As Cyrus and his allies crossed the final tundra, tensions ran high. North Point seemed to get further and further away as evening drew closer and closer. The sky darkened and bone chilling winds whipped against their faces. There was an anger Cyrus sensed over the death of Jetta and it lingered on the faces of the Majester and Teela. The proud beast finally broke the silence and aimed a verbal arrow right at the Majester’s heart. “Archibald, I knew you were a cold and uncaring man before this, but what you did to that poor girl was beyond reproach.”

Archibald let out a frustrated breath. “Teela monster. You know as well as I do that tricks have dangerous consequences. That’s the chance you have to take as a trick master. I’m trying to teach my student this!”

The beast narrowed her dark eyes. “But what you said to her afterwards, was sick…even for yo…”

The Majester quickly interrupted Teela; he spoke with a sly expression. “I think ol’ Archibald knows what’s even sicker. Teela had a chance to save Little Miss Jetta but didn’t…”

A fire sizzled in Teela’s dark eyes and she let out a growl. Archibald continued, “I think someone didn’t like how Jetta kicked her…am I right?”

Teela was silent. Cyrus could tell that there was hint of truth in what Archibald said but Teela was too haughty and proud to own up. She remained quiet but with a death glare fixed on the Majester who cheerfully began to skip.

At last, they reached the foot of the castle. It lay at the end of a trailing peninsula of solid stone. Every edge of the black fortress was jagged and reached towards the sky like a demon’s hand, and much to Cyrus’ horror, the crimson moon peaked out from behind it like a bloodshot eye. Everyone gasped as they heard a tormented cry from inside the tallest tower.

“Trinity…” Cyrus said. “The moment has come for me…”--the young prince looked to his friends--”Us. To save you!”

Cyrus and his party walked carefully across the small stone bridge to a pair of giant cobalt doors. The steely handles carefully curved to form a pair of demonic horns, and when Cyrus reached towards them. a high-pitched laugh screeched from the inside.

“Change of plans…” the voice echoed. “The following are invited to the Red Moon Celebration: Vanessa Montero, Prince Cyrus Coates, Aya Tintel and Antonio Delgado.”

“Delgado?” Everyone looked at Antonio.

“Wow, impressive. They even know my real last name…” he said. “But you gotta admit Corazon is so much cooler! Even my mother thought so!”

“Only people with those names may enter. The rest are forbidden!” The doors flew open revealing an endless void of darkness.

Cyrus looked to Archibald for answers. “Is it really true that you can’t come in?”

“Yep princey-poo. The Everbloods have a special curse which only allows people they choose to enter a dark castle like this. It’s pretty nifty and a lot more productive than the usual vampire rules of entry.”

A pair of lips with rotten teeth appeared inside the doorway. They inhaled hard, drawing the four heroes into a swirling purple void. “Archibald!” Cyrus screamed.

“Take my briefcase…” Archibald said as he slung it towards his student. “I trust you with it!”

Cyrus caught it and flew through the vortex. When he awoke, he found himself inside the castle. The young prince. looked around. This fortress had an air of familiarity for him. Every piece of graying furniture, ranging from worn out red velvet couches to moldy drawers, was coated in thick pliant cobwebs. Cold dry air lingered stale from the mounds of dust piled high in corners. Old chandeliers full of burning, white wax candles rattled above them. Paintings of old knights and kings hanging from the wall had unsettling, realistic eyes that seemed almost alive. In the darkness, Cyrus heard shivering and cold breath against his neck. He turned around to see Van shaking with a nervous smile on her face.

“I n-n-ever thought I’d be in a place like this,” she said, shuddering. “This place is like a…”

“Scary story,” Cyrus said a big smile. “I’ve read so many storybooks about places like this! I never thought I’d be in one!”

“So you’re saying you’re desensitized, muchacho?” Antonio asked. “Guess there are some plus sides to reading so many books.”

Cyrus put his arm on Van’s back. “It’s ok,” he said with a smile. “The only thing we truly have to fear here are the Everbloods.”

“That’s why I’m so afraid,” Van said quietly. “Who knows what we’ll encounter here or who...”

Cyrus looked from Van, to Antonio to Oga and each had a look reservations. Even Antonio-who tried to disguise it-betrayed fear in his chocolate brown eyes.

“I’ll lead the way,” Cyrus said, and he opened the creaking door into the next room.

Everyone gaped in amazement at the next room. “There’s so much…” Van started.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Food!” Cyrus exclaimed.

Tables lined the whole room and every single one was piled high with the most delicious banquet food that Cyrus had ever seen. There were enormous glazed liccans so plump and juicy from a well fed diet and stacks of jiggling cranberry to compliment the taste. Plates of Liccan wings were neatly arrayed too, brushed with seasoning and hot sauce. Next to them were giant purple and green cakes, all neatly iced with dark chocolate. Crystalline pitchers of grape juice shimmered, next to piles of iced cookies. Cyrus’ stomach rumbled in disbelief and Oga, Van and Antonio’s followed suit.

At the center was a small table with four plates, four square goblets and a note neatly scrawled in cursive.

Cyrus snatched up the note and read it aloud:

“Bonjour guests,

You must be very hungry from fighting zat big battle so I’ve prepared you a feast! Marvel at my handiwork that is surely zee best in the land! Zee Red Moon celebration only comes once in six centuries so zis is my piece de resistance! Enjoy food so fresh zee icing RUNS and the sweet aroma zat wafts through the room is manifique.

If you wish to leave zis room, however. I have also prepared a ‘ow you say, “puzzle” for you to solve. I ‘ave hidden zee key among one of these dishes. It is up to you to find out which. But beware, a MESSY SURPRISE GRAVE lies in wait for you too. Oh ho ho I am too much!

