Crown Quest: A Beatles Adventure

Chapter Eight

    A day passed before they saw a harpy flying toward them. George tensed, ready for another fight. The others got ready, bracing themselves for more of Mark's wrath. George searched the sky to see if the necromancer had sent an army of harpies but found it was only the single harpy.

    "It doesn't act aggressive," Ringo said haltingly.

    "Could be a trap," John said sternly. "Be ready."

    The harpy landed before them, leaves fluttering away from the impact. In its taloned, withered hands was a piece of a parchment paper. George held his breath as the harpy neared them cautiously and dropped the paper at George's feet. With a sneer, the harpy launched itself into the sky, disappearing.

    "What is it?" Linda asked, leaning over to peer at the note.

    "It's addressed to George," Olivia pointed out, indicating to the named scrawled on it.

    "It might be a trap," Paul warned.

    Maureen picked up a stick and began to tentatively prod at the note with it. All the while, Martha was watching with alert eyes, wagging her small tail, waiting for Maureen to engage her in a game of fetch.

    "I don't think anything's up with it," Maureen said warily, "but be careful, George."

    He nodded and picked it up, slicing the envelope open with his index finger before reading it. He almost dropped it back into the grass like it was on fire.

    "What?" Cynthia asked, voice on edge. "What does it say?"

    George numbly handed it to her, feeling like his entire world had crashed down on him. Stu peered over Cynthia's shoulder to read it and then glanced at George with concern.

    "Well? Share with the rest of class!" John said, annoyance clear in his voice.

    "Mark kidnapped George's parents," Stu said, sympathy in his eyes. "He also says that he will harm them if George continues to pursue him."

    John looked around with calculating light brown eyes, mouth set in a thin line, jaw clenched.

    "Scheming face," Cynthia said with amusement.

    "Oh, is that what it is?" Stu said, raising an eyebrow. "I thought it was his constipated look."

    John ignored his comment and looked to Ringo. "Hey, Richie, don't you know someone who can help us? Whatshisname? That one guy?"

    "Uh, yeah," Ringo said hesitantly. "He lives not very far from here."

    "Who?" George asked.

    "His name is Rory. He'll do anything for you if you asked."

    Paul made a lead-on gesture, and Ringo veered to the left, leading them through the trees in a rapid fashion. George simply couldn't believe that this had happened to his parents. It was too much for him to comprehend. He felt like he was drowning and he couldn't get his way to the surface even though it was right before him.

    "They're going to be okay," Olivia reassured him. She hesitated before entwining her fingers in his. If George wouldn't have been so concerned about Louise and Harold, he would have been thrilled that she was holding his hand.

    It took them an hour to reach the village, and Ringo led them to a house that was in desperate need of repair. The roof seemed to be caving in and was riddled with holes. The bricks were falling out of the sides, vines crawling up around the windows, slithering like snakes.