Legacy 208: Ways to Be Wicked
Part 7
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Payton struggled to break free as the wicked witch dragged her further into the depth. Even with her newfound strength as a mermaid, she was outmatched by the many tentacles. She helplessly watched the light of the surface disappear as she was dragged into a dark trench. The wicked witch entered an underwater cavern and slithered out of the water, finally releasing Payton on the rocky floor. Before she had a chance to move, seaweed manifested around her wrists to keep her in place. She needed to return to the surface world, where Liam was waiting on the beach.
"Poor little mermaid." The witch remarked. "You almost had him."
"You don't know what you're talking about." Payton replied. "Let me go."
"Afraid I can't do that." The witch said. "You see, like you, I'm forced to play a part in this story. However, I am getting better at controlling the narrative."
"So what are you going to do with me?" Payton asked. "Kill me?"
"That would be too easy." The witch admitted. "No, in this story, the mermaid will tragically die of a broken heart when her prince kisses another woman."
"I know the story." Payton replied. "But I'm not going to make a deal. You're not getting my voice to trick Liam."
"You see, that's the part I can change." The witch replied. "I'm no simple sea hag, I'm the wicked witch, which means that I don't need your permission."
The witch smirked as she became surrounded in green smoke and shapeshifted into a replica of Payton. However, this version was still human and wearing a beautiful seafoam colored dress. The witch walked over to a rocky platform and picked up a glowing seashell.
"What's that?" Payton asked nervously.
"An auger shell, capable of draining immortality." The witch replied in her original voice, which sounded very disturbing coming from Payton's own lips. "However, this one has been altered to steal your voice and turn you into a human."
The witch stuck the shell to Payton's chest and she screamed in pain as it latched on. She felt the magic leave her body, causing her mermaid tail to dry out and transform back into human legs. Her screams faded into nothing as her voice left her body and was sucked into the shell. Once it was done, the witch pulled the shell free and it transformed into a pendent. The moment she placed it around her neck, she was briefly engulfed in golden light.
"Much better." The witch noted, now sounding like Payton. "I could never play you convincingly enough without stealing your voice. You just sound too sickeningly sweet."
Payton attempted to speak, but no sound came. The witch laughed, which doubly as cruel with her own voice.
"Don't worry, child." The witch said. "It will be over soon. I'll go kiss your blue-eyed boyfriend and steal his heart, which will crush yours in turn. Enjoy your last moments in this dark, damp cavern."
The witch smiled as she disappeared in a puff of green smoke. With her gone, her magical seaweed faded away as well, allowing Payton to move. She got up and looked around the cavern, finding a ragged old sail she could use as a dress. She knew she could dive in the cold water and try to swim to the surface, but without her mermaid powers, she would run out of breath before making it up.
Feeling hopeless, Payton sat down on the edge of the water. The witch had everything she needed to trick Liam. They only just started dating, so how would he even know it wasn't really her? She felt tears forming in her eyes, but wiped them away when the water before her rippled. A blue light rose from the water and formed into the liquid silhouette of a man.
"Payton." The figure said. "I can bend the rules enough to get you out of here with a little trick I learned from a Naiad. After that, it's up to you."
The figure offered a watery hand and Payton hesitated. However, she realized she had little choice and accepted. The figure engulfed her in a sphere of water and she was shot out of the cavern, reaching the surface in a matter of seconds before the sphere splashed apart. Payton coughed up water as she landed in the sand. She was on the beach, but Liam was nowhere to be found. Looking around, she saw a castle on the cliffs. Liam had to be there, so she crawled up and ran to him.
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After escaping his pursuers in the forest, Henry managed to sneak into the city by stealing a cloak to blend it. The castle he was supposed to go to, according to the keeper, was in the middle of the city, though it was heavily guarded. There was something inside that could help him escape this story, though he wondered what. As he crossed the streets, he noticed that the people in the city were miserable. Poverty seemed to be a huge problem, as many were begging for coin or food. A man grabbed his leg as he walked past, pleading for something to eat.
"I'm sorry, I don't have anything to spare." Henry said.
Henry shook himself free and continued his way to the castle. As he reached the gate, he heard trumpets and the guards opened the gate for a golden carriage. Inside the carriage was the wicked witch, dressed in an opulent dress and covered in jewels. Seeing the sharp contrast with the people in the city, Henry was reminded of what Robin Hood was truly about. Stealing from the rich to help the poor. Perhaps stealing her wealth and giving it to the people would end the story.
"Alright, time to find a way in." Henry noted.
Henry circled the castle to look for a weak spot and eventually found one, a part of the wall that was under construction. All he needed to do was reach it, though he luckily had his bow. He tied a piece of rope to an arrow and shot it at an exposed wooden beam. He tugged on the rope to make sure it was secure and started climbing up.
