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Chapter 7

She’s up to something

Joseph burst through the door to summon the two girls to hurry up. Joseph had grown much, despite Esther and Illouise’s playful taunting, he was now remarkably tall, for a nine year old that is. “What takes you so long” he muttered to Esther. “We” Illouise chastised. “Are debutants and this is our ball” she said swirling in her blue satin dress. “So” said Joseph. “Were waiting for Asrael to put our jewels on” she said. “What before she disappears for the night again” said

Joseph. “What do you mean” said Esther. “Every night for about a month now, I’ve watched her sneaking out, and she’ll do it again tonight. You watch”. “But where does she go” said Esther. “To her lover no doubt” said Illouise. “But who could love her” said Esther. The three fell about laughing. “I bet as soon as we are at the ball, she’ll disappear” said Joseph. “Let’s follow her” said Illouise. “But the ball” said Esther. “To hell with the ball” said Illouise.

Asrael returned with the girls jewels and laced them around their necks. “Come now girls the ball awaits. Joseph the Duchess has instructed that you must stay here”. “But” said joseph. “No buts” said Asrael. “Tell me everything” he whispered to Illouise as they departed. The girls where lead up to the main staircase, where they lined up behind a line of girls awaiting the calling of their names. After much a due there names were called. Miss Illouise, Annebella Miterstopherlopedis and Esther Miterstopherlopedis of Tzrauel.

Esther and joseph had taken the family name within three years of them being wards, against much protest from Illouise’s and Stephens mother. But the duke had put his foot down and adopted both of them as his own. Illouise unlike her mother was over the Moon to have a new niece and nephew. She found it highly amusing to have a niece the same age as her. The girls made their way down the stairs, trying not to chuckle as Esther stood on the bottom of her dress and fell down three steps, then picked herself up, composed herself and carried on down the staircase. Asrael was close behind them. The girls where greeted at the bottom of the stairs by the Kings mother, who had travelled a good three hundred miles to see the girls as was the custom.

“Why you look beautiful girls. You may take your leave governess” she said turning to Asrael. “Very well” she said with a courtsy. As the crowds began to gather round the two girls, they noticed Asrael edging towards the door, “Come let us make our way to the banqueting hall” said a voice. “Off course” Said Illouise. “But first we are just going to collect our farther from outside”. “We’ll not be long”. Illouise scampered towards the door, dragging Esther by the arm. “Where is she” said Esther. Illouise scanned the castle grounds, before spotting a silhouette sneaking its way through the open castle gates. “There” said Illouise . “Follow her” screeched Esther. “SShhh” said Illouise. They began to tip toe after her, until they reached the valley, and hiding behind a rock, observed Asrael entering a tight hole in a rock face, followed by two other women. “We can’t follow her in their” said Illouise. “They’ll hear us for sure”. “But what’s she up to going into a cave of all things at this time of night” Said Esther, “We’ll go have a look tomorrow morning” said Illouise “before she awakens. Come on lets go back to the ball”

As the sun began to cast its rays from yonder horizon, the girls were already stood at the mouth of the cave. They clambered through the same hole Asrael had gone through the night before, to reveal a vast cavern. They examined the blood stained rocks, the bath tub filled with the organs and insides of what appeared to be more than one victim.Esther began to wretch. “no” said Illouise “if you’re sick they will know someone’s been here”. Esther composed herself. She began to scan the room for clues as to what had gone of here, when her eyes fixed on a rather conspicuously placed rock. “There’s something beneath here” said Esther “Help me lift it”. They lifted the rock, and there in front of them was a large brown leather bound book entitled Grimoire La rose Noire. “Whoever put this here didn’t want anyone to find it” said Illouise. “But what is it” said Esther. “Look around you Esther what do you think it is”. Said Illouise, in a frightened voice. “We better get out of here quick” said Illouise, “Asrael will be up soon, and we need to be tucked up in are beds when she does”.

