Chapter 19: BACK TO D'NALGE: A Triumphant Return

Still tremendously angered with my fairy godmother for her lock of both information and comfort-- although it had been promised to me, I fell through the portal and the next world almost immediately appeared before my eyes; I realized that the world of D'Nalge had-- for some reason, rapidly changed since my last visit. The sun in the sky seemed angry-- red, and dying; a sun I had only seen captured in grainy photographs back in my middle-school science textbooks; its life was clearly nearing its end, but there was more destruction to view. The sky had begun to reflect this red glow as well, while the forest I had found myself trapped within for months was now extremely dry and barren-- once glowing, fresh and green. The presence of animal life was nonexistent, while the trees had grown twisted and deathly; their gnarled braches reaching towards the sky, as if longing for those happier days when they had been young and beneficial to the world. Their presence was chilling-- I instantly wondered what could possibly have caused such horrors to ensue.

It was no longer a wonderful place-- not that it had been, really; for last I had been there, I had witnessed unspeakable horrors within the forest, had seen murder and betrayal-- the Prince had died… because of me. But, all the same, D'Nalge had appeared beautiful from a distance-- as long as you didn't get too close, as long as you didn't get to know any of its inhabitants. That surface had now faded away, and as I fell from the angry red sky, memories of D'Nalge flashed through my mind in a quick and almost nonsensical blur; a manor, an unattractive girl ordering me about, the ballroom, the beautiful gowns, a comb almost boiling with the poison it contained.

At long last, I landed directly on my back in the yellowed grass, which provided a rather comfortable spot. After I had stood, and was composing my thoughts and self, I found that I was standing directly in front of a ruined cottage that had weathered many storms throughout the years-- Elaine's cottage, I realized, stretching out my legs to get rid of the fact that they had cramped up without any warning. I then hastened to brush a few blades of dead grass away that had been clinging to my hair, and also the dozen or so that had managed to creep under my shirt. I was perspiring like hell, although I was unsure of the reason, I sensed that the sweat coupled with the cramp was someone's way of warning me of the treacherous happenings that lied ahead. Everything just seemed so very unstable; it was then that I realized that the once beautiful stone structure was completely different, and the huge gaping hole in the front of it told me that the door must've fallen off its hinges and been carried away by the wind many years prior-- but that was impossible, wasn't it? Years couldn't have--

Years, I wondered, but how can this possibly be? I left D'Nalge less than a year ago; I walled around the cottage nearly four times, in order to see what else was amiss-- other than the fact that it seemed to have had decayed and aged centuries in a mere twelve months or so-- it didn't make sense. The twisting vines that covered the structure from head to toe were numerous; there was no way whatsoever that they could have simply sprung over night… Darkness overcame the world no less than five minutes later when the sun was extinguished, and I realized that night had dropped in for its visit. I am not safe here, I realized as the small stone glowed. I had thought the thought many times before; subconsciously and consciously. I shivered, slightly due to fear, as the east winds began to howl mournfully in the not-too-far-off distance. What had happened to this place, and why had there been no warning…? If something terrible was going to happen to this place, it had already begun. Why hadn't I been notified of this by Elaine months before when I was stranded on the streets; mistaken on numerous occasions as a hooker or a drug dealer of some type. My street-bound days had been uneventful. How much effort would it have taken for Elaine to pop in for a minute or two, and warn me that D'Nalge was slowly dying? That I was needed? She was a faerie, after all, and they were supposed to possess powers of knowing the bitter truths of the worlds. Why had I been left in the dark until a half an hour ago-- had it not been for Travis's misty warning, I would never have been notified, and D'Nalge would have gone without a fight. I was here to save it, but how much could I do when there was so much destruction-- so many horrors to see?

But it did not matter-- not just yet. Before providing safety for the millions of D'Nalgeans, I would have to make sure that I was safe myself… For now, I was not safe…

Not safe? But where would I be safe here…? Everything has changed…

The oasis, I realized at last, Only there would I be safe…

I turned, and stared at the path that would lead me there-- it had miraculously survived its disuse, and remained virtually unchanged-- the only thing that was. I marveled at the notion, but then realized; my foot having barely made contact with the smooth surface, I remembered that I could not just simply up and leave the cottage. After all, I had been sent directly to it-- I might as well've landed on its doorstep. That meant that there was probably something of great importance to be learned here before I set off on my not-so-merry way. I turned around once again, and stared at the cottage, still a bit frightened at the notion of actually entering it after such a long absence on my part… What has happened here? I wondered as the skies continued to darken and I, somewhat grudgingly stepped away from the path that led into the oasis. After this gesture, the abandoned cottage seemed to beckon me inside a tad bit more.

Please don't, a meek voice hissed the warning in the back of my head, but I chose to disobey it, as I had already ventured so close to the cottage that I could actually reach out and touch one of its many stones; I did so, and instantly felt a surge of energy enter me. I shivered from doing so, and took a step over the ruined threshold and into the cottage that Elaine and I had once shared so long ago; hoping to find nothing but warm memories inside, and maybe-- just maybe a clue as to what tasks I was expected to perform in order to erase the world's future.

