The Self Appointed Mission
I was walking in a purple tower made of a precious stone. I climbed to the top where I saw the witch. She was in a long dress and turned around to look at me with a gracious yet malicious smile that was filled with nothing but evil. When looking at her I knew that any sense of anything good was absent from this woman.
Mum! Mum! Mum!
Just looking at her filled me with an irrational and overwhelming dread and I felt pain in my chest. I looked down to see blood pouring from a hole in it like a waterfall. I then looked up to see that her hands were covered in blood like gloves. In her right hand was a dagger coated with a layer of blood and in her left was my beating heart.
I woke up early in the morning feeling panicked. Too early, but despite that, my head was clear as I wiped my eyes. I sniffed as I knew that I had been crying in my sleep again. I knew that my mother was now dead. I would never see her again. She would never give me my lunch, she would never teach me how to cook, how to clean, how to get a job, how to be a wife or mother. She would never see me become a woman.
That was when I saw the white ceiling. This caused me, for a moment, to feel afraid that I was still in the labs, being experimented on. I could feel a ghost of the needles that was buried into my skin, making my mind foggy. I could hear the ghost of Doctor Leonhardt Wolfram, whispering in my ears. I could even feel the ghost of his breath. I knew that, for me, it could only have been several months but I still could not recall all that happened there.
I am safe. I am safe. I am safe! I had repeated in my head again and again. I had done this for so long that it had become second nature. I did not know why I did it nor did I fully understand why in those early hours I did not feel safe. In fact I had combed through all the books in the library, hoping that there was something in there to explain this bizarre behaviour but there was nothing there. But I found that there was no book on this topic.
Even though I knew that I should ask Aunt Blue or Uncle Haru, I felt afraid to. I was, for some reason, afraid to tell Aunt Blue all about the mutations that had developed over the years. I was even afraid that, the moment that she learnt of them then she would kick me out. Thinking that I was going to end up doing the same thing that they did.
Yet I knew that I should have told her about the deal I made with Inanis but I knew how she would react so I decided against it. She had asked me all about what happened to me since I had left, even though I told her all that I could remember, I always left that part out. However, even still, when I plucked up the courage to tell her about what happened in the laboratory, I knew that I could only tell her that. I suspected that I would never remember all that took place there.
Yet I, after three months, sat in front of Stellum. I had not been talking to it for long enough. It was guilt that had kept me from coming. Even though I knew that I would have to come eventually and what I did was the right thing, I still could not shift it. So on this day finally I did. Wanting to tell someone how I felt and get all this off my chest. Just to help me as I could feel like if I didn't do it right here and now then I would become, undoubtedly, lost then I would never be rid of this crushing weight. Yet the moment that I did I could not utter a word.
"What is it?"
I am sorry. I am sorry about all that I did.
"Do not be. You did what was right. I am the one that was at fault. I believe that I have been all this time. After all, I did not tell you about the transformation that your body was going through, despite being fully aware of them. For all of that I am dearly sorry about all that you have suffered because of me. If I had told you sooner then I know things would have been different. However I did not wish for you to be worried."
That's alright. But I needed to know. The ones that were inside of you, before me, mum and Aunt Blue, and my late uncle, are they still alive?
"I believe so…Yes! They are, I believe that I can feel their life force. Even though I was not certain of it before I am now."
Then tell me everything. I think I need to hear it from you.
"Alright, I believe that you deserve it, though I think that you ought to bring the other members of your team. They also have a right to heart this too. Especially Blue, as she is the only one aside from you that is still alive that has been inside me and travelled through the false world they my curse forced me to create to tempt you to stay."
I nodded. I then walked out and soon found all of the rest. We soon gathered around Stellum.
"I do not know much, however all I know is that something started a war between the Blue and Red colours of my race. Afternine to ten years after the war started there was a shift in the multiverse. Which caused planets, people and places to shift into different universes and that is how our planet ended up in your universe."
"Hold on, there are other universes!" Eve asked.
"Yes. There are fifty. Even though there were over nine thousand."
"Shh!" Alexander snapped. "We should not interrupt Stellem."
"Yes! You tell her!"
"That goes for you too Johanna!"
She just shrugged.
"Continue."
"Anyway. It did nothing to affect the war however, as I was born into the war and a certain battle with Inanis caused me to crash here on this planet. Where I was found by the witch that put the curse upon me. Turning me into a trap for all children."
"How many?"
"Three hundred, yet there are only seven that are alive. The rest were killed by the witches and warlocks that were the manifestations of the curse."
"So were the bad ones in Inanis also manifes-what?"
"Manifestations."
"Yeah, that!"
"It appears so."
"Right. Then I think that I want to get them out."
"What? No! You've done enough and you've only just made it back!"
"Then come with me. But I will be going."
"But-"
"Blue, I do agree with you. I don't want her to go either. However, she will go, regardless of if we like the idea or not. She is far too much like Natsu in that regard, so I don't think that there is anything we can say or do to dissuade her."
"But-"
Uncle Haru placed a hand on her clasped hands and looked her dead in the eyes. He gave her a determined look. It reminded me of the way my father looked at me when I told him I was alright even though, somehow he knew, something was wrong.
"I will go with her. I made a vow to my mother and father to look after her and that is what I will do my best to honour."
"Well in that case, I will go too!" Alexander declared. "Although, I know that I can not make up for what my father did, but I can do as much good as I can."
"Well if Alexander's going, then I'm going too!"
"And so will I!"
Johanna rolled her eyes.
"Me too!"
"My father would roll in his grave if I went with you!"
"So would mine but I think I am beyond caring what he thought."
Cho looked around and then at Uncle Haru.
"I would go, however, I think that someone needs to help keep this place clean and tidy. Also I think that you all will need food once you return."
"Well that would be very appreciated, after all I do think that I am far too old to have adventures now. So it would be good to have a little company and help. So thank you Miss Sango."
"Please, just call me Cho." She said as she smiled bashfully.
"Then we can pack something for them. In the meantime you all ought to pack some clothes for the adventure too."
