Disclaimer: I don't own anything it is all mostly from the movie!

Chapter Six

Now night has fallen and Yvaine sat at the base of the tree she was bound too, looking up at the stars longingly. She had began to get bored hours before as soon as the sun had set, she would even take that insufferable girl to come back over sitting here tied to a tree. A snapping branch from somewhere in the dark caught her attention. Looking around hesitantly, she called out, "Alex?" With another branch cracking she began to grow more and more nervous. "Who's there? Alex is that you? It's not funny! Alex!"

The rustling grew more prominent and she stared in trepidation at the spot it originated from. A few seconds later she let out a sigh of relief and a relieved chuckle upon seeing the white unicorn emerging from the brush. Holding out her hand she beckoned it forward. "Come on." The unicorn cantered forward until it was a few feet away before leaning its head down until its horn rested on the chain attached to the tree. Whipping its head to the side, the unicorn broke the chain, much to the astonishment of Yvaine. It then kneeled before her, allowing her to get on and ride on its back. She smiled and pet its mane. Soon they vanished from the clearing where she was previously held, leaving no trace that anything had been there.

Lamia stood in the middle of a vast field alongside the gravel road she had been following. She was beyond frustrated, and threw her hands up in the air in finality. Holding up the hand with the large ruby ring, she rubbed the ring vigorously before an image of her two sisters appeared.

Empusa immediately chastised her the moment she laid eyes upon her. "Be careful how much magic you use, sister. It's beginning to show."

Lamia rolled her eyes, "One goat and a small enchantment. Hardly extravagant."

Mormo glared at her sister, "Well, even using the ring will take it's toll. Better you call on us in dire need. And use your runes to locate the star yourself."

Exasperated, Lamia glared at her sisters, "I used them and she should be here. But now, they're just telling me gibberish."

Mormo and Empusa looked at each other, before silently coming upon an agreement. Together they walked over to the various cages of animals and pulled out a baby crocodile. Soon they had cut it open and were examining its entrails. In glee, Empusa looked towards Lamia's image holding the crocodile intestines in her hands.

"It is because you must stay where you are, my sister. She is coming to you!"

Mormo cut in quickly, examining a long string of intestine, "Oh, be warned, Lamia. Delicacy is needed. Misery has drained her. She's barely shining. Set a trap that ensures her heart is glowing before you cut it out!"

Lamia simply nodded her head before her image disappeared completely. Back in the clearing she turned to the two goats, bending down and pointing with both index fingers at their foreheads while whispering, "You shall become human." A green flame started to wrap around both of the goats until in their place stood Bernard and an older man with wide eyes, a fat belly, and a long white beard matching the color of his coat as a goat. The man's bottom jaw extended farther than is normal causing his bottom teeth to jut out constantly.

Lamia glanced at the two, tapping her finger on her chin before an idea struck her. Pointing her finger once more at Bernard, a green flame once again wrapped about him. His hair lengthened until it was mid back in waves as he lost all facial hair and the sharpness of his face. Along with the loss, his breasts began to grow before they were the size of a well endowed teenage girl showing a lot of cleavage in the new gown. Bernard looked at himself in shock, poking his boob repeatedly before being shaken out of it by Lamia.

Stepping back away from their chariot, Lamia pointed both fingers at the side of the road on the open grass as green flames erupted into a massive ball. Minutes later a small tavern stood, with a sign out front and a barn alongside it. The inside was clean and well lit, with a loft area that led into a hall with doors lining each side with rooms.

Sighing in satisfaction, Lamia turned towards the older man. "You are Billy, the innkeeper, and I am your wife." Then pointing towards Bernard, "And you are our daughter. Now, make everything ready. Our special guest will be here soon." With a devilish smile, Lamia walked into her new tavern along with her two helpers before shutting the door.

Alexandra returned to the clearing and the tree that she had left Yvaine tied to, only to find her completely gone with no sign of where she went. "Yvaine! Yvaine! Oh you idiot." Sitting down in defeat, he looked up at the moon in disappointment before slowly drifting off to sleep.

Yvaine sat atop the unicorn speaking to it quietly, even knowing it would never respond. "I mean, who's to say she'd have even kept her promise about the candle? I just refuse to believe she's the only person in Stormhold who could've helped me. Going on and on and on. Just 'Victoria this' and 'Victoria that'." With a sigh the duo continued on, deeper into the forest, unknowingly playing right into the hands of an evil witch.

