RMW
Chapter Twenty
Horrible Hexing Hag
~SV~
Blackstone Castle’s Front Gate, 4:30 AM, 677, 28th, October
Donatello wishes he took Sidonia and left, before this dark turn of events. He faces Captain Tik, who relishes is opportunity to mock him, “Oh, I forgot to mention, the old woman asked for you! Do you still think you are the smartest one here? Your instincts got you tricked by a little old lady! Now, how stupid do you feel?” Huffing, Donatello replies, “At least I never trusted, you!”
Tik scoffs, “Oh, and all of the Human Guards were given orders to grab you so their Master can kill you.” Donatello replies, “I had guessed you lied, about removing his power over them.” Tik smirks, “Wrong again. I removed half of it.” Tik adds, “They are supposed to grab Sidonia too; I made sure they will never touch her.” Donatello loudly mocks, “I doubt your attempt to remove it worked. I have seen your lack of power bars.” The Guards gasp.
Sidonia’s Guard tells all, “Instead of sleeping, you spend your days spying on the Princess! You do not have the power to defeat Kolo’s glamour!” The Vampire Guards give distrusting looks to Tik. Their Captain fumes, out of fear he is right, “Bloody do-gooder, I will piss on your grave, before I allow you to have my position and the Princess, or make all of this our fault. My lack of bars is because I saved the Princess’s life, on Skull Island! I will make sure, you do not get any of us killed, by his Lord Hind-ass!”
~*~
Sidonia’s Bedroom, 4:30 AM, 677, 28th, October
The Oracle’s vision of her past continues. The guards at the North Gate look at the Queen with disbelief, they are bothered by Samala’s decision to enter the forest. One sees the terror in Sidonia’s eyes, he bravely speaks up, “My Queen, it is safer to picnic in the garden.” Samala rebukes him into a dark silence, “You dare to tell me where we can picnic? The Princess is tired of playing hide and seek in the old garden, we are bored of those hiding places,”
The young girl is shaking her head at them to say it is a lie, yet she sees that no one can help her. Sidonia asks the Guard who spoke up, “Is my father here?” He shrugs, unlatching the gate, he pushes it open, afraid to say anything more. The Queen mocks her daughter as she pulls the Princess into the Black Forest, “You should know by now he is rarely awake when the sun is up, let alone walking around. Even then, he does not leave the Castle until night.”
The Princess frowns, as she has seen her father during the day, yet realizes she has not seen him outside of the Castle, until after sundown, unless it is cloudy. Her mother adds, “Do you really think your father will make time for you?” The girl seeks anything unusual that can help her recall her way home, however too many of the large dark barked trees are oddly shaped. Looking up, she frets at how hard it is to see the sun through the many leaves and branches.
Tripping Sidonia pulls hard against her mother’s hand to keep from falling. Samala quickly lets go, and pulls out of her grip, so her daughter falls to the ground. Sniffling Sidonia stands up, lifting her dress, as Queen Samala views the blood on her shin, she taunts her, “Wicked Girl you should have been watching your feet, now you got yourself dirty.” Sidonia offers, “I can go home and change.” The Queen glares and smirks, “No.”
As Samala pulls her back into walking, she says, “You earned your punishment, and will have to continue to look like a filthy Rambler.” The girl feels the insult is a lie. Sidonia wonders who these unfortunate people are and why her mum hates them so much. When Samala sees the accusation in her child’s eyes and thoughts, guilt causes her to try to justify it. She coldly taunts her daughter, “Anyone who betrays me deserves worse!”
Sidonia protests, “What does ‘betrays’ mean? Tell me. I promise I will not betrays you. I want to be happy.” Her mother scoffs, “Stupid girl, it is ‘betray you’, not betrays. All my efforts to bring you up right have been a waste of my time, as you remain a naughty child. How can you prevent what you have already begun?” Sidonia gasps, “What did I do?” Samala scoffs, “Have you already forgotten that you nearly caused mine and Viktor’s deaths?”
Trying to recall this dark act, Sidonia shakes her head asking, “Why is it that I do not remember doing it?” To the dark girl it seems that it must be a lie; how is it possible for someone her age to do something so serious, and then forget even doing it. Samala hears her thoughts, “Your wickedness is only getting worse. I see now it is unavoidable for you, there are only two ways I can stop it.”
Sidonia asks, “What ways?” Sneering, Samala answers her, “Your father refused my idea of a convent, so you can never speak to the January Man again!” Sidonia imagines herself locked away from her father and brothers, as she tears up; unable to ask what the other way is, and fears it is worse. Sidonia says with confused guilt, “I am trying to be good, so I can change the future. I am sorry.”