Well friends, bon appetite.

Bunting Dupree"

“I can’t believe he’s alive!” Antonio said with rage seething in his eyes. “I vow to finish that scum in the name of mi madre.”

“What do you think he means about a ‘messy surprise grave’?” Van asked Cyrus.

“Hmm,” Cyrus said before his eyes lit up. “What if he means that he’s poisoned some of the dishes.”

“That seems plausible,” Van said. “But how will we know…”

“I can sniff it out,” Cyrus said. “My nose can smell a pickle a mile away.”

He gave a congested snort. “Oh no… I forgot. I’m sick.”

Everyone groaned.

“Great,” Van said. “How on earth will we…?”

Oga’s eyes went as wide as dinner plates. She danced and squirmed in place and she spread her fang in a big smile. “I don’t know about you, guys, but I am starving! The Orc motto is: Eat first and worry about the consequences later.”

With an amazing leap, the little elf jumped forward and snatched a glazed liccan. Her eyes shined brightly and she quickly sunk her teeth into it. She tore at the piece of meat furiously, making loud chomps, gulps and swallows as everyone stood dumbfounded. She finished the piece of meat off in a matter of thirty seconds.

”Wow,” Cyrus said. “And I thought I was ravenous…”

“Are you ok, Oga?” Van asked. “No feeling sick or anything?”

The young elf paused for a second before she answered. “Nope! But I sure am thirsty.” She grabbed a pitcher and turned it nearly upside down. Just like the liccan before it, the grape juice vanished at astonishing speeds.

“No poison?” Van asked.

Suddenly Oga’s face twitched. She clutched at her stomach and her tanned face turned purple. “Oga!” Everyone screamed.

The young elf let out the loudest belch that rang through the castle. “I’m surprised you three haven’t heard the second language of the orcs,” Oga said giggling.

Cyrus felt his stomach rumble with intensity. “Guys, I don’t think I can hold on much longer! This battle made me really hungry too.”

Cyrus quickly waddled his way over to the food and started munching on a pair of liccan wings. “I’m sorry, my feathered friends,” he muttered as if the disembodied wings could hear him.

Cyrus quickly bit the skin off the bones. It tasted spicy but oh so delicious. He closed his eyes, licking his lips to clean off the extra residue that lingered on them. “My compliments to the chef,” he said, before Antonio glared at him harshly.

“I mean, ‘Grrr! I hate that Bunting!”

Cyrus saw a slight movement in the corner of his eyes come from the table. “Hey uh…” He looked over and saw the movement cease.

“So,” Van asked. “Do you think this food is safe?”

“Seems fine to me, orc knight” Oga said, crunching loudly on a cookie. “Don’t worry, we’ll find this key.”

For the next fifteen minutes, Cyrus and his friends sampled the buffet. But no matter how much they munched and swallowed, they never found the key or themselves poisoned either. Another problem did pose itself however. “Ugh…my stomach…” Oga complained as her little belly bulged through her midriff.

“I don’t think I can eat anymore,” Antonio said, holding his head. “But we haven’t found the key yet…”

Cyrus sat on the floor. His belly was packed with delicious food, but he felt terrible. He looked at the note again, reading it over carefully. He looked up to hear the pitter patter of little feet. Suddenly, he screamed “Oga, shoot your arrow between the those two pitchers.

Despite feeling bloated, Oga deftly shot her arrow where Cyrus shouted. He started hearing little groans coming from the pitchers. Cyrus shoved the pitchers aside and grasped the arrow. Hanging off it was an icing covered cookie with arms and legs and a black key sticking out of it. He pulled the key out and ate the cookie. It screamed “nooooo!” before it was devoured.

“Enjoy food so fresh zee icing runs,” Cyrus quoted. “This little cookie was going to run around until we were so fattened up by the food that we’d just give up…”

“Wow. I’m glad we have someone like you to read between the lines, Cyrus,” Van said, before she held her stomach. “Ugh I feel so sick!”

“We still have to press forward to save Trinity,” Cyrus replied, determined as ever.

Everyone grumbled as they opened the door. The next room was a wide open catacomb with floors made of dark stone. Bunting stood in front of a giant green and purple cake that reached all the way to the ceiling. Cyrus felt queasy smelling that giant cake all neatly frilled with icing and full of thick sugary bread.

The prince observed the man before him. Bunting’s pale face, though youthful with slicked back blond hair, was cracked like he was a fractured crystal. He wore a magnificent pinstriped green tuxedo with his broken blood red brooch fastened onto it. His green eyes widened and his fangs spread into a smile when he saw who stood before him.

“Bonjour friends,” he said. “You don’t look happy to see me! Perhaps it’s because you’re close to experiencing the messy surprise grave I’ve prepared for you…”

“What is are you talking about, you scum?” Antonio asked.

“Magic Sodium Glutamate!” The evil chef exclaimed with his hand to his face. “I’ve loaded zat food with so much of it you’ll all be too full to fight properly. Your arteries will never be the same ho ho ho!”

Everyone lumbered toward the evil chef as he laughed maniacally. All of a sudden, a force field prevented them from moving.

“I know you four have a liccan bone to pick with me,” the chef said. “But I only invite Senor Delgado to face me… ee is after all, za one who I tricked.”

“And not a day goes by that I don’t wish for vengeance,” Antonio said with passion in his eyes. “You do not make a mockery out of the Corazon family and live to tell the tale!”

Cyrus watched as Antonio waddled and stood across the room from Bunting. He held his sword out and prepared to challenge the man who made him watch his mother die for a second time.