It was 12:35 in the morning and they haven't found anything yet, but at least their was little progress.
Hannah used a spell to bring down every supernatural books in the library and it was a lot like over a hundred. It surprised Mari that a community library had so many books about it.
They learnt more on other creatures, their every ability and weakness it was an interesting experience, if you don't count the fact that Cleo and Liv kept drifting off to sleep making Mari to wake them up every minute.
With a tired sigh Hannah brought out two gigantic books one was pure golden and one was really black "I saved the best for the last", she said dusting her hands.
Hearing the words from Hannah's mouth Cleo became fully awake and squinted her eyes at the two gigantic books in the middle of all the other books they have been going through.
"You saved the best for last", asked Cleo glaring at her.
"Yeah", Hannah said unsurely looking at Cleo.
"So your telling me you saw two gigantic books with attractive colours and you saved it for last. It's literally supposed to be the first thing to search!", said Cleo "we spent hours for this", she added annoyed.
"Well basically you were sleeping", said Liv.
"We were both sleeping", Cleo said with gritted teeth glaring at Liv. Sighing she said, "what am saying is those books should have been the first thing to be opened"
"Am sorry, it slipped my mind", Hannah said sheepishly.
"Well since we're kind of on good terms, can we open the books now", Mari said which they all nodded.
Standing up they gathered round the two books for a better view, Mari opened it and they started fliping through it. These books were more broad on supernaturals but just like every other of the books they've opened, whenever they reach a page concerning the royals, the part looked ripped off like someone did it on purpose tearing everything concerning them so no one can ever know about it.
"It's just like the rest, it's blank",said Hannah her voiced laced with disappointment.
"Someone did this on purpose and whoever did, definitely has a conspiracy", said Mari.
"Am betting my money on Jason's mother", said Cleo raising her hand.
"Seriously Cleo", Mari said
"What she's a witch....
"Ahem am also a witch", said Hannah cutting her off.
"Your the good kind but her I have serious doubts even the mer creatures also confirmed it", said Cleo.
"Let's not place names on it we aren't sure yet so.....
"Oh am definitely sure alright", said Cleo cutting Mari off and at the same time gaining a glare from her.
"Sorry you may continue"
"I guess that's all for today it's almost 1 am and we have school tomorrow, we'll continue our search some other time if that's ok with you guys", said Mari and they all nodded.
"Ok time to put back this books to their respective place", said Hannah looking at the hundreds of books littered everywhere.
Hannah started using her powers to put the books back to their respective shelves and during the process a paper fell from one of the big books. Immediately everyone stopped what they were doing including Hannah making the books who haven't gotten into their shelves to drop on the ground with a loud thud. They looked at the paper then to one another and back to the paper.
"Oooh it's about to get really interesting here", said Liv with a mischievous grin. Cleo bent to pick up the folded piece of paper, opening it they gathered round her to read what's in it. Written with a neat cursive handwriting it read:
If you want to know more about the royals look for William Benjamin he has all the answers your looking for...he always does.
They all stared at the paper and reread it again.
"Who would have left this note her and who's William Benjamin", asked Liv.
"I have no idea but his really important to us right now", said Mari then turned to Hannah "please could you bring the books related to William Benjamin", she said to which Hannah nodded.
After a minute or two in silence with only the sounds heard from Hannah's magic.
She stopped then looked at her friends "I can't seem to find it but I felt something strong somewhere in this library", Hannah said and started moving round touching and feeling books and walls.
She finally reached a spot and turned to her friends "right here I feel something", she said and kept on touching finally she raised a book and a clicking sound was made. They all turned to the direction of the sound at the wall were a small square was carved out, part of it was pushed inside. It wasn't a secret room or passage, no far from it. It was like any other normal safe but hidden in the walls, Hannah went towards to see what was in it.
"It's just a file", said Hannah picking the file up, dusting it and studying it.
"I doubt anything hidden in the walls is considered as 'just'", said Liv with raised eyebrow making Hannah roll her eyes.
"Huh weird name", muttered Hannah staring at the file.
"What does it say", asked Mari walking to her.
"It says 'dead and alive".
"Dead and alive", Mari whispered trying to decipher the name.
"That's definitely a weird name", said Cleo.
They opened the file and saw list of names, date of birth, address, what creature they are and some had death day.
"Woah", Cleo whispered awe struck "these are literally the names of like every supernatural who was has ever been born".
"Right from creation ...1455", whispered Mari.
"Search for William Benjamin", said Liv.
After some minutes Hannah said, "Ok...here I found it...William John Benjamin, the first keeper...
"Keeper...was that", asked Liv who was as confused as the rest of them except Cleo.
"I hardly here of them probably because they are rare, but just like my father once told me, there power is to hold every secret in the supernatural world. If I could remember they are usually entrusted with a book which they protect with their lives", said Cleo.
"Check where we can find him", asked Liv.
"234 Evelyn street", said Hannah with a grim expression.
"I know that expression tell us what's wrong", asked mari.
"The problem is William John Benjamin was born 1537 and died 1625, that's like 500 years ago. He died shortly after the great war of 1605, was murdered in cold blood".
"Ok that's a really big problem now", said Liv.
"Check if there are any keepers in there, the one that are alive most importantly", said Mari
"But the paper said we should ask William Benjamin", said Liv.
"Well we can't ask someone who is dead can we", said Hannah.
