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Ch.39 (Phoenix): A Brother's Love |
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I had to stop Jasper before he made the biggest mistake of his life. Ursula was not someone to be taken lightly. She would tempt you with your deepest desire, force you into a deal you couldn't refuse (which seemed fair at first since you seemed to be getting the better part of it), and then cheat you out of it by any means necessary. My own mother was better than her, and that was saying something.
Swiftly shifting into a mouse, a form I had often used to creep into Anastasia's bedroom and visit her dreams, I ran to the lake where I knew they would meet. I had scoured the forest the night before, looking for a suitable place they could meet since Ursula would most likely appear in her normal form; the place I had found was a lake that served as an estuary between the freshwater river and the vast ocean to the west. Within a matter of minutes, I reached the lake.
How do I know about Ursula you ask? I had not only read books on sea-witches and their wicked wiles; I had actually had a run-in with her when I was Alecto. She had offerred to break my curse in exchange for a "small price". Even if I had considered at first, I given a definitive "NO" to her offer. My own freedom, no matter how limited it was, was better than serving her for eternity.
Changing back into myself, I stood in front of the lake, arms crossed, feet apart, looking accusingly at Jasper, who had arrived about a minute after me. "You may be only human," I said, not hiding the disappointment in my voice, "but this does not change the fact that you are making a huge mistake."
"The only mistake that anyone made was you following me," Jasper spat back indignantly.
"I don't want to hurt you."
"That makes two of us, but I'll do it if you don't get out of my way."
"Come and get me," I dared, spreading my arms and exposing my unprotected chest. "I'm sure you've brought some instrument with which to dispose of me."
Jasper fell silent. We both knew that he had not brought any weapon of any kind with him, let alone much of anything else. We also knew who would win this battle without even fighting. He was my friend but if he was going to do something that would be dangerous to us both, I would do everything in my power to stop him, even kill him. He was no match for me.
"I know what you're trying to do," he said, tears streaming down his face, "but Ana's happiness matters far more. And from where I stand-"
"I came here knowing I might not come back!" I shouted, some of my long pent-up anger escaping into my voice. It was short-lived though as I heard the splash and squelch of water behind me. Anger gave way to fear as I shifted back into a mouse and scurried behind a tree, creating the illusion that I had disappeared. "Don't say I didn't warn you!" my "disembodied" voice echoed from behind a large root as I changed back into myself again.
I kept low inside my hiding place, only daring to peek over. There she was, in all of her ugliness. Ursula, the one witch to trump all evil witches and devious deal-makers. "I heard what you said to him," she said, addressing the mildly shaken Jasper. (He had been disoriented by my sudden exit and was scanning the surrounding forest for a sign of me.)
He looked at her skeptically. "Does it matter that you did?" he said in a tone that conveyed haughty confidence; I could sense the prudent fear behind it though. 'Good,' I thought. 'He's at least considering my warning.'
"It does actually. I'm the kind of person who could make such wild aspirations come true... (She paused for dramatic effect, forcing him to hang on her words.) for a price."
"I know and I have already considered it. I did not come unprepared, witch; I have decided to offer myself as payment."
"I am the one who makes deals, mortal, not my clients. Even still, I am surprised you had the nerve to come here and face me like this. I shall consider your offer."
"No! I need a definite answer. Will you or will you not have my servitude in exchange for my sister's happiness? If you won't, then get ready to kiss-"
"Kiss?" she said thoughtfully. "Yes, that's it."
"A kiss?" Jasper and I both said at once.
"Yes. In order for your sister to achieve happiness, and for me to accept your fitting payment, you must kiss me."
Jasper hesitated; he might have been dumb enough to come out here and face Ursula, but even he would never sink so low as to commit that horrendous act without second thoughts. "You swear she'll be happy if I do it?"
"Yes, yes, all right," she said, getting agitated with the delays between her and her newest victim. "Now then, mortal." She pushed her cheek forward expectantly. "I'm waiting."
Jasper took a nervous gulp, took a shaky breath, closed his eyes, and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. He staggered backward and fell to the ground, as if he had been struck by lightning. He was unconscious and he was changing already; his golden blonde hair was diffusing into a greenish yellow and his once smooth skin was becoming scaly. "He shall remember nothing of who he was when he awakes," said Ursula to her- "Alecto."
