A Dance in the Moonlight

Chapter 1:

The Invitation

Zatanna was laying in bed at the top of the tower as the Sun rose. She lifted her head from her pillow and sat up to look out the window. Another day in her life. It was unfair, really. She was a wolf, a servant and an orphan. Despite her problems, she put a smile on her face and got ready for the day. She took her white nightgown off and changed into a white long-sleeved blouse underneath with a sleeveless brown dress and a white apron over her front. Zatanna brushed out her hair before tieing a scarf around it and sliding her feet into some plain old flats.

"Zatanna!"

She sighed as Bette shouted for her. Another day serving her step-family. The last thing she wanted to do but this was her life... at the moment.

Zatanna came down the stairs and dashed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Madame Kane had burned through the Zatara fortune so she was the only servant in the house. Zatanna fed the animals and got to work on breakfast. She simultaneously brewed herbal tea, toasted bread, cooked eggs and grilled bacon. During the few moments in the morning she had to herself, she cut some bread and cheese and ate them together for breakfast. Then the bells rang which meant her step-family were calling for her. Sighing, Zatanna took her step-family's breakfast to them.


Later that day, Zatanna threw a bucket of water across the floor and began scrubbing. She looked at her reflection in the water and daydreamed about living in a magnificent manor with more elegant dresses than she could ever wear and... a family that loved her. Tears began to slide down her face. Her biggest dream was to be free of her curse. Zatanna wiped her tears when the doorbell ran and she got up to answer it. When she opened the door, a palace messenger was on the other side.

"In the name of the late King John and Queen Mary, the young ladies of this abode are hereby invited to a royal ball at the palace this Saturday night," he said, reading from a scroll before passing her the invitations.

Zatanna looked at the invitations. One for Madame Kane, one for Bette and one for Barbara. But, wait, there was a fourth. Zatanna looked at the name on it and her jaw dropped.

Lady Zatanna of the Zatara House

She had practically forgotten she was a noblewoman from the way her stepmother treated her. A chance to be free for a night. Zatanna smiled and held the invitation to her. Her step-sisters came running down the stairs, demanding their invitations. Zatanna gave them theirs but kept hers. Then she realized her stepmother would never let her go so she slipped her invite into her apron pocket.

"What was that, Zatanna?" Bette asked "Give it to me!"

"It was nothing!" Zatanna uncharacteristically yelled.

"Hold your tongue, girl!" Madame Kane's voice ordered from the top of the stairs.

Zatanna bowed to her and Madame Kane came down. Madame Kane reached into her apron pocket and took out the invite. Zatanna began to shiver as tears began to form.

"It seems they invited the maid," said Madame Kane.

Bette and Barbara gasped and made faces of disgust.

"I... I was invited... that means I can go..." Zatanna spoke up.

"Not likely," said Bette "The ball's this Saturday and its a Full Moon!"

Zatanna looked up at them and tears began to fall. She just wanted the chance to be as good as everyone else to be treated as an equal. She wiped her eyes before running upstairs to her bedroom. Her step-sisters began to laugh and Madame Kane smiled in satisfaction.


Zatanna curled up in the corner of her room and cried. The one night she wanted to go out and it was a Full Moon. She officially hated her life.