Ellie and the Underworld, page 18
“Some of the toboggans are missing. I have counted them, and they're gone. The track is also warm, indicating recent use,” Fang informed them as he limped over. In his human form, he knelt and sniffed the ground.
“I suggest someone has used them to head towards the Underworld. Evil has been here. We must hurry. I smell danger,” he added.
Without hesitation, Ellie and her fellow warriors strapped themselves into the toboggans, pressed the buttons, and jetted off back through the catacombs. A sense of dread filled Ellie's mind as she thought about what awaited them.
The Boggopods came to a stop and Ellie felt a sense of relief wash over her. The still-healthy warriors assisted the injured out of the toboggans, but the eerie silence that surrounded them was not what she had anticipated, and there was no celebratory welcome awaiting them.
As they made their way to the Grand Council meeting, Ellie couldn't ignore the uneasy feeling in her stomach. As she approached the meeting room, she heard groans and whimpering, causing her to hesitate before opening the door.
The sight that greeted Ellie could only be described as a nightmare, and she recoiled from the scene. Injured people and animals were strewn across the hall, their faces etched with pain. Sighs of relief flooded the room as the injured realised their companions had returned. Bob urgently outlined the situation.
“They came here, Jahi, Ahriman, and Asamara. They told us you were all dead. Jahi used her nails to kill and maim people and animals. The luckier ones are in the sick bay for 24 hours, until the immobilising poison wears off. Ellie, I'm afraid your dad is one of them,” Bob explained urgently.
Ellie paced up and down, overwhelmed by the news. “This explains why we didn’t see all of them at the battle; they deceived us. I will kill her. She killed my mum and now her bullies are trying to kill my dad. I will destroy them.” Ellie’s rage grew.
“This next part, I'm afraid, will only increase your anger. They captured Ravena on their way here and tortured her in front of your dad to extract information from him.” Bob looked uneasy as he recounted all the details of the events, but he had to bring Ellie up to speed.
“Your dad believed Katia had killed you, so he told them he was your father and Beth's husband, and that he would stop at nothing to avenge your deaths. Unfortunately, his efforts could not save Ravena. Jahi killed her in front of your dad and even took Ravena's feathers to add to her coat as a trophy.”
Ellie's vision blurred as tears fell from her eyes. A mixture of grief and relief washed over her. Ravena was gone, but at least she had not lost her dad.
“Your dad tried to stop her, but she struck out at him, scratching his face and immobilising him. She thought she had killed him, as your dad’s heart temporarily stopped beating. Lady Marabelle has given him one of her life-saving herbal tinctures, so he is safe.”
Ellie's knees buckled, and she crumpled to the ground, overwhelmed by the devastating news.
“Oh God, where is Grandpa Jo?” Ellie stammered, fear making it difficult to take in any more negative news.
“No one knows, Ellie. All we know is that he was not here when the attack took place. Another worrying issue is that Asamara took the map of the land where the Keepers of the Keys reside. We had been entrusted with this map to keep it safe, and now it has been taken from us.” Ellie's face paled; she knew all too well the importance of the Keepers of the Keys.
“This means that if you ever resurrect into your highest form as an immortal phoenix and Katia finds the hidden knowledge, she can and will use it to kill you. So, if you don’t transform, this knowledge will be useless.”
Ellie's shoulders slumped, and she let out a heavy sigh. “I'm afraid it's too late, Bob. I have already fully transformed. I had no choice; it was the only way to save my life and everyone else's.” Bob's snout whiskers twitched nervously.
Ellie turned to Amber, her voice trembling as she spoke. “Can you come with me to the sick room? I'm too anxious to go alone.” Amber nodded, and the pair made their way to the room.
Ellie approached her dad and gently took his hand. She leaned in close and spoke in a soft voice, barely above a whisper.
“Dad, it’s me, Ellie. I have returned safely. I would never leave you alone to suffer.” She paused, her eyes full of tears, before continuing. “But I have to go and find Grandpa Jo. He is missing, and I know you would want me to find him.”