With that concluded, we spent the rest of the morning packing our clothes. We all packed a torch with extra batteries in case the ones in the torch ran out. Cho and Aunt Blue all gave us five packed lunches each then we gathered around Stellum. I reached out and touched it. This was followed by the others and we were soon pulled in. I did nothing to resist.
The True World
My mind was at peace and I felt the light breeze as we fell. We flew down and once we reached the bottom, we seemed to float like we were a feather. This gave us enough time to reach out our legs and gently land on our feet. Yet I found that it was a softer landing than the other times I entered this world. I also was fully and completely aware of all that happened too. In fact the whole experience was quite calm. I was quite calm.
"That was nicer than Inanis." Commented Johanna.
"You're right."
"It's probably because Stellum is nicer than Inanis." I concluded.
I looked around for a moment and noticed that we were all in a field and I noticed that the sky was blue and the clouds were a light shade of blue, almost white. With the blades of grass the colour of the most beautiful sapphire. I could see that the endless ocean was a bright colour of emerald.
Wow, this place is beautiful!
"Thank you, Aqua. This is my true world. Not the trap world of the witch's curse. However, I will warn you, the remnant of the incarnations will try to kill you or use you to help resurrect the witch. So, please Aqua, be careful."
I don't know if I can keep that promise.
"Now, I think we need to explore this place. After all, I think that this place is not the trap that it was, which must mean that this is the true world of Stellum." I said, trying to sound clever.
"What are you on about?"
"Wherever people came to this world, it would be a trap. So the world that would be created would be one that encourages that person to stay."
"And you were able to leave here?"
"I had a reason to leave." I said as I could feel the bitter taste of nostalgia. However I did not want to focus on it so I cleared my throat. "Anyway, we need to explore this place and figure out where the other children are."
The rest nodded as they looked all around. Johanna looked at me with mild destane as she looked at Alexander.
"Then lead the way." Alexander and Uncle Haru said at the same time.
As I walked on we reached a road with well polished cobbles made of a black stone. Yet upon taking a closer look I spotted that they were made of well polished black glass. As this was the first road that we came to, I knew that we needed to follow the road. This led us to a beautiful small town. This was made up of small and beautiful huts and cottages made of black glass with small windows and a single door made of black wood and thatching.
"What is this place?"
"A town."
"Could you say anything less obvious?"
"Could you two pipe it down? Aqua, what should our next move be?"
Johanna rolled his eyes as she let out a groan.
"We'll find someone that can point us in the right direction. After all, there should be someone here the will be able to speak to us."
"Then we will split up and get as much intel as we can. We will regather in an hour. Then we will share all that we know."
"Then we will eat our lunch and after that we will travel to where the shops are. I think we will need a map of this place."
With that we all split. I knocked on the door of the closest hut. An old woman answered. She looked at me with silver grey eyes. Which was a troublesome thing to do as she struggled against her hunchback. She wore a black shawl and a cotton grey dress. She smiled at me with a pleasant smile.
"Yes dear?"
"I have a few questions. Would you care to take your time to answer them?"
She let out a chuckle.
"Sure. Come in, child."
I walked in. Inside was a single bed with a single desk next to it and a single chair. There was a blanket in the corner and a small fire in the centre with a black glass chimney that I could not help but wonder how it had not melted yet. Then again I had to remind myself that this was a world that did not need to follow the logic of the real world. Then I saw another fireplace at the other end with an old oven and hob from the Tudor era.
"Cup of tea, dear?"
Suddenly I felt thirsty.
"Sure."
She put a black kettle on the fire. She took out two mugs and put two teabags in.
"Sugar?"
"No thank you."
Personally, I prefer honey.
"Alright."
"What about honey? I like honey over sugar."
"Yes, I do too."
She smiled and she soon made the cup of tea. Then we were soon drinking the tea. I noticed that it tasted way better than any tea that I had drank since my father made it. I could not help but smile as my eyes became misty.
"So what are your questions my dear?"
"Do you know if there are any other children that claim to be from another world?"
She let out a lighthearted chuckle.
"Of course. In my time I have met many children that have. Yet none of them returned although only seven seem to have survived their little adventures." She said, slightly lightheartedly.
"Do you know where they are?"
Her face dropped as she looked at me with pity.
"No!" She sighed with pain in her eyes. "But the witch does."
I frowned.
"Witch?"
"Yes, the final witch she calls herself."
"She does? And how do I find this witch?"
She chuckled.
"Deer child! You do not want to go anywhere near her! Please, she is not the kind of person that you wish to meet. Believe me she is not like the manifestations."
I let out a deep breath as I felt my heart increase slightly. Then I took a sip from my tea which helped me feel more calm.
"What if I did not have a choice?"
"Then you really are a poor thing!"
"Then tell this poor thing, where do I find her?"
"You do not understand, you do not find the witch. She will find you. If she wants to help you, she will. If she does not,then she will not."
"What if we had ways of making her speak?"
"She has ways of hurting you that I dread that she would use."
"Then will you tell me more about her?"
"No."
"Why?"
"Too scared."
"Then what about a map of the world?"
She put down the tea and pulled one out of the draw and gave it to me.
"Would you mind if I kept it?"
"Not at all! Keep it and do not fear. You do not have to feel the need to return it. They are cheap so I can get another."
"Thank you!"
She chuckled.
"You are a sweet girl. I think that she will like you. She likes sweet girls."
I felt a shudder run down my spine
"Urm… I hope that she likes me too." I said as I finished the tea. "I hope to see you later and thank you for the tea."
I then left and met up with the rest.
"So what have you got?" Johanna jabbed.
I showed the group the map.
"Oh? And what else?" She sneered.
"Not much, though the people here seem to be afraid of some witch."
Yet as I said those words, I felt a strange ill feeling come over me. One that I somehow knew was not natural.
"Aqua? Are you alright?"
"Yeah, just feeling a bit odd that's all! Now we ought to get going. I do not think that we should be wasting time." I said as we ate our first meal and left the town. Yet as I walked on I felt tiredness flood my mind. It was a powerful tiredness that I knew was not natural.
This must be witchcraft. I concluded as I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out of my mouth.
"Are you sure that you are alright?"
"Yes. I am." I felt my mouth say.
