The Other Side of the Lie (EDITING, ON HOLD)

Seven-Bella

Really, Bella couldn't think of anything more ironic.

As Esmerelda with her pale skin and haunting red eyes stood over her with a dagger in her hand and chanted, Bella wanted to sit up on the altar and declare to everyone that this was all wrong, that she should be the one in Esmerelda's place, sacrificing her on the altar. But she knew that would be suicide.

Kevin jumped out from behind a tree and shouted for Esmerelda to stop. The girl did, and that was Bella's cue to plead with Kevin to flee before Esmerelda could kill him. Bella could feel hundreds of eyes on her as the audience held their breaths.

"No," Kevin proclaimed loudly. "I vow I shall save you, my fair maiden, and slay this evil witch!"

Bella lay on the altar, trying not to twitch. The hard surface was uncomfortable, and the stage lights were too bright. She sighed quietly with relief when Kevin pretended to stab Esmerelda through the heart and then came to cut the ropes binding Bella to the altar. He helped her to her feet and they bowed. The audience cheered, then suddenly began booing. Esmerelda was back on her feet with a wide grin on her face. She bowed and the audience booed louder, but Bella could see that they were all smiling. The louder an audience booed a witch, the better they found the actor's performance. Bella wondered what they would do if they knew that she wasn't the one destined to be on the altar.

"You were amazing!" Esmerelda hugged Bella and jumped up and down.

"You were too," Bella told her friend.

She grinned. "Did you hear them? They absolutely loathed the witch! You know what," she lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "I'd bet they could hear it all the way in the White Mansion! Maybe the President's son heard it and is going to come and sweep me off my feet and fall in love with me because he thinks my acting is amazing!" Esmerelda said it all in one breath, and Bella took advantage of the momentary silence while Esme inhaled.

"You did great, and I'm sure Zacharias will be here soon in a limo to bring you to the White Mansion. Now I have to find my parents. They'll be looking for me."

"Of course, of course." Esmerelda looked slightly disappointed. "Hey, I'm throwing a party this evening at my house. You should come, and bring Hunter." She wiggled her eyebrows. "Zacharias isn't the only hot guy."

Bella shoved her friend's shoulder playfully. "Careful, that's my brother you're talking about."

Esme laughed and gave Bella one last hug goodbye. "See you this evening!"

Bella found Hunter and her parents waiting for her outside her dressing room. They congratulated her for an amazing performance, and they were halfway home when Bella brought up Esmerelda's party.

"No," her father replied immediately.

"But dad, this was opening night! And you know Esme," Bella added.

"Yes, we do know her," he conceded, "but she doesn't know you."

Bella leaned back in her seat. As much as it stung, her father was right. Esmerelda was her best friend, and even she didn't really know who Bella was.

Bella had been born completely normal, and she stayed that way until she was six. That was the first time she used her magic.

Hunter was standing on a rickety table, attempting to get a ball from the top of a bookcase where it had gotten stuck. He was reaching for it when a table leg snapped and he fell. For only a second.

Bella, sitting on the floor with her dolls, had been watching her brother retrieve his toy, and when he fell she reacted instinctively to save him. Or, that was what she had been told.