"Christina..." Dracula said warily.
Christina was grabbing at her hair. For every step maleficent took towards her, Christina took three back until she fled from the parlor.
,,,,,,,,
Christina ran against the wind, eyes closed, arms wrapped tightly around herself. It couldn't be true. It just couldn't be true. She didn't know where she was headed and she didn't care. Until she was grabbed. Scream freezing in her throat, like the sleet that pelted her face she began beating her fists on her assailant.
"Christina, Christina, you're okay, look at me you're okay,"
Forcing her eyes open she found Shaggy in front of her, hands holding her by the waist.
"Let me go!" she gasped, "Let me go"
"What's wrong?"
She gave no answer, ducking out of her hoodie and disappearing into the woods.
Shaggy ran after her but couldn't find her.
…...
Straddling a high tree branch, Christina watched as Shaggy left. Taking a deep shuddering breath she readjusted herself, cringing at the feeling of the limp threads of her wings being blown fiercely by the wind. The sleet collected in her hair and caught in her lashes but she refused to move even when her fingers began to go numb.
"Christina"
Maleficent's voice scared her so badly that she fell from the tree.
"Please., go away," she groaned.
"I understand I've scared you but, I've come to help you"
"Why would you help me?"
"Because you are my family, my granddaughter and I love you," Maleficent said softly, "You shouldn't be out in this weather. Let's go back to the castle and talk, please"
"I don't want to,"
"Please, Christina" Vana appeared, "You're Uncle's losing his marbles"
"No, I'm just a bother to everyone"
"Stop, stop saying that, stop believing it, Christina," Vana ordered, embracing her niece before she had a chance to squirm away, "Now, let's go home, okay?"
"No," Christina moaned, "I don't want to"
Vana's heart shattered. The home Christina had known her whole life was no longer a safe space. Vana could see it now, Christina felt so out of place, so far removed from her friends and family.
She'd failed.
They all had.
…...
No matter how they coaxed, begged and, bribed her, Christina refused to leave the forest. Seeing as they were getting nowhere they returned to the castle without her. However, Maleficent did order Diablo to keep an eye on her, just in case. For the next ten minutes, Christina shivered in silence.
"Like, I would say you'd catch your death but that seems irrelevant"
"What do you want, Shaggy?" she snarked, drawing her knees to her chest.
"I know that look, please, can't we talk?" he asked, "We've been texting, remember?"
Her shoulders slumped defeated as she slouched against the tree.
"Here," Shaggy offered her hoodie as he joined her.
"Thank you," she mumbled sliding it over her head.
"You don't want to go home? Wind's getting worse"
"No, not right now"
Shaggy stood up, "Come on," he offered his hand.
"I said I didn't want to go home"
"I know. That's why we're like, going to the bookstore instead"
"Promise?" she took his hand.
"I promise, we won't go home until you're ready"
…...
"You'd like this one," Shaggy chuckled.
Standing in the YA section of the bookstore Shaggy watched Christina skim the books, trying to find an escape. There was a basket at her feet with only two books inside so far. She took the offered book and skimmed the back. Into the basket, it went.
"I'm ready to go now," she said quietly, lifting the basket from the floor.
"Home?"
"No, not there,"
"You like, wanna go to the coffee shop? Peppermint lattes?"
"Okay"
Christina sat at the table and watched the world outside the frosted window while Shaggy placed the order. Thanksgiving was coming. Her uncle was already up to his eyes in planning a feast. A celebration. But, Christina was so detached from the world that she couldn't find the heart to be excited as she normally would. She was still reeling. Trying to process the very shocking news.
Maybe an older diary entry could shed some light?
But that would require going home. She wasn't ready.
What if Maleficent was still there?
Shaggy returned with the lattes before she could be dragged any deeper into her thoughts. Accepting it with a quiet thanks her eyes drifted to the table.
"Like, what's on your mind, Christina?"
"I feel lost and confused and I'm a burden to my family"
"I think your family would like, disagree with that last statement"
Christina sighed heavily, "I just don't belong anymore, I'm cut off from the rest of the world," she sipped at her coffee.
You could belong with me Shaggy wanted to say instead he rested a hand on her arm in quiet support
"I think I'm ready to go home now," Christina mumbled once she finished her coffee.
"Okay"
…...
Christina was startled to discover Maleficent was still there upon her return.
"Did you have a nice time, dear?"
"Yes," she mumbled.
"Your Grandmother will be staying-"
Please say the night.
"Until she wants to go"
Christina couldn't make herself respond instead, she scurried to her room, shopping bag beating her knees.
"Christina-"
"Dracula!" Vana warned, her voice fading as she clambered up the stairs.
Slamming the door open, Christina dropped her shopping bag a few steps inside, flicking her wrist and cringing at the slam before face-planting into her bed. She stayed there the skies shifting growing darker as they did that time of year. Only when the last of the light had faded did Christina push herself to her elbows, flipped onto her back.
Tired of the dark, she turned on her lamp, retrieving an older diary from her desk. Opening it to a random page she began to read.
I just love the fall! The crisp air, the colorful leaves. It's beautiful and wonderful. I can't get enough.
Today I went for a long flight through town, the trees look so much better from above. When I got tired I stopped at the pumpkin patch outside of town. Tonight, we'll be having pies for dessert baked by yours truly.
Wait, Uncle Dracula's calling me I'd better go see what he wants
Later.
Yes, I know it's been hours but I'm having trouble processing. It's still too much! I'll write tomorrow.
Christina turned the page with an inkling of what her past self was having trouble with.
Where to start?
My grandmother's alive,
My grandmother is Maleficent.
Yes, Maleficent as in the Mistress of all Evil, cursed an infant because she wasn't invited to a party! What's next?
Is Ursula my Godmother?
Or maybe the Evil Queen.
I don't think I can take much more.
She turned to the next page finding hastily scribbled sentences.
THERE'S MORE!
I HAVE HORNS.
I WAS BORN WITH HORNS!
UNCLE DRACULA MADE THE WITCHES HIDE THEM FROM ME!
Now, Christina dropped the diary, kicking it aside as she rushed to the mirror. Her eyes drifted upward. There was nothing there, she couldn't possibly have horns. She would know after all. One would think brushing and braiding your hair every day since you were seven would give you a hint that there was something attached to your head.
"Missing something?"
Christina saw Maleficent in the doorway.
"Please...go away"
"The spell the witches used is typically for disguises, making it feel like they aren't even there,"
"I don't have-"
she stopped short. Gasping at the sight of horns on her head.
The room was spinning.
The world went black.
…...
"Vhat will children say when she starts school?"
"Vhat happened to being comfortable in your own skin?"
"Alissa vouldn't want this"
"Alissa GAVE BIRTH to her"
"I mean the connection"
"Alissa told you that?"
"Vell no"
"Then vhat does it matter?"
"It just-"
"The horns make you uncomfortable!"
"It's-"
"Maleficent vas born with them"
"DON'T go there-"
"Alissa would want them to know each other"
"Alissa HATED her mother"
"You speak as if they're dead"
"Vell..."
Vana stood and walked away but not before picking up the six-month-old hybrid from her playpen and stroking the very tip of the horns that barely peeked through her hair.
"You're perfect, just the vay you are"
