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White Knight
Chapter Forty - The Lost Ghost of the Greenhouse

Chapter Forty - The Lost Ghost of the Greenhouse

Opening his eyes to a blossoming blue vine that had been drooping from a curtain above his pale forehead, Alsop had woken from his slumber with a warm sensation burrowed deep into the side of his bed. Snoozing silently, Victoria had been leaning onto the bed from a chair. A slim flicker of light through the tiny openings between the curtains was enough for Alsop to gather that morning had fast approached, and that his fight with Envy was severe - he had been sleeping for several hours. This had not been entirely satisfying for him. He had lifted himself, slowly not to wake Victoria, ever so slightly. He found himself along the headboard of the bed, and soon he felt his eyes dropping back onto the cushioned board. He indulged such comfort, as he dropped his mouth, he closed his eyes, and he cracked his fingers softly. Bliss.

Not for long did it last, as a knock came about the door. Axel had knocked, rather quietly, and then fumbled at the door handle until he finally popped his head around the door. It seemed he expected two sleepers still, but to his avail he found Alsop yawning. This put a smile across his face. A smile of sweet, sweet relief. Sumptuously embracing the good health Alsop had been releasing, his smile took a sudden pause as he glanced at the half-slumped Victoria across Alsop.

"Haha...I'm not too sure myself..." Chuckled Alsop.

"Well, she did insist to be by your side." Axel laughed, taking a seat by his friend. "How are you feeling?" He asked.

"I feel good. Was it in vain? Is he captured?" Asked Alsop.

"He is captive. It was tough, I'd say, but we got him. Outsmarted him, we did!" Cheerfully said Axel with relief.

"So, my father - "

"In perfect health, fear not, Alsop. Anything else you wish to ask?" Reassuring him, Axel calmed Alsop like a true friend.

The two had cheerfully continued their chatter into the labyrinth of corridors in the Greenhouse, but their merry moment had ceased by a startling encounter which flushed Alsop onto a single spot. A deep shade of blank white had rolled over him as Axel turned to stare back at his friend. The cause of this had been a wicked, foul scream for help. Soon, the ice white pupils of Alsop had thawed into Axel's dark pair, inciting him with knowledge that something was near them.

"What is it? What have you uncovered?" Axel asked.

"Did you not hear that?" Alsop asked, his blank expression now lying on a room rattling with rampant energy.

"No." Axel turned to the room too. "But I suppose it is in there?" He thought.

"That room. What is it? What is inside?" Inquired Alsop.

"Well, we found another victim of Envy's power, you see. He is sound asleep in there. We could take a look if you would like?" Axel offered.

No words were willing to fall from the chilling lips of Alsop. Whatever excitement he had for the day seemed to have escaped him that warm morning. Therefore, an excursion of the room could only relieve him of some questions. His sense had failed him, and so he had barrelled into the room with a leap of curiosity as his only stigma. The room had indeed carried the sleeping victim of Envy, as Kasper Cornelius had been deep in enchantment across the bed. Yet, something else was in the room.

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A spirit? A ghost? A shadow? It had been staring down at the poor general of Greenwich with painful sorrow. Despite its terrifying nature, it seemed sensible in conduct, in fact choosing to edge away from the two visitors - the sight of the ghostly figure was too much for them as they stared on in ghastly shock. It had been floating at the foot of the bed, with a frightening liquid of black sludge dripping from its eyes - this had been the final factor of fear for Alsop and Axel, who stood like two gravestones.

"Oh, good grief! Please help me!" Cried the figure.

"Alsop, can I assume you can see that too?" Asked Axel, tugging his friend's blazer.

"Yes." Submissively replied Alsop.

"Oh! I must be quite a fright! Remain calm, my name is Kasper. That is my body there, I must get it back!" The strange figure exclaimed.

"Lies! You should be eaten, not the image of death!" Cried out Axel.

"That is my problem! He is trying to eat me, right now!" Wailed out Kasper.

"Wh - uh! Okay...hold on..."

The reply had quickly been received, and a moment of hesitation struck both Axel and Alsop until the two had started a descent downstairs in deep haste, towards the dungeons. There laid Envy in all his vile glory, where a cruel chuckle composed him to lift his head at his visitors. His arms had been shackled to the walls with a set of heavy iron clamps, a purple-tinted field to their exterior - a spell of disenchantment.

"Delicious!" He laughed towards their faces.

"Oh...! I think I'm going to be sick!" Axel muffled in horror as he hurried to a distant corner of the dungeons.

"Has a slice of bread never been more appealing to you?" Alsop pondered.

"No. Not since I became a sin. Though I must admit, I haven't been particularly fond of eating souls recently. I feel I am sick!" Coughed out Envy.

"Then why do you still eat them!" Axel shouted as he returned to throw his anger at him.

"Tell me you fool, why do you eat food?" Angrily asked Envy.

"Without souls, you would die?" Wondered Alsop.

"No. My powers as a sin would weaken. Without my powers, I might as well be dead." Sighed Envy.

"A shame." Said Axel.

"Are you thinking of killing me? This one body? You would kill your Captain Caspian Cull?" Envy smirked.

"The option is available." Axel shyly said.

"I am a husband looking for justice, yet I will receive injustice myself!" Bemoaned Envy.

"Your sense of justice is wrong. My father is innocent!" Criticised Alsop.

"Then let me speak with him." Demanded Envy.

"You will be summoned later today." Axel coldly said, his back already turned for the stairs.

"Hmm?" Envy rose his eyes.

"Don't get your hopes up. We will discuss your future with a queen. You will get what you deserve."

Axel had echoed into Envy's mind as he left the dungeons with Alsop nearby him. Though, Alsop had been trailing behind his agitated friend with his hands hidden within his pockets.

"We could have let him speak to my father." Alsop courageously said.

"Why should we give him what he wants?" Axel snapped back, almost as if he expected the looming question.

"He is captive now, Axel. There is no need to be so angry." Defensively claimed Alsop.

"That man though! Kasper has faced such a terrible tale of events just now. We could have saved him right there! Don't you even remember!?" Angrily muttered Axel.

"We will save him. I'm sure we will. We will reverse all his doing. This event only gives us more reason to subdue him." Boldly said Alsop.

"It gives us a reason. Us children in a world of men and women. The general and Grove Cornelius, they will still argue over what happens to Envy." Said Axel.