Healing is all That's Left

What's left of this but wasted time

And the need to carry on

If I'm not here, my heart is mine

I live better on my own

What's left of this but balanced lies

And something that's tangled

Even if you bleed my heart dry

If I forget, I won't be mangled

What's left of me but an aching soul

And a confused sense of thought

Whenever I'm once again whole

I'll be the one who forgot

I'll let go of this when I'm able

But now I need to ache

It takes time to be stable

After such a brutal heartbreak

New Literature

Since I can't find any good websites to write my books on, I suppose I'll start writing them here. I should inform anyone who has been reading my first book on here(though noone has) that there is a sequel I have begun on it, but I have discontinued it for now. I will be writing a book that takes place in new settings and contains completely different characters. It has absolutely no ties to the previous novel. I hope if anyone decides to read this new project will enjoy, but you will have to read as I write and don't be surprised if there are slight changes in previous chapters that you may have read. It may be better to just wait until the whole novel is done. Not that I expect any readers, but this is just a heads up in case someone decides to surprise me. By the way, have a happy Halloween everyone! :)

Chapter Nine-The Wistful Brothers-End

Chapter Seven-The Dark Mother's Memory

Ian limped across the schoolyard, searching for any sign of the princess. The faint sound of screams and laughter rang in his ears and made his head ache badly. He hoped that she had run. Maybe one of the escorts was with her, protecting her while he couldn’t. He glanced back at the giant ogre that had thrown him away from Ashleigh. It lied motionless on the ground, its fingers still twitching occasionally. Serrano certainly wasn’t the smartest person. Either that or he was so obsessed with obtaining the princess that he just wasn’t thinking clearly.
Ian sighed shakily. He hadn’t had time to tell her about Maria. He had felt such dark energy around her so suddenly; it completely caught him off-guard. He felt almost guilty for not taking the princess’s word that Maria wasn’t what she seemed. The young lady had disappeared and he hadn’t even bothered to make sure she wasn’t off plotting something. He’d been too hopeful, too concerned to know what the princess had said. He was so sure that she was going to tell him that she-
“Little cat!” a voice that he was not glad to hear called. Ian turned viciously towards Jeanquenche.
“What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you have something to do with this after all those things you told the princess! I knew they had to be lies!” he snapped.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Ashleigh is safely on her way home now. She asked me to come make sure you were still alive. Now that I see you are, I have no time to stand here and argue about it. I must go help the others rid this world of the demons,” Jeanquenche said disdainfully. “You can join if you want.”
“Wait!” Ian said, running up to the man. “Do you have an idea of how this could have happened? I mean, other than Serrano-”
“I feel you should know that taking the little princess’s advice in the first place would have been the smartest thing to do. You should have worn the necklace as soon as I gave it to you. Then you would have known that Lady Maria was deceiving you this whole time and this scenario would have been prevented. But you insisted that I was a man against my word and that I was trying to trick you. So, you were a victim of Maria’s dark magic and fell for her lies of being completely innocent.
Now, little cat, let me tell you what I have told the princess. I have completely changed and from now on, I will continue to live here as the Art teacher at this school-”
“How is that relevant to what’s happening right now!? Stop ranting like a mad man and let us go find the others!” Ian interrupted bluntly. Jeanquenche sighed tiredly.
“You and the princess are exactly alike. You are so disrespectful to your elders-”
“You’re only four years older! Get passed it and let’s go!”
“I believe the ideology is ‘get over it’,” Jeanquenche corrected dryly. They began to search the grounds for others and found Monjo lifting a large slab of cement off of Arnan. They ran over and helped him. The cement flipped over onto the other side of the ground with a loud thud. Arnan lied there unconscious. Monjo got on one knee and slapped his face lightly. He stirred and looked up at them in a daze. There was dried blood at the corner of his mouth and his eyes were dull. Monjo groaned despairingly.
“I’m fine, big guy,” Arnan told him with a weak smile. “You guys just go see if the princess is okay. I’ll be fine where I am.” Monjo stood abruptly and grabbed Arnan up and tossed him over his shoulder. Arnan winced with pain.
“I guess you are coming with us,” Jeanquenche snorted. “And I am pretty sure the princess is all right. Let’s worry about destroying all of these fiends before they hurt another Earthling.”
“Govannis and Felan are around here somewhere. We should look for them to make sure they’re okay,” Ian suggested. The others nodded and made out to search for them.
When they did find them, Govannis was trying to swipe at a disgusting flying creature harassing them. There was a loud, echoing POP and the thing fell limply to the ground. Everyone looked to Jeanquenche pointedly. He blew the smoke from the end of his gold pistol and tucked it away smugly.
“Gift from a friend in Parisona,” he explained needlessly. With a roll of his eyes, Ian turned and kneeled down beside an injured Felan. His leg was tied up tightly with Govannis’s tie above a deep wound that was still slowly bleeding.
“I can’t stop the bleeding,” Govannis explained. “I have tried everything!”
“What was he attacked by?” Jeanquenche asked.
“A thing similar to the winged ones, only it walked and had curling horns. It came from behind; we had no time to react. I am sorry,” Govannis said pitifully. Jeanquenche grimaced at the wound.
“That creature, a bull-snake, is poisonous. It stops all the clotting in the blood and it cannot heal over. I have several antidotes in my home, but it is miles away. I doubt if we can make it by foot, and he is in no condition to warp,” he explained.
“What are we supposed to do?” Govannis asked.
“We could drive,” Arnan suggested, pointing at a dented silver-painted car that was fairly small.
“Do any of you actually know how to drive?” Ian asked timidly.
“I do!” Jeanquenche volunteered eagerly. “I learned on the magic window people call the Internet,” he added smugly. Ian eyed him uncertainly.
“I’m not sure that’s how it is supposed to be mastered-”
“Oh, get your tail out of a knot, little cat! I do well enough. I will take the two wounded ones to be tended to and you others get rid of the baddies. See you in a bit, my friends,” Jeanquenche said. He beckoned Monjo and Monjo slung Felan on his other shoulder and followed him obediently. Ian felt like he would be sick from all of his distraught nerves when they got into the vehicle and shot off along the dark road.
“Do you think you can take care of the rest of them? I am worried for the princess,” Ian said shakily. Govannis put a comforting hand onto his shoulder.
“You may go. I think the worst of them are taken care of, my friend. We will be able to handle it, I am sure,” he told him. With an appreciative nod to him, Ian dashed off without a second thought. His leg was still hurting and not completely healed from the fracture that dreadful ogre had given him. He ignored it completely and kept running. The streets were too dark and quiet. Not even his defined eyes could make out the objects before him. He had to go completely from memory to the princess’s home, running into something several times. He finally saw the warm glow of her bedroom window and dashed toward the silhouette it casted up the tree outside it.
He leapt onto a branch of the tree without transforming and threw the window open.
“Ashleigh!? Are you here?” he called to the empty room. There wasn’t an answer and he felt his heart speed sickeningly. He rapped on her bathroom door and then finally slammed it open. It was empty. He tore down the stairs and began searching every room. He ran into Mrs. Spesky suddenly and nearly knocked her over.
“Where is my daughter?” the woman demanded without hesitation, grabbing him by the shirt and shaking him. “Those things, did they get her? Tell me!” she cried frantically.
“I do not know! I am searching myself!” Ian told her, moving her hands away.
“Aren’t you supposed to be the one protecting her!? Isn’t that your job? What good are you if can’t even keep up with her?” the woman wept. Ian was not surprised that she knew about him. She probably recognized him the moment she saw him on the couch with the princess. She didn’t let on, but maybe that was her way of pretending that there wasn’t a crazed man after her step-daughter and that she needed to be protected at all times.
“Mrs. Spesky, I will find her, I promise,” Ian told her firmly. “Even-even if he has her, I will go myself and get her back!” Mrs. Spesky just shook her head and wondered off from him to the living room. She collapsed onto the couch and sobbed heavily. Ian frowned deeply at the crying woman. He had to get a Ashleigh back. He would get her back. There was nothing that would stand in his way.
He rushed back up stairs to change out of the distressful clothing he wore. He turned to leave out of the window and saw the last thing he had ever hoped to see.
“Maria?” he gulped, not liking the evil smile upon her lips.
“Hello, dear,” she said mischievously. “If you’re looking for your beloved princess, she’s long gone. I sent her off to Serrano, and won’t he be pleased?”
“Why have you done this?” Ian demanded. “Tell me why you would do such evil!”
“Ian, I did it for us,” Maria said with an earnest smile. “We can finally be together, and she won’t be in the way!”
“I want nothing to do with you, you-you ginger-headed brat!” Ian snapped, searching for the names that Ashleigh had called her. Maria frowned angrily and snapped out a tangling rope at her side.
“Sorry, love, but after all I’ve been through, you don’t have a choice.”

