Trifariam, The Lost Codex (2012) Read Online Free PDF Page A

and fro, he saw that it glimmered strangely as he brought it closer to the fire. How could this be possible if it was completely covered in soot? He carefully inspected the dustpan, cleaning it with the old cloth he had used to tie up the wood. His body suddenly froze when he made out a golden inscription on one of its faces.
    My God! It can’t be! But the engraving left no room for doubt. It was a triangle with a small circle in the middle and a jagged line which split it in half, running from top to bottom. Completely taken aback, he remembered the story the young man had related to the group of tourists in the museum that very morning: All the pieces were said to be marked with a seal, a strange symbol, perhaps the coat of arms of a powerful family. At that moment, his eyes were drawn to the chimney. He couldn’t possibly believe that such a ridiculous story could be true.
    He gently touched the chimney, running his fingertips over the mantelpiece, examining it carefully. He was looking for something unusual, some kind of engraving, and at last he was able to make it out. In the middle of the marble, almost completely covered by dust and impossible to see at first, was carved the same symbol as on the dustpan.
    He stepped back a few feet until he bumped into one of the sofas. He was completely shaken. His body trembled at the thought that Michelangelo could have been the expert hand behind those engravings.
    For a few seconds all his college years flashed before his eyes, making him realize that he had never felt as satisfied as he did at that precise moment.
    If the story was true, he would find a secret compartment hidden behind the symbol. But… what about the chest in the story? He glanced around, looking for something unusual. He found a kind of ottoman below the only painting which hung in that room, and which had until then escaped his attention. It seemed old and although it had lost a lot of its color, it had been kept in good condition. It could have been the chest in the story, but it didn’t have any lock. For a moment he thought about what could be inside it, but it was extremely heavy and he couldn’t lift it even a fraction of an inch. Before giving in and leaving it alone, he dragged it a couple of inches away from the wall, just enough to see the rear side. When he realized that there was a small lock which lay hidden on the back side, he was completely overcome with excitement.
    Everything else fell away - his problems at work, his divorce - and an inner energy sprang to life. He stood just in front of the painting, his eyes flitting blankly between the chimney and his latest discovery. There’s a secret compartment inside, he reminded himself over and over again. The idea of destroying the chimney breast did not fill him with joy. How could he explain to the owner why he had smashed it to smithereens? They would think he was crazy, and have to have a new one fitted. But on the other hand… what if the story was true? Would it be worth the risk?
    He tried not to think about it and searched for something sharp with which he could easily break it. There was a glint of determination in his eyes. When he couldn’t find anything, he ran down to the cellar and opened the toolbox he had seen the night before when he was checking out the house. He grabbed the first steel-tipped hammer he found and resolutely moved towards the chimney.
    Three violent but well-aimed blows were enough to crack and break the marble which, on first inspection, seemed to be made from one singular piece. However, when the mantelpiece fell to the ground it revealed a small secret compartment which lay about five inches inside the chimney. As it was too dark to make anything out, he inserted his hand until he felt something and pulled it out.
    It was an old wooden box with a symbol etched on the front. James couldn’t help but smile when he found a golden key inside. It was untouched by dust, and they key glimmered in the