Anna And The Invisible Castle

Episode 6. THE EVIL WITHIN

The sun had begun to set and the trade fair come to an end. Every visitor of Ascencia, who had no intention of sleeping over, began to pack their belongings in preparation for the journey back home. Anna and her best friend joined their parents at the stall. All hands on deck, the ladies began to re-pack the remaining fabrics into the boxes while Mr. Jones went to get the wagon from the stables. He paid the keeper for the service charge and saddled the horses back to his stall. The ladies had now finished packing the fabrics and Anna was now stacking them up in front of the stall, ready for loading. Not wasting further time, Mr. Jones alighted and began to load the boxes to the wagon.

“Did you enjoy yourself?” he asked his daughter as he collected the boxes from her to have them placed on the wagon.

Anna grinned. “Yes papa, I did. Thank you so much!” She exchanged glances with Miel.

“You’re always welcomed cupcake,” Mr. Jones said and smiled at her, a smile of a father pleased with his daughter. They soon finish loading everything. The ladies settled inside the wagon while Mr. Jones resumed his former position at the coach and then, he saddled the horses to motion. They met other villagers of Nezmae at the gates waiting for them and in unison, they all journeyed back home.

As usual, Mrs. Bouston resumed talking, this time of today’s shopping and the new friends she made at the beauty salon. Anna enjoyed the stories, but Miel soon fell asleep, her head finding solace on Anna’s laps. Still listening to Mrs. Bouston, Anna looked across the window. They were now riding through the dark track road of Edessa’s rainforest. Edessa was the first village after crossing the bridge of Ascencia, the second being Levenda and third, Nezmae. These were the three villages of Ascencia. Both Edessa and Levenda had rainforests, while Nezmae was blessed with an enchanting forest. Anna looked up at the skies and noticed it was filled with nimbus clouds, she hoped they’d make it home before the clouds finally lose their tempers.

“And you my child, did you have some fun today?” Mrs. Bouston asked the suddenly distracted Anna.

Anna brought her attention back to the space inside. “Yes, I did. I even met with one Mr. Eric,” she revealed. She had always confided in Mrs. Bouston over the years, she was more than a surrogate mother to her.

“Eric!” Mrs. Bouston gasped, incredulity masking her face. “Did you meet with Prince Eric?”

“What?” Anna was filled with confusion. “No, no,” she shook her head. “He was no Prince. I know that because his clothes had holes and patches, even a tear at the cape. And he was alone, without any knight to guard him.”

“Unless that,” Mrs. Bouston shrugged. Sadness crept into her expression. “It’s a pity the King and Queen have kept their only child now protected behind the walls of the palace.”

Curiosity rippled through Anna. She frowned. “Why, what are they protecting him from? I mean I thought the King of Ascencia has the strongest army across the earth.”

“He has, but I’m afraid with every passing day her powers grow.”

Anna leaned forward gazing deep into Mrs. Bouston’s eyes, “Whose powers?”

“…The witch.”

A first boom of thunder shook the four walls of the earth, followed by a second, and then there came a third. Everywhere went silent inside the wagon. Anna broke the silence. “…What witch?”

“It all started years ago, when Ascencia was ruled by King Nixon II. He was a powerful king, beloved by his people. He had but only one child, a girl by name, Princess Kasha. The King loved this child of his so much. Some said it was because she was the only family he had left ever since he lost his queen to the cold hands of death. Some said it was because she was a striking resemblance of the late queen, her mother. Whichever it was, Princess Kasha grew with grace, beauty and her father’s love. He trusted her and will never do anything without her approval. Well, he did do one thing without her approval. He got his youngest concubine pregnant. The child was born but Kasha had hated him even before he was born and then one fateful night, she sneaked into his room and sought to stab him in his sleep.”

Anna’s eyes were wider than a meatball. “Please tell me she didn’t kill the poor child!”

“She didn’t,” Mrs. Bouston soothed the already terrified Anna.

Anna heaved a deep sigh. “So what happened that night?”

“She had raised the dagger to kill the child when someone caught her wrist up in the air, she looked, and it was her father. Shocked at her behavior, he squeezed the weapon out of her hand. He called in the guards and she was thrown into the dungeon that very night.”

