AURORA

Chapter 5

                     Three months later, I can still see us under that tree. I can hear his voice and see those eyes. Like it was yesterday. I'm sitting in my throne and overlooking the kingdom. I almost forgotten that I have powers. Although, no one needs to know this. Especially not Daniel. People might start a witch hunt. After all these are medieval times. Daniel would be scared of me half the time, I'm sure of it. Aside from all that, this last month has been the time of my life. Daniel and I have grown closer every day. My room is filled with roses from corner to corner. He visits me every day just to get a good look at me. He hits me with the same line every time, "Astonishing. Beautiful. Is this my queen? Or is this my lover? The same words on his card when he sent the first basket of roses. When he says the word lover, it comes out as lova. His old English accent pushes the word out of his mouth this way.

                 It suddenly occurred to me that I hadn't seen Daniel today. This was unusual. I turn to David who was standing on my left side. I had actually given David leadership of all the guards in my kingdom. He was headstrong, spirited, loud, and could make tough decisions if necessary. All the characteristics of a good leader. "David, have you seen Daniel today?" "Yes, my queen. He rode off earlier, but I could barely see him. He's been gone since early this morning." "Do you have any clue where he was going?" "I have no idea my queen." I thought to myself, "Where was he? And why hadn't he come to see me yet?

            "I'm about to go find him. I know only one place that he would be." "Yes, my queen. Would you like some lookouts to come as protection?" "That won't be necessary David. Thank you. Stay here and make sure everything remains in control." "Yes your highness." I hastily walk over to Daniel's horses. Since Alto is gone, I take the first one I see. I hop on, pull the reigns, and take off. The only place that I could think of that he would be is that tree. I knew the trip wouldn't be quick, but I was willing to do anything to make sure he was alright. The whole ride there, I felt so worried. I felt a void. I was used to seeing him every day. One day goes by and I feel empty. Like something is missing. He is missing.

             While inside my thoughts, I finally arrive. As I approach I see Daniel. My eyes widen as a sense of relief falls over me. I dismount my horse and as I began to head forward, my view is disturbed. From the corner of my eye, I see a woman. She's a woman from Dubar. She looks all too familiar. She was one of the girls that tried to hurt me back in New York. I felt nothing but dread looking at her. I see something else that disheartens me. Daniel walks up to her and grabs her by the waist. He says something to her, in which I can't hear because I'm not close enough. He then kisses her and they fall onto each other, meeting the ground. I hear their disgusting laughter flowing through the air.

          I feel absolutely enraged. A tear falls from my eyes and smacks the ground. I watch in pain. A pain that hurts my soul. The betrayal that wains my spirit. His undoubted disloyalty fuels my anger. Still standing next to the horse, I place my hand over the ground. The ground begins to shake. I want to end them both now. Right there under that tree. The tree that sprouted this false love. I want to uplift the tree and watch it fall unto them. Crushing the very life that forces them to draw breath. I draw back my hands as an even better plot comes to mind. A better plot at revenge. I cautiously hop on my horse to ride back home. Like a thief, I ride off unheard. Daniel had no idea that I saw him.

            I would make him pay for what he did. He broke my heart into two. I had never felt the love I had for him. I was so foolish to think that I was capable of being loved. My heart begins to beat faster. My chest rising and falling. My breaths more violent and my skin boiling from underneath. I tightly grasp the reigns of the horse as I command it to go faster. I could finally see my castle. I rode up quickly and dismounted my horse. David approaches me. "My queen is everything alright?" Brushing past him I only one word to say, "Yes." My eyes telling a different story.

          "I'm going to my chambers. When Daniel returns, bring him to me please." "Yes, your highness." I rush into my castle, up the spiral stairs and lock myself in my room. I pace around for hours on edge. I'm thinking about David and what he has done. I will get my revenge tonight. I will deceive his heart as he has mine. I create myself a long, beautiful red dress. Slits run down both legs. It has no sleeves and the neck of it comes down past my chest. I come up with these beautiful red heels that were plain, but as red as a rose. For the first time, I let down my hair. My long red hair that matches the beauty of the dress. I put my dress on and sit in front of my vanity.

             I stroke my long hair thinking of what I'm about to do. My skin shining in the mirror. I grab a tube of red lipstick. I apply it swiping from left to right in a slow motion. I layer my eyes in dark makeup to bring out my pupils. While doing this, I hear a knock. "Queen Aurora, we have brought Daniel to you." My eyes twinkle red in the mirror. I hadn't seen those eyes since looking into the bathroom mirror at school before coming here. Awaiting this moment I say, "Come in." Daniel walks in and his eyes grow wide. The sight of me makes him warm inside. The sight of him makes me feel dread and rage. I stand before him tall and gorgeous. Dark, but beautiful. "Aurora you look absolutely wonderful." I walk over to my bed. "I know I do. Sit with me." "What's the special occasion?" "Nothing, I wanted to do something different tonight." "I see, I love it. I would've come to see you, but I faced complications." "Tell me, where were you that would keep me waiting for you all day?" "Well I was out hunting all day. Looking for only the best meat for your kingdom and for your people." I stare at him with a grin that would make a dead rose die again. His lie sealed his fate.

               "You just look so beautiful Aurora." He grabs my cheeks as he had once done before. The touch of his hands poison my skin. I play along with him. I hold my composure. He lays me down and I act as if I'm enjoying it. Like I hadn't seen him earlier. He lays on top of me and embraces my neck with kisses. I look towards the ceiling and begin to speak in a deep, slow tone. "Love is a curious thing. It grabs hold of the willing. Only to end in betrayal. It poisons the heart. It blackens the soul." His body begins to tremble. I can hear the sound of him choking. He struggles to breathe. His veins begin to pop out of his skin, turning purple. He slightly backs off of me and looks into my eyes. My eyes turning red as my anger increases. "I hardly call disloyalty a complication. It's a choice you make. I saw you under that tree. You betrayed me. You have blackened my heart. Your disloyalty to me calls for your death." I cock my head to the side looking into his dying eyes. "Was she worth it? Worth your death? He draws his last breath and falls over onto the bed. Dead. I took his life as he has taken my heart. He ripped it out of my chest as it was still beating. I took his life as he was still living.

                I get up and walk over to my window. I can see in the reflection of the window, my eyes still red with anger. They weren't going to go away. The floor began to seep with black flakes. The color in my room starts to fade away. The roses in front of the window gradually die and turn black. My dress transforms into this birdlike gown. Its material similar to the wings of my raven. My hands begin to tingle as these claw like rings appear on two of my fingers on both hands. My hair pinning itself in an upward motion. I was making all of this happen. I force my window open with a swish of my hands. Outside, a darkness was flowing over my kingdom. Huge thorny vines uplift out of the grown and cover Dubar in darkness and the very ground I stand on. 

                 My raven flies in and takes his place on my shoulder. I feel my heart thumping, Changing its color from red to black. I feel a rush through my body. I randomly think about that book. I see Amoura's eyes and that shop. She would say, "Don't give in." Too late. I will give into the darkness that wants to consume me. I shout, "Guards!" The heavy door swings open. David is the first to enter. He glances at my bed, seeing the cold, dead body of Daniel. He then glances at me in fear. "My queen what has happened?" I replied, "Daniel has betrayed me. Dispose of him. I will not tolerate disloyalty. " I then say something that the world will be fit to remember, "My throne will not be tested. My heart is strong. And my reign will never end." "Yes your majesty." I end the night staring outside changing the world around me. "I'm no longer Aurora."