The World of Horrotica: Underworld Origins

By David Edward Collier

THE APOCALYPSE DE-CLASSIFIED CASE FILE WAS GATHERED BY THE APOCALYPSE RESISTANCE COUNTERINTELLIGENCE RECOUNTING THE COMING APOCALYPSE RECOUNTING PERSONAL NARRATIVE ACCOUNTINGS RECOUNTING THE APOCALYPSE CODEX KNOWN ONLY BY THE APOCALYPSE RESISTANCE REWRITING THE APOCALYPSE CODEX WRITTEN OUT IN 66 APOCALYPSE SCROLLS DISPLAYED INSIDE THE APOCALYPSE MUSEUM WHERE THE 66 APOCALYPSE SCROLLS ARE RE-WRITTEN BY THE APOCALYPSE RESISTANCE RE-WRITING HISTORY STORIES ALREADY WRITTEN BEFORE THE APOCALYPSE CODEX IS WRITTEN INTO STONE.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 15, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477118658

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THE WORLD

OF HORROTICA

UNDERWORLD ORIGINS

DAVID EDWARD COLLIER

Copyright © 2012 by David Edward Collier.

ISBN:          Softcover                                 978-1-4771-1864-1

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4771-1865-8

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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117265

WORLD OF HORROTICA

VOLUME I: UNDERWORLD ORIGINS

THE FAIRYTALE BIBLE OF THE FAIRYTALE HELL*

FAIRY TALES FROM THE FAIRYTALE LAND

*THE FAIRYTALE CHRONICLES OF BLOODY BONES:

[WRITTEN IN ITALICS]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LIVE FREE OR ELSE LIVE IN FEAR…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST DECODED

ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A MERCHANT WHO WAS THE RICHEST MAN IN TOWN WHERE HIS RICHES WERE NEVER TOO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING HIS FAMILY FANCIED, HOWEVER, THEN ONE DAY, HIS STONE MANSION CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT DOWN TO THE GROUND, BUT THIS WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING OF HIS MISFORTUNES, FOR AFTER THAT, HE THEN LOST EVERY SHIP HE EVER MADE AND HAD TO HIS NAME, WHERE ALL THAT WAS LEFT WAS A LITTLE STONE COTTAGE IN A LONESOME TOWN FAR FROM THE TOWN IN WHICH HE HAD LIVED IN WITH HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN LIVING IN A LITTLE STONE COTTAGE, WHERE THEY SOON FOUND THAT THEY WERE ALONE IN A LONESOME TOWN AS COLD AS HELL WHERE NOTHING WAS LEFT BUT TO TAKE TO THEIR LITTLE STONE COTTAGE IN THE MIDST OF A DARK FOREST THAT SEEMED THE MOST DISMAL PLACE ON EARTH WHERE THEY WERE TOO POOR TO HAVE SERVANTS CLEANING THE LITTLE STONE COTTAGE WHERE THE GIRLS HAD TO WORK LIKE PEASANTS WORKING THE FIELDS BEHIND THE LITTLE STONE COTTAGE WHERE THEY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THEIR MISERABLE LIFE WAS ALL THEY WERE FIT FOR, HOWEVER, ONE DAUGHTER WAS PRETTIER THAN HER SISTERS EVER WERE BEFORE THE EYES OF EVERYONE IN TOWN WHERE SHE WAS SO PRETTY THAT SHE WAS CALLED BEAUTY AROUND THE MOST DISMAL PLACE IN THE KINGDOM WHERE ONLY BEAUTY DOUBTED THAT THEY WOULD BE AS RICH AS THEY WERE BEFORE, HOWEVER, HER FATHER TRIED TO PLEASE BEAUTY AS SHE ASKED: WILL YOU PLEASE BRING ME A ROSE, FOR I HAVE NOT SEEN ONE IN A LONG TIME, AND I LOVE THEM SO, BEAUTY ASKED AS HER FATHER WENT OUT TO FIND HER A ROSE, HOWEVER, HER FATHER NEVER CAME HOME WHERE BEAUTY BELIEVED HIM DEAD THAT NIGHT WHEN NIGHT OVERTOOK HER FATHER AS DEEP SNOW AND BITTER FROST MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO GO ANY FURTHER DOWN THE FOREST ROAD WHERE HER FATHER SAID TO HIMSELF: I CANNOT HEAR MYSELF THINK IN THIS HOWLING WIND, BLOWING SNOWFLAKES FALLING DOWN UPON THE FOREST ROAD WHERE NOT A COTTAGE WAS TO BE SEEN; THE ONLY SHELTER WAS A HOLLOW TREE TRUNK, WHERE HE CROUCHED ALL NIGHT LONG, HOWEVER, IN SPITE OF HIS WEARINESS, THE HOWLING WEREWOLVES KEPT HIM WIDE AWAKE ALL NIGHT LONG, AND WHEN DAY BROKE, FALLING SNOW HAD COVERED EVERYTHING IN THE FOREST WHERE HE DID NOT KNOW WHERE TO TURN BACK AROUND FROM WHERE HE WAS ON THE FOREST ROAD WHERE THE PATH LED HIM TO AN AVENUE OF ORANGE TREES, WHICH ENDED AT A SPLENDID CASTLE LOOMING IN THE OMINOUS SHADOWS OF THE SCARPATHIA MOUNTAINS LOOMING ABOVE THE SPLENDID CASTLE WHERE IT SEEMED VERY STRANGE THAT NO SNOW HAD FALLEN IN THE AVENUE OF ORANGE TREES LEADING UP TO THE SPLENDID CASTLE, WHERE, WHEN HE SAW A FLIGHT OF AGATE STEPS, HE WENT UP AND PASSED THROUGH SEVERAL SPLENDID ROOMS WHERE THE PLEASANT WARM AIR REVIVED HIM, HOWEVER, THERE SEEMED TO BE NO ONE IN THIS VAST PALACE WHERE THE CASTLE HAD A LISTENING SILENCE THAT ECHOED IN THE HALLOWED HALLS WHERE A DEAFENING VOID OF SILENCE REIGNED EVERYWHERE, WHERE, AT LAST, HE GREW TIRED OF ROAMING THROUGH GALLERIES WHERE HE STOPPED IN A ROOM WHERE A FIRE WAS BURNING IN THE ROOM WHERE THERE WAS A PLUSH COUCH DRAWN COZILY CLOSE TO THE FIRE BURNING IN THE ROOM WHERE HE WAS THINKING THAT THIS MUST BE FOR SOMEONE WHO WAS EXPECTED IN THE ROOM WHERE HE SAT DOWN TO WAIT, UNTIL HE SOON FELL INTO A SWEET SLEEP UNTIL HUNGER AWAKENED HIM, HOWEVER, HE WAS STILL ALONE IN THE ROOM WHERE NO ONE APPEARED IN THE ROOM WHERE THE SILENCE TERRIFIED HIM AS HE SEARCHED ONCE MORE THROUGH THE ROOMS, BUT NOT EVEN A SERVANT WAS TO BE SEEN THROUGHOUT THE CASTLE WHERE HE WENT DOWN INTO THE GARDEN, AND THOUGH IT WAS WINTER EVERYWHERE ELSE, HERE THE SUN SHONE UPON THE GARDEN WHERE BRIGHT BIRDS SANG AND FLOWERS BLOOMED IN THE GARDEN WHERE THE PATH HAD A HEDGE OF ROSES, AND HE THOUGHT THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN SUCH BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS BEFORE, HOWEVER, THE ROSES REMINDED HIM OF HIS PROMISE TO BEAUTY, SO HE HAD JUST GATHERED ONE FOR HER WHEN HE WAS STARTLED BY A STRANGE VOICE THAT SAID: THAT WILL NOT SAVE YOU FROM THE DEATH YOU DESERVE, THE STRANGE VOICE SAID AS HE SAID TO HIMSELF: IF BEAUTY ONLY KNEW WHAT DANGER HER ROSE HAS BROUGHT ME INTO, BUT I THOUGHT THAT I MIGHT AT LEAST TAKE BEAUTY HER ROSE I PROMISED HER, HE SAID AS THE STRANGE VOICE SAID: "YOU HAVE TO GIVE ME YOUR DAUGHTER AND SHE MUST COME ON HER OWN FREE WILL,

