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

Chapter Eleven

I duck and dodge every suit of armor, hanging weapons, and blank pieces of paper to find Ally. I see her a little too late. The next thing I know, I'm flat on my back and Ally is struggling to get up.

I freeze trying to get up when I hear a loud roar. One I've heard before. The Manticore. She's back. I hear her booming footsteps echoing on the walls, knocking down suits of enormous armor.

I catch a glimpse of her when I find my feet and stand up. Her hair is covered in grime, dirt, grass, Hydra saliva, and leaves. Her lion paws are scratched and bruised.

"So uh, you defeat them then? The Hydra and Medusa, I mean," I ask weakly. She smiles wickedly as she makes a grab for me.

"Come here you little rascal-" She roars in fury. Man her mood changes fast. She's probably mad that she didn't defeat Hydra and Medusa. However I'm surprised that she didn't turn to stone.

"I managed to defeat the Hydra but not Medusa for your information," She snarls. "Medusa tried to turn me to stone. Well, that's what she was cursed to do. To turn people into stone" She adds. It takes me all my strength to hide my sly grin.

"We all know that story." I pause to roll my eyes. "Well that should be obvious, right?"

She growls as she makes a creative swipe for me. I dodge out of the way and continue speaking.

"I never caught your name! What is it?"

"It is Aspen," She replies. "Not that it matters."

"Odd name don't you-OW!" I shriek as her claws graze my face. She smiles in satisfaction as she raises her tail for the fatal swip. Then, out of nowhere, Ally comes storming in with her father's sword. I'd forgotten she had that.

"Let him go!" She shouts as she brandishes her weapon. Aspen pretends to be scared as she slowly reaches for an axe right by her feet.

"B-but I'm just a p-poor M-Manticore!" She mocks.

"You're a manticore, sure, but that doesn't mean you need to hurt someone." Ally says desperately. Aspen chuckles.

"Of course I do! Then why would I be on this Earth?" She asks. Ally swipes suddenly, striking the manticore in the neck. She drops to the ground in an instant, unable to take any more gasping breaths.

"You would then be on this Earth to create change." Ally says quietly. In a split second, Ally grabs my arm, pulls me up, and rushes me out of the room away from Aspen's limp body.