The Four Tales

by Rebecca Reddell

  Simon knew it was all his father would say on the subject of his enlistment. Looking around the large, plush room, Simon recalled Cassie's small home and how happy he'd been there talking to her and her father. How long ago it seemed now. Another sigh, and he was going to have to do his part at the ball tonight.

  Leaving the library behind, Simon made his way to his room. He continued to think of his time with Cassie. If he wasn’t careful, he’d find himself crying, and it was something he couldn’t allow himself to do yet.

  First, he had to ensure he captured her killer.

  17

  Farview Country

  Cassie woke up and blinked a few times before registering her father's room, dawn spilling through the window, and a strange sound sizzled again.

  “What's that?” Cassie sat up in bed to investigate.

  A whooshing sound, followed by a crackle, and then a crack came, she tilted her head and listened.

  CRASH!

  Cassie bolted from bed and ran to the door. She opened it wide to see smoke, a white fog, coating the hall and making its way to her. Scared, Cassie slammed the door and made her way to the window. It took some force to push it up.

  What is going on? she wondered as she climbed out.

  Her body landed on the shrubs below the window. Hard. Groaning, it took a minute to stand and hobble around the side of the house. That's when she saw it.

  Everything was on fire. The house already going up in flames.

  “Holy mackerel,” Cassie breathed.

  Each hot spark brought her home to a burned rubble. From one end to the next, where her bedroom had once stood, was nothing but a black, orange-painted mess.

  “Where is everyone? How did this happen?” Cassie asked aloud, as she fought back a cough.

  “Well, I don't like leaving loose ends, and this place has a different purpose now,” a voice came from behind her.

  Cassie turned to find Mrs. Kemyss standing a few feet from her. Miriam, Petunia and Aven stood behind her as well with a bag in each of their hands.

  “Loose ends?” Cassie asked.

  “It is a good thing you found your way out,” Mrs. Kemyss told her, turned to Petunia, and slapped her across the cheek.

  Cassie jumped and took a step back. Petunia cried out as Aven and Miriam did nothing to stop the midwife.

  “Stupid girl! I thought you told us she had left and gone to the woods. If she had died in the fire, all would be lost!” Making a move to slap her again, Petunia ducked out of her reach before it happened.

  “I don't understand,” Cassie coughed and stared at the woman with blinking, stinging eyes.

  “We need to be off now,” Mrs. Kemyss said before she turned and began to leave the smoking, flame-coated house behind.

  “No! I'm not going anywhere with any of you! Did you do this?”

  “Spirit, how I love it,” Mrs. Kemyss swiveled, raised her hand and made a fist at Cassie.

  For a second, Cassie wondered at her honey-covered animosity. Then she wondered why she couldn't move. Her body felt pressed in upon.

  “What's going on?” she gasped.

  “I am squishing your tiny, insignificant body.”

  “Kemyss, really,” Miriam laughed. “I know you love revenge, but she has to stay alive.”

  “What do you mean?” Cassie asked as she felt her body being released. Even though panic tingled through her, she refused to let them see it.

  “You are stupid, aren't you?” Petunia commented. “Can you turn her into a frog?”

  “No, Petunia. We can't do that. Or kill her,” she interjected when Petunia opened her mouth again. “Yet.”

  Cassie heard what Miriam said and froze. The smell of smoke whirled around them, but it was light, not as heavy as it should be. Cassie turned to find the fire extinguished and nothing but soot and debris in its place. Her home reduced to ashes and wisps of smoke floating to the sky.

  “What did you do?”

  “We made it possible for everything to transpire. You're right about not killing her yet, Miriam. She just smells of happiness and good intentions, and I hate people of her ilk.” Kemyss sighed, spite laced her words.

  “Let us be done with this idle chatter. We need to move. Neighbors will come to investigate, and they need to think we’re dead,” Miriam stated and shifted to the woods.

  “Dead? What?”

  Cassie was dragged along behind them, even though she wasn't moving herself.

  “How are you doing this?”