AND ON NO OTHER CONDITION WILL I HAVE THE ONE ROSE WAITING FOR YOU BACK HOME WHERE YOU WILL SEE IF THE ONE YOU LOVE THE MOST LOVES YOU ENOUGH TO COME AND SAVE HER FATHER, FOR IF SHE DOES NOT COME TO ME, THEN I WILL COME FOR YOU, THE STRANGE VOICE SAID AS THE MERCHANT, MORE DEAD THAN ALIVE, WENT TO HIS ROOM, WHERE A FINE DINNER WAS SET ON A MARBLE TABLE BEFORE THE BLAZING FIRE BURNING IN THE ROOM WHERE HE ASKED HIM IF HE SUPPED WELL BEFORE THE MERCHANT LEFT THE CASTLE WHERE: YOU ARE TO FIND THE HORSE YOU ARE TO RIDE READY IN THE COURTYARD WHERE YOU MAY TAKE A ROSE TO BEAUTY, DREAMT ABOUT BY THE MERCHANT UNTIL THE SUN ROSE AND SHONE THROUGH THE FRINGED DRAPERIES HANGING OVER THE ARCHED LANCET WINDOW OFFERING A VIEW OF THE ROSE GARDEN WHERE THE MERCHANT THEN WENT OUT TO GATHER HER ROSE BEFORE HIS HORSE CARRIED HIM SO SWIFTLY THAT HE LOST SIGHT OF THE PALACE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN AS THE MERCHANT RETURNED HOME WHERE HE HID THE TRUTH FROM THEM, ONLY SAYING TO BEAUTY AS HE GAVE HER THE ROSE THAT THE BEAST HAD GIVEN HIM: HERE IS WHAT YOU ASKED ME TO BRING YOU, HOWEVER, YOU KNOW LITTLE WHAT LITTLE IT HAS COST, THE MERCHANT SAID AS BEAUTY SAID TO THEM: WHO COULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT A ROSE WOULD CAUSE SUCH PAIN, HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH I DID IT INNOCENTLY, IT IS ONLY JUST THAT I SHOULD SUFFER FROM IT," HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH HER FATHER WOULD NOT LET HIMSELF LET HER GO,

