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

Chapter Twelve

I'm amazed at how calmly Ally walks away from the secret room. But what I'm concerned about is where Lily went. Wasn't she supposed to help us? But then again, she is probably the most mysterious person I know.

I trail behind her, rapidly moving to trying to find another place of shelter for the night.

We need to find where we got out of the lair so we can get back on our mission. But that'll take days.

"Lily! Where are you?" Ally calls desperately.

"Where could she have gone?" I ask. Me and Ally wildly search the halls, but no trace of Lily was found. I peek out the window next to me and see that it is night.

"Hey Ally, I think we should stop for the night."

"Lily! Where are-" She stops abruptly and turns to me. "Yeah I think we should. But we'll need to find something to sleep on though."

"Yeah there is no chance of finding that one. . ." I stop as we take a sharp right and there it is.

"Room." I finish in a soft whisper.

The exact room that we stayed in is right in front of us. Ally gently pushes the door open and it is the exact same as we left it. The disturbing smell, the beds unkempt, the floors messy.

"Welcome home." I joke. Ally lets out a small laugh. I flop on my back onto a skinny mattress. She sits down gingerly on the other squeaky bed, pulls out a notebook, and starts writing in it with a piece of dry chalk.

"Whatcha doin'?" I ask her while slowly sitting up.

I look at her face for a few seconds, watching her bury her face into the notebook.

"You'll see." She replies. I can't help but wonder what she jots down. Even when I doze off I still see her silhouette writing in it.

"Coco! Has our spy checked on them and returned?" A giant asks with his back turned. Coco squawks nervously and jumps. She flutters back down and stutters, "Y-y-yes sire. Hera is here."

"Good. Bring her in." The giant orders as Coco flies out of the room.

"Oh Hera! Lord Asher would like to see you." Coco calls, her voice dripping with malice. The bird is pure evil. I can tell just from the way she smiles.

I turn around as I hear a purr from behind Coco and she turns to face a small kitten.

"Hera!" Asher calls again. The kitten scrambles to his side rubbing her back on his leg. Asher flinches and pushes the kitten away.

"Go away you dirty animal!" Asher growls.

"Asher!" Coco presses. "That's what a cat does when it's affectionate!" Coco reminds Asher. Asher makes a face.

"Ugh, you just had to remind me how disgusting their actions are?" Asher asks. Coco looks at him hotly but doesn't say a word. Then he turns to the cat briskly.

"Now, turn into your regular form." Asher orders. The cat purrs and starts to swat it's tail.

"Go to your regular form you pest!" Asher roars. The cat tilts his head to the side.

"Do it! I order you!" Asher says through gritted teeth.

"Asher. . ."Coco trails off.

"Don't speak to me! Tell this cat to transform!" Asher yowls.

"Uh Asher. . . the cat can't transform on command. . . it needs to want to transform." Coco stutters.

"Well great. How do we get her to transform?" Asher asks, his voice raspy.

"Let it touch you, and bribe it." Coco instructs.

"Bribe?" Asher asks.

"Yeah. Bribe."

"No, what is it?" Asher asks. Coco rolls her eyes.

"It's where you offer something the thing wants to get them to give you something." Coco replies.

"Ok, but I'm not letting that. . . that cat touch me." Asher remarks with discust.

"That's the only way!" Coco says as she ruffles her feathers.

"Ugh, fine." Asher agrees.

"Come on, . . yeah, go on. . that's it." Asher groans as the cat pushes it's fluffy body against his leg.

"Now, transform for me, and you'll get to rub against my leg." Asher says with reluctance. The cat's tail raises in satisfaction until it whizes out of thin air. The cat begins to contort into all shapes and sizes, until her real form is standing to the side of Asher. Connor, who has been invisibly standing to the side with a frightened and confused look on his face, suddenly steps back to the very edge of the wall in horror.

It couldn't be.

The once fluffy cat was now something extraordinary.

Something that had only happened with one other individual.

The cat had turned human.

I frantically sit up, gasping for air as Ally stirs in the bed next to mine. What I had just seen. . . was truly horrifying. But who was the woman? The hair. The dress. The shoes. They all look familiar but I just don't know where I've seen them.

I'm then knocked back to reality when I hear a faint scratching sound at the door. I steadily stand and creep towards the door. I open it a crack but don't see anything. I look down only to find two furry heads and two bushy tails.

I recognize those furry bodies anywhere.

Chip and Peanut!