Le Côté Sombre De La Lune
(The Dark Side Of The Moon)
By Liz
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the characters of Virginia, Wolf, Wendel, Tony Riding hood or the Evil Queen and am in no way affiliated with the creation or production staff of 10k. I do however own the characters of Genieve and Christine, and am not looking to profit from this story.
AUTHORS NOTE: THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON is the sequel to the story CUSTOMS REMEMBERED
.
A thick fog hung over the landscape and a Moorish silence accended through the air. The machievious fairies and mushrooms watched as a singular woman trudged throughout the swamp, her head bend and hands swatting at the moss as it shrouded her face in a green luminance. Her hair fell down passed her knees in a tangled abyss of matting, and she made no attempt to right it. Her dress though of rich fabric was tatter worn from her journey, and all her exposed skin was covered in dirt. The woman staggered along, a perceivable limp hindering her speed. Seemingly oblivious to her surroundings, she ambled along saying nothing nor looking up from the ground in front of her before settling herself onto a log to rest. It was then that she raised her head for the first time and looked into the misty green around her, searching for signs of life, of sound. The unseen fairy that followed her shivered in recognition
Genieve's Dark eyes narrowed into slits as she settled onto the moss covered log to rest and rubbed her grubby hands together. She knew she must look a mess, her hair greasy, tattered clothes, and all the dirt; but she wouldn't allow the tears that welled in the depths of her eyes spill over, she was long passed the luxury of tears. "Virginia" she growled out loud, breaking the silence of the swamp. "You outerworld hussy, I'll get you for what you've done to me." Her voice was but a whisper, yet it seemed to echo throughout the swamp as her dark eyes glittered with hatred. Yes that little slut would pay well. Genieve frowned sadly as she thought of what she had lost. A husband, a crown, the prestige of wedding one of the four who saved the 9 kingdoms…….she clutched her fist in anger. If it hadn't been for Virginia she would have had everything she had ever wanted. Genieve was a lady, born and bred. A far distant relative to Queen Riding hood, ruler of the 2nd kingdom, she had been betrothed before birth, to the Queen's cousin, Wolf Greyson. Though at that time wolf's were frowned upon, Genevieve knew Wolf was special and she spend her entire life learning how to be charming and compassionate, to fufil his every want as a dutiful wife. And then he'd met that Virginia on his quest and everything she'd geared up for was lost. For a while it seemed as if she would get her man after all, since Virginia did not believe Wolf didn't know of his betrothal….. But then she'd shown up to the wedding, practically bare foot, obviously pregnant, and wolf had dumped her on the spot. If it hadn't been humiliating enough, she returned to her home to find that she HAD no home, her father had squandered everything, including her dowry. In a panic Genevieve had appealed to Riding hood, whom she had considered a friend, only to find that because she was no long her and asset, Riding hood did not wan her near anymore. So Genieve was forced to leave the 2nd kingdom, the only home she had ever known; with the clothes on her back and a few silver pieces in her purse. She was humiliated. Genieve had been wandering for months, sleeping on the ground, stealing food and feeling utterly out of her element. And it was all Virginia's fault. "Just wait until I get the chance Virginia, I'll destroy you for messing with my life." She cried out loud hauling herself up again. Her legs throbbed painfully but she kept going. Something was calling to her now, somewhere in the depths of the swamp…. She heard the voice again in her mind. "Come Genevieve, come and I'll give you all you desire….."
Two days later she came to a small clearing in the swamp. A tiny dank hut stood at the corner. It's wood dark and rotting and imitting a strange smell, it looked hostile and unfriendly, yet at the same time.. Strangely hypnotic. The voice in her head was stronger now, more resilient, and it nearly commanded Genevieve to enter the tiny cabin. She had to dip her head to enter and the door was not easy to open. Inside it was dark and damp and the smell of death wafted through the air. Shivering, Genieve lit a lamp and began to look around. A small table and chairs stood at one end, a cubord in the middle, and a straw tick mattress at the other end. She sat to think a moment, when she heard the voice again, and this time not in her head. "Genieve…." Came a plaintive cry from inside the room… "Down here…" Genieve followed the sound to a cellar door. Cobwebs hung over it like a mist, and the lark ornate knob clanked woodenly against the door. "Come to me my child" the voice insisted from behind it and Genevieve began to tug hard at the knob….it swung open with a loud crrreeeaaakkk.
