Nancy wasn’t seriously frightened that the pendant would fall under the floor and bent down and started searching among the dry leaves of the property that was piled all around. The pendant lay right there on the iron hatch cover, safely hidden from sight under the old planks. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she realized the hiding place in front of her.
Everything that was happening seemed unreal to her. Open the voice, it sounded right above her ear. Why did Nancy almost fall? She looked around frantically, but there was no one behind her.
For a moment, she regretted coming, desperate to leave the place. But overcoming her fear, she pulled the manhole cover. It did not budge.
The girl reached out again, using all the strength she was capable of. At last, the lid gave way before Nancy, and she saw a small niche in the floor, covered with a cloth of a color and composition which she could no longer make out. On it lay a pile of yellowed books, a jar of some kind of liquid, a huge silver cross, decayed from time.
Nancy stared at it all, not daring to touch it. A revulsion suddenly came over her from God knows where. A hand rested on her shoulder, take it.
She closed her eyes. Who are you? And what do you want? I want to go away. It was a moan.
What am I supposed to do? Take this. Nancy reached into the niche when she heard another voice. Nancy’s hand squeezed her shoulder and disappeared Nancy.
It was Robert. Obviously, he was beginning to worry that she had been gone a long time. The girl was careful not to hurt herself, took out her books and clutching them to her chest, hurried to leave this strange place.
She caught Robert frantically trying to push the wheelchair out of the pickup. The door was open. He was about to climb to the ground somehow.
What are you doing? Nancy knew her question was inappropriate, but her mind was in such disarray that she couldn’t have thought of anything better. Nancy, Robert saw her where you’ve been for so long, a long time. He looked at her point blank.
You’ve been gone for over an hour. Nancy was in shock. It seemed to her that she hadn’t even spent 10 minutes in that room.
I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I just didn’t realize how much time had passed.
At that moment, Robert finally saw that she hadn’t come back empty handed. It can’t be. How did you find them? The guy held out his hands and Nancy was relieved to give up her burden.
Were you right? She answered, getting behind the wheel. They were in a stash under the floor. But how did you discover the hiding place? Robert carefully peeled the dried cover off the first page.
Quite casually, Nancy tried to make it sound as carefree as possible. A little birdie helped. She squeezed out a smile about who she talked to in church.
The girl was silent. He’d had enough turmoil for now. Starting the engine, she looked at Robert.
He was sitting, concentrated, studying the notes intently. His dark hair was down to his collar, his shirt, his face blushing, his lashes fluttering now and then as he squinted his eyes frequently. Trying to make out the faded ink, the girl suddenly realized that she absolutely irrevocably fell in love with this guy.
Just like that, within a couple of days of meeting him, or not. At first sight, since that very meeting in the library of the mansion, two and a half weeks ago, he had felt her gaze and taken his eyes off her reading. Their eyes met and the world around them ceased to exist.
It must have been the real magic for which the planet spins. Two souls met each other and nothing else mattered anymore. I was afraid that trouble had happened to you.
How could I have lived then? But it’s all right, isn’t it? Nancy moved closer to Robert and stroked his cheek where the barely noticeable stubble was showing. I’m with you. I’m right here.
I kept thinking there was someone else in the church and I couldn’t protect you. And that’s unbearable. Let’s go home.
The girl left a light kiss on his lips and put the car in reverse somehow, turning the bulky car around on the narrow road. She pressed the gas pedal and they drove toward the estate. An agitated Miranda ran out toward them.
Where have you been? I was worried. Grandma, we are fine. We are alive and healthy and we are incredibly hungry.
Robert tried to guffaw. Don’t do that again. So she looked reproachfully at her grandson’s companion.
It could be dangerous. Nancy guiltily smiled. I’m sorry, Miranda.
It won’t happen again. Your grandson is a very competent, interesting storyteller. The time flew by unnoticed.
The old woman softened. Yes, my Robert knows the stories here very well. He’s already told you about the manor.
Yes, Nancy nodded. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Robert getting into his chair with the help of the stable boy and hastily hiding their find under the seat. Once in her room, Nancy picked up her cell phone, unplugging it from the charger.
Five missed calls from her mother. She suddenly felt very embarrassed and dialed the number. Hello, Nancy.
Why aren’t you answering? I already wanted to go to your mysterious castle with a police squad. Mommy, it’s OK. The girl tried to reassure her.
There’s no need for the police. You haven’t called since you got there. You haven’t even picked up your phone today.
It’s just that my phone was in my room charging and we were out walking, you and your ward. Right. I’m waiting for the details.
And please don’t do anything stupid. Nancy chatted with her mother for another 40 minutes. Of course, not talking about her relationship with Robert, about the church and the mysterious woman who was keeping her awake.
After dinner, Nancy massaged Robert’s legs again. And again, the body responded to her touch. This time in the knee area, he rejoiced like a child.
They barely waited until all the inhabitants of the mansion had retired to sleep, after which Robert found himself in Nancy’s room. The girl helped him onto her bed and made Robert comfortable. She herself, taking in her hands the church folio, sat down next to him and began to read the annals of the two noble families and surf souls was conducted as far back as 1006.
