Morgana - A Tale of Beauty And The Beast

Chapter Seven

Chapter 07

MORGANA peered at her reflection in the hand held mirror. On the sides of her face, her hair had turned completely white. The rest remained fiery red. But the white streaks served as a clear reminder – and perhaps a warning not to try to turn back the fate of a man or Fae. They had allowed it this time, perhaps because they knew it was her first time using it. Perhaps they knew she would have sacrificed her whole being to save her father. She knew not. But the weariness reached down into the very marrow of her bones. She slept after the ordeal – not knowing how her father was truly recovering. She slept for days.

When she awoke there was slight aura about the mirror. She picked it up and seen to her surprise the Beast waiting for her.

"Morgana, are you well?" he asked it in a concerned voice. But it sounded tired, overly sad.

"Yes, yes. I am well. I have been sleeping... I don't know how long. I imagine just a few hours." she said smiling.

He seemed to chuckle at that – but it sounded more like a mountain lion growling, "You've been asleep for days."

"Days? Surly not. My sisters would have awakened me." she said, a smile spreading on her face at the impossibility.

"Ask them. I wanted to make sure you were safe for I could no longer feel you in my mind. But now that I know you are, I will leave you at peace." he said it and the light about the mirror began to fade.

"No! Wait!" It grew brighter again. "You sent the mirror and the dear bluebell pixie to help me, didn't you?"

He remained silent for a moment, then nodded, "Yes. I could feel your frustration. I could also feel life passing into the shadow world. I knew it must have been your father."

"So, you are a true Fae – perhaps even a warlock," she whispered it, more to herself than anyone. She noticed his eyes clouded with confusion, "I could not have done it without your help. Hopefully, Father will be ready to leave his bed soon."

"Yes, hopefully. Promise me you will be more careful of your powers Morgana. I can see what a little bit of changing the fate of one has done. You are still as beautiful as the stars my dear, but your hair is now partially the color of them. Beautiful as it is, it may not just be streaks in your hair that will be the toll they ask. Be careful." he said this, his voice seemed normal with it. No growl in the background of it.

"How do you know?" she asked curious, and seeing a fear in his eyes she could not name.

He sighed, "I... I can't tell you. While I am bound in this form, so is my tongue. I am sorry. Good-bye Morgana. Good-bye."

The mirror lost its glow. His face with it. She closed her eyes trying to bite back tears. She had never seen such sadness in a person eyes before. She had never seen such fear, even in her father's former state. She could already figure out that he had crossed a witch or warlock – or perhaps the royal family of Fae themselves. There was a fine line between Fae and witch. The warlocks and witches let themselves serve as gods and goddesses to the people, showing themselves to them – having relations with them – such as the womanizer Zeus and the "sun-god" Amon, without regard to the wrath of The Unseen One. She knew in time people would consider her a goddess. That was what many mortals claimed Fae were. But witches and warlocks – Grey Fae (neither dark nor white) did not care if The Veil collapsed. They did not care if they mixed their blood with the mortals and created children who were not accepted by either side. The Grey Fae were almost more powerful than Oberon and Titiana. Almost. It was that fine line that kept them above them all. The thing that kept them apart was that they would not mix themselves with the mortals and demand to keep their powers. They knew where to stop. That was the line no Fae should cross.