31. The Nightmare that Started it All
The nightmare began on a night that was deceivingly beautiful. The milky way shined bright above the German countryside where the Folcharts lived, weaving its way through the dark blue sky. Millions of stars glittered, and the moon was full and bright and large. A light breeze rustled the soft grass and swept its way into the small living room where Mo and Resa were reading together by a burning fireplace, their two cats curled up on either side, their three year old daughter Meggie sat on the floor with her favorite picture books.
In Mo's hands was a small green volume. Inkheart, it said on the spine in beautiful silver letters. Resa leaned her head on her husband's shoulder as he read, letting his voice fill the room and her mind. His beautiful voice, soft and gentle. She closed her eyes as it painted a picture for her. One of the Wayless Woods and the strong medieval castles. One of the Black Prince and his large brown bear as they confronted the Adderhead and the Piper in the Castle of Night.
Right now, the Black Prince and his bear were in a sticky situation. They had been caught by the Adderhead's men and were now being interrogated in his throne room. With him was the Piper. He was Capricorn's herald but as the bastard son of a noble he had always felt a stronger connection to the king than with the son of the poor cobbler. Resa could see it all so clearly. The dim candlelight of the Adderhead's great hall. The rusty chains the Black Prince and his bear struggled in. The bright silver eyes of the Piper as he watched the captives squirm…
Clang!
Resa's eyes snapped open at the loud sound. She first glanced to Mo who had dropped the book and was staring forward, eyes wide as saucers. Following his gaze, Resa saw something that almost made her heart stop.
Standing before them was the Piper, the Adderhead, the Black Prince and the bear.
The four of them were just as confused as Mo and Resa were. They lay there, rubbing their heads and looking around in confusion as if they had suddenly landed on an alien planet, which, in a way, they sort of had.
The Piper was the first to regain his senses.
"What is the meaning of this?" He demanded of Mo as he stood. Mo was still staring wide eyed. His gaze kept switching from the Piper, to the Adderhead, to the Black Prince to his bear back to the Piper again.
"Well…," said the Piper. More silence. The Piper's scowl grew even darker. "I don't know who you are or where we are or what sort of magic spell you've cast but the Adderhead and I are still very much needed at the Castle of Night, so I'd appreciate it if you'd take us back right this instant!"
"The, the Castle of Night?" Mo stammered. That was when the Adderhead rose.
"I shall take it from here." He told the Piper as he pushed him aside. The Piper relented but still kept his dark glare on Mo.
"Take us back to the Castle of Night." He demanded, unsheaving a sword from its sheath. "Or I will cut your head off. As a personal honor." The last part he said with a dark smirk as if he was excited to decapitate the young couple that stood before him. It made Resa tremble and tears wells up in her eyes. Mo squeezed her hand, trying to reassure her, but Resa could see the fear in his eyes just the same.
That was when the Prince spoke up.
"Excuse me, your highness." He said with a mocking bow and a playful smile. "I know you're quite fond of executions but I believe it would be a good idea to hold off just this once. After all, we don't know quite how powerful these sorcerers are. It might not be a good idea to cross them."
"Nonsense." The Adderhead said, wheeling on the Black Prince. "Just because we are no longer in the Castle of Night does not mean I do not have authority. All magic is forbidden in my realm. No matter if it is cast outside of my kingdom."
The Black Prince's smile vanished immediately, replaced by a dark scowl. "You best be careful, your highness." He said in dark tones. "Or you may fall victim to the delusion that the whole world belongs to you."
"Is that a threat?" The Piper asked, his glare growing even darker.
"Depends." The Black Prince said with a snarl.
"That's it." The Adderhead said, raising his sword. "I've had quite enough of you." With that the Adderhead swung his sword but the Black Prince was quicker. He quickly dodged out of the way as the bear lunged for the Adderhead. The Silver Prince wasn't nearly as quick as his opponent and he went down, screaming in agony.
Seeing this, the Piper joined the fight, picking up the Adderhead's sword and swinging it at the Black Prince and his bear, even managing to land a few cuts.
Meanwhile, Mo and Resa took cover behind their couch which was quickly being sliced and defluffed by their new guests. "What did you do, Mo!?" Resa shouted, covering her ears to protect them from all the noise.
"I don't know!" He shouted. There were tears in his eyes and for the first time Resa realized she was crying too.
Then she realized something else.
"Where's Meggie!?" She screamed. A look of horror passed over Mo's face. Husband and Wife peeked their heads out from behind the couch to try and see if they could find their daughter but all they saw was the Piper, the Black Prince and his bear duking it out in their living room.
Eventually the bear managed to bite the Piper in the leg. Blood splattered everywhere and he hit the ground moaning in pain. The Piper was smart enough to realize when he lost a fight. Grimacing he grabbed the Adderhead and half carried, half dragged him out the door.
This left only the Black Prince and his bear in the Folcharts' now ruined living room. He looked around for a bit his eyes filled with both worry and confusion. Eventually he caught sight of the young couple. They swiftly hid behind their battered couch, but it was too late for them to go unnoticed.
The Black Prince came around to the back where he could see Mo and Resa cowering.
"I'm very sorry about that." The Black Prince said, and he sounded genuinely apologetic. "The Adderhead and the Piper are as corrupt as a prince and his herald can be. But I'm very grateful to you both. Without you I surely would have been hung on the gallows on the Castle of Night."
A brief silence reigned where Mo and Resa sat there, behind their couch with their mouths hanging open. The Prince stood there awkwardly. His bear was now sniffing at the broken table and torn books scattered all over the room.
Finally, Resa found her voice. "Are you serious?" She asked.
"Um, yes?" The Black Prince said, growing puzzled.
Resa stood on shaking feet, her face red and her eyes filled with tears. "You just destroyed our home! We can't find our daughter because of you! And all you can say is that you're sorry!"
"I-"
"Get out!" Resa shouted at the Black Prince. "Get out of my house!"
The Black Prince did not need to be told twice. Quickly he made his way out of the house, the bear following close behind. Resa watched as they retreated into the darkness before collapsing into tears on the hardwood floor. Mo quickly came to her, enveloping her in a hug.
"It's over now." He whispered as tears rolled down her own cheeks. "The nightmare is over now."
"But it's not." Resa said, turning to her husband with tearful eyes. "As long as we can't find Meggie, the nightmare will never be over."