Consequences are like shadows, they follow us as mortals wherever we go.
Be it our acts are decent and noble or they are sprung up upon us by a source of notoriety, the consequences always come back like a thief in the night to strike when we least expect it.
While in Crown Lake, Halanda got more than she bargained for, she got cursed by the Crown Lake which had its roots in one of the reckless acts of the High Lords who dwelled in Avalon.
As Orion watched as everything played out, he decided to pay close attention to what happened to those who have been in the lake and had never been out.
His curiosity had gotten the better part of him at this point, he kept watching as Halanda went deep into the black waters of the Crown Lake.
The tree of the illicit grapes is an art of nature that had been in existence before the existence of the mortals.
it used to be a playground for Vlada long before he was exiled, each High Lord had his playground where they lounged and rested away from the Avalon.
it was a privilege they all had however after the rule of the universe was violated by Vlada, he started a war with the rest of the High Lords.
There came a violation of the order of the realm due to Vlada's disobedience to the supreme order of the universe by waging war against his fellow terrestrial.
His exile was not his only punishment after he was defeated.
He also became cursed alongside everything that belonged to him.
Crown Lake became a cursed abode for both mortals and terrestrials and anyone else who steps into it becomes accursed.
Doomed to become a slave of the Lake with a piece of their soul becoming imprisoned.
Halanda took her trip down the tree without making inquiries, it was a long dark journey into its abyss.
During this period some of the spells and sorcery arts she had mastered from Frotos came in handy plus she felt stronger in this man's body which helped her to carry on.
She transformed herself into a black harpy and was able to fly through most of the journey.
The beasts that guide the grapes waited in silence as a predator towards its prey, they could sense her arrival the moment she stepped her foot into the lake.
They were blind sea snake-like creatures with the head of a viper and the tail of a horse.
Both were fiery red as fire and their eyes emanated its glow.
Although they could not see, they sensed a great deal and could sight any creature within and around the lake so they stayed stiff almost frozen as the atmosphere became completely still.
The beasts who are called the Supa DA Yuen do not waste any time devouring the moment they sense the arrival of new prey.
Asides from the powers of perception they equally can freeze whoever they touch to death within a very short while.
All around the Illicit Crown Lake Tree, there was a total blanket of snow and everywhere was covered.
Halanda in Gilk's body noticed that asides from the mystery red and white tree which now stood before her, nothing else survived in the environs.
There was no animal nor plant on the land and she wondered how the red and white tree survived on the land.
The tree surprisingly appeared very indestructible with an abundant trunk and hefty branches.
A true luxuriant beauty to behold in all its glamour, whilst everywhere else was frozen and silent.
The Supa Da Yuen had frozen up waiting patiently just for her to come nearer so they can strike their fatal blow.
Like they have been doing for centuries to every mortal or creature that trespasses on the land.
Halanda with the help of her sorcery powers became alert and transformed back into the Gilk whose body she was using trying to cast a spell on the guardian beasts an effort which proved futile and which annoyed the creatures to unfreeze themselves and fight her tooth and nail.
Seeing that she was no match for them and decided to negotiate a trade instead.
She was already exhausted at this point and thus said to the creatures 'Ancient guardians of the abyss, I do not mean to steal your seeds; I want to be your messenger' she went further to convince the creatures of her expertise and powers In dark arts and how she was willing to bring humans every seven days for the feasting of the creatures.
Halanda nonetheless did not mean any of these words, she just wanted a way out of her predicament but the Supa Da Yuen was pleased with the overture and agreed to it.
Halanda had no choice but to fulfill the terms of what she had promised.
She was made to donate some of her blood which was sealed and hexed in case she fails to fulfill the terms of the deal, she would suffer a fate worse than death.
The Supa Da Yuen knew they would have Halanda as their slave for all of the time and were very happy at this prospect.
Halanda in question was too naive and greedy to slow down and think through the decision she just made.
She was given the illicit grapes in abundance and was even permitted to take some water from the Crown Lake as the illicit grape seeds could only survive in the Crown Lake.
Now she could go ahead and grow her tree, the creatures having fulfilled their part of the deal gave her certain instructions before she left which in their own words 'It is better to be obeyed'.
She had to sacrifice someone for the Supa Da Yuen every seven days, a condition she reluctantly agreed to it was too late to back out now.
The creatures yet did not tell her all the conditions, as she was about to leave they told her on a final note 'there is more to be done, but we shall watch over you for now.
Halanda was able to fulfill her bargain of sacrificing someone every seven days for ten years, she opened business hookers and became a bawd within a short period.
The place was run as a brothel during the day and as a slaughterhouse by night as a lot of men were led to their deaths, and seduced into their doom.
This went on for ten years discreetly, being in the body of a strong man also gave her some extra privileges and this enabled her to cover up her evil deeds for the next ten years.
The time came when she had to give up Gilk's body to transform her soul into another, she was already getting tormented severely at this point and the ghost of Gilk had begun stalking her, threatening from the shadows while he snarled at her.
Halanda wanted to get herself a beautiful and royal body one which commanded absolute power and affluence, she decided to leave the land and travel far to the home of the pipers as she knows that is where the princess of the sea comes to relax.
King Onorra had only one daughter, a thoughtful and beautiful girl who loved to bask in the adventures of the outside world.
A red-haired belle who spends her time outside the castle, all men sought after this ravishing damsel with her pulchritudinous chocolate skin color.
She had a voluptuous shape, her eyes sparkled when she smiled revealing her alluring dimples which spread wide to the corners of her mouth when she smiled.
Everyone called her the apple of the eyes of the glitter, and her influence spread far and wild across the other kingdoms.
Her name Zaruci became a household name in no time as she endeared herself into the hearts of many, winning a lot of wars for her kingdom with her feminine charms, wit, and skill set.
Halanda has found her perfect match and she knew all she had to do was convince Zaruci to trust her long enough for her to be able to transit her soul into the body of Zaruci and become a part of the royal world.
A world she had longed to dominate ever since she was a child.
During this period Halanda encountered great misery from the dwarf-like tormentors.
Gilk kept on watching her and whispering to her ears at night in a slow threatening voice.
His face hollow and his eyes black, she also sees the collector beside him, with its glowing eyes this time holding an iron whip and whipping the soul of Gilk.
Suddenly it switched to thrashing her and she could feel her voice leaving her while she squealed in pain but no one could hear her.
Her body had already become weak and over time it depleted rapidly giving her a limited time for her soul to find a new host.