The Princess adds in an earnest tone, “I did not mean to betray or ever want to try to kill you.” The Queen does not reply as she briskly walks deeper into the forest. Sidonia believes she needs to trust her mother’s visions; she always proves she is right.
~*~
Pitsville, Dark 4:30 AM, 677, 28th, October
Prince Rorik is fearfully looking about in the dark, as he lays in the dirt. He brings his mist to try breaking free; it is weak then fades. He calls out, “Help me!” Yet, he sees and hears no one. Rorik cringes as he now realizes that it is eerily silent. He even starts to hope that Maleva will change her mind and return to release him. The Rambler finally says, “I am sorry, okay? I will listen if you want to explain your warning to me.” She does not come; yet, he sees that the mist rope around him is slowly beginning to fade.
As soon as Rorik is free, he jumps up swearing, and spits, “I curse- I curse you… oh-ah, you icky Elf lover! Rotten old wand using crone!” The Rambler throws one of his daggers at the ground where she stood; he scoffs, “You do not know your left from your right… oh forget it, I do not have the power to hex her anyway!” He gets his knife and looks around for anyone that might have seen his humiliation, and sighs as still, no one appears to be around.
The Rambler reluctantly brushes the dirt off his clothing and then picks up his coins, putting them back in his coin bag. He feels a strange foreboding about his surroundings and grumbles, “As usual, Sidonia causes the worst crap to happen to me!” He is about to go toward the Castle, when he sees a shack, guessing it is the Witch’s. Rorik walks toward it, as he curses Maleva, “Left path my butt.”
Instead of recalling Maleva’s warning, Rorik fumes, “If I think about anything, it will be how to get even with you! I am sure as the grave, not walking to Blackstone Castle from here. As usual this is Sidonia’s fault; I never should have agreed to go help her.”
~*~
Donatello scoffs at Tik, “You are delusional and paranoid. I am only trying to do what is right for King Anthony. I have no desire for your position, nor the Princess, and you have doomed yourself with no help from me. I have a girlfriend, and the Princess only thinks of me as a messenger and her guard. When Anthony returns, I intend to ask for a transfer to the Mystical Realm.”
Tik scoffs, “I do not believe you.” Donatello continues his lie, “I do not care. My girlfriend refuses to live here with humans. Moving there means I can marry her. As usual you do not know what you are talking about!” Furlif groans at his own assumptions realizing he insulted Sidonia, rather than her just not desiring him. The Vampire Guards are looking at Tik with further mistrust. Tik asks, “Then why did Anthony ask you to watch his children?”
Donatello gets a cold grin, as it confirms that Tik has been spying on Anthony and or him as well, he replies, “I have no other obligations, unlike you, it is not like I am Captain of the night shift. The High Lord most likely asked me, just because I walked by, when he was thinking of it. My only plan is to earn enough coin so I can marry my girlfriend.” Tik’s eyes widen, he fears, ‘Am I wrong?’
However, Tik does nothing to change these events. Donatello had not expected he would. He turns away, not caring that he lied to Tik; he just hopes it will remove Tik’s anger at Sidonia. Tik might protect the Princess if he no longer can. Donatello faces the mob of Human Guards, and sees they are moving to circle him. He has a decision to make, either he flies off, leaving Sidonia and Viktor unprotected, or he stays and attempts to save them. Pulling the sword he questions, ‘Is it bad to kill humans, who are compelled?’
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He sees the sword is now more comfortable, as it is slightly smaller and lighter in his grip; more the size that Donatello is used to. Hearing the old lady’s groan, he sees her forty feet in front of him. Jillian’s body is shaking as she fights off Lola’s possession. Suddenly he sees the dark blue mist with dark green runes coming out of the old woman’s body. As he recognizes the Shade, Donatello gasps, “Lola!” Jillian’s body drops to the ground unconscious.
~*~
The Oracle feels paralyzed, unable to leave the vision of her past; she tries to change what will happen and fails. Young Sidonia runs her hand over the dirt, attempting to wipe it from her light blue tunic, as she walks along with her mother in the forest. As the Queen glances over, the dark girl looks up into the cruel green eyes of her mother. Mockingly, Queen Samala asks, “Are you crying?”
