Chapter 17

Hans gave up and stopped sending any reports or info during the time Hans was allowed into Locke family John and Ian were suspicious,but because of Hadrian's word they allowed Hans to stay.Hans slowly became part of the family.

As both Ian taught John about Key making and Hans took it in like fish in water.Hans legs were even healed by Hadrian,but when he made his first key Hadrian could see Hans still had psychological effects from being a cripple as Hans first key was the Hercules Key fits into the wearer of the Hercules Belt,the Key goes into a belt with the symbol of a lion on the buckle.True to its name, the key makes the wearer three times as strong as they are usually.

This made many in Reich think he turned on them.So they decided he should be killed and decided to call him over,Hans having already figured out asked Hadrian and John for help both of them agreed.

So they followed with him under De Illusionment charm.When they reached the given location half of the 8th army and a seemingly endless bunch of SS-Men were waiting there for them.

Han hurled one of the men against the wall and Hadrian was pretty sure he heard his ribs break, as if someone had jumped on a bundle of twigs.

The sound was practically music to Hans ears! With the other hand he hit the soldiers and they flew through the air like matchsticks. The Hercules-Key releasing all the power to Hans that he had not possessed as a goddamn cripple.

But the Sturmbannführer ordered his remaining man"Shoot them down,finish them off!"

Hadrian had noticed them men were actually stunned ans taking the chance he had enchanted the water from nearby lake to surround the rest of troops like a sphere of molten glass. The suffocating sheet of water had caused the troops to die and Sturmbannführer was one was the victims.

Hans after incident wanted to hide the magical keys from the eyes of everyone from the world,so he called Hadrian and all the Locke's.

The Riffel Rule interferes with an adult's perception of magic incurred by the keys.The Rule defines an adult as someone who either reaches the age of 18 or has graduated from High School Memory of the keys is also disabled by the Rule.It takes effect upon entering Keyhouse Manor through the main door on the west side of the building; this is because the key that enforced the Riffel Rule is the key for the "front door" of Keyhouse.

Another part of the Rule is allowing the Keys to reveal themselves to a child whose heart is free of malice.The purpose of the rule was to prevent adults from discovering, using, or abusing the powers of the Keys,interesting thing was Hadrian was not able fully pin point any of the keys Locke family made because the whispering was not something he could hear like before.

The Riffel Rule only seems to apply to adults when they're in a clear state of mind.That means if a person is in drunk state they would be able to remember the magic they have seen,but they once again forget everything when they are sober.

But with all these death's close to him, Hadrian had started drinking as habit to cope with the pain and loss he felt.This would become worse as after the death of Jean,Mary,Ian and John.Hadrian would start to distance from the Locke family only visiting them from time to time until Rendell and Duncan Locke comes into the picture,they are the great grandsons of Jean Locke and Hans Riffel.