Sunday, April 11, 2021

How Do You Disguise A Deranged Mage?

A retelling of a classic fairy tale that takes a completely different path over the river and through the Wood...


An EXCERPT from
Ruby Hood, A Twistedly True Tale

By Aspen Hite


Speechless, Ruby grappled in the depth of her vast vocabulary for words to respond to the incident before her but found none.

            “Astral projection.” Mayor Wolf said, running his hand through his hair for the millionth time that evening, “How did we miss that?”

“Jeddy, we know now, and the monstrosity is gone,” Kassandra’s words were sharp as an icepick, but the hand she placed on his shoulder was gentle.

“For now, love. For now,” He placed a hand atop hers. A frown found his forehead and then his mouth. He covered nose, “Good lords, what in the heavens is that?”

“Oh my,” Kassandra turned green as her eyes widened in foul horror. She pulled her hoodie over the bottom half of her face.

“Wha…” Before Ruby could finish, she could smell it too. It wasn’t a Lycan thing. What on Earth was it? “What is happening??”

“Upstairs. Everyone. Now,” Mayor Wolf held the door.

Kassandra hurried along the underground metal corridor. Ruby and the mayor raced along behind her.

As the trio jetted off the lift onto the main floor, they all stopped, frozen in intrigue, as their mouths dropped.

There she stood, in the center of the parlor. A Lycanified deranged Aarush Mage. Wide-eyed and hairy, Ella clapped and maybe tried to smile. “AH…good…got rid of astral problem. Now time for the plan.”

“Plan?” The mayor sniffed, “What is that smell?”

“What do you mean?” Ella shook her head sniffed herself, then puffed her shoulders, “It’s my disguise. You smell me?”

“We can,” Kassandra’s eyes watered, “Can they?”

“LOOK like a Lycan, but SMELL like an Unnatural.” She said.

"Why can I smell you?" Ruby cried. 

"Ah...maybe I overdid it, just a bit," The Mage said as a terrifying yet satisfied cringe. “Now sisters will definitely not smell, and we can attack.”

Feel like you're missing something? 

Check out the beginning(ish): New Twist on an Iconic Tale 

6 comments:

  1. This is so cool. Thank you so much for sharing with us. This is such a creative writing piece.

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    1. I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for stopping by and commenting1 Be well.✌

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  2. This maybe my dyslexia causing my confusion, but what was is the foul smell that the trio seem to be repulsed by? How is a terrible smell that three people noticed a disguise? How come lycan scent smells so bad?

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    1. It is neither...it's a flaw in the writing! She's supposed to LOOK like a Lycan, but SMELL like the Unnaturalness (which has a distinguishing and particularly foul scent to Lycan). The crazy Mage just over did it to the point that Ruby can smell her too. THANK YOU for bringing this to my attention! I'm fixing it now. Be well. ✌

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  3. Ooh! How sneaky. Smell always throws people off. Great piece x

    Lynn | https://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com

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