Forest of Fireflies

Chapter 16

(Daniella's POV)

I was too emotionally unstable for my magic to work properly. Instead of transporting myself to my bedchambers, I ended up in the library. Actually, this is better. She won't look for me here...

The library was dark and cold as usual so I went over to the fireplace and threw a fireball into it, creating some light and warmth. Then, I sat in front of the fire, leaning my head against one of the plush armchairs. As I watched the flames flare and crackle, I let tears run freely down my face.

What did I even expect when coming here? Surely I didn't think that my life would get better....It never has and never will. This is all just a cruel trick. I'm just stuck in a palace thinking that I can finally belong. Am I really that hard to love? I haven't done anything mean to Grace... so I could have found a friend within her. Except that's now been ruined. Grace's glare as she shoved her rabbit to me; it's as if she hates me. I didn't do anything wrong! Why do I have to be the daughter of.....the Evil Queen. Oh great; I've said all those rude things to her. Now she's going to hunt me down and punish me. 

This last thought made my whole body shudder. To relieve myself from the chill that ran up my back, I hugged myself around my legs despite how uncomfortable it made me. Why must there be a stiff netting beneath this dress?

I was about to fall back into my thoughts when soft footsteps walked into the library. I recognised that particular sound....grandpa!

Sure enough, my grandfather walked into the library and glanced around. Spotting me, he quickly made his way towards me and crouched down by my side. "Daniella! Are you alright?"

I didn't answer so he spoke again, "You've been crying my dear....why?"

I looked up at Grandpa's concerned face and reached my arms around him. Before I could pull him down, he said quickly, "Ah, Daniella! I'm an old man, I can't sit on the floor with you. Come, let's sit on the couch instead, alright?"

I nodded and let him pull me up. After sitting ourselves on the couch that faced the fireplace, he asked, "so what's wrong? What's happened?"

I mumbled an indirect reply, "The Queen's gonna kill me."

Grandpa looked a little shocked when I said this. Immediately, he questioned me, "What do you mean?"

"I don't know...I just...I just said some things that were really rude I guess."

"What did you say to your mother?"

"Well I mean....I commented on what she's done to Grace."

"The Hatter's daughter?"

"Yeah...Grandpa, Grace and I got along so well but Mother had to ruin it in the end!"

My Grandfather nodded slowly and said, "Is it because Jefferson was abandoned in Wonderland?"

"Yes. Because of that, Grace hates me! Whilst Jefferson and Mother were in Wonderland searching for you, I went to the spring market with Grace and I gave her a plush rabbit. After finding out that her father wasn't to return, she shoved the rabbit back to me! Can you see? It's a sign that she doesn't want to be friends with me anymore!"

Grandpa embraced me in a hug as I continued, "I'm glad that you're back, I really am...but Mother made a promise to Jefferson and Grace that they would be together. She went into Wonderland knowing that they would be separated. After Grace left, I asked Mother why she did this, considering that she was knowingly tearing a parent away from their child. She didn't answer which means that she doesn't care right? She doesn't care... even though I was taken away from her when I was young. Grandpa, she doesn't love me! How can she, when she's capable of ripping families apart?"