Gerudo Forest

Chapter 57

Melissa woke with a groan, staring at the dark ceiling above her. Her head throbbed as if someone had hit her with a 2x4. What had happened? She remembered seeing Jimmy, chasing after him, and then having something placed around her neck, but everything after seemed to be a blur.  

She kept seeing flashes of memory. The most that she remembered was houses passing by swiftly. Who had been carrying her and where had she been taken exactly? She put her hand to her throat absentmindedly, Trying to recall, only to receive a nasty shock. A scream escaped her lips as she writhed in pain.  

"I wouldn't do that again if I were you." she heard a voice sound from somewhere in the room. " The other girl has yet to wake up, after her last attempt to remove that collar." The voice sounded hollow with a sort of echo to it.  

She turned her head slowly, trying to find the source. The room was dark, but even in the pitch black, she could see a shadowy figure standing in the corner of the room. It's eyes glowed bright red. Melissa didn't have to be a genius to know what that meant. Fearfully, she reached for any magic she could use to fend off the creature, only to find, her usual energy gone and the dragon within faint. 

"That's right. You are now powerless. So I suggest you do as your told." The stalfos laughed at her wide eyed shock. 

Melissa tried to get up and back away, as the monster started to come closer, only to find her legs had been shackled to the floor.  

"Come, come, don't be like that. I do not plan to cause you harm. That is, as long as you behave." She heard it chiding her. 

How did this creature think she was going to act? She was trapped in a room with an undead monster, and no means of protection. Of course she was going to freak out. It didn't matter if it was acting civilized or not.  

"If you know what's good for you, you'll stay away from me." Melissa spat pulling at her chains, trying to put up a brave front, but the monster just chuckled. 

" He said you were a lot like her, but I never imagined you would have her boldness as well. Maybe Agahnim will leave you to me, instead of that other brat." it spoke, still closing the gap between them. 

"Wait... what?" Melissa stammered, stopping her efforts to break free. 

The stalfos came to a stop. At first she thought it was because the monster was thinking on how to answer her, but instead, it lit a candle that stood on a nearby stand. The light only made the creature more frighting and she instantly wished the skeleton had left them in darkness.  

It looked much like the ones they had passed on the way into the village, except its clothes were a little more intact and its armor also seemed to be well polished. Another minor difference was that this stalfos seemed to be wearing a sort of head circlet and bangles. Somehow the bangles seemed to stay on, even though they were now way bigger than its skeletal wrists and ankles. She realized looking at the circlet that this just might be king Igos. 

"I speak of Ziya." It responded, bringing her attention back to the conversation. "Do you not even know from who you are descended?" 

Of course Melissa had no clue who Ziya was. Descended? Did that mean the woman it spoke of was her many great grandmother?  

"You look a lot like her, you know." It continued coming closer. "Your a lot paler, but I see her in your face." 

She put her hand to her face feeling self-conscious. The old ghost had told her that as well.  

"I know who she is." Melissa responded defensively trying to hide her embarrassment. 

" That is good to hear. There is few alive who remember her now. If I had known the evil that fool of a monarch was capable of, I would have found a way to make her choose me instead." The monster said with a growl.