Secrets

10 months ago

”Nikolai, you must guard it with your life.”

"Do not let it fall into the hands of the enemy.”

"Do not open the book until you get to the temple.”

Nikolai heaved a sigh causing his broad shoulders to rise and fall in exhaustion. He had been on the move for fourteen days only stopping for food and water, he couldn't risk getting caught as the usurper’s hounds were definitely on his tail.

He sighed again and stared into the sunset with eyes as blue as the sky, the gentle breeze playing with his chestnut brown hair tied up in a messy bun. He'd been traveling underground since he escaped being captured by his evil uncle and walking amidst the trees and shrubs with the little chirping birds keeping him company, he could almost believe that everything would be okay henceforth.

His horse grunted as it galloped along the bush path, Nikolai patted it absently, lost in his own thoughts.
He lost everything in the twinkle of an eye all because of a diary.

"Mother, it's just a diary. Why does it have to be locked up and guarded safely?” Nikolai had asked his mother as they took a walk on the palace grounds the morning of the palace invasion.

"It's not just any diary Nikolai, it is the diary of the gods which holds all the secrets of the creation of the universe handwritten by the gods themselves. It is not for mortals to read,” she had replied softly as they watched a butterfly fly leisurely from flower to flower.

Nikolai tried to wrap his head around it, “Then why do we have it?"

She turned to face him, “We have it because our family line has been tasked with keeping it safe and locked up. The gods chose us themselves and it has been passed down from generation to generation since the beginning of creation."

“What happens when you open it?"

“Your soul will be taken and you'd be indebted to the gods for eternity," she shuddered.

A debt that can never be paid in full. Forever.

Nikolai reached into his satchel and brought out the diary. It was a simple book really, with a brown leather cover entwined with brown laces tied into a simple knot.

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“One would think that the diary of the gods would be much more grand," he muttered as he stared hard at the small book in his hand.

“I am weary," he said to the book.

“I just lost everything," he shook his head, “all because of a book,"

What more do I have to lose? He thought bitterly.

He clenched his jaw and pulled his horse to a stop, patting the horse as he slid down. Siting a cave nearby, he led his horse to the opening of the cave, fed it before going in to settle for the night. Holding the book tight in his hand, he lowered himself slowly to the ground, his muscles screaming from exhaustion making him groan slightly.

It was as if nature could sense the grief in his heart and decided to offer him total silence in tribute as all was silent except for the slow running of a stream nearby.

”Son, you must not give up"

The words of his father filled his ears once again as he remembered how his father had dragged him through the underground tunnels in order to get him out alive.

All for a book of which they know nothing of its contents.

“There's nothing more to lose," Nikolai slowly untied the brown laces of the diary.
Fourteen days and yet the temple is yet to be found.

“I might as well be indebted to the gods rather than live the rest of my life in grief," he ground out as the diary lay in his lap ready for him to flip open.

But why do I hesitate? He wondered.

“Mother, Father, I have failed you," his voice broke terribly as his hands though shaky rose to the diary.

“I wouldn't do that if I were you," a voice called out from the far end of the cave causing Nikolai to start and jump in alarm.

“Who are you? What do you want?" Nikolai grabbed his dagger and pointed it in the direction of the voice, squinting hard to make out whoever it was but all he could see was a shadow as the light of his small campfire could only go so far.

“Let us say that I have been sent to lead you to your final destination. I am here to collect the diary.” The voice said.

Nikolai’s eyes widened, "I was told to take it to the temple,”

"Yes. And you're in the temple,”

"What?” Nikolai scoffed, "A cave?”

The voice seemed to take a deep breath before answering.

"There's only so much the human eye can see. Bring the diary to me and let me lead you inside,” the voice ordered.

Something about the tone of the voice put Nikolai’s back up.

“Reveal yourself to me," Nikolai ordered.

“If I do so, you won't live,"

“And if I open the diary, I won't live either," Nikolai murmured.

I might as well choose the best of two evils

With alarming speed, Nikolai dashed down and picked up the book, opening it even as the voice in the shadows roared at him to stop.

“Oh!" Nikolai shouted his voice a mixture of awe and surprise as the book unfolded and expanded, expelling light brighter than the sun to his face.

He couldn't look away as he saw not words but images, moving images too great for his mortal mind to comprehend. It was incredible, it was mind-blowing.

As the brightness of the light continued to surround and envelop him, sucking him in swiftly he looked up and he saw his uncle the usurper, his mouth moving angrily but no words were coming out as he seemed to be moving in extreme slow motion, unable to stop Nikolai from being taken by the gods.

With a small smile playing at his lips, Nikolai surrendered himself to the gods immediately causing him and the diary to disappear forever, never to be seen again leaving his uncle screaming in rage in the empty cave.