The Great Evil: Rewritten

Chapter 1

     The waves crashed against the shore, the smell of salt wafts through the air. It was a usual day for Mala Kiki. A woman walks along the shoreline collecting seashells. "This one will work perfectly!" she exclaimed. She shoves the shells into a basket and sits down in the sand. The wind blows through her long black hair partially covering her face in the process. Peacefulness shatters as she hears a herd of royal horses coming her way.

     "Mariana, daughter of the fisherman, the King requests your arrival at the castle immediately." one of the knights stated. "What for?" Mariana questioned. "It's about the security of Mala Kiki m'lady." the knight extended his hand offering her to hop on the horse. She gets on the horse and they ride off, quickly leaving the sandy beaches and straight into the heart of the city.

     Mariana wasn't made for the bustling city, she only came here with her Father to sell fish they'd catch for quite a bit of coin. It was loud, to say the least. Horse hooves stomping the ground, children running around laughing, merchants ringing bells and asking people to buy their products as they pass by. They soon reach the castle, it's quiet. "We just rolled on through like nothing!" Mariana thought.

     When they enter the walls of the castle the knights guide her to the king's chamber. "We'll be right outside this door, so no funny business!" The tallest of the knights gestured before he turned around and closed the door, leaving her with the king and his son. "Afternoon your majesties.." She bowed. "Haha! No need to be formal Mariana!" King Cyprus said laying in his bed coughing. "All right then, why have I been summoned?" She walks closer. The prince and Mariana lock eyes for a brief moment.

     He jerks his eyes away from hers and clears his throat "Have you heard the tale of 'The Great Evil?'" he asked. "Y-you mean the one who destroyed five cities in one night?!" she stepped back in shock. He looks down at the ground and sighs "Indeed. It's back." Mariana walked towards Prince Clyve and stares into his eyes "How do you know?" she asks not breaking eye contact.

     Clyve stares back at her. "It destroyed Kala." he hesitantly states. Mariana fell to the floor. "No.." Prince Clyve kneels down to comfort her "Leave her be Clyve." King Cyprus commands. Clyve steps back.

     The chamber door swings open and behind it was a scrawny old man. "Sire!" the man exclaims. "Yes, Cassius?" he coughed. "There seems to be a disturbance in Likua."  Cassius explains. King Cyprus tries to stand up but falls instantly due to his weak limbs. "Dad! Don't stress yourself, you're sick let me handle this." Prince Clyve says as he steps up to Cassius and asks to talk to him outside.

     Twenty minutes pass and the two walk back inside. "Mariana, I have arranged for you to sail to Likua to figure out what is happening." Clyve gestured towards Cassius. "Why me? Why not send people who can do what your asking?!" she asked. "It's becau-" Clyve gets cut off from Cassius "We haven't much time! You must hurry!" Cassius grabs her wrist and guides her to the royal docks.

     Salty waves crash against the hull of the ship making it rock back to forth distressing Mariana's stomach. One of the Deckhands walk up to her "Oy' Love, you a'right?" he asked, Mariana turns around to see a kid about age fifteen staring quizzically at her. "I am doing just fine, may I ask your name?" she sits on a barrel next to her. "Names Gilmer, Gilmer Weiss." he states boldly "Bit young aren't ya?" she lays her hands in her lap. "Not at all Miss, father is the Captain so he put me aboard!"

     Gilmer stood there high and mighty until a much older man interrupts "Gilmer go scrub the deck or I'll toss you overboard." the man sternly told him "Aye." Gilmer walks off and the older man introduces himself "Captain Weiss, it's a pleasure." he takes his cap off and bows. "Pleasures all mine Captain." Mariana smiles "Now, tell me, how far is this Likua?" she adjusts her position to avoid any unfortunate upheavals. "Should be close." he assures her "You'll get used to the swaying." he smirks "But if you do feel queasy join me in my Quarters, I'd enjoy the company."

     Mariana was about to decline the offer but then she notices herself fighting off the unwanted guest from the pits of her stomach. "I'd love to." They both head to the Captain's Quarters.

     Mariana ended up falling asleep in the Captain's bed she wakes up to him sitting at his desk, "Oh my, sorry Captain, I seem to have taken your bed." she jumps out fixing her hair "No worries dear, I don't sleep much when I'm sailing." Mariana sighed in relief. A first mate hollers from the Crows Nest "Land Ho!" Captain Weiss and Mariana run out to see the beautiful skyline of Likua coming closer into view, not knowing the carnage upon the land. "Likua is beautiful.." Mariana's eyes glisten with beauty.

     The ship docks in the harbor, "This is where we part ways, Mariana. Send a letter to Mala Kiki when you are ready to return." he bows "Thank you for sailing here, I must go now." Mariana does a curtsy and walks off the ship.

     Her foot touched the delicately cut wooden planks of the Likua harbor and is in awe of each architectural design of the city. She waves off the ship and heads into the town. Once she reached the gates a horrible odor fills her nose causing her to jolt backward covering her precious sense of smell. She walks a little bit more inside and sees what's causing the smell.        Corpses everywhere, families, cattle, anything you could imagine, it was there. Mariana started to tear up until she hears a woman calling for help in the distance.

     She runs towards the woman calling back out for her. After the wrong turns and dead ends, she finally finds the woman crying out. The woman was stuck underneath a fallen food cart Mariana helps lift the cart off of her, "It's okay, I'm here! What happened?" Mariana calms the woman down "I-It was something malicious..something...evil."