Ellie felt her dad squeeze her hand in acknowledgement of her words.
“I will return tomorrow and hope you will be better. I love you.” She gazed at him, searching for another sign that he had heard her.
Ellie’s heart pounded as she left the Underworld to go and find Grandpa Jo. She glanced back at the old oak tree. To any passer-by, it would have appeared to be just a standard tree. However, Ellie knew of the destruction and carnage that had just occurred beneath the ground. As she walked, she spotted a beautiful young woman in the distance with a basket in her hands, collecting items from the ground. Ellie watched, captivated as the young woman ate what she had gathered.
The woman’s humming and singing intrigued Ellie, and she watched with envy as she happily wandered through the woods. For a fleeting moment, she wished she could have changed places with the woman, just to have a sense of normalcy. As Ellie continued on her way, the woman was soon gone from her mind. Her focus returned to Grandpa Jo, and her pace quickened as she ran back to Pear Tree Farm. She hoped Grandpa Jo would be there, unharmed and resting peacefully.
As Ellie hurried on to find Grandpa Jo, she never heard the words to the woman’s song.
“I am young again with the youth of a girl. I have work to do in the Upperworld. I am young again with the youth of a girl.” Ellie had not realised the woman was Morag the Hag.
Whilst everyone had been preoccupied with the final attack on the Forbidden Underworld, Morag had seized the opportunity to go and collect magic acorns. The Fae usually guarded these acorns to stop the likes of Morag from getting her greedy hands on them. Despite the acorns being known to be poisonous to ordinary folk, Morag had eaten them already, and true to their powers, they had restored her youth. She now resembled a beautiful young woman, and there was no telling what damage she could cause to the people in the Upperworld. There would be plenty of people to manipulate and deceive.
25
As Jo walked towards the village, his mind was solely focused on reaching 65 Rochester Terrace, located next to the post office in the village. He had no clue whatsoever about what had happened in the Forbidden Underworld or the Underworld.
Within 15 minutes, Jo arrived at the house. It was a pleasant-looking terraced house with a vibrant red door and gold numbers displaying the number 65. The house was surrounded by a small array of colourful hanging baskets and garden statues, which made the small, paved terrace bright and cheerful. Ornamental butterflies adorned the walls, and a wooden chime swayed in the gentle breeze, creating a delicate, melodic sound.
Jo felt nervous as he knocked on the door and waited for an answer. He could hear the security chain being removed from inside the house and the door slowly opening. As the door opened, Shareena greeted him.
“Hello, Jo. Nice to meet you, my lovely,” she said as she held out her hand toward him. “Do come in.”
As he entered, the narrow hall was filled with the scent of incense sticks. Jo observed Shareena as she welcomed him. She appeared pleasant to the eye, in her 40s, dressed casually in jeans and a jumper. Her unruly hair had strands of grey in it, and her eyes showed a depth of wisdom gained from the experiences she had in life. Shareena reassuringly smiled at him as she took his coat.
“I hope you don’t mind dogs. I have one called Blaze. He's my adorable husky and an excellent security dog. One can never be too cautious these days. In my line of work, you never know who may turn up for a reading.” A black and white husky walked in and stood by her side. Jo went to stroke the dog, but it snarled. Shareena explained, gesturing to the husky,
“Blaze can be a bit temperamental with strangers, but he means no harm. At ease, Blaze. Jo will not harm me.”
Shareena calmed the dog down with a gentle pat. Jo followed her to a small, but pleasant room at the back of the house. The room was filled with multiple books arranged neatly on shelves. Crystals of all shapes and sizes were dotted about the room, catching the light, and giving it a mystical feel. Several pictures of fairies lined the walls, adding to the enchanting atmosphere of the room.
Shareena guided Jo to a table with two chairs. He sat down, taking in his surroundings and was fascinated by the mystical objects and books surrounding him.
“Would you like a drink before we start?” Shareena asked.
