As the morning light grew brighter, I stood on the stone steps of the manor house, filled with uneasiness. Last night's experience at the altar was like an unawakened nightmare, and the cold power still seemed to wander inside me. I knew I had to move on, even if the road ahead was unknown, to uncover my family's secrets.
"You don't look well." The old housekeeper's voice interrupted my meditation.
I turned around and forced a smile. "Just didn't sleep well last night."
He nodded, a twinkle of concern in his eyes: "There are things in the manor that we cannot understand. Are you really determined to continue exploring?"
"I had no choice." I answered, knowing that it wasn't just for me, it was for the whole family.
The old housekeeper was silent for a moment, then handed me a key. 'Here is the key to the oldest part of the house. There may be the answer you are looking for.'
I took the key and felt its weight, as if it carried the dust of history. "Thank you." 'I whispered.
I stepped onto the secluded path that led to the depths of the house, and the trees on either side seemed to whisper, bearing witness to the rise and fall of the house, as well as to its hidden secrets. My footsteps echoed on the stony road, each step like an inquiry into the past.
As I went deeper and deeper, the light around me grew darker and darker, as if sunlight could not penetrate this ancient land. I opened the ancient door. It creaked open, and a damp smell came over my face.
I walked into this dusty room with old portraits on the walls, people with deep eyes, as if they were telling their stories. I walked over to a portrait of a woman in ancient dress, with seemingly endless secrets hidden in her eyes.
'Who is she? I asked quietly.
The old housekeeper followed me. His voice was deep. "That is your great-great-grandmother. She is said to be a powerful witch."
I was surprised, witch? The family's secrets are deeper than I thought. I started looking around the room for clues, hoping to find something about my great-great-grandmother.
I found an old grimoire on the shelf, the pages yellowed, but the symbols were still legible. I opened the book and found records of ancient spells and rituals.
"What is this? I asked.
The old keeper frowned: "This is the family's forbidden book, which is said to contain some dangerous magic."
I felt an urge to try these magic, perhaps they would help me uncover the secrets of my family. But I was afraid, too, that all this magic would make me lose control.
"You'd better not touch the magic." The old housekeeper warned.
I closed the book, conflicted. I knew he was right, but I also knew I had to find answers.
Just then I heard a faint sound that seemed to be coming from the other side of the room. I put down my book and walked over cautiously.
The voice grew clearer and clearer, and I came to a small door behind which something seemed to be whispering. I took a deep breath and opened the door.
Behind the door was a secret room filled with strange instruments and books. In the middle of the room, there was a huge crystal ball, which radiated a faint light.
"What is this? I asked.
The old housekeeper's face turned pale: "This is the family's divination room, which is said to be able to foresee the future."
I walked up to the crystal ball and my hand involuntarily reached for it. The moment I touched the crystal ball, I saw a picture of darkness, and in the darkness, a pair of eyes were watching me.
'No! I screamed and stepped back. The light from the crystal ball faded, but the fear in my heart grew stronger.
"We have to get out of here." The old housekeeper's voice trembled.
I nodded, and I knew that the secrets of this estate were even more terrible than I had imagined. But I also knew that I couldn't give up, that I had to uncover these secrets.
We hurried out of the chamber and back to the main building of the estate. The sun shines on my face through the window, but I can't feel the slightest warmth.
"I need time to sort through this information." I said to the old housekeeper.
He nodded, turned and left the room, leaving me alone in silence to contemplate.
I sat down at my desk and began to sort through the clues I had found. I knew that these clues were the key to unlocking the family secret, but I was also afraid that these secrets would lead me deeper into darkness.
I took a deep breath and began to read those old books and diaries. I know that no matter how many unknowns and dangers lie ahead, I will face them bravely, because this is my family and my destiny.
I leafed through the dusty diaries, each page recording the life of the family members, their joys and sorrows, and those unknown secrets. I tried to find some clue, some clue that would explain my current situation.
In an old diary, I found an entry about my great-great-grandmother: "She had the power to see the future, but this power also brought her endless pain." She predicted the family disaster, but no one believed her."
I was surprised, did I inherit not only the family lineage, but also this ability to predict the future? I remembered what I saw in the crystal ball, the eyes, the darkness, was that the family's disaster?
I kept scrolling through the diary, trying to find more clues. In a yellowed grimoire, I found a passage about the family line: "In our blood flows an ancient power that can protect us or destroy us."
A wave of fear rose in my heart. Could it be that this cold power inside me was the power in my family blood? I thought of the power at the altar that seemed to call me and control me.
I closed the book, filled with doubt and fear. I knew I had to find the answer or I might never get rid of this curse.
I got up and decided to go to the forbidden place again. I knew that family secrets were hidden there, and that maybe it was the only place I could find the answers.
I passed through the back door of the manor, and once more took the dark path to the forbidden land. The trees swayed in the wind, as if to warn me not to move forward. But I didn't look back. I knew I had to face this secret, no matter where it took me.
I came to the entrance of the forbidden place, and the ruined altar still stood there, as if waiting for me. I took a deep breath and walked up to the altar.
The symbols on the altar glistened faintly in the moonlight, and I felt a surge of power. I closed my eyes and tried to communicate with the force.
"Tell me your secret." 'I whispered.
Suddenly, a powerful force rushed through my body and I felt myself being pulled into a dark space. There, I saw the family's past and saw the forgotten secrets.
I saw great-great-grandmother, standing on the altar with a glowing dagger in her hand. Her eyes were fixed, as if she were performing some kind of ritual. I saw the devastation of the family, the cursed souls.
"You have to stop this." A voice rang in my ear.
I opened my eyes and found myself still standing on the altar, the moon shining on my face. I knew I had to find a way to stop the disaster, or the curse of the family would never be lifted.
I got up and decided to return to the farm and continue my research. I knew that time was running out and I had to find out soon.
I crossed the forbidden land and returned to the manor. The sun shines on my face through the window, but I can't feel the slightest warmth. I know there are many secrets hidden in this estate, and I have only just begun to uncover the tip of the iceberg.
I took a deep breath and took firm steps. No matter how many unknowns and dangers lie ahead, I will face them bravely, for this is my family and my destiny.