The Swan Princess

Chapter 30: Method to the Madness

I'm jostled down narrow hallways. Down the decrepit, aging stairwell. Across the dilapidated tiles to get to the castle entrance, where my entire journey began.

The drawbridge is worse than I remember. The evening sky is clouded, sun casting splintered shadows on the moat below. River serpents thrash, causing white foam to spill over the churning navy water. The bridge creaks and groans as I get dragged along it, bowing down with our combined weights.

The crone releases my ear, giving me less than a second of relief before hoisting me over her shoulder.

The chains of the drawbridge starts to rotate, and my view begins tilting. A horrible 15 degree angle. 30. 45. Now, my keeper has to shift her feet to keep us aloft.

"This is how it's going to work, castle traitor."

The serpents flick their tails, causing ripples in the water. Beady eyes gather beneath me, waiting. Watching.

"When this thing gets too high of an angle, I'm pushing you off. Then, the drawbridge closes. Got it?"

"Yeah," I rasp. I need to save my energy. This bridge is about to be fully vertical.

The drawbridge climbs higher.

I take in my last breath.

With a great shove, she throws me off her, sliding down. I hear the bridge slam shut, as I tumble through the air.

I feel the sting of cold water just as a boom explodes from above, and wood splinters crash into the water around me.

The sound is so disorienting, I have time to push up to the surface and breath. Above me, there's a carriage sized hole in the drawbridge, splintered wood framing the edges.

The next second, I'm drenched in a massive wave, as a creature from above lands in the water.

A massive black beast emerges, teeth dripping blood. Eyes icy blue and soulless, it's maw, which is stained red, is bigger than my entire face. It launches forward, taking down a serpent that snuck up behind me.

I scream, and then shift into my swan. Flapping my arms as hard as I can, I fly up and away. I'm slower than usual, and I pant while training to move my waterlogged wings. A serpent launches up, wrapping itself around my foot, and I get dragged back underneath again.

My throat fills with water before the serpent releases me, and I fight my way back to the surface. I hear the slithering hisses of serpents as they descend, trying to attack the beast.

It is of no use. He rips them to shreds, forming bloody ribbons in the murky water.

I need to leave. Whatever this creature is, it'll come for me next. This time, I shake and ruffle my feathers out, spraying water everywhere. I need to be as dry as possible if I'm going to get away.

I push down, sending my body up, as I glide away. Keep going, I think to myself. Emilia would be so upset if I died.

When I hit the cloud cover, I soar. Everything will be okay. I just need to get away from here, and start over. Leave this country, find somewhere else, and move on.

I look back at the castle. The gold and white swirls that I thought would be my home forever.

The friends I thought I'd work beside forever.

The boy I thought I'd love forever.

The pounding sounds beneath pull me out of my stupor. I glide beneath the clouds, then panic.

It followed me.

The beast.

I dart back up, flying as high as I can. I hear a faint growl beneath me, but no more pounding. Oh no. That means it's beneath, waiting for me.

I dart in a new direction. Following the wind, I dart as fast as I can.

It's no use. He's still thundering behind me.

I swivel again. Maybe I can confuse him?

He yowls again, louder, like he's ready to pounce.

I'm running out of energy. I can't keep going like this.

My wings falter, taking me down to the tree line. The beast haunches back, like he's ready to pounce on a tree to eat me.

Absolutely not. I will not be slain by the serpent-eater.

I keep gliding, but I'm not going as far. The creature is getting closer and closer, and I can hear his labored breathing as he pants on my tail.

I dive through a glade, thick with trees, hoping I'll lose him. For a second, I think it works. The noise has stopped.

Then, a golden arrow pierces my wing, sending me spiraling to the earth.