Anna smiled, “Serves her right.”

“The King had thrown her in there hoping she’d be repentant and ask for his forgiveness, but never did he know Princess Kasha was growing into with every passing minute, a monster he had never imagined.”

A shiver ran down Anna’s spine. “She didn’t break out of dungeon, please tell me she didn’t.”

“Sadly she did.”

Anna gasped, “So there was no guard or something to watch over her while in the dungeon?”

“There was,” Mrs. Bouston replied, she paused, “…but someone helped her.”

Anna couldn’t believe her ears. “Someone helped her? Did they know she tried to kill someone, a helpless baby at that?”

“Love they say is blind, my child.”

Anna went silent knowing people will do anything, whether stupid or foolish for love. “Love,” the word escaped her lips.

“Yes, love. There was this very young knight head over heels in love with the princess. So she used him, seduced him into finding the spare key to her dungeon. He found it, brought it to her in the dungeon and he was rewarded right there with a kiss.” Anna braced herself for the worst at the new turn out of events. “One night, she used the spare key and unlocked the dungeon, and then she single-handedly killed the three guards on duty in just less than one minute.”

“She’s a good swordsman,” Anna said almost breathlessly.

“Yes, she is terrifyingly terrific.”

“What did she do next, attack the baby again?”

“Not the baby this time, but her own father. After breaking out of dungeon, Kasha dressed as a maid, went into the King’s chamber and poisoned his drink. He drank from the cup and slumped to the floor, dead.”

“I thought she was a good swordsman, why then didn’t she fight him with her sword?”

Mrs. Bouston smiled at the girl’s critical question. “Princess Kasha knew despite all her excellent swordsmanship she was no match for her over-skilled father. Poisoning was her only way out, and the fastest too.”

Another boom of thunder shook the earth and for once, Anna was sure there’d be an earthquake. Nevertheless, Mrs. Bouston continued and Anna was grateful she did. “The king was found dead in his chambers, and the warning bell sounded from high the towers. Kasha is on the run. She was trying to flee the kingdom through a secret door behind the castle; the door opens directly outside the tall walls of Ascencia. But she was caught even before she could make it to the door, and was bound with heavy chains. Kasha was brought before the councilmen for judgment. A verdict was passed. Normally treason in Ascencia goes with beheading or hanging, but for being a royal blood, she was rather banished into the evil forest. ”

Anna gasped, incredulity masking her face. “Evil forest, I thought the place never existed, except for the ones told in stories?”

“The evil forest does exist, my child. It sits daringly on the devil’s mountain. My advice, never go up that mountain, many who did never returned home to their loved ones. The place is too dark and haunted. It reeks with total evil.”

“What happened to her in the evil forest, did she die?”

“Everyone wished she did, but that was never the case. She met Gwenemma instead and became her ally.”

“Who’s Gwenemma?”

“She was the witch of the seven seas, Ascencia’s most terrifying enemy. Kasha gave up her soul to sorcery. She was initiated into Gwenemma’s coven.”

“That’s not good!” Anna mumbled in a breath.

“One day, the witches teamed up forces and attacked Ascencia. They entered the city and lives were lost, children killed, women slaughtered and houses set ablaze. It was indeed a sad and unforgettable day for the people of Ascencia.” Anna fought to hold back the tears that pooled in her eyes, but one escaped. She dabbed it away with the back of her hand. “But somehow the witch of the seven seas was killed.”

“You mean Gwenemma?”

“Yes, Gwenemma was killed.”

A smile touched her lips, a smile of satisfaction. “What about Kasha?”

“Kasha ran off from Ascencia saddled on a horse. The knights of Ascencia gave her a hot chase. Now a witch, Kasha was able to create in-between herself and the knights of Ascencia a wall of great storm. The storm bought her enough time to ride up to the dreaded devil’s mountain and back inside the evil forest where no one ventured to tread. With all the powers left in her, she created an invisible castle at the heart of the evil forest.”

“What do you mean, invisible?”

“Hidden from an ordinary human’s eyes,” Mrs. Bouston explained.

“Does this castle still exist?”

