The Elder Brother - 3

CONTINUED FROM PART 2….

Shane was left with no option but to answer all things. “Since long the OSRs wanted to know the whereabouts of the treasures that our grandpa’s cult had kept hidden from the outside world. Not just it contains money, but a lot more than that…relic, scriptures, ancient books…the treasures are much more than money is worth.” Shane gasped as he spoke, “I frequently searched all the documents, all the books for the hidden treasure location in the grandpa’s wardrobe, but I couldn’t get anything.” With fearful eyes, he looked at Daniel & continued, “They thought I am not giving them proper information, so they are threatening to kill me,” he again swallowed at the thought, “the person who came to meet me that day, belonged to them and had come to inform me to let them know the location of the treasures….else I’ll have to face the consequences….I really don’t know who killed the Elder king…! Most of them say he fell down the horse & died…” Shane was looking quite afraid. “I still don’t know who their boss is…..I’ve never seen him…no one knows who he is or how he looks like…he only gives us instructions..” Shane gave all the answers.

Now Daniel understood things. Shane was really following the OSR, but still one question was unanswered. Was the Elder brother really killed? Or he died in an accident? Still lost in his thoughts, he returned to his chambers & slept.

Daniel heard a faint sound. Perceiving it, he realised who it was. As he sat up on his bed, he heard the Chinese chime bell ring. Glancing at it, he again looked at the window.

The Ghost in the Black Robe was standing there, his face covered in hood and darkness.

Daniel strained his eyes & looked at the figure. He knew who it was. This time, again the Ghost had a different posture. He held something in its left hand. As Daniel strained to look, he came to know at once what it was.

Daniel woke up & sat on his bed. Shivering, he now understood what grandpa was holding in his hand. It was a book he used, with golden lacework, where he kept all of his writings. His sleep almost gone, he hurriedly searched the things he had got from his grandpa’s cupboard & found the book in golden lacework , placed in a wooden box with detailed carvings & designs. He opened the book & studied it. How can I ever fail to notice this box? , he thought.

As he scanned the pages, he came across a map. Easy to read, he studied it & found that it contained a location to a Chinese temple somewhere in a deserted location in the town.

The Temple of Chinese Chime Bells…? he said to himself. As a kid, he was told by his parents to stay away from the temple, as being on the outskirts & surrounded by dense forests, it was haunted by certain spirits & everytime people only heard Chinese Chime Bells ringing inside. The place was equally eerie & always remained in darkness during nightfall.

Perhaps that is the hideout of Aphoten-Khep-Khunum, the cult my grandpa is following, Daniel thought. I need to visit this place & I should do it secretly, ’cose if Shane follows me, he’ll come to know the secrets hidden there, & that will be of a great help to OSRs.

Without wasting anytime, Daniel packed his things & headed out, just at the outbreak of dawn. The Monarch was to be back today from the long tour he had, so all the guards were outside the gate, ready to welcome him. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he silently climbed the castle walls, which were unguarded. He tiptoed in the courtyard outside, and slowly climbed down the hill.

He travelled the whole day & by evening, he reached the outskirts of the town. The temple is almost few kilometres from here, he thought as he entered the dense forests. By the time he reached the middle of the forests, it was almost nightfall.

Daniel looked around as he walked. The forest was creepy, with huge trees having wide branches and pines. With no birds chirping, he kept going along in moonlight. Calculating the way by the location of moon, he kept going southwest, towards the direction of the Chinese temple.

Suddenly, he heard a twig crushed, as if someone had stepped on it. He sensed movement around him. As he moved forward, again he heard a faint rustle behind him. He looked behind & stopped dead in his tracks.

3 tall strangers were standing behind him. He couldn’t see their faces, but they were masked men wearing white jacket & white dress. Before he could react, suddenly someone groped him from behind, covering his face with a cloth which had a pungent odour. The smell was so strong, he desperately tried to move off, but slowly he lost his consciousness.

Gagged with his hands tied behind, he woke up after sometime. Slowly the environment came into view. He somehow recognized it. He was inside the Chinese temple. In the light of flaming torches, he saw himself surrounded by masked men in white dresses. One more person was seated next to him, gagged & hands tied behind. As Daniel tried to recognize him, he couldn’t believe his eyes.

