Chapter 3
Shadow explained everything that night. How she couldn’t remember her name. How she didn’t know what had happened. Queen Ruby, throughout all of this, didn’t move, or give any hint that she was believing or even listening to the girl known as “Shadow.” That was, until the end of her story.
“When I was walking in the forest, before I saw Jack, I came across this group of bandits that were talking about someone named…err…Alexander I think? They said that he’s like this cultist guy who’s got ‘some whore’ to sacrifice.” Shadow was saying. When she said “some whore” Ruby’s eyes flickered open, and a look of hatred and worry manifested itself upon her face. “You,” she pointed at everyone in the room, “find that bastard and bring me his head!” she screamed, with venom in her voice. Cedric, Paige and Gabriel got to their feet, placed one clenched fist on their right breast and bowed, low. In unison they said “Today, we pledge that we will not return without Kelly, and the end of those who are traitorous to the Holy Pact. He will not survive” They stayed there bowing until Lady Ruby and touched each of their shoulders and whispered something into each of their ears.
“You have the resources of the city behind you, however, Jack must go with you, it is destiny.” The old Queen said. Cedric nodded in confused understanding. He didn’t like Jack accompanying them, “he’s not ready…” he thought.
“He is ready, Cedric” Lady Ruby said, “I always know what you’re thinking, you should know that by now.” Cedric nodded in response. He left the room, with Gabriel and Paige following behind him. They exited the Castle via the back door, into the garden where not long before, they were fighting with Kelly. A tear appeared in Cedric’s eye, but he moved away quickly enough so that no-one saw. He sensed something, a slight disturbance in the environment, maybe he felt someone watching him - he couldn’t quite figure it out.
He ran towards the apothecary, since he thought that Jack might be in trouble! He turned the corner, and another and another. He couldn’t think straight, in this labyrinth he called “Home” all of his life. His mind was elsewhere, thinking about Kelly, when she was younger.
The river was flowing quietly, peacefully. A small girl was running and laughing, with a man, similarly laughing and running. They were having fun, as their faces were taken over by huge grins. That was, until the girl tripped into the river. She had hit her head on something, so she was knocked out, and therefore couldn’t move from the river, now flowing quicker, and more dangerously.
The man caught up and saw what happened. He rushed over, and picked the girl up. Her face was blue, but she was breathing. Something wasn’t right, the man thought. There wasn’t any stones around, the ground was even, so there was no reason why the girl should have tripped.
He was wondering why she tripped. He looked at the ground around him, and saw why. A crude tripwire, fashioned from nothing but a pair of sticks and some fraying rope. A twig snapped. He turned his head, towards when the sound came from. His senses were heightened, and he jumped to his feet, unsheathing his steel long sword, emblazoned with purple swirls and the crest of a nearby city, where this man obviously lived. “I know you’re there!” He shouted, in a gruff, harsh voice.
From the river emerged a figure, dressed in black from head to toe. He clutched a short, sharp dagger. “Give me the girl, and you will not be harmed.” A mysterious voice said. The voice seemed to emanating from the man’s own head, and he was feeling disorientated. “No!” He shouted.
“No? Well then, I must take her by force.” The voice said. The man stepped between the girl and the hooded figure. “Try it,” he challenged, “I’m not afraid of you.”
The voice laughed. A dark, demonic laugh that pierced the very essence of the man. He held the sword out in front of him. He two-handed wielded it, and he seemed comfortable with the sword in his hand, like he’s used it before. The figured lunged forward, dagger first, to which the man deflected. The man went on the offensive. The figure was still staggered from the previous deflection, so was unable to parry the man’s attack. The sword drove through the figure’s neck. The figure fell to the floor, under his cloak. The man went to stab the cloak, to finish the fight, but only hit ground. He turned to see the girl being lifted by a man with scars on his face, and eyes that looked into the very soul of the man. “You have failed.” The voice inside the man’s head said.
“No he hasn’t” A voice boomed from what seemed the sky. Clouds started to form, and left a hole, from which sunlight beamed down. The sunlight formed a circle around the scarred man and the girl. “No,” the voice screamed, “No.” The scarred man vanished. The man ran over to the girl. He picked him up in his arms. “Come on Kelly, let’s get home.” He said.
Back at the castle, the man was now explaining everything that had happened to Kelly at the river. “Hmm… I see” Lady Ruby, looking younger and fresher of face, “how is she now?” She inquired, looking worried.
“She’s only tired mi lady, she went to bed.” The man said. He got up to leave.
“Cedric,” the queen said, “don’t go just yet. I have a proposition for you.”
“Oh?” The man said, “What is it, ma’am?”
“You know Kelly better than the rest of the guards combined. I charge you with becoming the Royal Protector of her, and any future children I may have.”
“Oh… okay!” Cedric said, enthusiastically. He bent down on one knee, at the feet of the queen and said “Mi Lady, by everything I do, I will stay your faithful protector, no matter the sacrifice.”
Cedric smiled at the memory, as he opened the door to the apothecary, where Jack wasn’t to be found...
