Just Another Beauty {~Sequel to Sleeping Beauty~}

Just Another Beauty: Chapter 10

Aunt Alex hoisted her legs on top of her well designed cushions. She slid open the window of her carriage which lead to Alfred, our driver leading the way inside the midst of the forest.  Aunt Alex tapped Alfred on the shoulder and asked, "Is there no short cuts around here?"

Alfred shifted around uncomfortably as he lead the horses into another direction, "Your Majesty, were almost there."

Aunt Alex slid back the shield that was in between Alfred in us into it's regular position. She faced me with wide eyes, "I'll be back." I knew that look so well. And that was trouble written all over her face.

She slid to the side where the door was, opening up the door revealing the gush of wind. I stood up hitting my head on the process.

"Aunt Alex! Are you insane?" I shout.

But she winks and solutes me as she makes her way out the door. The carriage was still moving so there was no possible way she would've jumped. I turn to see Hannah scrunched to the other side were she wasn't close to the door. Or in other words.....us.

I mouth the word sorry as I hold on to one of the holders that was connected to the carriage. I held a deep breath as my eyes burned from the wind. I looked up to see Aunt Alex climbing over to were Alfred was seated. 

I sighed annoyed clearly aware that there was nothing I could do at this very moment. I sat back down closing the door. I face Hannah who is now so close to the edge of her seat that she was about to fall.

"I'm so sorry about my Aunt. She can be very......bizarre at times."

She lowered her head, "Oh, its okay. Nothing like a good old family moments. Your Aunt seems......extraordinary."  Somehow it felt like she had to strain the words out of her mouth.

~...~

The carriage comes to a halt making both Hannah and me  breath a sigh of relive.  I stepped out of the carriage seeing in front of me the most peculiar forest I've ever seen. There was trees of course surrounding us everywhere. Shimming light exalted from the sky down to us. I squinted my eyes looking at the birds fly before are heads. There was a pond that was clear as crystal. I smiled to myself. This will be the best weekend I'll ever have.

"So kiddo, what do you suppose we do now. Instead of us being around here and doing nothing."

"Actually, I want to just swim or take a long walk or something."

"Cool, I'll go with you."

"Actually, I wanted to go by myself." I said,

"Oh, okay. I'll just do something with Hannah. Have fun then." I saw the smile drop from my sweet Aunt Alex face, but I really wanted to be by myself for awhile. I needed some time to think about the whole Issac thing. Also about the whole Princess thing.

My mom thought it would be a great time for me to know about the meeting of the idea of me becoming Princess. They think I'm not becoming more Princess type. They want me to help around the castle. Which I'm all up for it, but I think there forcing me to do something that I'm really not looking forward to. Come on! Me....a Princess?

I can't even make a decision about my feelings. How I'm I suppose to react to 3 million peoples feelings. It's just to much for me. And my mom thinks that getting social will help me improve and think a bit on what I want.

I'm I really ready to become Queen? Most importantly.....I'm I ready to become a real Princess. One that actually cares for there kingdom like my family does?

I didn't realize it that I was thinking so hard that I was in the middle of nowhere. I didn't know where I was. I took a deep breath as I saw an ugly swamp. I neared it. It was so tempting.

A gentle melody crossed my way. Someone or something was singing. And they sang really good.

"Hello? Is there anyone there?" I asked, there was now fog surrounding me as I got closer to the melody. Every step I took the fog become more thicker.

"Hello!?" I shout, the song become louder, but it was so hard for me to breath.

My legs felt wobbly underneath me. I looked up at the sky sensing the fresh air up there then down here.

"Julia, it's been so long since I've seen you."

The voice was coming not that far away from my direction, but If I took one more step then I was so done for it. I held still waiting for her to come to me,

"Aw, you can't take the intense fog? Your Father didn't either." her voice was coming closer,

"How do you know my father?" I ask,

"Well, your mother and father owed me a favor for basically saving there lives."

"What do you mean? My parents are still alive." I gazed around the whole swamp only seeing no one.

"Exactly. If you haven't noticed anything or even learned anything about your dad's almost death. Then you should really tell him to tell you that."

Then it hit me. The bedtime story's that my mother use to read me when I just infant. The new version about Sleeping Beauty was about them. And all this time I hardly didn't even notice. I closed my eyes. It can't be true.

My mom falling into a deep sleep?

My dad saving her.

My dad dying?

Do you see that I wouldn't want to believe it. My parents are so boring sometimes that I hardly even know them at times. I really can't see my dad saving a whole city because of a girl. Who is technically my mom. I just see it as they meet as friends and the loved each other very much. I never thought against it.

"Rachel did it because she loved Samuel very much. She needed my help, so I helped her. Well, for a favor back. I never do anything unless there's something for me."

"What did you ask?"

I couldn't quite see her, but her dark green eyes flashed in and out as she raced through the trees.

"I told them what I wanted, but they seem like they weren't listing. And I think I'm right. They still haven't given what I wanted."

I stayed silent. 

"Do you know how much I waited and waited for you to come. It's like they remembered, but that's hardly unlikely. You must've came here by yourself. And the melody I sang to you, you recognized it quite well." 

"Somehow I do."

"It's because I use to sing it to you when you were fast asleep in your crib."

Creepy........

"Look, I still have no idea what you want and about my parents. So, please if you'll excuse me then I'll be leaving." 

Something grabbed my wrist tight. I looked down to see a vine. 

"You don't get you fool. I wanted you! Your parents promised to keep there favor. There were just complete fools not to even listen. I asked for there first child."

"No! They wouldn't dare!" I shout.

"Ha! You will be my slave, and for your rudeness I will lock you into a tour were no one will save you."

"Let go of me!" I shout

"No, you are mine. You've been mine since awhile back."

"Julia?! Julia?! Are you okay?" Aunt Alex! She can save me! "It's so foggy down here. Why on earth are you doing."

I was lying on the floor breathless as I saw Aunt Alex looking down at me.

"Well?" She was tapping her foot up and down. I looked around the place to see no one. The swamp fairy disappeared, but I could still hear her as the vine let go of me. "I'll come back for you and this time no one will be in my way." 

"So? Are you going to ask me what happened?"

I looked down to see my dress all dirty. I stood up, "We need to talk."

"I know. That's what I've been telling you for the past few seconds."

"No, I mean about my parents past, but first let's get out of here."