• The Demon's Curse •

2: In Which Lily Finds Market Chipping

You don't have to be an expert on explosives to know what they sounded like. This was no different for Lily. She sat up, clearing the clouds from her aching head and brushing the black strands from her features. She groaned and felt around for her glasses which had fallen off of her face.
Cheers and loud bangs in the sky were clear to Lily. A celebration was present in her surroundings. Once feeling around in the filth she found the fragile rims. She hesitated before putting them on, instantly regretting it as soon as she did. A large spider web crack spread through the lense.
As soon as she could, mostly- see again, she looked around.
Her surroundings included a darkened ally and below her cobblestone street. Beside her feet was a dirty puddle of murky water and a few rats congregating by the rugged walls. Lily picked herself up and dusted herself off.
"Where am I? What happened- !"
What did happen indeed. That last thing she remembered was being so-called pranked and falling. Then she woke up here. Where ever here was. She walked down the ally until it led out to a square of some sort. The streets were covered in colored paper scraps, ribbons and bows, and stilt walkers. The people wore flashy dated dresses with long trains. It seemed like some kind of festival.
Lily come out into the clearing of the crowd and began to look for someone to explain to her what was going on. Before long the crowd had gotten thicker and it was getting more and more difficult to weave through them and their jabbing elbows. That was until she had run into someone.
Lily was instantly knocked back on her bottom as she looked up to the aggressor. She was rather surprised to see it had been a young woman with chestnut brown curls and bright red lips. Instantly Lily stood and apologized still to push passed her.
"How dare you-"
"I'm so sorry ma'am but I'm in a hurry. Would you mind telling me where I am?" she said, cutting the clearly angered woman off. A young man behind her- possibly her son? looked absolutely mortified someone would speak to his mother in such a way.
"You dare speak to the Witch of the Waste in such a way? I'll show you what a mistake you have made." the woman threatened as she held up her hand. Sparks few from her finger but that seemed to be the extent of it. Lily was just as surprised as the said 'Witch' but for much different reasons.
It was obvious to Lily she had been dealing with a loon and she decided to move on.
"Listen, thanks anyway. Sorry about before but I should be going."
The woman stared after the strange girl in black. How was she immune to her magic, she wondered.
Lily wiggled away from the crowd when she had suddenly heard shouting. Past the hills, people pointed at a mechanical castle spitting blue fire from its turrets. It seemed to alarm many people at the parade with a lot of gasping.
To Lily this was a theatrical production and a good one at that but it was so much more. If only she knew. She took the opportunity to get out of the distracted crowd and head for one of the open shops with less people. She came to a bakery called Cesairis. Coming inside was an Obvious mistake as well because it was completely packed. young men were crowding this poor girl at the front counter. She was beautiful with soft brown hair and full blue eyes. Many of the young men just wanted to chat with her but she seemed like she was about to have a break.
She scurried away into the back where Lily followed her.She seemed plenty popular and may even possibly know where she was. Once safe in the back she tapped the brunette's shoulder, who let out a shriek.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I was wondering if you could tell me where I am."
"That's okay, I thought you were one of those men asking for another proposal. I'm Lettie Hatter By the way."
"Lily. Lily Mason."
"You don't know where you are? Did you get separated from a tour group or something?"
In that moment Lettie's next words had sounded like muttering to Lily. Why had her name sounded so familiar? Where had she heard that before? Maybe she was dreaming? She had fallen asleep at her desk for sure.
"You're in Market Chipping." Lettie said, breaking the girl's thoughts.
There it was again, why did it sound so familiar?
"Oh I understand now, " she lied. "Is this an elaborate set huh. What play is it for?"
Lettie had kinked a brow at the girl. "I don't understand. You asked where you were but it's obvious you aren't from around here. Are you from Kingsbury?"
Yet another name that was familiar. Lily shook her head, her heart still set that it was a dream or a vivid hallucination.
"No, I'm from North Carolina."
Lettie was even more confused. "That must be very far away. I've never heard of it before."
Lily gave a short laugh and looked out to all the cakes. They looked so real and mouth watering delicious. some yellow, others chocolate but overall, reminded Lily that she had forgotten breakfast. Her stomach had let off a loud growl causing Lettie to giggle and reach behind her from a pre-cut slice of yellow cream.
"Normally a cake is six pence but I can make an exception today." She said, handing Lily the cake. The black haired girl gobbled down the cake, feeling a cream fill her mouth. It was fresh baked and still warm, the best kind.
"Thank you so much."
Pence. That shouldn't strike any bells but it did. Why? Pence was a currency, and Lily was 99% positive she had never used it. Before she could further ponder the familiars on the tip of her tongue, some shouting was heard. Lettie and Lily both stood, peeking out into the lobby. The customers all stacked up on one another pointing and pressing themselves against the glass. What on Earth was all the fuss about?
Gossip and chit-chat about a moving castle was spreading like wildfire. Lettie pulled a woman aside and asked her what has happened.
"It's the Castle! It's moved over the hill and heading for the square!" She shouted, half terrified half excited.
Lettie let out a gasp and turned back to Lily, "It's the Wizard Howl. You'll need to go home right away so he doesn't eat your heart."
With that, Lettie had packed Lily another sweet bread to go and hurried her out of the store.

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