Sidonia silences her sniffles as Samala sneers, “If I had known you would be such a baby about this, I would have made Rorik come instead.” Sidonia believes this is a lie, yet is determined to try harder not to betray her mother, so she will not be so cruel to her. The Princess gets a slight smile, as she envisions that this changes the future, and her mother loves her again, as she loves Viktor and Rorik. Suddenly Samala stops, sighing with approval.
The Mad Queen grins, “Perfect. We will use the basket as our goal.” She releases Sidonia’s hand and turns with a mocking smile, as she asks her daughter, “Do you want to hide? I bet I can find you before you reach the basket!” Sidonia glances at the dark forest in fear; reluctantly, she decides that ‘counting is safer.’ Knowing this, her mother answers for her, “You are afraid to hide! Fine coward, I will hide first.” Sidonia feels ashamed.
She knows she let her fears stop her from hiding. The Queen sets the basket down and giggles as she skips off into the woods as if she were ten. Sidonia shudders as her mum whistles an odd tune that seems hauntingly familiar. The Princess hates that her mother is right, as she has let her fear keep her from hiding. Sidonia begins to count aloud to one hundred. Again, fear has her not daring to follow the rules, as she keeps her eyes open, watching her mum leave.
Soon the Mad Queen is gone from sight. Sidonia worries that breaking this rule is wicked; maybe her mum is right. Shuddering with fear of where her mother is and thinking she might come around to jump out behind her, nearly causes Sidonia to scream. It surprises her that this feels worse than having her nearby. The dark girl looks back the way she thinks they had come; she wants to run for the safety of the Castle; unfortunately, she cannot see any path.
Sidonia fears getting lost if she tries. She is also certain her mother’s anger will become worse if she does. Reaching the end of her count, the Princess goes to seek her mother. The dark little girl only walks a short way and as she passes a large tree; she is startled to see her mother is just standing there, glaring at her with the oddest grin. It also causes a shudder, as Sidonia wonders why her mum did not attempt to hide or even run for the basket to win.
The young girl backs away from the mad woman; instead of touching her mother so that she can win, as Queen Samala’s laugh feels startlingly strange, rather than joyous. It nearly causes the girl to cry, trembling at her mother’s glare. She still questions why her mum made it so easy to find her, when the vile Queen begins to count. Her mum’s tone sounds threatening and it paralyzes the young child, until Samala starts stalking toward her daughter.
Terror fills Sidonia to where she screams as she runs from her mother; more than to try to find a place to hide. The girl notices she is also screaming the count aloud with her mum. She stops her screams and counts silently. Listening as though her life depends upon it, so she will know when her mother comes for her. Samala’s voice is haunting as it starts to echo from all around the Princess.
When Samala sounds far enough away, Sidonia dares to look over her shoulder and is glad to not see her mother anymore. Coming to a stop to get her breath, Sidonia can hear Samala’s voice. It continues to fade, as if her mum were walking. Then she stops before reaching the end of her count. Princess Sidonia quickly looks behind her as she realizes now she has no idea where her mother might be or which way, she might come at her from.
This is not the first time Sidonia thinks her mother is acting like a crazed mad woman. It seems like her worst nightmare; regrettably, it is not even close to as bad as what is yet to come.
~*~
Mystical Realm, Dark Elf Castle, 4:30 AM, 677, 28th, October
Prince Alrod uses his crystal to stay invisible as he hurries down the halls. Once in the area of their private quarters, he sees two guards at the door. He nervously waits; he now plans to bully Alnesa into changing her story. Furious that it feels his head is nearing Haldir’s chopping block, he grows impatient. Finally, a maid comes out and he almost bumps her as he rushes to hurry in behind her.
The crystal’s glow is fading, Alrod knows the power will only work for a short period more. He almost burned it out during his previous visits. Reaching the door to her quarters, he finds it is locked. He knocks, and is stunned when a guard opens it, he moves by, but the Guard’s elbow hits his back. Prince Alrod freezes as the Guard looks toward him and then shrugs, then looks down the hall.
Alrod breathes out a sigh of relief and boldly rushes into their rooms. Not finding Alnesa in the sitting room, he goes into her bedroom. Prince Alrod quietly closes her door, locking it, and hears Princess Alnesa is in distress. Her sobs make the Prince realize that things might just be worse for her, than he expected. He slowly goes toward her bed, as he whispers, “Alnesa, are you alright?”
She jerks up wearing only a thin white mid-length tunic nightgown. The Princess looks around her dark room, and wipes her eyes. She recalls the sheerness of her clothing and pulls the blanket up to her chin. First, Alnesa feels glad, thinking he came to help her run away, “Alrod?” Then she doubts him, going back to being mad at him, “Get out of my room. Are you trying to get us both killed?”
