The Key to Her Mind

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

            Jillian and Arabesque were tired so they all stopped in a patch of soft grass to spend the night. When they awoke the sun was just beginning to rise and they all set off for the witch’s castle. Ara was not too keen on charging into the home of a witch who could kill her but she knew that it was the only way to get her friends back. Menko had brought some food from his home and they ate bread and cheese as they walked. The castle could be seen in the distance. Jillian could tell that it had once been beautiful but due to neglect it had fallen in to disrepair.

            “That used to be her majesty’s palace”, said Ara sadly. “It was always so shiny and happy looking there but now look at it”.

            “Yes, I remember all the times I went into that palace”, answered Menko. “It was indeed very beautiful”.

            “So, you were Horrilen’s servant weren’t you”, asked Jillian.

            “Yes”, answered Menko, “I was. I will never forget all the late nights that I spent running back and forth picking up all of his papers and trying to organize them as he threw more on the ground. He was always doing that. Always had a hard time getting his spells just right, he did. I can’t tell you how I felt the day he died but this great news that Rix is alive”.

            “I didn’t know that you thought he was dead”, said Ara.

            “Yes, that was believed to be the case for a long time”, said Menko. “My own son was killed in a battle for Gantailzia’s freedom when he was only twelve”.

            “Oh, that is horrible”, said Jillian sadly.

            “Yes, it is very sad indeed”, said Menko quietly.

            “Look”, said Ara, pointing, “There is the gate to the castle. I can see it”.

            Jillian and Ara took off running and Menko struggled to keep up. The castle was very close now and although they were very excited the girls agreed that they should proceed carefully. They slowed to a fast walk and when they reached the castle they all hid behind a large bush.

            “We need to be careful of those guards there”, said Arabesque, pointing.

            “How will we get into the castle”, asked Jillian?

            “How about some of this”, said Menko, pulling the magic dust that Ciettak had given him? “It can get us over the wall”.

            “That’s a good idea”, said Jillian, “but we will need to move to a spot where no one will see us”.

            The three snuck around to the back of the castle and hid behind a small tree. Menko pulled a bit of the dust from the little pouch and whispered some strange words into it. Immediately they were all lifted into the air and they rose slowly up the wall of the palace and were set gently right on top.

            “I know this place well”, said Menko. “We should go that way”.

            Menko pointed to a quiet looking hallway and they all slipped along quietly being sure not to let any guards see them. Menko pointed out the best places to walk so that they would not be seen.

            “Where would the boys be exactly”, asked Jillian?

            “Maybe the dungeon”, answered Ara.

            “That’s this way”, said Menko.

            They turned a corner into a dark hallway and a big wooden door blocked their path. Menko took out more of the magic dust and poked it into the lock. The door opened and they all slipped in side. Jillian could not see anything and she almost tripped before she realized that there was a staircase. It spiraled down and down deep into the depths of the castle. Suddenly a little mouse ran across the stairs in front of Arabesque and she let out a high pitched scream.

            “What was that”, Jillian heard a guard ask in the distance?

She could hear them start running towards them and they all took of back up the stairs only to be cornered by more guards at the top. They grabbed Jillian and her friends and hauled them off up a grand staircase and into a beautiful hall were Loukraiza sat on a golden throne. The guards flung them to the floor at the witch’s feet and Ara let out a wince as she hit the floor.

“These troublesome peasants were snooping around in the dungeon my lady”, said one of the guards. “What would you like me to do with them”?

“Arabesque”, said Loukraiza in a sickly sweet voice, “I see that you have escaped from my spell. I don’t like it when people do that dear. Oh, and Menko, I am surprised to see you here. You have not been here in years”.

Loukraiza turned to Jillian.

“I don’t seem to recognize you dear”, said the witch. “Who are you”?

“My name is Jillian”, she answered.

“Jillian”, said Loukraiza with a surprised look on her face, “Jillian. Well Jillian it seems that you like my dungeon and all I want is to make my subjects happy so I will let you spend a good long time in there. Ok”?

She gave Jillian a sarcastic smile and ordered the guards to take her back to the dungeon.

“What about us”, asked Menko?

“I thought that you two might want to spend a little more time with me”, she answered sarcastically, “If that’s alright with you”?

The guards pulled Jillian from the hall and back down the dark staircase. They flung her in a cell and locked the door. Jillian landed with a thud on the hard floor and lay there crying until she drifted off to sleep.