"Yeah your right", said Liv murmured.
Cleo gasped, "I remember something... something my father said of the keepers. He said why the keepers are rare is because once one is born he or she has to die at their time before another one is born".
"What the hell does that mean", asked Hannah.
"According to what I can vaguely remember it means that every keeper dies with the secrets inside his or book and when a new keeper is born he or she carries on from the last secret", Cleo said. "The point is that, even we eventually find one that's alive right now they won't have the secrets were looking for cause they are in the present and what we're looking for is in the past", she added.
"Even without knowing that there is no way we could find another keeper this present time, in the sense that William Benjamin was the first and last keeper to ever live", said Hannah.
"But Cleo said..." stuttered Liv
"What she said is true but what's written under his description is that Since William John Benjamin was murdered, it means it was never his time and so because of that no other keeper was ever born", said Hannah.
"I guess then girls.....we have to go to the graveyard", said Mari.
"Wait... What", stuttered Cleo in complete in shock.
"Why the graveyard", asked liv.
"Because if what Cleo father said was true it means he died with the book", said Mari.
"How can we be so sure, how can someone die with a book. Most importantly whoever killed him shouldn't him or her have taken the book", asked Hannah.
"You can't separate a keeper from his book no matter how much you try, you can kill them but you can't take away or destroy their book, I do not know why but I think there is a really strong bond protecting it".
"Then how do you expect us to take his book then", asked Mari
"I have no idea but we have to try", said Hannah.
"Just to be sure are we actually going to the graveyard", asked Liv.
"Not just any graveyard the supernatural graveyard", said Mari.
"What, you scared", teased Hannah.
"Pfft ....of course not", said Liv putting on a bold front with folded arms.
~~~~~~~~
"We're going to die, were going to die, were going to die!", were the words coming from Liv's mouth for the past five minutes they've been standing outside the giant gate for all supernaturals. It was well hidden in the mist and close to the north gate so humans won't notice it's existence.
"Oh shut up will you my ears are bleeding from your stupid mantra", said Hannah shooting daggers at the back of Liv's head who seemed oblivious.
"Gosh it's cold here", said Cleo warming herself up they all wore sweaters since they were going towards the north gate. Even with that they were still freezing.
"We're close to the north gate that's why", said Mari who was also shivering.
"Alright let's be fast and done with this....Liv", said Hannah.
"What!... I said I am not scared".
Hannah rolled her eyes at that "heat us up with your magic will you", she said and Liv did just that.
"Ah that's much better, now we have business to attend to", said Cleo, turning on her heels she marched up to the gate and opened it. The gate made a loud creepy croaking sound as it opened, Cleo looked back at her friends and beckoned them to enter with the jerk of her head.
"Ok am scared", whispered Liv.
"Oh my! we had no idea", Hannah said sarcastically and entered into the graveyard.
They all entered into the graveyard and looked round, everywhere was covered with mist making it had to see. Except from the occasional owl sounds, bat squeaking and cricket sounds, it was quiet.
"It's so quiet in here", Liv said.
"Is a graveyard for a reason", hissed Hannah, snapping her fingers she produced a flame torch to illuminate the graveyard a little.
"Shall we", asked Mari and they all nodded.
~~~~~~~~
They went round searching for the grave stone with the name William John Benjamin to which they were unsuccessful at.
"Guys I think we're going at it the wrong way", said Mari.
"How so", asked Cleo.
"If William died in the 1600s that means that his gravestone should be really old and right now we've been going round newly made graveyards of 10 to 30 years ago".
"So what your saying is you want us to go down there", Liv asked nervously looking up towards the older graveyard that was two miles away from them, it was the most scariest part of the graveyard since it has been abandoned from cleaning and visiting.
"I guess", shrugged Mari.
"Yep were so dead", Liv said.
They walked up towards the older gravestones, the area was much more quiet. After ten minutes of searching they finally found his stone. It was really old obviously, grasses grew on top and around it, cobwebs everywhere with crawling insects and part of the top of the headstone was chopped off. And there it was at the middle of the ancient stone the name William John Benjamin 1537-1625 written on it.
"So he was a priest that's interesting ", said Cleo "and kinda make sense", she added.
"Shovels anyone", asked Liv holding four shovels.
"I guess someone isn't scared anymore", Hannah said with a smirk.
"Write now am bursting with adrenaline to see what the hell is six feet underneath here".
After about an hour of digging, they finally hit something hard. Removing the remaining sand covering the coffin they tried opening it.
"Oh my goodness were so going to jail", cried Liv watching her friends try to open the casket.
"And she is scared again", sighed Hannah.
"Can't you or Liv use your powers to open the coffin, am really weak right now", asked Mari.
"I've tried, it won't budge", said Hannah.
"Don't worry I got this", Cleo said kissing her biceps she went over and tried to open it. They all made way for her to do her thing.
"Do you need help", asked Mari.
"No am good".
"You sure".
"Yep", she said. By now her veins were already bulging out, with one final thug she opened the lid then recoiled back from the force.
"Finally", Cleo said panting on the floor. They all looked inside and at the same time said "Ewwww".
"I mean is not that bad for a five hundred and something years old corpse right", said Mari covering her nose.
"I guess", said Liv with a shrug.
"Ok now where is that damn book", said Cleo breathing heavily. She stood arms akimbo and fixed her gaze to the opened coffin.