THE CURSED PRINCE: BOOK 1, page 17
Seth glanced back at the older men standing behind him.
The one with long white hair closed the distance between them, leaning in to speak discreetly.
"Is everything in place?" Seth asked him.
The follower whispered into Seth's ear. "The ship is en route for the exchange, Father. They should be here in a few—"
In the distance, a ship soared just above their sacred woodlands. Their eyes widened in horror as they witnessed the vessel skidding over the treetops, mercilessly snapping them like twigs. The ship then plunged into the heart of the woods, unleashing a cataclysmic explosion that transformed the serene surroundings into a chaotic scene, engulfed by a devastating mushroom cloud.
Shawn and the others stood there, stunned by the devastation unfolding before their eyes. They turned to Father, seeking guidance and answers. However, there was no response, leaving them in a state of uncertainty. In the absence of a clear answer, Shawn mustered the courage to step forward, approaching his savior and revered leader. His voice quivered with concern as he asked, "Father, was that the transport to the new world?"
Seth's mind raced, searching for a plausible explanation, but he found himself lost for words. He turned to Shawn, scanning the faces of the others who shared the same anxieties. Taking a deep breath, he reacted impulsively, "Are you out of your mind? Of course not. That wasn’t our ship!" He swiftly turned around, facing the bewildered crowd.
"Our vessel is divinely blessed, guided by a higher power!" His gaze swept over his trembling congregation, most nodding in agreement. Then he directed his attention back to Shawn, his favorite disciple, and glared at him. " Of all my followers, do you, doubt me?"
Shawn took a hesitant step forward, torn between his longing to embrace his leader and the need to maintain the same facade as the others. "No, Father. I would never doubt you. I love you," he sobbed, his voice quivering with fear.
Seth concealed his satisfaction, closing the distance between them and wrapping Shawn in his embrace. Shawn clung to him, his heart filled with a mix of relief and remorse. “Please forgive this wretched fool, Father. I am utterly remorseful."
Seth felt a sense of accomplishment, knowing that he had successfully convinced Shawn and the others with his gentle words. "Now, now, Shawn, there's no need to speak poorly of yourself. You made a mistake, and I have forgiven you," he reassured him. Relinquishing his embrace, Seth swiftly commanded, "Remain where you are." Then, addressing the crowd, he continued, "I urge every one of you to forgive yourselves for jumping to conclusions. Let us not allow self-doubt to tarnish this special day. Turn to the person on your right and embrace them.
As his followers occupied themselves with exchanging hugs, Seth cast a discreet glance at his loyal men and subtly gestured for one of them to step forward. The same man with white hair approached, leaning in to hear Seth's whispered orders.
"Go and investigate the crash. If the package is alive, bring him to me. Eliminate anyone else," Seth instructed, his voice barely audible.
"What if there are no survivors, Father? What about the offerings?“ the man asked.
“We send them off ourselves,” Seth declared.
“So Mote it Be, Father."
"So Mote it Be," Seth echoed, his attention returning to Shawn, who wore a joyful smile. Seth opened his arms again, beckoning Shawn to join him.
With eagerness, Shawn rushed into Seth's strong embrace, gazing up at the powerful man.
Seth pressed a tender kiss to Shawn’s forehead, his hands gently cradling Shawn's face. They shared a heartfelt moment as their lips met. When they parted, Seth turned Shawn around to face the others.
"Now, it’s time to bid farewell to your older brothers. Go and say your goodbyes."
****
Poe advanced around the outskirts at top speed with the help of his vines carrying him like a spider. All seemed safe until he sensed something nearby. He moved towards it, unafraid, ready to neutralize it when his head smacked something hard sending him back to the ground. When he recovered, he examined what he’d smacked into and saw nothing in front of him. His view was of an open treeless field, nothing was in his path. What did I hit? he wondered standing, then he felt something on his face he reached up and touched it feeling a crack. The damaged spot was just at his nose and across his eye.
