Thank you for being patient with me – school started again for me and I got caught up in a lot of busyness. I will try to write more frequently and see this story to the end. For those of you who are still loyal readers and fans – thank you. Your comments mean a lot to me. Here is another chapter.

Chapter Twenty-One: The Ritual

"Kurt, come over here!" Princess Rachel squealed in delight. She was perched on her windowsill, staring at the gloomy sky, as it was her habit now.

Her faithful companion jogged to her side. "What is it?" he asked, eyes wide.

"A rainbow," the princess answered with a bright smile. "There is a rainbow in the sky." She pointed upwards, and Kurt's eyes were greeted by a brilliant burst of colors. The rainbow, against the bleak gray sky, was a sight for the sore eyes. Kurt took a deep breath and fixed his eyes on the multicolored phenomena.

"It is beautiful," he nodded to the princess.

"I did not think it was possible to see a rainbow in such a place," the princess murmured to herself dreamily.

"You know what this means, princess?" Kurt turned to look at her. "This means that things will get better. That everything will be all right for us. Maybe not now, maybe not tomorrow, but it will. If that rainbow can appear in a place as dark as the Isle of New York, there is still hope for us to find our happiness in the end."

Princess Rachel's eyes were brimmed with tears. "I sure hope so, my dear friend," she said, biting her lip in anticipation. "I hope we will be able to –"

She was cut short by the voice of the door banging open. The two of them jumped to their feet, surprised. Kitty stood by the doorway, arms crossed in front of her chest, a murderous smile on her face. Behind her, Princess Rachel could see the silhouette of none other than Lady Cassandra July.

She was even more beautiful than Princess Rachel remembered. There was an air of grace and charm that followed her every movement, and if she was not as evil as she was, Princess Rachel might even possibly like her.

"Good evening, princess," Lady July offered Princess Rachel a benign smile – one the princess did not trust at all. "I do wish you had a wonderful stay in the Tower of July, but I am afraid it is now time to go."

A shiver went down the princess' spine. "Go where?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"Why, the Royal Courtyard, of course," Lady July answered. "It is almost time for the ritual."

Princess Rachel, bound by chains, were dragged into the Royal Courtyard of the tower. It was a large strip of barren flatland covered in gray ashes. Thick, black bushes of thorns sprouted from the dry surface, casting an eerie glow around the place. In the middle of the yard stood a raised metal platform.

Brody stood beside the platform, hands clasped behind his back. Upon the sight of Princess Rachel, he hurriedly approach her. "Princess," he said with a low curtsy.

Princess Rachel's heart gave a little leap. "Brody," she nodded. "What are you doing here? More importantly – what am I doing here?"

"All in due time, princess," Brody answered, as he carefully took the princess' hand away from Kitty's steel-tight grasp. He ordered the disgruntled, fair-haired girl away with a stern look, and Kitty retreated away from him with a low hiss.

Brody gently led the princess towards the raised metal platform, where he swiftly unlocked the cold chains around her wrists. "I am terribly sorry about this, princess," Brody said. "But the ritual must simply be done."

"What ritual? What am I –" before Princess Rachel could say anything else, Brody had clicked his fingers, and the ground surrounding the platform began to tremble. The next moment, what seemed like white silk ribbons sprouted off the ground and intertwined themselves around the princess' wrists. She stared at the ribbons in horror as they began to cast a dull, penetrating glow the moment they touched her skin.

"What – what is this?" she stammered. She struggled and attempted to break the ribbons apart, but with no success.

"The more you struggle, the more binding they will become, princess," Lady July's voice rang shrill and clear from behind her. "You are in no condition to resist us, and any fight will only worsen your condition." She appeared beside Princess Rachel now. There was a thin, victorious smile on her crimson lips. Her cold, blue eyes shone with brilliance under the glare of the twilit sky, and her wavy locks shone like the sun. Even Princess Rachel must admit that Lady Cassandra July was one alluring, beautiful woman.

Lady July lifted her head and stared deep into the full moon that hung low in the sky. "It is time," she nodded to Brody.

"What –" the princess swallowed. "What do you want from me?"

Lady July offered her another, wider smile. "Why, the only thing you have best, princess," she said. "We want you to sing."

Princess Rachel stared at her, perplexed. "S – sing?" she repeated with disbelief. "You want me to sing?"

"Just like you would on a beautiful summer's night in your bedroom," Lady July nodded. "I want you to sing. Sing with all you have, sing as if this was the most important stage you would ever stand on, and sing as if your life depended on it. Because, truthfully –" she let out a chuckle. "your life does depend on it."

Brody and Lady July retreated, leaving Princess Rachel alone on the raised metal platform, with the glowing white ribbons tied around her wrists. She was at a loss for words. Lady July wanted her to sing? Why? What for? What would happen to her when she opened her mouth? More importantly – what would happen to her if she didn't?

"We are waiting, princess." Lady July yelled out from afar. "And I do not like to be kept waiting."

Princess Rachel took a deep breath and tried to still her wild, fluttering heart. Her lips quivered with fear, her fingers were ice cold, and her head spun as the moon seemed to glare judiciously at her. She parted her lips and tried to sing, but no words or notes came out. Her throat felt as if it was strangled, and her voice had left her as a human soul leaves a deceased body. She was on the verge of tears, and she did not know what to do. She was terrified, raked with fear, and she dared not turn to look at her captors.

But she had to sing. She had to. This was her only way to survive, her only way to be released from her imprisonment. If by singing she could gain her freedom, why should she not do it? Besides, what terrible outcome could possibly come out of her belting out a few notes? Surely singing had never caused anyone any harm?

Princess Rachel took another long gulp of air and calmed herself down. She would be fine. She would sing a song, Lady July would be pleased, and she would be out of this desolate place in no time. One song. That was what was separating her from her freedom – one song. She was Princess Rachel Berry – when had performing a song ever scare her? When had singing ever been difficult for her?

With a newfound wave of bravado, she clenched her fists and willed herself to sing.

Hear the music of the summer, ye merry and jolly men,

Rivers, valleys, mountains, seas dance with everlasting joy…

Her voice was barely a shaky whisper at first. But as she gained more confidence, she began to sing louder and louder.

Feel the golden rays upon your skin as you lay in gentle hay,

And as night falls around you, the moon shall keep you company…

"Yes," Lady July said triumphantly. "That is it. Keep singing. Keep singing, princess, louder and louder and louder! Keep singing!"

Princess Rachel began on the second verse. Her entire body shook, but her voice was steady. She continued to sing, getting lost in the beautiful music and lyrics, remembering her joyful music sessions with her fathers back at the Berry Kingdom. Soon she would be reunited with her fathers. Soon she would see them again, and her friends at the castle, her loyal maids, her family. Her fiancée, Prince Finn Hudson…

She sang, louder and louder. Her voice seemed to pierce the dark night sky.

Underneath her foot, the ground began to tremble.

I will try to write another chapter soon. Thanks for reading.