My blue eyes adjusting to the darkness, I allowed myself further inside as I began to look about me for scraps of what had once been. There were none-- the books had been torn from the shelves, whose wood had since rotted away, leaving behind a vague remnant of the past. The table and chairs had vanished as well, while the bedroom I had stayed in was gone entirely. All that remained was another gaping hole that served as passage to the outside world. Hands slightly trembling, I bent over to snatch a scrap of paper that had survived the wreckage; I stood up instantly having seen a tall figure in the corner in the room. "Hello?" I called out, but when nothing answered, and I saw that I was indeed alone, I chalked the "sighting" up to my frazzled nerves, and somewhat active imagination. I then read the scrap of paper: "…istory, one may deduce that their role has a negative affect on society and the birth of the firs…" it became illegible here, and I flung it to the ground, knowing that the information was irrelevant to me. A sound this time-- a whisper? I could not be sure. "Is anybody here?" I called out, hoping that if an unseen presence actually was there, that whatever it was, it would be friendly-- in order to foil my usual luck when it came to such matters. For another split second, I could've sworn I'd seen a tall hooded figure eying me with cold vehemence-- fiery red eyes that were frighteningly familiar, and promised death if I ventured too near.

Then, there was nothing but the darkness again. I stared-- it had been nothing… I was just imagining things, but all the same, a heavy stench hung in the air, and it stung my nostrils-- I had been fixated on that scrap of paper, and the changes the cottage had endured, and all the while, there had been something that caused my nose to curl up in distaste, and my eyes to water. "Beatrice…" an inhuman voice was now whispering-- or was that just my imagination playing tricks on me again--? But all the same, I fell to the ground in fright, now fully believing that I was no longer alone, and whatever was here was neither good nor peaceful.

"Death… Soon…" and then, the whispers stopped as abruptly as they had begun, and I was able to stand once again, although my knees were still knocking together with fright, and my heart was pounding in my chest. I began walking once again and screamed in utter horror when I discovered what was causing the unbearable stench lying right beside me on the floor; a body… and not just any body; a dead body-- a rotting corpse.

And with it, came the misery, the shock, the bewilderment. That unbearable stench hanging in the air that illustrated human decay; the process of rotting flesh that was the talk of science-- forensics; I had seen the crap on TV hundreds of times. But to see it like this…

Suddenly, without any thoughts of the possible consequences of my actions, I panicked, "Who has done this?" I screamed, looking upon the poor deceased creature's face more closely. The skin had somehow been taken away from it-- him-- melted away, I noted, to reveal pearly white bone that glowed in the moonlight like ivory in the sun. Yet the body… the body of the creature was in perfect form, as if he was still alive-- breathing. How long had he been dead? For his face continued to decay and rot; producing the sickening odor that made me want to die as well. My throat instantly filled with vomit; the acidity burning me, "Oh, my God," I murmured, and for the first time in years, I turned to the side, and vomited. Mere inches away from the body. "Help!" I screamed to no one, and before I could hear an answer (if one ever came), I began running away; my feet were pounding on the cold earth; the sound erupting the dead silence of night into madness.

Because of my awkwardness as I ran, I began tripping over just about every fallen tree branch and gnarled tree root that had forced its way out of the soil-- as if claws scratching against flesh on my way out of the cottage, and into the forest. Although following the path, I no longer knew where I was going, but one thing was for sure: I had to get away, but everything-- everything was now so completely different in this world.

None of it made sense; to my knowledge, nothing had been transformed as quickly and as easily as the world of D'Nalge. Even the forest; a place once so alive and green-- now dead, just like the rest of the world; the bare trees continuing to stand so very tall, as if forgotten ghosts from times past bent on seeking me out, while all the while driving me away. "Help!" I called out helplessly; more frightened still as a death bird's wings fluttered behind me as it took flight.

Acting directly on instinct alone, I fell to my knees and ducked; trying to avoid the sounds of whatever it was that was now chasing me with malevolent intents. No bird-- I realized dazedly, --but what…? I screamed a bitter scream of terror realizing where the path had led me. The oasis… only now it was no longer the oasis. The trees of the oak that had before stood tall; promising and ensuring me safety from the shaska had since disappeared, and this meant that I could not be safe here either, "What's happened here?" I screamed, attempting to catch a glimpse of something-- anything that would possibly give me safety now… I stood; my knees were still trembling, and I continued to run; Maybe the palace, I thought, The King said that I would be welcome to return-- I could warn him-- them. I could help D'Nalge fight…

But then, I realized that I was quite unsure of the way to the palace. In my condition of thought and nervousness, it could take days-- maybe even weeks for me to be able to find the place that had once filled my naïve mind with wild dreams of a happy ending to my life after everything that had happened. I looked wildly around me, and started off in a random direction; it was then that I saw it-- a narrow path cut into the earth. A welcome change, but puzzling as how it had come to be nonetheless. Maybe it leads somewhere, I thought lamely, turning to take it, and finding myself in the midst of a large village sometime later-- roughly an hour. "Help!" I called out, but each and every one of the cottages was dark-- almost abandoned in appearance… It's dead, I realized shakily, It's over-- everything… The shaska have won… But then, I saw it-- a faint yellow light steadily glowing in the distance, and in most cases, light very easily translated to a sign of more life to be found-- helpful life-- hopeful life.

