Sorry for the massive delay with this story. Been pretty busy with graduation planning but hopefully now I will have time to give more attention to updating my writing. Thanks for sticking it out with me!
...
Lucy returned to the book and blew off the excess powder on the pages. Instantly the pages began to flip rapidly by an invisible force. She stepped back in shock before slamming her hand down to stop the movement. What she didn't notice was a hint of green mist oozing out the side of the book. Eerie whispers filled the now snowless room. Glancing around and finding no one Lucy nervously returned to the pages.
"An infallible spell to make you she. The beauty you've always wanted to be." Lucy read off. Her eyes lit up, instantly knowing who she wanted to be and darted to the mirror on the other page. She watched with interest as her face and hair slowly morphed into that of her older sister.
"Susan what's going…." Her laugh dropped as she realized 'Susan' was mouthing the words along with her. Lucy reached up to touch her cheek, the image in the mirror following.
"I'm beautiful." She gasped quietly. Biting her lip, Lucy darted over to a mirror on the wall. She frowned, realizing nothing had changed. When returning to the book the image fogged over.
"No!" Lucy shouted in alarm, but it did nothing to stop the fog. Scanning the top of the page, she found the spell she wanted and quickly tore out the page. A loud roar rang out, the pages flipping rapidly once again.
"Lucy! Lucy." A familiar voice called out in disappointment. Lucy jumped, and her eyes darted around.
"Aslan?" she asked nervously but it went unanswered.
"Lucy!" Raelyn shouted as she skid into the open area looking for the girl. Lucy let out a sigh of relief.
"Oh, it's just you." she whispered nervously. Raelyn gave her an odd look as she glanced around the room.
"What do you mean?" the red head inquired. Lucy shrugged, her eyes flitting down to the page when Raelyn wasn't looking.
"I just thought I heard something. Must have been you calling for me." Lucy explained tightly. Raelyn nodded, playing off Lucy's unusual behavior for the moment.
"I thought I felt the mist, have you seen any?" Lucy shook her head. In all honesty she hadn't. Raelyn hummed and made her way back to the door just to double check. When her back was turned Lucy slowly shifted back to the book that had now settled. She stuffed the page up her tunic. Green mist rolled around in the shadows before disappearing once more, causing Raelyn to shudder. The mist was gone by the time she whipped around.
"Let's get this over with. I don't like the feeling of this place." Raelyn suggested, walking back to stand by Lucy. The two girls looked down scanning the page that had revealed itself. It was the very one she wanted. The spell to make the unseen, seen. Green mist rolled around in the shadows before disappearing once more. Lucy began reading the spell on the paper.
...
Meanwhile in the garden outside, the sailors of the Dawn Treader were making their way across the landscape, swords drawn as they searched for the missing girls.
"Caspian! Lucy's dagger." Edmund called quietly as he knelt by the discarded weapon. Caspian made he way over to the boy to have a look. The moment he did large spears began to rain down on the men who were now whipping around in confusion at the absence of attackers.
"Stop right there or perish!" a loud, growling voice warned. The men stood, eyes wide as they looked for the owner. Suddenly their swords were ripped from their hands and they tried to defend themselves against the invisible punches. Most were knocked around, unable to properly fight back as they couldn't see the attack coming.
...
"The spell is complete. Now all is visible." Lucy finished from inside the library. She and Raelyn looked around curiously, waiting for some sign that the spell had worked. The sound of footsteps caught the girl's attention and Lucy nervously backed towards Raelyn as a large figure began morphing before them. Raelyn watched unbothered as the form of a man began to take shape before gradually filling in to reveal the man she had been talking with earlier. He made his way into the main room, intently reading a book before noticing the two girls staring at him. Raelyn shot a small smile at the man who responded with a nod. It would seem they had things to discuss.
...
Outside, the men remained helpless as the creatures kept them corralled together.
"What sort of creatures are you?" Caspian asked warily as he scrambled up from the ground, making sure to avoid the floating swords pointed at them.
"Big ones." The grumbling voice answered.
"With the head of a tiger and the body of a…"
"Different tiger." Another voice chimed in for the leader. A chorus of agreement followed. The men stared curiously as the creatures as a vague outline began shimmering where the voices were.