Genieve hesitated for a moment, then took the lighted torch and began to descend down into the bowls of the shack. The steps were narrow and mostly covered in moss, which made the process slow going. Finally after what seemed like an eternity her foot touched solid ground once again and she paused… it was so very still…she lit another torch on the wall. Pale light leapt to all corners of the earthen room and as Genieve's eyes adjusted she omitted a tiny horrified scream that shattered the stillness.
Before her, in the middle of the small room upon an antient stone funeral pior lay a woman…or what was left of a woman. She had obviously been dead some time, she immited only the tiniest of smells. Her exposed skin was gray and very dry, cracked in some places showing the musty interior where flesh once abided. Her hair was heather Grey, and parting from her scalp, which was in turn parting from her head. All in all a gruesome sight, and Genieve began to back away.
"Close your eyes." A voice called from somewhere in the room. It echoed off the walls faintly and Genieve caught her breath. "Do not look upon what I have become. Close your eyes my dear and see what I once was…what you can be…" obediently, she closed her eyes. There in place of the rotting woman on the pior lay another, much younger, much beautiful woman. Her skin had a healthy alabaster glow and her hair flowed off the sided of the pior as dark as a moonless night; save for one tiny lock of hair, which stood out for being snow white. She sat up and opened her blue eyes, gesturing to her side. "Come girl"
Genieve made her way to the pior. "Who are you?" she asked breathlessly. "They call me the wicked witch" The woman said in a slightly amused tone. "The wicked witch? But she was killed months ago by Virginia…and…." The woman held up her hand. "No, that was my predecessor, the spineless sap. I am what came before; I am the stepmother of the much-famed Snow White… THAT Wicked Witch."
"Oh…" a shiver ran down her back and a voice in her head warned her to run, but she didn't. "What do you want with me?"
The witch smiled her perfect smile. "Even from beyond the grave I could feel your hatred, and your pain, and I decided to help."
"I don't need any help, what I need is" Genevieve began but again the witch rose a hand. "You need revenge on that sniveling brat Virginia. I know what she took from you and how your soul begs for vengeance. I can give it to you. I can give you all your heart desires."
Genieve narrowed her brown eyes thoughtfully. "That sounds to good to be true. What do you want in return?" "Only your faith my dear, only your faith. Here" The witch said holding out her hand. "All you have to do is take my hand… take it and all you desire you shall have."
Genieve's head screamed for her to run.. "It's a trap!" but Genieve wouldn't listen, her heart bled for vengeance and she was going to have it. "Ok" She said and she offered the witch her hand. The witch smiled evilly as their hands touched. "It is done then!" she cried.
"Oh!" A pain ripped through Genitive's body with more force then a lightning bolt. All illusions of beauty were gone and she found herself in the steal grip of the dead woman's hand as she crackled with pure evil. "N……O…!!" She made out before loosing contiosness. The power that was surging into her body tossed her around the room like a rag doll and points of pure light sprang from her finger tips as she was lifted off the ground and spinned round and round. Slowly she was settle onto the ground as the cackle of the evil witch grew wan and finally died away. She lay there for some time, the solitary torch's light flickering faintly across her face. Suddenly her eyes opened and she smiled. Gone were her somewhat beady, always emotional deep grey eyes, and in their place were ones of large, azure blue. "hhmm" She said stretching as she made her way to her feet. She looked down at what was once the body of the powerful wicked witch. Only now she gazed down not in fear, but admiration. She brought the woman's hand to her lips and kissed it softly. "Thank you" She said smiling. "I won't let you down my lady, I promise. That Virginia will soon suffer as you have suffered I will see to that. I will make things right again." She proclaimed her long dark hair shining in the torchlight. She absently smoothed the snow white lock that now inhabited her dark hair away from her face before starting upstairs. She needed rest and food, and times to make her plans. "Sleep Well My Lady" she called down as she climbed. "We shall have our vengence"
!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!