The Witch's Deal
We travelled for a long time and I started to feel tired. As we travelled over a mile my drowsiness became greater and greater. It soon became so hard that the only thing keeping me awake was walking. So I kept on walking and walking, keeping my determined eyes on the road ahead. I made sure to put one foot in front of the other. Yet, as I walked on and on, even that became more and more useless. I could feel my eyelids drop as we walked and walked. I could even feel my head bobbing.
I clenched my fists into a ball making my nails into my palms, hoping that the pain of my nails digging into my palm would be enough to keep me awake. Yet even though it kept me awake, I knew that it would be barely enough to barely last as long as it needed to. As I continued I could feel the sleepiness becoming even more overwhelming. However the pain started to make me more and more tired. I soon felt my eyelids drop and my head bobbed like a basketball. I could feel my walking become sloppy and my feet barely left the ground. Soon they were sliding over the ground.
Come on! Wake up! Wake up! Mind, wake up, now!
No! I wanna sleep! Please, let me sleep! I need to get some sleep! So, please let me sleep!
I have no time for sleep! I need to get this all over with and done!
Sleep!
No!
Sleep!
I said, no!
Please!
No!
Please sleep!
NO!
Then I felt slightly nauseous and cold. I felt myself sweating and as we continued, my sweat increased as my heartbeat became strange and felt light in my chest. I could feel my breathing become deep and steady until it became completely silent. I soon could feel my stomach churning as my nausea became worse. Suddenly my heartbeat increased and became light. I could feel my mind becoming lighter and lighter.
What's wrong with me? Am I ill? Of all the times why now?
I placed the back of my hand to my forehead. I noticed that it was the same temperature as always. Which made me frown. After all, it did not make sense whatsoever. Why was I feeling but yet I was not ill? Was it due to the lack of sleep I had been getting? Or was it due to all that I had been through? Or was it something else? Something magical?
I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out of my mouth but nothing came out of it. I knew that this must have been witchcraft too. I felt anger and dismay fill my heart. Yet the most frustrating thing was that I could do nothing about it. I was completely trapped in my own body and there was nothing that I could do to escape. This feeling gave way to claustrophobia which made my nausea and tiredness worse.
Soon I noticed that I had a coat of sweat around my body.
I need to sleep. I know that I can't continue like this. I will faint soon. I thought as I felt my legs continue, which I knew was only being maintained by witchcraft.
So this is what real witchcraft feels like? I don't like this. I don't like this one bit!
Yet as I continued I soon noticed that the only reason that I was even continuing was witchcraft too. I was powerless in this torture and I knew it. As the day wore in and on it soon became evening. We only took a quick break for dinner. During which I felt completely awake. At this I thought that it was over and I could go on feeling completely refreshed. Yet the moment that it ended the overpowering sleepiness returned more powerful than before. It was so powerful that I was only awake by the magic alone.
So when night finally did come, we all took our places and everyone fell asleep. Yet even though I felt tired I just could not drift off to sleep. I could feel myself shaking as I felt myself crying silently at the powerlessness that I had over my own body. I knew that I should close my eyes but I could not even do that!
So when the next day came I not only felt tired, I felt ill. I know that the only remedy was sleep but I could not even get a wink. Even worse was my heartbeat was so fast it was like it was racing a cheetah!
"Are you alright?" Uncle Haru asked.
"Yes. We need to hurry. Even though I was told that time here has synchronised to the time out there I don't think that I believe it." I felt my mouth say.
Please, I don't know how, but she's controlling me! Please, see it! I need help! I need someone to help me! I need to get to sleep, I need to get myself back under control! UNCLE HARU, HELP ME!
He smiled and put a hand on my head.
"Then do not worry so much." He said as he pulled me in. "Your dad used to worry constantly about me and our parents often. Especially after moving to America. Sometimes he would worry so much he would become ill, mainly nearer to his twenties. However the only one who ever seemed to stop his worry was your mum. So try not to do the same."
"I will try not to." I lied, feeling my heart sink as I smiled sorrowfully.
We soon had our breakfast and soon walked for another day, only stopping for lunch and tea. We arrived at an inn. Suddenly I felt my feet walk to it.
"Where are you going?"
"I think that we should book the night. We have been walking for about three days now. I think we all would benefit from a good soak and sleep in a soft bed." I felt my lips say.
No! Stop! Don't follow me! This is a trap! This is the witch's trap!
"But we don't have any money from here! How can we pay for a night here?" Johanna jeered.
Yet when we were approached by the innkeeper, she looked up.
"You need not worry. Your rooms have already been paid for. Here are the keys for you." She said, giving us the keys.
We all walked to our rooms. I soon took a bath and soon cleaned myself. This helped me relax greatly. I then got out of the bath and put on a different set of clothes. Then I put the dirty set of clothes in a bag before putting it all away. I collapsed on the bed. My eyes closed immediately. Then my eyes soon opened. In front of me I saw a woman in a silk black dress with pale skin that looked very much like the witches I had killed. However, I could not make out the rest of her face.
"So you are the one that broke my spell."
"Y-yeah." I said as I tried to get up, but I found that I could only move my mouth.
"I see that you are less of a fool as all the others that I have ensnared here. Not anyone would recognize the hand of my magic that fast. I have to commend you for that!" She said as she started to stroke my back slowly, almost like a mother.
"Are you here to kill me?" I asked, my voice hollow and straining to speak through my upset.
"No. Not yet."
"Then what are you here for?"
She leaned in close to me.
"I wish to make a deal with you." She said with such a gentle voice that it caused me to miss my mother.
She even laughed like her. When I looked at her, she carried such a motherly presence that my mind thought about her and how she was now dead! She was dead and I was too late to see her. I would never see her again. I would never smell her scent. I would never feel the warmth of her hugs, that at the time I hated, but now I would give anything just to have one more. I knew that in my heart of hearts that if she offered to bring her back I would take it without a second thought.
"I will make no such thing! And stop that!" I shouted, snapping out of it.
"Shhh! You do not want to wake the others, so you?" She cooed, covering my mouth, with a playful and gentle touch that it reminded me of when my mother used to do the same when I was speaking unintentionally offensive things.
