Dream Wolf

13: The Dungeon

"It was me," Ali said cautiously, making sure not to glance back at her friends.
"And who might you be?"
"Lia Alle," she lied. Better not to tell an evil queen her real name. All the books she's read said that names had power, and what her life had turned into almost counted as a story.
"Come, Lia Alle." She beckoned to the carriage. "Sit with me and tell me your story, and how you came to be screaming in my forest."
Ali hesitantly stepped forward.
"Nothing to be afraid of, dear."
She had her doubts about that, but went with the queen anyways. If she didn't, she felt her fate would be even worse.
"What is your story, Lia Alle?"
"I got lost." The Queen threw her head back and laughed.
"Tell me more."
"I live on the other side of the forest. I heard a bird singing, and it sounded really cool, so I came in to check it out. Then I got lost." The lie rolled off Ali's tongue as easily as the truth.
"Cool? It is not icy, is it?"
"Cool as in nice." Ali had forgotten that if there were queens and dungeons, they probably weren't very up to date on slang.
"Take us to the castle." The queen smiled unseemly. There was something eerie about her presence, as if she didn't belong. As if she was from another world.
The Queen (Darla, her name was) pestered Ali with questions the whole way to the castle. Every time she was asked, Ali shifted in her seat as though it might expose her.
Soon enough, Ali had an elaborate tale woven, that twisted so close to her true life, it was barely a lie.
"Come in."
Queen Darla took Ali into the castle. As soon as they entered, her face froze into a scowl, all the kindness she had shown a moment before washed away.
"Take her to the dungeon."
Queen Darla stalked away, leaving Ali to the mercy (or no-mercy) of the buff guards who chained her hands together and took her down, deep under the top of the hill.

A/N: Hope you like the newest chapter! The evil queen has now been introduced. Any thoughts about her? And will Ali find her way out through the hole in the wall. Stay tuned for the next chapter, which (hopefully) will come sooner than this one did.