All Souls Night

Chapter 2

Author's Notes: Wow. The response I got from the first part of this fic was incredible! Thank you so much! I certainly didn't expect it. AT ALL! So thanks to all you guys and your awesomeness I decided to continue this fic. I have an inkling it's going to be a roller coaster of a ride. I hope you guys enjoy this new chapter which was again inspired by a song by Loreena McKennitt. Her music seems to be resonating well with this piece. If you'd like to hear the song it's called Marrakesh Night Market. I recommend it highly even though it's not necessary to listen to it as you read. Just for those that like some music to listen to as they read really. As always and please please drop me a review and let me know how I'm doing with this thing. It helps inspire me to keep working on it which likely wouldn't have happened at all but because of the responses I've given in and I'm going to continue it. So if you'd like to read more please let me know! ! ~ Bella

The leaves were just beginning to turn. The fall colors were beautiful to anyone that cared to take notice. It was beginning to cool down as well and the trees would soon shed their leaves. Samhain was fast approaching. In just a few short weeks the fires would be lit again and the celebrations underway. Purification and renewal became the main focus of Samhain unlike All Souls which were the fertility rites. The people readied themselves for the coming of winter, the dark time of the year. Samhain was just as beautiful a festival as All Souls but not nearly as much fun as All Souls to the beautiful Princess.

She glanced out the window of her room. Today found her sitting in the large window seat, a place she often took up residence when she was trying to think. The grey stone wall was cool against her back as she rested her head back on it. Her father, the King was leading his soldiers in drills down in the courtyard. James was never one to get complacent and insisted despite the lack of threats that his men be trained and ready just in case. It was also why he'd been so adamant to let his daughter learn to defend herself despite her mother's protests.

Emma opened her eyes looking down at the beautiful feathered mask she held in her hand. It was the only thing she had left of the beauty she'd met that one night all those months ago. It really hadn't been that long only four moons but it was long enough. Soon Samhain would come and in the early spring her birthday followed by All Souls again. Her left hand ran across the deep blue and green feathers as her mind flashed her back to that night.

She could almost smell the scent of burning wood and sage. Could almost hear the steady beat of the drums as she danced around the large bonfire before her eyes had caught sight of the beauty. Dark eyes flashing, deep burgundy gown swirling around her ankles and her pearly white teeth flashing behind her rich red lips; she was a sight to behold even with the mask covering the top half of her face. Everything about her had drawn the blonde in like a pretty spider with an elaborate web and even now knowing she would likely never see her again she still wanted to be caught by her again. She sighed, her hands tightening marginally on the mask before she threw it across the room and slammed her head back against the wall.

"You'll give yourself a concussion that way Emma," Snow's soft voice echoed in the room as she closed the door behind her.

The blonde sighed looking over at her mother, "I'm just frustrated."

"I can see that." Snow moved forward, her dress whispering across the stones and thick carpets before she stopped. She looked down at her feet studying the beautiful mask before lifting it. "This is beautiful. Where ever did you get it?" She held it out in front of her admiring it before bringing it closer to her face likely to study the pretty interwoven gold flecks that made it seemingly come to life.

Emma's brow furrowed as she watched her mother's eyes gloss over and then look at her with a strange gleam to them. "Where did you get this Emma?" She repeated only her voice sounded a bit harder than it had before.

The princess cocked her head studying her mother's angry green eyes for a moment before speaking. "I found it on All Souls Night. It must've slipped off one of the revelers. I thought it was pretty so I picked it up and kept it." She shrugged. "Why do you ask?"

Snow bit the inside of her lip studying her daughter who stared right back at her with raised blonde brows before nodding. "It's…nothing darling. Never mind," she held it out to her daughter to take as she moved closer.

Emma reached out taking it and setting it down beside her leg. She had told no one of her night with the masked woman in burgundy. She was after all a princess and princesses' remained virtuous and chaste until their wedding night. She sighed it was all a joke in her opinion. She had no desire to get married and become her mother. Although in her youth her mother had done some amazing things peace had made everyone a bit complacent. Well except for her Father. But her father was raised as a commoner and he like his daughter had a bit of wanderlust in him that made him restless when he was stuck indoors.

"Your father and I are worried about you Emma," Her mother's soft voice broke her silent reverie.

"What do you mean?" The blonde forced her thoughts back on the conversation as her petite mother moved her legs from the window seat and settled down herself. She gently pushed invisible wrinkles out of her white dress as she studied her daughter for a moment.

"You hardly sleep and eat. You are at the window day in and day out…why if I didn't know any better I'd say you're in love."

The princess' brow furrowed as she looked at her mother like she was crazy. "I'm not in love Mom."

"Then why the depressed act," Snow settled back looking out the window. Her face softened as she saw her still handsome husband leading his men in drills. He was a true King despite his so called inferior birth. He always made sure the Kingdom was cared for first and foremost.

Emma sighed knowing anything she said her mother would be able to see right through. "I'm just feeling a bit off center lately." She finally said lamely.

Her mother looked over at her. "Well I can understand that. You're not a child anymore, you're becoming an adult and that can have tremendous impact on your way of viewing things."

The blonde nodded sighing as she looked down at her folded hands. "I'm sorry if I've been worrying you and Dad."

"We just want what's best for you, you know that right?" Snow murmured.

"I know. I'm sorry Mom."

"No need to apologize." The petite brunette slid to her feet. "Your friends will be here tomorrow. Your father and I thought you might like to see them."

"Alexandra and Melody both?"

