Garden of Magic
By: The Glorious Cheshire Cat
Chapter 1: A Haunting Melody
Disclaimer: This story is a result of boredom and a love for the movie Hocus Pocus and the BBC's Merlin. Anything you recognize is not mine and belongs to their respective owners/artists/etc. Enjoy!
The moon was beginning to rise, bathing the misty forest in eerie light.
The little girl of no more than four huddled closer to the five year old boy that was her older brother, trying to get warmer in their ragged clothes.
He hugged her closer, wincing when she pressed against an old bruise that didn't seem to be healing.
Both little heads perked up when music began to float on the air, music that seemed otherworldly.
"Come little children I'll take thee away, into a land of Enchantment. Come little children the time's come to play here in my garden of Shadows." a female voice sang.
The two children stood and moved closer to the forest.
A woman in a long dark blue cloak appeared out of the fog.
She held out her hands to them. "Follow sweet children I'll show thee the way through the pain and the Sorrows. Weep not poor children for life is this way murdering beauty and Passions."
They took her hands and walked next to her as she turned to walk back into the forest. Having been raised and frightened into obedience with stories of monsters in the forest, the little girl whimpered.
The woman picked her up and held her close. "Hush now dear children it must be this way to weary of life and Deceptions."
The three continued into the forest until they came to stop before two huge oak trees.
She smiled at them. "Rest now my children for soon we'll away into the calm and the Quiet. Come little children I'll take thee away, into a land of Enchantment. Come little children the time's come to play here in my garden of Shadows."
A doorway appeared in the space between them and opened to reveal what seemed to be a paradise.
The children's faces lit up at the sight.
She laughed a soft and musical laugh. "Come little ones. Enter and we shall have dinner and tuck you away."
The boy took his sister's hand when she was placed on her feet and they walked in together.
The woman paused in the doorway and looked back towards the village.
A cruel and wicked smile spread across her face as the shadows in the forest seemed to move. The laugh she gave as a few shadows broke free was chilling and seemed to come from Death.
She followed after the children and the doorway closed.
Back in the village, several children woke from their sleep with the melody floating around in their minds and tears on their cheeks. They were sad to be left behind.
Mothers and fathers were baffled by their children's behavior and the fact that they could not be consoled. They exchanged worried looks when the children told them that they wished to play in the garden too.
A/N: Yes, I am aware I need to be working on my other stories. But currently, my plot bunnies are on strike and no amount of carrots seems to be tempting them to work. I will try my hardest to get them updated, but between the striking bunnies *glares over at where the little devils are hopping around with picket signs* and college, I can't make any real promises. Thanks for everyone's patience.