"Lola, have you seen my sowing kit lately? I was making a bonnet for the new baby and now I can't find it!" Virginia Lewis-Greyson stamped her tiny foot in impatience as her servant girl went off to find the missing sowing kit. "It's all right love," She said slowly moving her hand against her enormous stomach in an effort to sooth the soul inside it. She made her way to a large bay window to look out at her castle grounds and sighed pleasantly. It was a beautiful day.
Not once in the three years since Virginia and Wolf had decided to stay on as King and Queen of the 3rd kingdom had she regretted it. As much as she loved New York, the castle and grounds had become so a part of her that she seldom missed her home. That and the face that she was a happily married woman. She grinned openly as she spotted her husband Wolf playing with her oldest daughter Christine out on the lawn. Wolf was pretending to be sound asleep and as Christine would creep close to jump on her father to wake him up, he would reach out, snatch the giggling child and proceed to tickle her. As if he knew she was gazing at him, Wolf looked up and saw her watching. He grinned easily and blew her a kiss. "Hi mummy!" Christine called between giggles. "Can you see me mummy? Hu hu can you see me?" Virginia laughed out loud "Yes darling I can see you, I can see you just fine." "Why don't you come out and play to mummy?" Christine asked plaintively, while trying to dodge her father's darting hand. Virginia placed her hand on her stomach again. She hadn't been able to play with Christine during the last months of her latest pregnancy; this one was a toughie. About all she could do was sit at the window and try to hold Roman, Christine's nearly year old younger brother.
"What?" Virginia said as she realized that both Wolf and Christine were looking up at her as if expecting an answer. "Why don't we get you a nice comfortable chair to sit in out here, and have you put your feet up, the outside air will do you good." Being half wolf, Wolf had an appreciation for nature that Virginia couldn't fully understand, but respected, and he thought fresh air was the cure for any ailment. "Perhaps your right… but who will listen for Roman?" "Lola can do it."
Virginia agreed and before she had a second thought she had been whisked outside and seated in an overstuffed lounge chair of sorts. She had to admit the sunlight felt wonderful as it warmed her back and face. Virginia smiled to herself; the fresh air did help. She hadn't felt this comfortable in weeks. Suddenly, mid giggle Christine's mouth erupted in a huge yawn. "I think it's time for someone to take her nap." Virginia said softly. Wolf nodded "I'll do it" He said swinging Christine up into his arms. "You stay here and rest ok?" Virginia nodded and closed her eyes again, letting the suns warmth drain all the tension from her tired shoulders. For once the child growing inside her was still as well and Virginia began to feel a bit sleepy. Maybe a nap wasn't such a bad idea after all…..
It was dark; Virginia couldn't see anything but the mist swirling around her. "Hello?" she called out into the abyss. "Is anyone their?" A shadow drifted towards her, slowly taking shape until her mother stood, void of all color, all light before her.
"I have come to warn thee my child of bad tidings." She said. Her voice sounded hollow and far away.
"What bad tidings Mom?"
"The evil that consumed my soul lives again." Virginia shook her head.
"I absolved you of your evil, it died with you Mum, that is all over."
"No" the ghostly apparition said waving her hand in the air. "The evil, it never dies, it just lays in wait
"For what?"
"For a new soul, then it can be reborn, revamped, and replenished once again. She is coming for you my child, beware" "Who's coming?
"Soon, soon she will come… soon….soon…" the apparition was sliding away loosing it's form, until Virginia was alone in the mist once more. "Who's coming.. Mom??!!!"
"Mo…….m"
"Virginia? Virginia?"
Virginia felt herself being shaken gently and opened her eyes. Wolf was bent over her, his face filled with concern.
"What..where….did you see her wolf?" Virginia choked out softly. "See who love?"
"My mother she was just here.. She came to warn me of evil lurking around the corner." Wolf scratched his head absently "which corner?"
Virginia had to laugh at his confusion and pulled him closer until their cheeks rested against one another.
"Just hold me you big ox… I'm lonely… I had a bad dream" Wolf slid onto the cushioned chair next to her. Virginia yawned contentedly and laid her head on his chest as be began stroking her stomach. "I love it when you do that…wolf?"