Alexandra was fast asleep when a very high pitched, soft, feminine voice began to break through the silence. "Alex? Please protect our sister, Alex. Yvaine is in grave danger!" Alex began twitching in her sleep, becoming more restless as the fear of Yvaine being in danger began to settle in. "The unicorn came to help her, but now they're heading into a trap. No star is safe in Stormhold. The last to fall was four hundred years ago." Suddenly images began going through her mind, a girl dressed exactly like Yvaine with beautiful red hair was with the three old witches at their house. "The last star was captures by the same witches who seek Yvaine now. They tricked her, cared for her, and when her heart was once more aglow, they cut it from her chest and ate it." Alex recoiled as she watched exactly what the star was saying play out before her eyes. The girl had begun to glow softly, the light being emitted from her body it seemed, when the witches made her lie upon a stone table where they strapped her down and cut out her heart with dark, glass looking blades. Her screams rang through Alex's ears as she watched in anguish as the witches at the heart of the poor girl. "There's no time to waste Alex. A coach is coming. By any means possible, you must get on it. Run! Now!"

Alex jumped up and began running towards the sound of the coach. Seeing it she began to run straight at its side before leaping, in an attempt to grab ahold to the back and hitch a ride. Unfortunately, Alex's simply bounced off the carriage with an oomph. The carriage slowed to a halt as Primus jumped down and walked back towards where Alex lay on the ground, unsheathing his sword and pointing it at her. Alex held her hands up in a sign of surrender as Primus stood above her. The dead brother's that had been asleep in the back of the coach all now had their heads stuck out the side watching what as happening.

"If Septimus insists on sending a girl to do a man's job…"

Alex started vigorously shaking her head, "No, no, no, wait, please! I don't know a Septimus. I just need a lift! Look at me, look at me. I'm unarmed. Please. Please, let me ride with you."

With a sigh, Primus sheathed his sword and turned back away from Alex and started to board the coach once more. "I'm afraid that's impossible. I'm on a quest of enormous importance."

Alex refused to give up, not when Yvaine's life depended on it. "Well, then all the more reason to take me with you. There may come a time when you need a second pair of hands. Sir? Please. Maybe providence sent me to you just as it sent you to me."

With another sigh, Primus nodded his head towards the coach, "Get on."

Alex smiled in relief, "Oh, yes. Thank you!"

It was a bad storm, rain and lightning being the only thing that could be seen as Yvaine and the unicorn happened upon the small cottage set up by Lamia. Leaving her steed behind her, Yvaine knocked on the door, peeping through the tiny window in the hope of seeing someone inside.

The door opened to reveal Lamia, dressed in a normal, deep red gown with her hair pulled back in a half bun allowing the rest to flow down her back. "Goodness me, my dear," she said looking at Yvaine with affected concern. "Come in out of this wretched rain! We have food and drink, a warm bed and plenty of hot water for a bath." With a small smile back towards the unicorn, Yvaine entered the cottage with Lamia's hand firmly planted on her back. Lamia swiftly shut the door, not bothering to give the unicorn a second look, all of her focus was upon the star in front of her.

Yvaine looked around at the place in wonder as Lamia put a pot with water over the fire. Bernard, who is now a girl do remember, stood next to Yvaine just staring at her unabashedly. Yvaine kept glancing at Bernard out of the corner of her eye in confusion, wondering why this girl was staring at her.

"How do you like your bath? Warm, hot, or boil-a-lobster?" Lamia asked with a wicked smile that seemed to go unnoticed by Yvaine who continued to stare at Bernard in suspicion.

"Um, I honestly do not know," Yvaine replied, thinking of how it would feel to have a bath for she had never had one before.

"Then let me choose for you, and I'll have my husband take your horse to the stable. Billy?" Lamia said gesturing to the goat turned old man behind the counter. Upon hearing his name he jumped straight up and onto the bar before jumping down and sliding forwards towards her. Lamia rolled her eyes at his behavior while Yvaine only thought of how she now understood what was wrong with the daughter, she had gotten it from her father. Billy left through the door in order to take the unicorn to the stable, while Lamia turned towards Yvaine, brushing a lock of hair out of her face. "Now, let's get you out of your wet things, shall we?"

Bernard walked up to her and began to grab her shoulders, but Yvaine stepped back and simply slipped her dress off before stepping into the warm bath that Lamia had prepared for her. A while later Lamia returned to the tub side and began twirling her index finger in the water near Yvaine's right leg. "Feeling better."

Yvaine opened her eyes and smiled brightly at Lamia, "Much. Thank you. The warm water's actually done me a world of good."