  “Magic, darling, or were you not aware that Miriam and I are Mistresses of Magic? Never mind. Of course you didn't. Let me break this down for you,” Mrs. Kemyss kept talking as they moved south through the forest.

  Cassie still had no ability to move her body. It just floated along behind them. “We've been building our powers and working to find the perfect spell for revenge and King Ammandon--”

  “King Ammandon!?” Cassie shouted before she felt as if someone turned off her vocal cords. Her throat was sore, and her breathing was blocked for a few seconds until the spell allowed her to breathe but not speak.

  “Yes, you loud child. He and Miriam are lovers. They used to be betrothed. Long story, but he wants her back. He's been helping me, and we've have been helping him. He agreed with my plan, after I presented the benefit of his playing the distraction, to gain his own rewards,” she said and glanced at Cassie, “and you are the bait.”

  Cassie tried but couldn't ask the question she wanted to, but Kemyss seemed to know what she wanted.

  “Yes. Bait. My plan will only succeed if we have you. The curse will be more powerful if we have leverage, just in case he isn't ready for his destiny. This should be a great treat,” Kemyss cackled just as Cassie suspected a witch would.

  Her mind felt overloaded with all the information she received. She had many questions, but the biggest ones were: How could she help? Who was Mrs. Kemyss talking about? How could she be the key?

  Kemyss predicted these questions as well. “Oh, he is the actual key to my plan. Everything will materialize with his help, but only if I have you as leverage. I've been waiting a very long time for this curse to fall into place.”

  They continued to walk along, and Cassie tried not to panic at being forced along against her will.

  “I had no idea you would be a part of it, or anyone else for that matter.” Her sidelong glance at Miriam was not one of affection but tolerance.

  Cassie didn’t like the look or the sound of Mrs. Kemyss’ plans. She had a feeling it wouldn’t end well for her or the others. She tried to fight against the invisible hands pulling her along.

  Each yank she gave did nothing. Mrs. Kemyss continued walking as if she wasn’t doing anything at all. Indeed, after ten minutes of this, Cassie gave up and tried to figure out what she could do to dissuade them all from their plans.

  Without her voice, questions would not be answered. She couldn’t argue against the witch’s plans either. In fact, it was very clear to her what Mrs. Kemyss was.

  Suddenly, she remembered why she’d been asleep in the middle of the day. News of her father's death had come earlier. Cassie felt her whole body droop.

  “Don’t give up on me now,” Kemyss called back to her. “You’re only good to me alive.”

  Perhaps she could persuade the witch to kill her? If she was only of use alive, it would be better to be dead. She couldn’t let the witch use her against the kingdom. Her father had died for the kingdom. His death couldn’t be in vain.

  “Your father’s death isn’t going to be in vain,” Mrs. Kemyss spoke out.

  Scared to think anymore, Cassie concentrated on the path ahead of her. If she blocked out any thought accept what she was seeing, maybe the witch couldn’t read her own plan.

  With Kemyss leading the way, Miriam, Aven, Petunia, and Cassie were deep within the woods now. Cassie didn't have any idea where they were headed. She only knew they were far from home now, and she was going to die.

 
“Well, don't you look like a ragamuffin,” Petunia taunted beside her. “You’re covered in soot and ashes. Then again, that's all you're covered in of late. Perhaps I’ll use your nickname, Cinderash?”

  Giggling, she continued, “After all, you have nothing left but the ashes of your previous life. You are the ashes of our nightmare. We are now free. Maybe they'll let me suggest to turn you into a chimney, instead, when the time comes. It seems fitting.”

  “Your life has gone up in flames,” Petunia laughed at her clever analogies.

  “Shut up, Petunia,” Kemyss said.

  Cassie could almost learn to like Kemyss for that, except for the fact she was using her as bait and going to probably kill her. She had destroyed her only home, her parent's home, as well.

  “Do you think the spell will work now?” Miriam asked Kemyss.

