The Queen Vanishes

The river ran backwards the day the Queen vanished. The Queen's guards searched the castle—every room, every library, and every closet. There were so many places she could have been hiding and taken. The queen could not be found. The river ran backwards, and the rain flew upwards. This was not a natural occurrence, and only one person could be responsible.

The guards ran to the dark hut on the other side of the forest. They stood in front of the forest, realizing it seemed even more sinister. The guards were scared. Some of their swords were shaking in their hands.

The queen's head guard said with shaken words that they must run through the woods. The evil witch Lanistra knows where the Queen is, and they must get her back.

The thirteen guards ran as fast as they could. Jumping over fallen trees. They noticed the branches started turning up towards the moonless dark sky. Without a sound, one guard after another started dropping to the ground. The others were to scared to stop and check on the fallen. The hut was in site when Jacob, the head guard, yelled for everyone to quiet down and soften their steps. As he turned to look at the other guards, he saw that he was alone. He looked as hard as he could, seeing them lying on the ground.

"Lanistara!!!!"

Jacob yelled as loud as he could, and when the last sound came from his mouth, the hit lit up in blue flames. Through the fire walked Lanistara. Jacob watched her walk towards him. He had never seen her before. The talk of her beauty was the truth. With her beauty comes horrifying evil magic.

"Oh, Jacob, why do you come to my end of the forest yelling my name?"

He tried to speak, but no words came out.

"Do you have a frog in your throat?"

Just as she said, Jacob started coughing and grabbing his throat, and a frog emerged. Lanistra laughed a loud, eerie sound.

"Where have you taken the Queen?" He yelled as he threw the frog to the ground. It croaked and hopped away.

"Why do you think I have done something with her?"

She walked towards Jacob. She got so close to his face he could feel her hot breath on his neck.

"The rain and the river! The trees and the dark the fallen men. It all points to you! It all points to you."

"Oh dear Jacob," she said as she ran her hands over his massive arms. "The Queen banished me, remember. If I would like to live, I have to stay away."

Jacob pushed her hand away from him.

"You can do all your evil magic from here! You don't even have to be near her to make things happen. TELL ME WHAT YOU DID WITH HER!"

"Jacob, your loud masculine voice makes my body convulse with sexual desire. Say my name louder!"

"TELL ME! LANISTARA!" As soon as he finished yelling her name, a bright light flashed between them. It lit up the forest and the dark sky. With that flash, the rest of the guards stood around them both. In between Jacob and Lanistra, Jacob saw a gold-shining scroll. It opened, and a soft voice spoke from it.

"The Queen is no longer in this world. She still breathes. If you want to find her, look at the trees. The sun will shine to the spot that once was but now is not."

The light disappeared, and all Jacob could see was Lanistara smiling.

"It wasn't me, but if you give me the one thing I desire, I will help you."

She leaned into Jacob's face and placed a soft kiss on his lips. Lanistara had desired Jacob for so long. She had openly expressed that if she could have him for one night, she would leave the Kingdom alone.

But would she? Would she help them find the queen? Would Jacob lose himself to her magic?