The Dalesch - Chapter II: Mataro Puzzle

There was a throng at the airport. His mind was far away from this place. He had a vow, a wish. A soothing situation where he’ll wake up two days later and Dania will be still there but he already knew that it can wind up with a happy end in any case in his heart. He was looking drowsy for the people around him. He would have been in another place, in another world not to see her off. It was important, it was urgent. Nevertheless he couldn’t do anything. He was approaching the last place he’d maybe see her for the last time of his life. It was pathetic. He felt pathetic because he’d never tell her about how much she was essential for him. He wanted to talk her out of staying here in this city or wherever but with him.

Yes! She’ll be troubled and probably she’ll consider the situation again. To grasp the nettle when your have a craving for something. He stopped walking in front of the departure lounge. His face was reddening. Whatever his feelings, she was going to leave. It hurt him completely. He decided to go, to be smiling. Dania was sitting down beside the window, alone. He wondered where Ciaran was. She turned towards him when he arrived. However he didn’t speak to her as if she knew it could be only him because she said his name.

‘Thank you Abel for… Please don’t speak, listen to me! Thanks a lot for coming really. I know that we are more than just friends and it must cost you so much to come and see me leaving with someone else. Forgive me for the pain I bring you. I’m so sorry; I didn’t know how to warn you…'
Tears were falling down from her eyes. Abel was touched. He wanted to snuggle near to her. He ambled towards her and hugged her. He cuddled her down. He shut his eyes a few time, then he felt that something was wrong. He opened his eyes and looked outside the window. There he saw a face or not exactly… It was a bogey who was smiling, a mischievous smile. Then Dania talked close to his ear and thanked him again to make her task so easy.

‘You deserve to be thanked by my Lord’, she said.
He tried to go away from her but it was impossible as she was strongly tightening him. Quickly he hit her shoulder and pushed her away. He got shocked when he saw her face or what was left of it. It was the bogey he’d just seen by the window. He glanced around him and realized that no sound was to be heard. He was surrounded by darkness. He felt that there should have been someone else, a decoy probably. He was right. He turned back and saw a man. Rather somebody who seemed to be a man. It was Ciaran maybe.
He understood that he had to struggle for the Dalesch. Cindy had been right from the beginning. Because of his family story, he had to go through this. He had always been in connection with Levis, wherever he was, when time was critical. It was the good thing about this gift he inherited from.

He warned him:
‘The fight starts… the fight starts’.
Levis was in his office when he received it. He became as white as sheet. Then he ran in the nearest phone box.
‘Hold on Abel… hold on! Where are you? Tell me quickly!’
He heard him trying to say where he was but just got the beginning then nothing. He dialed the number in a rush. One ring, two.
‘Hal…’, Levis cut it.
‘Sonro, listen, the fight’s starting. Abel, he warned me. No more communication. I don’t know where he is’.
‘I contact all the others. See you in the mansion in thirty minutes’, said Sonro. They hung up.
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The fireplace worked, letting big flames playing in Hanara´s confounded eyes. Hanara stood too near to the fire… Her face was without expression. She had glassy eyes exactly. Erich was thinking, his hands holding his head. They all were waiting for Sonro who was missing. It seemed that the air was charged with electricity. She was startled when he called her. But she said she was fine, just a bit nervous. They were all here now. Except Abel. Levis was against the wall, the head bowed. "It’s time Levis', David said.

‘You’ve to tell us what you know'. No need to speak. Each member could send messages like that. Especially Levis. They sat around the altar. Levis said what he knew. Erich added that it should have something more. Sonro suggested ringing her up.
'It’s not enough, Levis said. Somebody has to go to see Dania. But before we have to decide where the altar should be hidden. It is most important!'
***
It was repelling, the way they looked at him. Abel felt his heart throbbing. They were three around him. In a vault, he was in a vault now with three imps! He got enmeshed in a big problem… It was clear that their goal were to be everything except nice. At this moment he knew that it wasn’t Dania who came to see him. It was flabbergasting how he fell, how he took it in.
‘Well, I think you can start now’. The last one who appeared sneered. He was taller than the others, with black hair and a deep look when he glanced at him. White skin, wearing an exquisite suit… Certainly the Lord!

‘Dear Brat, we’ll start when I want it. First of all I think I must tell you what I want from you!’
The two decoys surrounded him more closely, just to remind him that it was nearly the end.
‘So Abel, the man continued, I’m really glad to meet you at last. It’s a long-standing meeting I was waiting for. You probably think that you know the reason for this entire situation, don’t you?’ He took a few paces towards him.
‘Secondly my name is Mataro and my purpose is not to slay you like a miserable fledgling.’ Abel looked at him painstakingly. What was he trying to say? For a long time they hunted him down, only to kill him. And now this Mataro, with his exquisite manners, was telling him the contrary. He could feel all his huge strength; it was engulfing the entire vault. If Mataro wanted, he could have already killed him.

‘What do you want in this case?, Abel replied, except to be harmful to me?’ Mataro was astounding. In less than a second he was holding Abel’s right arm and contemplating him, almost touching his face.
‘But, don’t you see, don’t you know Abel? It is so clear!’ Abel was hypnotized by his overwhelming strength… Withstand, was the only thing he could think of. He had to withstand those apostles of Devil.
‘How can you do that, my Dear?’ He could read in his mind. It got him angrier. Then in his turn he read Mataro’s thoughts…
‘You know what we want, he was saying like a song. You know! You should have killed me just after taking my power. No, you are so naïve. Don’t be so clumsy. You know what I want!’
Abel was numb, tired. He listened him singing this stupid phrase several times. Mataro stopped singing and tightened Abel’s arm.

‘I want your soul, my Dear. It will permit us so many things… like in the past with some members of your great family.’
Abel couldn’t believe what he heard. He was astonished. Why didn’t he realize it himself? It was so simple. Suddenly, he was alone; in front of him were three doors. Then he heard the voice of Mataro.
‘My Dear, if you agree, your role will be to choose one of these three doors which are each labyrinths. Of course, one of them is very dangerous for your dearest life so make the best choice. You must think carefully… to reach your soul pace to pace. This game’s including a puzzle I have especially prepared for you. If you find the keys you can be saved from death, physic and rather or moral. But the most important thing you should know my beloved is that my two own decoys will pursue you. They will chase you and tempt you under many forms… You possess no weapons. Only your courage, your mind and your cunning can help you. I hope you will enjoy yourself…!’
Abel heard the malice in Mataro’s tone. It wasn’t to be pleasant at all and they all knew it. Concentration and sticking to its gut was the only way out of this mess. His eyes concentrated on each door with intensity. His senses could allow him more than he never had imagined and at this very moment, he had to let it go and free his spirit for his own sake…

‘Good luck Abel! The game starts now’, Mataro cutting him in his thoughts.
Then nothing more, silence surrounded him totally. Abel was without voice. He felt fears in his heart and loneliness. Did the others think about him at this time? He knew he had to go quickly. Two weeks, Levis had said…
‘God bless me!’, he cried out. He shut his eyes then chooses the left door. With a quick pace he went towards it. He thought of them, all probably in the mansion searching ways to help him out. He felt better thinking of it and this time with a determined pace he walked through the door. Immediately after he crossed the line, the door slammed and he could only hear the foul laughter of Mataro.