“This not good,” he said not in panic or concern for his broken shell. He cursed himself for being so careless, he should have known something was amidst while patrolling when he saw no form of creature land or sky. “A barrier spell,” he said standing, moving carefully toward it with his palm out. When his gloved hand touched the surface he knew the spell was powerful. This is bad. How do friends get in? he wondered but then he noticed something. The barrier didn’t penetrate the ground. It only sat on the surface.
He removed his gloves and placed them in his bag, then with his vines, he began to dig under the barrier, crawling making sure to make room for his head. When he reached the other side and popped his head out he could tell the air was much cleaner dare he say refreshing. He remembered he was only to make sure their surroundings were safe, and was about to go tell Shilo of what he found when something caught his attention.
In the distance, Poe saw a pumpkin patch. He tilted his similar head from side to side studying the patch of fruit of various sizes. He had a growing desire to see them up close. He kept low to the ground as he moved towards it.
Amid a sprawling pumpkin field, Poe stood tall and vibrant, his pumpkin head displaying a mischievous grin. However, Poe yearned for a fresh start, a new face that would reflect his evolving spirit. With determination in his pumpkin eyes, he scanned the field, searching for the perfect pumpkin to carve into his new head.
After careful consideration, Poe’s gaze settled upon a plump pumpkin, its vibrant dark hue and smooth skin capturing his attention. With a sense of anticipation, he moved towards it, his vine-like limbs extending to touch the ground as he approached his chosen replacement.
Poe gently caressed the pumpkin's exterior, feeling its firmness and imagining the possibilities hidden within. With a surge of excitement, he reached for his knife, grasping it with his leafy tendrils. Holding the blade with a steady grip, he positioned it against the pumpkin's surface, ready to bring forth his new identity.
With each precise cut, Poe skillfully removed sections of the pumpkin's skin, shaping the contours of his desired face. His nimble vine fingers guided the knife, carving intricate details that expressed his essence. The blade moved with a grace born of experience, tracing the curves and angles that would form his new identity.
As the carving progressed, Poe’s excitement grew, for he could sense the emergence of his true self within the pumpkin's evolving features. A mischievous smile took shape, capturing the essence of his playful soul. His eyes, large and expressive, reflected a mix of curiosity and wisdom. With each stroke, Poe infused the pumpkin with his personality, etching his unique personality into its very essence.
Finally, as the last stroke of the knife fell, Poe stepped back to admire his creation. The once smooth pumpkin now bore a face that mirrored his innermost self. He felt a sense of renewal and satisfaction, knowing that this new head would perfectly reflect his growth and vitality.
With a gentle nod of approval, Poe carefully detached his original pumpkin head and replaced it with the freshly carved one. The transformation was complete. He stood tall amidst the pumpkin field, his new face proudly on display, ready to embrace the world. He hadn’t noticed a ship with a huge chunk missing gliding across the treetops until it plummeted and exploded.
Poe turned in a start seeing the fiery blast. “Shilo!” he cried rushing to the entrance he dug and leaping in coming out the other side never bothering to rebury the hole, and racing back to his friend.
CHAPTER 29
Shilo reacted swiftly to the approaching blast wave, crouching down and shielding her face with the cheek of her battle axe. As the wave passed by, she felt no debris against her skin and noticed the absence of wind rustling her hair. Looking up in disbelief, she saw Yuri standing with his back to her, his arms outstretched and hands open, using his magic to block the ripple. Rising to her feet, Shilo approached Yuri as he lowered his hands and turned to face her.
An awkward silence hung between them, but Shilo swallowed her pride and was about to express her gratitude to the Elf when they heard shouting from above.
“SHILO, CATCH JUSTIN!” Adam's voice boomed, his arms holding Patrick over his shoulder while Justin, fell beside them.
Looking up, they witnessed the trio tumbling toward them.
"I've got them," Yuri called out upon seeing Patrick's limp body. With a wave of his hands, he conjured a gust of wind that swept up beneath them, slowing their descent and safely lowering them to the ground.
