1 Look Beyond The Horizon
By: Zackire
A/N: ok people I just wanna say I do not own any Cinderella stuffs but I do own all of this characters. Sorry if the story is a little bit out from the original fairy tale but hey thats the part where a story is made more interesting. I hope all of u readers enjoyed it as I enjoy writing it.
Umm… to all the readers who are wondering when am I gonna update the other fanfics… hehehe… I still do not know. But perhaps its gonna be by the end of May… *runs away from all of the glares*
Chapter 1: Meeting the prince
A young lady in her early twenties hummed as she polished the last silverware shiny. Dainty fingers carefully placed the valuable silverware back to its place. With a nudge of her hips, the door to the cabinet closed.
"At last. Now I can retire to my luxurious room," the young lady said as she trudges up the steps to her humble room.
A small smile played at those ruby lips. Her full and luscious lips seem to look even more perfect if the owner were to smile happily. Her long and silky midnight mane swayed teasingly at her slender waist.
Still humming the song that her late father had once sang her to sleep; Lilac opened the door to her luxurious room. Her luxurious room consist of a single bed that had been with her since she was born, a pass down dresser, a small stool, a small trunk that kept her clothes, a candle and washing basin.
Taking out her sleeping dress, Lilac quickly changes. As she changed, she noticed a tear on her tattered gown.
"Not again… this is the only garment that I had left," she groaned as she hung the garment. True to her words, that happens to be the only garment that has the minimum number of holes and tears. All of her clothes are hand me down garments from her generous stepfamily.
Closing the shutters to her tower room, Lilac made her way to her cozy bed. The bed creaked under her weight. Tucking herself in, her eyes immediately droop and soon she fell into a slumber.
"Lilac!" Lilac cringed at the shrieking voice.
"Coming!" Lilac exclaimed as she quickly rinsed off her hands from the soapy liquid.
"Yes madam? What is it that you wish?" Lilac asked once she had reached her stepmother.
The wrinkled face lady in her late forties looked warily at the peasant- clad stepdaughter of hers. "After washing the floor, I'd like you to go to the woods and get me a Shitake mushroom. I had just read about them in the books and I want you to get me one," baroness Oakwood smiled. Even though her lips curved into a smile, the smile however didn't reach her eyes.
Lilac was incredulous. She had read about those mushrooms before. They never grow in this part of the world but in the east. "But madam…"
The baroness eyes grew hard as she snapped at Lilac before she could finish her sentence. "No but. I want you to get me one. And don't you dare return without it. You hear me you stupid girl?"
"Yes madam," Lilac sighed. How she wished for one day, her 'beloved' stepmother would stop calling her stupid.
Lilac trudged back to the kitchen as the mean hearted stepmother waved her off.
Strings of mutter could be heard as the frustrated Lilac checked the mushrooms on a fallen tree. Once again not her search for the priceless Shitake mushroom went down the drain.
"I really think that lady had totally lost her mind this time," the frustrated lady grumbles as she once again searches for the mushrooms.
It's not the first time that crazy old hag had given her a tough time searching for the most impossible things. That crazed lady had sent her off a lot of time on quests. Sometimes Lilac thought the reason to why her stepmother is doing as such is because she wants Lilac dead.
Sometimes the quests took days and even weeks. Once Lilac remembered, she nearly fell down a cliff to her death as she tries to save herself from a wild boar. In the end if Lilac knew its futile to go no searching, she would crunch up a few gold pieces she had left from her late father or trade in anything that she had at the moment.
People probably wondered why she called her stepmother madam instead of the earlier. She had gotten fed up trying to get some affection form a lady who is given the title as stepmother but barely knew her and treats her as the slave of the house.
Countless times had the thought of running away ran through Lilac's mind. But she just pushed the thought aside. If she were to run away, where would she reside?
Too intense was she on her train of thought that she hardly heard the galloping hooves and swishing arrow that sliced through the air. A surprise yelp escaped her lips when an arrow sliced through the air and struck itself on a bark, a breath away from her nose.
Panic and fearful for her dear life, Lilac grab hold of her skirt and run for her life. Blood rushed through her brain as she breathes in faster. The galloping hooves got louder and Lilac prayed for her legs to run faster. She didn't dare look behind her; afraid she might stumble and fall.
