《Maiden Houdini》


 SILVER CANINE AND ITS MASTER

    A lake laid in a rocky region. At the adolescence of dawn, it was unruffled by the wind wafting with nature''s vibe and in harmony with vacuous and noiseless surrounding.


    As plain as it was, it had the energy and pleasantness of lotus land, yet appeared to be unfrequented, thanks to that, morning birds could move, fly and sing unhindered.


    Suddenly, wavelets covered the surface of the lake as raindrops began falling from the sky in ripples. With time, the shallow raindrops intensified to pelting, awaking the previously slept lake fully.


    In the same condition


    Whoosh_something flew in swift motion as though thrown,accompanied by a more disturbing ripples in the lake.


    "Woof woof"


    Raindrops did not impede!


    In the hollowness of the environment sounded a powerful whoop of a canine which made appearance like a fighter in action! Attributing to its speed, the four legged fighter pounced on the lake like it was a doyen in attack or violence but gracefully. the canine was not slender, rather it had a strong physique and an impressive physical agility.


    Sinking into the depth of the lake, it took a span of only three seconds to surface again with a silver dagger in its mouth.


    That wasn''t all, as originally the silver dagger was aimed for a catch and now both dagger as well as the catch were retrieved by the silver canine. With the rainfall intensifying every passing second, the pitter-patter against the lake swollen as though the lake was doomed.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    Soaked thoroughly in the cold lake water and rainfall, the canine with silver tone proceeded out though not as cheerful as birds but as cheerless as grave.


    Speak of silver, an insouciant air hovered around a maiden who stood at close quarters getting pelted by the downpour although the waterproof felted cloak she wore protected her from getting drenched like her silver canine.


    The black nature of the cloak gave off a sepulchral aura especially the striking black rose embroidery on the veil masking the maiden''s face.


    Showing no interest on the catch her silver canine brought forth, she only took back her slender and alluring silver dagger, wiped the edges and slipped it back into its scabbard.


    Like master like canine, the silver canine breathed in and out in the cold downpour with solemnity. It lowered its head and feasted on the catch mirthlessly, smearing its muzzle bloody.


    "Crazy, the only choice is to survive with hatred.


    The thoughts in my mind could blow up the world.


    I am willing ti follow the death path, the path to graves,


    sprinkling drizzles of my curse.


    What is the point of trying? What is the point of hiding?


    These days I think everyone will die,


    because I will come for them"


    The maiden sang whilst waiting for her silver canine. With the rainfall as beats, the song came out with a certain goose bumps-inducing vibe especially with the thunder echoing now and then across the land.


    "Ragnar, maybe this is what being Maiden Houdini is all about. Do you agree or should we change our fate?"


    The maiden''s voice audibly competed with the sound of the rainfall while she spoke to her canine which raised its head momentarily looking at her with a low groan, seeing eye to eye with the idea of their fate of living in the forest.


    9 long years in the forest, maybe it was reasonable for her to be bored of the mundane forest lifestyle but the world was not the home she knew as every step on the land could lead to the fall of Maiden Houdini.


    But who cares, life was never easy on her to begin with, thus she swore that the world will fall with the fall of Maiden Houdini.

 CHANGING FATE

    The maiden and the canine left their trails on the wet soil as they walked away from the lake area.


    "Proud and ignorant flowers looking down on the wind, thinking their beauty makes them mightier. Beauty is vulnerability"


    The maiden gander the thick and pretty forest flowers condescendingly which bloomed with elegance in the wake of heavy rainfall. She snorted in sotto voice as though looking down on the flowers` resilient prowess in spite of their vulnerable appearance.


    By now, the intensity of the rain had dramatically decreased leaving only its aftermath. The forest path became slippery giving the amount and length of rain with the temperature especially numbing. However the maiden seemed accustomed to the to the harsh weather and dangerous paths of the forest, carrying on indifferently. Ragnar the canine was barely affected.


    "The bunch of nincompoops that enter the forest a day before yesterday have come in handy. Since we decide to change our fate, we''ll be leaving the forest depending on what we could extract from them. They couldn''t be guarding the Creek cave for something meager and if this is the case, we can return to living in the city effortlessly"


    A malicious glint flashed in her eyes while she breathed in from the rain scented air.


    The clouds above the forest soon dispersed for the sun to be exposed whilst at its zenith the warmth of it felt like a blessing to the earth.


    "Stupid thing" she hissed and brought out one fat rabbit from a trap hole adjacent to her cave dwelling. Ragnar followed behind as they entered the cave which was located at a hidden depth of the forest.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    Echoing sound of water drops from the speleothems gave the cave a therapeutic ambiance. Mesmerizing as it was, the cave breathed and and pulsated with panoply of nature. Not exaggerating, but the cave was named Silver cave not only from the dwellers but by its fantastic appearance as well.


