Chapter 5
It took a long while for Kendra to stop crying and all the while Navarog waited patiently, leaning on the wall watching her. " I'm never going to see him again and I didn't even get to say goodbye," She finally managed between sobs. She new she must have looked horrible, with her face and eyes all red from the crying but she didn't care. "Where did the guard take him?" "Don't worry your pretty little head over it. I can't hurt him remember. Or tell anyone else to do it either, so there's no point in keeping him here." After a long while of silence Navarog finally spoke again: "Well, are you coming?" "What?" "I suppose you could stay here, if you'd prefer." She didn't. Kendra got up and followed Navarog out of the room.
They started walking through the dark corridors and up the winding staircase. Instead of going back the way Kendra had first come they continued up. "This castle will be your home now. You are allowed to go anywhere you like as long as you stay within the castles boundaries. Do something stupid like try to escape and that privilege will be revoked." Kendra was hardly listening. A new tear fell down her cheek. "You are expected to attend meals with the royal family and other social gatherings. You will also need to be thought proper etiquette and manners."
They had emerged from the dank, dreary dungeon into the main hall of the castle. A grand staircase took up most of the room. "You still haven't asked me, where we are," Navarog noted as he started to climb the stairs to the second floor. But then again you're a clever girl I'm sure you've figured it out by now." The question hadn't even crossed her mind. Where would Navarog bring her? Where would the demon king rule his subjects from? Suddenly the horrible realization hit her. "Zzyzx," She whispered in terror. "Ding ding ding. I knew you could do it." Kendra couldn't believe it. They were in Zzyzx. A prison meant to hold the most dangerous demons the world had ever known. The old fairy realm and Brackens childhood home. But the demons weren't supposed to be able to leave the prison. So how had Navarog travelled to Fablehaven?
She voiced her question to which Navarog answered: " I was never imprisoned in Zzyzx, nor was I imprisoned here. I Came here off my own free will, so I may come and go as I please. A nice little perk, surely envied by many. And it does come in handy some times." He looked back at her and Kendra met his gaze.
They reached the second floor but Navarog didn't stop. They climbed another set of stairs and as her feet started to ache Kendra was reminded of a hill top. The beautiful summer day that had been one of her happiest until… thinking of it made her eyes water and she quickly blinked the tears away. The ring Bracken had given her was still on her finger. She was twisting it from side to side hoping to find some comfort in the action. Kendra was exhausted and when they finally stopped she felt like they'd been walking for hours. They had stopped in front of a door painted white with gold embossing on the edges. Navarog held open the door for her and Kendra stepped inside the room. "These will be your living quarters from now on, Navarog explained. Someone will soon be up to help you get ready for dinner. Don't be late." Before Kendra could respond Navarog had already closed the door behind him and Kendra could hear his footsteps fade away.
For a while Kendra had no idea what to do. She was trying her best to make sense of the situation. She walked to the door trying the handle. She had half expected it to be locked but to her surprise the door swung open. She shouldn't have been surprised. Hadn't Navarog said she could go anywhere she wanted within the castle walls. Closing the door, she turned to examine the room. On one wall there was a four poster bed and a nightstand, with a simple reading lamp. Across from the bed stood an impressive fireplace with intricate carvings of all kinds of magical creatures. Centaurs, satyrs, naiads, fairies, but her favorite was a majestic looking unicorn that stood on its hind legs. Next to the fireplace was a door that lead to the bathroom with a lavish bathtub, toilet, sink and mirror.
One of the walls was covered by a huge window and a pair of glass doors that led to a petite balcony. The balcony offered a beautiful view of the castle garden. It was nothing like what Kendra would have expected. A lush garden with all kinds of flowers and plants bordered by an inviting forest. The sun shone brightly in the blue sky. She had expected it to be a waist land with buildings turned into ruble and blood flowing on the streets. Well it still might be. All Kendra had seen was the castle garden. She had no way of telling what the rest of Zzyzx would be like.
She returned inside and her attention was caught by a bookshelf. She skimmed through the contents of the bookshelf, but one tittle in particular caught her attention. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, one of Brackens favorite books. She remembered him telling her that he had a copy signed by Mary Shelley herself, which Kendra hadn't believed. He hadn't been able to prove it of course, since it had been left in the new demon prison.
Kendra grabbed the book pulling it out carefully. It was an old copy, but clearly well preserved. She sat on a comfy armchair in front of the fireplace. When she opened the book, she found an old inscription written in a squiggly handwriting: To my dear friend Mr. Bracken Williams. I really loved all your stories about unicorns and Fairy realms. I hope to hear from you again someday. Faithfully yours, your friend Mary Shelley. Bracken Williams. A horrible alias at best considering how he had used his real first name and probably one of the most common surnames during the 19th century, but Kendra could still feel the tears forming at the corners of her eyes. Silly unicorn. She hugged the book to her chest biting back a sob. She had cried enough for one day.