Lamia smiled, silently sending a twirl of green flame down to wrap around Yvaine's leg, healing it completely as it did so. "Ah, you see? The powers of a nice, hot bath. And your leg? Any improvement?"

Now looking down at her leg she began to move it and no longer felt any pain whatsoever. In disbelief she stared at Lamia, "That is extraordinary!"

Lamia smiled slyly, "It's the least I could do. I'm just glad you're feeling better. You seem happier in yourself, too."

Lamia's smile widened as a soft glow began to emit from Yvaine, who had no notice what was happening. "I do feel happier. Less troubled."

"Wonderful! Nothing like a nice soak to warm the cockles of your heart." With that Lamia stood and Yvaine followed her lead, standing from the tub without any reservation. Bernard held up a towel while looking the other direction, peeking every now and again as Yvaine grabbed it and began to dry off. Once she was completely dry, Bernard handed her a robe and Lamia led Yvaine up the stairs into one of the bedrooms on the second floor.

"Now, I'm only a simple innkeeper's wife, but I've been told I have a healer's hands. I'd be glad to give you a massage," Lamia said as Yvaine stood gazing at the new room.

"What's a massage?" Yvaine inquired glancing back at Lamia.

Lamia put a hand to her heart with a gasp, as if it was the worst thing in the world that Yvaine had never had the privilege to have such a thing. "Never had…Well, bless my soul. Nothing like a massage to send you off for the finest and deepest night's sleep."

Yvaine smiled at her brightly, "I do have trouble sleeping at night."

The smirk on Lamia's face was devilish as put her hands on Yvaine's shoulders, leading her towards the bed. "Lie on your back, dear. Why not close your eyes? You'll drift off better that way." Yvaine closed her eyes as Lamia kneeled on the bed side, opening the top of Yvaine's robe just enough so her chest was exposed, her body still emitting that same glow. With a wicked smile, Lamia reached under the bed and picked up the black glass blade she had placed there earlier. Just as she grasped it there was a banging on the front door, a man was calling out for someone.

Outside the coach sat with Primus and Alex standing at the door, knocking to try and get someone to answer. Alex yelled out over the thunder and rain, "Maybe we should carry on and try the next inn, especially if this stone is as close as you say."

Primus sighed before turning back towards the door, "I'll give it one more try."

Upstairs, Lamia sighed in annoyance. The annoyed look immediately left her face as soon as Yvaine opened her eyes and glance up at her. "Relax here, my love. I'll be back just as soon as I've taken care of this customer."

Billy opened the door for Primus…using his mouth. "At last. We require accommodation. Please help my friend take the horses to the stables." With that Billy looked at him before making a strangled goat noise and hopping outside to help Alex. Shaking his head he entered the inn, shutting the door behind him.

Lamia stood at the top of the stairs, just out of sight of Primus. Reaching down in her cleavage under her dress, she produces a dark vial and pours its contents into a goblet of wine sitting on a tray.

Downstairs Primus looks around, calling out, "Hello?" Seeing the bath that is still warm from Yvaine's he immediately walks over and begins undressing. Soon he is soaking in the tub by the fire without a care in the world.

Yvaine, after hearing no talking or anything, sits up out of the bed and starts to head downstairs. She doesn't realize that the glow she was emitting not seconds before is now gone. Walking down the steps in nothing more than a white robe, Yvaine spots Primus relaxing in the tub and immediately pauses.

Primus finally opens his eyes and looks up to Yvaine at the stairs. "Ah! I'm accustomed to better service, but you're awake now and that's what counts. Prepare your best room."

As Yvaine comes closer, Primus' dead brothers are sat gaping at her around the table. Quintus begins gesturing towards his own neck. "She's got the stone! Stone!"

Lamia walks in between Yvaine and Primus, blocking her from his sight while offering him the goblet of wine from her tray. "I'll thank you not to bother my guest, sir. I am the lady of this inn. Glass of wine?"

At this all of his fallen brother's begin vigorously shaking their heads as if he could see thim while exclaiming "No! No!" After a few moments, Primus shakes his head causing his brothers to release a sigh of relief.

"No. Until my brother is dead, I have vowed to drink only my own wine. Though my friend in the stables might be glad of a drop. You're best room perhaps?" Primus says, still trying to subtly catch a glimpse of Yvaine even though Lamia continuously blocks the way.

Lamia smiles tightly, "Of course." With that she stalks away, shoving the tray with the goblet of wine into Bernard's stomach, gesturing for him to take it out to the stable, and do remember that at this point Bernard is still a girl. Lamia stalks upstairs while Primus engages Yvaine in conversation, talking of his stallions and his father. Once upstairs, Lamia grabs the knife from earlier and rushes back down the steps.

