Chapter 7 A Narrow Escape

As soon as Albert raised the curtain with one hand and peeped outside, an owl flapped and landed on one side of Albert. It was not clearly visible to Albert in the darkness. Gradually the owl changed its form. It was Thomas, a ghost from owl's family that Lady Marconda had sent to bring the snake-child to her. Albert could see only a shadow moving in the darkness. His grip on the stick tightened. He gathered his courage, took the lantern from Catherine's hand and came out. All of a sudden his cry echoed in the air. Thomas gave him a hard blow right on his nose.

He couldn't bear the pain and fell down senseless with both the lantern and the stick apart.

Thomas pushed back Catherine, who was standing just behind Albert and was stunned to see an unexpected situation, and went straight to the room where Melissa was sleeping. He lifted the child in his hands and laughed cunningly. Melissa woke up from her sleep and started crying. She was frightened to see such an ugly creature which she had never seen earlier.

"Be ready, sweetheart!" said the ghost. "Our queen is eager to suck your blood... ha... ha... ha..."

Catherine tried to stop him but he pushed her again and this time she struck against a wall. She was about to lose her balance but anyhow she controlled herself. Thomas walked out and flew in the air carrying the child in his arms. Catherine ran after him crying and shouting. "Don't' take my child..." she implored. "Leave her please... please... ouch!" she was hit with a stone and fell on the earth upside down. She had got scratches on her elbows and chin.

"Haa... sshhh..." she heard a hissing sound from nearby and a shadow of some very large animal came to her sight, flying upward. She was almost unable to understand what was happening there. At once a fire appeared in the sky followed by a fierce groaning sound that broke the silence. The fighter snakes have arrived there to perform their duty. The fire that Alpha had spitted had covered Thomas's wings and legs. He was moaning madly, finding no option to get rid of the fire or the snakes that were not ready to miss the child anyhow. Meanwhile, his grip on the child loosened and the child slipped out of his hands. She was about to hit the ground and get smashed when Poisy reached there and caught her in his arms. He silently put the child close to Catherine and went away.

By then, Thomas was completely burnt into ashes. After finishing their work, Alpha, Poisy and Vipero returned to their respective places, away from the populated area.

Catherine was lying on the ground, knowing nothing of the fighter snakes. She was breathing heavily. She at once noticed some sound – perhaps the cry of a child. She held her head high and looked around. Immediately her eyes fell on Melissa. Although it was a dark night, she was sure that it could be no one except Melissa, her beloved child. She stood up with all her strength and stepped towards the child. She had forgotten all her pains now.

"O sweetie! I'm here, my love." she said taking the child in her arms. She was exactly right; it was Melissa – the apple of her eye. She kissed the child passionately and embraced her. Tears came in her eyes. It all seemed deus ex machina to Catherine.

"Thanks to the Almighty again and again." she sobbed. "O my Lord, had you not returned my child, I would have died in agony. Thank You."

Catherine returned to her home with the baby tired. Albert was still lying near the verandah. His nose was bleeding. She entered the house, laid the child on the bed and took some water in a vessel. She came out with a lantern and put it on the verandah. She then sprinkled some water from the container on Albert's face and called him. "Albert! Come on." she said repeatedly. She felt his nerve and checked his heart-beat. Everything was alright. She again sprinkled some water and this time Albert opened his eyes. He got up with her support and both of them went inside. He was glad to see Melissa again.

Several hours had passed. Lady Marconda was still present in the dark room. She was in a prostrate condition with her hands joined together. She had been whispering some satanic words, with her eyes closed. After a few minutes, she got up and started walking in the room impatiently, rubbing her hands together, wanting to hear about Thomas she had sent on the mission. She went to the window, pulled the curtain to the right and slowly opened the window. There was no sign of Zomaro, her pet owl, anywhere. She looked a bit anxious.

"What a stupid creature!" she remarked to herself, making faces with disgust.

She returned back to her place, sat down with a sigh and took some powder-like substance in her hand. Having recited a few charm words, she threw all that into the fire. The flames rose up rapidly within seconds and then slowed down as usual.

"Gamora!" she shouted in anger, grinding her teeth.

"Zomaro is getting too late. It means that some problem has arisen again." she thought in herself. Right then a sound of some bird flapping its wings came from outside and her eyes got fixed on the window pane. She got ready for the news Zomaro was coming with – whether good or bad.

An owl entered through the window hooting and sat close to her, right on the log that was already put there.

"Tell Zomaro... what happened?" she asked desperately.

"Lady Marconda, Thomas failed in his mission." the owl said flickering its eyes. "He was returning with the child but..."

"But?" interrupted the witch. "I'm fed up with your 'but'. Okay, say on." she said.

"He was burnt on the way by the miraculous snakes." the owl said in brief.

"Oh no! That means the snake kingdom is keeping an eye on the child." The witch mumbled. "It is most certain that the snakes would sacrifice their lives to save the child. They'd never let me get her at any cost.

While she was thinking to send someone else to bring the child, smokes from outside began to fill the room forming a small cloud that attracted her attention. There appeared a face in the smokes which was no one else's than the devil's himself. It was uglier than a pig's face with broad nostrils and two bended but pointed horns. The ears were long and flat that seemed like fans. Not to speak of his dirty teeth that were smelling like rotten eggs – long enough to frighten anyone.

The cunning witch stood up and bowed as a mark of respect.

"Lady Marconda! Have patience." the devil said to the witch. "It would be a childish act to send anybody right now."

"O Master! It is much difficult for me to accept my defeat." she told. She was not in a mood to sit quietly and let the snakes celebrate their victory.

"It's not the proper time to take any step. Let the inhabitants of the snake kingdom forget all about what has happened till now." The devil was trying to make her understand the situation. "Do you think... they'll not take any action when you send someone?" he asked her twisting his ears.

"Then what should I do?" she said hoping for his reply.

"You need to wait till they leave worrying about the child." said the devil. "You need to meditate during this period to enhance your magical powers."

Lady Marconda smiled and nodded her head. Her eyes were closed. She then bowed with both of her hands crossed on her bosom and the devil disappeared.