Damn! My position was known. I hit the ground scurrying, a mouse once again, wanting to get away at all costs. "Run if you will, but nothing shall be changed. Since you would not serve me, I decree that you cannot repeat the events you have just witnessed to anyone. Besides, I wouldn't want anyone to ruin the little surprise I have for Flotsam now, would I?"
Just like that, all the words I had been about to shout into the silent trees dissolved like sugar in a glass of lemonade. I tried again to the same effect and a third try yielded the same result. Twice cursed and saddened by the loss of my dearest friend, I slunk away into the woods. I couldn't return to Ana, not after what had happened. Bearing the burden of losing me would be lighter than dealing with the loss of Jasper, for which she would probably never forgive me.
I wandered away, not knowing where I was going, nor caring, until one night when I got caught in the rain. There was a light in the distance. That served as my guide as the rain pelted my travel weary soul, each drop feeling like an icy dagger rather than an inconsequential amount of water. I reached the door of the house to which the light belonged with barely enough strength to knock on the wrought iron door.
A befuddled young man, for so he appeared to be, answered my rappings. I immediately felt my immortal senses heighten when he pulled me across the threshold and into his castle, which I discerned it was from the look of the entrance hall. "Some dry clothes and a glass of wine for this poor man," he ordered forcefully, but politely, of some miniscule minions that reached no higher than my knee.
As he turned back to me, I got a better look at him. He was as tall as me, had blonde hair, which stuck out in some bizzare coiff on his head, and had mismatched eyes. 'Such a peculiar man,' I thought. 'Normal people don't look like that, but I could be wrong.'
"Please excuse me," said the man courteously, interrupting the imminent questions about to be formed in my mind. He put his arm around my shoulder and led me down a corridor as he said, "I don't usually get visiters at this time of night, especially on a night like this. Forgive me if my accomodations are some what sparse."
"Not at all, my lord," I replied carefully. Even if he wasn't a lord, I felt I needed to convey utmost respect for him in order to access what I required with as least trouble as possible: warm clothes and a place to sleep. "But why is there a castle in the middle of... um... where is this place?"
"You're inside my labyrinth, although how you got in without the walls inhibiting your passage is still a mystery to me. But we shall talk on that more in the morning when you've had a chance to rest. For now, I wish to know nothing more than your name."
So, he was of high rank, not just high inheiritance. "My name is of no importance," I said. "I am just a traveller who wanders around, looking for people to enlighten with my unique perspective." I wanted to tell him everything, but a force of habit kept me from doing so. Even still, I felt as if there were no secrets between us.
"Oh, so you're a hermit," said the lord. "If that's the way the wind blows for you, I am glad to be of open mind. No matter. I shall tell you my name."
"And that would be?"
"Jareth. Since I wasn't expecting anyone, I'm going to have to furnish you in the library. I hope that's all right."
"It's fine, my lord. Books are windows into other worlds, so I'm sure I won't feel alone in the absence of ornate decoration."
"Please, call me Jareth, and splendid to hear that." We had come to a stop outside a room piled high with books. There were a couple of burgundy arm-chairs for reading, a desk with pencils for work purposes, and a book stand with a large book on it. "My servants will be up soon with the things I requested. I hope my clothes will fit you, but then agian, you might actually take a different size. I'll have proper clothes made for you tomorrow. Until then, unknown traveller, good night."
He walked away down the hall, leaving me to spine-tingling silence. Since I couldn't sleep, and having nothing better to do, I leafed through the mammoth tome on the book stand. As I perused through it, I discovered it was a history of the royal family of the labyrinth I had stumbled upon. I turned through wars, through marriages, through corronations, slightly surprised that there were very few deaths in the family. 'They could be immortal.' was the fact I kept reminding myself about until something caught my attention.
It was a lavishly illuminated picture near the end of the tome, picturing the most recent royal family. It should have been just an ordinary picture, but it wasn't. Why? The queen figure in the portrait, standing beside her husband with a look of perfect, unloving sterness on her face, was my mother.
 srs diva 2011 xxl · Thu Oct 22, 2009 @ 02:52am · 1 Comments |
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