Once Upon a Lie: Maleficent

Magic

I urged my horse to go fast. The wind picked up, making my eyes sting and water. My cloak billowed out behind me like a dark wave. I glanced back at the house, in case the woman was following me.

She wasn't.

When I entered the edge of the forest I finally relaxed my grip on the reigns and let my horse slow to a trot. I kept to the outer edge of the forest scanning the field for any sign of Jacob.

About a half mile from my house I spotted him leaning against an old oak tree. I approached, quickening my pace slightly.

He heard my approach and straightened, smiling broadly, brushing his dark hair out of his eyes.

I smiled warily, stopping my horse and jumping down to the ground. The soft earth cushioned my feet as they landed.

He pushed off the tree and walked towards me. He walked confidently and his green eyes sparkled. He gestured for me to follow him and walked deeper into the forest. I grabbed my horses reins and followed him. It was a cloudless day and the forest was fragrant with the smell of flowers.The sunlight bled through the leaves, making it green.

Jacob fell back next to me until his foot steps mirrored mine. He gazed around the forest smiling slightly.

"So," I said, trying to hold back the eagerness in my voice, "where is this camp?"

He turned towards me. "Just up ahead," he said, gesturing at the trees in front of is.

I nodded.

We walked on, the only sounds were those of the forest.

He lead on, studying the forest. Although every now and then I saw him steal glances at me. I smiled, staring at the ground. I had never gotten attention from a boy, my parents hadn't really allowed it. It's not that thy didn't want me to find love, it's just that they didn't want anyone to know about my magic.

I would finally free from that.

Or so I hoped.

Jacob lead me deeper into the forest. We reached a small creek trickling over a few stones near a large cave.

He nodded towards the cave. "We're going in there. You'll need to leave your horse out here," he said.

I tied the horses reigns up to a low tree branch and walked to the mouth of the cave where Jacob was waiting for me.

"Are you sure this is the right cave?" I asked hesitantly, prying my gaze away from the cave and onto to Jacob. He nodded and stepped inside.

I wasn't quite sure, but I followed him anyway. The top of the cave was about four feet over my head and I could've touched both moss-coated sides of the cave if I stretched my arms far enough. The back of the cave was only a few paces away.

I turned to Jacob who was busy rubbing his hands over the walls and mumbling. "You lied!" I growled, "This isn't even big enough for a bedroom, much less a camp for magical people!"

He ignored me.

"Listen to me!" I pleaded. "Why did you lie?! What is the-" I stopped my ranting. Jacob had taken his hand off the wall of the cave. The back of the cave was now shaking slightly and the moss was drawing back, until a glistening stone surface was showing. Almost as though there had never been a squishy green coating on it.

The shaking continued and the new rock started splitting down the middle, forming a large crack. Light shone through it and noise seeped out of it, hungry for escape.

The crack widened and widened, until it was large enough for two people side-by-side to fit through. I gaped.

"You do have magic," I breathed.

Jacob smiled at the ground, his hair obstructing my view of anything above his nose.

I stared at him, slightly enchanted by the effect of the warm glow that was being cast upon him.

Wait what? I gasped, my eyes widened with shock. Where the large stone door had opened was a massive cavern. It's floor was covered with moldy wood and there were spots where you could see the dirt below it. The ceiling was high. More than fifty feet above me. It was rough stone and had patches of moss growing on it.

The cavern stretched out in every direction. I strained my eyes but I could not see the end. It must've been massive. The lighting was dim torchlight. It cast a sort of warm glow that only fire can cast. It was fires own kind of magic.

The cave was not empty though. Scattered in large clumps were tents. Large, colorful tents. Outlined within them were beds, tables, chairs, and people. People everywhere. Walking, talking, sitting, running. Doing every manner of things.

There were even some normal building scattered among the tents. They were made of stone and wood. And they too seemed to be filled with people.

Magic was obviously a large part of what went on in the cave. Trees sprouted out of the cracked floor-boards and grew without sunlight. Books were everywhere. Lying open on the floor, being held by people, being read by people.

I looked and Jacob who nodded at me. We stepped in, the wall closed behind us, leaving a sturdy looking wooden door.

I strolled around taking it all in. I inhaled the sweet smells of herbs and spices. I wanted it all to soak in. I never wanted to forget this. They are all like me! I wanted to scream.

They all had magic.