"Now the deal is, I will enchant the map to show you where the others are and I will let you find them. I will even let you leave Stellum too."
"A I re'urn?"
She laughed and moved her hand away.
"What was that dear?"
"And in return?"
"You are to simply drink my blood."
"And if I refuse?"
She smiled.
"I will make you even more of a liability to the group. Or I could bring the others in here still asleep and wake them before I kill them right in front of you, or I could make you do it? Or I could make you do worse, like torture them? Make you call my mummy and make you hurt yourself?"
"Fine, but might I ask one question first?"
"What dear!"
"Why?"
"Because you broke my spell, which took a great resource of my power away from me, I want to make you my personal plaything and maybe then my personal pet. I can not express just how much I want to see that beautiful face of yours slowly twist into nothing but scars and tears. But don't worry, that will be the last thing that I will scar. So even if you make the deal I will not make it easy for you but I will not harm you or the others if you do."
I looked aside.
She will only do that eventually but at least, I will be able to do my mission better this way. At least this way I will be able to get the others out as well. I do need to keep them safe too.
"Alright. But I would like to add to that."
"Ohh? And what is that?"
"You can do whatever you want to me and I will go with you but you must not harm any of my friends."
She smiled and kissed my cheek.
"My deer, that sounds perfect. We have a deal. Although I will hold you to that." She said as we shook.
She pulled out a knife and the next moment I drank her blood and my eyes closed. I woke the following day feeling well rested. I looked at the map to see the places that we needed to go glowing in amber.
The Witch's Tower
It took no less than a day to arrive at the base of the first place, Witch Tower. It was as tall as a large lighthouse and the width of a three bedroom house. It had eight rows of sapphire windows going in a line from above the door to the top around it. The door was made of black wood and a sapphire doorknob the shape of Stellum. With a roof covered with lapis lazuli tiles in the shape of shields like the skin of a dragon.
Beside the tower was the Roman numeral one.
Even though I felt fine and hardly hungry we knew that we all had to eat. After none of us knew that we would have a fight on our hands and we could not have that with an empty stomach. So we sat down. We took a moment to take a break to eat. We looked at our food, yet we still decided to ration the food. There was no need to get greedy. After all, I knew that we would have more people to feed.
"Why can't they ration? They're used to it!"
"No. We all do it."
"Both of you, we need to finish this food as soon as possible."
They nodded as we soon finished eating. We then approached the double doors.
"Remember, the witch will let us take the one here but she will not make it easy."
Johanna rolled her eyes.
"Right."
"Honestly, do you even have to remind us?"
"Don't let your guard down either!"
"Alright you two, remember why we are here. We can not afford a fight." Alexander snapped.
Johanna rolled her eyes as we walked in. Inside was nothing but a staircase leading up to the first floor. 1354 opened the door for us and we walked in.
The moment that I saw the claw, I ducked. I looked up to see a strange creature that had claws for nails that were thin and sharp. Instead of feet the woman shaped creature had hooves. Then I saw the fangs and my mind instantly thought about the woman-like creature Uncle Haru killed on the Fortress Of The Red Rock. Yet this one was very pale with a perfect face and light silver hair. She too wore a dress that left nothing to the imagination.
Then she started to dance, waving her arms and twisting her hips. However as she danced slowly her eyes locked onto Alexander and never left his sight. He dropped his weapons and looked at her completely in a trance. He then started to dance and dance as he got closer and closer. Johanna and Eve looked at each other wondering what was going on. 1354 and Uncle Haru looked at each other shocked. Yet I soon noticed that both 1354 and Uncle Haru were also in a trance.
Should have got his gun for him.
Yet as her claws became sharper and sharper the men came closer and closer. I knew better than to dwell upon wondering what it was. I then ran to her with the only two girls close behind. I arrived at her and threw a slash at her but she jumped before I could even land the hit. Johanna loaded an arrow and fired at her heart and it hit. She let out a scream as I threw my blade down, cutting off the head.
"What were we doing just now?"
"I don't know, nor do I care. Alexander,are you alright! You're not hurt are you?" Johanna asked, fussing over him like a parent.
"Yes I am. But there is another boy and a man here. Maybe you should check on him?"
Upon taking a closer look I noticed that there was something around her neck. I pulled it out to reveal a silver key. I pulled it off then a set of stairs appeared in front of us, continuing the stairs that led us to the first floor.
"Come on."
I then walked over to the staircase and walked to the top. I unlocked the door and walked in. The first thing that I noticed was the handsome man with a well toned body, only wearing a pair of jeans. His hair was dark and long with high cheekbones. He had jet black eyes that entranced me and the other two girls.
I could not help but feel like I wanted this man! All my being told me that. Oh how I longed to be a fully grown adult at that moment. So that I could be with him like an adult. Do things that adults would do. So I walked on and on, getting closer and closer to him.
Then Alexander and Uncle Haru ran to him. Alexander drew his sword and went in for a strike only for the man to pull out a sword and they both met. While 1354 pulled out a pair of knives and ran to the man and stabbed him in the arms. Then Uncle Haru punched the man from behind. This gave Alexander the opening to slice his head clean off.
We all snapped out of our trance. Johanna ran to Alexander and took his hand.
"Alexander saved us! Hurray for that!" She sang, jumping up and down.
"Well I could not have done it without Mr Aoshiné or 1354 over here!" He said. pulling the hand out and placing it on 1354's shoulder.
The two girls looked at him.
"Good job!" I said, patting him on his other shoulder. "I can tell that you are going to be a good and strong man when you grow up!"
"Thank you Miss." He said nervously.
Yet he looked to the side and frowned.
"What is it Jew boy?"
"Do you think I can be a fully grown up man?"
"As my father and his evil are all gone, yes. In fact I will make it my duty to make sure you become a man and find your name. I think it is the very least that someone like me can do."
He smiled.
"I would like that too."
Eve then looked at the dead man and checked his pocket and found the silver key and the next set of stairs appeared. We walked to the top. He thrust his back against the door and we all placed ourselves against the wall. Then he opened the door. Then came the sound of a loud roar. Before anyone said anything I ran in.
