The Land Of The Dead

Chapter one: The Blackmail

The protection bracelet was resting openly on top of a neat nightstand. The king never takes it off. An awe in Glory's face at a sight of it, flicked a nosiness switch in an abrupt. She tip-toed her way to the king's nightstand and looked at it with disbelief in her eyes.

She drew in a large amount of breath and smiled when she exhaled. She reluctantly stretched out her hand to take it to her palms but she drew it back. She exhaled again and gulped this time.

She reached for it once more, a sensational burning shock ran through her fingers when she just only touched it. She responded with a reflex and quickly shied her hand away from the protection bracelet.

The protection bracelet was made of beads and an elastic string. The beads were brown -- for ancestral connection and latching, instead of possession or inhabitation.
Ancestors come in many forms when they visit us. Others say that: when you dream of a python not harming you -- it means your ancestor is with you.

Some say that: when you see a swiftly fading shadow resembling the colour brown, it means your ancestor was watching or visiting you.

"What are you doing?" Queen Sono asked distrustingly.

Sono Mathonsi was the only daughter of the late king, Ville Mathonsi, who reigned as the king of Hudville from 1658 - 1687. He was 51 year-old when he passed away. Ville helped to keep his land, and his people safe when he fought a war against the British people who wanted to take his land by force.

"Nothing!" Glory got startled and answered in an instant. "Nothing, my queen. I was just looking about."

"Get out of my room, now!"

Glory walked out of the queen's bedroom in character of shamefulness.

An hour later, after Glory was asked to leave queen Sono and king Source's bedroom -- she sent boys to call Tyandra Witchell for her.

She went to the forest, that's where they were going to meet. Tyandra arrived just in a blink of time, Glory flashed a friendly grin. Tyandra paused when Glory turned around and walked slwoly into the forest. She frowned and threw a shrug, and continued to walk.

She found Glory standing by the branch she sat at when she was healing her wound. She was still grinning, waiting for Tyandra.

A tingle sensation lingered on Tyandra's stomach, remembering that day, when she saw Glory standing by the branch.

"Goood dayyy, Tyandra," she welcomed her warmly.

"Glory," Tyandra gulped.

"Beautiful branch, wouldn't you agree?" Glory said, looking at it. Her beautiful face was just filled with delightful smiles.

"It's old."

"Whatever. I want you to do something for me."

"What would that be?"

Glory smiled in relief as if she had already gotten what she was seeking.

"I want you to make a love potion for me," she said.

"What?"

"Come on, now, child. You heard me."

Tyandra passed her eyes down in a thoughtful, yet confused expression, until Glory spoke again. "You mean you don't remember?"

"Wh-- remember what?" Tyandra asked with her heart out of ease.

Glory adjusted her white dress gently and squatted down slowly to take a sit on the branch. Tyandra's heart quickly skipped a beat. "Remember what you did here?"

"No. I don't know what you're talking about."

Glory then purposely imitated Tyandra's movements when she was healing herself. "What are you doing?" Tyandra asked with her voice shaking.

"I'm healing myself." She smiled, paused and looked at her, "just like you did the other day. Only... I don't have real powers like you."

"Glory, I don't know what you're speaking of," she said as she and turned around with a fast pace and walked away.

"Tyandra, darling, I am going to tell the lot of them, if you try to take me for a fool."

Tyandra turned around returning to Glory with a run, "I'll do whatever you want. Please." Her breath was shaking.

"Lovely." She stood up and gave a gentle brush to Tyandra's cheek. Her beautiful smile was as if she was born to blackmail, manipulate and to be cunning. Glory would've made a great actress if movies were being made during her days, back in the 17th century.

She removed her hand from Tyandra's cheek and spun around to find a way to put her thoughts into words. "Okay, I want you..." She pointed at her, "to make a love potion for me."

"Who will you use it on?"

Glory's face changed to being sullen, leaving her smile remaining the same. Making her look creepy.

She cleared her throat, "are you hassling me?" She asked with a smile restored on her face.

"No. No. No more questions, I promise."

"Good. Otherwise you will suffer in these hands of Glory if you're stupid."

"There's one problem."

"Ah, please don't tell me that you can't make one."

"No. It's not that."

"Then out with it!" She yelled with an impatient anger which made Tyandra shiver. "I'm growing impatient here," she said calmly.

"I can't make a liquid one. What I can do... is that I'd use something that you will give to him by imbuing it with my spell."

Something like a gift," she said rubbing on her chin.

"Yes. Something like a gift."

"Okay. Meet me here tomorrow. At this hour." After that she left quickly in a rush.

On the following day, on that same hour. Tyandra was waiting for Glory to show up at the forest. She arrived only about 20 minutes later.

"You're late."

"Late to you, too. If that's a new form of greeting," she said with a smile.

Tyandra sighed, "what did oh bring?".

"Here." Glory took out a bracelet from a small pouch and handed it to Tyandra.

"Hmm, smart."

Tyandra took it and enclosed it with her palms, she started to mutter out words for about 10 seconds. She then handed the bracelet back to Glory.

"Now blow on it so that the person you'd be giving it too will fall in love with you, even if you'd be miles away."

"Come on now, it can't be this easy."

"Apparently it is... we even?"

"I suppose." She held out her hand and shook Tyandra's.

They then parted ways.