Molly spungle : The Secret of Red Stone
Chapter 4: Betrayal

A large group of men emerged from behind the rocks. In all her life Molly had never known violence. Her fright increased when she saw the swords and knives that the men carried.

Among them, stood a young man, his hands tied behind his back, his clothes disheveled and torn. He appeared to have little strength and sank to his knees. The man was roughly hauled to his feet again by one of Jar-Ed’s men.

Molly, seeing the blood stains on his torn shirt, realized in horror that he was injured. Nevertheless, his eyes glinted with anger as he spoke, wincing in pain. “Untie her. You have me. You don’t need her.”

“We need her,” snarled Jar-Ed. “And we also need her magic potions. They will help me perfect my own sorcery.” Jar-Ed paused briefly before he added, “I do possess other magic, however.”

With a smile of pure evil, Jar-Ed raised his hand. Molly watched in fearful fascination as a string of foul smelling vapor flew out of his hand, lingering in the air around her. Eyes burning, the fairy could feel the heat settling on her face.

“How else did you think I managed to get inside your Invisible Divide?” he sneered.

“A-and this is not about King Simon’s plan?” Molly’s lips trembled when she heard him laugh along with the rest of his men.

“King Simon does not like our plan but we will soon be rid of our pious ruler and I will be the new king!” declared the evil Jar-Ed.

“You plan to steal our potions?” Molly’s heart pounded. “What have you done to this poor man? He looks badly injured!”

Jar-Ed continued to chuckle, his eyes glittering like ice as he watched his captive fall to the ground once more. “Leave him there,” Jar-Ed ordered his men. “This worthless wretch will die from his wounds soon enough.” He turned again to Molly, saying, “You could marry me Molly, and share your secrets. I am considered a good catch in the kingdom. ”

She shuddered in pure revulsion feeling his hands caress her hair. “Marry you!” Molly could not believe what she was hearing. “I would rather be dead!”

“That I can manage as well, my dear little Spungle,” Jar-Ed said, looking menacingly at her. “I will let you choose. Marry me and share your magic or say goodbye to your friends.”

His words struck her like deadly splinters of ice as he nodded in the direction of his men. Molly cringed in great fear as the men raised their weapons and pointed them in the direction of the fairy stone circle. “And then we’ll go to your little village for the rest!”

Molly struggled mightily against the thick rope that prevented her from spreading her wings. “I must warn them!” she cried. Molly fought in vain to loosen the rope that bound her. The men, with Jar-Ed in the lead, were already heading toward the Hills of Halle. Their captive lay silent and still on the ground, his face deathly white.

“We will return for you, my Molly, when we are done with your friends. Then we’ll take you home and get rid of anyone who lives in your village!” yelled Jar-Ed over his shoulder, laughing cruelly.

How she wished her father was here now to protect her. In desperation her hand moved toward the dark red stone around her neck. Stretching as hard as she could against the rope, she just barely managed to touch it.

“Three times you must caress the red stone!” A woman’s voice thundered loudly in her ears. Stretching even more, she was able to brush her fingers across it three times.

Unprepared for what happened next, Molly shrank away from the blinding light that flashed across the sky. Instantly, she felt the rope fall and her wings spread. She flew rapidly upward, unable to control her ascent. Suddenly the sky split wide open and a mighty force pulled her through it. When the sky closed behind her, all she could see was a green forest.

Almost immediately, Molly saw a giant bird-like creature flying straight at her. Its loud shrieks filled the air and the fairy’s attempts to escape the sharp talons had begun the chase.

Unable to sleep, worrying about what had happened to her friends and family at the stone circle, Molly rose from the leaves. Had Jar-Ed and his men killed them all as they had threatened? Had anyone escaped and were the potions safe? What happened to the poor man that Jar-Ed’s men had left to die? The questions raced through her mind.

Molly had no way of knowing the outcome, nor was there a way to return to help that she could see. It had been her intention to warn them before she was forcefully pulled through the chasm in the sky. How could she ever save them now, lost as she was in this strange forest? No longer able to fly due to her run in with the hawthorn bush, Molly felt helpless. How could she possibly help her friends?