The Red Queen's Daughter: Book One

Chapter 20: Did It Really Happen?

I wake up in my room with my mother and a nurse staring down at me. I feel extremely cold. Then I remember what happened yesterday. Only one word comes to my mind: Why.

Why did that ever happen? Why did they have to pretty much die? Just... Why?

"I need sometime alone, thank you for the tea," I say, realizing there's hot tea next to my bed.

"OK, sweetheart, take all the time you need," mother says. The nurse and her leave the room. "Wait, is there a cure for what happened to Nate and Charlotte?" I ask before they leave.

Mother sadly shakes her head,'no'. I close my eyes and take it all in. They can't be repaired. Tears slip out of my closed eyes. I hear a door shut. I open my eyes, remembering what Nate told me in the Upland before I went to bed that one night. "This spell book has all the spells and potions in all of Underland, healing potions, flying potions, you name it!"

Healing potions, healing potions. Healing potions! What type though? I race to my bag and pull out the book. I looked in the 'HS' section for Healing Stone. I find the page and thank god. The potion is, one chunk of stone off the stone person's body, fire, and moss. Fire. Do I set it on fire or something, or do I like, have to learn how to hold it?

Well, here's the directions:

1. Chip off a piece of the stone person's body, put it in the jar.

2. Lay the moss on top of the stone.

3. Set the moss on fire, the potion should melt into a liquid substance.

4. Pour the liquid on the person's head, this should make them turn back to normal

I gather up all of the Inge I need, and set the potion on fire. It turns into a green, glimmering liquid. I walk over to Nate and stop in front of him. 'Will this work?' I think. I pour the whole entire potion on his head. I stand in front of him, waiting for something to happen. Five minutes pass, nothing. I check the book to make sure I made the potion right. I did do it right.

I give up all hope that it'll work.

I sit down on a large rock. I put my hands on my face and shake my head. I check the book. Every time I check it, the more I realize they're never going to be able to come back.

I walk over and give them both the last hug of they're lives. My tears seep into they're stone skin.

Through blurred eyes, I see that the color has returned to they're bodies. They're still as stiff as a statue, but at least their color has returned. I check the book again. I check the title. That explains it. The potion wasn't meant for cursed people statues, it was meant for real statues. I don't get it, who would want to turn a statue real? I turn the page, check the title, and see that this is the right one. I thank god.

Apparently my tears brought back life and color to their bodies. Now what saves them is, oh god no. No, nope. I'm not doing that. I'm not kissing Nate. I can't, it's awkward.

I can't listen to my self. I sound horribly selfish. Putting my cant's and don't want to's before Nate's living? Sad. To me, that is. I run and get Nick. I practically drag him outside, he liked Charlotte a lot,"Well, Nick, now you can save her!" I yell, dragging him out. "How?" he asks. "True love's kiss! It's really sappy sounding to me, but can we be selfish and put our wants before their living? No. We can't, so come on," I say, reaching the garden.

I run over to them. Charlotte's eyes are still covered with her hands, and Nate is still pulling back a bow.

"Nick. You go first. Please? It'll be less awkward for me." I say.

He rolls his eyes and mouths,'Fine'. He walks up to Charlitte and stands playing with his fingers for a moment. He was a year older than me, this should be less awkward for him. "What are you waiting for?" I ask, growing impatient.

"What if I'm not?" he asks.

"What if you're not what?" I ask back.

"Her true love!" he exclaims.

"You are. You two look at each other like you've know each other for centuries."

"I know, but still."

"Just... Get it over with. Don't be worried. You know how nervous I am. Don't be at nervous."

"Fine."

He just walks up to her and kisses her so quickly, you would think the kiss was lightening fast.

In almost an instant, Charlotte's hands are slowly removed from her eyes. Tips he blinks a few times, then looks up at Nate. She smiles at him and hugs him. I give a slight smile at them. True love. So sappy.

"Well, best friend, bring him back," Charlotte says, winking at me.

I forgot that part. Great.

I just and in front of Nate for like, five minutes. Standing on my tip toes, then going back to my feet. The pattern goes on for a while. How would I even kiss him? There's an arrow right in front of him. I squeeze my eyes shut and quickly kiss him. Jeez, that was awkward for everyone. I look at him for a while, biting my lip.

Then, his grip releases on the arrow and it shoots forward. I smile with hope.

"Who are you?" he asks me, a confused look on his face.

No, no, no."It's me! Nicole!" I yell, tears in my eyes.

"I know. I'm just playing with ya'" he says, hugging me and spinning me in circles. I cry tears of joy. I'm so happy he's back. After a few moments, we look around and I ask,"So, what should we do now?"

Nick shrugs. "We should tell mom that they're back," he says. I nod my head,"Probably."

We walk inside and find my mother in the library, pacing back and forth. When she sees Nate and Charlotte, she gives them a hug,"I'm so glad you two are back!" she exclaims.

"Mom, you looked really worried before we came in. What is it?" I ask.

"Sweetie, I was just worried about Nate and Charlotte, that's all," she says. "Nate, Charlotte, you two should go get some rest. You too, Nicole, you're down with a cold and a very severed arm." she says. We nod and head back to our rooms.