Jo politely declined, eager to find out what she had to say. He noticed that the table was covered with a purple velvet cloth, and on top of it lay a red satin pouch. Jo watched curiously as Shareena opened the pouch and removed a blue, unpolished stone and a pack of cards.
“This is my Lapis Lazuli, imported from Egypt. I use it as a seer stone to help me with my psychic readings,” she explained, holding the stone up for him to see.
Shareena then bowed her head and proceeded to say a spiritual prayer, calling upon the divine loving spirits to guide the reading.
“Divine loving spirits, help me provide Jo with the truth and the initiative to understand what he needs to do. Blessed be.” Jo felt a sense of calm wash over him as he listened to her words.
Shareena smiled and handed Jo the 78-card tarot deck.
“Please shuffle the cards, and with your mind, heart, and spirit, ask them your intentions. Be clear about what you want, and we will gain more clarity from the cards.” Jo shuffled the cards and focused.
“I ask you to keep your intention in your mind.”
“Please tell me the truth about my daughter, Beth. Is she still alive?” Jo thought to himself.
Shareena sat with her eyes closed in a meditative state as he observed her. She opened her eyes as he stopped shuffling the cards.
“Are you happy with your question?”
Jo nodded enthusiastically. “Yes.”
“Good. I need you to spread the cards on the table face down, hover your hands above them, pick ten cards, and pass them to me. Please use your left hand to choose the cards as it is closest to your heart. You will feel a warm, pulsing sensation in your hand; this will tell you the correct card to choose.”
Jo closed his eyes and concentrated on his question about his daughter, Beth. As he passed his left hand over the cards, he felt a warm tingling and knew which cards to choose. He picked his ten cards and passed them to Shareena.
Shareena held the Lapis Lazuli stone in her hand and placed the cards face-up, arranging them in a Celtic cross. As Shareena spoke, Jo listened intently, trying to absorb her words.
“Jo, you have new beginnings ahead. A battle has needed to happen to get these beginnings. Although the battle has taken place, do not become complacent as there are many battles to still fight. The cards are showing me a new building and meeting place. They are also giving you courage and strength,” Shareena said. As she spoke of courage, Jo felt a surge of determination inside himself.
“The cards show me that you have lost someone close to you, and you will find this person again in the coming months. The card does show death concerning this loved one, but this is often not the case. The death card represents new beginnings and rebirth.” The mention of the death card made Jo feel uneasy. As he reflected on Shareena’s words, he felt a mix of emotions: hope, fear, determination, and uncertainty.
“Shareena, does this mean my daughter is alive?” Jo asked desperately.
Shareena gently placed her hand on his shoulder.
“Jo, I can see your sorrow and I don’t want to give you false hope. However, it feels like your daughter is still in this earthly realm and not the spirit realm.” Jo clutched his hands to his chest in anguish, wondering if it could be true that his daughter was still alive.
“Let me see if the cards can offer you more clarity,” she said as she reached for the deck and reshuffled them. “They show a journey that you need to go on. This is a long journey, to the top of a mountain with a path running up it. You will need to conquer the demons and creatures that lurk along the treacherous path.”
“If this is what it takes to find my daughter then I will embark on this journey. Do you see anything else, please Shareena?” Jo asked, his voice quivering with emotion.
“I see that you will face many challenges along the way. The moon on this card indicates that there will be many illusions to deceive you. In these situations, you must choose the correct path to take. The cards are showing me the Devil.” Jo's heart raced at the ominous cards.
“The Devil will bring unscrupulous people into your life but don't be worried, Jo. Remember, you have been dealt the Courage card to help deal with whatever is thrown in your path.”
“This is a lot to take in and I hope some good can come from this.” He studied the cards laid out on the table, trying to make sense of their meanings.
“Jo, at times it may feel like all hope has gone from your life, but please do not give up. Hope is on your side. The reading shows a bright shining star guiding you. When the Star card appears, it brings wish fulfilment into your life.”
Jo wiped a tear from his eyes. He knew he had to face unscrupulous people on his journey. Despite the challenges ahead, Shareena’s words of encouragement gave him hope.
