Eranox- Cursed

by Katlin Murray

  The Knight held the door for them as they entered the room. The whole council was out of their seats, crowded around the cage in the corner.

  Madam Hawthorn turned, seeing them.

  “They have arrived.” She announced to the others.

  The council dispersed, not returning to their seats, but standing to face Luna and Lucas in a semi-circle, blocking the cage.

  “Step forward Lady Blackwater.” The King requested, waving his arm to his side.

  Luna walked forward, terrified of what she was about to see when she finally reached the cage.

  She was two steps in when she heard a meow. A simple meow, not garbled and sinister like the sounds from the Gateway. She walked faster, her heart fluttering with excitement.

  “It worked.” She breathed, staring past the King at the docile cat resting in the cage. It had been given a bowl of milk and was purring as it licked its paws.

  “It worked.” The King answered, his smile growing.

  “And now that we have passed the first test…” Sir Hawthorn stepped closer, a vial in his hand, “It is time to continue.” He sounded stoic, his voice flat and even.

  “Continue?” Luna knew what the next step was, she wasn’t sure that she was ready to face it yet. “Is he here?” She looked around the room for another cage.

  “No.” Sir Hawthorn answered, shaking his head. “The Knights were not able to procure him.”

  “They aren’t planning on going back into the Gateway at night, are they?” Luna turned to the King, it was a dangerous idea.

  “He wasn’t able to be found during the day.” The King spoke to Lune, “There might be a way to lure him out though…” His voice had taken on a strange pitch that Luna didn’t like.

  “What are you talking about?” Lucas cut in, stepping in front of Luna to protect her.

  “He came to his daughter, he aided her in the Gateway.” Sir Hawthorn seemed to be justifying something.

  “You can’t send her out there.” Lucas stomped his foot, raising his voice. “She is the last High Wizard… we can’t lose her.” He reminded them.

  “We need another High Wizard,” Madam Hawthorn cut in, her voice kind and stern, “and there is only one way to get to him…”

  Clearly they had already discussed their plan while Lucas and Luna had still been in the dining room waiting to be summoned, they had made up their minds about how they were going to procure Alec from the Gateway.

  “What is the plan?” Luna asked, no one had bothered to come straight out with it yet and it was making her dizzy trying to follow the discussion.

  The room went silent and the council turned to face her.

  “They want to use you as bait.” Lucas answered before they could.

  “How?” She turned to the council, watching their guilty faces.

  “We just need you to call to him.” Madam Hawthorn made it sound easy.

  “There would be Knights with you, they would keep you safe.” Sir Hawthorn added as though that made the difference.

  “What about all of the others? The rest of the cursed ones?” Luna asked.

  There were cursed in Eranox, and more cursed in the Gateway, how were they supposed to track down just one man without the others coming for them.

  “It should be very safe.” Sir Hawthorn didn’t sound as sure as he had clearly wanted to.

  “It’s not a good idea.” Lucas interjected before they could continue, “You are putting her in danger.” He added. “Wouldn’t it be better to find someone else, someone different to cure? Can’t you find Sir Alec later?”

  “The cursed are non-responsive in daylight.” Madam Hawthorn reminded Lucas, shooting him a stern look for speaking his mind, “and the Gateway is a very large place. We don’t have weeks to find him… Eranox only has days…”

  “Days?” Luna asked, surprised, “Is it spreading that fast?” She turned to the King, waiting for an answer.

  “I’m afraid so.” He answered, “At the rate it is spreading, you couldn’t possibly cure enough to stop it from taking over, we need a second High Wizard.” He looked uncomfortable at the idea of sending Luna out into the Gateway, but it was clear that there was no other way.

  Luna looked at the cage, the cat inside seemed content, it had been cured. She was capable of doing what they needed, of lifting the curse. But her mom had been right, they needed to put her in danger to save the rest of Eranox, they needed two High Wizards, one wasn’t enough.