“Shane?” he almost screamed. It looked like he was following him. But, why would he do that?

“Enough of your brother love…!” a man in front shouted at him. Daniel saw a masked person in white dress coming towards him. Somehow his silhouette looked familiar. As the person came into view, Daniel saw the logo on his chest, and was shocked.

It was the phi that belonged to Os-Smat-Raet, the OSRs.

“This is our sanctum..!” the masked man said, removing Daniel’s gag, “We know who you are..the grandson of one of the greatest followers of Aphoten-Khep-Khunum…!” Daniel couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Grandpa gave me the location of the evil cult? What could that possibly mean?

“Tell us the location of the treasures..!” the masked man hissed, “we know that you have the knowledge of it..!”

“I know you people must’ve killed the Elder King…!” Daniel screamed at the top voice.

“The Elder king..?” the masked man gave a cunning laugh. He slowly removed his mask. Daniel stared in horror as his face came into view in the faint light.

The Elder King, who was presumed death, was standing in front of him.

Impossible, Daniel thought, realising that probably his grandpa wanted him to know this.

“I never died while hunting…!” The Elder King spoke arrogantly, “My father, my younger brother both were followers of Aphoten-Khep-Khunum. I was forced to join in. Your grandfather was the chief security guard of the cult. Every single authority was given to my younger brother. My father said I was High Handed. Haah..!” brushing his hand in air, the Elder brother continued, “Being the elder brother, I was given nothing. No power. No authority. My family & your grandfather knew my conduct. They never told me where the real treasure was. I tried pushing them many times. But no one answered me.” Daniel was totally surprised. Was the Elder King really this way?

“But then, the Os-Smat-Raet was kind to me. They offered me all that I want. I had to plot my death, so that I can lead the OSRs in their battle. I then got the revenge I always wanted on my family…!”

“So..it was you who……” realising the truth, Daniel couldn’t speak any further.

“Yesss….!” The elder king hissed, “I killed my father. He was not at all ready to disclose the secrets. Your grandfather was unfortunate. Knowing the location, he still didn’t disclose it. I had to kill him.”

Daniel felt his blood boiling. Why did he do that to my grandpa?

“Now it’s your turn. You tell us where all the treasure we seek…Before I…”

His words were broken by a loud sound. Suddenly a huge army of masked men in black dresses attacked the temple. The OSRs fought back, but the army in black dresses outnumbered the white ones. All the white ones were gagged and tied up. All of this happened very fast. Only the Elder brother was left standing. Two guards tied his hands behind, and made him face ahead. Daniel looked in that direction & saw a hooded person in Black Robe climbing up the steps of the Chinese Temple. The person came and stood in front of the elder brother. The person raised his both hands, pointing his index Finger & Thumb towards the ceiling, and then as he brought them down, he crossed them, making an ‘X’ sign. The person then removed his hood, revealing himself.

“The King…...” Daniel exclaimed as he saw the familiar logo of Aphoten-Khep-Khunum.

“Shane saw you escaping out of the castle. Feeling guilty of himself, he came to me & accepted all that he had done. On my consent, he followed you and we followed him, as we knew where you will be going. Shane will of course be punished for what he did, but you, my Elder Brother, how can you be so treacherous ?” looking at his brother, the King exclaimed. “I have overheard everything. I now feel ashamed to call you my brother, my blood…!”

The Elder Brother & his entire cult, including Shane was taken away. The King then praised Daniel for his bravery.

“I know what you are thinking,” The King said, looking at Daniel, “The treasure is at a safe location, which is known only to a very few persons in our cult.” Saying this, the King left.

Daniel knew what the King meant. He knows where it is, Daniel thought. Let the location be safe with him.

Daniel was then offered a good position in the King’s court as well as he became a good follower of the cult.

Daniel felt contented as he finally gave justice to his grandpa. My grandpa wanted me to catch the real culprit. That was what he was conveying me since the last so many days, Daniel thought. That night, as Daniel slept in his Chamber inside the castle specially given to him by the king, he again dreamed of his grandpa. He dreamed how he used to play with him as a kid & how they enjoyed all the good times together.