Lutta felt Strix Strumajen's talons strike her, knocking her to the ground. Her body slammed against the icy ground, blood trickling from her back. The disguise of Emerilla fell from her, and she was revealed as a hagsfiend, a black-feathered beast, ragged plummels trailing against the ground. Reaching out for Hoole, she whispered her last words, before the ice palace faded...
She was falling down a dark tunnel, red flames surrounding her. At the bottom was a prescense, evil and deadly.
Come down, little monster, come down...
"No!" she cried. "No, no, NO! I'M NOT A MONSTER!"
Yes you are...come down...
"N-n-no, I don't want to go to hagsmire! Let me go! Don't take me down there! I'm not a monster..." Tears filled the creature's eyes as she remembered what everyone had called her. No one had ever accepted her. Her own parents had abandonded her. Kreeth had only wanted her to do evil. Hoole had been attracted to her, but only because she had taken on the guise of Emerilla. No one loved her as she was...
"Yes, I am a monster. Take me..."
Had she said that out loud?
Good, good...
She was falling faster...faces flashed by, the disapproving faces of Ygryk and Pleek, the scheming face of Kreeth, the furious face of Strix Strumajen, the betrayed face of Hoole...and his face seemed to swell, until it filled her vision.
Hoole...