The Scroll of Knowledge

Chapter 24

A/N: I'm sorry for the long wait. I had loads of schoolwork. Here's another chapter.

"So we found it. Now what?" Axel asked.

"Amber, see what you can find out about Ian and his Greek persona," Shay said. "We need to find out his weakness."

I nodded and walked over to the Scroll.

"How do I use it?" I asked.

"Think about what you want, then open the Scroll. That's what I do with the Book," Shay said.

I closed my eyes and concentrated then opened the Scroll. I scanned the page. "According to this... there's really not much more information than we already know." That was underwhelming.

"What do you mean?" Brennan asked.

"I'm not surprised. If the Scroll can only show recorded information then it wouldn't have much during that time. They wouldn't have recorded very much about him since he was just a legend and no one really knew a whole lot about him except for the identities of his family," Axel said. Everyone looked at him. "Don't look so surprised. I'm not an idiot."

"Shocking," Brennan said.

"He's right," Shay said. "I can't see him because he's a keyholder." She snapped her fingers. "Amber, look for similarities in legends around the world."

"It might be him. Got it," I said. Entries came up on the page. "Now we're getting somewhere. This man really got around. The Greek legend says that Zeus killed him because his healing power was becoming too strong and popular and we know how Zeus is about people stealing attention from him. We know he didn't actually die and according to these legends he was in South American, African, Asian, he was in everyone's legends as the great healer. It said that he had nine children, no, make that ten. He had one with a woman out of marriage." My eyes widened. "I just checked up on Aratus, the other son. He had a son named Rokas."

"Rokas is Ian's grandson?" Thomas asked. "He had him in a cage."

"He has the key to Pandora's Box," Shay said.

"But still. He's his grandson," Thomas said. "I'll never understand some people."

"In some of the legends, a middle aged wandering healer travelled with a young boy," I said.

"That might be Rokas," Brennan said. "Is there any mention of him being hurt or killed?"

"He can't die," I said.

"He can and I need to know how we can hurt him."

I opened the Scroll a little wider. "Sorry. No details."

"What about Rokas? Can you see anything else?"

I shook my head. "Anytime I use the names they go by now I come up blank. We'll have to ask him."

"Does the Scroll say anything about detecting portals?" Brennan asked.

"All it says is that it's easier to make portals where there's a strong emotional connection," I said. He looked thoughtful. "What are you thinking?"

"I'll let you know when I figure something out," Brennan said. "Shay, do you know what time it is?"

She checked her watch. "If time runs the same here as it does at the gazebo then we still have an hour before Fiona calls."

"If we're not going to get any more information here then we might as well leave," Brennan said.

"That was a waste," Axel said.

"Not necessarily." Brennan went to a wall filled with markings. "I'm guessing these are locations?" Shay and I nodded. "Let's go then."

Axel hung back. He touched my arm and leaned down. "Could you check on someone named Emil Granger?"

I looked at the Scroll. "It says here he's dead."

"Nothing else?" Axel asked. He looked equal parts sad and hopeful.

"What exactly is it that you want me to look for?"

He opened his mouth then closed it and shook his head. "Never mind. Let's just go back."

I looked at Shay. She stared into space a bit then took out a pen and notebook from her pocket. She scribbled something on it then folded it and handed it to Thomas who slipped it into his pocket. I wasn't sure what that was about. The Scroll didn't have much about him but that could only mean that he hadn't always used that name. I'd check more on that later.

"Amber, would you like to do the honors?" Brennan asked, gesturing to the wall.

"Where should we go?" I asked.

"It doesn't matter. Once where out there we can easily teleport back to the house," Thomas said.

I shrugged and tapped my key against a random name. A portal opened next to it. Shay and Thomas put on their shades and Shay gave him back his jacket. Axel didn't have to put on shades since his eyes were dark blue and could pass as natural unless someone was looking at them closely. We held hands, Thomas held the collar of Axel's shirt, and we stepped through.