"You don't want to mess with us." The leader threatened.
"Or what?" Edmund taunted, glancing around at the materializing figures around them.
"Or ill claw you to death." One threatened. However, as they fully appeared the threats were no longer legitimate. Edmund stared bemusedly at small, single giant footed dwarf-like man who had threatened the clawing. The other strange men agreed enthusiastically as they listed off other 'threats' involving nonexistent tusks and fangs.
"You mean squash us….with your fat bellies." Caspian corrected as they all completely appeared around him. The creatures cheered before pausing in confusion as they realized what was said.
"Tickle us with your toes?" Caspian continued with a chuckle. Startled, the head creature fell from where two of his friends were holding him up.
"What have you done with my girl and my sister you pipsqueak." Edmund growled, picking up his stolen sword and holding it eye level with the small man. The creature's eyes widened in alarm and he let out a fearful squeak.
"Now calm down."
"Where are they!" Edmund insisted.
"In the mansion." The small man told him. the crew glanced around and found no large building anywhere nearby.
"What mansion?" Edmund asked in confusion. As if to answer, a whooshing sound was heard over to his right. The humans looked over to see a large and ornate building appearing in the open field.
"Oh….that mansion." He mused in awe.
"You know I'm really getting tired of you all leaving me behi…." Eustace squawked as he barreled his way through the bushes. The boy paused as he stared dumbfounded at the scene before him. Large footed small men and a large mansion in the middle of a garden were not things you see every day.
"This place just gets weirder and weirder." He huffs. All of a sudden, the creatures frantically begin hopping away, shouting 'oppressor' fearfully. From around the corner Lucy, Raelyn, and the man from the library appeared.
"Ray." Ed grinned in relief before rushing over towards her. Raelyn giggled in delight and eagerly wrapped her arms around him.
"Lucy." He added with a grin, spotting his sister alongside his girlfriend.
"Your majesty." The bearded man bowed politely to both Caspian and Edmund.
"Caspian, Edmund. This is Corriarkin. It's his island." Raelyn explained with her arm wrapped around Edmund's waist. The two men bowed their heads in respect.
"That's what he thinks." The head creature shouted indignantly.
"You have wronged us magician." He insisted. Corriarkin stared at them as if scolding a child.
"I have not wronged you. I made you invisible for your own protection." He gently scolded, walking towards the retreating creatures.
"That's oppressive! Oppressor." Many of the creatures shouted protests as they were hopping back out of the garden.
"I have not oppressed you." Corriarkin insisted.
"But you could have, if you wanted to!" the leader insisted. Raelyn shook her head in amusement at the creatures.
"Be gone." The magician tossed some powder in the direction of the creatures who hurriedly escaped.
"What was that?" Lucy asked curiously.
"Lint. But don't tell them." The old man grinned mischievously.
"What were those?" Eustace questioned once the creatures had cleared the area.
"Dufflepuds." Corriarkin answered easily as he led the way into the mansion. Eustace scoffed sarcastically.
"Right of course silly me." He sputtered in annoyance. Raelyn grinned at him and made her way over towards the boy in the back.
"If it makes you feel any better, I've never seen or heard of them either. So, we are both just as lost as one another." She commented with a shrug. Eustace looked over at the redhead thoughtfully.
"Well I guess that does put things into perspective. I knew I wasn't the only one baffled by their presence." He huffed, trying not to come across as too thankful for her comforting words. Raelyn grinned knowingly. She quickly caught back up to Edmund who had waited on her. As the two walked side by side into the mansion he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"Care to explain why your footprints were chasing after the….Dufflepuds on the beach?" he inquired, staring down at her with pursed lips. Raelyn glanced away, looking over the intricate carvings on the walls with interest.
"Sense of duty?" she ventured innocently. Edmund frowned at her in disapproval.
"Why didn't you just wake me up. It would have been much safer." Raelyn shrugged.
"It was faster if I went alone and I figured I would be ok, they weren't hurting Lucy." She timidly explained, fiddling with her fingers. Edmund frowned in concern. He wasn't sure he liked Raelyn not turning to him for help first. Of course he was glad she was gaining confidence and independence but he couldn't help the unsettling feeling that had taken hold in the back of his conscience.