"Aqua!" Uncle Haru shouted as I greeted a minotaur with the key dangling from a nose ring.
I pulled out my blade and just as I thrust my blade down, I took a glance of an axe in the corner of my eye. This helped me duck but barely in time. Then I felt the fist of the minotaur dig into my gut. This winded me as my feet left the floor. I landed on my arm as I clutched my stomach coughing. I spat out blood as I got mack up.
Then Alexander ran to him and dodged the axe and the fist, only to fall when his hoof dug into his side. I was able to use this to stab the minotaur in his leg. He roared as he brought the axe down. I slid out of the way again and again.
That was when it was hit from behind with an arrow. It fell and Uncle Haru lowered the bow and walked up to the minotaur and pulled the key out of the nose.
"Are you alright?" He said as he patted my lower ribs.
"Should be. It will only leave a bruise." I admitted.
"What were you thinking?"
"To give the creature no time to put us in a trance."
"Oh."
"Can we go now?"
"Once Alexander's been seen to."
"I am fine!"
Yet Uncle Haru looked at him with a stern look as he checked him all over. He then let out a sigh.
"He will be fine."
"But-"
"Johanna! Focus!"
She bowed her head and nodded. We then walked to the top of the staircase. We thrust our backs against the wall. Uncle Haru then opened the door. He frowned as he walked in. We followed only to find that there was nothing there.
We looked around.
"Now what?"
"What are they?" Asked 1354, pointing to five Japanese characters.
"They are Japanese characters."
"What do they say?"
"Earth, wind, fire, air and spirit."
"You are keeping up with your Japanese. Good."
"And what have they got to do with all of this?"
"I do not know."
I looked around and spotted a book appearing on a desk. I walked up to it and opened it to see that it was all written in Japanese. It was a strange tale of five different characters. I then understood.
"Alexander, you go to the character of earth. Johanna, air, 1354, water. Eve, fire."
They all did and I took the place where the spirit was. But nothing happened.
"1354 we will change places." I said.
We did. Nothing.
"Aqua, you swap with me."
I walked to where the earth was. This time the tiles moved and a staircase slid out of the wall. We then heard the door at the top open. We walked up and came to another floor with nothing in. So I started to tap on the tiles but we found nothing. So we tapped the tiles until one fell. Then the middle tile moves up. As we looked up we all saw the doors above us. They opened and I noticed that there was a set of stairs leading to each of them. Then I walked to the one that was the natural flow of the stairs that we climbed.
I soon reached the top and the moment I opened the door I was hit by something. I heard the hiss and then the laugh of a woman. The first thing that I saw was the multitude of snakes protruding from the head of a woman with ice-cold beauty. Yet the moment that I knew what this creature was. I immediately closed my eyes. I felt the breeze as she dived down and drove my blade in front of me. I heard the bone chilling cry. I dared to open my eyes only to see that I stabbed too low.
"My face! You scarred my face!" She screamed as she dived at me.
This gave me the opportunity to dive out of the way and slashed to the left. This got one. Then I walked in and then another came down and I closed my eyes and then I dived to that one. I went to stab her. Then I was struck with her claws and slit my cheek. I had to bite my lip as I knew that I would have to resist opening my eyes. It then flipped my sword up and stabbed something. Then I heard it fall.
I opened my eyes.
"Did you do all this?" Eve asked.
"What of it?" I asked plucking the key. We all walked up to the last door and opened it.
Inside was a boy no older than fourteen with sandy blond hair and hazel eyes.
"Who are you?"
"Charles Hope."
"Come on. Time to get you out of here."
We soon left the tower.
The Tomb
We walked on and soon came to a graveyard. It was large and contained many gravestones. I looked at the gravestones as we passed them. There was one large tomb the size of a bungalow to the right with a large church to the left. I decided to look at the names on the gravestones.
Sky Blue
Killed In The War
In The real World
Richard Bright
Killed By The Green Witch
When He Challenged Her
Rose Right
Poisoned
Cara McBride
Drained Of Blood
Rich Anderson
Eaten By The Black Witch
Violet Scarlet
Slowly Chopped Up By
The White Witch
Vivian Branch
Drained Of Energy By
The Warlock Of The East
"Previous victims of the witches and warlocks."
All of them?
"'All of them.'"
I looked at the map, trying not to think about it, which told me that was where we should go next. We came to a large single door. On it was engraved the Roman numeral for three. I reached out my hand and opened the creaking door. I walked in and there was a set of stairs ahead of me. I walked down them and the rest followed me.
I looked back at Charles Hope. Wondering if he was alright to continue.
"It's alright my lady, I will not be a liability."
"Good, but Uncle Haru, keep an eye on him just in case."
He nodded.
I came to a small room with a strange table in the centre. I then looked around and saw that there was a door at the other end of the room. I looked at the map and suddenly it changed and showed the stairs at the base and corridor at the other end of the door. This led to two different corridors that led to two different rooms. At the end of each room was another set of stairs.
"What is this all about?"
"Must be a map of the tomb."
"Who are you?" A voice came to the right.
We looked to the right to see a small pale girl that must have been the same age as Johanna. She had grey eyes and brunette hair in old rags that had dried dung and stained with urine. That once upon a time must have been a beautiful pink and purple tudor dress that noble women would have worn. Now it was faded brown and green with a pink tint.
"Are you the next one that is trapped here?"
"Yes."
"Then we are here to get you out of here. You?"
"Elsa Isa. Are you the ones that will get me out of here?"
"Yes. Now, we need to figure out how to get you out of here."
"Then go to that table. She did something to that table." Elsa said, taking a glimpse at the table.
I nodded as I looked at it to see the symbol of a sun and moon and a star in the shape of a triangle. I then looked at the edges and spotted Roman numerals going across the edge of the round table. I walked slowly around it and spotted a metal stick pointing up. They went from one to twelve.
"What is this?" Eve asked.
"A puzzle! Have you been paying attention?"
"I know, but what is the puzzle?"
I then looked at it.
"Maybe it has something to do with time?" 1354 suggested.
"Oh!" Johanna looked down. "When does the sun rise?"
"Usually seven. She told me seven!" Elsa shouted.
