The Silent Court
We all rush out of the room to find Gil lying unconscious just outside the door. Emily rushes past us to his side rolling him to his. Gil was out like a light peacefully snoring away this made Emily and the rest of us relax until Emily herself collapsed over him.
"Em!" Kairo exclaimed making his way to her and getting her prone she also had lost consciousness joining Gil in his slumber.
"Apologies, but no one from the royal family are allowed to witness us." An unfamiliar voice stated in the room sending chills down all our spines. We all turn to see two masked individuals one perched perfectly on the window sill while the other stood beside it.
They were tall with very slender frames. They wore ornate masks that resembled different types of owls long arms and legs covered by loose baggy fabric that hid their hands. Unsure whether we were dealing with a friend or foe I called out to Rugosa hoping to transform like earlier. The one perched on the window sill seemed to have noticed something as it cocked its head to the side at me. I blinked and when my eyes reopened the figure was gone.
"Can't let you do that." The voice came from the masked figure he was now standing in my blind spot they were quicker than Polidori or anything I'd seen. Before anyone could object I felt a blow to the side of my head sending me flying back to the children below before I hit the ground I black out.
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I open my eyes to feel a heat that immediately causes beads of sweat to race down my face. Realizing I was back at the foot of the bone mountain in the hellish land that Rugosa referred to as a place within me not sure why or what had brought me back.
"Rugosa! Rose!" I call out to no reply my voice echoing out to the flaming landscape. Not wanting to waste time waiting I make my way around the base of the mountain hoping to find any sign of life.
I walk for a minute or so when I hear the clattering of bones on bones ahead making me pick up my pace. I make it to the noise to witness a bone avalanche and a figure riding it to the bottom I make it over to them waving my hand at the dust and debris being kicked up. Reaching the figure I'm struck by terror it was Polidori young and very much so alive. What happened to the charred mess we left on the rooftop? I wondered for only seconds before he noticed me.
"What is this place? The Abyss?" he asks allowed not expecting an answer.
"Good then I'll have an eternity to torture you!" He exclaims making his way over to me, I back away instinctively not paying attention to where I stepped tripping over some scattered bones from the avalanche. I now lay prone trying my hardest to get away pushing shards of bone and rock deep into my palms. Polidori laughs maniacally at my helpless as he slowly closes the gap between us. Soon he towers over me raising his hand to gather the magic to blow me away before he could though Rose appears startling both of us.
She stands with this vacant stare through Polidori as drool slowly falls from her lips. Polidori stood frozen watching my doppelganger's vacant expression unsure what it wanted from him.
"Hello?!" He demanded, but no response Rose just stared on. Soon frustration got the better of him he raises his hand inches from Rose's face gathering a devastating amount of magic. "Don't!" Rugosa who had been hiding nearby screeched but it was too late as if responding to the magic Rose sprung to life her jaw unhinging like a snake and devouring Polidori's hand and gathered magic whole. Reacting as fast as he could Polidori manages to pull a stump free from her mouth.
He stumbled over himself to escape turning on his heels to run away from Rose. A devious grin curled its way onto Rose's face before she slowly slid into her own shadow. I watched as her shadow slithered along the ground chasing after a terrified Polidori. He could feel his pursuer closing in so he lept in an attempt to escape he only managed to get inches off the ground when Rose's shadow sped up catching one of his feet and ripping it clean from the body. Polidori lands in a crumpled heap scrambling to his hands and knees before turning over to see the deadly ink-black puddle slowly making its way to him.
"Stay away!" He screamed raising his last hand to form an orb of magic, the puddle of darkness springs to life again speeding its way to his hand. Rose leaps from the dark pool like a shark ripping his last hope away. He struggled to keep himself upright bloody stubs knocking away bones and moist dirt. The shadow now circled him as he squirmed on his back. It finally settled underneath him dark hands raise from the shadowy depths pulling Polidori in.
"n-No! Help me! HELP ME!" Polidori screamed while I make it to my feet and watch as the shadows tugged and rip at Polidori sinking him deeper into the darkness and ignoring all of his pleads I would be lying if I didn't say I enjoyed watching his head disappear below the surface and peace return with silence.
"Rugosa come here!" I call out to the black cat still hiding behind a nearby collection of flaming stalagmites, she ignores me still staring at the living puddle of ichor that seemed lifeless now.
"Get over here you crazy cat!" I call again this time Rugosa replied with a terse hiss that surprised me, but I noticed it wasn't at me, but the puddle still which now had Rose skulking at its surface rememicnet to the thing I saw back when I was in the Trickster Trink.
"Here kitty kitty." Rose says as the shadow makes its way over to Rugosa. Terror pushes me to chase after it Rugosa is caught off guard without time to escape was now being drug down into the shadow as well I make it over in time to grip the struggling cat by the paws I try my hardest to pull her free but the hands are much stronger I lose my grip and watch Rugosa sink below the surface.