BEAUTY SAID HER GOOD-BYES TO EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING SHE LOVED IN HER LIFE LEFT BEHIND AS THE HORSE SEEMED TO FLY RATHER THAN GALLOP OVER THE TRANSYLVEINIA COUNTRYSIDE WHERE BEAUTY WOULD HAVE ENJOYED THE RIDE IF SHE HAD NOT FEARED WHAT THERE WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LONESOME FOREST, WHERE, WHEN THE NIGHT FELL, COLORED LIGHTS SHONE, AND FIREWORKS BLAZED OUT AROUND BEAUTY RIDING DOWN THE FOREST ROAD WHERE THE FOREST WAS ILLUMINATED, AND EVEN FELT WARM, THOUGH THE FOREST HAD BEEN FREEZING THE NIGHT BEFORE AS BEAUTY REACHED THE AVENUE OF ORANGE TREES, WHERE MONSTROUS MONOLITHIC, STONE STATUES OF MYTHICAL MONSTERS WERE HOLDING FLAMING TORCHES LIGHTING THE WAY FOR BEAUTY WALKING BETWEEN THE STONE STATUES STANDING ON BOTH SIDES, WHERE THEN, WHEN BEAUTY GOT NEARER THE PALACE, IT WAS ILLUMINATED FROM THE ROOF TO THE GROUND, AND MUSIC SOUNDED SOFTLY FROM THE CASTLE COURTYARD WHERE BEAUTY SAID TO HERSELF: THE BEAST MUST BE VERY HUNGRY IF IT MAKES ALL THIS FUSS OVER THE ARRIVAL OF HIS PREY, LED TO THE ROOM WHERE HER FATHER HAD BEEN IN BEFORE WHERE BEAUTY FOUND A FIRE BURNING IN THE ROOM, WHERE, WHEN HIS FOOTSTEPS WERE HEARD, BEAUTY FROZE IN TERROR, WHICH BECAME ALL THE GREATER WHEN BEAUTY SAW HOW FRIGHTENED SHE WAS AS SHE TREMBLED AT THE SIGHT OF THE BEAST AS BEAUTY LAY DOWN AND FELL ASLEEP IN THE ROOM, WHERE AS BEAUTY DREAMED SHE WAS WALKING BY THE BABBLING BROOK BORDERED BY THE ORANGE TREES, BEAUTY WAS LAMENTING BY THE BABBLING BROOK WHERE A YOUNG MAN MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN ANYONE BEAUTY HAD EVER SEEN BEFORE, AND WITH A VOICE THAT WENT STRAIGHT TO HER HEART, CAME AND SAID TO HER: DO NOT REGRET ALL THAT YOU HAVE LEFT BEHIND, AND DO NOT TRUST TOO MUCH TO YOUR VERY OWN EYES—ONLY TRY TO FIND ME, NO MATTER MY DISGUISE, AS I LOVE YOU DEARLY, AND IN MAKING ME HAPPY YOU WILL FIND YOUR OWN HAPPINESS ONLY IF YOU ARE AS TRUE-HEARTED AS YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL, AND THEN, AND ONLY THEN, WILL YOU FIND EVERYTHING YOU ARE LOOKING FOR IN A MAN, DREAMT ABOUT BY BEAUTY FOR WHOM FOUND HER DREAM SO INTERESTING WHEN SHE AWOKE IN HER ROOM WHERE BEAUTY THOUGHT ABOUT THE CHARMING PRINCE DREAMT ABOUT IN HER DREAM PLAGUING BEAUTY AS SHE ASKED HERSELF: HE SAID THAT I COULD MAKE HIM HAPPY, FOR IT SEEMS THAT THIS BEAST KEEPS HIM PRISONER INSIDE THIS CASTLE WHERE I WONDER IF I CAN SET HIM FREE FROM THIS CASTLE, WHERE THERE WAS A CRYSTAL GALLERY LINED WITH MIRRORS HANGING AROUND THE CRYSTAL GALLERY WHERE BEAUTY HAD NEVER SEEN SUCH A ROOM BEFORE EXCEPT FOR IN A DREAM WHERE BEAUTY HAD DREAMT OF THE GALLERY IN THE CASTLE, WHERE THEN, BEAUTY WENT INTO A PAINTING GALLERY, WHERE BEAUTY FOUND A PORTRAIT OF THE PRINCE, JUST AS HE HAD LOOKED IN HER DREAM, WHERE IN IT, THE PRINCE WAS HOLDING A ROSE IN THE PICTURE, WHICH, AS BEAUTY STUDIED THE PICTURE, THE PRINCE SEEMED TO SMILE AT HER AS BEAUTY WENT ON INTO THE NEXT ROOM, WHICH WAS A LIBRARY WHERE A WHOLE LIFETIME WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TO READ ALL THE LEATHER-BOUND BOOKS STACKED AROUND THE LIBRARY OF THE CASTLE, WHERE, BY NOW, IT WAS DUSK, AND CANDLES WERE LIGHTING THEMSELVES IN EVERY ROOM WHERE BEAUTY FOUND HER SUPPER SERVED IN THE PRIVATE CHAMBER WHERE THE BEAST ASKED HER HOW SHE HAD BEEN AMUSING HERSELF, AND BEAUTY TOLD HIM ALL SHE HAD SEEN—ALL THAT THERE WAS TO BE SEEN AROUND THE CASTLE, WHERE, AFTER THE BEAST WAS GONE, BEAUTY WAS VERY SOON ASLEEP AS SHE SAW THE PRINCE COME TO HER IN HER DREAMS DREAMT DURING THE NIGHT TILL MORNING WHEN