  “Okay.” Luna nodded.

  “What?” Lucas turned, “You can’t really be considering… I promised that I would keep you safe…”

  “We need another High Wizard, to get ahead of the curse.” Luna explained her reasons, “I have to go get him, he will come if I ask.”

  “You really think he is just going to answer you if you call for him? That nothing else out there will come running?” Lucas shook his head, “This isn’t a good idea, it isn’t going to end well…” He stared at his father, defiance in his eyes.

  “He will come.” Luna was sure of it, “He came before when I needed him, I know he will come.” She didn’t know how she knew, she just did.

  “But what about the other creatures, the others in the Gateway who are cursed?” Lucas crossed his arms, “They will hear you.” He shook his head, “It won’t work.”

  “There will be Knights,” Luna looked at the council for reassurance, Sir Hawthorn nodded enthusiastically.

  “Ten of them.” He noted proudly.

  “Then I am going with you.” Lucas stepped forward, daring his father to say no to him.

  “Are you sure?” The King asked, he had a look in his eye. Things weren’t going as he had planned, he didn’t want his son out in the Gateway after dark, but he couldn’t say no, not if he was sending Luna.

  “I am where Luna is.” Lucas answered defiantly.

  “The Prince has made his choice.” Sir Hawthorn looked less than upset that Lucas was choosing to go on a suicide mission into the Gateway.

  His Father nodded, “Then so be it.” He sounded scared.

  “The Knights are prepared to go.” Sir Hawthorn interrupted the silence that followed, “We shouldn’t waste time.” He added, trying to rush things along.

  “I’ll need to change before I can leave.” Luna added, she wasn’t about to go running into the Gateway in a fancy dress and heels. She needed to be able to move, she needed to be prepared to run.

  “Take her to her quarters.” Madam Hawthorn instructed Lucas, “And return quickly.” She added pointedly.

  Lucas nodded, taking Luna’s hand and pulling her towards the chamber doors and out into the hall.

  “You must be crazy to agree to that.” He walked quickly down the hall towards her room, “And your mom is going to kill me…” He added.

  “She doesn’t have to know.” Luna reminded him, “As long as it all goes well, she never will.” Luna promised, though she was starting to feel the fear that was radiating from Lucas.

  They reached her room and Luna slipped inside, Margie seemed surprised to see Luna in such a rush. “Just my jeans and a t-shirt.” Luna asked as Margie helped her escape the dress she had worn to dinner, “I’ll need my Earth shoes too.” She added, realizing that she was still wearing heels.

  “You aren’t leaving, are you?” Margie sounded worried, she hovered between Luna and the door for a moment as though she was going to try to stop her.

  “No Margie, I will be back, hopefully tonight…” She promised, zipping up her jeans and reaching for her sneakers by the door. “The Knights will be with me.” She added, sure that it would appease Margie’s worries to know that her charge was being guarded, and not trying to escape again.

  In an instant she was back in the hall, but Lucas was nowhere to be found. She did her best to find her way towards the front doors of the castle where she was sure the Knights were waiting. It was getting easier to navigate through the hallways as she became more familiar with the castle, soon she found
her way to the doors.

  “Where is Prince Lucas, Lady Blackwater?” The Knight at the front looked down the hall, searching for him.

  “I’m not sure.” Luna answered, “But we should get going.”

  Luna glanced over her shoulder, she felt bad for leaving Lucas behind, but it was for his own good. It was bad enough that they had asked her to go into the Gateway, but she couldn’t risk Eranox losing a High Wizard and a Prince in the same night.

  The Knights drew their weapons, prepared to open the doors to the horrors of the night when Luna heard footsteps racing up the hall behind her.

  “You’re not going anywhere without me.” Lucas ran towards her, wearing his own Earth clothes for easier mobility.

  The Knights nodded, and pulled open the doors.

  Luna could hear it the moment the dark air entered the castle, the screams of the cursed roaming the streets of Eranox.

