Yantra

by Kristin Swanberg

idea where they were headed? “

  “I don’t know. When we met in the forest, she mentioned she had family she needed to get these gems to for money. Maybe they’re going there for a few days.”

  “You idiot. Did you see where the gems came from?”

  “She made them out of the water. It was amazing. She’s got the most beautiful hands.” Maddox said with adoration of his evil bride.

  “That was a love curse, stupid. Did she get you to hold the gems?”

  “Well, she was throwing them at me. I guess…”

  Miyuki laughed at him and got up to leave. “Let’s get out of here. We have work to do. You can come with me, but don’t do anything stupid. Okay, lover boy?”

  “Thanks. Just please help me get my sister back.” Miyuki kissed him gently on the lips and they disappeared into the bedroom before leaving for Miera.

  ……….

  Astrid and Zander finally reached the farmhouse, exhausted from the long trek and their constant fear along the way. It was little more than a shack with one bedroom, a small kitchen and bathroom. The wooden floorboards creaked beneath their feet and an icy draft kept them shivering. Preta placed a spell on the doors and windows to keep them locked tight while Astrid and Zander clutched each other’s hands and stared in fright as their only means of escape slipped away. Preta snapped her fingers and they suddenly fell to the floor, paralyzed by her spell.

  Astrid could only see Zander’s leg, unable to move her eyes in any other direction. She was terrified he might be dead but assumed he was in the same condition that she was. Preta walked closer and stood over Astrid. Crouching down by her head, she looked into Astrid’s eyes with disdain.

  “Time for bed princess.” Preta laughed to herself and reaching into another little bag hanging at her hip, she sprinkled a handful of dust over Astrid and Zander. She closed their eyelids and left them to sleep. The spell wouldn’t wear off for several hours, so she went out to the stable and found two horses.

  One was older and with a bandaged hoof, and the other was younger and much more spirited. She petted the feistier stallion on the head and put the saddle on to prepare him for their late night journey. She was very tired, but the prospect of getting rid of Astrid and Zander gave her the added rush of adrenaline she needed to get through. She led the horse towards Tulim but as they got close to the border, the horse began to get weary. They came to the edge of the trees marking the land bridge to Tulim and the horse finally bucked in his tracks, unwilling to take a single step further. Preta slipped off and tied the horse to a tree.

  She ran across the muddy path that was barely visible through the Tulim swampland. She mumbled a few words that sent the low hanging trees aside and cut through the undergrowth. As she reached more solid ground, Preta noticed a huge shadow emerge from the thick of the trees ahead.

  “Ogre! Come out, come out.” Preta pranced around in the darkness like a child. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a little girl.” She laughed, skipping closer. Suddenly, the gigantic, grotesque creature came forward and walked slowly up to her, arms out wide. He was at least seven feet tall with a wide body covered in patchy black fur. The ogre had rounded, bulging shoulders and arms nearly long enough to reach the ground when he stood hunched. His gray skin bore numerous scars and burn marks.

  “There you are, you big silly thing.” She leapt into his arms and the hideous creature held her lovingly, giving her a soft nuzzle with his bulbous nose.

  “Where have you been, empress?” His voice was low and gravelly.

  He set her down as if she was made of glass. “Empress? I haven’t been an empress in days,” she said, laughing maniacally. “I’m the new queen of Yantra!” The ogre joined in Preta’s laughter as she skipped around him.

  “In fact, I have two special Yantran prisoners coming in the morning and they are to be taken directly to Mt. Naga. Take them as far as you can. I don’t want to hear that they escaped. Understand?” she asked the ogre, holding his enormous hand.

  “Yes, my Queen.” He bowed his ugly, misshapen head.

  They said their goodbye’s and Preta ran back to her horse. The creature was restless and eager to leave. Once she mounted the horse, it ran so fast that she could barely hang on. She arrived back at the farmhouse just in time to catch a couple hours of rest. She lay down on the sofa, just feet from her victims, and fell quickly to sleep.

  At daybreak, she woke to the sound of birds beckoning the arrival of a new day and for Preta, the beginning of a whole new life- a new world without anything standing in her way. She cast a hypnotizing spell on Astrid and Zander before they woke; it was more powerful than her subtle manipulation in Yantra. She wanted them fully compliant until they reached Mt. Naga.

