The Key to the Master's Heart - A Tale of the Kingdoms of Magical Beasts and Shapeshifters

ALESSA

"Kill her!"

The roar of the commanding guard echoed in my ears and I shut them as tightly as I could to lock it all away. There were screams all around me now and all I wanted was to close my eyes, open them and realize all these were not happening.

But they are happening!

As a matter of fact, my mother was next.

"No!" I screamed as the guards pulled her away from my group. She was screaming too as she grabbed my cloak so hard that it tore apart instantly. I had one hand across my chest now, holding the cloth to cover the last of my nakedness and the other was reaching out to her, the woman who birthed me, who clothed me, who fed me and now they have been doing to the rest and I couldn't stop them.

I didn't realize when I fell to the ground but it was when I fell I remembered my legs were chained. I lay on the ground, weeping. I couldn't stop them. I watched them drag her farther and farther away, her tearful eyes never leaving me. Even when they fixed the rope around her neck, she still looked at me, sobbing.

"Any last words, Bernada? What is your confession?"

A tiny looking man who called himself a priest asked her. He has been asking all the women and young girls killed earlier similar questions. We were all accused of witchcraft and black magic and it had just led to the slaughter of fifteen women and still counting. This was a very long story for another moment. At this point, I simply watched as my mother turned to me and looked me in the eye.

Suddenly, she was looking more confident than ever. She smiled and nodded to me. Then she whispered something. I could read her lips. She said: - 'Find the Master.'

The guards waited no more. I didn't even know when they pulled the lever and let her drop to her death. I screamed. She struggled and struggled but no help was coming. I got to my feet and tried to move again and to my greatest surprise, I realized my legs were free!

At this point, many things ran through me head. How did I suddenly break free? How can I help my mother? Though I felt like running straight to help her, I knew she was gone and nothing was ever going to hurt me like this moment. Still, I knew better than to risk dying also. I immediately turned the other way and ran for my life.

"Hey! Get her!" The guards all around were screaming. I didn't look back though I knew they were coming. I could hear their heavy boots pounding. I kept running, faster... faster...

IKARIS

When I saw the mother and daughter bond in the crowd, I couldn't deny the fact that I was hurt. I watched as they dragged the woman away and knew I could not save her. If I tried anything at this point, we were all going to die. It was then I thought of the best option – free the girl!

She didn't even notice when I used a hijack jinx to break the chains around her feet. She was too busy staring at her mother. The guards didn't notice me either. I was dressed as one of them. When my trick was played, I moved aside and watched as her mother was hung. It was at this moment she noticed she was somehow free and made the wisest decision of running away.

As the head guard and the others chased after her barking commands, I followed them. We ran for quite a long time. I never guessed she was so good at running but who wasn't good at running for their lives?

Just then, she ran into a dark alley and I knew she had made a big mistake. It was a dead end but I guessed she had no idea. I watched as she got to the magical sealed door and now turned to face us, weeping in despair. There were four of us, including me and we were all surrounding her.

"You can't run now..." One of the guards sang like a song as we drew closer. I knew she was scared but she took a posture, ready to fight us. It was then I came in for her.

I flung my spear and got the first man. That same second, my switchblades went for the second as I knocked the third out of consciousness.

I am a good fighter.

I looked up at her surprised face now and pulled off my mask. She stared at me strangely as if trying to place my face. I knew she didn't know me. We had never met.

"If you keep staring at me, we'll both die. The door gives you a riddle to solve. To cross through, we must solve the riddle. More men are coming behind and when they do, I can't hold them all back." I stated. She immediately came back to reality, knowing she could trust me.

There was no time!

We both turned to the glowing door now and read the waiting riddle: -

"I am what you should feel when you look at a face

But how I truly look like, no one knows

I can be your friend though every man is my foe

I bring two or more together to guide their pace"

I looked up at her now and we both stared at each other. It was then we realized it. We couldn't answer it!

The feet of more men were banging right behind us.

We were in trouble!