Chapter Two

((Years later.))

Rose petals fall

On my face

In my hands

Floating down

Darkness comes

Turning sharp

Blinding me

Through the storm

I see him

Reach for me

But the dark

Holds me back

I want to be

His forever

She awoke with a start, her chest heaving. It was that dream-that same dream. It was there, waiting, every time she closed her eyes. The girl uncurled her long legs from beneath her and slowly sat up, blinking. The sky above her was a dark midnight blue, filled with stars. How long had she been asleep? The trees around her seemed to be alive, whispering to her. Run fast, you're late, run fast, you're late. The girl's eyes grew large, as she remembered what day it was. Jumping to her feet, she began to run through the forest-the trees' whispers keeping beat with her pace. Too young, she's ready, too young, she's ready, ready, ready, ready. They seemed to question and answer themselves, their hushed voices reverberating in the girl's mind. She's not, she is, too young, too innocent, ready or not, not or ready, she's LATE!

"I know!" The girl was breathless by now, mentally dismissing the voices from her head. The trees were silent then, the only sound the rustling of their leaves. She moved fast, ducking and weaving to avoid stray branches. She could see the small trails of fire rising in the air above the trees before her. She was almost there, so she slowed her pace, veering slightly to stop at a small pond.

She knelt down before the reflective, glass-like surface and looked down, studying the girl before her. A pair of slightly slanted, golden eyes peered back at her. She dipped her hands in the water and brought them to her face, cleaning off the streaks of dirt, but being careful not to touch under her eyes and on her forehead. Those were close to her knew of the strange blue diamonds there, but Mother was insistent that she keep them covered. The head sorceress had conjured up a simple concealment spell, but it would dissipate when in contact with water. She then ran her fingers through her waist-length dark brown hair, trying to un-tangle it quickly. Standing now, she winced slightly as her fingers snagged a tangle, and began to run towards the village once more, hoping she looked somewhat presentable.

She finally reached the edge of the tree line and slowed to a walk, darting between the small houses, trying to remain unseen. She neared the central dwelling, the largest one there, and slid around the back, trying to avoid the many women in front of it. Working open a small window in the back, she squeezed through and landed on the soft bed below her, emitting a small "oof!" She scrambled to her feet and began tearing through the trunk beside her bed, clothes flying over her shoulder. A soft clearing of the throat sounded behind her. The girl froze, and then turned slowly, a sheepish smile on her face.

Thora stood, a shirt draped over her head and her arms crossed in front of her, in the doorway. She attempted to give her daughter a stern glare, but never could stay mad at her only child. Eyeing her daughter's bedraggled appearance, Thora knelt down and picked up a white dress lying on the floor.

"Does this suit your fancy?" Her voice was slightly sarcastic, knowing how picky her Bella was. Bella sighed through her nose loudly and grabbed the dress, slipping it over her head and examining herself in her mirror.

"I don't understand why I can't just wear what you do! I'm old enough!" Bella gestured to the gauzy white dress she wore, finding it constricting- not at all like the skimpy bikinis the other women wore.

A head poked in the door at this remark, "Aye! You need it, Bell!" Ariel laughed, her rose-colored hair sliding over her shoulders.

"Oi! What's that supposed to mean, Ar!?" Bella scowled slightly as she turned to face Ariel, her hands on her hips.

Ariel shrugged and stood beside Thora, smiling. "You're not a little girl anymore, Bell." She cleared her throat and gestured to the dress Bella was currently wearing. "You're the talk amidst all the slaves. Men can't stop commenting that the little princess has finally grown up." She then ducked as a shoe came flying at her and slid out of the room, made somewhat nervous by the protective glare that had come into her Queen's eyes.

"You have grown, Bell, faster than I ever would have expected." Thora studied the dress she held in her hands. ".And today, is the day you become a woman..." Thora crossed the room and sat on Bella's bed, suddenly looking her age-an age that had seen too much.

"Don't sound too excited for me, Ma." Bella turned around to sit next to her on the bed, squirming slightly to alleviate the pressure the too-small dress caused across her chest.

Thora sighed slightly and studied her daughter, the one who had come to her so long ago. "It's not that, love, it's just, I feel as if, our time is growing shorter." She shook her head, the golden hair now streaked with silver. "I know I sound absurd."

Bella shook her head fervently and placed a hand on Thora's shoulder. She couldn't imagine life without her mother. Sure, they had their disagreements, but her mother was more of a friend, then anything else. "Don't be silly. I won't ever leave you, Ma."

Thora covered Bella's hand with her own and smiled, not at all reassured, but unwilling to worry her daughter. "You are right. I will not worry anymore." She stood then and crossed the room to the door. "Come, and we'll see about getting you some armor before the ceremony."

Bella let out a happy squeal and flew across the room, intent on doing whatever it took to become older and more mature in her eyes. A very short while later, she would wish that she hadn't grown up so fast, because for Bella, growing up meant losing her carefree childhood and everything she held dear. Growing up meant accepting divine responsibilities. Growing up meant eternal loneliness and pain. Growing up.it wasn't all Bella made it out to be.