“I know your question is still not answered as clearly as you may want. So, please, my lovely, allow me to consult my crystal ball.”
“I'm happy with the predictions and how you have interpreted them. I've never paid interest in mysticism before. If I'm honest, I would have called it mumbo jumbo, but not after today. My eyes have been opened,” Jo said. He watched as Shareena moved the tarot cards to one side and reached for a large crystal ball.
“Jo, hold this in your hands and focus your mind on your question again. Before I begin the crystal ball reading, do you have a photo of your daughter? It will help me if I can visualise her,” Shareena explained.
“I keep a picture of Beth with me; I also have her locket.” Jo reached into his pocket and gave the locket to Shareena.
“Brilliant, Jo, an item of jewellery and a photo. I can use psychometry and my seer stone to conclude your reading and then give you the answer to your question.” Jo handed over the photo and looked on with curiosity.
As Shareena held the locket in her hand, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. After a few moments, she opened her eyes and looked directly at Jo.
“I see a large volume of dark, murky water. A woman is sinking deeper and deeper into the water, drowning, but then something saves her. It doesn't seem possible, but it's what I see.” Jo looked concerned as he waited for Shareena to continue.
“Jo, this is the lady in your picture. Did she have an accident in the water? I need some confirmation before I continue with the reading as it is showing me something strange. I can’t make sense of this.”
Jo replied, “Yes, my precious daughter drowned, but her body was never retrieved from the quarry lake.”
Jo observed Shareena, who looked worried about the images she was being shown.
“As a psychic, I am aware of the dangers of opening oneself up to spiritual attacks. This is unlike any reading I've done before, and I am concerned about the entities we may be dealing with.”
“Please, Shareena, continue. You have been amazing so far, so don't doubt what you see, no matter how obscure it may be.” Jo was relieved and grateful.
Shareena took a deep breath to continue. “Wait, there is more. I can see another woman with two wolves looking down into the lake. They saw your daughter resurface. I cannot make sense of this. The two wolves are now women. They jump in the water and drag her out; it is them that save her. They tie her hands behind her back and take her somewhere. A lady dressed in purple appears to be giving the instructions.”
Jo’s heartbeat pounded as he listened. His face was fatigued and drained of colour, but he was also elated that his Beth was alive, as he trusted Shareena’s words.
Shareena brought the crystal ball over her right shoulder as she explained the process.
“I am retrieving the information,” she said.
The crystal ball clouded over inside as Shareena examined it intently. As she began to speak, the voice was not hers; it was Beth's.
“Dad, it’s me. Please come find me. Katia has taken me somewhere. I am on a very high mountain entombed in ice. I can hear, breathe, think, talk, and see everything around me. The mountain folk that reside here think I am their saviour, and that the evil ones cannot be defeated until I am freed by those who love me.”
Jo wiped the sweat from his brow, feeling a mix of relief and worry.
“Of course, I will come and find you, nothing can stop me.”
Jo was interrupted further by Beth’s anxious voice. “The villagers have tried in vain to free me but to no avail. The Dark Lords know where I am. They reside in the witches’ lair and are protected by all manner of spells. Find the Dark Lords, and you will find me. Come quickly.”
Jo felt a wave of terror wash over him. He couldn’t imagine what kind of danger his daughter could be in, but he knew he had to do all he could to find her.
Shareena slumped forward on the table, and Jo rushed to her side, worried about her well-being. She moaned and lifted her head.
“Oh, my lovely. I hate it when I go into a trance,” Shareena said, her voice weak. “Beth must have a strong presence. This happens when an old incarnate possesses my body.” Jo watched as Shareena stumbled to the kitchen and returned with a couple of mugs of herbal tea.
“Drink this, Jo. It will calm your nerves. It’s an infused ginseng tea and an added guarana spell enchantment to replace our lost energy. It is draining to go through a big reading like today, so we need some replenishment.” Jo was appreciative of the brew.