“Instead of asking me, why not take a walk in the evil forest and find out for yourself? I’m kidding, don’t ever and I mean ever, ever go up that mountain.”

The dread she saw in Mrs. Bouston’s eyes spoke the rest of the unsaid advice. Anna remembered, “What about the young knight that gave Princess Kasha the spare key to the dungeon?”

“You mean Argzbar?”

“Argzbar, is that his name?”

Mrs. Bouston nodded. “Well, he escaped even before the news of his betrayal spread. Till date, no one has ever heard of him in the city of Ascencia neither of his mistress. He must be of age now.”

“So the child Princess Kasha tried to murder is the present king of Ascencia?”

“Yes, and he is a good king just like his father.”

“And he now has a son?”

The woman nodded and smiled. “Yes, a handsome son. Those who work in the castle say he’s a Prince Charming. He’d be eighteen in seven days and I hear they would be a very grand ball as he would be made heir apparent to the throne of Ascencia that same day.”

A brief silence fell in the space. The next thing Anna heard was Mrs. Bouston’s snoring. She smiled.

“I told you there was a prince but you never believed me,” Miel accused.

“Miel, you are awake!” Anna’s eyes were wide with surprise. She watched her bestie lazily sit up.

Miel yawned. “I wish to get invited to that ball, don’t you Anna?”

Anna shrugged, her gaze suddenly somber. “Too bad it’s not for commoners like us.”

Miel gazed out to the now darkening sky. “Do you believe in miracles, Anna?”

Her gaze joined her friend’s outside. “Yes I do,” she said.

“What if you wake up one morning to the prince’s grand ball invitation scroll, what would you do?”

“I don’t know Miel, you and I have never been to a ball. I will definitely be nervous.”

Miel looked at her. “Would you honor it?”

Anna took a deep breath, she gave it a thought. “If my father does, if he approves then I will, happily.”

Miel rolled her eyes and looked away. “And you’re a terrible dancer,” she reminded.

Anna smiled. “And that too,” she acknowledged and then silence enveloped the space within. Somewhere around there, she dozed off. When she awoken they were already in Nezmae approaching Miel’s house. It was tradition to always drop off the Boustons anytime they were giving them a ride, before heading to their own home.

“Hey, what would you be doing tomorrow?” Miel asked at seeing Anna awake.

Anna straightened; a slight sprain in her neck had her flinching to a side. She reached the spot and massaged it. She saw Mrs. Bouston was awake too. “My father said we shall weed the garden and plant more seeds.” Her voice was more of a whisper. “What about you?”

“Same with us, working on the farm,” she replied. “I’m so worn out; I hope I don’t break down by morning.”

“I pray we all don’t,” Anna smiled.

The wagon came to a brief halt inside the Boustons compound, a bungalow made from wood sat at its center. Anna joined her father in helping them offload their bags; it was few. Done, she hugged Mrs. Bouston, and then Miel. “Sweet dreams you two,” Mr. Jones said and hopped back on the carriage.

“Thank you very much for the ride,” Mrs. Bouston said.

Anna jumped into the wagon and propped her head through the window. “Good night,” she bade and waved fervently at them.

“Good night, my child.” That was Mrs. Bouston.

“Good night Anna,” Miel said waving back.

Anna continued waving until they were out of the Bouston’s compound, and then she retreated into the carriage. Now alone in the wagon, she reflected on the story Mrs. Bouston had just told her. The pictures played leaving her shuddering at the folds of events. She wondered, putting herself in Princess Kasha’s shoes, would she have done the same, ventured to kill her own sibling for the love of power, have her hands stained with her own father’s blood?

“We’re home cupcake?” her papa notified having stopped the wagon at their frontage. Anna jolted back to reality at the sound of her father’s voice; she stretched herself out of the carriage to find he was already offloading the boxes. She helped him with some and then went to the kitchen to prepare supper. Alone in the kitchen, seated on a kitchen stool, she was lost in thoughts again, but this time it was of the young man she’d met at the trade fair, of the way he had her smitten at first sight. She smiled, remembering how he’d held her wrist to stop her from leaving, remembered the sparks that that touch of his ignited in her. She rubbed the wrist almost absentminded; it felt as if his warm hands were still against the wrist. She rubbed it and looked out across the window to the starless night sky. She wondered if she was in his head too at the moment like he was in hers right now.