It was Josephs sixteenth birthday and a great banquet was being held that night in his honor. He made his way down the narrow, winding corridors, across the courtyard toward the banqueting hall. As he crossed the courtyard he looked up to notice a luminous crescent moon. Something was menacing about it. But he continued to the banqueting hall never the less.

As he walked through the passage way toward the banqueting hall a voice, a voice he recognized called to him from the shadows . “Joseph come here my child” said the voice. Joseph turned to see who it was. It was Asrael. “Joseph I have been entrusted with a

task”. Said Asrael. “Aye I know all about your midnight tasks” said Joseph turning back toward the banquet. “I have word of your mother” said Asrael.“She is still alive” said Joseph. “aye very much so” said Asrael “I’ll lead you to her” said Asrael. “why should I trust you witch” said Joseph. “Witch?” said Asrael. “Oh what’s up Asrael. You think we don’t know. We’ve known for years. Your card is marked. The only place you’ll be going is hell and I’ll be damned if your dragging me down with you. Asrael hissed. “But I’m not the only one round here am I” said Asrael. “I might not be able to drag you to hell, but I sure as hell will drag her down with me if you don’t come with me now”

“You mad old crone, you know not what you speak of” said Joseph. “Illouise” said Asrael “she has the mark of the witch”. Asrael raised her hand to reveal a mark on her hand identical to the one on Illouise’s. “You just dare deny me boy and I’ll lead your little white witch all the way down to the seventh circle of hell personally, and believe me when I say there’s no coming back from there”

Esther over hearing whispers in the corner and being the nosy individual she is came to investigate. “Whats wrong” said Esther scowling at Asrael. “She claims to know of our mothers” said Joseph “she wants to lead us to them”. “And mine too said” Esther her heart on her sleeve. “Aye I know where she is most definitely” she laughed wickedly. “Then we must go” said Esther “If there is the remotest chance of being reconciled with our parent’s joseph surely we must take it”. “And you would have us trust this this fiend” said Joseph. She’s been yours and for a many a year our governess and no harm has come to us yet” said Esther. “You just give her chance” said Joseph. “Well I’m going” said Esther. “You can either come or stay here, but I’m going” Asrael grinned.”You’re not going anywhere on your own” said Joseph “Certainly not with them”. “Then you’ll have to come with us then” said Esther. “Very well” said Joseph. “But you leave Illouise out of this”. “I’ll leave her out of this, but soon her powers will start to show and What do you think they’ll do with her then? She’ll be burned alive and you know it” said Asrael “or we can take her with us where she will be safe from harm”. Your choice” Joseph shuddered “go get Illouise” said Joseph “pack as little as you can. we don’t want to raise suspicion.”

The three youths looked back from the hillside and watched the sun fall on there once happy home in Tzrauel and whilst Esther and joseph found themselves filled with excitement at the thought of seeing there real mothers an anxiousness befell them at the uncertainty of where there adventure would lead them and the trustworthyness of there new companions.With that the sun gave up its rays and an ominous darkness consumed the valleys surrounding. "It is time young ones" said Asrael with conflicting feelings, although she wouldnt admit it to Gither and Octavia, taking care of the children all these years, she had began to feel something she had never felt before well not for a good hundred years at least it was as though her heart had started to open a little and she had formed a sort of bond with the youngsters.She smiled at them gentley. "Come" she said. " I saw that" said Gither. Asrael trembled at Githers words. "Mind you dont get atached. We deliver them. Receive our payment and leave them to there own devices from there on. You hear" said Gither. "Dont be silly Gither I harbour no feelings for these kids". Gither flicked her a stern look and then moved to the front of the party to talk to Illouise.

Three days of traveling took them to a familiar place it was carthagaras. "Home" said Esther. Joseph seemed undewhelmed by burned ruble. Esther began to cry this was our house said Esther looking at a broken down hut singed by fire, and memories of her child hood began to flood back .