BEAUTY AMUSED HERSELF IN THE ROSE GARDEN, WHERE THE SUN SHONE, AND ALL THE CRYSTAL FOUNTAINS WERE PLAYING IN THE ROSE GARDEN WHERE BEAUTY SMELLED THE SWEETNESS LINGERING AROUND THE ROSE GARDEN WHERE BEAUTY WAS ASTONISHED TO FIND IT FAMILIAR TO HER, LIKE FROM SOMETHING, OR FROM SOMEWHERE DREAMT IN A REOCCURRING DREAM WHERE BEAUTY DREAMT ABOUT THE BABBLING BROOK, THAT WHEN BEAUTY CAME TO THE BABBLING BROOK, THE BROOK WAS WHERE BEAUTY HAD FIRST MET THE PRINCE IN HER DREAM, WHICH HAD MADE HER THINK MORE THAN EVER THAT THE PRINCE MUST HAVE BEEN A PRISONER IMPRISONED SOMEWHERE IN THE CASTLE, WHERE EVERYWHERE BEAUTY MEETS THE PRINCE IN HER DREAMS, THE BEAST SHOWS UP WHEN BEAUTY WANDERS AROUND AND AMUSES HERSELF TILL BEAUTY WENT IN THE DINING HALL, WHERE EVERY EVENING AFTER SUPPER, THE BEAST CAME TO SEE HER, AND ALWAYS BEFORE SAYING GOOD NIGHT, THE BEAST ASKED BEAUTY TO MARRY HIM AND LIVE WITH HIM IN THE CASTLE, WHERE EVERYTHING WENT ON FOR A LONG TIME, HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH BEAUTY WAS AS HAPPY AS SHE WAS, BEAUTY LONGED TO BE WITH THE ONES SHE LOVED AND PRAYED FOR EVERY NIGHT, WHERE ONE NIGHT, SEEING THE SADNESS IN HER TEARY EYES, THE BEAST ASKED HER WHAT WAS THE MATTER WITH HER, AND BEAUTY ANSWERED THE BEAST THAT SHE WAS LONGING TO SEE HER HOME ONCE MORE, HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH THE BEAST DID WANT TO SEE HER EVER LEAVE, BEAUTY PROMISED THE BEAST THAT SHE WOULD COME BACK, FOR IF BEAUTY BROKE HER PROMISE WITH THE BEAST, THE BEAST PROMISED HER THAT HE WOULD DIE OF GRIEF IF SHE DID NOT KEEP HER WORD, HOWEVER, BEAUTY PROMISED THE BEAST SHE WOULD KEEP HER WORD THAT NIGHT AS THE BEAST SAID: GOOD NIGHT, BEAUTY, FOR BEFORE LONG, YOU SHALL BE WITH THE ONES YOU LOVE MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER LOVE ME, THE BEAST SAID IN HER PRIVATE CHAMBER, WHERE AS SOON AS SHE WAS ALONE, BEAUTY BEGAN TO DREAM OF HER BELOVED PRINCE LYING IN THE GARDEN WHERE BEAUTY WAS GRIEVED TO SEE HIM LYING DOWN UPON A GRASSY BANK WHERE THE PRINCE WAS HARDLY LIKE HIMSELF AS HE ASKED HER: ARE YOU NOT LEAVING ME TO MY DEATH, MY BELOVED BEAUTY, AS BEAUTY SAID: I WOULD DIE TO SAVE YOU FROM ANY PAIN THAT I MAY HAVE BROUGHT UPON YOU, SHE SAID IN HER SLEEP, WHERE JUST THEN, A STRANGE SOUND WOKE HER IN HER ROOM WHERE SOMEONE WAS SPEAKING NOT VERY FAR AWAY FROM HER ROOM WHERE BEAUTY FOUND HERSELF IN A ROOM SHE HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE—OTHER THAN ONLY IN HER DREAMS DREAMT ABOUT BY BEAUTY WONDERING BY WHAT MAGIC THE BEAST HAD TRANSPORTED HER TO THIS STRANGE PLACE WHERE BEAUTY HEARD HIS VOICE IN THE ROOM WHERE HE HAD NEVER EXPECTED TO SEE HER EVER AGAIN, FOR HE FEARED SHE WOULD NEVER RETURN TO HIS PALACE WHERE BEAUTY ASKED HIM THE MEANING OF HER STRANGE DREAMS AS BEAUTY WOKE UP TO A LIVING NIGHTMARE FROM HELL WHERE BEAUTY RETURNED HOME WHERE HER FATHER MADE HER REALIZE THAT: HE LOVES YOU DEARLY WITH ALL HIS HEART, AND HE DESERVES YOUR LOVE FOR HIS GENTLE KINDNESS, THOUGHT OF WHEN BEAUTY THOUGHT OF HER DEAR PRINCE DREAMT ABOUT AT HOME, WHERE THOUGH THEY WERE RICH AGAIN, BEAUTY FOUND NOTHING THAT AMUSED HER MUCH AT HOME WHERE IT MADE HER HEART FEEL QUITE SAD WITHOUT BEING WITH THE PRINCE DREAMT ABOUT AT HOME, WHERE EVERY DAY WHEN SHE WOKE UP,

