The Secret Society - Pt. 2

Following the mysterious boy into the forest was quite an adventure for those who have no experience walking in these places. Grace could see from afar that Elisa wasn't doing very well on that short walk, cursing every time she had to dodge a branch or tree trunk, lifting her dress so it wouldn't get caught.

The Valefar woman took this moment to analyze Elisa's character a little more. Unlike herself, the blonde was thin and her hair was long, so blonde that it could be described as platinum. The forest where they were was still in all its glory, the complete opposite of the situation in the city, where the vegetation was slowly dying. The green of the leaves made it even brighter and exuded all their health, the further they went between the trees, they could notice that the noise from the road where they left the car parked was becoming increasingly quieter.

“We need to walk a little faster now, the path will remain a little cleaner and without so many obstacles” The red-haired boy turned and looked directly at Elisa, giving a playful smile. She was now holding the skirt of her dress to prevent the hem from catching on the branches or getting dirty. Elisa showed the boy a frown before they continued on their way. It seemed like they had a previous relationship or had known each other for a while given how intimately they exchanged barbs.

It didn't take long for them to arrive at a high brick wall with several vines that left the wall dirty and decrepit in appearance. The quartet passed through the gate that was opened by the red-haired boy, entering a small community within the forest. The boy who received them at the entrance told them to wait near the entrance, leaving their sight a little, entering a small house next door, close to the opening of the gates.

The trio stayed there, standing at the entrance, waiting for the boy to return. While he didn't return, Grace began to observe the place where they entered. The village was a very organized community, there were the main houses, larger, with more planting utensils for the use of the local residents. At first, the first thing they could see was the main stone road with dirt entrances to the sides. In the background, they could see some houses on these streets, they were simple wooden and stone houses, low, without walls or fences around them, apparently, everyone there was quite friendly with each other, as they trusted each other not to worry about safety. On the left side, there were plenty of vegetable plantations, people working and some harvesting. It was noticeable that the people there were united.

Further back, almost at the end of the stone construction that formed the wall, there were some improvised barns and greenhouses. Grace was quite perplexed by this entire structure that the hunters had created. They were more than just people who dedicated their lives to protecting people from evil wizards, they were survivors and were waiting for evil. She felt bad that they were having to take these measures since the person who was perpetuating this was a person from her world.

“Now we can go, the leader is aware of our arrival.”

Grace was startled by the deep voice of the boy who suddenly arrived behind the trio. They had returned from where he was, and according to his speech, she imagined that he had gone to tell the boy who controlled the gates that they had arrived there. The redhead guided them along the main road, the path wasn't that long and soon they would be at their final destination.

As they walked around, Grace could see some children running around the space, which is very cozy and she thinks they could easily live here. Before he could stop himself, a question was asked.

“What place is this?” Valefar asks, curious about all the things she was seeing there. She was also a little apprehensive about how she would be received when it came to asking questions, as she noticed that the boy wasn't that talkative and didn't give them a chance to get along. Her question had a funny effect on her two friends, Elisa looked at her as if she had said the most offensive word in the world, while Viktor looked at her with a look of concern.

Being the last one she looked at, Grace remembered that they still hadn't spoken since last morning. Not on the trip to the forest, not on the way and not when they were stopped waiting for the other boy in the group. They didn't have an opportunity to do this, as at no point were they able to be alone to actually sit down and have a conversation, which they needed, especially Grace, who was feeling like she needed to apologize to him.

“This is the main hunting community in the southeast of the British Isles. It seems to be a little small, I know, but we started to reduce our territory as some hunters changed communities, whether through marriage or their own decisions.” The redhead explained, even talking a little more than they expected.

“It’s so organized and full of the most diverse supplements.” Grace spoke as they climbed the stairs of a house that the boy led them to. They were now on the balcony of this hut while the boy knocked on the door, waiting for an answer and listening to what Valefar was saying.

“Do you think this is bad?” he asked.

"No. Eh… that's not it. It's just that I was thinking about all the measures you've had to take since everything has been happening. I have a brief knowledge of Lázaro’s persona and all the damage he has done over the years.” Grace explained, spilling out everything she had been thinking about since becoming aware of this small community. Her sense of responsibility was growing more and more, understanding once and for all that she wasn't going to do this just for herself, but for families, people and futures that could be taken away if the threat wasn't neutralized.