  They rushed out of the door, listening as the castle was locked behind them.

  There were more Knights waiting outside next to a large cage and surprisingly, Sir Hawthorn was there with them.

  Sir Hawthorn stepped forward, looking like he was in a hurry to get back into the castle, “This is for you.” He held out a strange circle, “It will block your father’s magic if you place it on his neck, making transport easier.” He added.

  Luna reached for the item, but Lucas took it from Sir Hawthorn’s hand first, “I will carry it, we might need your magic…” He said to Luna.

  “Probably best.” Sir Hawthorn nodded in agreement, “Best of luck.” He added, walking towards the front doors to escape the night.

  “Ten Knights.” Lucas counted, “I hope that’s enough.”

  “We can do this.” Luna promised, she hoped that saying it aloud would make it true, there was already a knot in her stomach at the thought of seeing the dark man from her nightmares again.

  This time she would be looking for him.

  Two of the Knights pulled the cage forward, the others falling in step behind it as it led the way. It looked like something out of a circus, a tall brass cage on wheels, and she knew what it was for.

  They were going to cage the cursed one.

  Quietly they escaped the castle grounds, walking the streets of Eranox in silence, the rattle of the cage leading the way.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Eranox appeared to be empty, the inhabitants had locked themselves inside before the night time curfew had fallen, keeping themselves safe from the cursed that roamed the streets inside of the city. The cheerful storefronts that Luna had seen in the daylight had been expertly boarded up, preventing the creatures of the night from breaking through to the stores and homes beyond.

  Luna could hear them, the cursed, as they wandered through the streets howling and screaming as they searched for their next victims. The Knights seemed on edge as they guarded Luna and Lucas on their way towards the Gateway, each squeak of the wheels on the cage caused them to jump. They walked with their swords drawn, ready for an attack as they scoured the streets for the creatures while they moved.

  The dark howls echoed through the streets, some were far off in the distance, others eerily close. Though Luna hadn’t spotted anything out of the usual as she walked the streets, her eyes scanned every dark corner for something watching her.

  In the distance someone screamed, and Luna could hear the scrambling as the creatures honed in on their target. Though she tried not to think about it, she knew what had happened, there was another cursed being born.

  “Stay close.” Lucas whispered, walking so close to Luna’s side that she was sure she was going to trip over him.

  “I will.” She answered, keeping pace with the Knights and the cage.

  By some luck, more likely some bad luck for someone else in Eranox, they finally managed to get to the doors of the Gateway without encountering any of the dangers that roamed within the walls.

  And then the caravan stopped. The Knights stepped away from the cage and stared up at the doors, their faced drawn with worry.

  “The door doesn’t open at night…” Lucas stared ahead as the Knights began to move again, assembling something to the side of the entrance to the Gateway.

  “Then how are they planning on getting in?” Luna asked, edging towards the Knights, wary of being left alone in the streets while they were busy with whatever it was that they were doing.

  As soon as they got closer it became apparent. “Looks like we’re using a ladder.” Luna observed, watching as the Knights tipped up the creation and secured it to the wall with care.

  “You have got to be kidding me.” Lucas sighed, walking forward to join her as she watched them work.

  The Knights finished securing the ladder to the wall and the head Knight turned back, “Two Knights will remain.” He informed them, “To guard the ladder and protect the cage.” He added to clarify.

  “Do you think a Ladder will be safe?” Lucas asked, watching the top of the wall warily.

  “It will have to do.” The head Knight shook his head as though he agreed with Lucas’ assessment. “This is it.”

  Luna nodded, her heart beating loudly in her chest. She was nervous, but it was too late to turn back, she was going to have to go into the Gateway again.

  “We will enter the Gateway first Lady Blackwater, to ensure that it is safe before you and Prince Lucas join us.” He added, turning as the first Knight slowly began to climb the ladder.

  Luna didn’t envy him.

