~Chapter Five~

LAROK REVEALS THE TRUTH

            Alex stood, flabbergasted and confused, staring blankly at Larok.

            “There must be some mistake. I am no Princess,” Alex mumbled, feeling as if someone just knocked the wind out of her.

            “I can vouch for that,” Sarah added. “I’ve known her all my life.”

“Have you?” Larok questioned with cynicism as he grinned, revealing perfectly aligned teeth. “Would everyone like something to eat?”

“Hold on, freak, you can’t spring something like this and then expect us to…to eat? On second thought, I am a little hungry.” Pops began to rub his stomach as it gurgled. He scurried towards the table.

“Why would you think Alex is a Princess?” Butch insisted, nearing Larok threateningly. “And I do want an answer!” He continued his stride; closer and closer he approached Larok. His smooth brown fur had prickled upwards, his tail flagged up and down with such fury that it was obvious he was not pleased with their host.

Larok stood his ground, his eyes never wavering from the challenging stare-down. The falls echoed musically in the room breaking the steady rhythmic panting coming from Pops and Jinx.

Finally, Larok raised his hands in defeat.

“All right, my dear defender, I will explain, my word as a loyal subject to my Queen. But first, a feast, and all will be explained.”

He gestured them towards the table. From underneath it, he plucked up an extra stool for Sarah, several plates, platters and goblets and placed them on the table.

Pops strolled underneath the table, inspected it, came out, and then went under the table once more.

“There’s nothing here! Where you getting all this stuff from?” Pops asked, scratching his head with his little paw as he emerged from underneath the table.

“Curiosity killed the cat, remember?” Butch joked as he plopped his weary body heavily beside Alex’s stool.

Alex spotted the concentrated gaping stare Butch was giving Larok. This made her uneasy. She had never seen Butch react to anyone the way he did to Larok. Larok’s eyes were kind yet there was a faraway coldness to them that puzzled Alex.

“You are a feisty one, aren’t you, just like Jinx. I have my means for survival, little one.” Larok reached over, picked up Jinx and placed him on the floor. He placed a bowl for each animal filled with corn, roast beef and sunflower seeds, something for each of their liking. The girls were treated to a succulent entrée of what appeared to be spinach pastries, roast leg of lamb, mashed potatoes and peas. Their goblets, along with the animals’, brimmed to the hilt with water, always filling magically on their own.

Pops shovelled the food in his mouth, little bits escaping by the side of his lips. Butch sniffed his plate before eating.

True to his word, when the meal was over, dishes cleared and placed under this enchanted table, Larok began to answer their questions.

“The Princess you most certainly are because only an enchantress could have opened up the passageway to our dimension. You also have your mother’s deep blue eyes,” Larok said.

Alex was taken aback. “I don’t understand,” she uttered, shaking her head in disbelief. How could he possibly know what colour my mother’s eyes are?

“Let me start from the beginning. You know of Dread's plan to exile the Queen, Sappy informed you of this much. When Dread supposedly was vanquished of all his powers by the council he was confined where he could do no more harm.”

“What is this Tunnel that Sappy mentioned?” Sarah asked.

Alex surmised that it wasn’t a joy ride in some amusement park.

Sarah leaned forward on her stool, pushing a long tress of red hair behind her ear that was tickling her nose.

“It’s a place deep within the underground of the outer regions of the Wall, a cavern full of mazes and creatures of the earth, where the condemned are sent, never to return, for there is no path out.”

“Sounds cozy,” Pops murmured.

“Please, how do you know for certain that I am the Princess, like you claim?” Alex was still troubled with this thought. For some unexplained reason, Alex felt familiar with this world. But she flustered with this feeling and pushed it out of the way, reasoning  the surroundings were similar to her parent’s country place. That’s all. After all, her parents would have confided in her that she was a Princess, wouldn’t they? she thought.

“I was there the day you were born. There is a pink raised marking on the back of your neck shaped in a circle,” Larok revealed, pointing towards her nape.

This revelation amazed Alex. She, indeed, had a birthmark like the one he described.

“All enchantresses possess this marking, your mother, too.”

Alex watched as Larok studied her reaction carefully. She shuffled her feet as his intense stare made her feel uncomfortable.

“How can my mother be the Queen when she lives somewhere else?” Alex asked, defiantly, stepping back a few steps as if Larok had just slapped her across the face.

“Good question. Before his exile, Dread had one more surprise. He had retrieved and hid your mother’s Rock of Realm. Fearing he might one day use it, the only way to protect our dimension, and yours, from the evil that had possessed her brother was for her to enter your world and live within its confine as a protector.”

“Can’t Dread just use this rock and enter?” Butch asked. Alex began to pace the room.

“Your companion is as wise as you, Princess. No, to your question. Dread must have sensed your presence and transported your mother’s Rock of Realm and the Glory Dust to lure you in.”

Alex let out a long, slow breath as she upped her pacing trying to absorb this overwhelming discovery she was hit with. Sarah maintained her stooped pose, her gaze bouncing back and forth from Alex to Larok as if watching a tennis match.

“Lure me in for what purpose?” Alex demanded, clenching her fists in frustration.

“By luring you here, I suppose, and I am assuming his intentions, his purpose is to capture you and try to incite your mother to find you. This way, your dimension is free to enter.”

“Why didn’t they say anything to me? All these years and not one word…” Alex meant for this to be a quiet thought but her outburst was born of anger.

Larok’s cloak dragged behind him giving the illusion that he floated towards Alex. Tenderly placing his hand on her shoulder, he said, “How could they explain all this to you, a child?”

