Chapter Twenty-Three

At the end of the day, I was beyond exhausted. Cedric and Ivinia were downstairs. Cedric talking to Ben and Ivinia trying to help me. When it was eight, Gretchen called it a day and sent us to sleep. While going up, Ivinia and Cedric went with me. I was wondering, what would happen if other people had my curse? I could ask them! It would be all right. Mother's past order had nothing to do with it. I was just asking them, not telling them I have the curse.

"Ivinia, Cedric, I have a question." I told them.

"Trivia? Is it hard because if it is, I'm out." Cedric joked.

"What it is Elle?" Ivinia said.

"It's sort of a survey, not much of a deal," I began, "What would you do if you had the curse of obedience?"

"Like how would that happen?" Cedric replied.

"A fairy gives you that curse, for example. And you have to do every order that anyone tells you. For example, chopping your head or hopping on one foot all day. You would have to do that." I explained.

"And what if you didn't?" Ivinia asked.

"You'll experience symptoms like in breathlessness, nausea, room spinning around, floor tilting away from you, dizziness…you know every kind of complaint your body can give you."

"Elle, that's an easy question," Cedric said in Ayorthaian, "It's too obvious that you shouldn't even think of an answer. It would hit you in the head the moment you realized you have that 'Curse of Obedience' you speak of. In other words: Common sense."

"Just answer it." I said impatiently.

"I'll just tell one person to order me not to obey orders," Cedric told me. His voice was such in a tone of a know-it-all that I think he wanted me to feel like a big idiot, "Easy as pie," he added.

"I'll do that too. I mean that curse of obedience has a counter order. Or maybe you should find that fairy and beg her to give you back your free will." Ivinia offered. She looked at her door. "Well, I better go in now. Good night."

Cedric looked at me. "I better go to my room to. Sleep tight." He went to the other direction.

I quietly went to my room. Maybe Cedric was right. I could tell Mandy to order me not to obey orders! I could be free of this curse and do whatever I want! It had been so simple. So obvious. It was right under my nose! Even Mandy would be surprised in this method of ending the curse! No hard work was needed! Only an order! A spell won't also be needed! Magic, it was of no use! All that is needed was a voice to say the order! I ran to Mandy's room and flung the door open. Mandy was already in deep slumber.

"Mandy!" I said while shaking her gently, "Mandy wake up! You have to do something for me!"

Mandy stirred. She looked wearily at me. "As long as it isn't big magic, sweet." 

"Please order me not to follow any orders!" I pleaded.

"What?" Mandy asked.

"Please order me not to follow orders!" I repeated, "Mandy, the solution to the curse is right under our noses! Magic needn't be here to get the curse of obedience out of me! A simple order will do the trick!"

"You are right Lady," Mandy said, "I've never thought of this before."

"See, magic isn't the solution to everything!" I told her, "You must order me not to follow orders any longer!"

"Alright Lady," Mandy said to me softly, "I didn't know it would be this easy."

"Do it now Mandy!"

"Ella, don't follow any orders," Mandy thought, "And all the other orders said to you before, you wouldn't follow them any longer."

When the order was said, I felt wonderful, fuller. No longer a puppet. I wasn't a too obedient girl any longer. I was Ella.

"Mandy! Quick tell me an order. A silly order! We have to find out if it would work!"

"Hop on one foot for one minute," Mandy ordered happily.

Nothing. No nausea, dizziness, in breathlessness. Nothing. It was working! I was free of the curse!

"Mandy, I have no complaints!" I could jump and reach the ceiling because of my joy!

"Lady, I'm so happy for you!" Mandy hug me. And I saw she was crying.

"Mandy, why are you crying? I'm free."

"Sweetie, you must have misunderstood. I'm crying because of joy that you are free." Mandy sniveled.

"Now that you mentioned it…I wish I was crying too," I laughed.

"It's gone. The curse is. Lady, you're free."

"I know! I know!" I exulted.

"Well, this is a day." Mandy said.

"I'm going to sleep now. But with this excitement and happiness, I don't think I could get a wink of sleep!" I kissed Mandy good night and went out.

For a while I just stood there, back leaning at the wall. Was it real? Did this just happen? Is it just a dream? I could have slapped myself silly for doubting it for a moment. Of course it was real! Of course it was! How could I doubt it?

"Ella, you are free. No curse. No symptoms. No orders. No obedience." I muttered to myself.

That was enough. I opened the door to my room and collapsed on my bed. I was wrong about not getting a wink of sleep. Actually, I had the sweetest of all dreams.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Short chapter huh? It's important. I just need a little spice before the ball itself. So for a short while, stop thinking about the Basten Ball and think about why I wrote this. Okay? It's a good thing Ella didn't have the curse any longer. Right? I wonder what good it would do to the next future chapters…

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Oh and I just uploaded chapter five of Shoplifting if any one would care.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

I have a story for you and you're welcome to skip this if you are not interested in my psycho life. Heehee.

Once upon a time a girl named Nayie aka Claidi was listening to Shakira's album Laundry Service. She already saw the music video of Te Dejo Madrid. And she loved the song. So she listened to it while writing this chapter. She stopped to really LISTEN to Te Dejo Madrid. She got the lyrics and started to sing it. After many unsuccessful attemots, she can sing the song with or without music!!! In short I can sing in Spanish (or whatever language that is. I don't know) and can sound okay while singing it. But the point is, I do not understand it!!! Oookay… Here's a part from the song: No quiero/ Jugar mi suerte por ti/ No puedo/ Con V pequena vivir/ Pronto estare de aqui/ Muy muy lejos

~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 

Thanks to the reviewers!!!

Ironic Paradise, Natasha, zumamoonlight, cool camzy blue, blue-angel1204, Impulse_k9