~~~~~~~~~3 weeks before~~~~~~~
The castle has never been quieter than it is now. Celina's death was a shock to everyone, well, not including the queen and the huntsman.
"Poor P-princess Celina . . . she was so young," sobbed a maid. Every servant and peasant same to Celina's 'funeral'. Everyone was crying except Mira.
"Mira, why aren't you crying?" another maid sobbed.
"Because I don't think she is dead."
"But. . .but. . . they said,"
"But nothing. They are nothing to me and their words have no meaning."
Then at last, they all looked at Celina's sealed coffin and wondered if she was really dead. If they unsealed the coffin, their head would be sent rolling under her highness's order. After that, it was the last they had seen Mira, as a servant.
~~~~~now~~~~~~~~~~
"So you go down this hill and take a turn here ad poof! You're in town!" Mira says while showing the way.
"Ummm I have lots of questions and I was wondering,"
"You're wondering if I can answer them, right?"
"Yes . . ."
"Alright, I'll answer them if I can. While we shop, ok?"
"Yes."
"And stop being so polite. Be yourself. It's not like we'll kill you. It doesn't feel the same unless you're being rude and interesting. Then maybe Raven wouldn't pick on you so much." Am I being that out of it? And Raven is picking on me? I must be sick if I couldn't notice that. I guess he is being a bit mean to me. But I'll think about that later.
"Alright, first question: you said your brothers are demons, so how about you?" I started.
"We're only half-breeds."
"And why are you helping me?"
"Sorry, that's currently classified."
"Why?"
"Cuz my brothers voted that I shouldn't tell you yet." The sellers were telling out prices and Mira was arguing over prices. Others were complaining and others complied. I didn't get a chance to ask her anymore. We both had bags in our hands, when one of the servants from the castle noticed us.
"Mira?!" she shouted.
"Susan?! What are you doing here?!" Mira asked surprised.
"Me? Shopping. The chef asked for some things knowing there was a sale today. And who is this young boy?" she nodded to me. Mira and her brothers had me dressed as a guy just in case someone recognized me. They demanded that I disguise myself despite telling me nothing.
"A cousin of mine," Mira responds.
"How are you and where have you been? You disappeared after Princess Celina's funeral." Upon hearing that, I moved to storm the castle.
"Gotta go, Susan!" Mira shouted and chased after me. One hand covered my mouth and the other grabbed my arm and she pulled me in an alley.
"Hey! Why did you do that?!" I didn't bother to hold my annoyance.
"Because everyone thinks you're dead and it needs to stay that way!" Mira was glaring at me. For the first time, ever.
I shyly asked out, "Why?"
"Cause 'it' and 'it's' step-daughter wants you dead,"
"Hey! You finally started to call it, it!"
"Yes, have been in my mind. Since we're done, we should be heading home," Mira says pulling me.
"Home?"
"Yes, home. I sort of adopted you in the family." I smiled and she smiled back. The feeling was there. We were family.
~While, at the castle.. . .
Susan had just came back from shopping and started spread news about Mira.
"And I just figured out something!" Susan exclaimed. "Mira's cousin reminds me of Princess Celina!"
"Do you think that Mira is protecting her so that is why she wasn't crying at the funeral?" A maid asked. There were "yes" and "maybe" all over and the conversation went on about that. All the while a queen's spy had heard everything in a the small mirror.