Hidden (Marchwood Vampire Series #1) by Shalini Boland

strewn around.’
    ‘ Did they touch any of the ‘rubbish’?’ Didier
asked.
    ‘ No, no,’ Isik reassured. ‘We were given strict instructions
to touch nothing. They did not even set foot on the ground, but
remained tied to the rope and swung the lantern around to see in
the dark.’
    ‘ And do you know if is it just the one cavern, or are there
others?’
    ‘ It appears to be just one as far as we can tell, but maybe
there are more. I am very interested to see what it is all
about.’
    ‘ As are we all,’ Harold said.
    ‘ What other things have you guarded?’ Freddie
interrupted.
    ‘ We protect whatever our government asks us to
protect.’
    ‘ Have you ever had to defend yourselves from
bandits?’
    ‘ Many times.’
    ‘ This is not such good conversation for the table, Freddie,’
Victoria said. ‘I do apologise for my son.’
    ‘ Not at all,’ Isik replied. ‘It is good to be inquisitive.
This is how we learn, no?’
    ‘ Why are the locals scared of the cavern?’ Jacques
asked.
    ‘ Oh, you have heard of this already? I planned to bring this
up with your father later.’
    ‘ Can you tell us now?’
    ‘ You have to understand this is a superstitious place,’ Isik
said. ‘The local people have grown up with tales passed down
through generations. Tales which they believe to be absolutely
true.’
    ‘ What tales?’ Jacques and Freddie asked in unison.
    Alexandre saw
his mother put her arm around Isobel. Dusk spiralled into night and
thousands of stars began to pierce their way through the velvet
sky.
    ‘ I do not wish to scare you unnecessarily,’ Isik
said.
    ‘ We are not superstitious,’ Harold said. ‘So we will not be
scared.’
    Alexandre was
intrigued. Isik and his men were here and so they obviously did not
believe in the tales, but nonetheless it did give one a thrill to
hear about it.
    ‘ Here in Cappadocia, they have different ways and different
beliefs. There is a legend that has been part of local folklore for
centuries. It tells of an ancient civilisation who built a vast
city. A city like no other. It was built below the earth, a huge
place accommodating thousands.’
    ‘ Do you think this is what has been discovered now?’
Alexandre’s father asked.
    ‘ Me?’ Isik asked. ‘I do not know. I am no expert. All I have
seen is an underground chamber.’
    ‘ So why are the locals so worried? The discovery of an
underground city from a legend would surely be a reason for
excitement and curiosity. Although I did hear some rumour of a
curse.’
    ‘ Well,’ Isik seemed hesitant to continue. All eyes were on
him. ‘It is just … I do not wish to alarm the
womenfolk.’
    ‘ Thank you for your concern,’ Victoria said. ‘But we are used
to hearing superstitions, curses and the like. It comes with the
territory. Whenever we unearth ancient burial sites, tombs and
religious relics there is always some element of local
opposition.’
    ‘ Forgive me, Madam,’ Isik continued. ‘But this is more than
local opposition. This is pure fear.’
    ‘ Fear of what?’ Freddie interrupted. ‘Do tell us, the suspense
is too much.’
    ‘ Very well. It will sound a little far-fetched to you, but the
people here take it very seriously.’ Isik paused and looked around
at everybody before continuing. ‘It is said the city was built by
beings that were … not human.’
    ‘ Gosh!’ exclaimed Freddie. ‘You mean beings from the
stars?’
    ‘ It is said the city was governed by ancient gods - demons. A
city built on fear and death. That if it is uncovered again, it
will bring down the wrath of these evil creatures on all our heads
and death and destruction will follow.’
    ‘ Oh! Oh!’ Isobel clapped her hands over her ears. ‘I do not
wish to hear any more. Maman, I do not wish to be here. I want to
return home. This place is cursed and it is not worth taking the
risk ...’
    ‘ Isobel,’ her mother pulled her close and kissed her cheek.
‘It is just superstition. Whenever we go to