lll

Ashleigh felt cold, despite the pile of blankets she could feel pressing her to a soft mattress. Something smelled so floral. She tried to open her eyes and found she couldn’t. They felt so heavy.
“Where am I?” she said aloud. She could still talk at least.
“Open your eyes and you will know,” a soft voice said. Ashleigh felt chills go through her at the voice, and not the good kind. The voice was too pleasant and adoring, which seemed wrong since she didn’t recognize the voice.
“I can’t,” Ashleigh told the stranger breathlessly, straining to do it anyway.
“Just calm yourself. Take deep breaths. The spell the little one put on you paralyzed almost all of your movements. It seems that you speak well enough, but sight and body movement tend to come back much slower. You just have to relax and everything will return to you,” the voice explained gently. Ashleigh tried to clear her mind and lessen the tenseness in her body. She felt frozen, so it was hard to do. She inhaled and exhaled several times before her eyes popped open unexpectedly.
“What the…” she trailed off and looked above her at the high ceiling painted with odd but beautiful creatures. A snowy bed canopy hung above her on tall bed posts. She must still be dreaming. Everything made her feel disoriented and surreal for some reason. The smell of flowers became thicker and made her feel light-headed.
“Would you like me to help you sit up?” the voice offered. Ashleigh didn’t say anything. She just laid there feeling dizzy. If she could have straightened her thoughts out, she would have told him not to touch her. But since she was unable to muster the words, she felt hands slide under the small of her back and pull her up right. She was unprepared for the face she saw. The pale blonde hair and golden-brown eyes…it just couldn’t be!
“You…” she said weakly. A warm smile lit his face slowly.
“Navia,” he said huskily. “I have waited so long for this moment-to finally hold you again. Now we can finally be together.” Ashleigh just stared at him blankly. He laughed at her shock.
“I have missed these deep blue eyes that never failed to tell me your thoughts. You are as surprised to see me as I am surprised that you recognize me. Which only means that our souls still know each other,” he said seriously.
“Um, actually…you just really look like a guy in some really weird dreams I’ve had,” Ashleigh said awkwardly. “And since you called me Navia, I’m guessing that you are that person. What I don’t understand is why I’m here when that brat of a girl said she was taking me to Serrano so that I wouldn’t be in her way anymore.” Ashleigh was bewildered by the loud, rich laughter that emitted from him. He stood with her in his arms and twirled her around as he continued to laugh.
“My dear!” he exclaimed. “Don’t you realize?”Ashleigh’s eyes spun in her head almost painfully.
“Realize what?” she asked dully. He laughed once more and sat down with her in his lap. She laid limply in his arms, feeling like a vegetable.
“I am Serrano,” he said graciously. Ashleigh’s body gave a jerk and she nearly fell out of his arms onto the floor.
“What in the world are you doing?” he asked with amusement.
“Let me go!” she ordered angrily. “Oh, God, once I get the feeling I my body back, I swear I’m gonna smack you so hard, you’ll wish you never messed with me!”
“Calm down, Navia-”
“Stop calling me Navia! My name is Ashleigh and you best recognize boy-o!”
“You are being ridiculous!” he exclaimed. “All this time I have been awaiting your return, and now you are acting like a mad woman!”
“I’ll show you mad!” she snapped. She tried to curl her fingers around his shoulder-length hair and yank it, must he misconceived it that she was trying to pull him closer. He leaned his head forward and kissed her deeply. Ashleigh moaned in protest against his lips, but he didn’t stop until he needed to surface for oxygen.
“That,” he said breathlessly, “was very overdue. It is so wonderful to finally kiss you like you deserved to be kissed. I only wish I had more time to be with you. I have work I must do. There are many plans to run over. I am having a celebration in honor of your return to me, Navia. Tonight will be our night.” Ashleigh didn’t know whether to laugh in his face or burst out crying. On the bright side, she could move her toes again. She squirmed in his arms and he allowed her to move away from him.
“I’m not going to any celebration! I don’t want anything to do with you! Send me back to my world!” she snapped. Serrano frowned at her deeply.
“You are not thinking clearly. Perhaps a hot bath and some time to think will help you feel better. I will reluctantly leave you to yourself.” He leaned over and took her chin in his hands to give her a final forceful kiss before walking out of the room. Ashleigh stared after him contemptuously. She waited a minute to know for sure that he was gone. Then she ran to the door. It nearly smacked her in the face when she made to open it.
“Oh, my, I am so sorry, Your Highness!” a very short, plump woman said sincerely. She wore a rag over her head and a very plain, brown dress and white apron. And taller, skinnier woman dressed similar to her waited behind her.
“Who are you supposed to be?” Ashleigh asked rudely.
“We are servants of His Lordship and we are here to help you bathe,” the plump one explained.
“We have to ready you for the celebration, Your Highness,” the skinny one added. Ashleigh crossed her arms and turned away from them.
“I’m not going to any celebration, you can just forget that! I want out of here, tell me how to get out of this place,” she said disdainfully.
“Oh, Your Highness, we are sorry, but we were told to keep you inside at all times for your protection!” the plump one said sorrowfully.
“My protection? What exactly are you protecting me from? Serrano is the one who is keeping me here against my will!” she snapped.
“Our Lordship would never do such a thing! You must be mistaken. He only brought you here to save you from your kidnappers! It’s taken him years to finally free you, and he fears that someone will take you hostage again!” Ashleigh had never heard such a ridiculous stream of lies come from someone so freely. She stomped her foot and squealed angrily, much like a spoiled child would do. Then she just threw her hands up.
“All right, I’ll play along with your ‘Lordship’s’ little game. But I’ve been bathing myself for over ten years now, so I think I can manage now! Go away!”
“We can’t. He said not to leave until you are ready,” the skinny one said.
“Fine, sit in here while I wash off. Where’s the bathroom?” Ashleigh asked.
“Beg pardon, Your Highness, but what is a bathroom?” the plump one asked.
“I think she meant the washing room,” the skinny one explained. The plump one nodded vigorously and bustled to the door way to pull a cart into through the wide doors. On it was a large wooden washtub like Ashleigh had seen on Western movies.
“Forget it, I am not taking a bath in that,” Ashleigh said distastefully. “Isn’t he some high and mighty lord? Can’t afford to do better than that? And how about the air in here? Why is it so cold and smelling like flowers?”
“She’s a whiney one, the princess,” the skinny one mumbled to the other.
“You’re darn straight I am!” Ashleigh snapped. “Since you all are going to keep me here against my will, I am going to make your lives a living nightmare! Now, go find me a more decent bathtub and get a fire going on in here. Else-wise, I’m not going to that stupid celebration!”
“But miss, the only other washtub better suited than this is in his Lordship’s chambers. We do not think he will approve-“
“What he don’t know won’t hurt him. Now, take me to his bathroom, or I refuse to do anything that anybody tells me,” Ashleigh threatened. The two maids looked at each other uncomfortably and sighed.
“Very well, your Highness, we will lead you there. But if his Lordship asks-”
“I’ll take the heat,” Ashleigh allowed. “But he won’t do anything to me since he loves me so much.” She made a distasteful face at that and followed the other two out of the room. The corridor they walked down was narrow and tall. Everything was so dark and cold. What was wrong with Serrano? Was he seriously demented so badly? She had a dim image of the sweet little boy from her dream. Had those dreams been accidents, or was it her just trying to remember? How could someone so sweet become so dark and conniving?
“What kind of lord is Serrano anyway?” Ashleigh asked bluntly. They both glanced back at her with surprise.
“What do you mean, Your Highness?” the skinny one asked.
“What is he lord of?” Ashleigh clarified.
“Why, just about half of the Southern Providence!” the plump one exclaimed.
“Wouldn’t that make him king?” Ashleigh asked wryly.
“His father is king.”
“Wouldn’t that make him a prince?”
“His brother is the prince.”
“Who is his brother?”
“Ian Contouro.” Ashleigh stopped so abruptly, she nearly stumbled over her own feet. She stared at the women as they continued on without her. There wasn’t a clear thought in her mind. Ian was his brother? But they had different last names! Talk about with-holding information from someone! There were so many things she didn’t know about this world, and she’s suppose to be its princess. No pressure or anything, she thought wryly.
“Your Highness, are you coming?” the skinny maid asked impatiently. Ashleigh nodded absently and caught up with them.
“Who’s going to be at this celebration?” Ashleigh asked curiously. “I mean, Serrano is pretty much a hated guy, so who would want to come celebrate something with him?”
“Why do you have such an ill image of our lord? He is very well-loved in our southern lands. Never mind what everyone up north and to the east think. They are so far away, how could they possibly know what he is like?” the plump one speculated.
“Maybe they inferred by how he has been trying to obsessively capture me,” Ashleigh muttered. “Well, it seems he has finally succeeded. It’s only a matter of time before Ian comes to rescue me. I can wait.”

lll

Ian twisted in the rope that held him bound to an old wood chair. He knew there was no point in trying to get out this way. He tried to morph into a cat so that he could slip easily from his bonds. He found that he couldn’t.
“Oh, Ian, I wish you would stop being so resistant. There really is no use in it,” Maria said sadly into the quiet room. She was suddenly standing at the door, thought it hadn’t been unlocked or opened in any way.
“What have you done? Why can’t I change?” he demanded fiercely.
“Why would you want to? If you could only cooperate and act like the prince I’ve always been meant to marry-”
“Answer my question!” Ian snapped. She winced at his lashing tone. Then she made a face of pure contempt.
“That rope I’ve bound you with is made with a special kind of material. It has been blessed by the Dark Mother, the Goddess who gives me my strength and magic-”
“You could get your magic from nothing other than the filthiest witch! I suffocate merely from breathing in the aurora of it. Do you not know the damage such magic will do to your soul?” Ian said coldly. Then he added dismissively, “Not that I could care less.”
“Your words are venomous, but I know your heart better than any, Ian. My magic my be dark, but my love is pure, like you,” Maria said desperately, her angry expression turned innocent. Ian could finally see what the princess had meant about Maria feigning innocence. He had a lot of apologizing to do.
“How is it that you started doing Serrano’s dirty work?” Ian asked, ignoring what she had said to him.
“He promised you to me. Though you were already meant to be with me, I couldn’t take any chances in that disrespectful, despicable, undisciplined princess having you instead. Serrano said that if I gave him the princess, he would give me you in return.”
“How can you think to bargain a living being with another? Are we nothing but pets to you to trade off until you get the one you want?”
“I only want you-”
“I think you are completely missing my point. You certainly have taken a turn for the worst since I’ve seen you last. I don’t understand this because you used to be such a sweet girl. What made you do this?”
“Well,” Maria said icily,” when both you and the princess left this world almost exactly at the same time three years ago, Serrano and I was placed in the same position. We were without the ones we loved. You and your kingdom perceive love so wrongly and took Serrano’s affections for the princess. You thought he was planning something deviant for her. You don’t know what love is, or you would understand that I would do anything to have you!” Maria cried her voice nearly cracking.
Ian really didn’t know what to say to her because it was obvious that she had misplaced her mind. If only he could get out of this forsaken binding!
“It was my brother’s fault for not knowing how to express his love without giving the impression that he had evil intensions. Grabbing her up in the middle of the night and trying to make it to the Central Kingdom with her where no one would have been able to find her is not how one expresses their love,” Ian said wryly.
“He wanted to run away with her so they could live their life together!” Maria snapped. “You were not there when they brought her back, were you? I was. My mother and I were staying in the castle that night for the Muezeralith celebration. At least five guards had to force her into the castle. I was watching the entire thing. She was screaming at the top of her lungs that they couldn’t keep her away from him. Her father forbade her to see him again. He erased all memory she had of Serrano and sent her to Earth to be heavily protected by that Spesky gentleman. Serrano had declared he would have her back and no one would tear them apart again!”
Ian could not muster the comprehension of her words. Lies, he thought rashly. They were all deceiving lies!
“Oh, Ian, I can see it in your eyes that you do not believe me. What do you want me to say if not the truth? I am sure when Serrano returns her memory tonight; you will see the honesty of my words.”
“What do you mean? What is he going to do to her?” Ian demanded. Maria sighed.
“I just told you; do you not listen to anything that I say? Tonight, he is holding a special celebration- a wedding, if you will. He will tell her the true story of how things were as he says his vows. Then they will be together like they always wanted. Remember when I told you I idolized the princess? Every word of it was true. I want our love to be just like the love she and Serrano have.”
lll

