Chapter 11: Two Years of Misery

Two years of misery.

If she had to put words on the last two years she spent pacing furiously her throne room, throwing purple, lethal lightnings at her useless goons, hurting them, torturing them, killing them, she would say there were indeed no words more accurate than those four.

Two years of misery.

Sometimes, she had the courage to grasp her scepter and summon her boundless powers so she could see the woman whose memory never left her tormented mind through the yellow ball.

She thought letting her go would allow Aurora to live her life, know the simplicity and all the benefits of a royal life, the life of a princess, released from any threat and fear. A perfect happily ever after.

But the more she looked at her through her magical visions, the more she understood she had been utterly wrong.

Princess Aurora was many things, but unfortunately, there was one thing she wasn't, and to know that was destroying the wicked fairy's soul more and more every day.

Aurora was not happy. And this was her fault. The woman she let go, the woman she gave up on, the woman she loved like she never did, was desperate, because of her.

During all these hours, all these days, and all these months, she had seen everything.

First she had seen the green fairy Fauna bent over Aurora, placing a soothing hand on the girl's forehead. She had seen the princess' tears as she understood what her so-called aunt was trying to do. The good fairy had erased Aurora's memories related to her. Or at least a part of it.

Aurora didn't remember anything that happened after her awakening, and above all, she didn't remember who kissed her. She didn't remember how Maleficent had pressed her lips against hers, nor how the princess had returned the kiss, but in a far more passionate and wanting way. She didn't remember how their body quivered and shaked together, she didn't remember how their tongues danced together, she didn't remember how their hands intertwined as if they had been made for this.

The only thing Aurora remembered was opening her eyes and seing the Impostor sitting at her bedside, smiling at her as if he did all the work, as if he succeeded!

But there was still one mystery Maleficent hadn't solved yet. Why did Fauna only erase Aurora's memories after the curse? Why this foolish fairy didn't erase all the princess' memories about her? This would have been so much more clever! This would have prevent Aurora from suffering and sinking into the darkest paths of madness. That was another clear proof that this wretched good fairy had no brain. Like her stupid sisters and their worthless Prince Phillip.

All simple fools.

As soon as she had woken up, Phillip had taken Aurora in his strong arms, fully healed from his former injuries the dark fairy had inflicted him with such a great pleasure.

The Impostor couldn't stop smiling radiantly at her, telling her he was going to marry her, they were going to have children and become a great king and queen, but his stupid smile soon faded away.

Indeed, as he was solemny proclaiming his true pure eternal love to his betrothed, Aurora didn't even deign to look at him and didn't bother to answer either, for the first and only word she could pronounciate was...

Maleficent.

When she heard her beautiful voice whispering her name as a plea, a prayer, the wicked fairy almost dropped her staff as she felt her heart ache and her throat go dry. Then she placed two thin fingers upon her lips. They were burning, melting with the memory of Aurora's lips on them.

This had been the moment when everything changed. Phillip understood Aurora will never love him, and he had no other choice but to lie to her.

So he told her he had vanquished the dragon and saved the princess.

Maleficent focused on Aurora's delicate features. They slowly distorted into a wince of a deep, unspeakable sorrow as she was trying to hold back her tears with all her strength in front of her husband to be.

She watched her as she climbed down the steps, arm-in-arm with the Impostor, she never took her eyes off her as she was hugging awkwardky her mother and father, and kissing Phillip's father's cheek in an attempt at empathy.

Everyone was enchanted by the Princess Aurora. Everyone was so obsessed by her grace and beauty that no one ever noticed the tears piercing at the corner of her eyes, nor her crisped face as she was forcing herself to smile, pretending she was dancing with the brave handsome savior, and that the woman she truly loved wasn't dead at the hands of her future husband.

As soon as all the ceremonies dedicated to the princess' return and then to her wedding with Prince Phillip were over, Aurora left the castle in the dark of one moonless night.

She ran away and hid into the woods.

Maleficent observed her as she let herself fall down on the grass, resting her head on a dead tree trunk.

As dead as her heart.

The older woman tried everything not to shed a tear as she heard Aurora's painful whispers.

''I hate them, I hate them all.
I wish— Oh! I wish they were all dead! They are monsters.
And I wish...
I wish she were alive.
I wish she were here, with me.
I wish I could feel her smooth cold hands stroking my hair, caressing my skin...
I wish— Oh! I wish I would have been able to do what I always wanted to do.
I wish I could have tasted those mesmerizing red lips which had been haunting my dreams for— Oh! So, so long...
Before it was too late.''