Just as she was placing the book back on the shelf, a knock came at the door. "Hello?" Said a female voice as a girl popped her head inside. "Who are you?" Kendra asked cautiously. "I've been assigned as your maid miss, The girl explained. I'm called May." She curtsied elegantly. The girl had a slender figure, like a dancer and blonde curly hair that fell on her shoulders. "My name's..." "I know who you are miss." May looked at her sympathetically. "Would it be okay if I drew you a nice bath and help you get cleaned up." Kendra nodded. After only a couple of minutes May had Drawn the bath and helped Kendra undress.
The warm water felt heavenly on her skin. She felt glad to wash away all of the days dirt and tears that had gathered on her face and in her hair. After she was done May came to cover her with a soft bathrobe.
She sat her down on a small stool in front of a vanity table, brought a towel from the bathroom and patted Kendras hair dry. She worked silently and it took a while for Kendra to gathered the courage to break the silence: "Are you a demon?" "Oh heavens no, May assured her. I'm actually a unicorn."
"But why can't I see your aura?" Kendra asked. There is hardly any magic left here. In Zzyzx I mean. When the demons arrived all their dark magic clashed with the light magic that was left behind by the fairy realms former inhabitants, and they sort of canceled each other out. The demons lost all their magic and were forced to take their human forms. Only the most powerful ones still have any magic left. If you ask me this is an even better prison for them than the original.
Unfortunately this means that most of my magic is gone as well. As my magic fades my aura weakens so you might have to try a little harder to see it. Kendra concentrated and surely enough she could see the faintest shimmer around Mays beautiful features.
"But how did you end up here?" "A couple of hundred years ago I used to work for the royal family. I was sent on a mission to destroy a demon called Bachara, who was wreaking havoc at one of the preserves that was connected to the fairy realm by a shrine. The mission went wrong and I was captured. She killed most of my team before they were able to banish her into Zzyzx. When the demons came here she was forced to take her human form and I was freed."
"Oh, that's awful," Kendra whispered in horror. I'm so sorry May." "It's not your fault miss. Don't feel sorry for me. I got my revenge in the end." Are there other humans here? People like you?" "Unfortunately," May sighed. Prisoners just like the demons who live here. But to us the old fairy realm is definitely an upgrade."
May brushed Kendras hair in silence. She then started skillfully braiding it and when she was finished Kendra was left with a beautiful braided crown, that looked absolutely stunning. "There you go, miss. That already looks a lot better." "It's beautiful, Kendra sighed. Thank you." "That's nothing. Wait until you see the dress I've picked out for you."
May went to the wardrobe and pulled out a light blue gown, that in Kendras eyes looked way too fancy to ware to dinner. May ushered Kendra behind a dressing screen and helped her into the dress. To Kendras surprise, the dress fit her like a dream. It was surprisingly comfortable as well even with the corseted back that May secured tightly. When she was done Kendra admired herself in front of the mirror.
"I can see why he likes you," May suddenly spoke up. "Who?" "Bracken. I recognized his unicorn horn," May said pointing at the ring on Kendras finger. "You know Bracken?" Kendra inquired. "We used to be friends when we were little. I used to visit him here in the castle. We played hide and seek and pretended to be pirates. He was always a little weird, but I suppose that's a part of his charm. This actually used to be his bedroom," May said confirming Kendras suspicions.
Normally Kendra would have been thrilled to hear all the little details about Brackens childhood, that he'd kept so well hidden, but the reality of her situation sunk in and her excitement was gone as quickly as it had begun. May must have seen the misery reflected on her face because she quickly apologized: "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." "It's alright," Kendra assured her. "For what it's worth miss, I think what you're doing is selfless and brave and I'm sure he knows just how much you love him." Kendra nodded weakly.
A pair of elegant blue shoes and a little bit off makeup later May turned to admire her work. "Perfect. I think you're ready miss. With those words another knock came at the door. May opened it and a guard entered. "I'm here to escort miss Kendra to dinner," The man said. He looked a little pale, nervous even. Kendra glanced at May and she gave her a reassuring smile. Kendra walked with shaky steps into the hallway and the guard put a hand on her back nudging her forward. "Don't you bully her and hands off the dress," May called from the doorway. She looked at the guard angrily and he stared back at her if only for a second, before turning away. "We're already running behind schedule," He muttered. Kendra started walking as the guard muttered something inaudible about women and how it took them forever to get ready.