“This thing looks like a Gothic cupcake,” Ashleigh said disgustedly. She held the black and blue puffy dress up to her chest. “How can you expect me to walk around in this thing, much less celebrate?” The two maids, who she now knew as Berthilia and Melidana, sighed shakily and pulled yet another dress from the vast selection of strange dresses that hung in the wardrobe. They were back in the room Ashleigh had awakened in. Serrano’s bathroom had been huge with a large, round ceramic bathtub. She stayed in there for a good half hour and was able to release all her stress into the hot steamy water if only for a moment. Now Berthilia and Melidana were searching for a dress she was suppose to wear to the ‘celebration’. So far, all of them had been either hideous or to bizarre for her.
“How does this suit your liking?” Melidana asked, holding up what Ashleigh perceived to be a crimson circus tent. Ashleigh shoved the woman aside impatiently and went to dig in the closet herself. Her hand landed on something silky and a light flashed before her eyes.
“Your Highness!” she heard Berthilia shriek. Melidana caught Ashleigh as she fell back. She felt weird, like she was going to faint.

“Navia!” she heard someone call at her window. Navia’s stomach fluttered nervously. She was really going to do this. She could hardly believe it. But it was the only way they could be together.
“I’m coming!” she whispered loudly out the window. She reached for her satchel.
“Hurry!”
“I’m trying!” She threw the window open wide and looked down at Serrano-
Why was Serrano out there? And who was this girl leaving with him?
“Jump!” he told her, smiling brightly. Jump? Was he insane? “Come on!” Ashleigh took in a deep breath and closed her eyes. She leapt off of her window sill into his arms.
Why was she sneaking out with the enemy?
“Are you ready?” Serrano asked with excited anticipation. Navia nodded firmly.
“I’ve been waiting for this night for a long time,” she told him sincerely. He smiled with uncontainable happiness and kissed her soundly. She kissed him back fully.
What was wrong with her? Ashleigh still couldn’t get a good look at her face.
“And so we will risk everything together and be together forever,” he said seriously.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
I would.
“What about Ian? Won’t you miss him?” Navia asked. Serrano looked distant for a moment. He just sighed and set her down.
“There will be many things I will miss and many more that I will not. I’m giving up everything for you, Navia. Because I know you can make me happier than any of my family or memories ever will. Ian will understand one day. I do wish to see him again.”
“I’m sure you will. Once our families are over their silly little grudge about you and I, then we will be able to return,” Navia assured him.
Ashleigh could have rolled her eyes at this dream.
“We should go, before anyone realizes that you are gone,” Serrano said. Navia nodded and took his hand. They snuck into the stable and took a horned horse from its stall. Serrano lifted her up onto it and straddled behind her. He took the reins and waited until they were far down the castle’s path before he urged the horse into a gallop. Navia turned to take one last look behind her and Ashleigh could finally see her face.
“No,” Ashleigh said aloud. Serrano turned to look at her.
“What is the matter, Navia?” he asked with concern.
“No, it can’t be-”
“Navia-”
“I’m not Navia-”
“Navia, stop this! You are being ridiculous, wake up!” Ashleigh blinked blankly. She was back in the room and someone was propping her up. She looked up and saw with dread that it was Serrano.
“Let me up,” she snapped at him. She shoved him away and sat up.
“Why did you faint? Are you sick?” Serrano asked urgently. Ashleigh rolled her eyes and realized she was still only wearing a very short bathrobe. She clutched it to her tightly and turned a bright red.
“Get out of here! I’m not even dressed!”She ordered him. He frowned at her with superiority and grabbed her by the wrist roughly.
“I do not know why you insist on treating me as though I am your enemy! Don’t you remember anything? What have they said or done to turn you against me?” he asked.
“Look, I don’t get what the deal is with you insisting that we’re supposed to be together, and I really don’t know why I keep having weird dreams of me and you, but I will tell you one thing,” Ashleigh said, tearing away from him and standing to her feet. “I do remember you hurting your own brother to get to me! I do remember you sending Mr. Jean and Maria after me! I do remember you having my prom date stolen, and for what it is worth, I especially remember you trying to have Ian taken away from me, which is the biggest no-no of them all!”
“I do not know what you mean by this word “no-no”,” Serrano said with confusion.
“That doesn’t matter! You have done everything to get me here with you, and now that I’m finally here, isn’t it a shame for me to tell you I want nothing to do with you and I pretty much hate everything about you!? So, with that being the case-Let. Me. Go. Home.”
“I don’t understand why you persist to leave when being together was the only thing that mattered when we were leaving together. They have done something to you, I just know it! And I will figure out what it is. Until then, I ask you as your host to please come to my celebration tonight as my honored guest.” Serrano bowed to her and Ashleigh didn’t really know what to say. So instead, she nudged him toward the doorway.
“I can’t go to a party naked. Get out of here so I can get dressed,” she said. Serrano gave her the happiest smile and left without another word. Ashleigh stared at the closed door. What is she getting herself into? Why had she just agreed to be agreeable? This was ridiculous.
“Well, that was quite a scene, Your Highness. Are you all right?” Melidana asked.
“I’m fine,” she lied. She peered into the closet cautiously and saw the silky sheen of the white cloth she had touch from before. She reached with hesitation to touch it again. Nothing happened this time, to her relief. She took the dress out to look at it better.
“Wow,” she said with surprise, “this is really pretty.” It was a floor-length dress with short princess sleeves that went off the shoulder and a Victorian-style lace-up in the back. The neckline dipped into a v, and at the center of it was a small blue glass flower that contrasted greatly to the sheer whiteness of the rest of the dress.
Berthilia and Melidana both exclaimed with delight and Ashleigh looked at them strangely. They managed to retain their composure.
“Sorry, Your Highness,” Melidana said graciously, “but that is the dress that Our Lordship and you were meant to be married in when you ran away together!” Ashleigh’s heart stopped and she immediately made to hang it back up. But then she paused as a shiver went through her. That’s right. She-Navia-was wearing this dress in her dream. What did this mean? Ashleigh stood back and looked at the dress in serious thought.
“Your Highness…?” Berthilia said with quiet concern. Ashleigh ignored her and walked over to the full-view mirror that stood against the wall. She held the dress up to her and looked at her reflection longingly. The smell of summer night air and the warmth of a strangers arms…
“I shouldn’t,” she told herself. “But I really want to. Of course it wouldn’t be right because it would be giving him what he wants. But-”
“Pardon me, Your Highness,” Melidana said softly, “but it wouldn’t hurt. I mean you dislike everything else in the wardrobe, correct? So, this is really your only option.”
“Yeah,” Ashleigh said, quickly grabbing onto that excuse, “you’re right. I don’t want to wear those gaudy disasters, so I should wear this. All right, help me into it.” Ashleigh shed her bathrobe and let them help her into it. Ashleigh twirled around in the dress, watching it move in the mirror. She couldn’t deny that she loved it. It didn’t look like a wedding dress at all, more like an elegant evening gown. She felt pretty and sophisticated.
“We should fix your hair,” Melidana told her. “The celebration will begin soon, and you don’t want to be late. Guests are already arriving.” Ashleigh gave her a look.
“How about I do my own hair. I don’t trust your world’s style,” she said.
“It is more your world than it is mine, Your Highness,” she pointed out. “We won’t do anything out of your range, we promise.” Ashleigh begrudgingly allowed them to lead her to a small vanity and toy with her long hair. It took almost an hour just to get the painful tangles out. They applied some sort of floral-smelling red oil to her hair and Ashleigh watched with surprised as it started curling itself into perfect spirals. Ashleigh wished she had this to put on her hair every day before school. It would save a lot of time. Melidana swept some of the curls back and held them in place while Berthilia placed a delicate tiara on the crown of her head. They set a leather bag onto the vanity and opened it up.
“Close your eyes, Your Highness,” Melidana instructed. Ashleigh eyed the flesh-colored mask that Melidana had extracted from the bag.
“What is that?” Ashleigh asked suspiciously. Melidana gave her an assuring smile.
“It is how we put on our makeup in this world. It is much efficient this way, trust me.”
Ashleigh wanted to point out that she didn’t trust any of them, but she closed her eyes anyway. Melidana placed the mask onto her face and it felt as though Ashleigh was wearing a facial mask. Melidana let it set there for a few minutes, and then she removed it slowly.
“See, Your Highness? It is very pretty,” Berthilia said sincerely. Ashleigh looked into the mirror and was glad to find she didn’t look like a clown. The mask had given her a light, glowing look. You could hardly tell she was wearing any makeup at all.
“Yeah, it’s nice,” she shrugged. “Is there anything else to do? I want to get this over with. I’m already tired.”
“You can’t go bare-foot. Here,” Berthilia said, kneeling down and slipping felt white heels onto her feet. It still felt like she wasn’t wearing any shoes because of the light material.
“His Lordship requested we give you this to wear,” Melidana said. She handed Ashleigh a slender velvet box. Ashleigh rolled her eyes and snatched it reluctantly.
“I don’t want anything from him, when will he see that?” she sighed. She opened it anyway and found a long silver chain with a glass flower pendant that matched the one on the dress. Under the necklace was a small note. She picked it up and read it.

