From darkest days to brightest nights

MAYBELLINE

I kick him hard but receive no reaction, tears stream down my face as my brother, the one who has protected me through everything, slowly closes his eyes as the life is slowly squeezed out of him. Malcom's strength is more then a grown man can handle so a young girl like me doesn't stand a chance of stopping him.

"Malcom!" the voice snaps loud and clear as his eyes widen and his grip releases. I rush to Sylvio as he slumps to the base of the tree. Malcom stutters and tries to explain that all this is just a misunderstanding.

"Well you see Aafje I was just, we were just, he refused to walk so we gave him some.... motivation shall we say." He wrings his hands together in between his desperate hand gestures.

"Shut up Malcom" His babbling silences almost instantly. Sylvio groans slightly as he pulls himself against the tree.

"Asshole" he mutters under his breath to the now cowering vampire hiding next to a tree.

"Maybelline, Sylvio I'm so glad to see you safe." I look up stunned, the kind lady that was once my handmaiden stands before me in a knee length, pure white, silk dress and her hair braided back into a long plait. She notices our confused looks and continues to explain. "Oh yes, How am I here? Well you see I'm not a peasant girl bought to serve you m'lady, I'm in fact an elf lady sent to watch over you two by my dear friend and your mother." It seems like the biggest joke on God's green earth but after the past two days it doesn't really surprise me. Sylvio catches his breath as I attempt to pull him to his feet but him being, well him and me being me it ended up looking like a run down circus act that went terribly wrong. When we manage to rise and stand on our own to feet I run to Aafje and hug her tight. Out of all the unusual chaos that has happened at least I still have this, the comforting arms of my closest friend. I close my eyes and tighten my grip around her stomach, the silky fabric of her dress is cool against my cheek.

"Come now children, There's a carriage not far from here and if we hurry we will be there by nightfall." I take her hand and watch as Sylvio follows close behind, Glad to finally be with someone he trusts.

"Aafje where's 'there' exactly?" Sylvio pipes up with curiosity.

"Maybelline do you remember what I told u about the elves?" she looks up slightly and nods thinking back to the morning by the window when they where back in Dragonstone.

"They live in the mountains. Is that where we are going Aafje, to the mountains?" Aafje nods and proceeds to walk forward and deeper into the dark forest. Somewhere in front of us a small glow starts to radiate, lighting up the darkened forest. As we grow closer the light grows larger and the sources of its power shows in the form of two pale white horses with silky manes and tails that shone without a source of light. But there was something different about these horses, from their head grew a spiralled horn. Aafje takes not of my stunned face and gives off a slight laugh.

"Unicorns my dear, stunning and majestic but also rare." She leaves my side and stands to the right of one of the unicorns. As she runs her hand down the long face of the unicorn it blows a long breath through its nose.

"Do they have names?" I proceed with caution as I inch towards her becoming weary as the brilliant blue eyes of the unicorn follow me with every step I take.

"This one here," she says stroking the horses mane. "This is Moonbeam and the other is Scarlett." I reach my hand out slowly and rest it upon the face of Moonbeam, watching as she closes her eyes and nuzzles her head further into my palm.

"She likes you" Aafje winks at me before turning to the tall male figure sitting in the golden carriage attached to the horses. I hadn't realized he was there until he was spoken to. "Anthony, this is May and Sylvio, the queens children." Anthony tilts his little felt hat to us and greets us with a smile.