Chapter 19

Paige pressed her hands against the liquid net, searching for a way out. The cell distended and stretched but held firm. She kicked and punched at the liquid walls, but to no avail.

"Paige," Dewey shouted, his voice muffled by the water.

She snapped her gaze at him, her hair floating around as she moved her head.

He poked a finger at a contingent of fairies who shoved their cells toward the pool.

Paige opened her mouth, bubbles escaping, as she screamed, "No!"

Their water cells burbled forward, inching closer and closer to the water's edge.

"Stop," Paige shouted again.

The moment their cells touched the water's edge, they melted into the pool. Paige felt herself slowly descend, slipping below the surface. They sank deeper and deeper, entering the depths of the pool.

The light from the bright sun waned, and they descended into darkness. Paige bobbed up and down, floating in her water cell for several moments before light blinded her.

It floated closer and closer until she made out the fairy, who approached with a contingent of tiny fairies carrying flameless torches.

The fairy drifted closer to them. A large, dark figure trailed behind her. The tiny, torch-bearing fairies spread out around them. As the other two figures floated closer, Paige made out the form of the FearMonger.

Her eyes grew wide, and she grabbed at the net surrounding her.

"Are these the two who disturbed your slumber?" the fairy inquired of her beastly friend.

"Yes," the creature growled back.

The fairy turned her now blue eyes toward Paige and Dewey. "And ran when you attempted to punish them?"

The FearMonger bobbed his head up and down.

"Wait a minute!" Paige said. "We just took a wrong turn."

"Liar," the fairy bellowed, her eyes flashing red. "You are a thief and a liar."

"I am not," Paige countered. "Let us go!"

"For your crimes, I curse you. You will spend one hundred years in your prison," the fairy exclaimed.

"What? Wait! There was no trial! We are entitled to a trial. A chance to prove ourselves innocent."

"You are entitled to nothing in my realm," the fairy growled at them.

The FearMonger offered them a devilish grin as he eyed them floating in their cells. He offered the fairy his arm, and together, they floated away, along with the light-carrying contingent of small fairies.

Darkness settled around them again. Paige curled herself into a ball, suspended in the water, wrapping her arms around her knees and letting her head drift down.

Her eyes stung, and she assumed tears filled them.

"Paige!" Dewey's muffled voice called.

Paige's heart broke for him. She glanced up, her vision blurred.

"I'm sorry, Dewey," she sobbed.

Dewey shouted something else at her, but she could not understand him. She bit into her lower lip as she grabbed hold of the bars. Dewey waved his paws, his mouth opening and closing in an exaggerated manner.

Her eyebrows pinched as she tried to make out his words.

"The water, Paige. The water."

"Yes, I know. We're trapped underwater. I don't know if we can fix this."

"The water!" Dewey shouted again, his finger floating back and forth in a slow poke at Paige.

Paige glanced around her before she shook her head, her hair floating around her. "Huh?"

"Drink the water."

Paige drew her chin back, her nose wrinkling. "Drink the water?"

Dewey's head bobbed up and down.

Paige crinkled her brow and opened her mouth, trying to drink in any of the water she floated in.

"NO!" Dewey said with an exaggerated head shake. "The vial! The vial!"

Paige wrinkled her nose again, glancing down at her kangaroo pocket. She pulled the vial from within the fabric fold and eyed it.

"DRINK IT!" Dewey shouted. "It cures curses!"

Paige's eyes went wide. One corner of her lips tugged back in a half smile. She lifted the stopper and pressed it to her lips, downing the sweet-tasting water. She lowered the vial and waited for a second.

Nothing happened.

"Nothing's hap–"

A sharp pain shot through her core and took her breath away. She clutched at her belly and shot a glance at Dewey as the world turned fuzzy around her before fading to black.

* * *

Paige's eyes fluttered open. A bright light blinded her. She squinted against it, shielding her face with her hands.

"Ugh, what is the bright light?" she asked. "Oh no." A sinking feeling filled her. "I died. I'm dead. The bright light is calling me home."

Paige winced and pulled her hands away, expecting to find pearly white gates and a robed man with a shiny halo. Instead, as her eyes adjusted, she found herself lying in the grass next to the Pool of Yearning.

