The Horns that Fit

Chapter 3

*Everything is black. I don't know where I am. I can't see my hands or anything else. I feel my mouth moving, but nothing is coming out. My eyes get wet. I try to hold the tears back. Tried. I feel the coldness creeping in as I at least try to shut my eyes. It's quiet. I didn't  wanted this. The cold is getting closer, like a ghostly finger. I can feel it. Wait... is someone touching me? My eyes open to an unusual sight. A boy who looked a year older than me. His skin is blue and his eyes are red. He wore green and gold. He's smiling at me. "Who are you?" I asked. He continued to smile. "Please...?" I begged. He said nothing before fading away. "No! Wait! Please, don't leave." I call out but my voice dies. Alone. Again. "Maleficent?" I heard someone say. "Huh?" "Maleficent, dear. Please, wake up." My eyes open to see my mother, standing over me. "Mother?"*
"Dear, are you alright?" Her soothing voice asked. "M-mother, is that you?" I asked softly. "Yes. Are you alright?" I shook my head which caused a throbbing pain to start. "My head hurts." "I know, dear. You broke the tip of your horn." I reached up to my left horn. My fingertips felt a bandage wrapped around. I looked down and noticed that I was covered in scratches. "Mother, what happened?" "I don't know, dear. Kellen said you ran off into the woods and hurt yourself. You might've tripped." "What about the blue boy? Where is he?" "Blue boy? Dear, there was no one around when we found you. You need to rest. I'll go get you some soup and then we can read together. Okay?" I nodded my head carefully. She kissed my forehead and left. I sat on my bed, still in my dress. I checked one my pockets. Empty. I tried the second one. My hand touched something cool. Taking it out, I was surprised to see the sphere without a single crack in it. "Oh no!" My thoughts suddenly went back the woods. My friend. The little bird would certainly die out there alone. I quickly got up and went over to the window. "I hope he's okay." I said sadly. A small noise made me turn around. There, siting on my table, in a gold cage, was the little bird. He was tucked in a big nest, asleep. My heart almost jumped out of my chest to see him. I carefully stepped closer, watching his tiny chest rise and fall. A small smile appeared on my face as my bedroom door opened. My mother came in holding a tray of food. "Come, dear. It's supper time." She said as she placed the tray on the table. "Oh, I see that you found your friend. He was with you. We couldn't find his mother. Come eat." I rushed over by my mother's side. She handed me a bowl of hot soup. I carefully began eating with my mother looking out the window. "Dear, do you know what tomorrow is?" I shook my head with a mouthful a soup. "What? After all of the carrying on you have done for the past few days? I'm surprised. How old are you, dear?" "Nine...ooh. I know what tomorrow is!! It's my birthday!! What are we doing ?!" I asked. "It's a surprise, dear." I finished up the soup and handed her back the bowl. "Alright, dear. Time for bed. I want you already for tomorrow." "Ok. Good night, mother." "Good night, dear." She kissed the top of my head before leaving. I tossed and turned with excitement. Tomorrow would be a great day. I can tell.
I awoke just as the sun was cracking through the horizon. Quickly, jumping out of bed I rushed over to my little friend to check on him. He was still asleep. More feather began to sprout out. "You're still here. That's good. Today is good day." I whispered at him before
I got ready for the day. I wore a special black dress with a green accent. Afterwards, I rushed down to the kitchen. Mother and father were eating their breakfast. "God morning!" I beamed. "Maleficent? What are you doing up so early? The sun is hardly out." Her father said. "Oh, dear. It's her birthday." Her mother said. "Happy Birthday, my dear. We have quite a surprise for you. Your father and I worked very hard, so I hope you enjoy it." "I will." "Well, let's get down to business. I have been waiting to give you this gift for a while." Her father said, handing her a thick book. The cover was made out of what felt like tree branches that have been twisted and bent. A heavy key hole took most of the space on the front. Attached by a piece of twine that hung from the spine, a large brass key. "Now listen very carefully to me, young lady. This book contains generations after generations of wisdom and magic. I want you to promise me that you will be responsible with this." "I promise, father. I will take good care of it." "Thank you. Now, on to the second order of business, your mother and I have some last minute things to finish up. While we do that, go and get ready. Kellen will be helping you, so no funny business." "Okay, father." I replied just before grabbing the book and heading back to my room. Kellen was already waiting in front of my door. "Good morning, princess. Happy birthday." He said. "Thank you. Look Kellen, I got this magic book." "Impressive. Do you know what you would like to wear?" "This. I like it a lot. And I don't want to change." "Fine. Shall I file and polish your horns?" I nodded my head. Kellen got a filing board and a bottle of polish. Sitting at her dresser with Kellen filing away, I put the spell book in front of me. I had to hold the key with both my hands. It slipped into the hole with a soft click. I opened the front cover as easy as I could. Yellow stained paged greeted me. Thick ink writing of words I never seen before sent chills down my spine. "Chapter 1...in...intra...kellen, what is this word here?" I asked, pointing ING the page. "Introduction to magic." He read over my shoulder. "Introduction...hmmm..." With help from Kellen, I was able to read a page before I was finished with my horns." "There. All better." Kellen said just as there was a knock on the door. "Dear, are you ready?" Mother asked poking her head through. "Just in time, too." "You look very nice, dear. Ah, I see you started your book. How is it ?" "I like it. I'm ready now." "Yes." I replied as I took mother's hand. We walked through the castle, pass the garden, and out into the meadow. There, already interacting with each other, other kinds of people. Different. A few of them were animals one would see in the jungle while others looked as if they didn't belong to walk the land. My eyes scanned the crowd to find someone nice, but there were too many faces. Suddenly, the trumpets blared, catching everyone's attention. "Ladies and gentlemen, princes and princesses." The guard called out. Princess Maleficent!!" The guest broke out into a massive and loud applause that gave me chills. I bowed my head slightly, acknowledging them. A group of girls, not much older than me, came up. One wore a black and red dress with hearts running down the middle. A shiny crown sat upon her head. The second girl was dressed a little funny. Gold bandages were wrapped around her with a few dangling from her arms. She also had a blue see through sash draped over her. Multiple shiny rings conquered her hand. However, whenever she moved sand fell off. The third girl was dressed very similar to the first one, however, her dress was purple and green, much like mine and the crown on her head was bigger. "Hello." I said. "Hi. I'm Red." "My name is Cleo." "And I'm Apple." "I like your crowns. They're very pretty." "Thank you. I got it today. After my first execution. Off with his head, I say." Red stated, fixing her crown. "They maybe true, but mine is the fairest in the land. I got mine after I went apple picking. I love the red ones." Apple added. "You must have forgotten who has power over the sands of Egypt and my crown is too big and too pretty to show you." Cleo huffed. "Do you have one?" Apple asked me at which I shook my head. "I don't think I can wear one cause I have horns." I pointed to the top of my head. "I hope to have one. Maybe someday." "You should. How else are peasants going to know if you're a princess or one of them?" "I...i.." "Dear, come along." Mother said, coming from the side and taking my hand. I ended up sitting in this huge tree throne, looking over the guest. My heart skipped a beat when I saw a familiar shade of green.