World Of Worlds (Arula: One)

Chapter 21

Shurli's streets was busy with merchants and buyers. Children ran around with stray dogs at their heels, mothers watched for the little ones as they shopped, and men busied themselves either in a tavern or doing work. Only the sounds of the markets and children laughing could be heard. A young boy ran with his sister and their dog through the market as fast as they could.

"Wait up, Ronald!" Cried the boy's sister as she desperately tried to catch up.

"Well come on, Susie! We don't want to miss the show." The boy, Ronald, called back. They were heading toward the puppet show that performs once a week for the children of Shurli. Their dog trotted up ahead of them, barking in excitement. Suddenly, the barking turned into whinnying. The dog skidded to a halt and started to growl. "What is it, boy?" Ronald said placing a hand on the dog's raised fur. A blast silenced the market chatting and was replaced with a few screams from the townspeople. Another blast came through and a small white circle started to appear. It grew bigger and bigger until it became a white oval.

Nothing happened, no one moved. A crowd of people had already begun to circle the mysterious oval. A young boy suddenly came tumbling out of the oval and the crowd screamed. The boy looked up from the street in confusion. His brown-hazel eyes scanning the area around him. Just as he about to open his mouth, two more figures, both girls, came tumbling out and landed on top of the boy. The oval then shut with another loud blast. Everyone had stayed back from the figures that had just popped out of a magical portal. "Who are they?" Some whispered. "Where did they come from? The Otherworld?" they continued to whisper until the king's guards came riding through the crowd.

"Out of our way!" One shouted. "Move in the name of your king!" The guard stopped in front of the three figures with pure interest. The guard, who is known as Yuza, began to look around the crowd. "What happened here?" He demanded. The young boy, Ronald, took a step forward, with his sister clinging on his arm.

"T-there was t-this loud blast," the boy began. "A-and something appeared, like magic! A-and these three popped out of it." His sister nodded in an agreement when Yuza stared at her.

"Is this true?" He demanded to the crowd, who all nodded their heads with a few "yeses" mixed in there. Yuza snapped his fingers at his men and motioned to the three strangers. "Take them to the king... he should know of this." As the guards began to drag the strangers away, with them yelling and kicking, Yuza ordered the people to go back about their daily business. Then, he too, rode back to the castle.

----

Dennis kicked and squirmed as the guards dragged him along with his sister and her friend away. Where are we? Dennis thought. As he looked around him, he thought he was at some Renaissance fair. Soon, his view turned dark as they entered some castle looking place. Armored knight statues stood every so often with paintings that hung in between the statues. Dennis' eyes suddenly grew wide. No way! He thought as they were being dragged onward. This is the place that Karma and I thought of years ago, when we would play knight and princess! Years ago, Karma and Dennis were playing a game they called, knight and princess. It was Karma's idea to make the castle. So, all day, they sat in Dennis' room coming up with ideas for the castle. Karma drew in her book. They put secret passageways, long hallways, and armored knight statues. It was all here.

Soon, two doors opened wide. The throne room, he thought remembering what the doors looked like and how they opened. Dennis' vision soon got dizzy as he was thrown to the ground in an instant. "And what is this?" Declared a smooth, chilling voice. Dennis looked up and saw icy blue eyes staring down at him. Besides his eyes, he was pretty much ugly with a hooked nose and a long face with black long, curly hair.

"Otherworlders we believe," said the guard that Dennis recognized as the one who put him, his sister, and her friend under arrest.

"Mm," the man in front of them said. "Interesting." He looked down at them with curious eyes. "And may I know who you are?" He asked.

"Why should I tell you anything!" Dennis heard Alice said. "And what is this place? Where are we?" The man in front of them suddenly stood.

"Ah! How rude of me," he said. "You are guest! I should be introducing myself!" clearing his throat, he spoke in a proud, strong voice. "I am King Termis of Shurli... and soon to be of all Arula. You see, my friends. You stepped through a portal. And of course, you couldn't get through it unless..." suddenly the man, who called himself Termis, eyes sparkled. "Say you wouldn't have another one of those portals, would you?" The trio gave this king an odd look. The sparkle of the king's eyes then died away. "Oh, I see. Neither mind then. Now may I ask who you are?"

Feeling brave, Dennis stood up from his knees. Two guards stepped forward, but Termis waved them away, clearly amused by this boy's actions. "I am Dennis Windale. And this is my sister, Alice Windale and her friend Star." Alice suddenly stood and advanced toward her brother.

"You dimwitted moron!" She said. "Don't you know not to talk to strangers?" A hard laugh suddenly broke out and brother and sister turned to see the king laughing as hard as possible. He was crying so hard that tears came to his eyes. When he was finished, he turned to look at them. Termis tilted his head like puppy who heard a different sound for the first time.

"You did say, Windale, right?" He asked.

"Y-yes." Dennis said unsure. A small, wicked smile came across the man's face.

"You won't be happened to be related to a Karma Windale, would you?" Dennis' eyes grew wide, as did Alice's.

"Yes!" Dennis said. "She's our sister. She's been missing for months! Have you seen her? Is she here?" Termis began to circle the three like a hungry jungle cat. His eyes flashed with pleasure. The look that Termis wore made Dennis feel very uncomfortable.

"Well," the king said. "That depends. If you mean here, as if in Arula, then yes, she is. But if you mean here, by here, here, in this very castle, then no. I'm afraid not. You see, lad, I've been looking for your sister as well. She and I are... well let's just say acquaintances, mm?"

With his hands folded neatly behind his back, he quietly motioned for his head guard, who in returned nodded ever so slightly. All at once, three guards grabbed the trio. "Hey!" Dennis yelled.

"Let us go!" Alice demanded. Star just screamed and kicked.

"Forgive me, this is nothing personal, it's just business. You see, your sister is a very important person and I have, without doubt, know that she's in Abaddon by now... Yuza!" Termis yelled for his head guard. "Write our dear friend a letter if she ever wants to see her family again, she'll bring the book along with that key." Yuza nodded and ran off to write the letter. Termis turned toward Dennis, who was still fighting against the guard that held him tight. "And as for you... I do hope that you enjoy your stay." Then turning to the guards, "take them away!"