Post number 50!

With that Basil vanished. I just sunk to the ground, and even though Kitty placed her arm around me I felt no comfort. Certainly Basil could be a bit ridiculous sometimes, maybe a lot of the time, but this seemed far too drastic. HAD things become so dire? “Indeed they are dire.” A voice called out, reading my thoughts and channeling them into a response. I stood up and turned my head. Before I found the voice I saw a long shadow stretching out behind me. It was an old woman. “Things are so dire, but only because Basil chose them to be so.” Kitty watched the old woman cautiously. “Who are you?” The hag smiled and sighed. “Ah, I am a woman with a past, a witch that has been cursed...” She paused and with a heavy heart continued. “There were three of us, foolish young women who were lured into a trap. For you see, the one who is behind all of this has caused much trouble for a very very long time. He has led the gypsies to steal your friend, and he has led Basil to consume the dark brew. And he has left me to rot in this tomb.” “But why do you remain here? Why do you not seek the daylight?” I asked quietly. She smiled. “I have been waiting for you, that is why. The curse of this monstrous body was placed upon me by him, and all I have left is a harbored vengeance. I will not tell you who he is, who guides all of this, but I will help you to subvert his plans. After enough subversion you shall finally see him soon enough.” She smiled. “I am here to prevent his tampering nay longer.” And so she beckoned us deeper into the tomb. It grew dim and dark, but eventually we came into a small round room. She seemed to glide to a large kettle in the center of the room. It looked like, though she was old, she still retained a few ounces of her former grace. With a simple flick of her hand the cauldron came to life. Swirling smoke of different colors swarmed around her body as she smiled at me. Then her face grew serious once more. “You can travel far in a moment correct?” Kitty and I exchanged a glance, not certain of how she knew so much, but we nodded. She grinned. From the smoke rose two faces. “If you seek to save your friends find these two men in Britain. Already you can travel far distances, but they shall grant you another piece which shall allow you to travel beyond even the conventional boundaries which you till remain bound by.” “Please tell us more.” Kitty started. The witch grinned and allowed herself to be enveloped in the smoke. Her hand shot out just before vanishing completely. It pointed to us and at that very moment a red glowing X-mark seemed to burn itself into our map...

PS:This is my 50th image post and still going strong! Here's hoping that more readers will come with the next 50!