Princess Aurora was muttering desperately as her whole body was shaken with sobs. She raised her head to look at the sky. She closed her eyes, biting her lips.

''Oh, Maleficent...
If you can hear me, from somewhere, or maybe from nowhere...
Please know that I am sorry.
You wanted to kill me, yet because of me, you are the one who died.
But trust me, if I could, I would give my life for you.
I would die right now if it could bring you back to life.
If it could allow me to see your face...
Hear your voice...
Feel your touch again.
I would do anything for that.
But now you're dead.
And I am alone.
But the truth is, without you, I am nothing.
Still, I am condemned to live without you.
I am condemned to live with people who don't know me, who don't understand me.
And I have to pretend to be happy and act like the perfect girl I should be!
As if my heart hadn't been shattered to pieces.
Well, it seems my fate is indeed far worse than you imagined.
Wherever you are, does that ease your vengeful mind in some way?
Because if it does, then I would feel a bit less useless.
But I guess I have to live anyway.
For my unknown parents, for my fake aunts, for my stubborn, repellent husband.
Not for me, obviously.
For if I had listened to myself, I would have ended all of this a long time ago.
But I didn't.
Maybe I am just as afraid to die than I am to live.''

She sighed deeply as she put her head down, staring down at the trunk.

''Now, I think I can say it, for I know no one will listen to me.
I know it is too late for me.
Just as it is too late for you.
But maybe if I say it, I would feel less a coward.
I didn't run away from you because I learnt you wanted to kill me.
I wasn't afraid of what you could do to me.
The truth is I know that you were trying to push me away willingly.
And I didn't know why, so I thought...''

Aurora wiped away the teardrops soiling her rose cheeks with rage.

''I thought it would be easier for me to flee...
And never wonder what could have happened if I'd stayed.''

The princess folded her arms on the tree trunk as she rested her head upon them.

''So now that you can't answer me anymore...
I am wondering...
What would you have done if I'd stayed, Maleficent?''

I would never have let you go.

A low sad voice echoed in her head. Aurora startled, placing a trembling hand on her chest as she felt her heart pounding beneath her ribcage.

She hid her head inside her arms as she burst into tears.

''No. Please, shut up. Oh God! Please! Make those voices stop, please... I don't want to believe anymore... I have no hope. I have nothing left. I know she is not here anymore. I know she is dead. I know it is not possible. Please, stop torturing me...''

So, that was the moment Maleficent chose to wave a shaking hand above her staff, making the greenish glow disappear and the heart-rending vision of her beloved princess vanish into thin air.

She let herself fall onto her stone throne.

She felt nothing but emptiness.

Oh, Aurora, if only you knew...

I am the one who should be sorry. I am the monster, and you are the princess who dared to fall for a heartless woman.

Maleficent watched Aurora as she got back to the castle, running through the darkness of the woods, still crying and praying to be finally free of this hypnotizing voice which never left her torturous mind.

She watched her as she slowly let herself fall into a deep slumber, sniffling and sobbing, secretely hoping she wasn't getting completely insane.

Maleficent wanted to lay down at her side, hold her in her arms and whisper in her ear, assuring her she was not crazy. She had just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. She was just one more victim of her selfishness, fear, and cowardliness. The innocent victim of a damned prophecy which had finally succeeded, no matter what the fairy did to prevent it, destroying Aurora's life...as well as Maleficent's.


She watched her for two years, no matter how hard and how painful it was to see her breath, speak, smile, laugh and live without her. The evil fairy became a slave of her own broken heart.

She never stopped watching the inaccessible woman as she was blossoming and glowing in all her grace and beauty.

Not a day shall pass that I won't look at her. That shall be my everlasting punishment. She shall remain right before my eyes, but still so far away...

Maleficent thought that after all she had done, she deserved to suffer the most unbearable torture of all: looking at the woman she loved without being able to talk to her, nor to touch her. After all, it was all her fault. Aurora had already undergone so much suffering because of her, so she won't hurt her anymore.

She had to keep that promise.

Leave her be and forget her.

But unfortunately, she couldn't.

So the wicked fairy never stopped fighting against the greatest and only ennemy she ever had— her own treacherous mind— with all her strength not to break the promise she made to herself.

But one day, on that fateful night, she broke that promise.


Aurora entered her bedroom, wiping the tears of anger which were flowing down her cheeks. She locked the door behind her, ignoring her husband's cries coming from downstairs.

She sat at that same dressing table where she had been crying before being pulling out of her reflectings by a certain low and smooth voice about a year ago, and she wept again. Before that, she had never cried inside her palace, she had always ran away to the woods to shout and cry her heart out in peace, listening to all the spirits of the forest. But that damned night, she just couldn't suppress her sobs of despair as she witnessed a conversation between Flora and Phillip.

