A/N: So how is everyone? That good? GOOD! Now, here's more of some good stuff. Curious about these ghost animals? Well, I am too! JK! Remember, IDNOAC, except for the lynx and the dove. So, here's Chapter 5. Enjoy!
TrueHeart Chapter 5—The Plight of the Animal Couple
The dove trembled after she had blurted out her desperate plea to these two strange ghosts. Still, she was more fearful for her and the lynx's afterlives than she was at keeping her promise to remain mute. And in the end, she hoped that these two ghosts would understand and leave them alone.
She swallowed hard and softly nuzzled the still unconscious lynx just before she said, "As you have plainly seen, we are no ordinary ghost animals. We were bewitched long ago by an evil king's sorcerer. We are sadly fated as we are because of our love for each other."
Spectra jolted in utter amazement again, but remained silent. This was very intriguing, and could be a very important development for her current plans.
The dove shed a tear as she pressed on. "We are truly hopeless, comforted to be together, yet doomed to be apart. No one could possibly understand our despair. Our wretched condition has made us outcasts, forced to flee from many ghost lairs before we could even call one home. We have traveled a sad, weary journey for far too long and wish only for peace. You must believe me when I say that we do not wish harm on anyone and wish that no harm reaches us as well. Please. Will you not show mercy on us, then, and leave us be?"
Spectra looked at her and then glanced at the silent black cat. The dove's words suddenly attacked her. 'No one could possibly understand our despair'? Then, the shadow ghost silently muttered in her own mind, "Interesting. And they have been on the run for a long period of time?"
A fresh, wicked plan suddenly formed in her mind. It bubbled over her ghost brain, as a too-quickly-poured brew over a stein. She stifled her smile, and put on her 'understanding-psychotherapist-face', just before her eyes sent silent warning darts at Bertrand to remain silent. She sweetly cooed, "How horrible, horrible that you and your beloved have bore this pain alone all those wretched years! And we are so sorry, my dear, that we hurt you both! Your love scared us as much as we must have mistakenly scared him. I feel just terrible about it!"
Spectra dropped her head in feigned shame. But she could see at the corner of her eye that she had the dove's undivided attention. After all, this really was the first time that any ghost had actually listened to the plight of the young couple. And for those few that had even bothered in the past to do so had offered useless, distraction-bent prattle in order for them to rid themselves of the couple as quickly as possible. Most ghosts, however, shooed them away in fear. Talking ghost animals, after all, were unheard of in the Ghost Zone. And, really, after all that, the shunned enchanted pair had never tried to communicate with any of the other ghosts.
The shadow ghost raised her head again and continued, carefully weighing her words as she did, "And you are right! We can't possibly understand your despair. No one could, unless they also had suffered as much as you two have. But can you at least let us try? You look so distraught, so miserable, I cannot help but have pity on you and your…"
"Husband," the dove finished for her, her voice still laden with woe. She hadn't realized that she had accidentally given more information than she had meant to Spectra. When she finally did realize her mistake, she gasped in fear.
But the shadow ghost thought this to be an even more delicious development, the perfect news. Spectra smiled encouragingly and gently said, "Of course. Your husband. Only the love of a wedded couple could endure such agony. Still, my dear, is there anything we could possibly do to help?"
The dove looked up at her in surprise. In all their years of wandering, this was the first ghost who had ever shown any sympathy to them.
"U-Uhm," she stammered as she looked nervously to the still senseless lynx and then back to Spectra again.
Thinking that the dove might change her mind, Spectra immediately piped in, "You don't have to answer at this instant. But at least let us help you right now, sweetie. We can take you both to my home until your husband recuperates. So, you really don't have to rush to saying anything else until then, OK?"
Before the ghost bird could answer, however, Spectra growled under her breath, "Bertrand!" She then motioned with her head in the general direction of the wildcat.
Bertrand frowned in irritation, but immediately knew what Spectra wanted. He morphed back to his human form and picked up the lynx.
The dove startled after seeing Bertrand's transformation. What kind of magic was that? She was too afraid to say anything and looked back at the shadow ghost. She shivered when she did.
Spectra motioned for the dove to perch on her arm. The dove reluctantly obliged her and slowly flew lopsided toward the shadow ghost. She ignored her pain in her still injured wing as she alighted on Spectra's arm.
And then, all four ghosts then headed back to Spectra's lair.