As he landed on the other side of the wall, Henry found himself in the castle gardens. When he heard guards, he quickly hid behind some bushes and waited for them to pass. He explored the garden and eventually found a wooden pen in a grass field. Inside the pen was a white goose sitting on a nest. He shrugged and was about to go on when suddenly something shiny rolled out of the nest. Henry leaped into the pen and picked it up, realizing it was a solid gold egg.
"Well, I guess we know how the witch got her wealth." Henry remarked.
"Yes, it's a real golden opportunity." A voice sounded.
Henry turned around and saw the witch standing behind him, along with a small army of guards. He looked to both sides and saw they were surrounding him.
"You knew I was coming." Henry noted.
"Of course." The witch replied. "These stories are all so predictable, though I quite enjoy the luxury this one has given me."
"Well, that's about to end." Henry said. "I'm taking this goose back to those starving people. I'm pretty sure that's how this story will end."
"Look around, kid." The witch replied with a smirk. "I have an army and you're alone."
"But I'm Robin Hood." Henry noted.
Henry raised his bow and shot thee arrows at the witch, though her guards blocked them with shields. As the guards closed in on him, Henry grabbed the goose. The guards tried to corner him, though as he had suspected, they were too afraid to use weapons as long as he held the goose in his arms. The bird honked and struggled to get free, but Henry held on tight as he started running.
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Hours seemed to pass as Laura sat up in the lonely tower, brushing her ever-growing hair. She saw the witch fly past in her raven form, as she had done many times already, always keeping a watchful eye on her. Laura was growing restless, but couldn't think of a way to escape on her own.
"Laura!" A familiar voice called out.
Laura ran to the window, nearly tripping over her braid, and saw Noah standing at the base of the tower. She was relieved to see he was alright, though she knew the witch was still close.
"What are you doing?" Laura asked. "The witch will see you."
"Not if we hurry." Noah replied. "I've been watching her from the forest. She only flies by once an hour. Quick, throw down your hair."
Laura decided to trust Noah and threw her long braided hair down the tower. As Noah climbed up, she watched the skies, but the raven was nowhere to be seen. It seemed that Noah was right about the hour. She was a little angry with herself for not figuring it out sooner. When Noah reached the top, he climbed in through the window.
"Are you alright?" Laura asked. "You took a nasty fall last time and you can't heal."
"Just a few bruises and scratches, I'll be fine." Noah replied. "What about you?"
"Perfectly fine, just frustrated." Laura said. "My stupid hair won't stop growing, it's getting harder to move around."
"I have a solution for that." Noah replied as he revealed a knife on his belt.
"Of course." Laura said. "Once I cut it and tie my braid to the bedpost, we'll both be able to climb down and escape."
Noah nodded and handed over the knife, which Laura accepted. She walked over to the mirror and without hesitation, cut her long braid off at shoulder-length. As the blonde braid fell to the floor, her hair returned to its natural light brown shade. She finally felt like herself again.
"I must say that color suits you a lot better." Noah noted.
"Thanks." Laura replied with a smile. "Now let's get out of this tower once and for all."
Laura grabbed the braid and securely tied it around the bedpost before heading to the window. Although she knew the hair was strong enough to carry them, the idea of climbing down was still scary. Realizing she was nervous, Noah placed a hand on her shoulder to comfort her.
"I'll go down first." Noah said. "If you fall, I'll catch you."
"That sounds like a promise you can't keep." Laura replied. "But thanks, that does make me feel a bit better."
"Just don't look down." Noah said.
Noah climbed over the edge of the window and starting climbing down. Laura waited a few moments and then followed his example, keeping her eyes closed the entire time. The climb seemed to take forever and she wondered if she would ever reach the bottom. Her arms started getting tired and she felt herself slipping. With a scream, she eventually lost her grip and fell right into Noah's arms. As she opened her eyes, she saw she had been only a few feet above the ground.
"Not a word about this to anyone." Laura warned him.
"I wouldn't dare." Noah replied with smile.
"You… uh, can put me down now." Laura said with a slight blush as she looked into his dreamy brown eyes.
"Oh, of course." Noah said quickly as he put her down. "We should get out of here before the witch comes back."
"I'm not sure where to go, but anything is better than this tower." Laura replied.
The unlikely duo headed in a random direction, as there was nothing but forest around them for miles. Laura tried to remember how the fairy tale of Rapunzel it ended, though she couldn't recall anything beyond her escaping the tower. Suddenly, something large flew over her head and Laura ducked down. A raven landed on a rock before of them and transformed back into the witch.
"Did you really think I'd let you get away so easily?" The witch asked.
"I guess not." Laura replied. "But what are you going to do? You can't keep me in that tower forever. We'll keep finding a way out."
"You're right." The witch admitted. "This story isn't very interesting to begin with, is it?"
"What are you planning?" Noah asked.
"I'm sending you to another story." The witch replied. "Something a little more familiar."