“I had a feeling that you would remember. This should complete your adornments for this special night. I hope you approve.” – Your Beloved, Serrano

Ashleigh’s heart was thudding. This was just too weird. Her head was spinning now. What if he was right? That was ridiculous. If he was telling the truth, wouldn’t that make Ian the liar? Impossible. But it all added up. The dream-or maybe it was a memory. It had seemed real enough. Were the so-called ‘good guys’ the ones who were manipulating her? No. No, it wasn’t right-
“Perhaps you would like for me to assist you, Your Highness?” Melidana suggested, cutting through Ashleigh’s thoughts. Ashleigh didn’t answer her, but didn’t protest when she took it from her and hooked it around her neck. Ashleigh stared at it blankly in the mirror. There wasn’t a single clear thought in her mind.
“Come along now, it’s time. I am sure His Lordship is awaiting you eagerly,” Berthilia said. Ashleigh nodded absently. She stood and followed them out of the room, despite the fact she didn’t feel up to celebrating herself.

lll

“You look handsome, Ian. This is much better than the suit of their world,” Maria said affectionately. Ian scowled at her hatefully. He’d given up fighting the giant man who forced him into the formal attire he wore now-a crisp linen shirt beneath a gold vest and black frock coat, paired with black breeches and white stockings tucked into knee-length black boots.
“I refuse to go to this party you speak of! How can you think of celebrations after you have captured me and held me captive like this?” Ian demanded.
“Oh,” Maria said with false surprise, “I thought you would want to see the princess and Serrano finally marry-”
“What!? That is where we are going?” Ian exclaimed. “Why would you take me there when there is such a huge risk that I will try to escape with Ashleigh?”
“Ian, my dear that is hardly possible. Serrano has his best and most elite soldiers protecting the castle from all intruders and opposers. It is only common knowledge that he would make sure nothing would ruin this night. This is why he is allowing us to witness this wonderful event. After all, you are his brother. He wants you to be at his wedding!”
Maria turned to the large mirror and fluffed out the skirt of her green velvet tartan dress.
“Tonight will be one to remember. I can hardly wait. Basvious, please escort Ian to the carriage. Don’t hurt him anymore than you have to,” she added disdainfully. The big man lifted Ian up off the ground and toted him out of the door.
“You are making the simplest mistakes, Maria. There is nothing that can keep me from rescuing her now!”
“If you say so, my dear. If you say so,” Maria giggled.

lll

Ashleigh felt awkward and out of place as she walked down the curving stairs .She didn’t have a guard with her or anything. She could just easily walk out of here…
But where would she go? She had no idea where anything in this world was and she could easily get lost. Most likely, Serrano would just find her stranded somewhere and drag her right back to the castle. Regardless, she still felt like she needed to try to escape.
“Your Highness!” A man that looked like he just jumped out of the eighteen hundreds bowed low to her at the end of the stairs. She rolled her eyes and grabbed him by the shoulders to straighten him up.
“Don’t do that, it’s weird,” she said irritably. “Where am I supposed to go to get to where the party is?” The man was startled for a moment, but cleared his throat quickly.
“The celebration will take place in the drawing room that is down the second corridor, in the sixth entrance to your left. Would you like me to lead you there?” he offered.
“Um, no, I think I can manage,” Ashleigh said. He raised a brow at her suspiciously.
“I should inform you, Your Highness, that all the windows have heavy amounts of crystal lead in them. They are hard to raise and most likely are sealed off completely. Do not waste time getting to the drawing room. His Lordship awaits you.” Ashleigh gave him a contemptuous look and walked on past him to follow his directions.
Ashleigh believed she could have simply followed the sound of loud violins, flutes, and horns pouring into the corridor. She pushed open the door that was cracked enough to let the first warm light she’d seen since she had been here. Light, music, and laughter exploded around her. Divinely dressed people danced and talked together happily all throughout the room. Ashleigh was almost breathless. Compared to this, the fairytale-themed prom seemed mediocre. She walked blindly into the room and immediately felt arms come around her.
“Navia,” Serrano whispered passionately into her ear, “I have been anticipating your arrival. You look as beautiful as you did that faithful night you were taken from me. It almost breaks my heart.” Ashleigh felt some sort of emotion shoot through her that she couldn’t identify. Was it pity or grief?
“Let go,” she said with masked panic. Serrano held fast to her.
“Does it give you memories you don’t want to remember? Would you rather believe the lies my brother has fed you all these years instead of the heart-breaking truth? You were mine and I was yours, and your own family stole us from each other. Now, this is the chance to relive that night. Only this time, we shall make sure it will end as we wanted it to so long ago.”
“Stop it,” Ashleigh cried. “What are you talking about? What are you planning to do?” Serrano spun her around to face the others in the drawing room. Everyone was staring at Serrano and hers scene politely, smiling with praise-as thought they were a cute couple. The room was draped in blue flowers, with white curtains, table cloths, and vases. On the floor, a white, narrow strip of carpet was laid out right before Serrano and her. It seemed the room was meant for a wedding instead of a celebration. That was when Ashleigh put two and two together and whirled viciously on Serrano.
“I am not marrying you!” she said fiercely. “Let go of me now!”
“I think it is time that you relived the whole night that we were separated. Maybe then you will see everyone, including myself, for who they really are,” Serrano said darkly. He beckoned to someone behind Ashleigh to come forward. A beautiful woman with long black hair and wearing a thin lilac dress that left her body with almost no shape stepped before Ashleigh and smiled warmly.
“Who are you?” Ashleigh asked with an edge to her voice. The woman’s smile grew.
“They call me the Dark Mother, the Truth Giver, and the Mother of Divinity. You may refer to me as Mesalina,” she allowed. Ashleigh made a face at her and she laughed delicately.
“You are a precious girl. I can see why Serrano loves you so. I am delighted by this love. And so I have come to show you the truth of things. Please, if you will, I ask you to come here to me and close your eyes.” Ashleigh stared at her as if she were crazy.
“Why in the world do you think-” Serrano walked her forward before she could finish.
“Do you not want me to prove you wrong? Is that what you fear?” Serrano asked.
“I know you’re wrong!” Ashleigh snapped. “Fine, I’ll do it. Look, my eyes are closed. Now what?” She felt the woman’s thin arms come around her and embrace her.
“Just relax and forget all else. I will send you into your memory in the appearance of a dream.”
“Not another dream,” Ashleigh groaned under her breath. The ‘Dark Mother’ just chuckled and placed her long fingers on Ashleigh’s temples.

Chapter Six-It Is So On!

