35 Preparation for the tomb

Hector occupied the rest of his day resting and enjoying himself with little things. And when night came he decided that today he would remain home so he could get a good night's sleep.

Before he lay to sleep he took his light hammer and put it in the bowl of clear water. So it would become holy water overnight.

When he woke up the next day he had breakfast prepared by a home chef and then he started to prepare himself for tomb exploration that would start today in the afternoon.

He thought about all the things that he may need and so he used the rest of the morning with the preparations.

Hector took his hammers and put them on the table. Next to them, he put a revolver and thirty bullets.

"Unfortunately I have no demon-hunting bullets, but I do have the light hammer so at least that is something." He then thought about asking them at the gathering led by Eye of Wisdom.

Then he put a dagger on the left of hammers and he also prepared a metal vail into which he poured holy water. He put it in a metal vail so if he would encounter something to use it on and it would remain safe from breaking if he would fall on the side where he would keep it.

Hector then played with his ring as he thought about what else he should take. Then he took a cane and rest it against the desk.

He thought about inviting Albert but as he knew that exploring any type of tomb that had some beyonder properties, be it the tomb itself or something inside it was always extremely dangerous. But he had a feeling in his chains that guided him to enter the tomb.

But now the chains transformed into thorn vines with black and gold roses with eyes in middle.

Hector tried to feel them and as he put his mind to sense their presence he felt a stir in his heart and then they started to exit his heart to spread to his whole body.

Physically he felt that nothing had changed in his body, but he could sense them with his spirituality.

Then he prepared a pocket watch so he could look at the time, who knows what will await him down there. He also took some dried meats as provisions and some water. He was afraid of time deviations or of the possibility that they would be there for a longer period of time.

He also put the iron mask on the desk, but he thought about replacing it later as he did not want for someone to recognize the mask when he was somewhere else than beyonder gathering with Eye of Wisdom. It could bring suspicion and trouble if someone from the gathering would see him.

When he thought that he had everything that he need he chained his clothes and put his custom-made holster on himself. Then he put the hammers, revolver, and dagger in their corresponding places. He also took spare bullets so he wouldn't run out of ammo too soon. After this, he took the remaining items that he prepared and put them into different pockets. Then he put a heavy leather coat and half-top hat on himself. After taking his cane he started to leave the villa.

Boarding carriage that would take him to their designated area. He would arrive a little bit sooner than agreed upon so he could look at others as they would come. But he also didn't want to come too early as he would have nothing to do but wait for a long period of time.

When the carriage arrived at its destination he exited and looked around himself. He saw an older style of the building than was usual in Buckland but he also saw that they were still kept in good condition. There were no allies as all the buildings were homes with gardens on all sides and the paths between them were not hidden.

From the address that was written on the paper, he found the meeting place with relative ease. While it still wasn't night there were people coming and going on the street so he hid himself among the people, but as they dispersed he would need to find another crowd.

When he thought that plan like that would be pointless he decided that he would simply wait at a nearby bench. Originally he wanted to hide himself in some ally or among the people as benches would be the first place where he would look for them.

Hector didn't want to be seen at first but later he gave up at the thought. And observed the people sitting on other benches, and sure enough, he saw some sketchy people. The way they sat, moved and looked around them he could tell that there was something out of ordinary.

For a few moments, he thought about the possibility that someone was cathed by an official beyonder force and this meeting became a trap. But he could observe traces of fear and worry in the eyes of people so he came to the conclusion that they are just nervous.

He then waited until most of the people left as the sun started to set and the moon had risen. Hector stood up and left the street, when he was beyond the sight of people he put the mask on himself and hid himself in the alley. The setting sun created ideal shadows to hide in, and from his place, he watched the last of departing people and those who remained sitting on the benches.

After some time only a few of them remained. Then he saw a man wearing an iron mask standing at the designated place for their meeting.

When a few moments passed he could see that people sitting on the benches stood up and put iron masks on themselves.

'When you think about it those iron masks are pointless as I saw them sitting on those benches so I know what their faces look like. But I presume it does create a unique atmosphere.' He thought as he walked to the group.

With Hector five people were present. He could see that two of them were women and two were a man.

The first man, who Hector presumed to be the leader, from the build he judged him to be the man who requested them to come to the gathering. He was waiting for them, he had a slim build and was quite tall, even taller than Hector. He didn't see any indications that the man was armed beyond a cane which he held in his left arm, and as he was beyonder he could have other means of fighting.

The woman on his left was not as tall as him but still, her height was of above average. Hector could tell that she had a revolver on herself and he was able to see and handle of a sword or machete. He could not see her hair or face as she wore a hood and saw nothing that would indicate that they met before.

Another man who stood before the leader was of a smaller height with a bigger build. Hector saw the man holding a rifle and strangely enough a bow. He could be holding a knife or dagger under his coat.

Lastly, the woman who stood at the corner of the group was the tallest among them, she towered above Hector quite significantly. She carried a revolver and some weapon but he could not tell as she had it under her coat.