Ever After

Chapter Twenty-Three

When I woke up the next morning, the guards came again and dragged me out of my cell and up to the Queen. Her fashion sense didn't fail her, and she dressed to show the title of the Evil Queen. Her flowing red dress, with diamond wrap around her middle, and fancy hair getup made her look very intimidating but beautiful.

"I'm going to guess you haven't changed your mind. Yet." She said when I was set down on the couch. They didn't tie me up, but there were guards stationed at every exit, so I couldn't escape.

"If you're trying to change my mind, then you can forget it." I said coldly looking between the stiff guards.

"Oh I don't have to try. Sometime you'll come to your senses and see that my offer is much better than what my partners have in store for you. They are arriving in two days, so you might want to decide quickly." I rolled my eyes, but she was too busy applying lipstick and adjusting her hair to see.

"I doubt that." She got out of her seat, and walked over to a mirror on the wall. She snapped her fingers and the mirror moved open to reveal a vault with a key lock. She took out a key from a side pocket, put into the lock, twisted the key and the key disappeared in a golden flurry. Then the vault opened, and she took out two books. One was bigger than the other. It was brown, and when she opened it to a random page, I saw the intricate designs on the cover that matched the book from my dream.

She placed the other book on her vanity table and pulled a chair in front of where I was sitting. She put one leg over the other and rested the book on her lap.

"How about a story. I think you'll find this one interesting." she started to read. "Once upon a time, in the magic kingdom of Asaelia, our heroes faced a most powerful foe.".....

The people ran around the streets, playing with their banners and flags. Today was the five hundredth anniversary of the birth of the kingdom. People were busy running around getting decorations ready for the celebration. For today was also the day of the Princess's crowning as the queen.

As the villagers were getting ready for the coronation for the Crown Princess, and the anniversary of the kingdom, inside the palace people were just as hectic. The king and queen ordered around the servants to make sure everything was perfect for their daughters crowning and the celebration. In a private chamber of the castle, the royal sorcerers were also preparing for their duty. The sorcerer and sorceress were to be the ones to crown the princess as the queen.

The sorcerer was busy reciting his lines for the coronation, and the sorceress was tending to their child. A sweet seven year old girl, was being dressed by her mother as she went over how her daughter must behave during the ceremony.

"Sit still, I have to fix you hair. Remember Ella, during the coronation no running around or playing. Stay where you are while your father and I do our job. Okay?" She held the child's small chin on her finger and the child replied.

"Okay Mother." The sorceress smiled at her daughter and held her hand as they walked to get the sorcerer.

"Dear stop practicing, you have your lines memorized. We are going to be late." The mother scolded her husband. He shut his book, grabbed his staff and walked out with his family.

At the coronation, Ella sat quietly as her mother and father crowned the new queen. She fidgeted with her itchy dress and hair that was pulled tight, but stayed as still as possible. While the new queen was reciting her vows to her kingdom, the ground shook. And all light from outside went out. The doorway to the throne room blew open, and three women walked in. One woman, beautiful and stunning, blew a mist from her hand and all the guests froze where they were. The one next to her, with tentacles holding her up instead of legs, launched her tentacles at the guards that were coming and threw them aside.