A Journey To The Clouds, Escape From Cloud Castle - Book Two - ✓

Chapter Five

Er hi! How are you . . . this evening?" I ask with a nervous smile on my face. The monster grins wickedly. Her eyes widen as she realizes what she had found.

"Much better now that I caught you. Lord Asher will be pleased!" She says. Ally seems to be frozen in place because she hasn't moved, blinked, or breathed in this small time frame.

Lord Asher. I repeat in my mind. Then it hits me.

"He's the guy in my vision!" I blurt out. "Not this guy, Lord Asher." I add more quietly. Ally's eyes widen.

"So you know Lord Asher, hm?" The monster says suspiciously. She moves a step closer, and me and Ally instinctively move backward.

"I-uh, you must have misheard me. I-" I say, trying to convince her otherwise.

"No, I think I heard you just fine." she interrupts. I feel my cheeks burn and my hands start to shake.

Ally saves me by questioning him

"What exactly are you?" She demands.

"I am a Manticore." she says, narrowing her eyes in suspicion. Ally nods in realization. I can see it now. The lion body. The human head. I couldn't be more frightened for my life then in this present moment.

The Manticore pushes us to where we found Lily's letter. She quickly ties rope around our hands. She then roughly shoves us into rickety wooden chairs and snaps her fingers. Ropes spring out from nowhere and bind us to the seats. This all makes me wonder why we got ourselves into this mess. Especially so, because creatures such as giants roam in this Fantasy world. I sigh as the rope starts to rub on my skin.

"Looks like you two fools have yourself in some trouble." She growls. It's as though she read my mind.

"Lord Asher would like to catch you, kill you, and destroy you."

"Um thank you, but no thank you. I would very much like to keep my head!" my voice rises to a scream as she snarls in my face.

"I don't care if you want to keep your overly large head or not!"

I throw Ally a sorrowful glance. I guess this Manticore doesn't like humor. She appears to be trying not to laugh. I am pretty funny. But sometimes... it's not the best quality when you're in trouble. Take this for instance.

"Lord Asher is definitely going to be pleased." The Manticore repeats.

"And how do you know that?" Ally asks. The Manticore sneers at her.

"Well missy, I happen to work for him!" she laughs. I shudder. Something doesn't seem right about it. High, then low. And it doesn't suit her.

"Wow. I've heard magnificent stories about you!" Ally's tone changes from frightened to amazed. The Manticore glances at her suspiciously. Then puffs out her chest proudly.

"I am the most fearsome beast! Of course you have heard magnificent stories about me!" she brags. Ally nods vigorously.

"But... "

"But what?" the Manticore growls anxiously.

"I don't think... " Ally says to herself. I'm so confused.

"What? Tell me!" the Manticore begs.

"I know of not one, but two creatures that you haven't defeated yet." she says mischievously.

"What are they? I will destroy them!"

"The Hydra and Medusa."

"B-but their Greek."

"The Greek's fears are true. And real."

"But I need to defeat them."

"Yes you do!"

"I will! I will deal with you after! Hahaha I will be the almighty after I destroy the Hydra and Medusa!" the Manticores voice gets farther and farther away down the hallway of the prison. Ally calmly ignores my stutters as she slowly cuts the ropes off her hands, feet, and waist and silently walks over and does the same to me.

As soon as she cuts me free, I leap off my chair and throw my arms around her. She is awesome with this stuff. Seriously. She seems surprised but slowly wraps her arms around my back.

I let go and tell her this.

"I thought that was awesome. How you tricked her." Ally blushes.

"It was nothing." She replies.

We check both ways to make sure the coast is clear and head left. I suddenly stop short of what I see in front of me.

A trap door.