She pushed up to her elbows and swung her head around. "It worked!"

Paige stared down at the empty vial still clutched in her hand. "Dewey was right! It worked. I'm saved!"

A giddy chuckle escaped from her lips before her smile faded.

"Dewey," she shouted.

She rushed to the water's edge and stared down into it. Somewhere under the surface, Dewey remained trapped in his watery cell.

Paige pressed her lips together as she vetted through ideas. She scooped more water into the vial and tucked it into her waistband before peeling off her sweatshirt. She adjusted her tank top, sucking in deep breaths. With her arms swinging front and back, she talked herself into diving into the pool.

"Can't be that bad, right?" she murmured. "Maybe cold. That's fine. I can do cold."

"How deep were we? Felt far." Paige shook her head. "I can hold my breath that long."

She sucked in a few more breaths and bobbed up and down on her toes. "Okay, Paige. Time to be a hero."

She stared into the placid water, catching a vision of her disheveled appearance. She smoothed her hair back before she leaned forward. With her eyes squeezed closed and her lips pulled into a wince, she splashed into the water.

"Oh! It's cold! It's cold!" She gasped as she trod water.

She panted out a few breaths before she sucked in a deep one and forced herself below the surface.

She kicked her feet, diving farther into the cold waters. Darkness surrounded her as she swam closer to the bottom. In the dim light, she spotted a fuzzy teal splotch.

Paige frog-kicked her way closer to it, her lungs burning.

"Dewey!" she shouted as she approached his cell.

The little dragon lifted his dark eyes to her.

She thrust the vial through the rope bars at Dewey. "Drink it!"

Dewey snatched the bottle from her hand. Paige twisted and kicked toward the surface. She fought toward the light glowing at the top, each second agony as she struggled to not breathe.

Every muscle in her body screamed for her to inhale. Her chest hurt, and fire filled her lungs. She gave one hard kick, breaking the surface as she choked and gasped for air.

She wiped water from her face and spun in search of the bank. A smile spread across her face as she spotted a little teal body lying in the grass. Paige swam the short distance to the shore and climbed from the water, racing toward Dewey.

"Paige!" he panted as he pulled himself up to sit.

"Dewey," she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him.

"Thank you," Dewey breathed. "I thought I'd be spending a hundred years in prison."

"No way," Paige said, pulling back from him. "I wasn't leaving you."

"Thanks, friend."

"You're welcome, friend," Paige said with a broader smile. She glanced around. "Now, we should get another vial of that water and get the heck out of here."

"Yeah," Dewey agreed, "get it and let's get out of here. I don't even care if we have to go past the murderous murder of crows."

Paige climbed to her feet and brushed herself off before she patted her shoulder. "Jump up, little buddy. Because once I grab this water, I am running away from that pond and never looking back. And I'm not stopping until we reach Acadia Palace."

Dewey flapped his wings and landed on Paige's shoulder. He handed Paige the vial.

She popped open the top and glanced at her partner. "Hang on."

He dug his claws into her shoulder as she sprinted forward. She skidded to a stop and dunked the vial into the water. Droplets dripped into the pond as she pulled it out and secured the stopper.

"On to Acadia Palace!" she said as she stuffed the vial into her kangaroo pocket.

As she turned away from the lake, the world in front of her blurred. Paige swallowed hard as the world around her faded away.

"Dewey? What's happening?" She reached for the dragon.

He wrapped a scaly paw around her hand. "I'm not sure."

The world faded to black, and they floated in nothingness for a few moments before a light blinded them.

"Ah, what the heck?" Paige asked, flinging an arm up to shield her eyes.

"Whoa!" Dewey murmured.

"What?" Paige asked, lowering her arm though still squinting.

"I think we're… I think we're at Acadia Palace."

Paige blinked her eyes a few times, allowing them to adjust. Gleaming in the sunlight, a large emerald palace sparkled.

"What? How did we get here?" Paige glanced behind her, staring at the path leading to the spot they stood in and leading to the palace.

Dewey's eyebrows squashed together, and he wrinkled his nose. "Because we're in a book."

"Huh?"