Suddenly a strong arm wound itself around her slim waist. Lilac's eyes widen when she noticed that her feet no longer touched the ground. Only one thing was on her mind. Break free and her brain complied as her body starts to struggle.
"Let me go!" Lilac screamed as she tries to claw her captor with her nails.
"My god woman! Stop it!" a baritone exclaimed as another strong arm clamped her hands.
At the sound of the voice, the frantic young lady stilled. Lilac turned her head ever so slowly to the voice.
Nicely tanned skin, chiseled face, thick sharp eyebrows, full hard lips, bored silver eyes and hair as dark as sin greeted her. Oh god! Only one man fits in the picture before her perfectly. Prince Drake, the well known handsome rogue with a heart as cold as ice.
Stunned, Lilac did whatever her mind told her to do at the moment. Drawing her arm behind her, Lilac let her fist fly.
Drake frowned as the weird beauty in his arms yelp in pain right after her fist had connected with his cheekbone. Since he was used to one-on-one combat everyday and hard training, the blow that he had just received was just a mosquito bite to him.
Clutching her stinging hand, Lilac muttered, "Are you human or an oak?"
Drake chose to ignore the question and gave her, his own. "Why did you do that?"
The lady in his arms thought that the question was stupid. "Well… umm… it was just an impulsive action," Lilac stuttered.
The black beauty flinched at the sight of his frown. "Did you know that action might cost you your life?"
Drake felt her tense at his remark. Damn! Do all the villagers thought him as a devil? Mullard's stories about him must have finally gotten into their heads. Drake made a mental note to pay his favorite friend after this ordeal.
Sighing, the handsome prince looked down at his catch. He had gone into the woods to hunt for a game, not to find a damsel. For the first time since he had her in his arms, he fully scrutinizes her form the top of her head to the tip of her well-worn boots.
"Look at me." Lilac reluctantly obeyed the command.
Time seemed to still as Drake lose himself into a pair of captivating violet orbs. "Violet eyes… where have I seen them," he mused to himself. Suddenly realization struck him as he remembered the only family in the country that inherits the eyes.
"Aren't you the daughter of the late Baron of Oakwood?"
A groan escaped Lilac's lips. Why must everyone regard her daughter of the late baron of Oakwood and not by her name? Why? Must it always be her eyes?
The corners of the prince's mouth quipped upwards at the groan. "You still haven't answered my question."
"Yes I am Lilac, daughter of the late Baron of Oakwood." Lilac sighed. "Why must everyone regard her as that?" she muttered silently.
Drake raised an amused eyebrow at the silent mutterings. "So what is a lady like you doing in a place like this? Running away?" he mocked.
Wary violet eyes suddenly widen in anger. How dare he mocked her! Suddenly all thoughts of respect and fear for the obnoxious guy in front of her went down the drain as anger and irritation took over.
"How dare you suggest such things? You don't know me well to even comment as such," Lilac hissed.
Drake noticed the fire in her eyes, making her eyes looked more captivating as ever. He decided that he like baiting and thought of further irritate her until it's enough.
"Is that so? Then why are you here in the woods if you are not running away? Ah… meeting a lover perhaps?" he teased.
An outraged gasp escaped the ruby lip. "I would have you known that I am here to find something that my stepmother had sent me to do," the flustered Lilac snapped.
"Ahh… and what would your dear stepmother sent you to find?"
Lilac immediately quite down at the question.
"Well…?" he pressed when he noticed the silence.
"A shitake mushroom," she whispered softly.
"A what?" he asked again as she leaned down since her answer was barely audible.
"I said, a shitake mushroom!" she exclaimed, exasperated.
Drake looked incredulous. A shitake mushroom? "Sorry to disappoint you, milady but a shitake mushroom only grows in the east," he said.
"Don't you think I know that?" she countered.
Drake is totally enjoying himself at Lilac's refreshing outburst. Even though they had just met, he had a hunch that there is more fire from where it came.
"So what are you going to do since there isn't any shitake mushroom here?"
Lilac mulled over the question. Its not like as if she had never faced this type of situation before. Unfortunately for her, such mushrooms could not be bought in the usual market place. Might as well face the truth. She is doomed.
"Well?" he prodded as he slapped and clicked the horse to canter.
"Return home and face the fire, I guess," she whispered, defeated.