They were talking about her. About the wicked fairy Maleficent. They said she was now where she belonged: in the depths of Hell. Her aunt was thanking her husband for freeing the princess from the dragon's claws again, and when Aurora joined them, suggesting that maybe Maleficent had finally obtained forgiveness, that maybe she wasn't that bad...

They both looked at her as if she was a poor innocent girl who had never seen anything of the world, or who had simply lost her mind. Finally, Prince Phillip had smiled, and taking her hands, he simply answered. ''But darling, this was not ''she'', it was a beast, an animal. But now, this nightmare is definitely behind us. I saved you, my Aurora, and you must never worry yourself with that matter anymore—''

And that was more than she could bear, for she didn't even let him achieve his sentence. Without an afterthought, she removed her hands violently as she slapped him in the face full force. Before her foolish husband and her shocked aunt might react, she rushed towards her tower room, and locked herself up into her chambers.

So here she was, crying miserably, her face hidden into her folded arms in front of that well-known mirror which seemed to mock her again and again.

But the last time she had been crying like this, there was...

No. Stop thinking about her. She is dead. Forget her.

Suddenly, she understood. She just couldn't live like this anymore. She had tried so hard, but she had to face the evidence now; she had failed.

She finally raised her head in one jerky movement. She grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and started to write, her vision still blurred with tears, but she didn't care anymore.

When Aurora finally entered the dungeon, wiping her last tears of relief, she slowly approached that strange object which had obsessed her for all these months.

The spinning wheel was still here, gleaming and twinkling in all its green glory, attracting her, calling for her.

Now she knew what she must do, and once she will, everything will be finally over.


''Awk! Awk!'' Diablo was flying above her head in circles. She arched an eyebrow, clearly annoyed.

''Yes, my pet. It seems I will have to break that damned promise, after all.'' She sighed.

Maleficent gritted her teeth as she stood, summoning her staff. She outstretched her arms to the sky and vanished into a burst of green flames.

She appeared in Aurora's bedroom and immediately put a locking spell on the door so no one would disturb her while she will be preventing the princess from doing an awful irreversible mistake.

She quickly looked around but she soon noticed that Aurora was nowhere to be seen. Where was she?

Suddenly, her eyes were caught by a familiar greenish glow, which was the proof that something quite remarkable was happening. It was absolutely impossible but yet, it was here. The fireplace had disappeared and an endless dark corridor had replaced it.

She didn't know how this was even possible, but Aurora had somehow managed to open the secret passage leading to the dungeon and...

A letter flew down from the royal desk and fell to her feet. The fairy bent down and started to read, her heart pounding in her chest as a bad feeling occurred to her mind.

NO.

She growled before she instantly transported herself to the dungeon. She appeared right between Aurora and the magic spinning wheel. She opened her mouth to speak but she stopped herself as she saw her.

Princess Aurora was hardly recognizable with her shaking, parted lips, her cheeks soiled with hot tears and strays of her hair stuck on her face. Maleficent couldn't help but think that the princess' misery, her slow and cruel downfall, all of this, was because of her.

Aurora's red eyes widened in shock and slowly looked up to meet Maleficent's gaze, as if to check she was not dreaming. As a smile started to rise on her red chapped lips, she let herself fall to the ground at the dark woman's feet, silently weeping.

''No. No! This...This can't be... Oh! Maleficent... Maleficent...'' She whimpered, placing her hands upon her eyes, as if she didn't dare to glance at the shadowy figure before her.

The wicked fairy could do nothing but kneel before the princess and wrap her arms around her in a tight, soothing embrace. Aurora leant into her, resting her head on her chest, still crying.

''I know what you were willing to do, Aurora. But I cannot let you do this,'' Maleficent whispered into the young woman's hair.

''No... You can't be here! I know it is a dream, but please...it hurts so much! When I wake up and I realize I will never see you again, that all of this had been nothing but a cruel trick of my imagination, it is...it is too hard. I can't...I can't!'' Aurora's raspy voice broke.

''I know, I know,'' Maleficent eased her, smoothing her hair tenderly. ''But no matter where I am, no matter how far I am, I will always watch over you. And I won't let you die.''

''But...but...I don't want to live anymore. I don't want to live for him, for them. I want...I want you...'' The princess muttered, clenching desperately onto Maleficent's robes. ''All I ever wanted was...to live...for you...with you... But now you're not here anymore, because of him...''