Maybe it's not over then, I thought hopefully, beginning to run towards the steadily glowing structure-- as I drew nearer, I realized that the beautiful structure, despise a few modernizations, was in fact the palace, and that safety, perhaps, could be found within.

"Thank God," I whispered; glad that my initial hopelessness had since gone. I ran through the village and then over a large bridge that connected the palace to the rest of the world-- all the while frightened by the sounds the ancient wood made as I sprinted across; half-dazedly wondering if something would go wrong and I would tumble to my doom some fifty feet below. In no time, I had entered the palace by means of the surprisingly open threshold to find a huge pair of men sitting on wooden stools in front of a roaring fire, playing cards as if the deplorable conditions of the outside world had little relevance to their lives. And all the same, here they were-- almost as if waiting for me. Primarily hesitant as I wished no ill upon myself, I eventually decided to venture my trust-- after all, there were no other options. "Can you please help me?" I asked approaching the pair as they continued to play unperturbed. "I'm Beatrice Horowitz, and I'm here to see the King."

They turned to face me and to my horror, I found their reply chilling as opposed to helpful to my goals here, "The girl has returned," one grunted to the other as if I was not present. They stood from their stools and I felt my heart beginning to race; I had never-- never seen a pair of mortals as frightening as they.

My eyes widened in disbelief, "Please," I begged, "I must--"

"Get her!" a voice screamed from high above, and before I could get away, my hands were being bound with heavy rope and I was being led down a dark corridor by the rougher of the two. The palace had changed as well. The former splendor-- the former grandeur was now gone, and I couldn't help but thinking that it had been some clever façade to hide the true corruptness of the world. "Please," I begged as we entered the ballroom where I had danced with the boy who might as well've died at my touch the previous year. The marble had been stripped away-- as if hawked for chump change. The beautiful paintings that had looked like something from the Renaissance had gone as well; all replaced by portraits of the same man-- the current King, I guessed, for in most of the portraits he clutched a golden scepter and wore a crown of gold to boot. Unlike his predecessor, he did not appear to be kind or good-natured. On the contrary, he came off as fierce-- dangerous. His piercing bright-green eyes from the portraits alone sent chills up my spine. "Please," I repeated, as they had ignored me, "I must--"

"Quiet," they commanded in unison.

"You don't understand--"

"Stop the little martyr act."

"I'm no martyr. If you'll please just--"

"Shut up!" the second guard screamed angrily, and not a second later, his hand come in contact with my cheek, and the sound of the smart slap echoed throughout the room. He pulled his hand away, and stared at it a moment in revulsion.

The spot burned, and my eyes stung with tears at the feeling. "Stop this madness," I begged, trying a final attempt to get my point across to the irrational-- and more-than-slightly drunk guards, "D'Nalge is in grave danger.

"You are the only danger here." the first hissed fiercely, tightening his grip on my shoulder.

"You're hurting me," I insisted.

"It matters not-- you'll hurt more as you burn in the morrow."

"No!" I screamed; panic by the malicious tone of sincerity his voice carried, "Please," I continued, "The shaska--"

"It was whispered that you were to return here… Over a thousand years ago, you became the first to successfully defeat a shaska--"

"One thousand…?" I murmured in disbelief as we passed a portrait of my long-deceased fiancé, and continued our plight down below. My heart began to pound more ferociously at the sight of a slight carving in the wall: 'Beatrice will return, and save us all.'

"Impressed? Yes, for a few centuries, many built you up as some 'hero--' D'Nalge was never the same," he went on, as if I had not spoken, "You disappeared one night, and then others began to disappear as well. Your initial defeat became legend. Many remained unsure if the stories of you were true, but now you have returned to our noble land, and at dawn, you will be killed to at last appease the shaska-- along with the other… The last one left. Only then, will we rest in peace at night-- only then can our children roam the streets unafraid. You are the cause of all of this-- and you will end it."

"You've got it all wrong," I continued, "Nothing will stop them, and--"

I drifted off as we came to a sudden halt. My face was still burning, and I felt a trickle of blood from the rope cutting into my wrists, "No!" I screamerd, as he took a key out of his pocket and opened the large metal door that was now facing us, "Please... I can save--"

He hesitated before tossing me inside, "And what is this trinket?" he demanded, seizing the amulet from around my neck, and breaking it off with a loud snap.

"No," I insisted, horrified by the thought of having it taken away from me.

"Dark magic," the second agreed.

"Give me my--"

"Get in there!" he screamed, impatiently, and before I could even begin to fight I was heaved into the small square room, the door crashed shut with a loud bang and I heard the key going into the hole, and locking. Damn, damn, damn! I thought, that feeling of utter hopelessness returning to me, How can they not see that I am not here to destroy?

"No! Come back!" I screamed, pounding on the door with my fists, but no one answered. I was now alone. Alone. Alone and--

"I've been waiting all week for you," a gentle voice whispered behind me, and I realized that there was more danger still to be found within the cell.