We all spun then middle to slot the sun to seven. The slotted at five and the star at twelve. The door opened.
"I don't get it. Why is the star at twelve?"
"Maybe it has something to do with months too?"
"Oh! Now I do!"
We then walked to the door opposite. We walked down the long corridor that had bones of the dead as walls and it was lit by candles in a series of skulls.
"Creepy!" Eva, Elsa and Johanna said.
"Try not to focus upon it." Uncle Haru and Alexander and I said at the same time.
We walked and walked. It was a long walk and by the time that we arrived at the door we were all tired. Yet I knew better than to let myself rest in case of traps. So I opened the door and then took a rest. I then looked around and spotted a scroll in the centre of the room. I then saw the two doors, one to the left and the other to the right.
In between was a girl that looked like they were in their early teens. She had long sunshine blond hair. We could not tell the colour of her eyes as they were shut. Yet, even though she was asleep, she had white chains, chaining her to the bed that she was in. She was deathly pale and her yellow dress made her skin look white grey.
Uncle Haru walked up to her and checked her pulse.
"Her pulse is faint, but it is still there."
I then looked at her arms and saw that there were many scars covering them. I got to my feet and spotted that there was a small slip of paper in her ice cold hand. I took it out of her hand. As soon as I saw my name, I knew that it was for me.
Aqua Aoshiné
If you solve my riddle in time,
You can save her life,
Fail to do so will leave her,
dying in her strife
I then walked to the scroll.
A kingly name,
A son of a prophet,
By his kiss,
She will wake
I then read it out loud. They all frowned.
"Well I get 'a kingly name'. Yet it's the rest that I don't get." Johanna said. "After all, it can only be Alexander!"
"No. Even though my father did name me after Emperor Alexander the great, he was no form of prophet. Even though he did have Jewish blood in him."
"That's a lie!" Johanna snapped. "The Jews were our enemies! Your father said!"
"He also said that if anyone found out his bloodline then it would be the end of him. Remember he was both mad and a hypocrite. After all, he did all that he could to hide his own mother from public view and put her into a mental hospital. Mainly to make sure that you would never know his hypocrisy. Believe me the man was evil and the sooner that you get that into your head the better."
"You two, we need to stop this! We're wasting time."
"Time that none of us have. Now if it is not Alexander then who could it be?"
"Who's he?" Asked Charles and Elsa, pointing to 1354.
He looked at them with a dumb look for a moment. But then he looked down with a sorrowful look in his eyes.
"We don't know and neither does he."
"Maybe it's him that the riddle is on about?"
Johanna burst out laughing. She laughed and laughed. She clutched her stomach and curled over as she saw laughing so hard.
"As if!"
"Then we have nothing to lose if we try it. Plus there is nothing about having to try just one person." I pointed out.
He frowned for a moment.
"Oh!"
With that 1354 walked up to her and kissed her on her lips. Her eyes opened revealing bright grey eyes that were almost white.
"Him? Him?"
"Seems so."
"Who are you?"
"Merry Bird sir!" She said with the Queen's English as the chains melted. "I was told you were coming to get me out of here. She also told me that if you were able to wake me then you should be going to the right."
"When did you enter the Blue Rock?" I asked.
"In eighteen thirty seven."
She then tried to take a few steps but she was far too weak.
"Uncle Haru, I think that it would be a good idea if you carried her. I don't think that she's strong enough to walk on her own."
"Right." He said picking the girl up.
We all walked to the right door and then walked down that corridor. The only break that we took was the one for food. Which had to be rationed further. This gave Merry some strength but she was still far too weak to go on her own. We soon came to the door.
The first thing that I heard was the loud roar. It sounded like a lion's roar, but there was something off about the sound of the roar. It seemed to be of a higher pitch than a normal lion roar. I pulled out my weapons before I opened the door. I soon saw the large paw and I quickly cut it. Then dived in. That was when I spotted a giant scorpion tail strike down. Then I struck up this was followed by the lion's roar. I looked up and spotted the paw and I sliced it off before it even had the chance to hit me. Then I saw the wings.
I was so confused about what I was looking at that I left myself wide open. Then I was hit in the side of my head. I flew to the side and then felt something catch me. I was pinned to the wall and saetje lion's head with the serpent-like eyes. I was about to draw my weapon up but I soon realised that I had dropped them. I then kicked and kicked it into the stomach and it did nothing. Then Uncle Haru hit the back of its skull with an arrow. I fell as it died.
"What the Hell was that!" Johanna exclaimed.
"A manticor." Said a boy from behind.
I turned around to see a redheaded boy with dark brown eyes.
"And you are?"
"Scott Word."
I nodded as I hit his chains. Then we walked to the door. We then climbed a flight of stairs and then looked at the map to see that it had changed. Above it said.
The Dungeons
I I
The Dungeons
We were glad to leave the tomb, especially Elsa and Merry. Both seemed to enjoy the sun on their faces. After all, the moment their faces touched the rays of sun they smiled. This followed by a long sniff of the fresh air. Meanwhile the rest seemed to be unable to believe what they were seeing as their eyes darted from the field to the sky.
I wanted to let them have their moment and just enjoy the feeling of freedom. Yet despite this, I knew that we had to get to the dungeons. That was when I noticed that we were far from the graveyard. Then I spotted a castle that was in front of us. It was a small castle with three or four levels that was protected by a single drawbridge.
"That is where we are to go next."
"How do you know?"
"Because the map told me."
"Oh."
"Johanna, please refrain from asking foolish questions." Alexander spoke cooler than he intended.
She nodded as she looked aside. Her eyes suddenly rested upon me almost as if she wanted to kill me.
"Sure."
I would have commented if I had the time. However I knew that none of us did. So we walked into the castle. We were soon jumped upon by a group of men. I felt one of the men grip my wrists so tightly that I was afraid that he was going to crush them! We were pulled up and were dragged forward. I walked on, keeping quiet and my mind racing of what I was going to do next. Yet as I walked on I realised that this would lead directly to the dungeons. This meant that I should not struggle. After all, the sooner that we got to them the faster we could go.
"Tell me, Aqua, was this part of your plan?" Johanna snapped.