  Preta made spiced java and a bowl of plumberries. She washed her dishes and meandered back into the living room where she stood over Zander and Astrid with a metal pan in each hand and banged them together as hard as she could, startling them awake. A dense fog settled in their minds and made it impossible for them to remember anything except that Preta was their leader and must never be disappointed.

  “Good morning!” Preta shouted, smirking at them.

  “Good morning!” Astrid hopped to her feet, feeling as though she needed to help Preta. A goofy, apologetic smile crossed her face. Zander stood up shortly after her and smiled at Preta, hoping she wasn’t angry that he was slow to get up.

  “Well, I have to say I love the attitude. We will be leaving for a trip shortly, so have some java and eat.”

  “Yes, princess.” Zander bowed to the witch.

  “Yes, princess.” Astrid followed suit.

  “I am your queen! Don’t ever show me that kind of disrespect. You are nothing but worthless slaves now.” As they cowered in the corner, Preta grabbed a switch and whipped them repeatedly. Astrid’s eyes filled with tears from the pain.

  Preta’s new slaves shuffled warily to the kitchen where they sat down, slowly sipping their java, not speaking a word. Their only thought was that of Preta and how to prevent disappointing her again. The spell made them pleasantly servile and Preta knew they would be entirely obedient. The last part of their journey would be quite easy

  After they finished up their java, they made their way to the stables. Preta didn’t have any patience for the old mare, so she told Zander to steal a horse from the neighbor half a mile away. When he returned with the horse, they happily headed toward Tulim. As they approached the Tulim swamp, once again the horses stopped at the edge of the trees on the Yantra side. Astrid began to look troubled. She didn’t want to upset Preta, so she stood in front of the horse and pulled and pulled on the reins. Preta loved seeing her loyalty, but it was time for her to go.

  She leapt down from her horse and walked over to Astrid. She gently placed her hand on Astrid’s shoulder and said, “Astrid, its ok. Just leave the horse.” Astrid immediately dropped the reins and said, “Yes, my queen.”

  Zander and Astrid followed Preta to the same ogre who stood, readily awaiting their arrival. Preta smiled up at the ogre and said, “Here are the two we talked about. Let me know how it goes.” She turned to Astrid and Zander and told them, “You will obey the ogre now and do everything the ogre asks. Be nice to the ogre and he will be nice to you. Do you understand?” Zander and Astrid looked at each other briefly and nodded to the evil witch.

  “Aren’t you happy with us?” Astrid asked.

  “Yes. Very. This is a special trip just for you and Zander. I expect you to respect the ogre. He will show you someplace very exquisite.” Preta turned her back on the pair, feeling as though her troubles were over.

  The ogre placed ropes around their necks and led them toward Mt. Naga.

  XII. Happily Ever After

  Tho’ thick the battle and tho’ thick the fight,

  There is a power making for the right.

  —James Weldon Johnson

  Preta rode her horse as fast as he would go back to Maddox. She wouldn’t let up
, forcing the stallion to press on through nightfall. Late that night, she finally arrived at the treehouse. She tapped on the door with no answer and opened it. It was silent and pitch black inside. Careful with each step and using the wall to guide her, she made her way slowly through the house. As her hand traced the wall offering no clue about where she was, she heard a sudden movement. Maddox grabbed her and threw her on the floor. He turned on a light and her eyes stung as they adjusted.

  “Preta! Are you alright? I thought… It doesn’t matter. I am so sorry.” He rushed to help her up from the floor.

  “Just a little banged up but I’ll be alright. I’m a blessing witch, remember?” she said as she smiled at Maddox through the pain.

  “I should have had a light on. I just had no idea when you were coming back. I thought things through and I overreacted. I’m sure Astrid would understand. She’s not ready to lead a country. I can be her advisor unless she wants to turn the job over to me.” He looked at Preta with a new, hopeful face that she didn’t appreciate.

  “Well, it looks like you won’t need to do that. I had a talk with Astrid about how important her role is in Yantra and what the expectations would be and she just panicked. She ran off with Zander to his family’s farmhouse. She said she doesn’t want to be queen.” Preta told him.

  Maddox leaned against the wall, caught off guard. It wasn’t like