***
The group of three arrived in front of a broken bridge that led directly to the main entrance of the castle. There was no way to cross the bridge except to fly.
Max announced, “I’m going to fly us across.”
He imagined himself as light as the wind, but nothing happened.
“You have to recharge,” said Ariel. “And that could take a while. Every power here in the Supernatural World gets exhausted and needs time to re-fuel.”
Eddie said, “So what do we do then?”
Max scanned the horizon.
There was only one other way across. It was taking the long way around, making a circle around the castle and winding up at the back door.
“Then we go that way,” said Max.
So the three of them walked slowly around the castle.
Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled.
Endless wailing could be heard in the near distance.
Although apprehensive, they finally reached the back door.
Max exchanged glances with his traveling companions.
This is it, he said to himself. This is what I’ve come for. This will make or break me.
He grabbed the doorknob. There was some kind of liquid on it. It looked like tree sap to Max.
Frowning, Max wiped the liquid on his shirt and then opened the door.
He did it just in the nick of time, because the vines and roots from the top of the castle began to creep near the group.
One vine grabbed Eddie, who let out a yelp as he dangled upside down.
The sound attracted Max’s attention.
He turned around, raised his Glove and cried, “Flamma!”
The fire singed the vine, which dropped Eddie.
The dragon spirit landed on the ground with a thud.
Before the roots and vines could recuperate, Max hurried the group into the castle and then hastily slammed the door shut.
“You OK?” he asked Eddie.
Eddie nodded.
Flushed with adrenaline, Max turned his attention to the task at hand. He examined the castle. He didn’t really know what to expect.
It was dark and quiet inside. Hallways led to different parts of the castle.
Eddie asked, “Which day do we go?”
Max had no idea so he randomly chose right. He figured he would wander around until he found the Queen. Either way, he was determined to find her and make her submit to his authority.
The three of them walked down a long hallway. Portraits of past rulers of Purgatorio lined both walls. There were one of a snake, a bat, a cow, several old men, one little girl and even a candlestick. All of them were in regal clothing and wearing crowns. And then, at least, Max saw the portrait of the current Queen. She looked stubborn and proudly independent in her flowing royal robes.
Max glanced at it and then looked away.
She looked dauntingly formidable.
No matter what, I’ll succeed, he vowed. I’ve already come this far. I will go farther.
As he walked on, he reached into his pocket and felt a piece of paper rustling around. He took it out. It was the note from Jessica.
He opened up the crumpled note and read it again.
I had to leave before recess because I have a dentist appointment, but I’ll see you tomorrow and we’ll continue our drawing lessons. Keep drawing, Max. You’re really good and you’ll only get better the more you draw. Don’t forget: one day, we’re going to live in Paris and visit the Louvre and go to art school together.
- Jessica
After re-reading it, he felt a sudden pang of nostalgia. He really missed Jessica and their recesses and lunchtimes at their Safe Spot. He wondered what she was doing right then. He had had the archbishop send her a note assuring her that he was alright, but he didn’t feel that it had been enough. He wanted her to be sent to him. Maybe she could even be his imperial consort and they could both live happily ever after, as Emperor and Empress of Occultoria.
A loud moan shook Max from his thoughts.
The three of them stopped.
They had just walked past an open room and the noise seemed to have come from inside.
“What was that?” said Max.
“I don’t know,” said Ariel. “But you have to be careful. It could be a trap.”
Max glanced inside the room.
A little blond boy of about six years old was lying on the floor, moaning as though he were in pain.
Looking at the boy, Max’s compassionate side kicked in. He knew the little boy was in trouble and he wanted to help. Max had always been that kind of person and he knew it was important that he be compassionate. His mother affirmed it and so had his bracelet. He had to be himself and compassion was a large part of himself.
So, Max paused. “Hey there. Are you alright?”
The little boy was wearing a torn shirt and a baseball cap. “No. It hurts,” he said, clutching his leg. “I was at home and now I’m here somehow.”
Max assumed that the kid had breached the force field and wandered in from the Natural World. Purgatorio was a dangerous place. The little kid could easily be eaten by the numerous hungry spirits.
“Poor kid,” said Max, able to empathize, because the little boy could have been him.
He stepped into the room and approached the boy.
“Where does it hurt?” Max asked.
The little boy pointed to his right leg. “Right here, mister. I can’t get up. Can you help me up?”
“Come on,” said Max. “Come with us and we’ll get you out of here.”
Intending to help the boy get on his feet, Max stepped closer to the boy.
The boy’s eyes flashed a coal black.
That was when Max realized that something was wrong.
For one, his bracelet began glowing a very bright and blinding gold, much like the first time it glowed to warm him that the Green Gremlin was in the vending machine.
For another, Max’s instinct kicked in.
The little boy was not as he seemed.
Max sensed that it had all been a trap.
The little boy’s teeth grew as sharp as needles. Without warning, he grabbed Max’s arm and then sunk his teeth into it.
Max let out a bloodcurdling howl of intense pain as he took a step backward.
Summoning all his strength, Max grabbed the kid’s face and pried the kid’s teeth out of his veins.
The prince glanced at the little boy. The little boy was no longer a little boy. He was now an old middle-aged man with a receding hairline.
There was a table of antique lamps behind him.
He grabbed some lamps and chucked them at the prince. “I want my money!”
Max raised his Glove of Vulcan. “Flamma!”
Huge powerful flames burst forth, incinerating the antiques.
The assailant slowly turned invisible, becoming nothing but a faint outline.
But Max was not fooled. He could still see the outline and knew exactly where to aim his Glove.
Meanwhile, Eddie had transformed into a dragon.
The two young men shot fire at the ghost at the same time.
Fire from both sources struck the spirit.
The spirit started to disappear as it screamed in anguish.
Soon, it faded away completely, its cries still echoing in the room.
Max stood there, his head caked with sweat.
Ariel and Eddie rushed up to Max.
Still in his dragon form, Eddie said, “My lord prince. Are you OK?”
The attack had happened so quickly that Max hadn’t had time to think, just react.
Recovering his composure but still breathing hard, Max looked in a mirror.
It was there that he discovered something very strange and very disturbing.
His skin was turning a sickly purple.
Ariel gasped. “Max. You have been poisoned.”
***