PART FIFTY-ONE:
A Judas in our midst?:
The crippled boy watched, as the coven girl washed blood from her arms. She was kneeling, by the side of the stream. He was almost certain, that she was the missing girl. He thought to himself, as he watched her. Maybe he should inform his father. And then he would contact her mother. But then again, that might raise an entirely dangerous situation. A predicament, that might jeopardize the life of everyone involved. Especially, those that were captive in the dungeon. It felt to him, like a suggestion that could get them killed rather than freed. And then even more important, was the sad factor that this girl had no memory or recollection of who she really was. Her own identity, was now unknown and foreign to her. He needed to be sensitive to that.
Reinah and the coven boy, were in some sort of conversation a stone throw away. The princess was trying to find out, about the layout of the witch’s domain. She wanted to understand how things were run on a daily basis. If they were going to go into the den of darkness, it would help not to stumble, or be stopped before they got there.
“There is a witch that lets us in and out. She is at the door, when you are sent on an errand. And she is there when you get back, to let you back in.” The coven boy stated with a sense of hopelessness.
“Is that the only door, or way inside?” Reinah inquired seriously.
“I know there are other doorways for the high priestess, witches and visitors. But this is the only one, that I know how to get to. This is the only way the prisoners are allowed to use.” The boy answered, while turning to look at the crippled boy. Who had just shifted over to join them.
The other girl was still at the edge of the water, just staring into its rippling surface. Probably beholding her reflection, after such a long time of confinement. It appeared as if, she needed some time alone to herself. Moreover, the stillness of the water and cool atmosphere was very refreshing. At least to anyone who had been deprived of nature’s simply pleasures, for any amount of time.
“So how fast, can we all run?” Asked the lame boy, when he understood what the other two were talking about. The princess only turned and looked at him, her expression unreadable. Both boys were staring at her, wondering what the answer to that particular question could possibly be.
“I think we should worry about that, when the time comes." Was all Reinah offered gently.
“I just hope it’s not too late by then,” mumbled the crippled boy. “I really do not want to be left out.” He finished skeptically.
“Don’t worry,” started the princess reassuringly. “We are all in this together and we look out for….” She had barely finished her sentence, when something interrupted.
A very close rustling sound was suddenly heard, coming from behind the big tree. The same place where Reinah had hidden earlier, to watch the two coven kids. The noise was heard again. This time, louder than before. As the three conversing kids, turned to look at each other.
The coven girl was still sitting calmly by the riverbank. Seemingly mesmerized, by the clear flowing stream. Shut up and secure in a world of her own. The other three kids were still staring at the tree, howbeit frightfully. There was no telling what could be making the noise. A wild animal or a human predator were all possibilities.
Whoever or whatever was approaching from the other side of the trunk, was doing so rapidly. As the three pair of eyes, looked on in dreaded anticipation. Reinah suddenly cried out in pain and fell to the ground. Grasping both sides of her head, as she lay on her side. Both boys startled almost together. Turning to the direction, from where the object that hit the princess had come.
The coven girl, was now standing up and facing them. In one hand, she held a large stone. Her other hand was empty, as she flexed its fingers. A few moments earlier, it had held the stone that she hurled at Reinah.
Before the observing boys, could realize what was going on. Then gather their thoughts together, in order to react. The coven girl had aimed the second stone at the princess, who was still lying on the floor.
"No!" The two boys shouted in unison, as the lame boy leaped forward instantly. He had swiftly propelled his body, by lifting it up from the ground. With both his hands on the floor, he threw himself forward.
He may have been too late, because the attacker’s expression was deadly and determined. A face that only a few moments ago, looked fragile and lost. However, a sudden command was heard;
“Stop it!” It had clearly come, from somewhere behind the big tree. The attacking girl, froze in place. Her hand still hanging in midair, as it tightly clutched onto the second stone. The lame boy, who was now close to her feet. Stopped in his tracks also and just looked at her. He had planned to hit her legs and topple her over. The coven boy was staring at his counterpart in shock. He could hardly understand, what had just transpired. And knew he could barely recognize, the girl offensive standing in front of him.
Looking away from the girl and her aimed and frozen position. The two boys now hesitantly began to turn towards the tree. First it had produced the startling and scary noise. And now a voice from behind it had spoken. More of a command that interrupted a very unpleasant surprise. And in the process, maybe saved the princess. The princess' life. With the two boys full attention now on the tree. And although their anticipation was laced with trepidation. They watched and waited. Realizing, that whoever or whatever that had been fast approaching from behind the tree. Had finally arrived and somewhat joined them. Someone or something was standing behind that trunk.
Of water, wiles and ways:
It was a standoff so intense. With one side overly hyped-up, irately accusing and dramatically incensed. Their uncontainable rage, stemmed from a gnawing knowledge of imminent defeat. A searing reminder of an unalterable experience, a glaring sting of intimidation and an uncommunicative sense of threat. Darkness swirled, swooped and advanced. Light stood guarded, formidable and alert. The noble ones knew not to be thrown off their objective course. Thereby, being distracted from the known issue. They were there, for the main purpose of protecting the girl and the likes of her. Therefore, the rage of the damned was to be ignored at most.
The opposition’s uneasiness and hyperactivity, stemmed from an inability to control, be sufficient and authentically productive. They wanted and needed to use what the girl had, without her realizing that she was their source. They were desperate to manipulate and order around, the person that she may not know that she was. And then for the same reasons that they derived from using her, they would proceed to destroy her. Any action less volatile than annihilation, was likely to have them on the brink of exposure and expulsion.
After many previously failed and unsuccessful attempts, the monitors were finally able to track and locate Reinah. Their desperation and stubborn diligence had paid off. They had also done their homework on her comrades. Who they were, where they came from and why. The dark fellows also ventured to study their subjects strengths, weaknesses, fears and hopes. If they could not get them to willingly turn on the princess, then they would appeal to the different and monitored factors. To get them to work against her. The kids were of course, likely to be ignorant of such wiles and strategy.
They knew that in their slimy system, if the main person and target was difficult to track, trail and/or trap. The people surrounding them, could either be unwittingly recruited. Or in some cases, voluntarily self submit. Heinus the first monitor, enlarged a scene that he was watching on the great mirror. Then without turning away from it, he beckoned to Xitus the second monitor to step forward. Both sinister agents looked at the scene and at each other. Then nodded with what could have been akin to a smirk. Almost immediately, the second monitor twirled around twice. Then he gingerly stepped into glass surface. He was now a fish and he was going for a swim.
.