A Grim Fairy Tale

Chapter Sixty-Nine

It was at the break of dawn when everyone in the alps's cottage was awakened by screams piercing through the entire forest. They were all jumping from their beds, disoriented and confused. All of them at first thinking it was only a dream until they realized that they all could hear the screaming. It was coming from the village.

"What the hell is going on over there?" Blitzo asked. "God, if it's another pagan holiday, what is it with those people getting up so early and dancing around, screaming? Can't they at least wait until noon?"

"I don't think those are celebratory screams Blitzo." Alastor said. "They sound more like screams of terror and agony."

"Should we investigate?" Moxxie asked.

"What for?" Blitzo asked.

"To make sure the whatever is causing all that screaming isn't coming our way."

"Hmm...Good point. Let's check it out, but we'll go as animals. You know how humans are, whenever something bad happens, they always the freaks of nature." He then posed dramatically "Ah, fate, why have you burdened me this cruelly?"

Charlotte gave him a confused looks.

"He dabbles in the theatrical arts." Alastor said, reading her expression. "You wouldn't believe how many plays he's memorized. He knows all the lines by heart."

"And yet those fools at the local theater rejected me. Said that they wanted human actors for their productions. The uncultured swines!"

"Sir please, let's not go into this again. We'll be here all day." Moxxie said. "Let's cut the drama, peek in on the village for a little bit, and hurry back before we get into trouble."

"I'll come too just in case you need someone to chase away any angry mobs that might go after you." Alastor chuckled.

"Can I come?" Charlotte asked.

"No, you stay here. Millie keep an eye on her, please?"

"Of course dear." Millie agreed.

"Wait, why can't I go?" Charlotte said.

"Because we don't know what's out there and you could be hurt."

"I'll be careful. I'll be with you."

"It's better if you stay here."

"But I could help you."

"I don't think so, not right now. Just stay here, we won't be long."

Blitzo and Moxxie then proceeded to transform into a fox and lynx, and the two animals along with the mysterious-looking man slipped out of the cottage and crept toward the village, making sure that they stayed in the shadows to avoid being noticed.

"Will they be alright?" Charlotte asked Millie as she watched them slowly vanished behind several trees.

"They'll be fine." Millie assured them. "Believe me, all four of us have been in situations like these plenty of times and we always know what we're doing."

Charlotte lingered in the door way a little longer then sat down by the hearth. Eli climbed into her lap and for sometime, she just sat there, petting him and anxiously waiting for her friend and the two alps to return. She was just starting to calm down when she glanced over to see Alastor's cloak hanging in a corner across from her. He had forgotten it. He was going out into the village with his face uncovered and with the village possibly in a panic. He could be shot.

"I better get this to him!" She jumped from the floor and grabbed it off the hook.

"Charlotte, what are you doing?" Millie asked.