The chest in the attic

The chest in the attic 2

"So come down now, you know your mother, when she says lunch is ready, lunch is ready". He led me out of the attic, locked the door behind him, put the key in his pocket. 

In the kitchen mum was already pacing up and down, on the war. Path. We sat down hurriedly. 

" another five minutes and you would have had to pick up your lunch from the Bin. You  have to respect the work of others. I'm not here to serve you. Is that clear?" Said mum in her clipped voice, the one which made you do what she ordered without any discussion.

It was clear, I and dad nodded and begun to eat in silence.

"So what's up? what was the delay about? " she added in a normal voice. With an evident sigh of relief, dad declared "he found the chest in the attic"

" did he open it? " she asked quickly glancing towards me

"No, I didn't , it was closed, I swear" . One didn't lie to mum, it was better to own it.

"What do we do now? " My father asked her.

" while I was waiting for both of you, I had a reading : the Tower came out, first. I understand now why, followed by the Magician, the Moon, the Star and the Wheel of Fortune. We have to tell him".

"But he is so young" retorted my dad.

Somehow I knew instantly that I would not like what they were going to show me.

"I know, but there you are! go and get it" she added to my father.

While he was gone, she put things away, and tidied up the kitchen, she told me: "it is best that we guide you on the path, all together instead of having to fight all alone to grasp the truth, it will avoid you so many mistakes. "

Her words sounded ominous suddenly, it felt like a yoke had been fitted around my neck, I knew I was no longer  free .

Dad came back in the kitchen with the chest under one arm, a pair of red gloves, a black square of silk which he laid carefully on the cleaned table .

Mum lighted some stick incense and started to sing using only her breathing.

When she finished she took a small golden key from a knotted leather ribbon that was around her neck, passed it to dad. "We will not be disturbed, Open it " she told him pointing to the chest. 

Quietly with determination he inserted the key, turned it, looked at her "are you sure?"

She looked at me and added " the time has come, you have the right to know. There is a price for knowledge. In your case, at your age it is silence. You must never speak of what we are going to show you to anybody not initiated. You may think that it is a light sentence, but betrayal would have serious consequences. Am I making sense? Do you understand? If you are not sure, we will stop immediately, it is not a punishment. At this moment the path is opened, for a short time, we may close it at our convenience. To continue on the path, your first step will lead to a loss of innocence, to a loss of your childhood, do you understand? The choice is yours , do you wish to continue or stop?" 

Excitement had been growing inside my mind, I had realised that I was to be welcomed in their group of adult wizards and witches, for yes that was what my parents were about. Rituals day and night for the slimmest pretexts, calling protection for any endeavour. I couldn't stop myself, dammed be my innocence, I wanted to know. 

I nodded once, she repeated : do you wish to continue? Speak aloud, please.

"I wish to continue " I answered in a small voice,

Once again she asked the same question: "for the last time, do you wish to continue?"

"Yes, I wish to continue! " This time my voice was in control, and sounded more determined than I really felt.

She picked up the red gloves , handed them to me , "put them on then", she ordered .

My father slowly pushed the chest towards me, he nodded to me, positioning himself behind my mother, embracing her.

When I touched the chest a thrill ran down my spine, I looked at them silently, they waited in silence watching me. Slowly carefully I lifted the lid, the hinges didn't put any resistance .

Resting on a red cushion was a rolled scroll with three Crimson ribbons making sure it kept its form. So that was it, a parchment with ribbons. What a disappointment!

I looked up to my parents, " what now?" 

" you can open it, be careful it is fragile" Said my father .

I took the scroll in my hand, and untied the ribbons. The scroll unrolled itself as it became free. Inside de the scroll constrained by it , was a piece of material I never seen before the like of . There was a drawing of a blue Pegasus, on top of a pink unicorn. I laughed at the design. " what is it? " I asked my parents, " what does it means?" I felt truly let down, by it all. I have Often considered my parents beliefs silly at best , stupid the rest of time. And obviously this one was one of these. 

"This is your first test, you have to find a meaning that you can relate to. What I can add though , to help you, this is the proof of how evil a witch can be. " my mum said.

"What this? A rude drawing of a winged horse screwing a unicorn? " I replied lightly!

"Not any drawing, dear. The witch was killed and skinned for it. This is the tattoo she wore on her back while dispensing "justice".

"Are you telling me this is a piece of human skin?" I dropped the open scroll, it fell on the table, and rolled itself back."

"Knot the ribbons carefully, now, it wants to be secreted again". Said my father in a hushed tone.

I obeyed, put the lot back in the chest and closed the lid. 

" you may now lock it" continued my father.

So many questions were swirling in my head, I was dizzy by it all, I couldn't hold my head anylonger. 

Had my honest to god parents killed ? murdered? dismembered someone? What had that person done to deserve such a fate? No wonder, they were a cagey lot, if this was true. Yes, I had lost my innocence! Yes, I couldn't speak to anyone about this. 

My parents had never lied to me, true . But killers? I couldn't believe it. 

I heard suddenly my mother voice, " you see, how overcome he is. It is too much for him . He needs sometime to think about it, get some rest for the moment" she was saying to my father. 

" go to your bedroom, we will talk later" 

I had only one idea, to run away from this place, I didn't want to learn anymore. My beloved parents had morphed from fiddling idiots to hard criminals.  That chest was a real Pandora box! 

Lucette C. Bailliet 

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