...Diary Pages!

"August 8th, ten midnight." it read. Another. "May Second, 2 AM". Yet another. "December Fourth: Noon."

Astra knew it was a small chance but she picked a page and read it by the light of the crackling fire.

"June 4th, Four AM.
I have not been able to sleep. Judith, the new maid has reported something in the south wing. She said it was small, dark and scurried after her. She planned to quit but I threatened her. I am so ashamed. I am so powerful in this town yet I go as low as to threaten a maid. I also did not tell her of the tears in her dress fabric. Tears on the level of her shoulders.

"It is now an hour pass the sunrise yet it is still dark outside. I fear...I fear the last of my castle has been taken. I...the stars are not how they should be. Why does he do this to me? Why?

"Judith is dead. I found her strung up in the library. Her insides were strung from second floor balustrade to second floor balustrade. She swung in the draft, twenty feet above the floor.

"I have the blade ready. My documents are in the storage room. This shall be also before I am done. I shall imbue this paper with a 'Chance' spell, one that might deliver it into the hands of any who need it. Only useful thing I can think to do with my life. Fortunately the wizard who taught me the chance spell also taught me a way to dampen pain. I really hope it works, I head the wrists can be so sensitive. "

Astra let the paper fall out of her hands. What is going on here? Is something planning to subsume the realm of dreams?

The castle that Was There then Wasn't was a legend used by older kids to scare younger kids. Was this its origin?

1. ...the trap door is ripped off it's hinges.
2. ...the flame reaches out and burns the papers to ash in seconds.
3. ...a gibbering laughter floats up from the hole in the floor.

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