"We're in a book. When have you ever read the return journey in a book?"

Paige's eyes widened as she considered it. "Yes, most of the book is the journey. Then after they retrieve the thing they're after–"

"We just get the payoff."

"The triumphant moment. The hero's welcome." Paige glanced at the palace with a nod. "Well, that certainly made things easier."

"Let's go get our hero's welcome."

Paige grinned as she set off toward the palace. "And our bark."

"Damn right," Dewey said with a pat on her head.

They closed the distance, marching to the palace. Two guards flanked a drawbridge entrance. They crossed their axes, stopping Paige's progress.

"Halt. Who goes there?"

"Paige Turner and Dewey Decimael. We've retrieved the water from the Pool of Yearning for Prince…eh, for the prince."

The guards exchanged a glance before they pulled the axes back and pounded on the door. A chain rattled as the drawbridge lowered. Paige smiled and nodded at them as she trod across the wood and entered the courtyard.

She wound around the pathway that climbed to the castle above. "Whew, why didn't the stupid book put us right at the castle entrance? This hill's a killer."

Dewey shrugged. "I'm doing okay."

"Very funny," Paige panted out as they reached the massive doors leading into the palace.

Paige banged against the door.

A knight stepped out through a smaller side door, eyeing them.

"Hi there. Paige Turner and Dewey Decimael. Here in the service of the prince. We retrieved the water from the Pool of Yearning for him."

The knight whipped his face mask up and stared at her, an incredulous expression on his face. "You have the water?"

"I do," Paige replied with a nod. "Could we see the prince and give it to him? We're in a big hurry."

The knight stared at them for a breath before answering. "Of course, follow me."

The armor-clad man ushered them into the large entrance hall. He clanked ahead of them, leading them to a large room with thrones perched on a raised platform. An older man and woman sat in the high-backed chairs, crowns perched on their heads.

The knight strode forward before dropping to one knee in front of them, a hand clutched to his chest. "My king, may I present Paige Turner and her loyal servant, Dewey Decimael."

"Loyal servant?" Dewey questioned.

"Shh," Paige said, waving a hand at him.

The older man puckered his lips and narrowed his eyes at them.

"Miss Turner claims to have water from the Pool of Yearning for His Highness, Prince Henry."

The king's knuckles tightened on the throne's decorative arms. He snapped a finger at a robed man standing near him. "Call for Henry at once."

"Yes, my liege," the man said, his cassock flying behind him as he raced from the room.

"Come closer, girl," the king said to Paige.

"Girl? Is he serious?" Paige whispered with a wrinkled nose.

"Shh," Dewey answered, waving a paw at her.

Paige narrowed her eyes and shook her head at him before she stepped forward.

The king leaned over, squinting at her. "How do you come to be within my kingdom?"

"Ah, well, it's a long story. But the important part is we ran into your son in the forest, and he told us he needed the water. And we got it." Paige pulled the vial from her pocket and waved it in the air.

The king's eyes widened at the sight. "You are certain it is from the Pool of Yearning?"

"Yes," Paige said. "Positive."

The doors across the room burst open, and Prince Henry raced in, skidding to a stop, his eyes wide as he spotted Paige.

"Paige Turner?"

"Prince Henry!" Paige called with a wave. "I got your water."

He closed the gap between them, staring at the blue-tinted water in the vial, a grin spreading across his features. "So you have."

He reached for the vial when his father leapt from the throne, thrusting his hand out.

"Stop!"

All eyes turned to the older man. The crown wobbled on his balding head as he plopped back into his chair.

He clasped his hands over his chubby belly. "Do not drink that."

"Why, Father? It will cure my curse."

"If it is indeed water from the Pool of Yearning."

"Why wouldn't it be?" Paige asked, stamping a foot on the marble floor.

"What did you promise this girl?" the king demanded. "Marriage?"

Paige's features crinkled, and she dropped her arm to her side, curling her fingers around the vial. "What? Umm, pass. No one's getting married here."

"Wait, Paige," Dewey whispered. "Think about this. You could be royalty!"

Paige snapped her gaze at Dewey, her lips pressed together in a thin line, and wiggled her head back and forth. "Stop. I don't want to marry this dork."