Outside, Bernard opens the door to the stables and shuffles in carrying the tray with the goblet of wine. Alex is stood inside on the hay floor grooming all of the black horses that had pulled their coach. Upon hearing the door open she turns and greets Bernard kindly, grabbing the goblet off the tray. "Thank you. That's so kind, thank you very much. My name's Alexandra, what's yours?"

"Bernard," the girl replies in a deep, manly voice. Obviously the witches magic worked to physically change him into a girl, but it did not change his voice whatsoever. Alexandra takes a step back in shock at the gruff voice of a man he hears coming from such a slight girl. As she is leaving Alex shakes her head in confusion and mouths the girl's name in shock.

Inside, Primus is still on his monologue of how he came to acquire the horses and coach he is travelling in. All the while his ghostly audience is gesturing wildly to Yvaine's neck, pointing and shouting about the stone. Yvaine, seemingly tired and a little weirded out by the conversation starts to take her leave.

"Well, how nice for you. If you'll excuse me…" she trails off turning around to start back up the steps.

"Wait!" Primus calls out suddenly. When she turns around, he pushes himself half out of the tub in shock while staring at her chest. "That stone you're wearing. It can't be."

"Oh finally, it took you long enough!" Secundus exclaimed, throwing his ghostly hands in the air one even going through the wall without him noticing whatsoever.

Primus beckons her forward with his hand, "Please come here and let me see it."

In the barn Alex is just getting ready to put the goblet of wine to her lips when the unicorn bursts through the stall door and knocks the cup out of her hand, spilling its contents all over the hay floor. Looking up in bewilderment and the unicorn it only takes its leg and gestures towards the spilled wine. When Alex looks over she finds that everywhere the wine has landed is now smoking and releasing an acrid smell.

Inside Primus is starting to get angry that Yvaine is not drawing near him whatsoever. "You have no idea what you're meddling with. I am Primus, the first born of Stormhold and I demand that you bring it to me! Bring me the stone! Now!"

It is at this moment that Alex barges through the door yelling. "Prince Primus! Don't touch anything they give you! They tried to…" She immediately stops talking as she sees Lamia run up and slit Primus' neck with her knife. All of the fallen brothers gasp in shock, wincing away from the horrible death of their brother. Seconds later Primus' ghostly form appears next to Tertius, stark naked.

Lamia still stands above the tub containing Primus' dead body, holding the knife up in satisfaction. Shaking off the shock, Alex spins around and runs up to Yvaine. She grabs her by the upper arms and looks her over, checking for any type of wounds or damage. "Are you alright?" she asked frantically to which Yvaine swiftly nods.

"Billy? Get her!" Lamia's shrill voice awakens the goat turned man who once against jumps up onto the bar and then starts running towards the two girls. Alex stands protectively in front of Yvaine, holding Yvaine behind her body in hopes to keep her safe any way possible. Before Billy could get too close, with a neigh the unicorn comes charging in and head butts Billy in the chest. Billy is sent flying through the air, transforming back into a white goat, before hitting the back wall behind the bar and falling to the floor, motionless. The unicorn then turns towards Lamia and begins to buck and neigh at her. She lifts her arm, pointing her finger at the bucking unicorn as green flames engulf it, burning the poor thing to death.

Hoping to make a quick escape, Alex starts to usher Yvaine towards the door. Unfortunately they do not escape the witch's notice as Lamia uses her other hand to send out a green flame cutting off the door. At this point green flames seem to engulf the entire house, leaving only the spot where the occupants are standing free of the magical fire. Alex backs Yvaine up until they are met with a wall with no way out. Still standing protectively in front of Yvaine, Alex pushes her as far behind her as she can while doing her best to show that she is not afraid of the witch approaching them.

"The burning golden heart of a star at peace is so much better than your frightened little heart. Even so, better than no heart at all," Lamia states while approaching the duo with the knife raised, walking through the flames as if they were nothing.

Not taking her eyes of the approaching witch, Alex whispers, "Yvaine? Hold me tight and think of home."

She doesn't question her at all, but simply wraps her arms around Alex's waist tightly, tucking her head into Alex's neck. Reaching into her coat pocket, Alex produces the Babylon candle and shoves his entire arm into the green flame next to him with a scream. Immediately the two girls are wrapped in an orange flame and bright light just as the witch bears down on them, swinging out with the knife. The knife cuts through the air before hitting and breaking against the stone wall behind where they stood. Lamia throws her head back and lets out an ear-shattering scream of despair.