Chapter 4: The Evil Scheme

We started talking all at once, trying to make sense of what was going on, and couldn't understand a damn thing. I asked Roy why he didn't do something to get us out of that place.

"I did try, but I was unable to. It wasn't working. I don't know why," he said. "Do you suppose she has put a spell on the forest, so no one else's but her powers work here?"

"That's very likely. She said herself she controls the forest, and all the beings here won't be able to go against her." I opined. "What shall we do then? How do we get out of here?"

Jim sounded somber, "She intends to take over the Toon World too. We have to work this out."

Steve fished out his pen and tried drawing a key to open the door to the dungeon. He was able to draw but couldn't zap it for use. The power wouldn't work. Come to think of it, it was so dark, we weren't even sure what Steve drew. We sat there in darkness for what seemed like a very long time. I was beginning to feel hungry.

*Do the people in the cartoon world feel hungry?*

I spoke my thoughts out loud, and Jim said that they did eat food and he was starved. Steve was unable to materialize his drawings, or he could've drawn up a feast. We walked around the room looking for cracks, secret openings or anything that might give us a clue of the possibilities; but to no success.

Just then, we heard someone approaching. It was the fairy. She had brought us some food. She didn't look harsh, so I was surprised that she was with the witch on her despicable plans. I thought of striking up a conversation with her, but she gave a stern look of unapproachability, kept the food and walked away quietly.

We ate quickly and again started discussing our plan of action. I asked Jim if he could mind-read the fairy to know what she was thinking. I recall that we were able to have a telepathic conversation when we held hands. So that still worked; maybe because the thoughts transmitted upon physical contact. We certainly can't try it out with the other unpleasant looking beasts. I don't fancy becoming an ogre's lunch.

He said he'd surely try the next time she came around. We chatted and whiled away our time and eventually fell asleep. There was no way of telling what time it was, or even if it was day or night. When we awoke, we were still enveloped in darkness. It was getting scary now. The toon boys were worried as well. But we were stuck in limbo. The time just stood still.

After what seemed like forever, we heard some footsteps and hoped it was the fairy with some food. At this point, it was the only hope we had of getting any answers, and something to eat as well. Our hopes were dashed when the door opened, and we saw the gnome enter with a flaming torch in his hands. But at least it was better than seeing that huge hideous-looking monster, the ogre. He scares me to death.

The gnome actually looked kind of gentle in comparison, a tiny version of Santa Claus, but without the cheerful, cherubic face. His eyes held fear...I wonder why. Lit up by the torch, we could see that the corridor outside was similar to the room we were in - old red-brick walls, musty and dingy. The door was made with ornately carved heavy wood, held together with iron hinges, and the large latch held a thick chain with an iron padlock.

He kept some food and informed us that the witch will be coming soon. We had to do something fast, and now. It struck me that we could try to read the gnome's thoughts too. I caught Jim's arm and communicated my idea.

Jim quickly got up and held his hand, "Please, why are you holding us? We can't help you in any way. Let us go."

The gnome shrugged him off with a disgruntled growl and left. As soon as he was gone, Jim told us that the gnome was actually following orders out of fear. His family was being held captive by the witch, and he was being blackmailed into working for her.

'I'm sure there's more to his story, but we would need more time with him', I thought.

We ate and waited with some trepidation till the witch showed up. We could hear her gravelly voice echoing as she headed towards us. All four of us were feeling collectively curious, cautious and craven, all at the same time.

We heard the padlocks being opened once again, and the heavy door opened with a groan. Selene Kouris stood before us in all her evil glory, baring her yellowing sharp teeth. She was flanked by the gnome and the fairy. For some reason, that felt hopeful.

"Now, it's time for me to tell you how you will be of service to me," she started. "You, toon people, you will come with me. I have arranged a ceremony to invoke the Henosis of myself with the One, the Monad of your world."

"What mumbo-jumbo is that?" asked Roy, totally confused. None of us understood her but didn't have the courage to voice it quite in that manner.

She sounded annoyed, "I intend to be one with your universe, and so I shall be THE ONE for your people! I will rule, I will be YOUR universe!! - Do you understand now?"

She gave me a look and sniggered, "I'll come back to you later. Human world is my ultimate aim."

She left with instructions for the gnome and fairy, "Jinzic, Flora...prepare them for the theurgy."

The pair brought special robes to be worn for the ritual and gave them to Jim, Steve and Roy. And as they reluctantly wore the garments, I took a chance and spoke to Jinzic, the gnome, "I know why you are doing this for her. If you help us, I promise you we'll help you get your family back, safe and sound."

Jinzic froze, and Flora's reaction told us, she had a similar tale. She looked incredulous and sneered, "What can you do? She's very powerful. At least we're alive, you'll just get all of us killed. But how do you know anything about us?"

"That's not important, what's important is that we do something about it. Don't you want a life of freedom and happiness? Helping her take over is just going to make things worse...for EVERYONE! What I mean is, not only should we try to stop her from taking over the other realms, but we have to make sure she loses power over this one. That's the only way you will get your family back."

By now, everyone was paying attention to me. "If we don't take these boys with us now, she's going to kill us and our families," Jinzic spoke up softly.

I reassured him, "I'll make sure it looks like we escaped despite your best efforts. But first you have to tell us, she must be having a book of magic that she follows to cast her spells and follow other rituals; where is it?"

I had heard legends and stories about witches, wizards and the like using a book of spells while researching for one of my projects. Apparently, they are incomplete without it.

"Oh, that's the Grand Grimoire. It is at the Altar in the inner sanctum of the temple. Be warned, no one can use the grimoire other than Selene. It is ineffective in the hands of any other. However, without it, she is also ineffective. Any power she may have yielded using the book is rendered useless if someone else touches it."

He looked around cautiously. "And that is why she has summoned demonic guards by using necromantic spells, to protect the Book. Come on...The ritual she intends to hold with these boys is in the courtyard of the temple. If we don't get there soon, she will see something amiss and come here to find out," he informed.

"Perfect! So now let's go out together. We don't know the way out since we were blindfolded when brought in. And as you near the entrance with the boys, they will push both of you and sprint. Just pretend to chase them, and then say they got away."

Next, I turned towards the toon boys and said, "The three of you run and hide, and meanwhile, I'll stay back in the temple to get the book from the inner sanctum. When they are all out searching for you, I'll escape the temple grounds."

Flora was more forthcoming now, "There's a cave in the hills behind the temple. You can hide out there till all of you get together again. I'll come there later to help you out."

*Now that sounds like a plan!*