Chapter 9: The Knot
Seth, Lance and David all stared directly at the bitter old hag who sat before them. Images of Muriel, still a prisoner in her ivy shack back at Fablehaven, came rushing through Seth's mind. Upon first glance, the similarity between the two women was uncanny.
"Who are you?" exclaimed the witch. "What brings you here? I've been awaiting a visit for too many years!"
Seth continued to stare at the witch, and noticed that she was bound to her chair by a knotted rope.
"Excuse us," said Seth. "But we came here seeking your power. We kinda need your help."
"It figures," said the witch, "that it's not I you seek. It's merely my power. How dreadfully bleak."
"What gives?" asked David. "I thought that this witch was gonna help us!"
The witch snickered. "As you can see I am bound by this magical rope. But releasing these knots will give me great hope. For when they are gone I shall be set free. It's what I yearn for, do you not agree?"
"What's she talking about?" asked Lance.
"There was a witch I dealt with before," said Seth. "Muriel Taggert. She was also tied down by a knotted rope like this one. However, if someone came to Muriel for a favor, she could grant it if they willingly blew away on one of the knots. Once all the knots were used up, she was free."
"What happens if we free her?" asked David.
Seth flinched. "Well, when we freed Muriel from her final knot, she almost... took over Fablehaven."
Lance looked around the floor of the small, dank room. "Look at this rope, you guys. There's gotta be at least six... seven knots still here."
"That means until the last knot is undone, she..." muttered David. "Hold on a second. We don't even know your name!"
"My name?" asked the witch. "Oh, how rude of me. I am called Hespera. But, who are you three?"
The mere mention of the name Hespera brought memories of the Wyrmoost Hydra racing into Seth's mind. Nevertheless, the three boys took turns announcing their names to Hespera.
"The dragon," said Hespera. "What about him? Hasn't said a word. Might he be dim?"
"Don't you mind Raxtus," said Seth. "He's just... shy."
"The dragon does not give me much hope. It's you three I want. You'll undo my rope."
"Now hold on a second," said Lance. "We came here for one favor and one favor only. We're only going to undo one knot. Let the rest be someone else's problem."
David rubbed his head. "What if it's a trick?"
Hespera's eyes bulged open upon hearing the remark.
"I mean, say we undo a knot, but she doesn't agree to help us. Or she does something we didn't ask for."
"I'll grant all requests, if they're within reason. I cannot betray you, for that would be treason. Should somebody blow upon a knot, I follow through, or it will stay taut."
"Seems simple enough," said Lance. "We'll let you fulfill our one request and be on our way."
"Is that what you see me as? Sort sort of tool? I find that most selfish, greedy and cruel. Down here I've been banished for far too long. I'd give anything for attention. Is that really so wrong? See those rats crawling around? They've been the only friends I've found."
The boys all looked down and saw several rats scampering around on the floor, behind where Hespera was seated.
"Gross," said David.
"They've given me company, food and pleasure. When it's all you've got, they're something you treasure."
"No offense," said Lance, "but if our mom saw rats like these, she'd call an exterminator."
"Why not just bring in Mrs. Taylor's cat?" laughed David. "Even Boomer's scared of that feline!"
"Cease the ridicule of my rodent friends," said Hespera sternly. "Or else your journey will reach a dead end. What service of mine do you so desire? I'll help you boys out, for I am no liar."
"Well," said David. "I have a problem. See, there's this demon who's possessed me."
Hespera's eyes lit up. "A demon you say? How very weird. Demons are strong and vastly feared. From you I did not sense such power. But I'll sense your body. Detect if it's dour. You needn't blow upon a knot. I can sense dark forces, believe it or not."
"Okay," said David, holding out his hands, palms facing upwards. Seth could sense that David was truly scared, as Hespera placed her wrinkly, old hands down upon his, the tips of her long, yellowed fingernails extended past David's wrists.
Seth watched as Hespera squinted, shook her head lightly, and wriggled both her nose and lips about. After several seconds passed, she removed her hands from David's. "It appears that you have spoken the truth. I sensed the demon. That alone is proof. Now blow upon a knot and willingly comply. I'll release the demon. You can bid him goodbye."
"Okay," said David. "What do I have to do?"
"I think I remember," said Seth. "Back when Muriel was still around, you simply held a knot and said the following: Of my own free will, I sever this knot. Then you blow on it and the witch can use her magic to fulfill your request."
"Exactly right, you smart, young lad," said Hespera. "Your knowledge is great. You should be glad."
"You're sure about this?" asked David.
"Should my magic fail, it won't benefit me. It it doesn't work, the knot returns, you see."
Hespera picked up the rope and presented a knot to David, who accepted it. "Okay. Let's do this. Release the demon from within me. Of my own free will, I sever this knot."
