The House Of Pain

Hipogriffs, said by my grandma were the offspring of gryphons and horses. In some countries it was frowned upon and they were very hard to find for it was said they had bad genes. For years they lived in the shadows and considered freaks of nature; they gathered in secret groups and were nomads.

Mamma Lyon, one of New Horseleans most respected seers returned to Ponywood for unknown reasons. I didn´t know how old she was for she had visited this flamboyant city in the Golden Age of films roughly about seventy years ago and made tons of friends with celebrities. I was now one of them; when I called for an appointment and told her who I was she immediately agreed to attend me. "It is vital that you come."

As soon as I was able to make some room in my schedule I asked Pete, my blue gryphon to join me in this little mission; Mamma Lyon suggested that I should come alone.

It was around ten o´clock when I arrived to the corner of Primrose Avenue and Silver, the number on the door was 777. There was a slightly gloomy sky and the air was cool but I bundled up anyway because I wasn´t taking any chances.

"Trick question," asked Pete walking on all of his four legs, "do you like always wearing black?"

"I´m a rockstar; it´s perfectly normal. I think it began since high school or something."

"Because I thought it had to do with death and all that spooky stuff."

"A little but it also gives me a high sense of security and empowerment."

I knocked three times and the heavy wooden door with accents of stained glass and it opened by itself.

There was a tiny store that had several herbal remedies in display but there was no one attending so I rang the bell instead.

"How odd..." I said.

"What about this, my young equine friend?" said Pete.

A big sign on the wall said to go down the stairs that led to a basement. Luckily there was enough light to guide us.

"But I´m not going down there!" cried Pete sticking his neck out to see how deep it was. "It looks more like the cave of a dragon."

"Well I didn´t ask for your opinion, bird brain!" I said. "After all this is about my well-being and not just because of mere curiosity."

"Awww, I´m sorry, didn´t mean to offend you there, little dude."

"Then let´s get on with it, we haven´t got all day!" I said putting my hoof down.

"Alright, alright but I´ll tell you something; that hipogriff gives me the willies! Remember what happened the last time?"

"Yes but it wasn´t that bad."

"It wasn´t that bad?! She could have almost killed you with big claws!"

"Trust me, it´s not going to happen this time; I have a strong feeling she knows what´s wrong with the house."

"What about the house, is it infested with rodents again? Cuz´ I could help you with that."

"The house is fine but no one has been able to tell me whether it´s haunted or not and it´s very important that I settle things once because I haven´t been able to sleep well lately. Plus, it´s cold most of the time."

"Really? Maybe it´s because you miss your pretty pony boy..."

"Who said that this was about Blak?" I answered upset, "but if you ask, yes, I wish he were here to comfort me."

"Oh, then it is about him!"

"Will you stop?"

"Then why didn´t you say so? You know, when you got urges, you got urges. And if not you can always talk to the hand, or the hoof for that matter."

"No, I´m not gonna do that. It´s too early to discuss that and this is hardly the place."

"We´re here."

The room was dark like the last time and it exasperated me.

"Ya know, it´s a good thing I´m around to protect you considering you´re a very important pony and all it´s not very wise..."

"Shhh! I hear something."

The lights went on eventually and revealed a welcoming room and the decor was mainly red. It was in the style of the beginning of the last century.

"What is this, an antique shop?"

"Forgive me but this is just temporary!" The lady walked in gracefully shaking his long and bushy tail looking serene. "Go ahead, have a seat!"

"Thank you so much," I said. "May I ask why are you hidden in the basement?"

"Oh, that!" she cried. "Psychics are not what they used to; most of the time they think we´re charlatans. I reserve my real powers only for those who are willing to take the risk. That´s why I sell thingamabobs upstairs as a cover up."

"I see. Do you know what´s wrong with my mansion?"

"Everything is wrong with that mansion!" she cried spreading her wings.

"I could have said that too," said Pete.

"This is what brought me here on such short notice. There is an unusual activity happening up there and it should be kept a secret."

"But I asked Evie to help me out one time and she said it was all my imagination."

"Well, she lied."

For a few seconds I froze and then I felt a big pressure in chest. "I don´t understand...it doesn´t make any sense."

"She felt the spirits but she couldn´t admit it because it would bring about a big storm and that would put her in danger. I know this because she told me."

"How is this dangerous?"

"My boy, in these lands any supernatural powers or even magic are banned. If they rose once again the responsible ones will be exiled."

"I guess she failed to tell me anything else for the fear of being pursued."

"Exactly!"

"You have to tell me all about this, Mamma because I still don´t understand why am I involved in these shenanigans."

"And indeed you shall. We must get there at once but I must be careful not to be noticed."

"Right...hipogriffs are weird," I said very impolitely.

"I beg your pardon? If you keep talking like that, sonny or I will shred you to bits!"

"See? I warned you M, " cried Pete. "This old kooky bird and that pretentious mare are trying to drive you crazy!"

"Oh, shut up, you," she replied. "After all I helped Marelyn some time ago." She pulled out a pendant with the emblem of the Circle of Death just like the branding I had in my flank.

"That´s just like the one I gave to Blak."

"Little by little secrets from the past are revealed. I may guide you but you will have to speak to them."

"Them who?"

"The forgotten ones, of course. You are tied to Death therefore you are sensitive to the spirits. All they are asking is to be heard. The outcome is uncertain."

"How do you know they won´t hurt me?" I asked nervously.

"My dear, they would never harm anyone, especially you. I´ll explain more on the way."

Mamma Lyon preferred to walk instead of flying because she feared exposing herself too much. Pete guarded us heavily from the sky. The rest of the journey she remained calm and optimistic while I was concerned about my future. I should have taken a more simple house.

"You may have chosen this house, however you were seduced by it," said the wise hipogriff.

"I guess you can say I´ve always had a thing for old places because they´re full of memories even if they´re not mine."

"You´re partially correct but you like to help others! Like that boy who was so ravaged for having a different kind of love."

"Are you talking about Blak? That means you knew from the start he needed me."

"Evidently but what is really going to bewilder you is that I never said he would be your true love."

"Well, you hinted it. I gave myself the opportunity to open my heart to him and it turned out quite nicely. I mean, we´re trying to make a solid relationship and it´s a shame I had to leave Evie out of the game."

"I understand. Nobody, including me would have predicted what was to become of that little love triangle."

"Then I guess love is unpredictable, huh?"

"Most of the time, like the storm!" she said pointing to the gray sky. "We better go full throttle or we´ll get wet, that I can predict!"

(continued)...