The House Of Pain

We went into a small room where they kept all sorts of medications and remedies in tall dark bottles. I assumed they were potions but nothing that resembled an ordinary medicine. "Here, put this over your head and lie down," spoke Emily as she gave me a cold cloth to help with the fever.

"I don´t know why I'm feeling like this; nothing makes any sense anymore. Tell me are you here all by yourself?"

The unicorn went silent for a few seconds; I knew this would be an uncomfortable question but I couldn´t think straight enough.

"I´m sorry, I didn´t mean to upset you."

"That´s alright...I´m glad to feel useful after so long." She stared at me and smiled easily, "You have very beautiful eyes...but you look so pale."

"Is that a bad sign, am I terribly ill?"

"No, it was just an impeccable observation just like I noticed that mark on your flank. I bet you have no idea what it means."

"This is known as the Circle of Death. Up to now it is supposed to bind me to its ideals. I always rise from the ashes but then again so does everybody else."

"It's true in a way but it also means that you are an agent of Death and you have a sympathy for those are in agony and those who died and seek a way out of the darkness and into the light."

"The path of Darkness!" I cried, "is this where I am?"

"I have a vague notion about this. I recall stepping out one day and everyone was gone. My sisters were heavily pursued because of the modern times."

"Modern times?"

"Yes; it's a rather long story. Oh, I see what your problem is, you have a minor infection but it can be taken care of easily."

Her horn lit up in shades of pink and she proceeded to touch my forehead, "Semper salutary!" she chanted.

It was obvious that she performed a magic spell but it provoked a reaction inside me; this ball of energy spread across my body and it specifically attacked the part that was in pain, my throat. I felt less tense and slowly regaining control.

"Oh my gosh, you did it! I haven't felt so alive."

"Thank you but this is the kind of magic we weren't allowed to do. It was far more effective than any drug or remedy. It came only from unicorns who were known as Healers."

I got up refreshed and strong. "I can see why others didn't sympathize with your cause."

"Science posed a huge threat to our world. As soon as other cures became available our practices became obsolete."

"That doesn't explain why your sisters went missing; Emily, what happened to them?"

She cried in lament, "Please, don't ask me that! I don't wish to remember that ever again!"

I felt out of my trance and regained consciousness. I was back in the living room with Rosie, Mamma and Twigster; what curious guests I had.

"Are you alright, Dear?" said Rosie.

"Yes, I am."

"Whoa, you scared the living daylights out of us, dude!" said Twigs. "So what did it feel like? You kept talking random stuff."

"Random stuff?" I said as I shook my head. "Wait a minute! There is a ghost and I know its name."

"Tell us then, my little friend," said Mamma.

"Her name is Emily Nightingale, she worked as a nurse here."

"Of course! She is seldom mentioned in history books but I understand that she bravery and tenacity became an example for others."

"She didn't tell me that but she is quite aware of my special abilities."

"Is she threatening then?" asked Rosie.

"She just wanted to help using magic but I found out that it was a threat in the past. And you were right, Mamma, she didn't do anything but try to heal me."

"It still doesn't explain the major disturbances I had felt before when I made my séance with Mrs. Goldenhooves..."

"That's what remains a mystery and she refused to tell me. She was very sweet but she was so afraid as well of being alone. What if they were killed?"

"Is that what actually happened, a slaughter?" said Twigster a bit excited.

"God, no! At least that sounds pretty gruesome. I wish magic could cure every once in a while," I said.

"But we already know it has been aggressively restricted. I can see poor Emily is so lost inside her universe that she won't be able to give more straight answers."

"So this can't be solved tonight?" I asked desperately.

"She will remain adamant to this situation unless you become her friend. You made great progress but I'm afraid it will take more sessions."

"Oh, I don't mind about Emily but the other Healers..."

"Don't worry, you're not alone in this battle but I do recommend you to read the books I browsed. Knowledge is sometimes the best weapon. Good night everyone and thank you for your time."

Thus, everyone in the house including the cat were fast asleep in their own bedrooms. Meanwhile I kept coughing like crazy; I felt knives running down my throat.

I hugged the pillow and began to talk to myself for comfort, "It's hard to believe in magic sometimes in such a harsh world yet the closest thing I have is music.

I may be burning inside
because I felt too much
because I loved so much
but not like Emily

And though the Darkness swells
she feels alive and well
as long as someone needs a remedy.

My eyes felt heavy like rocks and my body was very warm just the night before. "Emily," I said in a soft voice, "is that you?"

There was a knock on the door. "Can I come in, Dear? You sound a bit awful."

I hardly remember this part. The curtains were half-shut and the light was very weak. A figure rose from the darkness and it did feel like a unicorn because a bright rose-colored light came from its appendage.

"It's alright; I just came to see how you were doing."

Her voice was sketchy as well. I wasn't looking straight into her and I failed to get up to see who it really was.

"I want the pain to go away, can you help me?"

"Relax, my magic will heal you, it always has..."

"I like the way that sounds."

She pulled the covers very softly. A chill ran through my spine then she ran one of her hooves across my flank.

"Dear sweet Death, how I long for eternal repose. I have grown weary and lonely but I can't seem to let go."

"Emily?"

"If this is what Death looks like then I have no trouble embracing it, take me with you!"

"But I'm not Death!"

The pale light and the one surrounding her horn made her look more deceiving. She wrapped her arms around me and knocked me down on the bed.

"Emily?"

"How dare you speak about that traitor?!" she cried out loud and in her fury she hit my side. It didn't hurt much though.

At that moment Lilicat came out of nowhere and jumped on the bed growling.

"Thanks a lot, girl, you saved me!" I panted. "Another spirit? I have never felt this one before; I need a drink, seriously."

I went quietly down the stairs and noticed the hour in the pendulum clock in the living room; three o' clock in the morning. I rubbed my eyes and gave a loud yawn.

"If the house has ghosts it can only be those of the Healers unless somebody died here under difficult circumstances," I said to myself and scurried to pour a glass of the good old Dragon's Tears. "Emily said that they were very effective, probably more than their rivals. It's reasonable why the modern scientists wanted to wipe out the competition but that could only happen based upon their own interests, not the interests of others."

I entered the library and noticed the smell of mahogany was more intense as if the place was brand new. The books that Mamma Lyon was studying were still there.

Maybe it was my nature to explore the most tragic and sensationalist one of all the titles, "Pray For The Decay"; an eerie propaganda against the so-called "dark arts" of the unicorn community.

In one chapter it said, "Science is golden, science is pure, magic is tragic and just an allure."

And another one that said ,

"Beware of the witches who relish and boast for they will bring us sorrow and remorse. They have befriended the Void; a faceless demon that will tear you apart when you least expect it."

This was just an urban legend to scare the population and keep them in control but it sounded pretty messed up.

"Cease from visiting these places of debauchery known as The Houses Of Pain, though you might find temporary comfort it is a well crafted flim-flam. Science is the only and absolute cure for your ailments."

"Why would a bunch of angry citizens be so eager to destroy what they considered charlatans? There's something that doesn't make sense somehow."