3. Chapter Three #3
Yedda sits in the grass, facing away from me and plucking tiny daisies from the wildflower field that runs along the right side of our house.
“Yedda!”
Her head slowly turns to look at me, and she leaps to her feet before I can process her changed face.
Her gurgling gnashing almost distracts me from Agatha staggering from the woods.
My mother is not far behind, but before I can give in to despair, the desperate need to find Florian takes over.
I bolt up the porch, latch the door, and shove a chair under the handle.
I creep toward the bedroom and search every corner for signs of him.
Short growls lead me to Florian’s crib, where he sits staring at the wall.
I cover my mouth and gasp. He stands up and teeters toward me, chomping his teeth.
His wheezing is gone for the first time since birth, and though his eyes are as tar, the matting has cleared.
The madness appears to have cured him, only to give him another ailment.
He reaches his arms to me, and I go to pick him up until he freezes. Even his gaping mouth remains open mid-bite, and one of his tiny feet hangs suspended, not finishing its step.
“Why would you touch him?” The hooded figure is behind me, blocking the only exit from my house. He’s large enough that I can’t slip around him.
“He’s a baby, and if they are all gone, I wish to be too. What better way than rocking him as I always do?” I bite my lip as the first of my tears find escape.
“All time has stopped, and it is up to you to save them.”
“What do you mean?”
Florian looks frozen in time, but the figure’s words are impossible.
He spreads his arm toward my front door, and all that is visible are the brass claws he revealed before. “Go look outside. I have halted everything in this realm. All but you and the castle.”
I remove the chair from the knob and open the door, stepping carefully outside to see not even branches swaying.
A bird is suspended with outstretched wings, and a butterfly hasn’t quite landed on a flower.
Yedda, Agatha, and Mother all have changed irises, but none of them move from where they mindlessly wandered.
I wait until the figure reappears again. “What do you mean it’s my job to save them?”
He stretches out the black rose, and this time I see fingers that appear like onyx smoke. Only the claws look solid. “You keep leaving this. This will wilt, and when only the stem remains, time is up for you.”
“How long will that be, and how do I save everyone?”
“The cure lives beyond King Zyon’s castle, but first, I will escort you to him.
Only he can’t know any tasks I give you.
If you tell him, all your chances will end.
His castle has many unexpected surprises that will seem like they should not exist. You are looking for a silver necklace with a heart gemstone.
Once it is found, everyone will be cured, but it is far in the mountains.
You must find some things for me first before the necklace. ”
“That makes no sense. How can finding a necklace cure anything?”
“Follow me.” He turns toward my village and stops when he sees I don’t move.
“Who are you?”
“Someone insignificant. Now follow!”
“Not until you at least give me your name.”
“Lazzus. Let’s go.” He throws his arm forward in a frustrated gesture. “You don’t seem to want to save anyone.”
“How can I even trust you?”
“Do you have any other ways to save them?”
“No.”
“Then I suggest you take me at my word and follow. Or by all means, remain here, and I will unfreeze time, so they can rip each other to shreds.”
I decide to at least see what he wants to show me, and we hike back to the village.
The apothecary shop is flattened, and the sight ignites a fresh surge of emotions.
A large white fountain sits in the middle of the town square.
It’s something I’ve never seen and wasn’t there earlier.
The basin is empty, and in the middle of the fancy display is a decrepit wooden well.
“Look in there.” He gestures toward the odd object.
A tiny amount of blue liquid at the bottom of the well is all that moves other than Lazzus and me.
The woman’s voice from Albion’s cabin makes the tiny pool move to the vibrations of her voice.
“Neera, you are to do as Lazzus says and save your family. Bring the necklace to me and drop it in this well. The madness that has overtaken the hearts of your people will cease, and all will be whole again.”
“What about my baby brother? He was sick, and his wheezing is gone. Will he remain cured of that as well?”
“Yes, bring me the necklace, and both cures will be yours. Listen to Lazzus.” Her voice fades away.
“Follow me. I have a story to tell you. A story of when I was a young and foolish king. I did a great many things I'd never do again and a great many I would. Maybe you can figure out which is which. Like a puzzle for you to solve. If you guess what I regret most, I will have a present for you.” Lazzus turns toward the castle of the vile King Zyon. Everything fades as I’m transported to a throne room.