SHE MEANT TO SAY GOOD-BYE AT NIGHT, HOWEVER, WHEN NIGHT CAME, BEAUTY PUT IT OFF AGAIN, UNTIL AT LAST BEAUTY HAD A DREAM, WHICH HELPED MAKE UP HER MIND AS BEAUTY THOUGHT SHE WAS WANDERING BETWEEN THE ICE SCULPTURES IN THE PALACE GARDENS WHERE IF BEAUTY HAD WAITED ONE MORE DAY, THEN BEAUTY WOULD HAVE FOUND HIM DEAD, FEARED BY BEAUTY AS SHE AWAKENED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHERE BEAUTY TURNED HER RING ROUND UPON HER FINGER, WHERE AS SOON AS BEAUTY FELL BACK ASLEEP, BEAUTY FOUND HERSELF IN THE PALACE WHERE EVERYTHING WAS JUST AS BEFORE WHEN BEAUTY LEFT THE CASTLE WHERE BEAUTY FELT AS IF SUPPERTIME WOULD NEVER COME, HOWEVER, WHEN IT DID COME, HE DID NOT COME AS BEAUTY RAN INTO THE ROSE GARDEN WHERE SHE WAS CALLING HIS NAME IN VAIN, STOPPING FOR A MOMENT, HERE AND THERE AROUND THE ROSE GARDEN WHERE BEAUTY FOUND HERSELF STANDING IN THE PATH SHE HAD SEEN IN HER DREAM, HOWEVER, THEN, WHEN BEAUTY LOOKED AT HIM AGAIN, BEAUTY FANCIED HE WAS STILL BREATHING IN THE ROSE GARDEN WHERE BEAUTY FETCHED WATER FROM THE CRYSTAL FOUNTAIN PLAYING IN THE ROSE GARDEN WHERE BEAUTY SPRINKLED IT OVER THE BEAST AS BEAUTY SAID: OH, HOW YOU FRIGHTENED ME, FOR I NEVER KNEW HOW MUCH I LOVED YOU UNTIL I ALMOST LOST YOU," SOOTHING HIM WITH A GENTLE VOICE AS GENTLE AS BEAUTY WAS WITH THE BEAST BLINDED BY A BLAZE OF LIGHT SPRINGING UP BEFORE THE ICE PALACE WHERE THE COAT OF ICE COVERING THE ICE PALACE THAWED AND MELTED ALL AROUND THE CASTLE WHERE THE CRYSTAL ICING CAKED ON THE ORANGE TREES THAWED AND MELTED AROUND THE CASTLE, WHERE THEN, THE PEOPLE, ALL FROZEN IN PLACE, LIKE SCULPTURES OF ICE, THAWED AND MELTED, UNTIL EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM WERE TURNING BACK INTO HUMANS BREAKING FREE FROM THE FROZEN ICE MELTING AROUND THE VAST CASTLE, WHERE AT THE SAME MOMENT, TURNING TO THE BEAST, BEAUTY FOUND IN HIS PLACE HER LONG-LOVED PRINCE, THE MAN WHOM BEAUTY HAD FALLEN IN LOVE WITH AT NIGHT IN HER DREAMS DREAMT ABOUT INSIDE THE CASTLE WHERE BEAUTY HAD BROKEN THE FAIRYTALE SPELL PUT UPON HIM THROUGH HER TENDER GENTLE LOVE FOR HIM, AND THE TWO OF THEM LOVED ONE ANOTHER AND LIVED TOGETHER AS BEAUTY AND THE BEAST FINALLY BROUGHT THE PROPHET CHILD INTO THE WORLD….