''Yes, I know. But you cannot give up, you cannot let them win,'' the fairy smiled sadly as she cupped the girl's chin in her cold hand. ''You have to fight for what you want. You have the right to be happy, Aurora...but that must be without me. It is better like that, and you know it. Now I cannot hurt you anymore. And I promise you no matter where I am, I shall protect you. As long as my soul will haunt that earth, no harm will ever come to you. I hope you will forgive me one day, for all that I have done to you...''

The older woman stroke her cheek and leant in, pressing her lips upon Aurora's. The princess shivered at the touch as she grabbed Maleficent's hand which was slowly sliding down her neck. This had nothing to do with a passionate kiss, for this was nothing but the desperate goodbye of two lovers who knew nothing lasted forevermore, especially not that passion they shared during these few intense seconds.

So when Aurora finally pulled back, opening her eyes still veiled with teardrops, Maleficent was gone. She struggled to stand and when she finally dared to gaze up, she could see the cursed spinning wheel had vanished into thin air, as its creator.

She sighed deeply while she lead towards the stairs and climbed down the steps to her bedroom. As soon as she reached the large dark room, she let herself fall on the bed.

Before she fell into a restless sleep, she placed one finger on her lips. They were warm, as if Maleficent had really kissed her, but that was of course impossible.

But as impossible and insane as it was, that crazy dream had brought her the only thing she needed to keep on living: hope.

Smiling slightly, unconsciously, she finally closed her eyes and sank into the world of limbo.


After that unfortunate event, Maleficent kept watching over Princess Aurora even more closely— if this was even possible— for she was no longer afraid of what the fools whom she shared her life with could do to her, but rather of what Aurora could do to herself.

So night and day, she lost herself into the view of the beautiful young girl, never taking her eyes off her, becoming her worst joy as well as her best torment.

She watched her as she argued with Prince Phillip because he never understood why his wife was still haunted by Maleficent's memories which were still invading all her prettiest dreams and scariest nightmares.

She watched her as she collapsed to the ground, supported by her three aunts' weak arms, when she heard her mother died of a terminal heart disease. Maleficent surprised herself feeling a small hint of sadness as she saw Queen Leah taking her last breath while her faithful husband had fallen asleep next to her, looking at her for the last time in forever. On that fateful night, she remembered that maybe if she hadn't cursed the princess in the first place, she could have had a fair happy childhood at her mother's side while she still had the time. But because of her, Aurora had to say goodbye to her whereas she barely even knew the woman who gave her birth and the great queen she could once have called mother.

The wicked fairy was still looking at Princess Aurora when the young woman simply turned her head and nodded to her husband as he was struggling to tell her with careful, measured words he had just found her father, King Stefan, lying on his bed lifeless one morning.

So the great and powerful King Stefan had let himself die of grief because of the love he felt towards the Queen, forgetting all about his duties and his poor daughter he was leaving behind him.

Maleficent watched Princess Aurora as she became Queen Aurora. She looked at that angelic face which remained impassive when her dead mother's crown was placed on her head and when all the court yelled cheerfully. ''Long live the King, long live the Queen! Long live King Phillip, long live Queen Aurora!''

At the coronation ceremony, the young new queen spent the whole evening and night sitting on her throne, looking at the courtiers drinking, eating and dancing. She didn't touch the delicious rich food her servants brought her on silver plates, but at Maleficent's greatest surprise, she drank one, then two, and three, four, five glasses of red wine. But alcohol seemed to have no effect on that young woman. Strangely enough, it rather made her appearance, her face and features look even more mature and severe, even though no one was in a sufficiently suitable state to notice that disturbing detail about the mysterious beautiful new queen.

So she just stayed still, observing the celebration which had soon slid into chaos. A magnificent and unspeakable chaos which even King Phillip was not able to resist. As he was crying in pain while dancing with a young maiden who was laughing out loud right before her wife's eyes, pretending he was cursed so he couldn't touch any woman, the queen chose to leave the feast to retreat in her chambers.

As usual, she sat in front of the golden mirror. She jumped back, suppressing a scream when she believed she saw a black slender shape reflecting in the glass. She looked behind her, and as she had guessed, there was nothing but her majestic bed waiting for her. Shooking her head, she reported her attention on the mirror. And this time, she couldn't hold back a cry.

The wicked fairy stood right next to her. Aurora sighed, glaring sadly at the reflection of the woman she loved the most.

''I drank too much wine, didn't I?'' She laughed mirthlessly.

A cold and smooth hand posed on her shoulder. Aurora smiled in silence.

''I guess you did, indeed.'' The enchanting voice chuckled.

''If only you were here...'' the Queen murmured, lowering her gaze.