“Ah, hello, have you checked the mirror lately? You’re no man yourself, you know,” Pops said, severing the tension that began to smother the room.

Larok laughed. “I suppose you’re right, in a way, my little friend. My body is of a lad, but I am over 200 of your Earth years old.”

“How can that be?” Alex shrugged off Larok’s sympathetic touch to her shoulder and marched by the ice wall. She was angry and since he was the one who had enlightened her as to who she really was, she projected this rage towards him. “And why is this room so…so boring compared to its exterior?”

“Dread imprisoned me here with a spell when I revealed his plot to the council. The Qulany birds are my eyes since I cannot step out of this room. The Qulany birds warn me of any danger approaching. The ice palace I’ve conjured is a force field, a protection against Dread sensing my presence. I am able to transport from place to place, but, I have to admit, it is getting harder and harder to avoid him. His powers are getting stronger but I don’t know who is helping him.”

“If he captures Alex,” Butch asked, “what will he do with her?”

Larok walked away toward his cot, sat down and with weary eyes looked at Butch. “He will vanquish her to the Tunnel,” Larok said despairingly, averting their stares.

Alex marched out the ice door leaving the others behind.

“Shouldn’t we go after her?” Pops was jumping up and down, agitated by this whole affair.

“Leave her for a while,” Sarah replied. “Let her work things out for herself.”

Jinx comfortably nestled by Larok’s feet, while Pops continued his jumping from table to stool to table and back. Butch paced the floor, contemplating whether or not he should go and comfort Alex. Sarah sat down, cross-legged on the floor, with a book she removed from one of the book walls. The title had caught her attention, “Legacy of Rock Kingdom”.

Alex stood, alone, glowering about her. How can this be? There has to be a mistake. Yet, the moment she had heard Sappy utter the Queen’s name, Miranda, her gut told her that her déjà vu might be right.

Softly tracing its outline with her fingers, Alex felt her birthmark. “It must be true. It has to be or else I’ve gone crazy with Sarah and this is all a dream.”

All sorts of emotions rippled through her; unmistakable anger at her parents for keeping this from her, and fear for her parents in case they come for her and are captured by Dread. She felt as if someone had just punctured and trampled all over her heart.

Butch stopped pacing and asked Larok, “What is the council going to do about Dread?”

Larok, despondent, replied there was nothing the council could do for all councilmen were vanquished in the Tunnel. No royal subject was left to fight Dread’s magic.

Alex, overhearing this, made a decision. She squared her shoulders and marched right back in the room.

“Okay, you’ve explained my role here, now tell us how to get back home.”

“Ah, now you sound just like your mother,” Larok said, eyes twinkling, as he stood up from his cot and approached her. “Straight to the point, brave but scared.

“Your journey will not be an easy one. But the only option you have is to enter Rock Kingdom. There you will be able to use the magic of the Glory Dust with the Rock of Realm in the Majesty Chamber. The council had built that part of the kingdom to withstand any evil spells, with no worry of a counter-spell attacking. But, the risk is there that Dread may be waiting for you.”

“One more thing I’d like to know. You speak of my mother constantly but my father doesn’t appear to be as important. Why?” Her eyes narrowed, chest heaved anxiously waiting for Larok’s answer.

“Your father was a means for your mother to enter and stay in your world. He is not one of us and possesses no power. The council searched deep within their magic to find a suitable mate for her majesty and your father was chosen. I do admit,” Larok chuckled, “he had that same look on his face as you did when he was explained where he was, perplexed. But your father was immediately taken aback with your mother and agreed. The only thing that delayed their departure was a child. You are the bond between our world and your father’s. Your mother protects the entrance and you bond us together. Should Dread enter the passageway, then both of our worlds will fall into a disarray of evil.”

His reply was not one she was waiting for. “Then show us the way to Rock Kingdom,” Alex commanded with such conviction and strength it surprised even herself.

Larok conjured up a potion for each to drink when they reached the Wall. It will allow them to walk through its mass structure. But, he warned, they would have to run through quickly for the potion works for a short time only.

“Don’t be fooled by the Wall. Its depth is longer than you think. Run through it like the wind. Do not hesitate at all, for once the potion is up, you will materialize and be stranded within its corridor, forever.”

“Geez, fella, don’t you have any good news to give us?” Pops stood by Butch, scratching his head as if fleas were attacking him.

Sarah placed the book she was reading earlier back in its place and walked closer to Alex.

“How will we get back to the Wall?” Butch asked. Alex had been wondering the same thing.

Larok smiled and turned his attention to Pops. “Through the place my little curious friend was inquiring about.” And he pointed under the table. “Jinx will guide you to Rock Kingdom.”

Jinx swallowed hard hearing this. His stance radiated with pride at this honour Larok bestowed on him. Picking his head up high, he looked at everyone with a glint of a twitching smile.

Alex could tell Jinx was worried which, in turn, made her wonder what they were up against.

One by one they bent their heads and crawled under the table, disappearing instantly.

As Alex was about to enter, Larok stopped her, holding on to her arm gently. “Upon my word, I will not allow anything to happen to you. A loyal subject I am to your mother, and I will be one to you. Remember this.” Alex noted the astuteness his green eyes projected earlier now had a hint of paternal warmth to them. “Take care, my Princess, and whatever you do, don’t leave the Rock of Realm or the Glory Dust out of your sight. You need them to get back home.”

And with that last warning, Alex disappeared under the table.