WILLOW DECODED

UPON NOTICING THE TRANSYLVEINIA BIRTHMARK SAID TO BE THE RIGHTFUL BIRTHRIGHTS TO THE TRANSYLVEINIA KINGDOM, THE CHAMBERMAID WRAPPED THE NEWBORN IN CLEAN RAGS AND HANDED THE NEWBORN TO THE MOTHER [BEAUTY] WHO TOLD HER: YOU MUST TAKE HIM FAR AWAY FROM HERE, WHISPERED BY THE MOTHER FOR WHOM LOOKED INTO THE GREY EYES OF THE CHAMBERMAID FOR WHOM WAS WILLING TO GIVE UP HER LIFE IN ORDER TO SAVE HER CHILD AND TRASYLVEINIA WHERE THE POWERS OF LORD DRACULA WERE GROWING INSIDE LORD DRACULA WHOSE POWERS WERE SPREADING THROUGH THE TRANSYLVEINIA KINGDOM LIKE AN EVIL PLAGUE FEARED BY THE MOTHER WHOSE GREY EYES SHONE AS THE MOTHER KISSED HER NEWBORN FOR WHOM WAS THEN PASSED TO THE CHAMBERMAID FOR WHOM HID THE NEWBORN IN A WICKER BASKET OF RAGS WRAPPED AROUND THE NEWBORN CARRIED AWAY BY THE CHAMBERMAID TREMBLING WITH FEAR AS THE CHAMBERMAID HURRIED OUT OF THE LONESOME DUNGEON WHERE THE CHAMBERMAID WAS CRINGING AS LORD DRACULA SWEPT BY THE CHAMBERMAID BOWING DOWN LOW BEFORE LORD DRACULA REACHING FOR THE BUNDLE THAT THE CHAMBERMAID HELD BEFORE LORD DRACULA FOR WHOM TORE THE RAGS ASIDE BUT FOUND NOTHING IN THEM, MAKING LORD DRACULA GLOWER AT HER WITH THE TYPE OF ANGER THAT HAD MADE HER HAVE NIGHTMARES AWAKENING THE CHAMBERMAID ONE MORNING WHEN THE CHAMBERMAID WOKE TO HEAR THE HIDEOUS BAYING OF THE DEATH DOGS FOLLOWING THE FRESH SCENT OF THE CHAMBERMAID RUNNING DOWN TO THE RIVERBANK WHERE THE CHAMBERMAID TORE LOOSE A MAT OF REEDS STREWN INTO A CRADLE AS SHE ORPHANED THE NEWBORN PLACED DOWN UPON THE MAKESHIFT RAFT AND THEN SENT IT FLOATING DOWNSTREAM FROM THE RIVERBANK WHERE THE CHAMBERMAID RAN ACROSS THE SHALLOW RIVER WHERE THE CHAMBERMAID DREW THE DEATH DOGS AFTER THE CHAMBERMAID MAKING HER WAY ACROSS THE SHALLOW RIVER WHERE THE SNARLING DEATH DOGS CAUGHT UP WITH HER AND TORE INTO HER WITH THEIR RAZOR-SHARP FANGS AND EVEN SHARPER CLAWS AS SHARP AS THEIR SHARPENED BLOODTHIRST FOR FRESH HUMAN BLOOD FLOWING DOWN THE TRANSYLVEINIA RIVER WHERE THE ORPHANED NEWBORN LOOKED UP AT THE LEPRECHAUN, AS WIDE-EYED AS THE NEWBORN, RESTING ON THE MAKESHIFT RAFT WHERE THE SIGHT OF THE GOLDEN-BLOND HAIR SHINING IN THE GOLDEN SUNLIGHT MADE HIM SMILE AS THE LEPRECHAUN BROUGHT THE NEWBORN INTO THE LEPRECHAUN HAMLET WHERE CELTIC MUSIC AND CELEBRATION FILLED THE FLOWER-STREWN STREETS WHERE TOWNSPEOPLE DRANK, DANCED, AND SANG UNTIL THE TOWNSPEOPLE HAD RAN OUT OF BARRELS TO DRINK THAT NIGHT WHERE THERE WAS A MAGIC FESTIVAL WHERE SHAMROCK SILENCED THE TOWNSPEOPLE WITH A LOOK: MAGIC IS THE BLOODSTREAM OF THE LEPRECHAUN HAMLET WHERE YOU HAVE FORGETTEN ALL YOU KNOW, HOWEVER, THE TOWNSPEOPLE HAD MADE SHAMROCK LOOK DOWN IN SHAME, HOWEVER, THERE WAS STILL SOMETHING ELSE PREYING ON HIS MIND UNTIL A SHRIEK OF TERROR TORE THROUGH THE FESTIVAL WHERE A DEATH DOG RIPPED THROUGH THE VILLAGE WHERE THE DEATH DOG RANSACKED THATCH COTTAGES WHERE THE DEATH DOG DRAGGED OUT CRIBS AND CRADLES TORN APART BY THE DEATH DOG CHARGING DOWN TOWARD SHAMROCK RUNNING DOWN THE STREETS OF THE HAMLET WHERE THE NEWBORN WAS NOWHERE IN SIGHT,