Ashleigh awkwardly sat at her computer desk, away from Ian and Maria, as she ran a brush through her wet, tangled hair. Maria was cuddled up to Ian on Ashleigh’s bed. Ian looked very uncomfortable. Ashleigh couldn’t help but wonder what they had been talking about while she had been in the shower. This little brat of a girl ruined what was almost a special moment for Ian and her. Ashleigh wanted to stab the little ginger princess in the face with something sharp and painful. This was so not fair.
“So, anyway, Ian, I am sure you know about this dance this weekend. It sounds fun. Maybe we can go together-”
“He can’t, he’s going to prom with me,” Ashleigh blurted snippily. The room became very quiet and tense. “Because of his mission,” she added quickly. “He’s got a date anyway, so, you know, oh well.” Maria tried to stare her down, but Ashleigh found it was hard to be intimidated by someone so child-like and probably a head shorter than her.
“What are you gawking at, huh?” Ashleigh snapped when Maria kept staring at her. To her surprise, Maria flinched at the sharpness in her voice. Ashleigh couldn’t stand the girl, but the way she just looked so innocent and vulnerable sometimes makes her feel guilty.
“Ashleigh, I know you two didn’t start off on the greatest of terms,” Ian began, “but I think you both could be good friends if you just tried to get along.” Ashleigh scoffed and rolled her eyes.
“What are you, the school counselor? This is ridiculous; I shouldn’t have even let you into my house,” she snapped at Maria. Maria pouted at her.
“I want to be Ashleigh’s friend,” she said pitifully. “I just feel so inadequate compared to her when we first met, that I suppose I just lashed out at her. She’s just so pretty and smart; I guess I was mean to her out of jealousy! I am so sorry!” Ashleigh narrowed her eyes at the girl.
“You don’t seriously expect me to buy that crap, do you?” she asked dryly.
“I don’t understand what you are saying. I’m only trying to make nice,” Maria persisted.
“Ashleigh, let her be. Why are you being so cruel?” Ian asked. Ashleigh through her arms up in exasperation.
“Are you kidding me? Can’t you see what’s going on here? She is sooo obsessed with you, she’s trying to make me seem like the bad guy here so you’ll take her side and like her better! It should be obvious, even to someone like you!” she said.
“Ashleigh, how could you say such a thing?” Maria asked tearfully. “Of course I treasure Ian deeply, but I would never come between two close friends. That would be so immoral!”
“Stuff it, Gingerbread Brat! I, for one, am not going to be blind-sighted to what this kid is trying to do! Get out of my house now, midget!” Ashleigh wished she had a camera so that she could snap a picture of the rage and offence on Maria’s face. She knew it. The girl wasn’t as sweet as she tried to act. Her cute countenance was peeling away to the little bratty girl underneath. She stomped her little foot and turned viciously. She turned in the doorway to glare at Ashleigh.
“You will rue this day! How dare you insult me! After I tried to make friends with you! You are not worth my time!” She turned to Ian with a pitying look. “As for you, I am sorry that you are so poor in your judge of a character. Why you would want to protect someone such as her, I will never know. I will see you tomorrow, Ian. Good-bye.”
It was finally quiet and Ashleigh heard the front door slam. Maria was gone and Ashleigh could finally relax. What was it about that girl that made her so hostile?
“Now you have done it,” Ian said distressfully from her bed. “You have made an enemy of one of my families closest friends. My father will be outraged, which will most likely make him dislike your family-this is all so wrong!” He put his face in his hands and sighed tiredly.
“You’re better off,” Ashleigh said softly, walking over to him. “I don’t trust her.”
“And I am supposed to agree with your better judgment, am I?” he asked scornfully. “Our families have been in alliance for years. Never have we betrayed another. And now you say out of nowhere that Maria can’t be trusted? How can you be so sure? You know nothing of your own life in my world, how could you possibly know anything about mine?” Ashleigh hesitantly reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I trust you with everything,” Ashleigh said. “I even trust you with my life. Why can’t you do the same for me and just believe that she could possibly be up to something? I have a bad feeling about her. Maybe I’m wrong and it’s just a stupid hunch, but she makes my hair stand on end. Can’t you just consider that she’s not as great as she pretends to be?”
“You know nothing about her. It’s not that I don’t trust you. It just seems absolutely impossible. She’s so innocent…” Ian said.
“Yeah, well you thought I was innocent, too!” Ashleigh snapped suddenly. “But I guess you’re just a little bit more naïve than I am! I can’t stand how she just came up on my doorstep and I actually let her in! Now things are all wrong! You’re all mad at me because of what she caused!”
“I’m not mad,” Ian said edgily.
“Yes you are, because of what she started-”
“Take some responsibility for your own actions for once!” Ian retorted angrily. “You go about calling her a brat and yet you are the one who goes pointing your finger instead of admitting that what you are doing is wrong! You started the whole mess, she came here trying to make amends, and you insult her and kick her out of your home! She told me all about how she wanted to be your friend and how much she admires you-”
“That is bull-”
“And the first thing you do is hurt her feelings and send her away with nowhere to go!” Ian finished loudly. Ashleigh bit her lip and blinked her tears back. How can he side with her like that? What happened to it being about protecting her to him protecting this brat who was totally trying to mess with her?
“Think what you want,” she said tightly, “but I know that something is up with her and I’m going to find out what, whether you’ll help me or not!” She turned sharply from him and grabbed her coat from where it hung on her bed post. Ian caught the other end and held on stubbornly.
“Where are you going?” he demanded. Ashleigh snatched the jacket from his grip, stumbling back.
“To the candy shop to get some Skittles,” she said sarcastically. “Where the heck do you think I’m going? I’m going to follow that little kid to see where she’s going. I am going alone, so don’t bother to even worry about me. After all, standing up for the girl is all you want to do, so maybe if I prove myself wrong and she’s only going to curl up on a cardboard box somewhere, we can all be happy-go-lucky-friends!”
“Ashleigh, you will not leave this house without me! Come back here! Oh, why are you so stubborn!” he shouted after her. Ashleigh heard him coming after her. She sped out the front door and slammed it hard behind her in his face. Ian yanked the door open, but she didn’t turn to look at him. She felt him directly behind her, but he didn’t make any move to stop her. She kept walking, and he tailed her the entire time.
The night was so cold and dark. It reminded her of the attack she and Ian had faced the other day. He had protected her that day, making sure not a scratch was on her, even though his injury had hurt him the entire time. It seemed the more danger that she was in, the closer she and Ian became. It almost made her wish that they could never stop Serrano, just so they could be together for good. That would be so much easier; just to have an excuse for them to be together forever. It almost made her want to cry harder than she already was.
What was she doing? She didn’t even know which way the girl had gone. What made her think she’d be able to find her? There were many roads leading all different ways along the streets of her neighborhood. Ashleigh hoped the little brat had gotten lost. Maybe she had thought she could have caught up with the girl. But they had magic and all that fancy stuff to get them around. It was unlikely that she was lost and even more unlikely that Ashleigh would find her. She finally stopped in the middle of the road. Ian almost ran into her.
“What is it?” he asked anxiously. Ashleigh didn’t answer him. She sighed heavily and turned to go back into her house, bumping into his shoulder on purpose. This had been a complete waste of time. She really needed to start thinking before doing. She let her emotions get the better of her, and here they are out in the open where anything could attack them at anytime. Real smart, Ashleigh thought bitterly to herself. Ian was right behind her in no time. He was quiet again, but she sensed his tense state. He was scared for her, she knew, and that made her not want to be mad at him. But she had to be. He had taken the brat’s side instead of hers.
Ashleigh stopped again and wiped the tears from her face and sniffed quietly. This was so stupid! She shouldn’t have to argue with Ian because of what a little girl said! She was just doing what that little ginger-headed brat wanted her to do. She wanted Ashleigh and Ian to fight so that they wouldn’t want to be around each other. That was all it was. Well, she wasn’t about to give the ginger child what she wanted.
“Ian?” she said hoarsely. He was beside her immediately, like a loyal puppy-only he was a cat, sort of.
“Yes, what is it?” he asked. She could tell he didn’t like being out here. She didn’t blame him at all.
“I’m sorry,” she said, almost not able to admit it. Ian didn’t say anything and they just stood there in silence. She wanted him to say something. She needed him to.
“What exactly are you sorry for? I mean, are you sorry about Lady Maria, or are you sorry for dragging us out here in the freezing night?” he asked sourly.
“Both, I guess,” she shrugged. “I’m just sorry. I don’t want to fight. I don’t like it.”
“Then let’s stop fighting,” he said simply. “I don’t choose to fight with you, you just make me so angry-No, angry isn’t the word-”
“Yes, it is. Its okay, Ian. I understand if you get mad at me. I get mad at you a lot. You think just because I’m some great princess that you can’t be angry with me. Well, boy-o, I don’t really care if you’re mad at me….That didn’t come out right. It’s not that I don’t care. It’s just that I’d rather you be openly mad at me than you hold it all in and then one day just snap on me,” she revised.
“I would never snap on you,” Ian said defensively.
“Yeah, you would, but I don’t want to debate about it. Let’s just go inside. It is cold out here,” she said. She walked on and he followed obediently.
lll

“OMG, I can’t believe prom is tomorrow!” Jenny squealed in Ashleigh’s ear suddenly. Ashleigh nearly jumped out of her skin. “James is excited, too, you know, he’s freaking out because he’s never really been to a real dance before, but I have, and I told him, “James, you’re going to love it, it’s so much fun!” and he’s all, “Well, just being with you is fun for me,” and I was like “SQUEE!” because that was such a sweet thing for him to say, okay bye, I got to go before I’m late, see you later-You too, Ian and Company,” she laughed.
