(I have absolutely no problems with you [or anyone else] reviewing. ^_^ Positive feedback makes me happy, constructive criticism helps me get better, so it's all good!
)
The queen stood up now. “Ye have asked for the kingdom! Ye are not fit to rule!” The crowd gasped and murmured at this revelation regarding Lucifer’s demands.
“I have protected the kingdom! Surely, it is I who is fit to rule the people!” Lucifer proclaimed.
The king’s advisor stepped forward, and looked at Lucifer sternly. “It feels me with sorrow to see this day pass,” he said. “Lucifer, ye can have anything ye want… just not the throne.”
Lucifer growled. “Then I shall take the princess instead.”
Ginger groaned quietly as the crowd went into an uproar. “Ugh. This is like one of those horrible movies that nobody wants to watch.”
Alvin nodded. “Next thing you know, the princess will give herself up for the good of the kingdom.”
Everyone went quiet as the princess stood up and went to the front of the balcony. Ginger cursed under her breath, but gasped a second later when she got a good look at the princess. Alvin’s mouth dropped open.
It was Alice.
She was dressed in a royal white gown, with gloves that extended past her elbow; her golden-brown hair seemed to flow down her back. She looked sickly, and absolutely miserable, but it was definitely Alice. She looked at Lucifer with foreboding.
“I will not allow ye to do as ye please,” she said in a clear voice. The crowd cheered. Ginger grinned.
Lucifer’s face went dark, and the crystal ball in his hand filled with purple smoke. The crowd backed away as he began chanting something, and, with a crack, the smoke poured out of the ball and floated up to the balcony, engulfing Alice.
“Hey! Let my sister go!” Alvin shouted, running forward. Ginger followed close behind, ignoring the cries of the farmer and his wife. Lucifer turned in annoyance as they climbed onto the stage.
“Hmph! What have we here? A couple of whelps?”
“Let her go!” Ginger demanded. “She’s done nothing to you!”
Lucifer smiled as the smoke evaporated. Everyone present cried out when they saw that Alice was no longer on the balcony. The wizard held up his crystal ball, which was once again filled with the smoke… however, they could see glimpses of Alice held within.
The queen screamed; the king roared in anger and drew his sword. The knights charged forward. Ginger and Alvin leapt for the crystal, hoping to save Alice. Lucifer swung his free arm, casting a spell that sent the teenagers flying backwards. He then repeated the gesture, this time sending the knights backwards. Ginger, who had fallen on Alvin, got up quicker and leapt at Lucifer again, this time grabbing his arm and twisting it. He let out a roar and threw her off, casting a spell as he did so that enveloped the girl in a cloud of black smoke as she hit the floor. When the smoke cleared, a black cat could be seen, sitting there, dazed.
Alvin, rubbing his head, got up and charged again, but he was intercepted by the king, who swung his sword at Lucifer’s neck, intending to behead him. Lucifer laughed and held up a finger; the blade shattered into pieces. The cat leapt at Lucifer with a shriek, and dug her claws into his arm. He cried out in pain and flung the cat into Alvin. Then he did a quick spin, and, in an explosion of smoke, disappeared.
The noise of the crowd as they reacted to the kidnapping of the princess filled the square, but Alvin didn’t really hear any of it. He sat on the stage, the cat in his arms. The cat mewed sadly, and buried her face in his shirt, as if she was crying. Alvin hugged her, being careful not to squeeze too hard.
He wasn’t sure how he knew… but he knew. He could see it in the cat’s face… somehow… he could see Ginger. She couldn’t speak, she was no longer human… but he knew.
They sat there for some time as the knights got the crowd to disperse, as the king and queen consoled each other and gave orders to the captain. Nobody paid any attention to Alvin and Ginger; even the farmer and his wife had disappeared. Alvin tried very hard to keep his composure, despite the fact that his sister was gone, and Ginger was cursed… he swallowed, trying to get rid of the lump in his throat.
After several minutes, the king’s advisor walked up to the boy and the cat. He smiled sadly at them. “I’m sorry about the lass. ’Tis a terrible thing.”
Alvin looked up at him. “Is there any way to change her back?” Ginger mewed hopefully.
“Yes, but I’m afraid it is not in my power.” The man held out a hand; Alvin took it, and the man helped him up. “My name is Abraham. I am the king’s advisor. It is a pleasure to meet you, Alvin and Ginger.”
Alvin was startled. “How do you know our names?”
Abraham smiled sadly again. “Come with me.”
The man walked away, heading towards the castle. Alvin hesitated a moment, unsure if the man was trustworthy or not, but his curiosity got the better of him, and he followed. Ginger climbed out of his arms and sat on his shoulder, already becoming quite adept at being a cat.
They followed Abraham through the city, across the drawbridge, and into the castle. The castle looked like a castle out of a history book- made of stone bricks, decorated with tapestries, rugs, gold, and thousands of candles to light the halls. Abraham led them up a long flight of stairs to a room, which he opened carefully. “Please be cautious, my work is very sensitive to disturbances.”
Alvin nodded, and entered the room. It was a mess. Scrolls were piled on top of scrolls, devices were scattered all over the place, bottles of potions covered the shelves that lined the walls. There was barely anywhere to sit. Abraham closed the door and sighed.
“Well then, please, have a seat.”