The Cursed Princess: A Jensoo Princess/Witch AU

Chapter Eight: Phoenix

My eyes shot open as I looked around me. Instead of the darkness that I had seen previously in death, I was in a bright, white void-like space. It was so bright that my eyes were hurting just looking at it. I looked down at my green hands and soon realized that the time was up. I was going to remain green forever.

"You impressed me, princess."

I turned around to see a familiar, platinum blonde fairy. She had a smile on her face this time, but it didn't seem malicious, like the last. Instead, it seemed much more genuine. I guess she was happy that I hadn't been able to break the curse after all.

"I didn't think that you'd be able to change," she remarked.

"I bet you're happy, huh?" I scoffed. "Now your curse can live on in me."

She placed her hand on my shoulder. "I'm happy, but not for the reasons that you might think."

"What do you mean?"

"You did something that I didn't think you could, princess," she said. "You learned how to be vulnerable, you learned how to be courageous, and most importantly, you learned how to love. The curse was just a ploy. A kick-starter, if you will. It was only there so that you'd realize how to change as a person."

Her hand waved around and a glassy window appeared. Only, this window didn't show the outdoors. Instead it showed Jisoo crying over my limp, lifeless body. She cried into my chest as she held me close. I wished that I had lived long enough to hold her again.

"You see that witch?" Faybelle gestured to the window. "That witch is one of my best friends. And in all my years of knowing her, she's never cried like that. Not once. You meant a lot to her, you know that?"

I tried to suppress my emotions as I continued to look at her. Then, I noticed something. The body that she was holding, it couldn't have been me. It wasn't green. Instead, it was returned to the natural pale color that it normally was.

"Wait, but I'm not-"

"So you've noticed." She smirked. "You didn't live long enough to hear it, but she said it back to you."

"So she said..."

"She said 'I love you, Jennie.'"

My heartbeat, if I still had one, stopped in that moment. The fact that she felt the same way about me made my cheeks flush a bright red. Ever since I met her, I had felt something for her that I'd never felt before. And now, thanks to Faybelle, I knew what it was. It was love.

"Why are you showing me this?" I asked. "I can't go back to her."

She smiled. "You underestimate your little witch. Jisoo is a descendant of a special type of witch that was thought to be gone from existence. She's a phoenix witch, meaning that she has the powers of a phoenix."

"I don't understand." I looked at her, perplexed.

"Have you ever wondered why she could carry you so easily? That's because phoenixes can lift tons more than their own body weight. She could lift five of you if she needed to. And there is another ability that she possesses," Faybelle said. "Like a phoenix, her tears have healing properties. If you look closely, you can see that her tears are healing that gash on your chest."

I did as she said and peered closely into the window. With each tear that fell from her cheek, I could see the blood from the wound disappearing until there was barely any left. I turned to Faybelle in shock, who simply nodded.

"Phoenixes can also resurrect themselves," she noted. "When they die, they burst into flames and turn to ashes. Then, they are reborn from the ashes to start anew. Now, with Jisoo, it's different. She isn't immortal, like a phoenix is, but she can use that ability from the phoenix to prolong others' lives, but in turn, it slightly shortens hers."

"She's trying to bring me back?" I asked.

"Precisely," Faybelle replied. "But she's drained. Her phoenix abilities weaken her and she's never resurrected someone before. But I think I can help. Do you know where you are?"

I shook my head.

"You're in limbo, which means that you're stuck in a position between life and death. Jisoo's magic is the only thing keeping you from crossing the border," she stated. "But she can't hold on for much longer before her powers weaken out. She's still young and she's not that powerful yet. But, if I combine my powers with hers, you can be back with your little witch in a matchbox."

"But won't that weaken you as well?" I asked.

"Yes, but I'll be able to regenerate to full health in no time," she said.

I heard her chant something in a language similar to the one that Jisoo had spoken in earlier. It must have been a language that only magic-wielders could speak. As she chanted those words, I felt my body start to lighten, as if it was floating above air. My skin began to turn back to its normal shade as her chanting got louder. A bright flash of light blinded me, piercing my vision.

Then I saw her.

I took a few deep breaths as my eyes blinked open. Jisoo was still crying over my chest, trying to heal my wound. I reached over to touch her hair, causing her to turn to look at me. I smiled seeing her chocolate colored eyes gazing at mine.

"J-Jennie?" she asked, trying to wipe away her tears.

"It's me, Jisoo." I beamed. "I'm here."

She held me close in one of her caring hugs, sobbing all the while. My fingers ran through her hair, feeling the softness of each lock. Her head nuzzled into my neck, making me smile even brighter. Her arms were wrapped tightly around my waist, as if she was saying "I'll never let go."

Her lips crashed into mine, the sweet taste returning. I kissed back even more passionately, feeling up and down her arm as I did so. Her grip on my waist tightened as my hands grasped her hair. I moaned lightly against her lips as we pulled away from the kiss.

"You were right," she chuckled. "You did break the curse."

"I couldn't have done it without you," I whispered to her. "phoenix."

Her eyes widened as her expression turned more serious. "How did you know that?"

"Faybelle told me," I said.

"And you're okay with that?"

"More than okay." I beamed. "You're the one who saved me."

Her cheeks flushed a bit red. "I'm guessing you want to go back to the palace now, huh?"

"Not yet." I intertwined my fingers with hers. "Is it okay if I stay with you for a while?"

"More than okay," she replied.

I leaned in closer to her to kiss her one more time. But this kiss was different. It seemed to say "I want to be with you." And I did. Being with Jisoo brought me more joy than any of the riches I had ever gotten at the palace. Being with Jisoo was worth more than gold.

"I love you," I whispered.

"I love you too," she responded, running her fingers through my hair.