The Secrets of Gotha Castle-6- by wretched

-Chapter 6-

Alexi stood in front of a wooden door, leading into one of the two towers. The walkway that he had just came down was full of weeds on both sides of the cobble walkway. On his left was two stained glass windows that he remembered seeing in the family room while looking through the fireplace. At the very end of the walkway was a small graveyard with crumbling and weeded over head stones that he was unable to read. Surrounding the small garden and the graveyard was a large stone wall that connected itself to the tower and then back around to the castle rooms.

While looking towards the wooden door, Alexi was starting to become quite curious to know what was inside the tower. “No,” he thought, “I can’t just go looking around right now. We have to find Julia.” although he was still ticked off for what Erik had said in the family room, Alexi was just concerned with finding Julia. Alexi moved closer to the door, placing his large hand on the snake shaped doorknob. He figured that he should at least check and see if the door was locked or not. Giving the door a few good pulls, Alexi found that the door was indeed locked.

Deciding to head back up the cobblestones and wait for Erik, Alexi pictured Julia back in the library. The way that strands of her wet hair fell in her face with her magnificent green eyes shining through her dirt stricken face. Even as dirty as she was, she still managed to take his breath away. Now if only he could find her. Alexi just couldn’t understand where Julia could be. Julia had always done what Erik asked of her, and when Erik told her to stay in the library and she did there was no reason for her to leave the room. What bothered Alexi most was the scream that he and Erik had heard from the family room. Alexi rounded the corner of the castle garden and now stood in front of the stone steps once again. Looking around, Alexi could not find Erik. Placing himself on the top step, Alexi sat looking at the darkening sky. The sun had gone fully down now and many of the brilliant white stars shone brightly in the night sky. The temperature had now dropped and Alexi regretted not wearing his cat to the castle. After a few moments of sitting on the step and looking at the black sky he started to become anxious. Standing up rubbing his arms for warmth Alexi decided to go looking for Erik.

Stepping down from the steps, Alexi moved his way onto the walkway. Although the sky was filled with clouds the full moon had managed to find a clearing amongst them and now the moon illuminated the walkway an its garden. Alexi walked halfway down the path before he noticed the second tower. It was the same as the tower on the side that he had first checked but the door to this tower was open. Light from a mounted torch upon the inside wall what spilling out across the small graveyard. Becoming excited, Alexi started to jog up the walk. Then Alexi saw a man’s body laying on the cobblestones. Approaching with caution, Alexi approached. At first Alexi couldn’t recognize the body, there was such a large amount of blood covering the man’s face. But as he took a closer look at the man’s white blouse and of his blondish hair, he new it was Erik.

In a state of panic Alexi took Erik’s shoulders in his hands and shook the lifeless form, searching for a response, but none came. Alexi let go of Erik and leaned back on his heels. He couldn’t believe that his friend was gone. He had only left him for a few minutes and now he was gone. Knowing of nothing else to do Alexi sat there looking down at Erik’s bloody face and realized Julia was still missing. He had to find her. Looking back at the open door, he reached down and pulled up his pants leg reviling a hidden dagger. Standing up, Alexi felt full fury come over him. With dagger in hand, he was determined to find Julia and get out of there and made his was towards the tower.

Climbing the stone staircase that leg to the top of the tower Alexi took note of the surrounding stone walls upon which was no windows or markings. Not sure how far up he was by now Alexi came across a iron door. In haste Alexi tried the door and when it did not open, Alexi moved on up the stairs. Finding him self at the top of the tower, feeling more then just a little dizzy form his quick progress around the tower, Alexi had to stop and take a breath before trying the door in front of him. Next the to door sat to torches mounted to the wall on ether side of the door. Once his breathing was under control Alexi tried the iron door.

The door gave under Alexi’s push and entered him into a circular room lit by candles. Across the room was a canopied bed, with heavy drapes drown around it. A wooden night stand stood next to the bed with candles covering its top, wax dripping to the floor. Four stained glass windows spread equally apart from each other along the wall. And in the center of the room stood a high backed wooden chair. Its occupant was a man with light brown hair, green eyes and fair lips. The man looked to be of high rank with multiple rings warn on his fingers and the buttons of his petty coat looked to be jewels as well.

“Who are you. And why are you in this castle?” Alexi’s voice spoke with a slight stammer.

“My young Sir you sound as if you own this dwelling.” said the stranger, “My name is Nikolai Josef Gotha and I am the ruler of this castle that you have entered. Before you ask let me tell you that Julia, the one you are looking for is quite safe, if you were to look you’d find her peacefully asleep on the bed.”

Nikolai waved a slim pale hand up and gestured to the bed but Alexi didn’t move. He stared between the bed and Nikolai then asked with contempt in his voice now, “You were the one to kill Erik?”

His hand dropped as he spoke, “No, that was not my doing, but it was done because he was finding a trinket that wasn’t meant for him.”

“A trinket? You have killed him for a trinket!” Alexi started toward Nikolai. “Give me Julia! You wont get her as well. Giver her to me!” Nikolai didn’t move as Alexi was upon him. Bringing up his dagger Alexi swiped at Nikolai. A force struck Alexis head just then. The room when into a blur as Alexis spun around trying to see what just happened but it was no use. He hit the loor with a thud and a image of a shadowy figure was all he saw. Nikolai’s voce rang in his ears, screaming something he couldn’t understand. His body was lifted off the floor slightly as Nikolai shouted. Being drug across the floor and out the door descending the stairs. Alexi’s eyes swam in his head seeing the candle light upon the bed side table fall out of few.