" There he is" said Arael. "Its the wandering man" The shahman appeared holding a mud covered vessel. "Here are your brats" said Octavia. "now tell us of our Amulet" said Gither." It is hidden in the mountains of padoria" said the shah-man. "Is it safe" said Gither. "Oh very" smirked the Shahman. The Shahman turned to the youngsters Take this vessel, head for Careighnia should you encounter any trouble rub the vessel three times you shall have three wishes granted to you, should you only ask. Guidence however will come in abundance you may ask it any question you will. Now Go! Said the Shahman. "I've seen you before said Esther" The Shah-man smirked and said "Take care" and went on his way. The witches folliowed suite Asrael kissing them on the head as they left. "Illouise" said Gither. "take this also" she said giving her a book. "When you are versed in the ways of this book, come find us" she said. "we may be able to use someone like you". "Lets go home and pack" said Ocytavia. Asrael to the dismay of Octavia and Gither kissed the three on the head. The three of them wondered where this sudden gust of huiman kindness had come from but decided to except it non the less. The witches headed of toward there cave and the three youths were on there own.

The three of them looked at the horizon toward the Immense forrest of Treeburn. "Thats the quickest way to careighnia" said Joseph. "You must be off your head" said Esther. "That Forrest is notorious". "Do you want to find our mothers or not" said Joseph. "Come on we'll be through it in matter of days". "I dont know" said Illouise apprehensively. "Come on said" Joseph already walking in the direction of the forrest..

Two hours later they had reached the border of the forrest. "Im still not sure about this" said Esther looking into the dark ominous trees. "It'll take us little more then three days for god sake" said Joseph "what do you thinks going to happen to us. Just come on." They entered the forrest under the cover of a huge willow, The branches dangled above there heads and bounced as the girls hair got caught in its leaves. Something seemed to dance in the remaining light and the leaves beneath them crunched and squelched. "What is it Illouise". Illouise fell to the floor and started trembling her eyes where fixated and her pupild dialated a voice as if not her own began to speak through her. "Leave fools. Leave it is no longer safe here". her eyes began to flicker as if in a deep kind of dream suddenly the book in her hand flew open the pages turning faster and faster and then it stopped. Esther reached down to look at the page it had landed on "Black Elf magic and the Renegades ".

Esther began to read. "The Renegades are known to occupy the deeply wooded areas of the Treeburn forrest". She read. "Known for their dealings in prostitution, trafficking, looting and robbery. They are also known to control the main supply of hullicigenic asylium, which is used by wizards witches and other magical beings alike". Warning it read. to those who hold not the power to control the hulasanagen the effects will last for an unknown period which to some could be as much as ten days and can have catastrophic effects causing the subject to mutilate themselfs and others. "Nice" said Esther. She read on. "On encountering a renegade they will use powerful dark elf magic to enduce you into a day dream. The dream will be so real you will be able to feal, touch and have sensations of smell. Beware! You will be made to confront your worst fear in this day dream. Those who pass the test will be allowed to go free, those who fail will be taken and more then lightly sold or slaughtered for meat. "We have to get out of here" said Esther "Look it says in the deepest forrest" said Joseph. " we'll stick to the outskirts of the forrest. It'll be fine" said Joseph. "Look she's waking up said" Esther. "It was probably a preminision. Asrael warned us her powers would start to show. Get her a drink. Suddenly darts started flying from the trees. "Brownies" shouted Esther and Joseph.

"Quick hide in here" joseph said pointing to a hollowed out tree. "I wont leave her" said Esther. "Theres no time" said joseph becoming impatient. "Oh to hell with you both. Your on your own " and with that Joseph slid into the tree. Esther and Illouise were now covered in darts Esther began to feel faint her eyes began to droop. Joseph looked on as the two girls where dragged of with ropes tied to there legs by around ten brownies riding a number of wild boar. I had to do it he thought to himself how can they be rescued if we had all got captured. The more he tried to justify it the more guilty he felt. I'll follow the tracks he thought I can still save them its not to late.