“I believe you are the only witch with Valefar heritage who has slightly more neurons in brain.” The redhead smiled before opening the door and entering, leaving the passage clear for the three to go as well.

The atmosphere was completely cozy in a strange way. For many, all the combat weapons, scattered papers, the dim lighting and the presence of the man in the middle of the room could be worthy of a horror scenario, but for Grace, she felt almost at home.

“Please have a seat.” The man offered them some puffs to sit on, which was well accepted by the trio who were already walking a few hours ago. The bandages Grace had done before leaving were itchy due to the heat her body had had on the short walk, luckily they weren't bleeding from what she could see under the sleeves of her shirt. “Would you like some tea?”

“If you have chamomile or mint, I’ll take it. But if not, I’ll take anyone.” Elisa got ready before them. The tea was also accepted by the other two who were sitting, but without demands like the blonde did. She was closest to the front door, Viktor in the middle and Grace at the other end.

“Hendrik, can you prepare some chamomile tea for the five of us? If it’s not too much trouble, of course.” The leader asked his friend. This one who had a name, Grace found herself thinking he was wearing a mask of seriousness as he stood outside the house, becoming a little more relaxed since they arrived. Hendrik complied with his leader's request and went to prepare tea in the residence's kitchen.

“I believe this is the time for introductions.” The leader smiled before continuing. “My name is John Finnegan, I am the main war leader of this community, I am the one who organized the expeditions outside our territory and I am responsible for monitoring the area where our troops operate. Hendrik there is our strategist, he is the one who prepares the route we must take, as well as being my right-hand man.”

Grace was impressed with how calm the leader was. He was everything she hadn't imagined about a hunter, in her mind, she had imagined him completely different from what she was seeing now. He was strong, had a serious countenance, and exuded leadership and focus, but his attitude washed away all of these previous qualifications; he appeared to be gentle and caring beneath all the dark skin and muscles he exuded.

“Tell me a little about yourselves” John asked. He was leaning on his hips on a central table that had several papers scattered across it from what they could see from their superficial view. His posture was rigid, despite appearing calm. John looked at Grace with a nonverbal indication that she was the one to start.

“I am Grace Valefar. It is because of me that we are here today.” She introduced herself briefly.

John nodded showing that he was satisfied with what he had heard. Soon their attention was caught by Hendrik who entered the room carrying a tray with three cups and a teapot, placing it in front of them, on the floor. Grace noticed when Elisa let out a snort of derision at the redhead's attitude.

It didn't take long for Hendrik to go out to the kitchen and return with two more cups in his hands and hand one of them to John. He made no move to serve them or indication that he would do so, he simply leaned against the table next to his leader and stayed there. The redhead must have noticed something in the expression of the other two who were sitting, saying a few words.

"What? Do you think I will serve them? They should know better.”

The difference in personality between John and Hendrik was noticeable. While one was calm and attentive, the other was stressed and moody. Grace didn't take long to pour the tea into the three cups, Elisa and Viktor could have as much resentment as they wanted towards the hunters, but she understood that they were being very generous in welcoming them there.

John pretended not to notice the barbs exchanged between Elisa and Hendrik. He knew they had had a disagreement in the past, but this was not a time to attack each other. The brunette placed his free hand on his friend's forearm, indicating that he should stop doing that. Before any of them could protest, he turned his attention to the only man sitting on the beanbags.

Taking the cue, Viktor began. “My name is Viktor D’Angeles. I am a police investigator, currently on leave.” All three sitting there noticed the leader's interest in the boy's speech.

“A D’Angeles? I haven't heard of that last name around here for a few years. Any specific reason? Your family has always been very influential.” John asked, curious.

“My family decided to leave the city. Things weren’t working around here anymore.” Viktor responded without giving a clear answer to the question. The answer seemed to please the leader, as he didn't pressure the man any further, passing it on to Elisa.

“Is this serious?” She scoffed.

“You should have more manners with the people who were your family, Elisa.”

Those few words seemed to spark a fire in the other two sitting there. They quickly turned their heads to the blonde, who didn't meet their gaze and continued looking at the community leader, with her arms crossed and her leg dangling impatiently. This seemed to be the last piece of the puzzle that was missing for Grace to understand the relationship between Hendrik and Elisa, they could have been boyfriends when she lived in the community.