Ashleigh watched with raised brows as Jenny ran across the campus yard into the school building. As usual, she left Ashleigh feeling drained. The girl was too hyper.
“Who was that beautiful maiden!?” Govannis exclaimed.
“Don’t even,” Ashleigh said. “She’s taken. Anyway, let’s all get to class. I don’t want to be late, either.” They started to walk across the lawn when Ethan suddenly approached Ashleigh, looking very guilty.
“What’s wrong, Ethan?” Ashleigh asked him. He just shook his head.
“I’ve done a terrible thing, Ashleigh, and I want you to know, I still like you a lot, but I-”
“Tell me,” Ashleigh persisted.
“I-I can’t go to prom with you. I’m going with someone else,” he nearly sobbed.
“What? Why? Who?” Ashleigh demanded angrily in a shrill voice. He winced.
“I-I don’t know why, but I really want to go to prom with Maria. She asked me just a while ago, and I couldn’t say no to her. She’s so…pretty,” Ethan said, looking almost dazed.
“What am I, an ugly hag? How could you do this? And at last minute?” Ashleigh cried.
“I’m sorry…I just….I’m sorry,” he said absently. “I’ll see you later, I guess.”
“You can’t!” Ashleigh protested, but he just walked away slowly, shaking his head.
Ashleigh bit back the scream that nearly escaped her. She would kill that little ginger brat! She clenched her fists tight and she didn’t know she was shaking until Ian put a steady, comforting hand on her shoulder. Then an idea popped into her mind and she suddenly felt giddy with spite.
“Ian,” she said innocently, “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. I guess I just won’t go to prom…Not without a date anyway,” she added just low enough to where it seemed she was talking to herself. Ian’s hand tightened on her shoulder.
“After all this preparation, you must go! It means so much to you, princess!” he said.
“I could go with her,” Govannis offered. Ashleigh’s heart sped. Please don’t agree, Ian, she prayed in her mind.
“No,” Ian sighed, and Ashleigh had to hide her happy smile. “She doesn’t know you quite well enough, so it wouldn’t be the same. Princess, if you are willing, I still would like to take you to your dance.”
“Oh, Ian, I would like that very much, but what about your date?” she asked.
“It will not be a problem. One of the escorts can take her. She was telling me that she liked the look of their visage. Is that okay with you?”
“Ian, would you really?” Ashleigh asked hopefully, though she already knew the answer. Ian wrapped his arm around her shoulders and leaned forward to lay his head against hers.
“I would do anything for you, princess. You know that,” he whispered, causing Ashleigh to blush.
“Ahhwwwwhhh,” Monjo sighed sweetly behind them. Things suddenly became awkward and Ian pulled away slowly, his face also flushed. That had been so simple. She’d gotten what she wanted just like that, with a bat of her eyelashes. But how had Maria managed to steal her date? She was determined to find out.
Ashleigh decided not to tell Ian about her planned investigation. She watched Maria severely out of the corner of her eye throughout the entire class periods. Every laugh, word, and touch made in Ethan’s direction, Ashleigh recorded to her memory. Why did Ethan look so demented and guilty?
Ashleigh told the others good bye and walked into Mr. Jean’s classroom. As soon as she stepped through his door, she suddenly had an intriguing thought.
“Hey, Mr. Jean,” Ashleigh greeted the man sweetly. He glanced up at her from his book he was reading. The expression on his face let her know he knew something was up.
“Good afternoon, Miss Spesky. How can I help you?” he asked casually. Ashleigh just shook her head dismissively.
“I was only wondering how you were doing today,” she smiled.
“I am fine, how are you?” Mr. Jean asked, playing along with the idle conversation.
“Well, I’m okay, I guess. Although, something very horrible and peculiar happened to me today. The words been around all over today, have you heard?”
“Would it have anything to do with a prom date, Miss Spesky?” he pretended to guess. Ashleigh smiled at him scornfully. He had heard, and she knew that he knew that she knew that he knew….Well; she knew that he knew something.
“Yes, that would be correct. Ethan suddenly doesn’t want to go to prom with me anymore. It was completely out of nowhere. It turns out, he’d rather go with that girl, you know, Maria-”
“The ginger-headed brat?” Mr. Jean supplied. The name seemed to put a bad taste in his mouth. Ashleigh felt a rush of accomplishment.
“Yes!” Ashleigh almost exclaimed. She could tell he didn’t like Maria either. “So, as you know, Ethan is walking around like a zombie, doing whatever she tells him to do. Can you explain?” Mr. Jean set his book aside and stood from his chair.
“After class. I will tell you what you want to know, only because you and I share such a deep hatred for the little one. Right now, I have a class to teach. Please, take your seat.”
Ashleigh tapped her foot impatiently on the floor as she painted the outline of a large tabby cat glaring at a pouting, red-headed child. The clock moved so slowly, no matter how hard she concentrated on her work. She thought that Mr. Jean might enjoy this painting as much as she did. She was almost grinning evilly as she painted it.
The bell rang joyously as Ashleigh was putting the final stripes on the tabby cat. She lifted the painting and carried it to the stands where they dry. Mr. Jean caught a glimpse of it and snorted over his cup of tea. Ashleigh smiled at him innocently, as if she didn’t know what was so funny. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ian waiting at the doorway. Mr. Jean turned and saw him as well.
“Go on to class, little cat. Ashleigh and I are going to have a little chat. I’ll send her back to you when we are finished,” he told Ian spitefully. Ian glared at the man and looked to Ashleigh questioningly. She made shooing motions and she could see the anger in him. She hoped that this wouldn’t start another fight between the two of them.
“Have a seat, Miss Spesky,” Mr. Jean said presently. She sat down in the chair that was in front of his desk. “What do you want to know?”
“What is up with Maria!? I mean, God!” Ashleigh exploded. Mr. Jean regarded her with polite surprise. “I don’t trust her at all, and I try to tell Ian, but he won’t listen to me! He just keeps saying that she’s too innocent to do anything wrong, but what’s the first thing she does as soon as we get back to school? She steals my prom date!”
“Take a breath and calm down,” Mr. Jean old her. “Would you like some tea?”
“No thank you,” she sighed. He nodded curtly and folded his hands together professionally.
“Over the past three days, I have found myself mature greatly. After I was replaced, I thought long and hard about something. I could plot my absolute revenge upon the man-because no man fires me or interferes with my work, I made that clear the first day I was on the job-or I could get on with my life. Then I remembered something a certain princess told me a few weeks ago. I could keep being a crook and be hated and trusted by no one, but no one really wants to be hated by the world. At least, I don’t.
Now, I didn’t see what you said to me then as clearly as I do now. I thought it would be ridiculous, living the boring life of a working man in place of the exciting life of the wonderful con man that I was-and no, I am not ashamed of all the things I’ve done, they were too much fun for me to regret them. However, as I remained in your world as the Art instructor, I found myself liking the everyday routine of teaching you young ones the meaning of true art. At first, I thought it was because I got you so worked up over nothing every day and you were cute as a button when you pouted like a little baby. But then I realized it was simply because I enjoyed the current life I had begun to live.
I like your world a lot. The people don’t know me as the cunning crook like the people in my world do. I don’t get frightened or hateful looks shot at me every day. To your world, I am simply the clever Art teacher-and even to some of the younger teachers, a handsome man with a good taste for art and fashion,” he remarked smugly. “But I digress, my dear girl, you have certainly changed my perspective on life simply by stating what my world has been telling me for years. I am no longer the low-down criminal I used to be.. I am the new, crimeless me”
Ashleigh stared at him dryly, waiting to see if he was finished. When he said no more, she leaned back in her chair.
“Not that I’m not happy for you and your little life-changing epiphany that you had, but we are still going to take the ginger Kelly Doll down, right?”
“Absolutely,” he said practically, as if he didn’t just pledge a life clean of all crime.
“Okay, so tell me what you know,” Ashleigh said. Mr. Jean cleared his throat and took a sip of tea.
“She is the one who replaced me,” he said quietly. Ashleigh nearly jumped out of her seat.
“I knew it!!!” she declared. “Oh, just wait until I tell Ian about his little angel-”
“You cannot tell Ian that she is working for Serrano because he will not believe you,” Mr. Jean interrupted tightly.
“Of course he’ll believe me!” Ashleigh argued. Mr. Jean just shook his head.
“Let me explain something, little princess. Ian is a pure magical creature. As human as he may seem when he is not in any feline form, he is not. So not many magic spells will affect him. Since he is a pure magical creature, black magic is especially weak against him, but it still may have some affect upon him. I take it he is not wearing the necklace I gave to him?”
“He said he wouldn’t wear any gift you gave him, so I took it,” Ashleigh said simply, pulling the chain out from under her blouse. Mr. Jean burst out laughing.
“Of course! I should have guessed. I thought that it was because you were truly beginning to come in touch with your royal blood, but it seems the reason you see her for what she truly is because you wear the necklace. She is using black magic on everyone around her, creating false trust and loyalty among everyone except you! I intended for Ian to be protected by the necklace because I knew that he would be the first one she would try to persuade against you. She uses high masses of black magic to trick people into giving her what she wants. The necklace protects against that. For now, Ian’s natural resistance seems to keep the magic at minimum in barely earning his trust in her. But I’m not sure how long that would last. You need to make him take the necklace. If he succumbs to her spell, you will have no one to protect you. Without anyone to protect you, Serrano will have a clear path to you.”
“But I won’t be able to know she’s an evil brat if I give the necklace to him, will I?”
“You have already seen her for what she truly is. Her magic will have no effect on you. You must get the necklace to him, little princess. It is the only way. I will see you at prom, as I will be chaperoning. Good day.”