When she turned to exit the kitchen, she was startled to find her father leaning on the kitchen door, watching her. Her hands flew to her mouth, “You scared me papa!” she swore. She heaved a sigh and brought down her hands.

Mr. Jones smiled. His hands were folded before his chest. “Forgive me cupcake. I saw you were lost in thoughts.” She joined him at the door and together they stepped into the dining room, a small space with a wooden table and four chairs of the same design. The space was more of a link connecting the kitchen to the living room. “Do you care to share what had you lost in space?”

Anna hesitated but smiled to cover it. She removed the table cloth from the dining table, a practice she has always done ever since she could remember. At the age six she had asked her father why and he had told her it was to prevent food from staining it permanently, he had added one can never be too careful…she remembered. “I met someone today, a young man by name Eric,” she explained as she set on the table plates and cutleries for supper.

Mr. Jones took a seat. He raised a brow, a sarcastic smile playing on his lips. “What about him, do you like him?”

She ignored his taunts which questioned if she liked him. “When I told Mrs. Bouston about him, his name, she thought it was the Prince of Ascencia?”

“Was it, the Prince of Ascencia?” His voice was now curious.

“No, no,” she shook her head. “No prince will be dressed in such clothes as he did, they were tears and holes and patches. And he was alone with no knights to guard him.”

“Okay?” Mr. Jones urged on.

“And then Mrs. Bouston told me of a story, a life time story that took place decades ago about an evil princess that killed her own father and later joined forces with a terrifying witch, together they attacked her own father’s kingdom.”

“Princess Kasha.”

Anna gasped. “Yes, Princess Kasha. You know the story too?”

Mr. Jones nodded, “I do.”

Her hands went akimbo. “Now that’s not fair papa, and you never bothered to tell me all these years.” A tone of accusation clouded her voice. But Mr. Jones was silent, as if too many thoughts were going on in his head. “…Papa?”

He jolted. “You weren’t supposed to know. I mean I felt it wasn’t an interesting story.” If there was so many things Mr. Jones wasn’t so good at, one was telling a lie. He was so bad at it she could tell he was indeed not being truthful at the moment. For the first time in years, she sensed something fishy, as if her own papa was hiding something from her. Out of her own nervousness she touched her necklace, stroked its pendant. Her father’s gaze travelled from the necklace in her hands and then back into her eyes. She could tell he was nervous too.

“Princess Kasha…”

“Anna bring the food, I’m starving.”

Wait a minute; did he just address her by her name, Anna? No, she shook her head, that didn’t sound good, not when she knew the only two circumstances he would do that. One was when he was mad at her, while the other was one in danger, but right now she wasn’t sure anymore of which it meant nevertheless, she obeyed and set the big bowl of steaming yam pottage on the table. She dished for her father, then herself. She settled down in her chair.

“Is it true the evil princess created an invisible castle at the heart of the forest?”

“She is a witch, witches have powers and powers if left unchecked can cause mayhem to humanity,” he growled.

They ate in silence.

“Have you ever been to the forest?” Anna asked and she was sure she heard her father growl for the first time.

Anna froze in thought. Did her father just growl, like some big dog? No, no this is no ordinary human sound. Was it? Or was he just too upset about witches?

And then something alerted her he would be avoiding the question, even before he did.

“Table manners young lady!” he diverted. He took three more scoops of his meal, gulped down his glass of water and then he stood, reached for a table napkin and wiped his mouth. “Hurry up with your meal and go to bed, we must be hale and hearty for tomorrow’s work.”

She nodded in obedience. “Okay. Good night papa,” she bade with a smile.

He returned the smile, “Good night cupcake.”

He left for his room. From the dining table, she heard his bedroom door slid open, and then shut it went. She stared at the space before her, what was really going on with her father? Why did she feel he was acting weird? Could there be skeletons in his cupboard, something he wasn’t bringing to light? In as much as she hated secrets, deep down she prayed that all was well with her papa, with her or perhaps, with them both.

She prayed hard.