‘But how did she live here when she is a witch and goes against what they defend?’ That was the question that was now pounding in Grace’s mind.

“Miss Valefar. I would like you to explain to me in your own words what you came to do here in our community.” John finished his tea and rested his cup on a specific spot on a piece of paper on the table.

“Only Grace, please. We hope, in fact we hope, that you, with your experience, can help us discover where Lazarus' lair is. I can help now, I did my initiation ritual and I can help.” At that moment Grace was happy for the briefing Elisa had given them on the car ride about why they were going there.

“And how do you expect us to do that, exactly?”

“We know that you have expeditions to explore the areas affected by the effects of the coming of Lazarus, you said so yourself. Maybe we can draw some line of thought, or, I don’t know, try to see from the side of those who have been trying to put an end to this for years and have a direction, at least.”

Grace was starting to get a little skeptical of the leader. Apparently, he didn't seem to want to help, asking questions and looking disinterested. But, she wouldn't give up, even if she had to do something more for it.

Noticing her agitation, Viktor placed his hand on her shoulder, avoiding touching her arms, knowing that they would be sensitive to touch. Grace looked at him, sending him a thank you for his support.

“This is all very interesting and we really have this ability to trace the paths, as we have been writing down every detail of the apparitions.” John ran his hand over the papers on the table, indicating that these notes were there. “But what I really want to know is this: what are you going to do with this information?”

The three who were sitting did not know how to answer this question. To be honest, they hadn't thought that far ahead, rushing in with any scrap of information they could get. After all, this hadn't been a mutual decision between them, Elisa had arrived with the information and they fell head over heels, not bothering to come up with a background plan.

Elisa took the lead. “Look here, John.” She got up from where she was, not losing her grace and looking like she wasn't even there in that situation. “We came here just to find out this information, we don’t owe you anything! Who’s to say you won’t use this information to hunt us down later?” The blonde crossed her arms in front of her chest.

John smiled at her attitude. “Okay, okay. If they don’t want to, they don’t need to say anything.” The brunette left the table and put his hands in the pocket of the cargo pants he was wearing. He turned to face the table and his back to the others. “Come here. I have something to show you.”

Elisa approached, not waiting for the other two who were still sitting. She passed by Hendrik, but didn't add to his provocations, it was a fact that they had something in the past. Before she left the community, they were great friends, since they were children they lived together, played together, went to school together and now, they were nothing more than strangers who rarely saw each other. Elisa no longer recognized her friend, he had changed a lot during these years, his appearance, his way of being, his personality of a cute and gentle little boy had given way to a strong man with a short temper.

Leaving her thoughts aside, Elisa approached the table and began to analyze all the papers there. A large map of Non Cicury City was open in the middle of the table with the most diverse notes written on the paper, such as times, dates, locations and some question marks. Some of the notes were illegible and some that were written in pencil were erased.

Grace and Viktor came closer, analyzing the images and notes with her. Elisa glanced at them sideways, still trying to understand the dynamic they had between themselves.

“How strange…” The other woman said. Viktor soon went to her and asked her quietly what she thought was strange. She began to indicate some things on the map, drawing an invisible line between two points. Elisa still found herself thinking about how Grace was exceptionally intelligent, but she lost some of her expertise to her feelings that left her vulnerable.

Elisa approached the duo and began to follow the explanation that Grace was giving to Viktor. She could briefly see what she was explaining, tracing routes in the direction of the craters that had opened up a few days ago.

“Is it following a pattern?” Viktor asked.

"Of course. Can't you see? They are starting to come together, even though they have appeared in random places like this and that one.” She indicated the points on the map. “Others are linking to it and moving in one direction.”

“The main road?” John was present during Grace's explanation. Looking closely at where she was pointing. “How come we never noticed this before?” The brunette asks her.

“You were seeing it wrong.” Grace turns to him, asking a question. “Can I take the map off the table?”

“Of course, just be careful not to drop the papers.”

Grace took the map. The paper was malleable and she could shape it to be in whatever position she wanted. By making some folds, and turning the map upside down, she can demarcate a point, without staining the other side, where there were no changes in vegetation, appearances or craters on the surface. Hendrik approached the table, supporting himself with his hands on the table, taking out some other papers that were close to falling off the table. He raised his head and reasoned about the point Grace had scored.

“The cemetery?”

The other four in the room spoke in chorus.