Derek is only allowed to give the answer while the rest just write it?” Finn said fearfully.

“It’s alright, the rule is simple. We just have to solve the riddle regardless if only one person is giving the answer” Captain said coolly.

So with that each one of my teammate gives their riddle to me, translated by Finn and each I answered back. I found each of the riddle quite eccentric. For the Captain it was “thou cannot see me, hear me, 'r touch me. i lie behind the stars and alter what is real, i am what thou really fear. Close thy eyes and i come near. What am I?” The answer to that was darkness.

 Next was Alex “I am the first thou ev'r saw, what greets thou every morning and what goes out in the end. The answer was light.

It was Parker turn “a nightmare f'r some. f'r others, as a savior I come. Mine hands, cold and bleak, it's the warm hearts they seek.” That was simple; death.

Finn had no problem in solving his riddle “what engluts rocks, Levels Mountains, destroys wood, and pushes the clouds across the sky?” Time of course!

Carl riddle was quite tricky but we figure it out “useful tool f'r who in darkness dwell. within thou, corrupting like a deadly spell.” At first I thought it was evil but then it mention “something within” and “corrupting” , so with that I guess it could be poison because it kills a person within his body.

For my riddle the answer was water, fire, earth and air, the four element brothers. After we carved the answer beneath the riddle with our knife, something extraordinary happened. The answer started to glow in bright red, a ray of light started to flow across the line, each connecting to one another until reaching the middle pillar. The room started to shake, dust and small rock fall above our head and the middle pillar began to descend below. I moved out of the way, joining with rest of the group, each of us standing our ground and saw the pillar disappear into the ground. Soon it was over, we cross the room, and were standing at the edge of the huge hole. We used the torches from the wall to light our way. In the hole we could see a spiral stair case, build to the side to the wall.

“Well, it seems a long way down, let hope we find the chamber door that will lead us to the amulet room and find the professor and his colleagues.” Captain said confidently.

 With that we began to descend down the stairs, being very cautious as not to fall down. While on the way, I started to think of each of the riddle that we were question with. Each riddle gave mysterious and sinister message, Dark, Light, Death, Time, Poison and finally, Water, Fire, Earth and Wind.  It felt like that they were trying to say something and more I think about it the more it seemed that there was some connection to the curse. Death and time are mentioned in the curse, also light and poison, but what about the element? How are they connected to the curse? Was there more that meet the eye or was it just my imagination? I guess I’m over thinking things but yet I felt unease. Regardless, my focus was on the mission and should be and there should be nothing to distract me.