AND THEN SHAMROCK SAW A YOUNG BRIDE STANDING FROZEN RIGHT IN ITS PATH WHERE SHAMROCK RAN TOWARDS HER, SNATCHED HER UP, AND CARRIED HER OUT OF ITS WAY AS THE DEATH DOG FELL INTO A BURNING SPIKE PIT WHERE THE DEATH DOG DIED WITH A HOWL THAT ECHOED AROUND THE SLEEPLESS HAMLET WHERE THE SLEEPLESS TOWNSPEOPLE LOOKED AROUND THE STREETS WHERE EVERYONE WAS DEAD SILENT AS SHAMROCK LOOKED ON UPON HIS WIFE AS SHE CLUNG TO HIS HAND, HER EYES STILL WIDE WITH FEAR AS SHE ASKED HIM IN A QUIVERING VOICE IF THE DEATH DOG WAS AFTER THE NEWBORN FEARED DEAD WITH A SUDDEN SINKING TERROR AS SHAMROCK GRABBED HER HAND AND RAN TOWARD THEIR HAMLET MANOR WHERE SHAMROCK THREW HIS ARMS AROUND THE NEWBORN AND HUGGED THE NEWBORN AS CLOSE TO HIS HEART AS HE HOLDS HIS CUTE LITTLE CHILDREN BARGING INTO THE MANOR BEDROOM WHERE THE FAMILY MEMBERS ALL CLUNG TOGETHER FOR A LONG MOMENT AS THE FAMILY MEMBERS ALL CHERISHED THEIR PRECIOUS LIVES AND THEIR LOVED ONES LOVED MORE THAN ANYTHING BY SHAMROCK FOR WHOM COULD HEAR THE TOWNSPEOPLE ARGUING LONG BEFORE HE REACHED THE ROUND WOODEN DOOR LEADING OUTSIDE THE MANOR WHERE SHAMROCK HEARD THEM ARGUE: ONE BEAST WE CAN KILL, HOWEVER, THERE MAY BE MORE—AND THEY WILL NOT GIVE UP TILL THEY HAVE FOUND WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR, AND TILL THEN, TILL WE HAVE PEACE, WE WILL LIVE IN A CONSTANT STATE OF LIVING FEAR, FEARED BY THE TOWNSPEOPLE FEARING: IT IS A SIGN, FOR THERE WILL BE A DROUGHT OR A FAMINE OR A BLACK PLAGUE, FEARED BY THE TOWNSPEOPLE ARGUING OUT ON THE STREETS WHERE SHAMROCK PUSHED THROUGH THE JOSTLING CROWD CROWDING AROUND AS OTHERS PIPED IN: LET US FIND THIS GUILTY CULPRIT AND THEN THROW HIM IN THE STIGMATA PIT WITH THE BEAST, BURNING IN THE PIT WHERE SHAMROCK STOPPED AS THE WORDS REGISTERED INSIDE HIS MIND AS SHAMROCK TURNED AROUND AND STARTED BACK TOWARD THE STONE MANOR FROM WHERE THE CROWN PARTED TO LET SHAMROCK THROUGH THE FRONT GATES WHERE SHAMROCK STOOD BEFORE THE GROWING CROWD STIRRING AROUND THE FRONT GATES OF THE STONE MANOR WHERE THE TOWNSPEOPLE SHOUTED OUT: IF THAT IS WHAT THE BEASTS WANT, THEN LET US GIVE IT TO THE BEASTS, FEARED BY THE TOWNSPEOPLE GROWING ROWDY IN THE ROWDY CROWD MUTTERING AGAIN, MOST OF THEM AGREEING WITH HIM: WE CANNOT GIVE HER TO THEM, BECAUSE THOSE BEASTS WILL KILL THIS NEWBORN, LOOKED UPON AT THE TOWNHOUSE WHERE A CHILL RAN THROUGH THE TOWNHOUSE WHERE THEIR PANIC-FILLED CRIES AND EYES WERE SCREAMING WITH FEAR DROWNING THE TOWNHOUSE WHERE THE TOWNE HALL FELL SILENT WHILE THE FIRE-AND-BRIMSTONE PREACHER STUDIED THE CROWD GATHERED INSIDE THE TOWNE HALL WHERE THE FIRE-AND-BRIMSTONE PREACHER STEPPED FORWARD TOWARDS THE CROWD HEARING THE PREACHER RATTLING SOMETHING IN HIS CUPPED HANDS UNTIL THE PREACHER SCATTERED A HANDFUL OF SMALL ANIMAL BONES LIKE ROLLING A PAIR OF DICE ROLLING BEFORE THE CROWD GATHERED INSIDE THE TOWNE HOUSE WHERE THE PREACHER BENT DOWN, FROWNING AT THE BONES AS THE PREACHER SAID WITH A FROWN: EVEN THOUGH THE BONES TELL ME NOTHING, DO YOU HAVE ANY LOVE FOR THIS LITTLE CHILD, HELD ONTO BY SHAMROCK LOOKING DOWN AT THE LITTLE CHILD HELD ONTO BY SHAMROCK LOOKING INTO HIS INNOCENT EYES THAT SPARKLED AS THE LITTLE CHILD WINKED AT SHAMROCK, HOWEVER, EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSYLVEINIA BADLANDS ARE A DANGEROUS PLACE, AND EVEN THOUGH THIS CUTE LITTLE CHILD IS BEING HUNTED DOWN BY BEASTS, EARLY THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE MEN GATHERED BY THE DRUID STONES LOOMING IN THE OMINOUS SHADOWS OF THE FOG-SHROUDED FOREST SHROUDING THE LEPRECHAUN HAMLET WHERE THE PREACHER WARNED SHAMROCK: WATCH OUT, FOR THERE ARE SNOWFAIRIES IN THE BADLANDS THAT WILL PUT YOU TO SLEEP FOR A HUNDRED YEARS—NOT TO MENTION, THERE ARE TRANSYLVEINIA TROLLS THAT WILL SKIN YOU ALIVE, HOWEVER, SHAMROCK SHOWED NO FEAR AS SHAMROCK SMILED AND HELD ONTO HIS FAMILY MEMBERS HOLDING ONTO SHAMROCK HUGGING HIS CUTE LITTLE CHILDREN HELD CLOSE TO HIS HEART TORN APART AS HE KISSED EACH OF THEM AS HIS DEAR WIFE SAID: WHEN YOU GET OUT THERE, LISTEN TO YOUR OWN HEART, HOWEVER, BEFORE SHAMROCK LEFT HIS FAMILY BEHIND, THE PREACHER PUT STONES INTO HIS HAND AND SAID: ANYTHING YOU HURL THEM AT WILL TURN TO STONE, HOWEVER, IF YOU USE SORCERY FOR EVIL, THEN YOU WILL BECOME EVIL, AND YOUR EVIL LIFE WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU, THE FEAR OF WHICH MADE HIS DEAR WIFE KISS HIM WITH PASSION, HER BRIGHT BLUE EYES BRIMMING WITH TEARS, SMILING IN FAREWELL AS SHAMROCK HAD LEAD THE MEN THROUGH THE FOG-SHROUDED FOREST GROWING DARKER THE DEEPER THEY WENT INTO THE FOG-SHROUDED FOREST WHERE NONE OF THEM HAD EVER BEEN SO FAR FROM HOME MANY COUNTRY-MILES AWAY FROM WHERE THE MEN WERE IN THE FOG-SHROUDED FOREST WHERE THE MEN WERE LOADED DOWN LIKE PACK MULES RESTING FOR THE NIGHT DEEP IN THE DARK FOREST WHERE SHAMROCK AND THE LITTLE CHILD WERE SITTING CLOSE TOGETHER ON A HOLLOW LOG BY THE FIRE WHERE HE HELD THE NEWBORN CLOSE UNTIL THE DISTANT HOWL OF SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A WEREWOLF MADE THEM ALL LOOK UP SUDDENLY AND LOOK AROUND THE CAMPSITE WHERE THEY HUDDLED CLOSER TOGETHER ON A LOG THAT WAS CLOSER TO THE FIRE DYING DOWN AROUND THE MEN FEELING THE DARKNESS GROW DEEPER AROUND THEM RESTING RESTLESSLY AS THE RESTLESS NIGHT HAD COME AND GONE BEFORE THE MEN SET OUT AGAIN THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHEN THE LEPRECHAUNS WERE STRUGGLING ON THROUGH THE TRANSYLVEINIA STRANGELANDS WHERE THE LEPRECHAUNS HALTED ALONG THE LONG DESERTED ROAD TO EAT THEIR MIDDAY MEAL BEFORE MOVING ON DOWN THE LONG ROAD WHERE THERE WAS EVENTUALLY A FORK IN THE ROAD WHERE SHAMROCK FELT HIS SPIRITS RISE, KNOWING HE WAS IN THE TRANSYLVEINIA BADLANDS WHERE THE SOUND OF CLATTERING HOOFBEATS ECHOED DOWN THE ROAD WHERE SHAMROCK SCRAMBLED DOWN THE ROADSIDE EMBANKMENT INTO THE BUSHES WITH THE OTHERS WATCHING A BAND OF SOLDIERS THUNDERS TOWARD THEM, WITH TWO SLAVERING DEATH DOGS RUNNING BESIDE THE SOLDIERS HALTING ALMOST IN FRONT OF HIS HIDING PLACE DOWN THE ROADSIDE EMBANKMENT IN THE BUSHES FROM WHERE SHAMROCK SAW AND WATCHED A RIDER RIDE TOWARD THEM AND REIN HIS DARK HORSE AS HE SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE SOLDIERS WHILE THE REST OF THE TROOP RODE ON DOWN THE ROAD WHERE THE SOLDIERS RODE TOWARD TOWN WHERE A BAND OF THEM WAS ON THE ROAD SOMEWHERE FROM WHERE THE SOLDIERS LASHED THEIR HORSES AND GALLOPED ON DOWN THE ROAD WHERE THE LEPRECHAUNS HUDDLED IN TERROR AMONG THE BUSHES, FROM WHERE, AS THE AFTERNOON WENT BY, THE LEPRECHAUNS WENT ON, MORE CAUTIOUSLY THAN BEFORE UNTIL THE LEPRECHAUNS REACHED