~*~
The vision traps the Oracle into reliving her past, as it forces her to see and feel the pain. Her mind is trapped in the fearful thoughts as if she were six-years-old again. Young Sidonia walks further into the dark forest of thick trees. She counts in her head 64, 65, 66, even though she cannot hear her mum’s count. She feels she needs to know when her mother will hunt for her. Finding a good hiding place, Sidonia crouches down to watch and wait.
After a long period of silence, with only the noise of the forest around her, Princess Sidonia grasps that her mother is too quiet as she cannot hear her count. Either her mum is too far away to hear, or she broke the rules by not counting aloud to 100. Moving while counting is breaking a rule too. The little Princess knows she had not closed her eyes either, so she is also guilty of breaking rules.
This silence becomes more frightening than hearing her mum. She gets a nervous shiver, trying to calm herself, thinking her mother is just too far away to hear. Sidonia then slows her own count as she reluctantly reaches one hundred. She now waits for the sound of breaking twigs or the crunch of dried leaves.
~*~
Prince Rorik reaches the shack. He looks up at the sky that is still a dark navy, smirking he takes a determined breath, and knocks anyway. A woman’s voice yells from inside, “Tis too bloody early. Ya better be rich, handsome, and ready ta pay me.” Rorik scoffs, determined to not take any crap this time; he huffs, “I have coin for a Dark Door.” He hears movement inside, she opens the door, standing there naked other than the amulet choker and red shawl.
She is thirtyish, a bit plump, and her brown hair has auburn streaks. She appears worn-out but smells worse. Eyeing him up and down, the Witch sternly says, “Keep yer coin. Me magic is low, and ya wakin’ me just made it worse! Ya will revitalize me energy in me bed.” Rorik has heard of this sort of physical exchange, still his jaw drops, stunned that it is real, and she dares ask. Unattracted to her, the Prince feels uncomfortable boosting her powers by intimacy.
Rorik gets a mocking grin, as he takes it as flattery, yet refuses, “A-ah, no.” The Witch snorts, “Me is not askin’.” He starts to regret knocking before dawn, “I would like to, ah I have not got the time. I can come back afterwards.” She gives him an evil eye glare; it makes him nervous, he adds, “I-I am in a big hurry.” She taps her foot; he pulls out his coin bag, saying firmly, “Mum needs my help. I have to go right now. Will you open your Dark Door?”
The Witch seethes, “Now tat me am up, ya are payin’ te way, me says! Ya come in, or ya try runnin’. Me am real certain tat me can Hex ya before ya are out of me range!” Rorik recalls Maleva had said coin or body. He debates threatening her, but doubts he can make her open the Dark Door with violence. He looks around not seeing help or a way to hide from a Curse. Her grin looks sinister as she watches him sweat, taunting, “Wat tis it gonna be, lover boy?”
Rorik hesitates, “But it is a matter of life and death! I-I have to go right now-.” His delays cause the Witch to cut in, her dark gloomy green mist comes from her mouth, as she cackles her Hex,
“Somethin’ evil twitches yer lyin’ tongue,
Me say ya pay and listen as me Curse is sung.
Ya mess with me, now ya will see double,
And then ya find yerself in triple trouble-!”
The Prince steps back, as her evil looking murky green mist seeps down her and is creeping across the ground. It comes toward him, he moves yet cannot get away, as it circles up his legs. Rorik gasps cutting into her Hex with a plea, “Wait. I can pay you more.” The Witch shakes her head, continuing her Curse,
“Ya come ta me with a mockin’ knock,
Me now justly hexes yer rotten cock.
Feel te painful breakin’ of yer bones,
Me shrivel yer balls ta little stones-.”
The Prince groans in fear, and cuts off her Hex, “Fine, stop!” She raises an eyebrow, giving him a dark look, at his tone. Rorik gives in, “Please stop? I will do what you want!” The Hexing Hag smirks and her mist retreats; he is tempted to run. She pushes the door open, and nods for him to enter. Giving into his fate, Rorik goes in her door; blaming Maleva, and Sidonia for this awful event.
The hag closes the door behind them, giving him a sly grin, she lets her shawl drop. Rorik groans in horror as he begins to undress. The Prince then reluctantly gets into the Hag’s bed. The ‘Horrible Hexing Hag’ gives Prince Rorik a big grin, “Tis yer lucky night, for I am the best ya will ever have, lover boy!”
~RMW~