"No, but don't struggle. The sooner we comply, the sooner we can move on." I told her, trying to tip her off on what the plan was.
"Hur!"
"Johanna, please. We need to get this all over as soon as we can. We can not afford to delay." Alexander whispered.
At this she calmed, yet I knew that she would grow to hate me more for that. However, I could not care less for her opinion of me nor did I have the time to focus upon that. Not if we were to focus on getting into the dungeons and then getting out of them. Alexander and I were separated from the others and we were thrown into a cell and the other group in a different one. That was the opposite. We were chained to the wall far away from the door. We were both gagged after. I frowned, wondering why they did this. Yet as I thought about this I realised that the guards had identified me and Alexander as the leaders. I had read about this a while ago. This caused my stomach to drop as I remembered what would come next.
We have to get out of here before it comes to that. I can not go through that again.
I then looked around me. I looked for something, anything that would get me out of here. I looked at the stone tile below. I noticed that all of them had sealing in between them. I soon found one that did not. It was the third stone to my right foot.
I reached out my foot to get it, yet I could not quite get to it. So I looked at Alexander with my foot and I pointed to it. He looked down to where I was pointing. He nodded. He forced his foot to where it was. Yet he had to stretch as far as he could to push at the stone. I then did the same. My heart sank as it was too clear that we were far too short to reach it.
Yet I knew that one of us would be able to reach it. Then my heat sank deeper as I realised that in order to reach it, I would have to be put through a great deal of pain. I closed my eyes in dread as I forced myself on. I let out a whimper as the cuff dug painfully into my wrists. I then thrust my heel into the tile and all the cuffs opened and I flopped. Then I took out my gag. Then cupped my bleeding wrists and then rubbed my chest.
"Are you alright?" He asked, looking at the wrists.
I looked down and saw that the cuffs had not cut into anything vital.
"Will be." I said as I got up.
I looked at the wall. I looked at all of the stone bricks. I soon found that there was one that had no cement around. I pushed it, yet nothing happened. Yet I knew that this was the place to move. So I pushed harder. This did nothing. So I punched it out of sheer frustration, almost breaking my knuckles in the process. Yet as my blood trickled down into the gap and the brick fell back. Then the door opened.
Right, so all of this is about dealing as much pain as it could.
I then soon ran out. I soon noticed the guards, guarding the rest of the group. I ran to them and hit one and thrust my toe into the face of the other. They soon fell completely knocked out. I then collected the key and, with a painful hand, unlockd the door. Alexander held out the door as the others walked out. Uncle Haru loaded his bow and shot at two guards behind me.
"Keep a look out girl!"
I nodded. He looked down as he saw the blood. He gripped the palm of my hand to look at the bloody and broken knuckles. He let out a huff as he tore off a strip from his top and wrapped it around my knuckles so that the blood would not go anywhere.
I then winced slightly as I took out the map. After I turned my attention to the other cells. I soon found two twins sleeping beside each other in the next cell. They woke and looked at us with terror in their green eyes. I walked up to them and they kept away from me. I looked down and took their cuffs in my hands.
"What are your names?"
"Hansel." He said as I noticed his fiery red hair.
"Gretel." Said the girl next to him that looked almost identical.
"Like the Fairy Tale?"
"Yeah. It was Mother's favourite one."
"Then let us get out of this gingerbread house."
They let out a silent laugh as we left the dungeons. With only one more to go. I felt a smile on my face as I knew that I was looking forward to getting out of here. A was even more looking forward to getting all of this over and done with as soon as possible.
The Last One
I looked down at the map and noticed that it showed the ground floor of the castle. Then I realised that I had to get up to the top. So we arrived on the ground floor. I noticed that there were guards placed at both ends. I winced as I pulled out my sword. I pushed past the pain as I slit their throats before they even had the chance to think.
Then I spotted the rest of the soldiers. I then noticed the rest of the weapons beside the doors. I plucked them and then tossed the weapons over to them before running over to the group of soldiers. Then I bit my pil as I flicked my sword to him and he blocked my blade. I then threw out a kick to the left. This hurt as it collided with the armour. Yet I could not afford to show it. Then I noticed that it did nothing. So I dug my ankle into the foot of the other one. He jumped slightly, which gave me the opportunity and I scraped the sword and slid it up. He then ducked down. I flipped the blade down and drove it into his throat.
I then turned to the other and then was about to turn my blade to him until he pushed on. I was thrust back. I was then about to be hit by his blade. Yet I blocked just in time. He went to strike me again and again and again. I let myself step further and further back. Then was when he went to stab me, this was the moment that I had been waiting for. I then whacked the blade aside and then flicked the blade into the head to the soldier. He soon fell.
I then spotted Uncle Haru loaded his bow and fired shot after shot at each soldier not even missing once. Then a soldier ran at him. He went to strike down.
"Look out!" I shouted.
He looked back and drew an arrow and dug it into his throat. Then he pulled it out and loaded it. He fired beside me. I looked to see a soldier fall beside me.
"You look out!"
I smiled as I thrust over to the right. I blocked another soldier just in time. I then dug my heel in and another dropped. I then moved onto the next, which had another shield. I kicked the shield to the side and drew in before I stabbed. Then I moved to the side and noticed the next one was an archer. I then ran on zigzagging to ensure that he could not aim. He then fired his first shot which missed. I dew closer and closer. He fired his next shot which struck by skimming my right thigh. Yet then I drew in close enough to cut his head off.
We then reached the other end of the floor, we ran to the stairs. Then the doors of the ground floor closed behind us. I then looked back and continued to see if we were all here. Seeing that we all were I ran on. I looked at the map and it changed into the map of the first floor. When we arrived I noticed that none was there.
I let out a sigh of relief. We walked around the floor and spotted that there were three keyholes to the door that would lead upwards. The second thing that I noticed was that there was no doorknob on the door. So we all had to split up and searched all the rooms and we soon found the keys. We soon unlocked all the locks. Yet we could not open the door. This meant that we would have to search for the door knob. We raced to all the rooms and checked all the books just in case one of them was a secret box. Then I found it, it was a beautiful crystal door knob. I grabbed it and then raced to the door and the moment I screwed it in, the door vanished!