Soon, they were confused by names, surnames and family ties. What are we looking for? Sighed Nancy, stretching her stiff legs, a needle in a haystack, Nancy’s patience. All this takes time.
I’m thirsty. It’s so stuffy today. She jumped off the bed.
Do you need anything? Robert looked at her longingly. You have no idea how much I need right now. I mean it.
She smiled and sat down next to him. But I believe that one day we will make all your dreams and wishes come true. I believe that now too, Robert took her hand and pressed his lips to his palm.
Now I’d like a simple, mediocre ham and cheese sandwich. It was dusk in the hallway, but the girl didn’t turn on the lights. It might have awakened Kelly.
She snuck into the kitchen, poured a glass of water and drank it in a gulp. Nancy was already spreading, buttering bread, preparing to cover it with a slice of cheese and a slice of ham. How did she suddenly realize she was in the room? More than one girl slowly turned her head toward the window.
The woman was there standing near the parter, looking at Nancy. Finally, a groan escaped the ghost’s lips. What didn’t she understand? What should I look for? Where? The girl desperately wanted to help.
1825. Remember 1825, Nancy repeated the number combination. Is that the year of your birth or death? The vision melted away as suddenly as it had appeared.
Nancy’s hands were shaking and her fingertips seemed to have been in sulfuric acid. What on earth was that? The girl quickly finished her sandwich and raced back to her room. I know what to look for.
Look, 1825. Don’t you get it? Robert, what makes you say that? Just trust me. Nancy sat down next to him as he went through the pages looking for the right date.
There you have it. He cried out, Finally, on May 15, 1825 add, A daughter was born on the estate of Prince Christopher at the baptism of Nancy Nancy. Was it a coincidence? The girl wondered.
Robert, meanwhile, continued to read on August 2, 1825 AD. Count Stephen had a son named Robert when he was baptized. The young men looked at each other.
They understood everything. This is where the story begins. It was their ancestors, Nancy and Robert.
They loved each other. The intricate puzzle began to slowly come together. Read on.
Nancy stared at him with all her eyes. It goes on to say that in 1842, Nancy was given in marriage to a prince who passed away terrified. Right on the night after the wedding, Robert looked at Nancy.
What do you think of that? I think this woman had something to do with his death. Nancy answered. I can’t say for sure, but I have the feeling that she is not an ordinary woman.
There was a power about her that I felt all the time. And perhaps she paused and looked at Robert. There’s that kind of power in me, too.
What do you mean by that? I think she was a witch. All these symbols that I see in my dreams, these herbs, and these dreams in general. I mean, it’s a real vision.
And Nancy was silent, hesitant to say that Robert looked at the girl anxiously. Tell me, don’t drag it out. She was in church.
She spoke to me that you were silent, too. He was getting very angry. She could have hurt you.
The boy grabbed Nancy by the arm. Do you understand that? She’s not going to hurt me. She wants me to help her.
And I think this woman is my ancestor Nancy wrote about in the book. Robert stared at her intently. This girl radiated such energy that his heart sank.
From the first glance, he knew she was special. And it wasn’t just that his body began to wake up to her touch. He felt as if he had known her all his life.
What had happened when they had first kissed only confirmed it. But now it was up to him to figure out what had happened two centuries ago. Why was his family under this terrible curse? And that there was a reason for all these deaths of men in their family.
Robert was now certain, his own dreams confirming it. Robert, Nancy distracted him from his thoughts. I must visit the manor.
Or rather, what is left of it? He wondered. There’s a vacant lot. A couple of ruins.
It’s all overgrown. So it is. I really, really need it.
Robert suddenly tensed, so wait. There’s still an entry from 1851. Robert married Kelly, daughter of Prince Christopher.
So he married our sister Nancy. What does all this mean? Perhaps they were just lovers, Nancy suggested. And then he married her sister.
And she was betrayed by them. If she also had supernatural powers, she might well have cursed her former lover. Well, that makes sense.
Robert agreed. Suddenly, he remembered something. By the way, there are some documents upstairs in grandfather’s study.
Some very old bill of sale certificates. They are in a cabinet like a museum exhibit. I saw them when I was a kid and then apparently forgot.
But maybe they’ll shed some light on something. Nancy perked up. Maybe.
But how do you get there? She hesitated. Upstairs, the young man looked slyly at his companion. It may surprise you, but there is an elevator in the house.
They fell asleep together on the Nancy bed. The girl could feel his heartbeat under her palm. And she felt good and peaceful.
But soon the dream came hard and scary. No, no, please don’t. The man was tall, thin.
He dragged her by the hand down a narrow staircase. No, no, don’t do that. She pulled and cried, clinging to the walls of the dungeon.
It was overgrown with moss. And he was dragging her, firmly, gripping her above the elbow. You are my shame.
You are the spawn of hell. The man looked at her with hatred. A disheveled, scratched, crying woman.
You witch. So is your brat. I wish I had strangled her.
She’d barely seen the light. No, please, no. Her eyes widened in horror.
When they finally stopped at the wrought iron door. Don’t that he was already picking the lock with his free hand. Something clicked.
He grasped the heavy deadbolt, which moved away with a terrible screech. The door swung open. And before them stood a dark chamber.