GLIMMER AND DECAY [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 10

IN THE COURSE OF her first days of staying with the old witch, Graciella would often try to escape and her only way out was the forest. However, each time she goes into the forest, she would often be faced with a maze-like pathway that would eventually lead her back to the cottage.

She tried and tried and tried a couple more times before she dreadfully gave up and submitted herself to slavery with an old witch being her mad master.

And up until this day, she would still daydream of how Arianna and their parents will soon find her. It was something that would fill her heart with courage to face her ruthless daily life.

As weeks came into months, her hope slowly faded. Graciella was slowly reduced to a depressed doll. Old Gothel noticed this annoying change from her that she would often hit her on the head or push her on the ground. Unfortunately, no reaction registered on the poor child's face.

"This is no fun," the old witch whispered to herself one night.

She didn't want to keep a child who doesn't have any emotions because that would be boring for her. But she didn't want to discard such a precious child with a royal lineage that she can definitely use for her plans in the future.

As her thoughts went on deeper, a brilliant plan came into mind. With an evil smile painted on her wrinkled face, Old Gothel spent the rest of her night looking for a specific spell on her black book.

And when the sun rose up in the sky, she commanded the little girl to dress up with a pretty pink dress she gave to her as a 'gift'. This piqued Graciella's interest that it earned old Gothel a smile from the little child.

Graciella raced up to her bedroom and immediately changed to the pretty dress that old Gothel gave to her. It reminded her of the dresses she wore back at the castle. And this made her happy.

The little girl thought that the gift was just the dress, but what overwhelmed her with joy was old Gothel's instruction to accompany her to the city market.

"Don't run away. I'll swiftly catch you," old Gothel reminded her and even if she agreed with her words, Graciella still wished that someone would recognise her as the missing princess of Corona.

The city market was a bustling place and it surprised Graciella with the amount of people that fit into the market. It was her first time going outside after being kept hidden in the forest for more than three months that everything she could see was making her excited.

There were a couple of vendors selling raw food ingredients, there were also small shops that sold sweets, and some stalls that offered accessories.

Graciella found it odd when the old witch suddenly let go of her hand then she went to the stall where weird crystal balls were being sold.

"How much for these?" Old Gothel asked the merchant as she pointed at a pair of crystal bracelets.

Graciella kept herself busy by turning her head to her surroundings, watching the people mind their own business. She wanted to see if there would be any guards monitoring the market, to her bad luck, there was none.

But then suddenly, a lot of people crossed the path where she and old Gothel were standing. She was surprised by the sudden commotion that she was accidentally swept away with the crowd, leaving the old witch at the stall.

"Oh, no," Graciella muttered in fear.

The witch made it clear not to look around without her and yet here she was at the other end of the street. Graciella wandered in fear as she tried to look for the old witch. She spent a couple of minutes looking for her when a spark of an idea burst in her head.

"I can escape!" She exclaimed to herself.

Graciella didn't waste any time and she started running away from the crowd. She saw a castle earlier and thought of running back there in hopes to find any help.

As luck would have it, Graciella met who seemed to be a royal guard. The man wore a set of metal armors with a royal coat of arms embroidered on his chest plate.

"Sir!" She exclaimed, catching the royal guard's attention. The man stopped and looked at the little girl in front of him. Graciella took in a deep breath before she began speaking again. "I need your help!" She said with urgency filling her voice.

The royal guard seemed to be alarmed with her tone that he crouched down to level his head with hers. "Is there any problem, little child?"

"Yes!" She said, "I'm lost and I need to get back home to my family."

The man's forehead creased. He wasn't sure but he felt that the little child was somewhat familiar, as if he had already seen the little girl before. This made him want to help her.

He started asking questions to her so they could figure out how to bring her back home, however the little girl seemed distracted. Her gaze was fixed onto something or someone. Then she ran.

"Child!" He shouted.

The royal guard wanted to follow her tracks, but she was soon lost in the sea of people suddenly crowding beside them.

Graciella, brimming with hope, ran towards the familiar figure she saw. She was so sure that she saw Arianna wearing her familiar cloak. The little child stopped her tracks when the familiar figure stopped in front of a sweets shop.

She was almost close to her and Graciella wanted to call out to her, until she saw her parents. They were. . . smiling? And laughing? And having fun together?

"Why do they seem happy?" Graciella wondered as she watched her parents and eldest sister from afar. "Are they happier without me? Was I being too hopeful that they would do anything to look for me?" Her heart broke at the scene in front of her.

"Oh. You're here."

Graciella gasped when she heard that familiar deep voice behind her. It took her the remaining strength she had to peel her gaze from the picturesque family laughing merrily in front of her to look at the old witch.

"Are we going home now?" Her voice was small, but the old witch heard her loud and clear.

In fact, she was watching her ever since she got swept away from the crowd.

"Yes. Whenever you're ready," old Gothel said. Graciella didn't notice the evil grin on her wrinkled face since she was busy staring at the ground.

Old Gothel went closer to her and held her hand. And in a blink of an eye, they disappeared into thin air and returned back to the dirty cottage that she soon called her new home.

And her plot for vengeance began that day.