Thick black eyebrows creased into a frown as Drake noticed Lilac's defeated posture and answer. Strangely, his conscience nagged him that Baroness Oakwood is not a very pleasant lady.
The riders remained silent all the way back to Oakwood manor.
Lilac was about to get off the horse but the strong arm around her waist stopped her, silently commanding her to remain as she was. Unconsciously, she leaned back onto his chest as she ponders of what to come.
The doors to the manor slowly opened and the baroness stepped outside with a smile. Her two precious daughters trailed behind her. As soon as the baroness rest her eyes on the riders, her smile left her and a scowl replaced it.
"Thank you, Prince Drake. I see that you have found my stepdaughter. She had been missing since noon and I was truly worried," the baroness said.
Drake only raised an eyebrow. Even though the voice was sweet but her eyes mirrored something else. Lies. Drake felt the lady in his arms shudder and instantly a wave of protectiveness washed him
"Is that it? I was told that you had sent her to find a shitake mushroom," the prince's voice grew hard and cold as he stated it out.
The baroness immediately flinched at the tone. Trying her best not to rip the black haired beauty off the horse and whip her, the baroness plastered a smile on her wretched face.
"Oh that. I was just jesting with her, your majesty. Everyone surely knows that those mushroom does not grow here."
"Do you know what I do to liars?" silver eyes hardened. Drake watched as the old lady before him nervously broke out in cold sweat. The one greatest thing he hated in life is a liar. And it so happens that one of them are standing right in front of him. He could easily detect a liar.
"You majesty, I could never lie to you," the baroness smiled. The action and how easy the baroness could lie sickened him. He wanted to press the matter further when a soft touch on his arm stopped him.
"If I were to ever caught you lying milady, I can assure you that you have a nice time in the royal prison," the prince of death warned.
Lilac could feel the piercing stares boring holes into her back as she got off the horse and walked into the house.
Giving a last glare at the baroness, Drake galloped off.
A/N: sorry for the stinking ending. I just wanna say that the other chapters will be much more fun than this. Ok then I gotta go. By the way I dunno when I will update the other chapter since my other fics need my attention greatly…lol
Ciao!
By: Zackire
A/N: ok people I just wanna say I do not own any Cinderella stuffs but I do own all of this characters. Sorry if the story is a little bit out from the original fairy tale but hey thats the part where a story is made more interesting. I hope all of u readers enjoyed it as I enjoy writing it.
Umm… to all the readers who are wondering when am I gonna update the other fanfics… hehehe… I still do not know. But perhaps its gonna be by the end of May… *runs away from all of the glares*
Chapter 1: Meeting the prince
A young lady in her early twenties hummed as she polished the last silverware shiny. Dainty fingers carefully placed the valuable silverware back to its place. With a nudge of her hips, the door to the cabinet closed.
"At last. Now I can retire to my luxurious room," the young lady said as she trudges up the steps to her humble room.
A small smile played at those ruby lips. Her full and luscious lips seem to look even more perfect if the owner were to smile happily. Her long and silky midnight mane swayed teasingly at her slender waist.
Still humming the song that her late father had once sang her to sleep; Lilac opened the door to her luxurious room. Her luxurious room consist of a single bed that had been with her since she was born, a pass down dresser, a small stool, a small trunk that kept her clothes, a candle and washing basin.
Taking out her sleeping dress, Lilac quickly changes. As she changed, she noticed a tear on her tattered gown.
"Not again… this is the only garment that I had left," she groaned as she hung the garment. True to her words, that happens to be the only garment that has the minimum number of holes and tears. All of her clothes are hand me down garments from her generous stepfamily.
Closing the shutters to her tower room, Lilac made her way to her cozy bed. The bed creaked under her weight. Tucking herself in, her eyes immediately droop and soon she fell into a slumber.
"Lilac!" Lilac cringed at the shrieking voice.
"Coming!" Lilac exclaimed as she quickly rinsed off her hands from the soapy liquid.
"Yes madam? What is it that you wish?" Lilac asked once she had reached her stepmother.
The wrinkled face lady in her late forties looked warily at the peasant- clad stepdaughter of hers. "After washing the floor, I'd like you to go to the woods and get me a Shitake mushroom. I had just read about them in the books and I want you to get me one," baroness Oakwood smiled. Even though her lips curved into a smile, the smile however didn't reach her eyes.
