Chapter 9

Like Me

As Kendal stood up, Aria whirled her head around and shook it furiously.

"Kendal, what are you thinking?" she demanded in a hushed tone. "You can't go!"

"What am I supposed to do?" Kendal said back. "Its not like I can refuse the principal."

"There's got to be some way out of this," Vanessa added, looking to Aria for a suggestion.

"Miss Lewis?" Professor Stratford called out, eying the door.

Aria then grabbed Kendal's arm, slapping her other hand on her desk, and whispered, "Wait, let me think."

"Miss Lewis, you can always come back later and get the lesson on the Viking," their professor suggested, "or perhaps one of your friends will share their notes with you later on. Although, I don't recall ever seeing Miss Cooper write anything down."

"Right," Kendal said with a nod.

As she started to walk forward, Aria hissed, "Get Myrtle to go with you. I don't think she has a class this period."

Kendal nodded and then walked out of the classroom. She passed Myrtle's English class, but saw that the room was dark and empty. She figured their fairy teacher must have gone out for a late lunch.

Despite Myrtle's absence, Kendal headed to the Principal's office anyway. She honestly did not believe this queen would actually attempt anything here at this school. Also, as nervous as she felt, Kendal could not help but feel curious about just what Principal Sherman wanted with her at this time.

Taking in a deep breath, Kendal pushed open the door to the school's main office. Mrs. Hall, the office assistant, glanced up from her front desk and smiled.

"She's just right in her office," Mrs. Hall said. "You can go on in."

Kendal just nodded and slowly walked into the main office. All of the sudden, she felt as though she were walking to her own guillotine.

"Come in, Miss Lewis," Principal Sherman called the moment Kendal was in her eye range.

Without a word, Kendal walked in. The evil queen sat in her tall black leather chair, wearing a smug look, her blonde waves falling in front of her shoulders.

"Please, have a seat," Queen Sahrissa insisted.

Kendal sat down on one of the two red chairs in front of the principal's desk. On the corner, sat a golden-rimmed basket, filled with intensely colored red apples. The queen picked up one of these fruits and extended it to Kendal.

Kendal raised her eyebrow. "Do you really think I'm that stupid?"

Sahrissa chuckled, tossing the apple back in the basket. "No, I supposed as long as I'm in this realm, it won't be that easy."

"If the only reason you brought me here was to attempt to get me to eat one of your apples, you may as well send me back to class," Kendal gritted, clenching the chair arms.

Still smiling, the queen shook her head. "That is not why I brought you here."

"Then why?" Kendal challenged, "I know you want me dead, but you can't do it here, so what's the point?"

"It's simple really," the posed principal answered, leaning back in her chair. "It goes along with the whole reason I came and stayed at this building in the first place. I wanted to see what you were like."

Kendal shifted in her seat, uncomfortably.

"You see, Kendal," Queen Sahrissa continued, "All this time I thought if my magic mirror were to declare anyone the fairest in the land other than myself, it would be my wretched stepdaughter, Snow White. She's so sweet, innocent, and rather gullible. If I were to offer her an apple that may perhaps be poisoned, she were likely eat it and that would be the end of it."

The queen's stared was so intense, Kendal could almost feel it. She tried her best not to appear afraid.

"But the fact that it chose you instead makes this much more interesting," the queen continued with a smirk. "After all, you're more like me."

Kendal started to turn her head and argued, "I'm nothing like you."

"Oh really," Sahrissa replied with a raised brow. "How can you be so sure? I see the same self-confidence in you I've always had, the type of person who isn't afraid to get what they want. We are indeed alike in those ways."

"Maybe," Kendal admitted, "but I'm not evil."

"I wasn't always evil," the queen commented more softly.

Kendal looked her in the eye and wondered aloud, "Did not being fairest in the land set you off that much?"

Sahrissa giggled at that. "Oh no. I would say I've been considered evil far before that."

"But you weren't always," Kendal concluded. "So what happened that did change you?"

"That should not be a concern of yours," she answered, standing up, motioning her hand to the door. "I think now is a good time for you to leave. It sure was nice getting to know you, Kendal."

Kendal looked at her oddly, before standing up and starting towards the door.

"Oh and by the way," Sahrissa added, just as Kendal was about to open the door, "I already made my curse here."

Kendal turned around. "What curse? Nothing's happened to me."

"I'm still waiting for it to take effect," the queen replied, swiftly. "Honestly I'm not sure exactly what will happen in this world, but I suppose that makes it more fun for me. Well, have a nice day, Kendal. Enjoy every moment of life, while you're still breathing."

A/N: Since this chapter is rather short, I'll have two chapters out this week. Hope everyone's enjoying the story!