I shouldn't be hiding in my room, the weather's so nice today but if I leave I'll see her. I really don't want to see her. Maleficent? My grandmother? How was I ever okay with this? How was I ever okay with the horns on my head? Just looking at them makes me want to throw up. I can't stand it. So I've covered every single reflective thing in my room, I even pulled the drapes over the doors to my balcony,
right now, my bed is my best friend.
I don't want to leave it.
"Christina, Christina, open up, please"
"I don't want to come out, Uncle, I have a headache," Christina called weakly, shutting her diary for the time being.
"Sibella's brought a friend from school for you"
"I don't feel like seeing anyone"
Despite the response, Dracula cracked the door open. Christina turned away, covering her head with the blanket. Without another word, Dracula closed the door with a soft click. Christina yelped in surprise when something wet and cold pressed against her exposed arm
"Jade?" she whispered, pulling the blanket from her eyes.
The black and silver wolf wagged her tail, her eyes shining with happiness.
"I see Bella gave you a bath, I could use cuddles"
Hearing the invitation, Jade clambered into the bed, settling in front of Christina who buried her face in the thick fur and wept.
…...
"I hope you're happy," Dracula said as he passed Maleficent, "You've upset Christina"
"It certainly wasn't my intention," Maleficent replied calmly.
"If that veren't enough you vent and revealed her horns!"
"She discovered those on her own, just like last time"
Dracula huffed, storming into the kitchen to see the preparations for the oncoming Thanksgiving feast. With a long sigh, Maleficent stood from the couch and went up to Christina's room. Even through the heavy oak door, she could hear the crying.
"Christina?"
"GO AWAY!"
There was a thud, something hit the door but Maleficent was unfazed, staying put.
"Christina, please"
"I SAID GO AWAY!"
Not wishing to upset her anymore, Maleficent returned to her guest rooms.
Diablo, however, flew out the window around to Christina's balcony. Through the slight opening in the curtains, he watched Christina roll off of her bed, stalking over to the vanity with a scowl. Dropping her jacket she stared at the shredded wings hanging from her back.
Then she grabbed the scissors.
…...
Useless!
Christina began hacking at her wings, with blind fury. They were useless, irreparable, sad reminders of the accident.
"CHRISTINA!" Maleficent burst through the door, Vana hot on her heels, "STOP"
Ignoring the order, Christina continued what she was doing, growing faster and more frantic.
Banging her scepter on the ground, Maleficent froze Christina in place, causing the scissors to drop from her hands.
"If it's wings you want, dear then wings you shall have"
"Maleficent maybe you shouldn't-"
But it was too later, the scepter glowed brightly, magic bursting from it to wrap itself around the still-frozen Christina, swirling, glowing brighter faster, lifting her off the ground. It was so powerful in fact, that Maleficent strained to keep the spell going until the light faded, magic disappearing, Christina-now mobile-floating to the ground.
"There," Maleficent smiled, tiredly, pulling the covering off Christina's mirror so she could see, "Wings"
Christina, with tears still running down her face, stared at her reflection. Her shredded mangled wings had been replaced with ones that looked nothing like hers. These were some sort of dragon bat cross. Scaled, black, purple.
Christina screamed so loud the window cracked.
"WHAT DID YOU DO? I WANT MY WINGS! MY WINGS, MINE!"
This is what Vana had been afraid of. Christina had already been through so much this was simply the spoiled cherry on top of a rancid cake.
Vana stepped in front in front of Maleficent who looked past her at the very distressed hybrid, "Hall, NOW"
On her way out, Vana made sure to grab the scissors.
…...
"I thought she'd be happy," Maleficent glanced at the closed door.
"Don't you get it? She doesn't remember you! You've only been here for a day and you've scared her"
"I refuse to be shut out of-"
"I understand, Maleficent I really, really do, but Christina's struggling, she doesn't understand the world, don't you see that? Giving her wings was a nice thought but it vasn't the right time"
"What do you expect me to do then?" Maleficent challenged, "Sit and watch?"
"You have to start over, slowly"
…...
The room was spinning. No matter how many times she closed her eyes it never stopped. Finally, with another shrill cry, Christina fumbled for her diary, her only solace in this mess.
I hate my reflection.
With a glare, she threw the diary. Nothing was okay anymore. Nothing would ever be okay. Stomping to the mirror, she drove her fist through it, watching the shards rain onto the floor, deadly and delicate, distorted and evil.
Every reflective surface, every mirror until her floor was littered in glass, at the center of it all, she cried, screamed unable to do anything else.
Not even the ever-patient Jade could help though the wolf tried, licking at her tears and rubbing on her arms. The only thing Jade was able to do was sit on Christina, knowing she'd try to hurt herself if she got up.
I want to die! I want to die!
…...
Maleficent peeked into Christina's room a half-hour later. Christina was pinned under her wolf, mirror shards surrounding her.
"Christina?" Maleficent asked.
"What? Do you want to just clone yourself outright?"
"No, Dear, I only want to speak with you"
"I don't want to talk"
"Listen, I'm sorry, I'm sorry for upsetting you so much"
"Yeah right," Christina laughed bitterly"
"Truly, Christina, almost losing you that night, watching you lie in that hospital bed were some of the most terrifying things I've had to go through, you only knew me for a short while beforehand, and then for that to happen, I didn't know if I'd ever see you again"
Christina still didn't face her, didn't react but Maleficent pressed on.
"I was so excited when I heard you'd woken up. I rushed to the hospital only to be told you didn't remember anything from the past six months. I was devastated, I kept my distance at first but Christina, I want to be a part of your life, you have so much to offer the world and I want to be part of it, I don't want to just observe anymore"
"So?"
So, what I'm saying is I love you, Christina. Yes, I've made mistakes but I wish to start over, please, just think about it"
With those words, Maleficent left.
Christina couldn't bring herself out of the place she'd fallen into. Even after everything she had just heard, she sat up enough to confess her thoughts to jade.
"I want to die"