"No, Father. Bark from the Witchlock tree. She is searching for it."

The king arched an eyebrow and studied Paige. "And you will take the bark and depart from the kingdom at once?"

"Gladly," Paige said. "Look, I'm not trying to scam you. I have no desire to marry your son. I got him the water to cure his curse in exchange for the bark. That's it."

The king's lips formed a frown, and he blinked at Paige. "No desire to marry Henry?"

"No," Paige said with a shake of her head. "None at all."

The king slammed his hand against the throne's arm. "How dare you insult my family like this! Guards, seize her and lock her in the dungeon."

"What?" Paige asked, her eyes going wide.

Dewey tried to fly into the air, but one of the knights grabbed him as the other grasped Paige's arms.

"Get off me," Paige shouted.

The robed man hurried forward and pried the vial from Paige's fingers.

"Hey, that's mine! Give it back, or give me the bark and let me go."

The man handed the vial to the king who studied it for a moment before closing his fingers around it.

"Put her in the dungeon until such time as she is ready to marry my son."

"What?" Paige cried as the guard wrangled her from the room. "This is crazy!"

The man shoved her through a set of double doors and half dragged, half carried her down a set of stone steps leading to a darkened space. A handful of torches lit the damp room. He thrust her forward into a cell.

Paige stumbled in, falling to her knees as the guard swung the barred door shut on creaky hinges. With an emphatic turn of the key, he locked her inside and strode away.

The other guard shoved Dewey into the cell next to Paige before retreating upstairs.

Paige climbed to her feet and wrapped her fingers around the bars, calling after them to free her.

"Nice going, Paige," Dewey said once she stopped shouting.

"Me? I didn't do this! It's that crazy king. Why in the world would he lock me up for not marrying his son? At first, he hoped Henry didn't promise me marriage."

"Yeah, and then when you didn't want to marry the wimp, he changed his mind."

Paige banged her head against the bars.

"You can't blame him. He's got a half frog, all fraidy-cat for a son. It makes sense that he'd want him to marry someone brave like you."

Paige spun and placed her back against the bars, sliding down to sit. "No, it does not make sense. This is insane. We are stuck inside a freaky fairy tale with no way out because the king is an idiot."

"There are worse things. You could be royalty."

Paige shot him an unimpressed glance. "You aren't seriously suggesting I stay here and marry that guy."

Dewey lifted a shoulder, his nose wrinkling as he prepared to speak.

A shadow spread across the floor, interrupting their conversation.

Prince Henry ducked through the opening a moment later, eyeing each of them in their cells.

Paige scrambled to her feet and grasped the bars. "Henry! Thank goodness. You need to help us."

Henry clasped his hands behind his back and nodded. "Yes. Particularly now that Father is aware that the water you brought is, in fact, from the Pool of Yearning."

"It is. I didn't lie!"

"I know." He puckered his lips at her, swiveling his head from side to side.

"Your lips! They aren't green anymore."

"No," he said with a grin. "I'm cured."

Paige's shoulders slumped with relief. "Good. Well, that should count for something. Do you think you can convince your father to let us go now?"

Henry shook his head. "He's even more insistent that we wed now."

"That's ridiculous. You don't want to marry me. And I don't want to marry you."

Henry offered her an uncertain glance.

Paige crinkled her eyebrows. "Right?"

"Well…"

"Well, what?" Paige demanded, pressing her face through the bars.

"You are very brave. And very pretty. I could do worse."

Paige's jaw dropped open for a moment before she pressed her lips firmly together and shook her head. "Henry, this is a terrible idea. Just let us go. We don't have time for this!"

"Well, it should be resolved quickly."

"Good," Paige said with a nod. "When will you speak to your father?"

"He expects us to wed in two days' time."

"Except we're not going to wed, so when will you tell him that?"

Henry bobbed his head around, indicating his uncertainty. "I'm afraid there will be little other choice."

Paige set her jaw and stamped a foot on the floor. "I'm not planning on marrying you, and I certainly don't plan to spend my life rotting in this cell."

Henry lifted his chin and shook his head. "Oh, no, of course not. If we do not marry in two days, you will be beheaded."