The Founder's Troubles
JudgeDP
"I cannot believe what Thomas did," Rowena said the next day over breakfast.
"I cannot believe that one of the centaurs hasn't come to check on us, I made a lot of noise when I went after him."
"The full moon was last night, Salazar, they're busy."
"Good point." After a few moments of silence he asked, "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine Salazar."
"Good." He collected their plates and cleaned them, then grabbed an apple as an extra treat for his horse. "Rowena?"
"Yes?"
"If you want your sword back-"
"No. I want you to keep it."
"All right then." A awkward silence ensued as the two left the kitchen and made for the barn. "I think we have a problem," Salazar said halfway there.
"Why?" Rowena asked, looking up.
"Look." He gestured toward a statue of a one-eyed witch who used to have a hump. The pieces were now scattered about the floor.
"What could have happened?" Rowena asked, racing toward it. A hole had been dug straight through the statue and into the ground beneath. "Where do you think it leads?"
"I don't know, but I can bet who made it."
"Then you'd probably be wrong," came an all too familiar voice. It was the snake Salazar had met in the vents while spying on Rowena and Thomas.
"Why would he be wrong?" asked Rowena kindly.
"Because you both think he's dead and your accent is atrocious child."
"Who?" the two humans chorused.
"That horrible boy who the two basilisks bit yesterday."
"He made that?" Rowena said in disbelief.
"Oh yes, he has gone through quite a transformation."
"What do you mean?" asked Salazar.
"He has become," the snake giggled slightly, "a half human, half snake. His upper body retains the shape it once was but it is now covered in scales, he no longer has legs but a serpentine tail, he has deadly fangs, a forked tongue, and a snakes eyes. He is magnificent!"
"Oh no," Rowena's face had gone ashen.
"Oh don't worry m'lady," hissed the snake, "he won't be coming after you, no not for a while anyway."
"Why not?"
"He is terribly angry at Grandmother and will most likely attack her, this will cause her to take revenge on him, not a pretty thing at all." With that the snake slithered away, chuckling at the torment that was most likely befalling the snakeman.
The two teens looked at eachother in shock.
"Let's fix this statue," said Salazar.
"Then let us find out who this Grandmother is," said Rowena.
"Tsk, tsk tsk," said Grandmother, looking into the cage that had once housed the new siren. "You should have known better than to cross me Thomas, after seeing what I did to my deary here," the siren made the fish equivelent of purring as Grandmother stroked her hair.
The siren's head lay in Grandmother's lap while her tail flopped about every so often on the stone floor. She had become fully fish now, her only joy came from pleasing Grandmother. In the cage was Thomas, just as the snake had described him, his golden scales sparkling in the dim light.
"No words of anger Thomas? No matter, I will find a use for you yet. For now, I think that you will make excellent practice for my new pet, don't you dearie?" The siren purred once more. "Good, now sing to him and drive him mad! Mwahahahahahahahaha!" Grandmother exited the room, leaving the low meldious music and thrashing snakeman behind.