Lilac was incredulous. She had read about those mushrooms before. They never grow in this part of the world but in the east. "But madam…"
The baroness eyes grew hard as she snapped at Lilac before she could finish her sentence. "No but. I want you to get me one. And don't you dare return without it. You hear me you stupid girl?"
"Yes madam," Lilac sighed. How she wished for one day, her 'beloved' stepmother would stop calling her stupid.
Lilac trudged back to the kitchen as the mean hearted stepmother waved her off.
Strings of mutter could be heard as the frustrated Lilac checked the mushrooms on a fallen tree. Once again not her search for the priceless Shitake mushroom went down the drain.
"I really think that lady had totally lost her mind this time," the frustrated lady grumbles as she once again searches for the mushrooms.
It's not the first time that crazy old hag had given her a tough time searching for the most impossible things. That crazed lady had sent her off a lot of time on quests. Sometimes Lilac thought the reason to why her stepmother is doing as such is because she wants Lilac dead.
Sometimes the quests took days and even weeks. Once Lilac remembered, she nearly fell down a cliff to her death as she tries to save herself from a wild boar. In the end if Lilac knew its futile to go no searching, she would crunch up a few gold pieces she had left from her late father or trade in anything that she had at the moment.
People probably wondered why she called her stepmother madam instead of the earlier. She had gotten fed up trying to get some affection form a lady who is given the title as stepmother but barely knew her and treats her as the slave of the house.
Countless times had the thought of running away ran through Lilac's mind. But she just pushed the thought aside. If she were to run away, where would she reside?
Too intense was she on her train of thought that she hardly heard the galloping hooves and swishing arrow that sliced through the air. A surprise yelp escaped her lips when an arrow sliced through the air and struck itself on a bark, a breath away from her nose.
Panic and fearful for her dear life, Lilac grab hold of her skirt and run for her life. Blood rushed through her brain as she breathes in faster. The galloping hooves got louder and Lilac prayed for her legs to run faster. She didn't dare look behind her; afraid she might stumble and fall.
Suddenly a strong arm wound itself around her slim waist. Lilac's eyes widen when she noticed that her feet no longer touched the ground. Only one thing was on her mind. Break free and her brain complied as her body starts to struggle.
"Let me go!" Lilac screamed as she tries to claw her captor with her nails.
"My god woman! Stop it!" a baritone exclaimed as another strong arm clamped her hands.
At the sound of the voice, the frantic young lady stilled. Lilac turned her head ever so slowly to the voice.
Nicely tanned skin, chiseled face, thick sharp eyebrows, full hard lips, bored silver eyes and hair as dark as sin greeted her. Oh god! Only one man fits in the picture before her perfectly. Prince Drake, the well known handsome rogue with a heart as cold as ice.
Stunned, Lilac did whatever her mind told her to do at the moment. Drawing her arm behind her, Lilac let her fist fly.
Drake frowned as the weird beauty in his arms yelp in pain right after her fist had connected with his cheekbone. Since he was used to one-on-one combat everyday and hard training, the blow that he had just received was just a mosquito bite to him.
Clutching her stinging hand, Lilac muttered, "Are you human or an oak?"
Drake chose to ignore the question and gave her, his own. "Why did you do that?"
The lady in his arms thought that the question was stupid. "Well… umm… it was just an impulsive action," Lilac stuttered.
The black beauty flinched at the sight of his frown. "Did you know that action might cost you your life?"
Drake felt her tense at his remark. Damn! Do all the villagers thought him as a devil? Mullard's stories about him must have finally gotten into their heads. Drake made a mental note to pay his favorite friend after this ordeal.
Sighing, the handsome prince looked down at his catch. He had gone into the woods to hunt for a game, not to find a damsel. For the first time since he had her in his arms, he fully scrutinizes her form the top of her head to the tip of her well-worn boots.
"Look at me." Lilac reluctantly obeyed the command.
Time seemed to still as Drake lose himself into a pair of captivating violet orbs. "Violet eyes… where have I seen them," he mused to himself. Suddenly realization struck him as he remembered the only family in the country that inherits the eyes.
"Aren't you the daughter of the late Baron of Oakwood?"
