AFTERLAND and The Cryptic Prophecy

17: The Hedges of Thorns

The mirror showed a dark castle surrounded by huge hedges of thorns. Words like strange and scary were not enough to describe the place. The brick wall painted in black made it even more dreadful. Its doric pillars carved with beastly images like gargoyles. In mere seconds, the reflection changed and showed what was inside the castle. It was foggy, but still, we could see them, our parents.

"The Anarchy is indeed behind all this," said the grand lady. "They're at the Thorned Castle." I couldn't take my eyes off the mirror, but I could hear the frustration in Grand Lady Adela's voice.

"What are we –going to do now?" I struggled to say. I refused to accept what my eyes were showing me. I tried to control my emotion because my tears might fall anytime. I felt weak and hopeless, looking at the reflection of my mom shackled in that horrendous place.

"We have to do something!" Franco exclaimed and approached the magic mirror.

"Don't worry, we will save them," said Harris, clapping Franco's back gently.

"You are being chased by the Revenants. I am sure they won't harm your parents unless they have you," the grand lady reassured.

"Can't the magic mirror show us who's behind the disappearance of our parents?" I asked.

"It's possible my dear, only if you got something from those who took your parents. Even a strand of hair could help, but if you have nothing, then it's impossible to determine who's behind this."

Diordin squeezed her hands into fists. "Why are they doing this to our family?"

"I can't say for certain, dear. The dark witches haven't made any trouble for a long time. I'm also wondering who re-established the Ancient Anarchy."

"Korra said they might be doing this to free the Bogeyman from the Tenebris," said Harris. "Can't we ask for help from the Precious Capitol to make sure that the Anarchy won't make a way to free Hathorne?"

"We cannot do that," Khurl responded. "The Capitol doesn't believe in speculation, especially Prime Minister Cygnus. Until nothing happened, they will not move."

"He's right," agreed the grand lady. "It's not wise to make assumption without evidence. I'm also suspecting some people who could do this but I can't just accuse them without gathering enough information. Apart from that, your parents will be in even more trouble once the Capitol found out your parents came back here in Afterland."

"Then we have no other choice but to act on our own," I said.

I hated the thought that we couldn't even ask for help from the Precious Capitol but the grand lady was right, it would be more dangerous for our parents once the Capitol found out they already came back. I had no idea what might happen to them, and I didn't want to know at all.

"Follow me," Grand Lady Adela ordered.

We went to her office. The room looked elegant even from the outside. It was contained cypress wooden decorations and furniture. They covered the floor with white cedar wood. A few large windows let in enough light to the room.

The grand lady opened a huge cabinet made of mahogany. Like the walls and other parts of Chalcedon Guild, the cabinet carved with the image of a deer. She took a small pouch made of black silk.

She handed it to me. "Take this. It will help you on your journey. Apart from the horses that you can use, this is all I can offer to help." I felt her gentle grip on my hands. "I can face the punishment of Precious Capitol for helping you, but I don't want my subjects to be in jeopardy because of me. Once the Capitol learned I assisted you, my people will suffer."