The icy fingers stroke her golden hair which was shining in the dark. ''What if I were?''

The young girl shrugged her shoulders. ''Oh, if you were here, I...I...'' She stopped, shaking her head miserably. ''It doesn't matter anyway. You are not here, I know you are just...some kind of a vision, a dream to remind me that I failed you and that you died because of me.''

The green hand slid down Aurora's neck, caressing her throat in a very slow, sensual motion. The Queen held her breath, shutting her eyes.

''And what if I proved you I am actually here, by your side?'' Maleficent whispered into the girl's ear, wrapping her fingers around her neck gently.

''Well...'' Aurora began. ''In that case, I guess I would have to...'' A thin hand brushed her breast, causing her heart to skip a beat. ''...to consider...that— Oh God!— option...''

She sighed in delight, before she grabbed the bold hand which was exploring her cleavage, opening her eyes, gazing up at the fairy.

''How can this feel so real?'' Aurora asked, tears tugging at the corner of her obscured, wanting eyes. ''This is the worst curse imaginable...'' She added, holding Maleficent's hand tightly in her own, as if she was afraid it would escape her grasp.

The older woman grabbed her hand, reaching up to her lips.

''No, it isn't, my Queen. Consider this a reminder that I am not where you think I am. And wherever you think I might be, just know that I am far closer than you can ever imagine...''

She gently kissed her knuckles, very, very slowly, making the contact last forever willingly, almost sadistically.

Aurora raised her head to lock her eyes filled with tears with Maleficent's dark gleaming eyes, speechless. She couldn't find any word to express what she was feeling at that very moment. So she kept quiet as the soft lean fingers let go of her hand.

She watched Maleficent's reflection as it gradually faded away, her troubled vision blurring with tears she was too tired to hold back.


The wicked fairy appeared in her own bedroom in a brazier of green flames. As she lay down on her heavy bed, she felt a tiny small teardrop flowing down her cheek.

She did nothing, she said nothing, she felt nothing, for she knew that was her reminder of the unforgivable mistake she had done by leaving Aurora once again.


As time went by, week after week and month after month, Maleficent slowly sank into despair and insanity. She stopped watching over Aurora, for the pain to see her sharing her life with someone else had become unbearable.

She tried to forget the young maid and her mesmerizing voice singing and echoing through the woods. The desperate young girl who fled from her home, the brave young woman who succeeded in reaching her domain, and then her nonexistent heart...

She finally started to forget that deprived, doomed princess whose eyes were devored by lust and whose mind was overwhelmed by hidden, dark desires.

She had spent a thousand years trying to beat fate and break that damned prophecy. She had tried to destroy the princess who was meant to lead her to her downfall, she had tried to make sure she was not going to reach her in any way, she had tried to stay away from her...and she almost failed!

But as she was slowly starting to forget the cause of all her torments, on the other hand, Queen Aurora wasn't. And she didn't have said her last word.

Yes, the Mistress of All Evil always won. But that was before she met Princess Aurora.

Yes, she had always won and she always will.

Yet, it seemed Aurora had won this time.

And now...


In the present, at the Forbidden Mountains

''And now...here I am.'' Queen Aurora supplied quietly as Maleficent finished telling her story.

''Yes, here you are.'' Maleficent waved a weary hand.

The wicked fairy turned her head to stare at the young woman sitting on the stone seat next to hers. As she was expecting to see at least a little hint of shock, fear, sorrow, or even anger in those deep purple eyes, all she could see was joy and relief.

''I am not crazy.'' She smiled after a short while, looking up at Maleficent.

''No, you are not.'' The dark fairy replied neutrally, locking her dark impenetrable gaze with Aurora's.

Suddenly, her smile faded away as the Queen's perfect features furrowed with concern. She slowly reached up to place two white fingers upon her lips. Her hand was trembling as her red lips curved into a shy discrete grin.

''What is it, Aurora?'' Maleficent frowned, staring at the young woman in curiosity.

''You...you...'' She sputtered, her voice slightly shaking.

''I what?'' The fairy asked coldly, arching an eyebrow, her patience eventually reaching its limits.

''You kissed me...'' Aurora whispered as she finally dared to meet Maleficent's bottomless eyes.

Maleficent's heart stopped, as if frozen in time and place, her mouth went dry and hot as she found herself at loss of words. She had thought of a hundred questions Aurora might want to ask her, but she had certainly not thought about this one.

She quickly averted the Queen's insisting look. She clenched her fists as she looked away, sighing deeply.

So here we are. The Mistress of All Evil had finally lost the battle, after all...

''Yes, I did.''