A groan escaped Lilac's lips. Why must everyone regard her daughter of the late baron of Oakwood and not by her name? Why? Must it always be her eyes?
The corners of the prince's mouth quipped upwards at the groan. "You still haven't answered my question."
"Yes I am Lilac, daughter of the late Baron of Oakwood." Lilac sighed. "Why must everyone regard her as that?" she muttered silently.
Drake raised an amused eyebrow at the silent mutterings. "So what is a lady like you doing in a place like this? Running away?" he mocked.
Wary violet eyes suddenly widen in anger. How dare he mocked her! Suddenly all thoughts of respect and fear for the obnoxious guy in front of her went down the drain as anger and irritation took over.
"How dare you suggest such things? You don't know me well to even comment as such," Lilac hissed.
Drake noticed the fire in her eyes, making her eyes looked more captivating as ever. He decided that he like baiting and thought of further irritate her until it's enough.
"Is that so? Then why are you here in the woods if you are not running away? Ah… meeting a lover perhaps?" he teased.
An outraged gasp escaped the ruby lip. "I would have you known that I am here to find something that my stepmother had sent me to do," the flustered Lilac snapped.
"Ahh… and what would your dear stepmother sent you to find?"
Lilac immediately quite down at the question.
"Well…?" he pressed when he noticed the silence.
"A shitake mushroom," she whispered softly.
"A what?" he asked again as she leaned down since her answer was barely audible.
"I said, a shitake mushroom!" she exclaimed, exasperated.
Drake looked incredulous. A shitake mushroom? "Sorry to disappoint you, milady but a shitake mushroom only grows in the east," he said.
"Don't you think I know that?" she countered.
Drake is totally enjoying himself at Lilac's refreshing outburst. Even though they had just met, he had a hunch that there is more fire from where it came.
"So what are you going to do since there isn't any shitake mushroom here?"
Lilac mulled over the question. Its not like as if she had never faced this type of situation before. Unfortunately for her, such mushrooms could not be bought in the usual market place. Might as well face the truth. She is doomed.
"Well?" he prodded as he slapped and clicked the horse to canter.
"Return home and face the fire, I guess," she whispered, defeated.
Thick black eyebrows creased into a frown as Drake noticed Lilac's defeated posture and answer. Strangely, his conscience nagged him that Baroness Oakwood is not a very pleasant lady.
The riders remained silent all the way back to Oakwood manor.
Lilac was about to get off the horse but the strong arm around her waist stopped her, silently commanding her to remain as she was. Unconsciously, she leaned back onto his chest as she ponders of what to come.
The doors to the manor slowly opened and the baroness stepped outside with a smile. Her two precious daughters trailed behind her. As soon as the baroness rest her eyes on the riders, her smile left her and a scowl replaced it.
"Thank you, Prince Drake. I see that you have found my stepdaughter. She had been missing since noon and I was truly worried," the baroness said.
Drake only raised an eyebrow. Even though the voice was sweet but her eyes mirrored something else. Lies. Drake felt the lady in his arms shudder and instantly a wave of protectiveness washed him
"Is that it? I was told that you had sent her to find a shitake mushroom," the prince's voice grew hard and cold as he stated it out.
The baroness immediately flinched at the tone. Trying her best not to rip the black haired beauty off the horse and whip her, the baroness plastered a smile on her wretched face.
"Oh that. I was just jesting with her, your majesty. Everyone surely knows that those mushroom does not grow here."
"Do you know what I do to liars?" silver eyes hardened. Drake watched as the old lady before him nervously broke out in cold sweat. The one greatest thing he hated in life is a liar. And it so happens that one of them are standing right in front of him. He could easily detect a liar.
"You majesty, I could never lie to you," the baroness smiled. The action and how easy the baroness could lie sickened him. He wanted to press the matter further when a soft touch on his arm stopped him.
"If I were to ever caught you lying milady, I can assure you that you have a nice time in the royal prison," the prince of death warned.
Lilac could feel the piercing stares boring holes into her back as she got off the horse and walked into the house.
Giving a last glare at the baroness, Drake galloped off.
A/N: sorry for the stinking ending. I just wanna say that the other chapters will be much more fun than this. Ok then I gotta go. By the way I dunno when I will update the other chapter since my other fics need my attention greatly…lol
Ciao!