"Got it!"
We all gathered and we ran on. I looked at the map again and noticed with some relief that the next stop was the top floor. When we came to the top, I noticed that there was a door ahead. It had no keyhole or door knob. Which told me that there had to be another way to open the door. I then looked at the map.
I heard a few tinging noises coming from the other end of the door. This told me that there would be another fight on our hands. Yet I had no time to dwell upon that as I saw words appear on the right hand side of the map.
My beauty is known,
My guard pierces the hand,
In the garden I am sowen,
I have many heads I command,
In the light I wake,
In the dark I close,
My heads many take,
In a woman's hair
Or gentleman's pocket
I am worn
"What does that mean?"
1354 and Elsa looked at the riddle.
"Sown…beauty known…"
"A flower!" He said.
"What guard pierces the hand and has many heads at their command?"
"A thorn! A flower that has a thorn!"
Johanna frowned.
"What?"
Then her eyes lit up!
"Oh! A rose!"
Suddenly the door vanished revealing seven knights and a king behind them.
"You go for the knights. I'll go for the king." I said as I raced in before they could even argue.
Johanna and Eve raced to the left two. Meanwhile Alexander and 1354 dived to the two on the right. He looked at Merry and at the knights. Uncle Haru then gently put Merry down and looked at the others. He then looked at me for a moment then at the ones we had just rescued.
"Can you fight?"
"I can!" Said Scott as he took a blade.
"And so can I!" Declared Charles Hope as he took his. "Although I do have to admit that I am out of practice."
"Good enough!"
They then dived to the three ahead. I was about to be blocked by them until Uncle Haru hit them to the side. Then with the help of Charles and Scott gave me an opening. I soon ran to the king. He drew his blade down and I blocked. I then flicked the other way and he thrust his sword to the right. Then I flicked it to the left and he blocked it. I swung to the right hand, he ducked and drew his blade up and I spun to dodge and flicked my blade out, like a spinning top with a blade flicking out of it. Then I had to stop to stave off any dizziness. He then drew his blade down and I blocked. He slashed to the left and I blocked. He thrust his blade up. I dodged and flicked my blade up and I then went to slice his throat, until I caught sight of the blade on my left. This forces me to act quickly and block it, putting all my power into doing so. Then I swung to the right with all my power to hit the blade out of my sight. This gave me the opening. I then quickly sliced the throat and this time I dug in. He fell back.
I looked to the rest of my team to see that they had already taken care of their knights. I looked down at the map and spotted that it was the room at the far end of the castle. Despite the pain and tiredness I ran. I soon reached the room and opened it. Inside was a boy that looked like King Henry The Eighth. Just slim. Very slim.
"Who are you?"
"Henry Tudor The Ninth."
My eyes widened.
"Do you want to get out?"
"Yes I would."
When the rest of us arrived we were all soon pulled back to the real world.
The Resurrection Of The Witch
After Aunt Blue and Cho saw to all our injuries we all walked throughout the mansion and we all found a good bedroom for everyone. Then made sure that we all had a good wash as Cho and Uncle Haru put our clothes into the laundry Cho attended to us girls clothes and Uncle Haru attended to the boys. We were given a pair of silk blue and red pyjamas. As I had noticed that I was getting too big for my blue pyjamas they were passed on to Merry, which looked alot less pale and had a bit of colour on her. I was then given a pair of purple silk pyjamas.
I then went to my bedroom after saying good night to everyone. I had barely touched the bed before I felt my mind become unnervingly quiet. Then, after everyone was in bed and fast asleep, I felt my body move on its own. Almost like I was sleepwalking but I was completely awake. I then straightened my back and left the room. I walked down the large empty corridor with nothing but the echo of my footsteps filling it. Then I walked down the stairs. I opened the doors that led to Stellum and Inanis's room. I smiled.
Congratulations, you're free from the curse.
"All, thanks to you!"
I shuddered slightly.
"What?"
Sorry, just still getting used to your voice.
"Then get used to it girl!"
I will try.
But now one thing-
Then as I walked up to them my body became warmer and warmer. Then, when I walked in between them my body felt hot. I then felt my body become hotter and hotter. I felt like I was ill as my body became covered in sweat. Yet I became hotter and hotter until it felt like my soul was in the middle of an inferno! Yet it somehow became worse and worse. Soon I felt like I was turning into a sun.
Then both rocks started to glow. I tried to close my eyes but I could not. Their light became brighter and brighter until it became blinding. Yet they still became lighter! I knew that I had to try harder to close my eyes or the brightness would blind me. I knew that it could have led to permanent damage to my sight. However I could not! I could not move a muscle!
Then a fire erupted from them, one was blue and the other was scarlet. Then the fire came at me, like there were two invisible dragons breathing fire at me. With such ferocity I was terrified that I was going to turn to ashes. I was then hit by the fire and soon I felt like I was in the centre of a volcano! I felt my sweat evaporating as soon as it was replaced.
I could not cry out regardless of how much pain I was in. Yet despite this painful experience of being cooked alive I saw that my body was not showing any signs of this.
Then I felt my arm being raised like I was a puppet on a set of strings. Then my thumb nail dug deep into my fingertip. I felt a stinging pain as the blood dropped from my finger. It fell and hit the ground. It did not stop there, as more and more blood drops fel. It did not stop until there was a small puddle of blood on the floor. Then the puddle of blood rose up and with the flash of light faded.
My body collapsed. When I landed I found that I was in the room. My body was left twitching uncontrollably. I panted as I became covered in sweat. My mind became hazy and tired. However, I knew that I was not going to get a decent sleep for a long time.
I looked down with a half blinded and blurry vision to see a woman with two roses. Which she struck together and a dress appeared made of scarlet roses. Which covered her body. She smiled at me and threw her hand up. When I looked out of the window I spotted that the sky was somehow purple. I looked back at her wondering what was going on.
"There, that should stop them from escaping." She said in an ice cold voice. "Now I am glad we have a moment alone, because I want to do so, so much to you."
I looked in horror. She let out a chuckle as she crouched and placed a hand on my head.
"But do not worry, it will not be too crude!"
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