lll


“Ian, you look fine. Stop picking at your tie,” Ashleigh scolded.
“It is choking me!” he complained. “What insane man invented this rope that constricts your air ways?” Ashleigh smacked his hands away and loosened his tie.
“There, is that better?” she asked. He cleared his throat and nodded uncomfortably.
Ashleigh bit her bottom lip, pondering if this was the right moment to bring up the necklace. She didn’t think it would be safe for him to go without it. Maria could come up to him at any time and start working her nasty magic on him. Ashleigh decided she would hog him throughout the entire dance, so that no one else could put their dirty hands on him.
“Um, Ian,” she began cautiously. “I know you’ve already done so much for me, but I was wondering if you could do me one more favor.”
“Anything,” he promised. Ashleigh wasn’t so sure that he would feel the same after she asked him to wear the necklace. She unhooked the necklace from under her sweat shirt and extended it to him. His face became drawn.
“Why do you keep insisting that I wear this untrustworthy trinket?” he demanded.
“I’ve been wearing it, and it hasn’t done anything to me! That should be enough proof, shouldn’t it? Plus, you said you’d do anything. I want you to wear it,” she said firmly.
“But why?” he persisted. Ashleigh knew he would argue. She’d thought about this all day yesterday. She had to get him to wear it, or it was game over, but if she told him it was because of what Mr. Jean said about Maria, then he would definitely refuse to wear it, no matter what.
“Because,” she said, lifting her chin to look at him imperiously, “I am your princess and charge, and I command you!” Ian gave her a flat, unconvinced look.
“Do you really think titles matter in situations like this?” he asked. Ashleigh glared at him and decided that there was only one thing that could be done here. She shoved him down onto the couch and sat on top of him.
“What are you doing!?” Ian exclaimed, his face flushed with embarrassment. Ashleigh used all the strength she could to hold him down. He tried to struggle without hurting her at the same time, so their rumble was rather awkward. She wrapped the necklace around his neck and fumbled with the fastener. Just as she snapped the necklace together and felt a victorious sense of relief, she heard an exclaiming gasp behind them. The both froze and looked out from behind Ashleigh’s tangled mass of hair at her step-mother.
“What is going on here?” her step-mother demanded. “Who is he?”
“M-my date for prom, mom,” Ashleigh replied lamely, trying to push her hair out of her eyes. “Why do you ask?”
“What do you mean, ‘Why do I ask’!? You two are on the living room couch, doing lord knows what! I thought you were taking that nice boy, Ethan!”
“I was, until he ditched me for that filthy pre-teen-” Ian cupped a hand over her mouth.
“I’m sorry for this inconvenience to you, Mrs. Spesky. Ashleigh and I were having what you would call a tickle fight, I do believe,” he explained smoothly. Ashleigh’s step-mom eyed him suspiciously, not sure about his abnormal politeness.
“Why did Ethan ditch you, Ashleigh?” she asked. Ashleigh sighed, sitting upright in Ian’s lap. Man, this is embarrassing, she thought mildly.
“I don’t know why, he just came up to me yesterday morning and told me he was going with this new girl at our school. Ian agreed to come with me instead because he’s such a nice person and will do anything for me,” she explained pointedly, glancing up at Ian. His mouth was tight with frustration as he picked at the silver chain around his neck. “Right, Ian?” Ashleigh continued.
“Yes,” he said reluctantly. Ashleigh’s step-mother eyed them a bit longer.
“All right, but you two don’t stay out too long. I have to go drive back to the office right quick; I left some important documents there. You kids have fun,” she said finally. She left out of the front door and things became quiet.
“You’re a bully,” Ian pouted. Ashleigh hopped out of his lap.
“It’s for your own good,” she promised. “I have to go get ready. Do. Not. Take. It. Off,” she ordered vindictively.
“I promise,” he sighed, standing to straighten his tuxedo. “Just go get dressed.” Ashleigh skipped happily up the stairs. She ran into her room and threw the closet doors open excitedly. She grabbed her dress from where it hung and laid it across her bed. She stripped out of her baggy sweats and pulled the dress out of the Dillard’s bag. She shimmied into it and managed to get the zipper up by herself this time. Ashleigh skipped to her floor-length mirrors. It fitted to her perfectly, the knee-length skirt ruffling and shimmering around her as she did a little twirl.
Satisfied, she went into her bathroom and pulled open the sink drawer where she kept all of her makeup. She put on everything carefully, using a light silver eye shadow to match her dress. She applied a pale pink lipstick to her lips and provoked her lashes to stand to their full glory with charcoal-black mascara.
Ashleigh let her curling iron warm while she applied her makeup. She didn’t even use foundation. Her skin thankfully never broke out except the occasional tiny red bump. She picked up her iron and curled the top part of her hair into delicate ringlets. Then she pinned the curls back and swept her bangs to the left side of her face. She felt like a real princess now. She walked back into her room and took the wedges out of its bag and slipped them on. There was a nervous flutter in her stomach, and she wondered what Ian would think of her.
Ashleigh idly made her way downstairs. She heard low voices talking in the living room. She peeked into the room and saw Ian talking with a tall, full-bearded man. She listened to them as they argued in quiet, rushed voices.
“She wants this more than anything! I am not going to disappoint her!” Ian declared.
“I tell you, it isn’t safe. Especially tonight, I can feel it in my bones, boy,” the scruffy man insisted. “She’ll be in more danger now than ever before. I had a dream last night!”
“You’re dreams aren’t always true, Uncle,” Ian pointed out.
“No, listen to me! It was dim, and there was happy laughter and music-the strange, chanting music that the kids in this world listen to-”
“Rap?” Ian supplied.
“Yes, whatever it’s called. Then it became horribly dark, and there was silence. And all of a sudden, there was the loudest of exploding sounds I have ever heard! There was evil laughter and screaming, and I could hardly tell the two apart. Then everything stopped and it was too quiet. My dream ended there, but it’s too specific to be wrong. I did not even know about this dance until you just told me! It will happen tonight if you go to the celebration. Mark my words, young one!”
“Uncle, it is not that I do not believe you. But I can’t just cancel this. Whatever is out there waiting for her, I will protect her from. She has wanted this for so long, and since I will leave in less than a week, I want to be the one to give it to her. Have faith in me,” Ian said.
Ashleigh’s heart stopped. Less than a week? But he said it would be nearly a whole year before he had to go. Why so soon? Why hadn’t he told her?
“It’s not that I don’t have faith. I just… I just think it would be best if you did not go. But I suppose I cannot convince you otherwise. I wish you the best of luck. Good bye,” the man said. With a strange whistling noise, the man vanished in thin air. Ian sighed deeply and turned to see Ashleigh was there. He regarded her with silent praise and she felt suddenly shy.
“You look wonderful, princess,” he said thickly. Ashleigh smiled absently.
“Thank you. Who was that man who just left?” she asked straight-forwardly, hiding her hurt. She didn’t want him to know she’d heard that. It would only cause him to want to explain and she wouldn’t want to hear it, they would argue, and the whole evening would be ruined. Tonight was supposed to be a happy night. Tomorrow, however, she had a bone to pick with him.
“Oh, you saw him? He is my Uncle Turpintino. He was just telling me something about a crazy dream he had. He’s somewhat a profit, but it is never one-hundred percent accurate. So, you are ready to go? Only Felan and Arnan are waiting for us, the other two are already at the school, clarifying that the coast is cleared,” Ian informed her. Ashleigh gave him a side-ways smile.
“You really got that ideology down-pat, don’t you? Well, okay, I suppose we should get going,” she agreed. She walked up to him and looked in his coat. The silver chain still hung from his neck. “Just making sure,” she said. “Now, I want you to be on your best behavior. Mr. Jean will be chaperoning tonight, I don’t want you two to get into it. Let’s go.”
“Oh, wait,” Ian said. He reached in his coat pocket and pulled out a small gift box and handed it to her bashfully.
“What’s this?” Ashleigh asked with a surprised smile. She opened it up and inside was a dark red rose attached to a black lace band. “Oh, a corsage!” she exclaimed. Ian took it from her and gently put it on her right wrist.
“I wanted us to match at least a little,” he said. “And as I have a red tie, I thought this would be the best way. Brianna told me this was custom for prom. I wasn’t going to bother, but since I did finally end up escorting you to prom, I wanted to do this right.” He seemed so nervous, Ashleigh couldn’t help but smile. She kissed his cheek gratefully and his face became as red as the rose.
“Thank you, Ian. I love it,” she said sincerely. He looked a little relieved.
“I was hoping so,” he said, smiling at her happily. She hugged him tightly and a knock on the door.
“Are you guys ready yet? It’s freezing out here,” Felan complained in the door way. Ian took Ashleigh’s dark shawl from the pegs on the living room wall and draped it over her shoulders.
“We are coming,” he told Felan. They followed him out into the brisk night. Ashleigh gasped at the long white limo that was parked on the road in front of the yard.
“Are we going in that?” Ashleigh asked hopefully.
“You and Ian are. Arnan and I are following to make sure nothing suspicious comes up from behind you. We already checked the road to the destination twice, and all appeared safe. We need to hurry, I am getting nervous,” Felan added uncomfortably.
“If you manage to talk the driver into going at least five miles above the speed limit, I do believe that we will get to the school in no more than fifteen minutes,” Arnan calculated.
“No one is going over the speed limit, so stop spitting your statistics at us, you baboon,” Felan snapped. Arnan shot him a dark look over his half-moon glasses.
“Stop arguing and act like real Escorts! We have to stay focused. Even the slightest slip up could mean the princess’s capture,” Ian scolded.
“Yes, sir,” they said begrudgingly. Ian led Ashleigh to the limo and opened her door for her. She thanked him and slid inside the spacious backseat. The seats were made of smooth, white leather and the windows were darkly tinted. Ashleigh felt so special. She was so happy Ian was doing all of this for her. She smiled at him brightly as he scooted in beside her. He looked so handsome in is tuxedo! She thought infatuatedly. He obviously had tried to smooth his dark hair back, but stray pieces as straight as rain still fell down into his face. She liked it like that. It made him seem like a cool American bad boy instead of a magical creature from another world.
“”Is something wrong?” he asked suddenly, interrupting her thoughts. She shook her head absently.
“No, I was just thinking. Hey, do you…know how to dance?” she asked awkwardly.
“Of course I do. Why do you ask?” he wondered curiously. She sucked in a breath through her teeth.
“No, I mean do you know how to dance like we do…in my world?” she rephrased. His eyebrows shot up near his hairline.
“Do you…expect me to?” he asked worriedly. She stifled a laugh.
“Well, no, if you can’t that’s fine. I don’t want you to embarrass yourself,” she allowed. “So, what kind of dances do you have in your world?”
“Our most favored is the one that is close to your waltz, I do believe. Do you know what the waltz is?” he asked.
“Yeah, my…step-dad taught me when I was a little girl. He used to say every daughter should know how to waltz so she’ll be able to dance with her father at her wedding. I loved learning it, but he was never around to teach me anything else. My step-mom is hopeless at any kind of dancing,” she added with a small laugh.
“I know the steps of your waltz. It is not quite as complicated as our own,” Ian smiled.
“Well, then maybe we could wait for a slow dance,” Ashleigh suggested, and then found herself blushing. “If you don’t mind…”
“I am your date to this affair. Of course I do not mind dancing with, you, Ashleigh. It is what I am here for,” he said. Ashleigh felt her heart thudding in her chest. She hoped that she didn’t embarrass herself in front of him. It’s been a while since she even tried to dance like that. And was it even cool to waltz anymore? She decided she didn’t care, as long as she got to dance with Ian.
“It looks like we are here. Forgive me if I am sounding a little over-protective, but may I ask you to try to stay by my side as much as possible?” Ian asked nervously.
“Of course,” Ashleigh said, glad he was the one to ask. She hadn’t planned to let him get too far from her anyway, and this was just a better excuse to stick to him like superglue.
“Thank you,” he said, sounding relieved. He got out and walked to her side of the limo to open her door for her. She once again thanked him and placed her hand in his as they walked in. He gave her hand a small squeeze and held it tightly with his slightly moist one. Was he as anxious as she was? They walked into the school gym, which for the first time ever did not smell like sweat and dirty socks. It was decorated beautifully, and the theme was ‘Fairytale Nights’. Ashleigh found that kind of ironic. Painted cardboard clouds and stars hung from the ceiling and dark blue curtains were draped over the unattractive walls of the gym. Paper fairies and castles were pinned everywhere and a big mural of a prince and princess on a large white stallion stood as the backdrop where the pictures were to be taken.
“This adornment suits your choice of dress perfectly, princess,” Ian mused coyly. She gave him a wry smile as they got in line to take pictures.
“I’m so excited!” she squealed, bouncing in place. Ian chuckled at her and she wondered if he really was so happy just by making her happy. It was their turn to take the picture and they stepped up in front f the large mural. Their photographer was a skinny man with a brown pony tail and goatee. He smiled at them pleasantly.
