Wickless

Princess

       Dee Dee and the Princess sat on a green bench near the rose bed. Come to find out, Dee Dee was in an area known as Emerald City. Apparently, the kingdom of Oz was just up the yellow brick road. 

       Everything about the Princess was posed and quaint. She kept her back straight, arched. Her hair was neat, long and straight. She was a bit plumped and her chest was full, and Dee Dee did her best to not focus on them. When the Princess sat, her legs crossed one another and to keep her hands from being idle, she kept them held together on her lap. Dee Dee even predicted the Princess could balance a book on her head while walking. Nothing but lady-like features seemed to possessed the Princess. 

       "I thought you were her. You look just like her. And your name." The Princess spoke on. During this time they had been sitting on the bench, they spoke to each other. The Princess thought Dee Dee was another girl that also had the name Dorothy. At first, the Princess insisted they were one in the same but doing the math, the years since that Dorothy had returned, it just wasn't plausible. "We have records of them all-they're in the palace if you'd like to see them. Maybe they'll help you understand." Dee Dee looked down at her heels; her body was filled with exhaustion and there was a hammer banging slightly on her head. If she left, she would have to go home. There was no where else she could go. She could go to Clara's but Dee Dee didn't want to be a burden so early on in their relationship-if they even could have a stable relationship. 

       Dee Dee didn't mind the guards who wore similar attire to the Princess. She didn't mind sitting in the carriage being drawn by four white horses. She didn't mind riding up the hill toward the castle that looked over the Land of Oz, and when she stepped out of the carriage with the help of a guard, she was able to see the other castle over yonder. The clouds surrounding the other castle were dark purple and the sky was black. She also saw creatures flying around the castle's top but the other castle was miles and miles, and miles away so she couldn't see what exactly those creatures were. 

       "Such an ugly sight, isn't it?" The Princess spoke. Though she was about the same age as Dee Dee, the Princess' vocabulary was like that of a college educated twenty-three year old. Her tone, how it seemed to be calm when she spoke-such maturity. 

       "I was there-"

       Princess turned to look at Dee Dee. Her neck nearly snapped and Dee Dee practically heard the pop. "Why was you at the West Castle?"

       Dee Dee shrugged. "I ended up there. My shoes took me there. I met a green skinned girl. She-" 

       "You shouldn't talk to her," Princess interrupted. "Her parents want you dead. She wants you dead and-" she paused. "They want my kingdom. They're trying to make her queen-of my kingdom!" She turned to face Dee Dee. "But you will help us not let that happen." 

       Normally Dee Dee would be intimidated by someone so brazen but at this moment, and what happened when she was back home in Kansas, it really didn't matter to her and she felt numb. Yet as she followed the Princess through her castle, as she walked past guards who stood at the position of attention, as she walked past maids who bowed to the Princess, her thoughts told her there were others out there who had it worst. Her thoughts were right. Maybe Dee Dee should try to make the most of things and be glad she had a room to run to, where others in her situation were kicked out. 

       Dee Dee stopped in the middle of the hall and closed her eyes. She took a big breath of fresh air and exhaled. It was then the Princess turned to her and gave a small smiled. 

       Together they sat in the dining hall at a long light brown wooden table. Dee Dee sat on one end and the Princess sat on the other end. In truth, the Princess had told Dee Dee what her name truly was but Dee Dee was so distraught then, she hadn't paid much attention. Now, she kind of wish she had been listening. 'Princess' would have to do for now as she picked at her food. The Princess ate her food slowly, polite, and always with her mouth closed. Dee Dee ate a bit but didn't have much of an appetite. 

       "You're not hungry?" The Princess asked. She saw Dee Dee shake her head. "You're going to go home now?" Again, Dee Dee shook her head. "My guards shall take you to a spare chamber. Maybe tomorrow I can show you your legacy." The Princess said. She picked up her fork and placed a piece of red steak into her mouth. Just a little bit of blood dripped from the side and it made Dee Dee's stomach turn. Luckily, there was a guard standing by her ready to take her hand. 

       "Where are your parents?" Dee Dee asked while she stood beside her chair. A maid quickly came by, and tucked the chair under the table. 

       "...They're dead..." ...Princess continued to eat. 

                                                                                       ***

       Dee Dee placed her shoes underneath the guest bed. It was a wide room with white, vivid colors. The window had a blurred, squared pattern to it  and it was cold. The restroom was just as big and she took a slow hot shower, enjoying the pain she felt when the steaming water splashed her skin. When she felt her body was cleansed, she tucked herself under the covers and went to sleep, not concerning herself of her parents. 

       She felt a lot better in the morning, and was anxious to get back home. There wasn't a desire for her to make her parents think she ran away or worst-become missing. So Dee Dee got out of bed, and washed up in the restroom then proceeded to put her clothes on. Yes, wanting to wear fresher clothes was another motivation to get home, but when she placed her hand under the bed to get her shoes, they were gone. She ducked her head under the bed to double check-yes, they were gone!

       Dee Dee quickly got to her feet and looked around the room. Her door was closed but she looked toward the window, and that wasn't closed. She rushed over to it, and placed her hands on the sill and looked out. The wind rushed her cheeks, a slight breeze with a bit of dew. She held her hair back because it was still down yet the curls were becoming looser. Just as she was about to lean back into her window, something caught her eye. A black feather was stuck in the fold of the window's doors. Dee Dee took it out and analyzed it, trying to understand what could have this besides a bird. It was then she thought of the guards. 

       Her footsteps echoed through out the halls; she trampled down the steps, past the guards, past the maids. She made her way to the entrance hall that led to the large double doors of the palace. Behind her, she finally heard the Princess chasing after her. 

       "Where are you going?" 

       Dee Dee turned around to look at the Princess still in her pale night gown. "They have my shoes! I need to get home!" She turned back to the front door. 

        "They'll kill you." She yelled at Dee Dee. 

        "I need to go home!"

       "We'll find another way." The Princess explained. 

       Dee Dee rolled her eyes and ran her fingers through her hair. "How long will that take?" 

       The Princess turned to her guards and maids, but they didn't have an answer. Dee Dee made a huff, and burst through the open doors into the morning's cold. The carriage pulled up to the entrance. She was going to get her shoes; she was going to get her heels back!