The Dread Heart (Part 9)

A Mythic Fairy Tale

Then the Lord of the Tower stepped forth and offered the girl his hand. And taking it she found his fingers cold as stone.

“Come,” he said, and led her into the Tower through a shadowed door.

Beyond it lay a great twisting stair within a hall that held no other doors, nor rooms, nor passages. Of blackened stone it was, and lit by a strange, grim light whose source she could not see. Within this he led her and they climbed. Hours it seemed and yet a moment of silence until they came before a second door which opened of its own accord.

Within it lay a room. Though it was too of stone, it was illumined by the candlelight of natural lamps and held a bed covered in silk upon an embroidered carpet. Upon one wall lay a great mirror before which was a table with a pitcher of water and a basin for washing. The other held a great window through which she saw the sky and Wood. And at the very center a raised pedestal atop which lay a ball of crystal.

“Here you shall dwell in my Tower,” said her host, “And will have food and drink and raiment. No service do I ask of you, save that you sup at my table each night. And the magic crystal shall show to you such things as you wish. Wash now, rest, adorn yourself, and be ready at the hour I shall summon you.”

Then he pointed toward an hourglass which lay before the mirror and which she had not seen before. Thus he left her and the door closed at his back. When his footsteps were done, she dared to open it. But where the hall had been there was now only open air with a great chasm far below. Then she understood some a great enchantment lay upon the Tower and that she was truly a prisoner.

So she obeyed her Lord’s command and washed and dressed herself in a glittering gown and jewels that had been left for her upon the bed. Thus adorned, she stood before the mirror. Its like she had never seen, for in her own home all mirrors had been forbidden. Therefore she saw her own face clearly for the first time and the marks of her degenerate blood. And she lowered her eyes and wept.

TO BE CONTINUED…