"Both. They want to see you and with the big market taking place Queen Ariel, Queen Cinderella, and myself thought you girls would enjoy it. There will be vendors from all over the Kingdom and even some from Agrabah."

Emma forced a smile and nodded, "Yeah that sounds great Mom."

"Ooo look at this!" Melody called holding up a beautifully carved silver necklace.

That girl likes shiny a little too much, Emma thought to herself. She was already uncomfortable enough as it was wearing a dress and walking around with the guards surrounding them. She sighed as she looked at Alexandra who gave her a small smile in return and walked over to try and pull Melody away from whatever she'd found that was shiny this time.

Emma sighed as she waited. People were bustling to and fro enjoying the large outdoor market and the traveling merchants that sold their wares. Guards pushed people away who were getting too close to the three princesses. She shifted glancing around before it caught her eye. A small alleyway ran between the stalls just to her right and the guards seemed occupied with trying to herd Alexandra and Melody towards her in order to keep them safe and together. She waited allowing a few people to pass her before slipping between the stalls. She knew it was dangerous but despite wearing a dress she'd slipped her dagger into her boot so she wasn't totally unarmed.

The market since it was the largest in the Kingdom was held in three separate parts of the city grounds. Each way was connected by certain walk-throughs but as was the case here they were also connected by alleyways. Crates and barrels clogged the little walkway as high buildings surrounded it.

She glanced around the opening before deciding to continue on. Here there were a variety of people milling about. Some of the aristocratic society and a lot of the commoners; everyone had come out in droves to look at the wares. She sighed as she began to finally relax. She loved her friends she did but neither of them understood what she was going through. Not that she'd bothered to tell them but none the less she felt that even if she had they still wouldn't understand.

She made herself walk glad to be free of the guards and her friends for a few moments. She knew it was bad; it was considered strange and unusual for a girl to become isolated but she couldn't help it. She had always found herself to be a bit odd compared to others. Her views and beliefs caused stir after stir when she bothered to open her mouth. She had finally stopped trying and after All Souls she'd given up on ever being what one would refer to as a "normal" princess.

Various people pushed past her, merchants called out their wares as she continued down the crowded cobbled street. Here a strange fruit called dates, pomegranates, and mangos. All the freshest money could buy and all coming from various lands across the seas or deserts; she smiled waving away an overzealous merchant in a strange white head piece he called a turban. She continued on weaving her way through people until something caught her eye. She stopped feeling someone hit her but she wasn't paying any attention. She moved towards the stall almost as if in a haze.

"Beautiful isn't it?" An elderly old crone spoke watching from beneath her beaded clothing and various scarves hanging from her body as Emma lifted a small silver hand mirror.

She studied the back of it finding a beautiful apple stood out in detailed relief hanging from a single vine that wrapped around the front of the mirror and held its glass surface to the thick silver. The vine curved around the handle with one solitary leaf hanging from the bottom.

Emma finally forced her eyes up meeting the face of the wrinkled old woman who was watching her with a strange gleam in her murky blue eyes. She was a gypsy that much was obvious from her clothing and her wrinkled face. Her big silver earring moved as she shifted towards her reaching out with a wrinkled hand to touch the mirror rather fondly.

"It's one of my favorite pieces." The crone added sounding a bit prideful.

"I can see why," Emma murmured, immediately taken with it. "How much?"

The old woman's milky eyes took her in studying her. The scrutiny went on for a few long moments making the princess shift in discomfort before she spoke.

"Five silvers."

Emma blinked cocking her head at the low price. "That's awfully low," She muttered.

The crone laughed, "For you I give special discount." She waved a finger at her.

"For me?"

The woman smiled her crooked pointed teeth standing out past her lined lips. "Very pretty girl; needs pretty things."

Emma's brow furrowed. From anyone else she would've been offended by such a remark but looking at the strange gypsy woman she couldn't find it in herself to be angry. She merely nodded and reached into her small bag that she'd draped over her shoulder in order to have something to carry her things in should she find something she liked. You never knew after all. She'd picked up her favorite dagger here on sale. It was a beautiful gold piece with royal blue enamel inlay. The blade curved upward towards the end. She had fallen in love with it immediately and been able to haggle the merchant selling it down on the price just because she could. There would be no haggling with this low price though and the hand mirror despite her lack of interest in such things was truly a beautiful piece.

She removed her coin bag and the necessary coin holding it out to the old woman. She snatched it with gnarled fingers and turned away leaving Emma with her purchase as she hobbled back to the back of her little stall.

Emma had just set the mirror back in her bag when she heard her name being called. Turning she came face to face with her two friends and their red faced escorts who pushed their way through the crowd to keep up with the two running princesses heading towards them. She'd have to tell her father that his men needed to be in better shape since they could barely run in their armor with their weapons on.

"Emma what did you wander off like that for?" Melody gasped as she grabbed her friend's arms. She hunched over slightly her black hair falling in her eyes before she stood up to her full height.

"I was just exploring the market and I…" She turned back blinking dumbly at the now empty stall that hadn't been empty just a few short moments ago.

"What's wrong?" Alexandra asked as she noticed the color drain from their friend's face.

"Nothing; I…thought I saw something…I'm sorry. I'm not feeling very well. I think I'll go back to the palace. You two enjoy the rest of the market."

"Do you want us to walk with you?" Melody's blinked her big green eyes at her and Emma shook her head.

"No I'll be okay." She forced a smile for their sake and slowly made her way back to the guards. "I'm going back to the palace. Two of you stay here to escort Melody and Alexandra and two of you come with me." She commanded softly before slowly making her way back towards the grounds. She didn't notice the soft bluish glow coming from her bag.