“Ah, you two ought to make a real good picture,” he complimented. He adjusted his lenses and bowed his head down behind the camera. “Okay you two; I want you to get real snuggly, all right? That’s cute!” he said when Ian pulled Ashleigh mortifyingly close and placed her hand on his chest. The camera snapped the photo before she could blink and they were sent on their way. Ian walked with his arm still around her shoulder.
“Are you thirsty?” he asked. Ashleigh nodded and they walked over to the crystal punch bowl. He fixed her a drink, but didn’t make himself one. Lady Gaga’s ‘Poker Face’ thudded loudly though the whole gym. Ian stared out at the other kids dancing on the floor. She wondered if they seemed like a bunch of crazy people having seizures. She almost laughed out loud at the idea.
“Ian, so nice to see you finally arrived,” a high-pitched voice said beside them. Ashleigh nearly spewed the punch in from her mouth at the sound of that voice. She turned her head slowly to loot at the little brat princess that had approached them. She was wearing a long, full-skirted red dress with a heart shaped bust and her hair was curlier now than it ever had been in its fiery orange glory. Ethan was standing beside her, looking like he didn’t even know where or who he was. Ashleigh’s hate for Maria and her black magic became infinite. Poor Ethan didn’t deserve this. She wished she could protect him, too.
“What do you want, brat?” Ashleigh asked nastily. Ian gave her a pleading look.
“I believe I was talking to Ian, Blondie. Back off,” Maria said evenly.
“I’d rather be a Blondie than a brat-faced, carrot-topped, snub-nosed, selfish little girl that steals people’s dates using filthy magic!” Well, at least that was what Ashleigh wanted to say, but since she couldn’t let Ian know what she knew, she just pulled Ian close and cuddled up to him.
“Oh, I am so sorry, I had no idea,” she said sweetly. “You look so pretty tonight, Maria. I love your dress.” Maria eyed her suspiciously and slowly turned back to Ian.
“What is the matter with her? Why is she acting so suddenly nice?” Maria asked him.
“I…don’t know. I guess she’s had a change of heart after all!” he concluded, looking at Ashleigh strangely.
“Oh, of course,” Ashleigh confirmed. “I have been so rude to you, and I want you to know that I feel awful about it! Could you ever forgive me?” Maria’s eyes widened, and then Ashleigh saw she thought what Ashleigh wanted her to think. She thought that her magic was finally taking effect upon her. A smile grew on her face.
“But of course I forgive you, Ashleigh!” she said pleasantly. “I’m sorry that I myself was so obnoxious to you! I hope we can still be friends…?” Ashleigh gave her the sweetest smiles she could muster.
“I don’t see why not,” she agreed, and Maria was nearly ecstatic. She turned to Ethan sharply.
“Go mingle, don’t go about looking so demented,” she instructed him. She tried to make it seem loving, but Ashleigh could hear and feel the powerful command beneath her tone. Apparently, so could Ian.
“Maria, what was that?” Ian asked uncertainly. Maria turned to him with a confused smile.
“Beg pardon?” she asked innocently.
“You just…It seemed as though you just…” Ian acted as if he couldn’t describe what he just saw. He gestured awkwardly at her, and Ashleigh took his hand.
“Ian, will you stop being so silly? You’re talking a bunch of non-sense. Maria, would you like a drink?” Ashleigh asked, inclining her head toward the punch bowl. Maria smiled, glad that Ashleigh had quickly changed the conversation. Ian just stood there in bewilderment. Ashleigh cleared her throat loudly at him and he jumped back into reality.
“What?” he demanded rashly. Ashleigh put her hands on her hips and gave him a look.
“Will you please pour Maria a drink? I’m sure she must be parched,” Ashleigh asserted. Ian frowned and nodded quietly. He got a cup and Ashleigh and Maria just smiled brightly at each other as he poured the red juice into it. He handed it to Maria wordlessly. Then he put his shaky hand into Ashleigh’s.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” he asked calmly. Ashleigh fought her smile.
“What about?” she asked, but the music suddenly stopped and the DJ’s voice talked over them.
“Hey, my homies! We’re gonna slow it down a little for all you couples out there! If y’all got a special someone, take them out onto the dance floor and hold them close!” He flipped a record onto the player and a melodic song started playing. Ashleigh nearly squealed, much like Jenny did from across the room. The Used’s “Smother Me” filled the room. Many of the dancers sat down or started lining up at the snack bar. Couples shyly gathered along the side of the dance floor and swayed in each other’s arms. The scene was completely romantic. Ian’s hand tightened around Ashleigh’s and she looked up at him hopefully.
“We can discuss it later. Shall we?” he asked, inclining his head toward the dance floor. There was a large space right in the center, plenty of room for a romantic waltz. Ashleigh suddenly felt nervous. She didn’t want to make a fool of herself. She hesitantly let Ian guide her to the floor, and Ashleigh immediately felt everyone’s eyes on them. Her face felt hot and butterflies square-danced in her stomach. She took a deep breath and put one hand on his shoulder and the other clasped tightly in his. He smiled reassuringly at her and placed his hand on her waist. Ashleigh searched for the first steps she was suppose to take, scared that she had forgotten them because of her anxiety.
“It’s okay,” Ian whispered in her ear. “I won’t let you mess around.” Ashleigh smiled crookedly at him.
“The phrase is ‘mess up’, not ‘mess around’,” she corrected him. Her nerves settled a little. This was just Ian, she told herself. Just because I can’t love him doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy what time we have left. He was the one who made the first move into the dance, and Ashleigh followed him the way her father taught her. One, two, three, one, two, three, she counted in her mind. Soon, it all came back to her and the steps became effortless. She looked up at Ian from her feet and smiled satisfactorily. He smiled back, his eyes affectionate and sincere. It made her somber a little. That look pained her. It made her heart feel like it was being squeezed by an iron fist.
The music swelled, and Ian quickened their steps with it. Ashleigh laughed joyously when he twirled her and caught her back into his arms. He did it so perfectly to the song, as if he knew it. She gave him a suspicious look and thought, maybe he did.
“You planned this, didn’t you?” she accused coyly. He smiled at her lovingly.
“I asked your rowdy friend-”
“Jenny?”
“Yes, I asked her what your favorite slow melody was. She said that this was what you chose to constantly hear as of late. So, I asked the conductor to play it. Is that okay?”
“It’s perfect Ian,” Ashleigh said, burying her face indulgently into his chest. “Thank you. Thank you for everything.” She didn’t want to let him go. Ever. She wished this night could last forever and they could stay just like this. There was one thing she was certain of. She would cherish the memory of him forever.
“Are you all right?” he whispered in her ear. She nodded, swallowing her tears back.
“I’m fine, I was just thinking,” she said. “Sorry that I spaced out.” Ian just smiled and twirled her once again.
“Ashleigh, I have to tell you something,” he said suddenly. Oh, God here it comes. He was going to tell her that he was leaving. Ashleigh bit her lip and tried to brace herself.
“What is it?” she asked miserably. He sighed and was quiet for a minute.
“I love you,” he said. Ashleigh went brain-dead for a moment. She already knew that. He knew she knew that! It was so not what he was going to say! Could he just not bear to do it? It was just as well, Ashleigh thought. She wouldn’t be able to stand hearing it tonight. She would break down into tears because this moment was so bittersweet right now. Tomorrow, she would be new, and ready to argue with him. She’d rather use anger than tears. Tears would only make it harder for him, and she didn’t want that. If he left in anger, it would be easier, even if it hurt her more.
Ashleigh looked up at him, feeling the words leave her lips before she could stop them.
“I love y-”
“All right now, that was real sexy you two, but it’s time to get this party started back up!” the DJ blared over Ashleigh. Loud, thudding rap started playing and partiers started jumping back onto the dance floor. Ashleigh was completely miserable now, but relieved at the same time. She almost said something she didn’t need to say because of the heat of the moment. Ian led her away back onto the side lines of the gym. Maria was nowhere to be seen. Ian pulled her close and lowered his head next to hers.
“What were you going to say?” he asked urgently. Ashleigh hadn’t expected that question to come at her. She searched quickly in her mind for a response. “Ashleigh, tell me!”
“I was going to say that I…I loved that song. I really do, it was absolutely perfect, thank you” she ranted with the sweetest, falsest of smiles. Ian looked very crestfallen and he just nodded curtly and kissed her cheek respectively.
“You are very welcome, princess,” he said slowly. Ashleigh blushed and tuned away to look for Maria. Where had she gone? She wouldn’t have just disappeared like that, not with what just happened with her and Ian.
“Princess, about what I was trying to tell you earlier-” There was a deafening crash that shook the entire gym, followed by shrilling screams. Ian had Ashleigh on the floor and his body covering hers protectively before she could as much as blink. Ian’s uncle immediately popped up in her mind. He had warned them. His dream had been right after all. All Ashleigh could hear was a gargled mixture of screaming and deranged laughter. The whole gym was shuddering and collapsing around them. She felt herself being nudged forward.
“Crawl, princess! We must get out of here. Stay behind the rubble,” Ian’s frantic voice instructed. Though she couldn’t see anything pass Ian’s body, she crawled forward and let him tell her where to turn. She was suddenly stopped by Ian’s pained cry and the sound of a snapping bone. Ashleigh felt Ian being thrown off of her and cold wind hit her back. She looked behind her and saw the thick, green-tinged legs of the monstrous ogre from their previous attack. She recalled all of those horror movies where the people are too scared to move. But as soon as that beast reached out to her with its ruddy clawed hand, she started running with a glass-shattering scream. The wedges she wore made it hard to do so, so she kicked them off thoughtlessly and ran barefoot down the pavement.
“Princess!” she heard someone call. She looked to her left and saw Govannis kneeling beside a badly injured Felan. He gestured her over and Ashleigh dashed over to them, barely dodging a piece of flying cement.
“What happened?” she asked with panic. There was so much blood; she could have fainted by the mere rusty odor of it. Govannis placed a steadying hand on her.
“He was attacked by the winged monsters,” Govannis explained. “Where is Ian?”
“I don’t know! He was thrown away from me and my first thought was to run, and I’m so sorry, I left him behind!” Ashleigh cried despairingly.
“Prin-Ashleigh,” he corrected himself, “you were right to run. You are the one being protected here. We will go back for him. You have to get to your home before you are captured or injured.” Ashleigh shook her head frantically.
“No, I have to go back for him-”
“There is nothing you can do!” Govannis insisted. “You will only lessen his chance of survival if you go back and he has to worry about protecting you and himself. Just go home, we will help him.” Ashleigh bit her lip hesitantly, and then nodded reluctantly.
“Hurry,” Govannis said firmly. “Stay out of sight as much as possible. I wish we could come with you, but I must take care of him. Good luck.” Ashleigh didn’t know what to say, so she just tore her way down the pavement, her feet slapping painfully against the pavement. She heard a squealing laugh and ducked behind a tree that wasn’t much bigger than she was. It flew around, searching, and Ashleigh tried to quiet her heavy breathing as best as she could. When it finally flew away, she let out a relieved breath and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Her house was at least a mile away. Her lungs were on fire and she had a pounding headache. Something was tugging at her ankle and she froze in place. Slowly, she looked down and saw vines curling around her legs and entrapping her to the tree. With stifled screams, Ashleigh tugged and stomped on the vines to no avail. She finally just reached down and de-rooted the vines and tossed them aside. When they started immediately to grow back, she dashed out from behind the tree and ran as fast as her sore legs would let her. She plastered herself against the brick wall of a neighboring house when she heard distinct footsteps behind her. There was a rustling of bushes and the shadow of a tall figure. Ashleigh held her breath and scrunched her eyes closed.
“Princess?” a familiar voice called. Relief and happiness filled her with the sound of that voice. She leapt out of her hiding place and hurried to where Mr. Jean waited at the end of her road. His brows shot up at the sight of her. She imagined she looked very rough.
“Where have you been? I thought you were going to be at the dance!” she said.
“I was, but it appears I am late. I felt your presence. What has happened?” he asked curiously. Ashleigh rolled her eyes and didn’t even know where to start.
“We were attacked, the gym is in rubble, Ian is hurt and fighting for his life, though I don’t know where at because no one will let me look for him, and from what I know, Felan-my escort-is injured and there are monsters everywhere and they don’t care who knows, Maria is nowhere in sight, thought I know she has everything to do with this, and right now I am running for my life,” she finished breathlessly. Mr. Jean regarded her blankly.
“I beg your pardon?” he asked dully. Ashleigh threw her hands up in exasperation.
“Oh, my God!” she angrily snapped. He put his hands up defensively.
“I was kidding, but I see this is no time for such things. You must get inside your home quickly before another creature comes. Did you get Ian to wear the necklace?”
“Yes, but it doesn’t matter now. Maria has destroyed everything!” Ashleigh cried.
“Just go inside. I will do what I can to help the others. Hurry,” he added when she just stood there. Ashleigh nodded unsurely and made for her house. She was inches from her doorstep when she was snatched by the wrist and turned around violently.
“Where do you think you’re going?”