While the dove carefully watched Bertrand as he laid her senseless husband on a couch, Spectra carefully observed the nervous dove. The shadow ghost could barely contain a smirk when the second Bertrand had stepped away from the lynx, the small ghost bird immediately flitted in an unbalanced flight to him. She perched herself right next to his feline head and softly and lovingly nudged his muzzle. But her husband still did not stir.
Looking back up at Spectre with worried eyes, she gingerly asked, "Will he be well soon?" She immediately returned her gaze toward her enchanted husband and sniffled.
"Oh, yes, my dear, he will be fine. I only gave him a little zap. But in the meantime, let us talk a little," the female Spectre replied.
She didn't give the dove a chance to object. Spectra gently scooped up the bird and silently motioned to Bertrand to guard the wildcat. She smiled assuredly to the dove as they headed to another room.
Slowly and carefully, Spectra was able to woo the bewitched couple's story out of the small animal. Spectra appeared enthralled, which encouraged the young creature to continue. Bitter, yet morose, tears rolled from the dove's eyes as she poured her heart out to the shadow ghost. Spectra patiently listened and waited for the younger ghost to finish telling her tale. But that didn't mean it was easy to stifle the urge to roll her eyes at all the drama of the anguished dove. After all, the female Spectre really didn't care about the woe of the two lovers. She merely pretended to be, so she could win the confidence of the girl animal and therefore use her and her husband in the wicked plan that she kept churning in the back of her mind.
Finally, the dove heaved in her sorrow at the end of her story. She silently and dolefully looked back to Spectra after she did, and the shadow ghost sweetly replied, "You know, fate must have meant for us to meet! I think I have the answer to all your problems!"
"You do?" the enchanted ghost replied, her eyes brightening with hope.
Spectra unconsciously licked her lips in delight before she continued with a sickeningly-honeyed voice, "Yes, but first, my dear, you must want to be with your husband forever!"
"But I do!" the bird insisted. "And I know he does, too! We have already suffered so much together for far too long and wish finally to be at peace."
The older female ghost silently smiled and replied, "Like I said, I may have the answer you need." She floated over to a wall that held some books. She retrieved one of them at random and feigned reading it. She seemed absorbed with the contents of the book, when in fact, Spectra was merely solidifying her scheme. She may not be able to part these two lovers and use what she was sure would be eternal pheromones from them. After all, these two had been together for too long and had endured too much together. But Spectra was sure she could use these two to split up another couple…
She finally looked up from the book, and seeing that the dove was still looking at her, changed back to her human form. She excitedly said, "I have checked my magic book!"
"Magic?" the dove gasped in fear at Spectra's words and her change. The little bird had not expected this. But, she suddenly remembered the wolf's transformation. That would explain it. She must have changed him. And by the looks of the strange form she had taken before reverting back to her human one, she could even change herself. Furthermore, the dove had never seen a ghost display so much power in one single blast. After all, neither her husband nor she had possessed anything like that.
"Yes. Magic. Oh, I didn't tell you? I'm a sorceress!"
The ghost bird's eyes widened in awe and dread. "You are?" She didn't know what to make of this. After all, sorcery had gotten her and her husband into this state.
Spectra answered with a reassuring smile, "Yes, and according to my magic book, there is hope for you both!"
The dove was speechless as her heart leapt. Hope! How they had longed to even taste a small bit of it all these years!
But Spectra pulled her out of thoughts once more. "But you and your husband must be willing to do anything I say, or I will not be able to help you."
The thought of having rejected this opportunity to be free from this burden of theirs was too much for the young ghost bird. Still, she hesitated. What would they have to do? What would her husband say?
But before the dove could answer the older ghost, Spectra frowned; and giving the female ghost animal the feigned impression that she was taking back her offer, Spectra began to turn away and float back to the room that held the lynx and Bertrand. But, of course, the female Spectre was merely baiting her.
"Wait! Wait!" the dove said in desperation. "We are willing to do anything you say!"
"But what about your husband?" Spectra began, pointing to the silent lynx. "You both must be in agreement, or else the spell will not work."
"I will beg him. Do not worry," the dove pleaded with her voice and her eyes.
Spectra looked at the dove's pained face and stifled a triumphant snicker. She knew without a doubt that her plan was going to work.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chappie! Never fear, for there's LOTS more of the story to come. But it'll have to wait for two weeks. (gasp!) As you know, I only have time to update on the weekends, and I will be out-of-town next weekend. But I'll give you a recap of the story so far at that time, so you won't get behind at all with it. Hope to e-see you then! truephan