Sheathing her axe, Shilo hurried to assist Adam, who carefully lowered Patrick, whose face was covered with a mask, to the ground. She grabbed her bag and took out a blanket, folding it into a makeshift pillow for Patrick's head. "Here," she said, offering it to Adam. "Use this to support his head."
Adam nodded gratefully as he cradled Patrick's head on the blanket.
“What happened?” Yuri inquired, concern etched on his face.
“He used cold iron,” Adam replied, brushing Patrick's curls gently.
Yuri's brow furrowed. “What was he doing near cold iron?”
“How should I know,” Adam snapped, his gaze piercing Yuri's. “Can you help him?”
“Move away and let me work,” Yuri commanded.
Adam hesitated, reluctant to let the Elf near Patrick, but he knew it was their last hope. He rose and took a step back, never taking his eyes off his injured companion.
As Yuri reached out to remove Patrick's mask, Adam and Shilo immediately drew their weapons, pointing them at the Elf.
Yuri froze, his hand still in mid-air, and looked from Adam to Shilo. "Is there a problem?"
"You damn well know there is, Elf," Shilo spat back, her voice laced with hostility.
"I feel no ill effects from his curse, but Shilo and Justin are a different matter,"
Yuri explained calmly. "Then I suggest they move away,"
Shilo retorted sharply.
"You should have mentioned that from the beginning," Adam snapped. "Shilo, where's Poe?"
"He's on reconnaissance duty."
"Go find him and tell him we're entering the village to retrieve a map. Wait for us. Justin, you go with her."
"All right, let's go, Justin."
Shilo took off but Justin hung back worried about leaving Adam and Yuri alone together.
Adam looked at Justin, his voice filled with worry. “It’s not safe for you here, Justin.”
“I know but—”
Justin, Patrick needs my assistance and I also need you to be safe. Please go, Yuri pleaded through telepathy.
“But what, Justin?” Adam asked putting his sword away.
Justin glanced between Yuri and Adam, feeling torn. "Okay, I'm going," he finally said, hurrying off.
Adam understood why Justin didn’t want to leave him alone with the Elf. He even needed to restrain himself from striking the Elf for touching Patrick.
Yuri glanced at Adam, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "So, am I permitted to remove the mask now, fearless leader?"
Adam narrowed his eyes, his distrust evident. "Get on with it, but no tricks."
Yuri ignored the threat and carefully removed the mask from Patrick's face, revealing the features of the enchanted prince. He then placed his fingers in a V shape on Patrick's forehead and his palm on his chest, closing his eyes in deep concentration.
Adam remained silent, watching intently for any sign of movement from Patrick, his worry gripping his heart.
Yuri took a deep breath before opening his eyes. "You've given him something. What was it?" he asked, his tone filled with concern.
"I'm not entirely sure," Adam admitted.
Yuri stared at him, his expression a mix of disbelief and frustration. “What do you mean not sure?”
"It was the only thing in his bag that I thought might help," Adam explained.
“You took a gamble with his life?" Yuri's voice tightened with anger.
“I had to make a judgment call," Adam defended his actions. He wasn’t going to share that he had two bodiless voices telling him to give the liquid to Patrick.
Yuri let out a sigh, his irritation was evident. “Your judgment could have cost him his life.”
"Is he going to be all right or not, Elf?" Adam demanded, his worry and impatience seeping through.
Yuri remained unfazed by Adam’s outburst. “His Fey side will use the nature around us to heal. He will pull through, but he needs to rest.”
Adam released the breath he had been holding, relieved by the news.
“Now, Ranger, what is this about a map?” Yuri asked, refocusing their attention.
Adam’s interrupted by the sound of a horn that broadcasted around them.
Both felt the vibration burrow through their skin.
“That was an alarm,” Yuri said.
Adam recognized the strong, deep, barrel sound that vibrated his heart. He walked over and placed the mask on Patrick’s face before flinging the unconscious prince over his shoulder.
“What are you doing? I said he needs to rest,” Yuri protested.
“It’s not safe here, we need to go find the others. I’ll tell you about the map on the way.” Adam explained, determined to gather their group. But before they could make their move, a male’s voice interrupted them.