  He looked hesitant, clearly he had drawn the short straw and been given the task of being the first to cross over the wall. When he reached the top of the wall he paused, glancing into the abyss on the other side carefully before he tossed a second rope ladder over and began his descent into the Gateway and out of sight.

  Luna listened as the Knights clamored over the wall after him. The Gateway was surprisingly quiet, quieter than she had ever heard it. Even Eranox had gone silent, like the calm before a storm. She looked at Lucas, “Do you think they are waiting?” She whispered, afraid that the creatures had already sensed them and were just waiting for the opportunity to strike.

  “They are smarter than the Knights will ever know, it’s very possible.” Lucas answered thoughtfully, “Just promise you will stay near me once we are in there…” He asked her pleadingly, he really seemed to be taking his promise to Luna’s mom seriously.

  “I will.” Luna agreed, she didn’t plan on being alone in the Gateway at night again, and at least she knew Lucas could find his way around.

  Her heart fluttered as the last Knight tipped over the top of the wall disappearing, “Here we go.” She whispered, preparing herself as she reached for the ladder.

  Luna pulled herself up to the top of the wall, one rung at a time. When she reached the top she paused for a moment to stare over the Gateway, wondering where her father could be in the massive maze. She couldn’t see anything inside of the twisting walls but darkness.

  Lucas was right behind her, stuck on the ladder while he waited for her to move, “Are you going down?” He asked, still waiting for Luna to make up her mind as she teetered at the top of the wall staring off into the Gateway.

  Luna nodded and turned herself to grab on to the other side of the ladder as she began to lower herself into the darkness waiting below her.

  The Knights were waiting for her in the dark, the quiet ping of their armor giving them away as they fidgeted. They were waiting for Lady Blackwater to call the cursed and bring forth the lost High Wizard like it was a simple task.

  Luna still wasn’t sure how they expected her to accomplish the task without alerting every creature in the Gateway and drawing them to the entrance where they were waiting. She knew that if she called for him, the dark creature that was her father, that the others would hear her; but she would try her best to call only him, for fear of her own life and the others that were with her.

  As her feet finally found the ground she stepped away from the ladder, turnin
g towards the sounds of the waiting Knights. She closed her eyes, wondering if she could find her father with her mind, in the same way that she had found the curse within the caged cat. The darkness consumed her, she tried to concentrate, finding the Knights with her mind, their energies appearing brightly in her head, and then she ventured farther, out through the winding pathways, lost in the darkness, and she called to him.

  Find me, she thought with her mind focused on the Gateway, find me now, she urged, hoping that he was the only creature hearing her thoughts.

  Lucas landed behind her quietly and she opened her eyes, not sure if her call had worked. He stepped up beside her as the Knights turned to watch, their armor catching patches of light from the moons overhead as the clouds rolled away.

  “Are you ready Lady Blackwater?” The lead Knight asked, slowly he drew his sword from his side the blade scraping against his chest.

  “Yes.” Luna answered, but it sounded like a lie the moment it escaped her lips.

  “Are you sure?” Lucas mumbled, keeping his voice low.

  “We can do this.” Luna righted her shoulders, too proud to turn back.

  The head Knight stepped to Luna’s side, “Lead the way, we will protect you.” He instructed.

  In a moment the Knights had taken their ranks, two at Luna’s side and six more behind her for protection. Lucas was directly behind her, there was no room at her side for him. She felt safer knowing that someone she trusted had her back.

  Luna took one step forward and closed her eyes for a moment, wondering if her father had answered her call, curious if she could find him in the Gateway and make her task easier. But all she could feel was her heart beating in her chest, the ringing in her ears, her breaths short and raspy. She was terrified about what she was going to find, or more likely, what was going to find her hidden between those high walls in the dark.

  She was going to have to find another way to locate their target, behind her the Knights shuffled their feet impatiently, waiting for her to make up her mind, clearly they wanted to get the task done and over with so they could leave the Gateway behind them for the safety of their own homes.