The Impostor

The Stranger

Maleficent, leant against an hazel tree, was observing the young golden-haired girl while she was bending down to pick berries, singing carelessly.

So this was where she was hiding... Right under her nose. Then so be it! She must admit the good fairies had been smart, for once. But not enough, unfortunately. Maleficent had found her. And her curse shall happen just like she had planned. The fairy couldn't hold back the cruel and satisfied smile which raised on her red lips. She had won. Her prey was standing right in front of her, and if she wished so, she could kill her at this very moment. This pure and white neck would be so easy to break...

No. Let the pleasure last, she told herself.

Nonetheless, Maleficent must recognize the fairies' gifts had proved their worth. During the thousand years she had spent on the face of this planet, she never saw such a beautiful creature. Her golden hair waving along her perfect arched back, her thin and white hands moving with grace and poise, her blue purple eyes shining with intelligence and curiosity, her lips reminding of a freshly bloomed rose, and finally, her straight shoulders, her slim waist and her perfectly curved hips...all of this was giving this pretty being the appearance of a goddess straight out from the Greek mythology.

Maleficent surprised herself getting lost in the beauty of this angel that was the princess Aurora. She huffed slightly, finally remembering this creature, as sweet as she might be, was nothing more than her victim. So young, so beautiful, so fragile...

Very hard to resist, indeed.

Then the fairy focused again on the young girl's moves. Kneeling in the meadow, she was applying for choosing the most enticing fruits. Her cristal voice was singing some elusive words...

Maleficent rested one thin hand on her scepter as a green smoke invaded her. A magnificent blackbird with a ink plumage went out from the smoke and flew towards the princess.

The blackbird perched a few meters away from Aurora's little basket. The young woman turned her head towards him, not frightened by the bird's dark look, and smiled warmly.

''Oh! Hello, pretty bird. You are looking for food too? I would gladly offer you some strawberries. After all, there are enough for everyone here and my aunties ask me to pick some almost everyday. Besides, I really don't see the point of this... So I shall share my harvest with you,'' Aurora stretched out a hand full of wild strawberries towards the blackbird, who was shaking his little head in astonishment.

Maleficent, mad with anger, trapped inside this volatile's body according to her will, couldn't resist the invitation and felt obliged to peck in Aurora's hand, as the girl's smile widened.

When the bird's hunger was satisfied, the princess slowly raised a hand and stroked gently the blackbird's head. To her surprise, the bird uttered a shrill cry and flew away before he disappeared from her sight, blending into the trees. Aurora, frozen in shock, ended up by shrugging her shoulders before she got back to her task.

Ah! What a misery! What an absurdity! Be tempted by a young girl's sweet voice and let her stroke my feathers with her pure and innocent hands... Ah! What a ridiculous situation!

Maleficent, back in her fairy's shape, was pacing furiously a few meters away, hidden behind the trees which surrounded the field. She didn't want to admit it to herself, but she had been stupid. She had forgotten the child's skill for enchanting animals. No, if she wanted to have the advantage over this creature, she needed to keep her fairy's form.

Maleficent transported herself behind a tree on the edge of the weadow to listen at the young woman.

''I wonder if I will met her one day...'' She was whispering for herself. ''They say if we have the same dream several times, then one day, it does come true.''