  “Of course. It just needed the foundation broken. When death realizes its true form, then their end will begin. We will have no worries now. He will come forth. Out of death, we have the leverage needed, if he decides our agenda is not his own.” She waved in Cassie's direction.

  He? Apparently, I am missing more here than why my house was burnt to the ground and about my step-family's craziness.

  They walked for over half a day but covered much more ground at a faster pace than she had ever before traveled on foot. It was as if they transported over the forest floor in one swift glide. Cassie could do nothing but follow them. They didn't stop until they reached a clearing in the woods.

  As Cassie looked around, she noticed how black and bare everything was, as if a fire had been set to this portion of the woods. Kemyss freed her grip without warning. Cassie felt her body slam into the ground before she realized she had been released.

  “Oww,” she moaned.

  Her voice was back. This felt like a tumble down the cellar stairs. It was then she noticed something beneath her hands, the feel of something almost familiar. Looking down and around, she spotted a dead body.

  Cassie screamed and jerked backward, only to smack right into a fallen tree. Looking over the fallen tree she spied another body, and across the burnt ground, she took in several dead men. Troops.

  Her breathing became shallow, her pulse raced, and she thought she might faint again.

  Cassie felt her body being jerked back and forced into a sitting position. The dead didn't seem to bother Aven or Petunia. Even though she couldn't move, Cassie could still feel her pounding heart and the tears which blurred her eyesight.

  Father? Could one of these bodies be his?

  “Watch her,” Kemyss commanded Petunia and Aven.

  Great, Cassie thought. I don't doubt Petunia will turn me into a chimney.

  “Sit and don't move, little sister,” Aven told her.

  Mrs. Kemyss walked the area. She motioned for Miriam to come to her. Cassie watched as Kemyss and Miriam stood in the middle of the clearing and joined hands.

  Now that their focus was elsewhere, Cassie attempted to stand but couldn’t. She pulled to the left and right, front and back, but her body wouldn’t cooperate.

  “Stop it,” Petunia hissed.

  “Why are you doing this?” Cassie croaked. Her voice raspy, she continued to work on breaking free of her invisible bonds.

  “Why do you care?” Petunia whispered back.

  “We’re sisters,” Cassie attempted.

  “Stepsisters,” Petunia countered, “You know I hated every minute being in your home. This is my chance at freedom. This is my chance to be somebody.”

  “You’re working with a witch! You know it isn’t allowed. What are you thinking, Petunia? Do you honestly think this will help you?”

  “Shut up, Cinderash! Nothing you say matters. Mrs. Kemyss is going to enact her revenge, and I’m going to become a princess. That’s all that matters.”

  “A princess? What are you talking about?” Cassie gurgled.

  “If you must know,” Petunia leaned closer to her and smirked. “Mother is now free to marry King Ammandon. I will become his daughter, a princess. Kemyss will get her revenge, and I will get to live the life I deserve.”

  “Are you really this selfish? Not to mention crazy?” Cassie spit out.

  Petunia slapped her across her cheek so hard the spell couldn’t keep her from being thrown to the side.

  Gasping, Cassie sat up and looked at her stepsister. She couldn’t raise her hand to her face, but she knew it must be bright red. The sting of it burned.

  “I’m not crazy! Mother was promised compensation when she joined Kemyss. My father died for the cause. He wasn’t the person she was looking for, and when she continued her research, she found your father. Mother agreed to marry him until the time was right.”

  “What are you talking about? What does father have to do with this?”

  “You’ll find out,” Petunia said and turned watch her mother and Mrs. Kemyss.

  The two had begun chanting in a different language. Unable to make a word out, Cassie felt the air begin to chill. She struggled harder against the invisible bonds holding her, but they wouldn’t release.

  “Petunia, why does it matter so much to you to become a princess? If you stopped this, perhaps Prince Simon would marry you? The kingdom would be overcome with gratitude to you for fixing all of this!” Cassie tried again.

