Enchanted I found myself floating, carried on a gentle breeze. Gleefully a little troll who'd told me her name was Weeny flew beside me as tiny pixies pulled me along with their delicate hands.
I listened to the musical voices of the diminutive Lilliputians calling to them from the golden flowering wattle trees below. Willingly a few of the tiny pixies obliged, flying down to place the Lilliputians upon their delicate backs.
Through the silvery moonbeams the pixies flew their gossamer wings shimmering from excitement as the Lilliputians swayed playfully between their fluttering wings.
I'd never felt so happy and carefree as I floated beside the hundreds of mystical creatures that now filled the sky; their wings sparkling in the moonlight dotted the night sky like twinkling stars.
I pretended that I was Peter Pan on one of his amazing adventures and wished that I could stay forever beside these wonderful creatures.
On we flew, until way below I could see the rippling waters of a brook filled with tiny creatures at play. Gently now I was guided downwards and placed upon a fallen log spanning its deep waters.
I heard the sweet tinkling voices of the pixies call to the beautiful Naiads swimming nearby. Soon the brook was filled with happy laughter and graceful nymphs rose from its depths, hypnotizing me with their beauty.
Cheekily the Nymphs splashed me, enticing me with their seductive charms as they tried to lure me into their watery world.
Alarmed the tiny Troll, Weeny, called to her playmates and they rushed to protect me from a watery grave. Quickly they scooped me up, away from the devilish intent of the nymphs wanting no harm to befall me. Off they flew cradling me in their arms into the heavily scented night air toward the Rose Arbor where they said their mistress Queen Isobelle waited.
Within a twinkling of an eye they gently placed me down on dewy grass, safe now from the clutches of the Nymphs. Sadly Weeny bade me goodbye with a sigh telling me that she'd fulfilled her Queen's bidding.
The little Troll blew me a kiss, placing upon it the wish that one day I'd return to her magical world and flew off leaving me all alone.
Overhead rays of moonlight caressed the beautiful garden that stretched endlessly before me. The heady perfume of roses filled the night air making me light headed and carefree. Joyfully I skipped on the marble stepping-stones weaving through the beautiful beds of roses leading me to where a statue of a beautiful woman stood beneath a rose covered Arbour. A single white rose kissed by moonlight lay at her feet.
On a whim I plucked a rose placing it beside the marble plaque beneath her. Curious, I read its inscription.
Isobelle De Witt Braden
Loving mother of James
Wife of William Braden
'I pledge we shall meet again on this earth'
Forever your loving son, James.
Those simple words touched my heart and left me wanting to know this woman who had been so loved by her son. Turning away I was about to leave, when a gentle sweet voice spoke to me.
"Dear boy I can help you...you are not like the others. There is goodness deep inside of you. Do not let Sissnaska corrupt you. Here, feel the warmth of my hand."
I froze at the sound of a woman's voice and felt a hand move over mine.
A beautiful young woman with long flowing dark hair swathed in white silk stood beside me.
"Yikes it's alive!" I screamed.
Running hell for leather I headed for the towering arches of the west wing in the distance too afraid to look back.
Breathless I reached the terrace where I had left Swasie and my friends and warily climbed the stairs. Anxiously I searched for them afraid that at any moment the Basliks would return. They were nowhere to be seen.
Spooked by the shadows dancing eerily over the decaying terrace walls, I bolted. Through the towering arches I ran not stopping until I reached the passageway beneath the far wing of the mansion where Pudge had said Swasie was taking them.
A wall of darkness confronted me as I peered into its depths diminishing my desire to find my friends. However the sound of breaking branches nearby made me fear the Basliks had returned and quickly the darkness of the passageway became my friend.
Sweat poured down my face as I listened to dragging footsteps coming closer and clinging to the rough stone wall of the passageway I edged my way further into its depths,
After a while silence replaced those dreaded sounds and I breathed a sigh of relief. On I trudged barely able to see my hand in front of me when suddenly a torchlight penetrated the darkness.
"Cooee...cooee. Pudge, Charlie...anybody! Can you hear me?" I called however there was no reply.
Soon I realized that the torchlight wasn't coming toward me but was moving away. I prayed that it was Pudge and panic stricken decided to follow.
Suddenly the passageway was ablaze with light and the smell of burning oil lamps filled the dank air. Shocked I saw that I was standing beside a wooden staircase.
Trembling I looked around, I was alone. Who or what had led me here and why?
Anxiously I peered over the stairs rickety banister. Below was a huge wooden door.
A loud rumbling noise echoed around me and as I turned to flee I heard a deep guttural growl at the foot of the stairway
The last thing that I remembered was footsteps behind me... and then there was nothing.
"Hunk, Hunk! Wake up!"
Through a fuzzy haze I heard Pudge's concerned voice. Gingerly I felt the huge lump on the back of my head.
"What hit me?"
"Ssh, Hunk, you have to be quiet!" demanded Pudge as he placed his hand over my mouth.
I looked at the blurry faces of my friends wondering how I'd gotten here.
"Where are we?" I whispered as the older gang members surrounded us,
Pudge didn't answer; his eyes were glued to the tower soaring above us, where an eerie wail was sending a chill down my spine.