This Enchanting New World

Chapter 4

Somehow I made it to my family's castle- really an overgrown, hulking mass carved into a mountain, with thorn-like vines intersecting and intertwining all over the outsides of the towers, like the detail on my mother's dress, or dragon scales. To get to the castle, I had to get through a darkened street that held a creaking, broken manhole cover- which of course I tripped over instead of making an elegant, dramatic entrance like my mom. 

I regained composure and glided smoothly inside, feigning comfort, sophistication and nonchalance as if I owned the place. 

My mom rose towering in front of me, in a waterfall of green smoke with teal undertones. Her eyebrows were raised and arched, and her expression was so indifferent it was as if she didn't even care about anything, let alone me. 

My composure immediately faded.

"Hello, worthless," she cooly said, clearly dissatisfied with me. "Did you miss me?" She spoke in a theatrical voice that seemed to radiate: I have all the power. 

I flinched. "Yeah- this is right where I wanna be, being insulted and snapped at. It's a great time, your majesty, mummy dearest.," I said sarcastically. 

She gritted her teeth, eyes piercing into mine like deathly sharp swords, taking angry and irked breaths.

"You idiot! You're meant to revel in teasing, not go feeling sorry for yourself! Can't you get that straight?," she said, throwing her hands in the air in exasperation. 

I understand where you're coming from, but if you could just give me a CHANCE for once in my life-," I stammered.

Narissa could tolerate nothing more. "Another CHANCE? What, do you think happy endings just sprout out of nowhere on trees? No one here gets a chance! There was only one chance and it was ruined! You are OUT of chances!," she raised her voice, pointing fingers literally and figuratively. 

My eyes flooded with wetness and cerulean mist- I was on the verge of tears. "But your highness, please!," I begged in desperation.

"Just forget it, ok? I'M coming there! And all your talk of true love's kiss really brings out the worst in me, so I will have my "happily ever after" MYSELF!!," she shrieked, unleashing a scream so pained that it shattered the glass crystal ball in the center of the room. I could hear nothing else, and for a moment I swore I could almost see flames shooting from her mouth.  

I went ghost-white, crumbling into a senseless, helpless heap on the floor. I covered my face with my hands, letting tears rain down like water. 

The crystal ball hadn't been the only thing shattered. So had my spirit. So had my dreams.

But those are always the moments when a miracle arrives.