  Petunia turned to her and seemed to consider her words. “I can’t. Kemyss has agreed to teach me her magic. We’ve lived long enough in the dark ages. We have the chance to go back to how great the world was. Can you even imagine the power we’d have at our fingertips with the technology and magic the world amassed before the war?”

  “It destroyed the world! Don’t you remember? That’s why we’re in the place we are now! You have to stop this!” Cassie shouted above the foreign words.

  Their voices had grown louder, and Cassie tried to convince Petunia before they finished whatever it was they were doing.

  “It wasn’t destroyed by those things. It was destroyed by people who were jealous. They wanted the power for themselves. They didn’t want anyone to have or be what they couldn’t be themselves. This is our chance to bring it all back and take what is rightfully ours!” Petunia called out.

  “You don’t know what you’re doing!” Cassie yelled.

  “Yes, I do! The REAL queens and kings are going to rule this earth again. Too bad you’re not going to get on board, Cinderash,” Petunia told her.

  A white light built up around Kemyss and Miriam. In a few minutes, it seemed to radiate through them. A swirl of ashes stirred near where she sat. In fear, Cassie sat mesmerized and didn't move a muscle. Her eyes dried up as she became focused on what they were doing.

  They blended together and whirled until she couldn't make them out. A tiny tornado created from the ashes before they jerked toward the sky and disappeared amid more unknown language.

  In the distance, they all heard a crash and roar.

  Cassie jerked back and looked around. Kemyss control over her lessened, but she could still do nothing but sit and watch. The air around them seemed to thicken. The sky peeking through the trees above swirled with black and gray. The sun had disappeared, and Cassie hadn't even noticed.

  A large winged creature crashed through the trees and landed in the middle of the clearing, in front of Kemyss and Miriam, surrounded by the dead. It was covered in red scales, with yellow eyes, and a snake's tongue.

  Cassie swallowed. She shook her head. This couldn’t be real.

  A dragon stood before them. Hissing, snapping his sharp teeth, Kemyss and Miriam ignored the monster as they finished their chant. She had thought dragons were only myths.

  The beast’s left eye found her. He turned from one side to the next, eye-balling her and snuffing smoke through his nose. His stare made her body shiver.

  “Beautiful,” Petunia breathed beside her.

  Cassie did not agree. Was it going to eat her? Why wouldn’t it stop staring at her?

  Kemyss talked to the beast in a low v
oice, but Cassie knew she spoke in another language. A language the dragon understood because it nodded its oversized head. She stepped back and raised her hands before reciting:

  * * *

  “The darkness rises, on wings of hate.

  Discontent is well-fed of late.

  You hear the whisper.

  You hear the call.

  He rises to destroy us all.

  The blackness comes on wings of fire.

  All will burn under his ire.

  No one can escape,

  this awful dread and wait.

  Do you see? Do you see?

  The darkness rises on wings of hate.”

  * * *

  Kemyss laughed, and Cassie felt chilled through once again. She attempted to gain her feet. The magic Kemyss had held her under seemed to drop from her. Stumbling, she got her legs underneath her and turned to run back through the woods.

  She had no idea where she should go, but she couldn’t stay here. She wouldn’t be a part of this!

  “Mrs. Kemyss!” Petunia called out, alerting them all of her escape.

  Zigzagging through the trees, Cassie ran as fast as she could. If she was far enough away, the witch might not be able to control her. Gasping, her heart hurting and breath pounding in her ears, Cassie kept going.

  “Stop!” the voice commanded.

  It seemed as if her body was on her side. She might get away after all. Her legs kept running and her heartbeat was rapid against her rubs.

  The next instant she was pitching through the air and landing on her face. Pushing herself up, she stood and started off again. Her legs wouldn’t cooperate. They were rooted to the ground, digging into brown dirt and green grass.

  “No,” she whispered.

  Kemyss was in front of her. Holding up her fist she tightened it around Cassie. Breath cut off, Cassie sucked in what she could, struggling to inhale.

  “You aren’t allowed to run away. I have perfected many spells over the years. Escape from me will prove impossible. Do you understand?”