“You’re not going anywhere!” the voice declared.
They turned to see five men all dressed in white hooded robes, wielding various sharp weapons, blocking their path.
****
Justin managed to catch up with Shilo, who moved at a much faster pace than Adam. As they continued on their path, Justin couldn't help but feel uncertain about their destination, considering Poe was out scouting and could be anywhere at the moment.
Suddenly, Shilo came to a halt, causing Justin to stop beside her. "What's going on?" he asked, curious about the sudden pause.
"I'm tracking Poe," Shilo replied, her eyes focused on their surroundings.
Justin looked around, puzzled. "How? He's a plant. Will he leave footprints?"
"No, but he leaves me breadcrumbs in case I need to find him. Let me show you," Shilo said, pointing to a single dangling leaf on a tree trunk. "See that leaf?"
"Yeah," Justin replied, examining the leaf for any distinguishing features.
"It looks ordinary, right?" Shilo asked.
Justin nodded. "Yeah, it does."
"Watch me," Shilo said, stepping past the leaf, which suddenly shook. "You see, it's telling me I'm going the wrong way."
"How is it doing that?" Justin asked, intrigued by the leaf's behavior.
"The leaf belongs to Poe. He leaves it behind for me to track him. His leaves somehow know exactly where he is at all times. So even when he's moving in different directions and not in a straight line, his leaf can guide me to his whereabouts."
"That's cool," Justin remarked, impressed by the unique tracking method.
"I think so too," Shilo agreed, glancing at the leaf, which was now pointing straight up. "Oh."
"What's it doing now?" Justin inquired.
"It's indicating that Poe is above us," Shilo explained.
They both looked up and spotted Poe sitting on a tree limb.
Shilo called out to him. "Poe!"
"Yes?" Poe responded without looking down.
"What are you doing up there?!" Shilo questioned, her voice filled with curiosity.
"Watching!" Poe answered simply.
"Watching what?" Shilo pressed for more information.
"Hey, Poe," Justin called out, attempting to get Poe's attention.
"Justin, my friend," Poe responded, clearly thrilled that Justin had returned. However, he still didn't turn his eyes away from whatever had captured his attention.
Justin tried to see what Poe was watching, but all he could see were trees. "Hey, Poe, Adam, and Patrick are with Yuri. Adam wanted us to find you and bring you back with us."
Poe remained unresponsive, causing concern for Shilo, who also tried to look in the same direction as Poe but saw nothing. "Poe, please answer me. What are you watching?"
"Not what—them," Poe finally responded, when a horn echoed in the air around them.
Justin could feel the vibration cut through his bones while Shilo searched her surroundings to find the source.
Before either could say anything. Poe abruptly jumped from the tree, ensnaring Shilo and Justin with his vines, and swiftly carried them back to where Adam, Yuri, and Patrick were, keeping them suspended in front of him.
Shilo turned her head to try and see what Poe was running from, but she still couldn't spot anything. However, she did notice that Poe's appearance had changed. "Poe, what's going on, and why did you change your head?!"
Justin also looked back and realized that Poe's usual orange pumpkin head had turned black, with purple splatters. His triangular eyes had transformed into a more sinister, crescent shape, and his once friendly three-toothed smile had been replaced by two rows of jagged teeth.
“Poe will explain later must get back to Adam!”
Shilo wanted to grab her axe off her back but feared she’d cut Poe’s vines. “Poe just tell us what you are running from!”
Poe was about to answer when a huge black haze jumped out of nowhere into their path. Poe managed to stop at a safe distance pulling Justin and Shilo behind him.
Justin and Shilo stared at it unsure what they were looking at. It towered over them, and it looked as if it had black fur and that’s it. Neither could see a face or the shape of its body.
“What the hell is that?!” Justin asked, not sure if any of them had an answer.
“Poe!” called Shilo. “I’m assuming the reason you won’t let us down, is that we can’t fight this—thing?!”
“Correct!” Poe said not taking his gaze off the phantom. “I only can counter its moves when it moves!”
