Chapter 5: The Grand Grimoire

We walked out together, and I was glad that we didn't have to find our way out by ourselves. The dungeon area was well hidden by a secret door disguised as a wall.

One of the iron sconces for the torch had to be turned around to slide the door open. We would never have figured it out on our own. Once opened, we walked through a narrow corridor till we reached an open area lit by sunlight through stained glass windows.

"This is the priests' court," said Jinzic, referring to the large hall. Pointing to another small room in the center of this hall, "that is the inner sanctum that holds the grimoire. On the other side...you see a doorway? That leads to the plebeian court, which opens out to the entrance of the temple."

He explained the layout so I could escape and then reminded me, "Do not forget that the book is guarded by evil spirits."

I thanked him and told them to move on to the plebeian court. I headed towards the inner sanctum, keeping an eye towards the rest of the gang headed outside. I also noted a well-hidden niche behind a wall, towards a corner.

*I could hide there in case of a problem.*

Then I walked into the sanctum sanctorum. The moment I stepped into the room, the air felt cold, dark and heavy. I wanted to get out of there immediately, but I had to get that book. I continued with a sense of foreboding, not sure what I should be doing.

"Never be afraid of the dark, there's nothing there that you don't already know. Remember you just cannot see it," Grandpa told me once, after I expressed fear on walking into a dark room at night.

I thought of his ever-smiling face and encouragement, and also the love between my parents, and my heart was filled with positivity. The sense of commitment that they showed towards each other, had taught me the value of looking out for each other. It did not matter what we had to face, to do so. I had to help my friends; besides, it would affect my world too eventually.

I remembered I wore a bracelet with a religious insignia and felt a little relief, or should I say, protected. God was with me.

I walked past the dilapidated walls, towards the darkly decorated altar. Black sheets, lit candles that cast ominous shadows, some skulls and an inverted cross were set up. Everything about the ambience in the chamber screamed evil.

In the center, was placed a large book with the cover in red leather and an imprint of a black serpent with blazing red eyes. It was bound by a brass clasp with a keyhole. I couldn't see keys around; I suppose the witch must not be entrusting anyone with it.

I closed my eyes and said a quick prayer. I proceeded toward the book, continually chanting the Gayatri Mantra. It is supposed to be the most powerful mantra in Hinduism dedicated to a sun deity. It bestows enlightenment and empowers the sunshine within us. In simple terms, it helps drive away darkness.

I slowly inched forward my hand to take the book. The moment my fingers touched it, I heard deep growls. I retreated, and saw dark shadows begin to loom large around me. Eerie howling began to ring in my ears.

I had never encountered anything like this ever and was quaking in my shoes. But I continued my chants and slowly but surely, the light in my heart grew stronger.

I picked up the book, and the shadows became belligerent. They started to flow around me in a circle of impending doom. They moved faster and faster, and the sounds became more and more ungodly. The screeching and hissing sounded violent.

*I'm not going to survive this.*

I was expecting, any minute, to be overpowered and killed. Then I realized that they were frightening me enough to have a cardiac arrest but weren't physically touching me. A few things in the room came hurtling toward me, but I managed to dodge them. I was perplexed. The howling was deafening now. But there was nothing more.

Amid my chants, I hugged the book close to me and walked towards the exit. I still wondered why they didn't harm me. I think it was my chants and my bracelet that protected me from the evil spirits, so I had no intention of stopping - my mantras or my mission.

As soon as I crossed the threshold of the inner sanctum, I felt like I could breathe. The air was lighter. The howling was behind me now, though it didn't stop. Maybe, the spirits were bound to that chamber.

In fact, I heard an extremely loud screeching cry. Only this time, the sound came from outside the temple. I realized the witch may have, somehow, got wind of what had transpired. She must have been informed by the dark depraved souls. Like a telepathic connection.

I quickly rushed and hid in the niche I had spotted earlier. I saw the old hag rush in, flailing her arms in angry despair. She ran into the chamber and I could hear her wailing loudly and angrily.

Without wasting another moment, I ran out as fast as I could through the plebeian court and out to the temple courtyard. I quickly noted a gazebo area with a burning pyre, possibly the arrangements for the intended ritual that was to be performed. Running out of the grounds, I saw Flora pointing towards the hills. I took the cue and ran for my life.