David blew upon the knot in his hand, causing it to unravel. Hespera smiled wickedly, then extended her hands out towards David. A mysterious, black energy flowed out from her fingertips, and engulfed David's entire body. Seth and Lance watched as Hespera raised her hands into the air, bringing with it the flow of dark energy. As the energy floated away from David, Seth could see that it was now wrapped around some mysterious, yet seemingly invisible entity. As the entity left David's body, Seth could feel a dark presence emanating from it. It had to be Zavarok.
"Is that it?" asked Lance, looking at the ball of energy, that was no bigger than his head, as Hespera placed it down beside her. Although she ceased control of it, the ball of energy remained by her side.
David flinched. "It worked! Zavarok is really gone! I can feel it! Thank you!"
Hespera laughed, then tossed away the rope that had kept her bound for ages.
The three boys gasped. "I though she was still tied down," said Lance.
"What's going on?" asked Seth. "You've still got like six knots left!"
"That's because only one true knot remained," said Hespera. "The others were fakes. Non-magical. Plain. I duped you into releasing my very last knot. And for me it is freedom that you have just brought."
Seth glared at Hespera. He was unaware of the full extent of her powers, even though she just appeared to be little more than a feeble, old hag.
"That's not fair!" exclaimed Lance. "How could she pull a trick like that on us?"
"Because we were dumb enough to fall for a trick like that!" cried Seth.
"You simpletons freed me," said Hespera, "for that I am grateful. Even though your ideals of witches are hateful. I'll let you leave now, completely scot-free. But trouble me once more, and you'll be sorry."
"What about Zavarok?" asked David. "Let him go! He's supposed to be free now!"
"My agreement was to merely free him from you. Give him back? Sorry. No can do."
"Stupid witch!" said Seth. "I'll show you!"
"Though my magic now is very low," said Hespera. "I shall warn you. My tricks I still know."
"She's weak," said Seth. "This'll be easy. Raxtus! Pummel the witch! Give her everything you've got!"
Raxtus looked over at Hespera, then crossed his eyes and slowly began to walk over to her, as if he were a mindless robot.
"You delinquents have all been acting like brats," said Hespera, holding out her hands. "With the last of my magic, you will all turn to rats!"
Four bolts of purple energy all shot out from Hespera's hands, each one hitting Seth, Lance, David and Raxtus. As the magic consumed Seth's body, he could immediately feel himself starting to shrink. David and Lance shrieked as they too shrunk down in size. After becoming quite small, Seth, feeling rather dizzy, fell to his hands, and could feel his bones rearranging themselves, while his clothes faded into fur. A tail shot out of his rear, and before Seth knew it, he, Lance, David and even Raxtus had all been transformed into rats.
Hespera snickered viciously, then darted out of the room and down the hallway, with Zavarok's essence following behind her. Seth looked around, and could make out only three rats gazing at him. Two were brown, while the other had silvery, almost platinum-like fur.
"Great," said one of the brown rats, whom Seth quickly recognized was David. "This is just great..."
"What is going on?" snarled Raxtus. "Seth! You are in so much trouble for this!"
Though he was no larger than Seth in their current forms, Raxtus scampered over to him and forced his paws upon Seth's shoulders. No doubt, the transformation had cancelled out the effects of his previous enchantment.
"Let go!" squealed Seth, attempting to resist Raxtus' assault.
"You think I'm stupid?" asked Raxtus. "I've been with you this whole time! I had no control over myself, but I know exactly what's been going on! Possessing me! Flying to the Singing Sisters! Now this! You didn't even ask permission from anyone to go through with this either! Not mine or your guardians'!"
"Look, Raxtus," began Seth.
"Sorry won't cut it!" blurted Raxtus, trying to stand up on his hind legs. "This was a horrible, idiotic thing you did! You freed your friend from some demon, but at what price? Freeing some witch? Getting us all turned into rats?
"Raxtus," said Lance. "I know you're mad, but please calm down! We're all in serious trouble, and-"
"You were in on this too!" said Raxtus. "It's because of you that David even came to Fablehaven!"
"Please don't yell at them!" exclaimed Seth. "I brought this upon all of us."
"Look, I'm sorry about Zavarok!" squeaked David. "It wasn't my choice to get possessed by a demon!"
"You just had to come to Seth for help, didn't you?" asked Raxtus.
"I thought since Seth had been possessed in the past, he'd be more understanding," explained Lance.
"It's not like I had many options," said David stubbornly.
"EVERYBODY!" blared Seth, earning the other three's attention. "SHUT UP! Look, we can argue about whose fault this is all day! It's not gonna fix anything!"
"Well, it's not my fault," said Raxtus. "I can at least say that with confidence."
