The Magic Tower

Sarah’s POV

The blond man the king called Chrisious carried me, like a sack of potatoes, out of the castle. Waiting out front is a giant pearlescent bubble, floating several inches the the ground.

Two gaurds posted as the castle entrance watch as he passes through the bubble’s membrane, and drops me from his shoulder to land at his feet.

There’s some give in the walls of the bubble and it sags with our weight. Chrisious stands with his back straight, perfectly balanced while arrogantly fixing the lines of his long leather jacket that had become disheveled while carrying me.

When he’s done, he holds up a hand and sweeps it around himself, in a deliberate looking pattern. The bubble lifts into the sky and starts traveling relatively quickly across the land.

Heights have always been a problem for me. There is nothing to hold onto while traveling at a high rate of speed in this see through, mailable, globe. For an avid thrill seaker, this would have been a welcome rush. However, in my case, I’m left huddled on my knees with my eyes tightly shut, trying not to move for fear of falling through the bubble’s walls to my death.

When I startle from the jostling, my eyes crack to see a lush green land full of hills and mountains. Strange four winged multicolored birds, fly over the forest canopy. To add to the alien feel of this world, the sun glows a bright yellow but has a purple ring around it which spreads out and faded into the blue sky. Soft pink clouds float like cotton candy over sparkling rivers and lakes.

One thing is noticeably missing, civilization. At no point do I see dwellings, roads, or agriculture; just vast wild forests, until passing over a mountain range. Shining against the green backdrop of a soaring mountainside, a white stone tower reaches towards the sky to disappear into the pink clouds.

Settling to a gentle stop at the base of the tower, Chrisious elegantly lands on his feet when the glittering bubble pops, while I land in a messy heap on the ground.

“Follow me.” He tells me as he walks off towards the tower entrance. Pulled by the magic of the stone, I stand and briskly walk to keep up.

We pass through a stone archway. Inside I smell burning candles and incense. Human looking men in long leather gray coats, move around, peeking at the two of us as we walk by.

Intimidated by their hateful glances, I keep my head down and try not to make eye contact. We pass through room after room, filled with foreign items. One room glows bright blue from ever surface. Another was filled with floating cristals that lit up as we passed by. Our proggression was always over a flat surface, never climbing but I could see that we were getting higher every time I looked out a window.

The journey took long enough for my bare feet to be scratched and bruised. Chrisious never looked behind as we walked so I don’t know if he was aware of my bleeding feet or limping but I doubt he would care, so I remained silent.

After a long time, we end our trek in a relatively normal looking room. Though it was simple compared to those I had seen on our way, it was dark, with heavy wooden furniture, shelves full of glass bottles and a fireplace with burning coals. Overall the space gave an oppressive vibe.

Pulling a wooden chair across the floor to the middle of the room with an irritating scrapping sound, Chrisious then jesters for me to sit. My feet are painful so I sit without being ordered to.

Chrisious removes his long white coat and throws it in a corner, where it hangs as if there’s an invisible hook floating in mid air. Rolling up the sleeves of his white dress shirt, he looks at me with a critical eye.

“I can’t say I’m surprised.” Looming over me with his hands fisted and resting on his hips, he stares like he’s trying to decide what to do first.

“You’re a pretty one. Your eyes look innocent but looks can be deceiving.”

“What’s your name?”

“Sarah.” I whisper, keeping my eyes on his white boots.

“Speak honestly, are you a bad person, Sarah? Have you hurt people? Are you selfish and cruel? Do you deserve wearing the stone?” His question surprised me. The stone seams to give off a soft warmth against my belly and the answer drifts up through my mouth as if it’s coming from the stone instead of me.

“I’ve never hurt anyone and live my life quietly. I work hard to achieve my dream through my own efforts. I’m free of guilt and do not deserve the stone.” I feel relieved having said that.

“Well that’s too bad. It would have made this next part easier on me, if you were like your parents.” Taking out a dagger from his boot, he slashes both my wrists. Blood flows from the wounds, hitting the floor.

“Don’t move.” Scarred I’m going to bleed to death, I fight the magic of the stone to try and cover the cuts and stop the flow.

‘Is this how I’m going to die, by bleeding out in a dark scary room, and unable to do anything to stop it?’ I think. Burning starts around my neck and down my chest, where the chain sits.

“I told you, not to move. I’m not going to kill you.” I don’t believe him and continue my struggle.

“If you don’t stop, I’m going to knock you out.” He grabs my hands and holds them down on the arms of the chair.

I’m so sick of crying. It’s all I seam to do since coming to this awful world. Tears fall from my eyes as my blood drains away.

“I don’t want to die.” Holding my face in his hands, he looks into my eyes.

“It’s going to hurt but you’re not going to die.” Brushing away my tears with his thumbs, he continues to look into my eyes.

“Why are you doing this to me?” What was the point of asking if I deserved the debtor’s stone if he was going to hurt me anyway?

“Because, I lied to the king. There is away to get to your parents using you.”

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