Chapter 4
-Into the Dark-
Emily desperately tried to climb the wall of the giant hollow log, but she couldn't get a grip. Her feet slid and she tumbled back down. She got up and tried again and again, but she couldn't do it. The lining of moss was just too slippery.
Exhausted, Emily lay on the grass.
“See? What did I tell you?” said Senn. ”No way we're getting back up there. Now, come on—there's a whole cave just waiting to be explored.”
“Fine,” Emily said glumly. “Lead the way.”
Senn smirked. “Not quite the explorer's spirit, but it'll do.”
They started making their way across the underground garden. Dew drops on the grass glimmered. The fruits on the vines were so rich in color that they looked like large gemstones. Emily seized a ruby red cherry and nibbled on it. It was really juicy, sweet and cold. Then she stood under a vine, wringing it with her hands. Water dripped down and she caught a few droplets in her mouth. Her face lit up. Even the water was sweet.
“You know, I wouldn't mind being stuck in this place,” she said. “It's kind of nice here.”
“Don't jinx us,” Senn grunted.
About an hour later, they found themselves at a dead end. A wall of thick entangled roots blocked their path. Senn grabbed a root and yanked on it to see if it'd budge. However, it did more than budge. The roots came alive, wriggling like worms. Unraveling, they spread apart, and a large opening appeared. It was too dark to see anything beyond the opening.
Emily watched Senn tear off a handful of glowing grass. He then squeezed through the gap, holding the grass like a torch. She copied his example and followed behind him, Cecil hopping after her feet.
The light was faint. She couldn't see far. Emily trod carefully. As they went deeper, the cavern narrowed. It resembled more of a burrow now that her head was touching the ceiling.
All of a sudden she heard a voice. Hooooo...
Emily stopped and gulped. The hopping book bumped against her ankles.
“What was that?” she asked, her eyes wide with fear.
Senn said uncertainly, “The wind?”
There was a flash of light. Then they all saw a strange sight. Ahead of them a purple flame was hovering in mid air. Emily didn't know what to make of it, but it sure looked spooky. The flame zoomed over to them like a shooting star and burned more brightly.
Then the purple fire began to take shape, and out of the flame emerged a giant owl. It was a little taller than Emily. Its feathers looked like they were made of glass and shimmered with a violet glow. Its appearance was quite frightening and Emily would have screamed had the owl not begun dancing.
“Hooo, hoo-hoo!” The owl danced around them, jumping and spinning. Its head spun round and round—until it fell off, then it hopped back on its body. “Woo-hoo! You're here! I've been waiting!”
They stared at the mysterious owl.
“You were expecting us?” said Senn.
“No, not all of you. Just one.” The owl wrapped his wing around Emily's shoulders. “I have been waiting for this little one for a very long time. After all, I was placed here by her mother to watch over this forest.”
“My mother?” Her eyes widened. “You know my mother?”
The owl hooted gleefully. “Why, yes! Would you like to hear about her?”
“Very much so,” she said, nodding.
The owl beamed. “Yes, well, about your mother...” Emily pricked up her ears, expecting to hear all those nice things you'd normally hear—things like “Oh, she was so sweet and kind,” or “She was a beautiful lady.” Instead Emily heard the owl say something along the lines of... “Your mother was an evil empress who ruled the land.”
Emily blinked. “Come again?”
“Your mother was an evil empress who ruled the land.”
Emily furrowed her brow. “Evil as in...bad?”
The owl laughed. “Evil as in really bad.” In a low voice, he said, “Her name was Evilyn!”
Emily gasped. “Even her name sounds evil!”
“Indeed, indeed, Lady Evilyn was a nasty one,” said the owl. “Everyone feared her. She conquered the nations from east to west and formed the greatest empire in history. And when she was done spreading terror, she decided to have a kid. And thus, Evily was born.”
“I have an older sister named Evily?” she asked.
“Not quite.” The owl winked.
“I have a younger sister named Evily?”
“No.”
“I have a brother—?”
“Nooo.” The owl frowned. “Evily was your name at birth.”
“Oh...”
The owl continued, “Now, your mother may have been an evil empress, but she wasn't heartless. She loved you very much. When you were born, she discovered a terrible thing. You were born with a curse—the Curse of the Conqueror.”
Emily asked, “What's that?”
“The Curse of the Conqueror,” the owl said solemnly. “It is said that when a conqueror oversteps his bounds, that is where the curse is found. The curse was meant for her, you see, but somehow, somehow, it transferred to thee.”
Emily examined her hands, wondering if the curse was visible in any way.
“I'm... cursed? I never noticed.”
“The curse is not meant for children,” said the owl. “Up until you were born, a child receiving this curse was unheard of. It is believed the curse will not affect you until you reach the age of thirteen.”
“Then what happens?” said Emily.
“Eternal slumber,” he said.
“That doesn't sound so bad,” she said. “I like to sleep.”
“Um, I was putting it nicely,” said the owl, frowning. “Anyway, your mother made a vow that she would not rest until she broke the curse. She placed you here on your 10th birthday under the care of the wishing well. The wishing well agreed to keep you from aging while your mother searched for a way to break the curse.”
“My mother hasn't returned yet?”
The owl shook his head. “It has been about 600 years since we last heard from her.”
Emily fell silent.
“Sorry,” said the owl softly. “That's probably not what you wanted to hear.”
“It's okay,” said Emily. “I don't remember anything about her, so I'm not sad. It's more of a relief, really, to find out my mother loved me so much to do that for me.”
The owl's face brightened. “Good, good! You're taking it well—for someone over 600 years old. Now there's something else I must tell you about what your mother did, so I'd advise you listen carefully. No doubt you've noticed the dark fog covering the forest.”
Senn nodded. “I figured the forest must be cursed as well because that fog is not natural.”
“You are right,” said the owl. “You see, when the great empress left Evily—”
“Can you not call me that?” said Emily.
“But that's your name.”
“My grandmother always called me Emily. I like it much better than Evily.”
“Hooo, what a difference!” The owl's head spun wildly. “It's going to take me a while to learn that one. What was it again? Emilio? Amy Lee? A milk for he?”
“Just get on with it,” Senn grunted.
“Yessir, Mr. Grumpily Rumply,” said the owl, sneering. “As I was saying, she left her two most loyal servants to watch over this forest. One of them is me, and the other is called the Lord of Shadows. To protect Emily from the empress's enemies, both of us were given control over the darkness. Only I can let people into the forest, and only the Lord of Shadows can lead people out.
“I did not let anyone in for many years. However, when I realized that the wishing well was running dry, I decided to invite those of noble heart into the forest by leaving a message about the wishing well to thirsty travelers.
“I hoped to find someone who would lead Emily to safety. I also hoped that the Lord of Shadows would let you all out of the forest. But he is too stu
bborn and won't listen to me. He will only obey the empress. The only reason you are all trapped in this forest is because of him.”
“What can we do then?” Emily said. “My mother's not coming back...”
“Well, you have two choices, Emilio,” said the owl. “You can either stay down here with me for the rest of your life, or you can become the next ruler of our evil empire—not that's there anything left of it—and command him to let you go.”
Emily narrowed her eyes. “Does it have to be evil?”
The owl had a huge grin on his beak. “Amy Lee, don't you get it? Empresses can do whatever they want. Whether or not it is evil will be up to you.”