    Tip taps of the maiden''s footsteps echoed with the adagio water drops as she ambulated to the underground pool of the cave. The pool''s surface was smooth and reflecting as mirror where one could see the reflection of stalactites hanging similar to shark tooth from the ceiling of the cave, bath in silver hues like the color of the maiden''s eyes.


    With a plastic cup, she was about to scoop water from the pool when her hand hovered. She found herself staring at her own masked facial reflection which was not a second more, her free hand removed the veil from her face  and set it aside while looking at the reflection of her face again.


    The protruding sun rays touched the surface of the pool and her face, leaving her skin between golden and light chocolate otherwise it was youthful and plump as her plump cherry lips. The shape of her face was oval, architect-ed with alluring feature in which her silvery orbs were the most prominent.


    Suddenly, an ear-piercing hiss escaped from her lips, resounding in the silence of the cave as she dipped the plastic cup into the pool. The hisses went on serially until the end of skinning the rabbit thanks to her jolly hair obstructing her sight from time to time. Yet, despite the frown on her face, her beauty remained striking, a beauty that could draws eyes and hearts closer and contagiously. The silvery eyes she possessed were like pools in the arctic, emitting unbearable coldness but the whispering allure were too overwhelming.


    After she was done skinning and cleaning the rabbit, she marinated it in salt water as the only seasoning within easy to reach, disposed the skin and rest even though some could be useful but what use did it have when she finally made the decision to change her fate by leaving the forest today?

 A LADY IN THE FOREST

    How long had she lived in the forest? Roughly nine years.


    Why? Because mankind seek her life and only the forest could accommodate her after being declared number fugitive in the country and across for the crime she did not want to delve to, thus today was finally the day she entertained the thought of returning to where she naturally belonged.


    From a bushy area, a stone''s throw away, the maiden picked some carrots, wild peppers, wild garlic, onions, tulips and other ingredients before returning to her cave dwelling to prepare a flavoursome rabbit pepper soup which took her nearly an hour to finish. Then she served herself and Ragnar in two different time-worn-out plates.


    "Terrific! Now it shall be" she stood up with furious vigor and began the necessary preparation until night veiled the world in darkness.


    At night, the sky was bespeckled with silver pentagrams radiating from the elegant full moon and laced to the forest of ancient symphony.


    In the night, the forest was defined by milky smoke, making it look like a realm of illusion awashed by the susurration of insects and the nocturnal forest natives.


    When everything seemed tranquil,


    "Bastards! What the heck did you consume?"


    Camping men near a cave called Creek cave, were overwhelmed with disaster as three out of their ten men suddenly fell sick and were tossing their cookies.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Specter, their leader stood akimbo flaring his nose above the amort men on the forest floor, hot under the weather. The sparkling campfire left everyone and the surrounding glowing red, particularly Specter who was the closest to the campfire. The glow made him look like a devil in the night owing to the eerie tattoos around his ears, neck and downwards plus his barbaric nature.


    The sick men were evidently in  torturous pain for not a word could they utter. They vomited everything including sounds of weakness and their lives currently hanging by thread.


    In the somberness of the atmosphere, the rest of the men could only be discombobulated as that was something no one bargained for. Moreover, they provided all necessary aid to the sick, however, everything was futile and their situation was almost exacerbating.


    "I have warned of the lurking threats of the forest as it is the melting pot of danger yet they turned deaf ears and acted as they wished, who knows if they ate something they shouldn''t have" Specter said through gnashing teeth. He added


    "Move them aside and start looking for a suitable place to dig graves for them. I can not be blamed because I have forewarned all of you"


    The rest of his men nodded in agreement. They were indeed warned and that was why they thought Specter was not exonerating. Anyone who does not listen to warning can not blame the Warner after the forewarned has occurred.


    "Tut tut, pitiful nincompoops. I can cure them you know, if you want me to"


    Ragnar''s master made a veiled appearance, etching the look of surprise on the faces of Specter and his men.


    ''Am I having problem with my eyesight or is it a lady I am seeing?'' that was most likely their thoughts.


    "Do you need help or should I rather mind my own business" She added only to bring them out of their dazed state.


    "Who are you and what are you doing here at this time of night?" Naturally it was Specter''s question. That was forest after all and not a garden to entertain the thought of taking a stroll.


    "This isn''t a stag is it? Why the too much surprise?"- the maiden. As obstructing as darkness, no one could see her face clearly owing to insufficient light and the veil across her face leaving only her silvery orbs in view.