Seth took in a deep breath. "Look, the four of us have been transformed into rats at the bottom of some forgotten oubliette underneath New York City. Right now, all I wanna do is get back to Fablehaven and get some H-E-L-P. Can we at least agree on that?"
"I agree," said Raxtus, trying to feel his backside. "And if you hadn't allowed that witch to be free and turn me into a stupid rat, I could just fly us all home."
"So, how do we get home, anyway?" asked Lance.
"We'll have to investigate," said Seth.
"Wait a minute," said David. "What about Umbriel? Isn't it her job to assist you?"
"You're right," said Seth, feeling his front toes for her ring, but being unable to locate it. "I can't find my ring!"
"What could have happened to it?" asked Lance.
"I've been wearing it all day!" exclaimed Seth. "It wouldn't just fall off!"
"Maybe you lost it when we got turned into rats?" asked David.
"I still would've noticed it," sighed Seth. "It must've disappeared along with the rest of my clothes when we were transformed. Without it, I can't summon Umbriel. And the only way I know to get it back would be to transform back into a human."
"Well that's great," said Lance. "How're we supposed to get all the way to Fablehaven now? We're rats! Nobody wants anything to do with us!"
"Maybe we don't have to go the whole way ourselves," said Seth. "All we have to do is find a phone and call for help."
Quickly adapting to the principle of being a quadruped, Seth led the others out of the dank room and down the hallway through which they entered. After scampering for about a minute, they reached the peculiar shaft that they had previously descended down.
"How're we supposed to get out of here?" asked Raxtus, gazing up the shaft. "I can't fly like this!"
"How's anyone supposed to get out?" asked Lance. "Even for a human, this shaft is way too high."
"And people must've been here in the past," noted David. "Unless they had the power to overcome this hole."
"Or they at least brought some rope," added Seth.
Raxtus examined the wall, then placed his claws against it and felt around. "Hey, these claws may be small, but they feel pretty sturdy. Bet we could climb out of here as we are now."
Seth looked up the wall. "Looks pretty high. You sure we can make it?"
"We got nothing to lose," said David. "Besides, would you rather hang out down here?"
"He's got a point," said Lance.
The four rats all placed their front paws upon the wall. Seth dug his claws into the wall, then raised his rear right foot and clenched it upon the wall as well. His other foot followed, and soon Seth, as well as the others, were climbing up the wall, almost like one would with a ladder.
They all clambered up the wall as quickly and efficiently as they could, and before long they all reached the top with little difficulty. They then made their way down the next small tunnel, which brought them back out into the subway system.
"Where now?" asked Lance.
"I dunno," replied Seth. "I guess we just make our way up to street level and try to find a phone."
At that moment, a heavily rumbling sound drew nearer, and a subway train boomed passed them, heading southbound. The trains were loud enough as a human, but to the rats, sounded and felt worse than an earthquake.
"This way," said Seth, leading his friends over to and down another track. They hurried down the track for several minutes, then stopped to cover their ears as another train rumbled over them. They continued further down the track, evading another train in the process, until they finally reached the next station.
At the end of the station was a small stairwell for subway workers leading from the platform to track level, which the rats used to get onto the platform. Several other people were standing on the platform, waiting for the next train to arrive, but didn't notice their entrance.
"We don't want to attract too much attention," said David. "Someone's bound to freak out and cause some uproar, just because a lot of people despise rats."
"If we can't get out of here safely," said Seth, "we'll be trapped... like rats. Sorry, but I've always wanted to say that."
"When the next train arrives, we can try to hide behind the people getting off, and maybe make our way out of the station," said Lance.
"It's worth a shot," said Seth.
The rats waited by the end of the platform for a moment, until a train pulled in to the station. A small crowd of people began exiting the train, prompting the group to dash over and hide behind their feet. Seth kept his pace, having great difficulty keeping his eyes on the others as they blended in behind the crowd.
"I think this is working," said Lance, as they followed the last of the crowd up a flight of stairs. Going up a flight of stairs had never been a real challenge in the past, but being in the body of a rat no doubt put emphasis in the concept of climbing stairs. Fortunately, their rodent bodies were adept to scampering up stairs. Seth leaped up step after step with ease, in a manner that would've been impossible as a human.
The rats scampered past a row of turnstiles, then made their way up another stairwell. Before long, they had reached the top, and were now outside. Looking around from their new perspective, Seth saw that his group was standing on a sidewalk in the middle of Manhattan. To one side, pedestrians, all of whom towered over them, were marching up and down along the sidewalk. To the other side, vehicles were honking their horns among all the traffic.
"So," said Raxtus, admiring the city from the current perspective, "where do you suggest we go from here? Where's this phone you spoke of?"
Seth sighed. "I don't know."