THE TRANSYLVEINIA CROSSROADS WHERE THE CROSSROADS SCAFFOLD DOMINATED THE MEETING POINT WHERE FLIES BUZZED IN THE SILENCE AROUND TWO HUMAN HANGING CAGES THAT HUNG FROM THE CROSSROADS SCAFFOLD WHERE THE LOCKED CAGES WERE BOTH OCCUPIED, OR HAD ONCE BEEN BESIDE THE CROSSROADS WHERE ALL THAT WAS VISIBLE IN ONE WAS A HEAP OF RAGS WHILST THE OTHER HELD A RAGGED SCARECROW HANGING ALONGSIDE THE CROSSROADS WHERE SHAMROCK EMERGED FROM THE BUSHES FROM WHERE SHAMROCK STARED AT THE GRIM SPECTACLE BEFORE SHAMROCK GLANCING ALONG THE DESERTED ROAD WHERE SHAMROCK WAS SHIVERING NOT FROM THAN THE BITTER WEATHER, SHIVERING NOT BECAUSE HE WAS COLD, BUT BECAUSE HE WAS A STRANGE FOREIGNER STANDING BEFORE A STRANGE FOREIGN WORLD WHERE DARKNESS HID THE STARK REMINDER OF HOW SICK AND TWISTED THIS WORLD IS FROM THEIR HEAVY EYES GROWING TIRED BY NIGHTFALL WHEN SHAMROCK TRIED NOT TO HEAR TOO MUCH IN THE EERIE SOUNDS OF THE NIGHT AS SHAMROCK WAS ROCKING THE NEWBORN GIGGLING LIKE A LITTLE CHILD AS SHAMROCK TOLD THE NEWBORN HOW: EVERYTHING WAS GOING TO BE FINE, LITTLE BOBBIN, ROCKED BACK AND FORTH BY SHAMROCK STARTLED BY A HOARSE SNARL THAT FILLED THE DARKNESS AS SHAMROCK LEAPED TO HIS FEET IN TERROR AND STUMBLED BACK UNDER ONE OF THE LOCKED CAGES FROM WHERE A HAND REACHED DOWN OUT OF THE NIGHT AND YANKED HIM UP TO THE LOCKED CAGE FROM WHERE A HAGGARD MAN SLOWLY EMERGED FROM THE PILE OF RAGS IN THE LOCKED CAGE WHERE THE HAGGARD MAN GLOWERED DOWN AT THE LEPRECHAUNS FROZEN WITH FEAR BEFORE HIS UNSHAVEN FACE THAT LOOKED LIKE A DEMON’S IN THE RUDDY LIGHT OF THE FIRE BURNING BESIDE THE CROSSROADS SCAFFOLD WHERE THEIR SILVER SPEARS SHONE IN THE FIRELIGHT REFLECTING OFF THE SILVER SPEARS POINTING AT THE LOCKED CAGE WHERE THE HAGGARD MAN THRASHED INSIDE THE LOCKED CAGE WHERE THE HAGGARD MAN HIT HIS HEAD ON THE CORRODED IRON BARS AS HE REACHED THROUGH THE IRON BARS OF THE LOCKED CAGE WHERE HE COLLAPSED AGAIN, SILENT AND EXHAUSTED, UNTIL SHAMROCK RELEASED THE HAGGARD MAN SEEING TORCHES FLICKERING IN THE DISTANCE AS A HORSE-DRAWN WAGON WAS CAREENING DOWN THE ROAD TOWARD THE FORK IN THE ROAD, WHERE AS THE HORSE-DRAWN WAGON NEARED THE CROSSROADS, THEY HEARD VOICES—LOUD DRUNKEN VOICES GROWING LOUDER AS THE HORSE-DRAWN WAGON NEARED THE CROSSROADS WHERE THE LEPRECHAUNS DOVE BACK INTO THE ROADSIDE ENBANKMENT RUNNING ALONGSIDE THE CROSSROADS WHERE THE HORSE-DRAWN WAGON THUNDERED UP TO THE CROSSROADS WHERE TATTOOED PIRATES HUNG OUT OF THE WAGON WHERE THE PIRATES WERE WAVING THEIR TORCHES BEFORE THE PIRATES SET THE CAGE THAT HELD THE SKELETON ON FIRE TURNING THE SKELETON INTO ASHEN REMAINS BLOWING IN THE WIND HOWLING AROUND THE PIRATES JABBING THEIR TORCHES INTO THE OTHER CAGE BURSTING INTO BLACK FLAMES AS THE WAGON CONTINUED ON FROM THE CROSSROADS WHERE SHAMROCK SCRAMBLED OUT OF THE BUSHES AND BEGAN TO THROW DIRT ON THE BLACK FLAMES—AND ON THE PRISONER—UNTIL THE FIRE WAS OUT AS HE ASKED HIM: ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? ME, NEVER BETTER, HE SAID AS HE SPAT OUT A MOUTHFUL OF DIRT BLOWING IN THE WIND GROWING MORE BITTER THAT NIGHT UNTIL THE SOUND OF CLATTERING HOOFBEATS WOKE THEM FROM THEIR SLUMBER VERY EARLY IN THE MORNING WHEN HIS OWN ROUGH NIGHT SEEMED TO HAVE CONVINCED HIM THAT HE WOULD CATCH MORE FLIES WITH HONEY THAN WITH VINEGAR IF HE WANTED TO CATCH MORE FLIES BUZZING AROUND THE CROSSROADS WHERE A MESSENGER ON HORSEBACK CAME GALLOPING TOWARD THEM AND CHARGED PAST THEM WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN AT THE CROSSROADS WHERE THE HAGGARD MAN SAID TO THEM: HE WAS BREATHING FIRE, HE SAID WATCHING THE TRAIL OF DUST SWIRL AROUND THE CROSSROADS WHERE THE HAGGARD MAN SETTLED DOWN AND THEN HE PICKED UP HIS WATER SKIN AND POURED HIMSELF A DRINK: THESE ARE BAD TIMES, GOOD MEN IN CAGES, CRIMINALS RUNNING FREE, IT DOESN’T PAY TO BE HONEST ANYMORE IN A DARK WORLD WHERE YOU AND ME ARE VICTIMS OF A ROTTEN, CORRUPT WORLD, HE SAID AS HE STARED AT HIM FOR A LONG MOMENT ALONGSIDE THE CROSSROADS WHERE SHAMROCK REACHED FOR THE SKIN AND POURED OUT A CUP OF WATER BECAUSE SHAMROCK COULD NOT WATCH SOMEONE DIE RIGHT BEFORE HIS VERY OWN EYES, EVEN IF HE WAS SOME SORT OF CRIMINAL HANGING ALONGSIDE THE CROSSROADS WHERE THE SOUND WAS BECOMING A DEEP RUMBLING NOW FROM BEYOND THE HORIZON SWIRLING WITH CLOUDS OF DUST SWIRLING ABOVE THE HORIZON WHERE SHAMROCK SAW AN ARMY SLOWLY TAKE FORM OUT OF THE SWIRLING DUST TRAILING BEHIND AN OFFICER HEARD BELLOWING ORDERS OVER THE THUNDEROUS CLAMOR OF CLATTERING HOOFBEATS, MARCHING BOOTS, AND CLANKING ARMOR OF THE ARMY CHARGING BACK AND FORTH ACROSS THE CROSSROADS WHERE THE ARMY SHEPHERDS THE ARMY THROUGH THE CROSSROADS WHERE: YOU WILL END UP IN A CROW’S CAGE, THE OFFICER SAID AS THE HAGGARD MAN ANSWERED: AT LEAST I AM NOT HERDING SHEEP, HIS VOICE WAS AS HARD AND COLD AS STONE AS HE SAID: I SERVE… YOU SERVE NO ONE… STAY IN YOUR COFFIN AND ROT, THE OFFICER SAID AS HE RODE ON ACROSS THE CROSSROADS WHERE THE HAGGARD MAN SHOUTED OUT: I’LL BE AROUND LONG AFTER YER DEAD—AND WHEN YER DEAD, I’M GONNA CUT YER HEAD OFF AND STICK IT ON A PIG POLE, YOU DIRTY FILTHY SWINE, FOREWARNED THE HAGGARD MAN AS HE GAVE A SNARL OF RAGE, BUT THEN THE HAGGARD MAN TOOK A DEEP BREATH, AND THEN, THE ANGER DISAPPEARED FROM HIS FACE AND FROM HIS VOICE; AS THE ARMY WAS LONG GONE AS IT HAD DISAPPEARED DOWN THE CROSSROADS WHERE SHAMROCK LISTENED FOR THE SOUND OF MORE TRAVELERS BUT HEARD ONLY THE LONELY WAILING OF THE HOWLING WIND BLOWING DOWN THE CROSSROADS WHERE THE HAGGARD MAN TENDED THE FIRE AS HE SAID:

I’LL LOOK AFTER HER LIKE SHE WAS MY OWN, HOWEVER, HE FROWNED DOWN UPON HIM, MAKING HIMSELF BELIEVE THAT HE ALMOST IMAGINED IT SOUNDED LIKE SINCERITY IN HIS VOICE BEFORE SHAMROCK HACKED OPEN THE CHAIN ON THE SCAFFOLD CAGE, DUMPING HIM OUT ALONGSIDE THE CROSSROADS WHERE THE HAGGARD MAN STARTED OFF DOWN THE ROAD WHERE SHAMROCK TURNED AROUND AND HEADED BACK DOWN THE LONG ROAD HEADING INTO THE TRANSYLVEINIA STRANGELANDS, WHERE THEN, TINY SHARP ARROWS RAINED DOWN ON SHAMROCK FEELING LIKE BEESTINGS WERE STINGING HIM AS HE RAN ON INTO THE TRANSYLVEINIA STRANGELANDS