500: An Anthology of Short Stories

Perilous was the path Rosa tread, but fear could not her deter.

She knew her destiny lay beyond; to none would she ever defer!

“You’ll meet Death upon this journey, stupid girl!” Mama cried,

“Shall you leave us all here? Afraid, destitute, from evil to hide?”

Rosa’s ears were deaf; she heard only the call of her heart.

It swayed her from her village, her family, her life to part.

The ocean was a marvel to this land-born country lass,

Blue waters, immense depth, fearsome waves ’gainst ship smash!

Her port of call saw Rosa lost, a foreigner in a world unknown,

’Twas then a stranger slyly said, “Ah, you have farm life outgrown.”

The man took Rosa under his wing, teaching her spell and potion.

Rosa took to magic, a natural; threw to the wind all her caution!

Thrived Rosa did, as her powers grew profound,

She soon discovered to her delight that above ground

Her fame was assured. Knew she not of those below,

Who with hatred looked menacingly upon Rosa’s “show”.

Gnashed demons and djinns their teeth in anger,

Waiting for Rosa to slip, come within reach of their hunger!

Blissfully ignorant, Rosa travelled further down this road of magic,

Unaware that some foreboding awaited, a thing tragic.

Her mentor married her soon, for saw he the way to his desire.

Rosa saw only his false face, thinking he did her admire.

Mario yearned to have huge hoards of coin and gold,

Determined he to tap into Rosa’s hidden talent and gifts untold.

“The sorcerer shall shape the woman to further his ambition,

Use her we shall to see his avaricious soul in perdition!”

Said the Demon Lord in fury, for he disliked being anybody’s slave.

With cunning and subterfuge, he planted in Rosa’s house a knave.

An expert in the art of deception and manipulation was he,

Swiftly Flavia became adored, ensured he Rosa’s favorite be.

Mario thought the young knave amusing, liked he the silly fool,

Flavia plotted evil to ensnare Rosa, have her become his tool.

To Rosa he revealed secrets dark, of power truly liberating,

Blind to Flavia’s scheme, Rosa found his knowledge intoxicating.

The knave offered many enchantments too good to resist,

Rosa’s hunger grew; she ignored her cautioning instinct to desist.

“Master, soon the foolish female shall be wholly ensnared,

Regret her hungry pursuit of our secrets she had dared!”

“Well done, Flavia; your devious nature makes me proud,”

Declared the Demon Lord, his grim voice boomed loud.

“Tempt her next to attempt to capture an Afreet,

Let her call upon me so I can nail to the floor her feet!”

Too late Rosa learned at what cost had come her new skill,

Captured she was by the summoned Afreet’s implacable will.

“Foolish woman! Know not you the price of magic wielded?”

Rosa, aghast, stared at the face of Death, and meekly yielded.

In the blink of an eye, she found herself down,

In an infernal place, far from heaven’s glow.