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.