The witch laughed as she became engulfed in green smoke, which grew rapidly into a large tornado that coursed straight at them. Noah grabbed Laura by the arm and started running, though the tornado quickly caught up to them. Feeling the strong winds tearing them apart, Laura grabbed onto Noah as they were engulfed in the green violence.
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In Wonderland, Julian was following the white rabbit through the forest. Along the way, he encountered all kinds of strange plants and creatures, though he ignored them as best he could. He had no time to waste. The witch would eventually tire of toying with them and go for a more direct approach, which meant he needed to find a way out of this story. The rabbit eventually reached a clearing, where a table with many different seats stood in the middle of a circle of mirrors. The table was filled with teapots, cups and all kinds of sweets. However, Julian had enough of the food in this place and the effect it had on his body.
"We're here." Julian said to the rabbit. "What now?"
The rabbit did not respond, but held out its paw. Julian looked at the pocket watch in his hand, which the rabbit had dropped earlier. With an eye roll, he handed over the pocket watch and the rabbit hopped onto the chair at the head of the table. It became surrounded in blue smoke and transformed into a man in sparkly blue suit and a giant top hat.
"The Mad Hatter, I presume?" Julian asked.
"You remember the story." The man replied with a smile. "That must be why you were sent here. The Mad Hatter is the role I took, but you may call me the keeper."
"The keeper of the fairy tales." Julian said. "I remember reading about you as well. Many demons have attempted to find your fortress over the centuries, but none ever did."
"So you know the danger these stories pose." The keeper noted. "This isn't just about your family anymore, Julian. Once these stories are twisted beyond repair, it will permanently damage the balance between good and evil."
"Just tell me how to vanquish the witch." Julian replied.
"I believed that defeating the witch in each story was the solution, but she is growing stronger and gaining more control." The keeper said. "She has become able to manipulate the stories and alter them as she pleases."
"If that's the case, then we might be able to do the same thing, right?" Julian asked.
"Yes, that might work." The keeper said after a moment of consideration. "If she can change the stories you are in, then I might be able to send you to other stories as well."
The keeper waved his hand over the pocket watch and it started to glow in a blue light, after which he walked over to Julian and handed it back.
"What am I supposed to do with this?" Julian asked.
"Use it on a looking glass to find your family." The keeper said. "Once you find them, the pocket watch should be able to open a portal."
Julian looked at the pocket watch and walked over to a mirror standing underneath a giant mushroom. He held it to the surface of the mirror and it started to ripple, showing him flashes of his sisters and cousins in their various stories. He was about to step through the mirror when a heart-shaped arrow shattered the glass. Julian spun around and saw a red-armored soldiers enter the clearing, followed by the witch in a pompous red dress and golden crown.
"Off with his head!" The witch screamed.
"Quickly, use another looking glass!" The keeper said.
The keeper took off his top hat and reached into it, pulling out a few mushrooms. The moment he threw them at the soldiers, they grew to enormous size and crushed a few soldiers. However, the keeper was then struck with another arrow and dissolved into smoke. Julian used the distraction he provided to run toward another mirror. He had no time to see where he was going, so he pressed the pocket watch against the mirror and disappeared through it.
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As giant footsteps caused the entire castle to tremble, Chris ran for cover. The witch knew he was there, but hadn't spotted him yet. That gave him a shot at getting out of there alive. He managed to reach the cabinet he had seen earlier and started climbing up the side. The witch was getting closer, carefully inspecting the floor with every step she took.
"I knew you're here, little witch." The witch said with a booming voice. "Do you really think you stand a chance against me like this?"
Chris ignored her and continued climbing. He had seen several magical items on top of the cabinet, so he hoped he could use something as a weapon or means of escape. He managed to reach the top and hid behind a small jeweled box, just as the witch turned her attention to the cabinet.
"I can smell you." The witch said. "You smell delicious, so I'm going to eat you raw."
The witch walked toward the cabinet and Chris knew the time for hiding was over. He spotted a magic wand lying close to him, so he starting running. The witch saw him and laughed, increasing her pace. She reached out with her giant hand, though Chris managed to reach the wand in time. He managed to aim it at the witch, blasting her back with a bolt of lightning. The witch cried out as she crashed through the table behind her and remained still.
"I prefer my food fried." Chris remarked.
Chris looked around for a way to escape and his attention was drawn to a hand mirror. The surface of the mirror suddenly began rippling and Julian jumped through. Although Chris should be relieved to see a familiar face, he somewhat resented the fact it was Julian of all people.
"How did you get here?" Chris asked.
"I had a little help from a rabbit." Julian replied. "And I know how to find the others."
"I could have figured a way out on my own." Chris said annoyed.
"Look, you weren't my first choice either, but we're here now." Julian replied. "Do you want to get out of here or not?"
Behind them, the witch groaned and started getting back up, so Chris decided to put his personal feelings aside for a moment. He followed Julian to the mirror and watched him use a pocket watch to open a portal to another story. The witch screamed as she began running at them, so the cousins quickly jumped through the reflective surface.
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