"Hm?" "Do your realize that for a better part of the last three years I've been pregnant?" Wolf grinned at her.
"That's how I intended to keep it love, I told you I wanted a large litter."
"Don't you think I get ugly as my due date approaches?" Wolf looked at her increadiously.
"Are you kidding, that stomach of yours is quiet provocative…. When you're pregnant I desire you the most my love." He said nibbling on her ear. Virginia giggled and gave into the delicate sensation. "I love you wolf"
"I know"
Their love feast was brought to a halt when Lola came out, holding onto their son Roman, who was screaming at the top of his little lungs. "Their their now little one." Virginia said taking him into her arms. He stopped screaming at once and settled against her with a gurgling smile. Roman had his fathers features and his mothers porcelain skin and a shock of bright red hair to boot. He looked up at Virginia with his wide blue eyes and Wolf whistled softly.
"Someone's a momma's boy," He said kissing Roman on the top of the head. Virginia just smiled at herself thinking of the happy family and wonderful life She and Wolf had carved out for herself in the second kingdom. It hadn't been easy; they had to save the nine kingdoms, endure infidelity and arranged marriages, as well as a 5 month separation that put their love to the test. But in the end they had found each other, and they were determined not to let each other go ever again.
Virginia sighed contentedly and leaned back, holding Roman as he played with his fathers hand. In the back of her mind she heard her mothers hollow voice again "soon.. She's coming for you soon" What was that all about? "Oh well" she decided, it's not anything wolf and I can't handle…together"
!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&
On the edge of the castle grounds a small carriage entered one of the gates. "Can I help you madam?" A footman asked as a tall willowy woman with long inky hair stepped outside. She squinted in the sunlight and pulled a strand of snow-white hair back behind her ear. "I'm here to see the princess Christine," She said softly. The footman's eyes began to glaze over. "I shall take you there at once," he said hollowly. Genevieve smiled. This was going to be easier then she thought. "The time for suffering is at hand Virginia" she muttered under her breath. "Are you ready?"
……End of Part 1…..
(The Dark Side Of The Moon)
By Liz
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the characters of Virginia, Wolf, Wendel, Tony Riding hood or the Evil Queen and am in no way affiliated with the creation or production staff of 10k. I do however own the characters of Genieve and Christine, and am not looking to profit from this story.
AUTHORS NOTE: THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON is the sequel to the story CUSTOMS REMEMBERED
.
A thick fog hung over the landscape and a Moorish silence accended through the air. The machievious fairies and mushrooms watched as a singular woman trudged throughout the swamp, her head bend and hands swatting at the moss as it shrouded her face in a green luminance. Her hair fell down passed her knees in a tangled abyss of matting, and she made no attempt to right it. Her dress though of rich fabric was tatter worn from her journey, and all her exposed skin was covered in dirt. The woman staggered along, a perceivable limp hindering her speed. Seemingly oblivious to her surroundings, she ambled along saying nothing nor looking up from the ground in front of her before settling herself onto a log to rest. It was then that she raised her head for the first time and looked into the misty green around her, searching for signs of life, of sound. The unseen fairy that followed her shivered in recognition
Genieve's Dark eyes narrowed into slits as she settled onto the moss covered log to rest and rubbed her grubby hands together. She knew she must look a mess, her hair greasy, tattered clothes, and all the dirt; but she wouldn't allow the tears that welled in the depths of her eyes spill over, she was long passed the luxury of tears. "Virginia" she growled out loud, breaking the silence of the swamp. "You outerworld hussy, I'll get you for what you've done to me." Her voice was but a whisper, yet it seemed to echo throughout the swamp as her dark eyes glittered with hatred. Yes that little slut would pay well. Genieve frowned sadly as she thought of what she had lost. A husband, a crown, the prestige of wedding one of the four who saved the 9 kingdoms…….she clutched her fist in anger. If it hadn't been for Virginia she would have had everything she had ever wanted. Genieve was a lady, born and bred. A far distant relative to Queen Riding hood, ruler of the 2nd kingdom, she had been betrothed before birth, to the Queen's cousin, Wolf Greyson. Though at that time wolf's were frowned upon, Genevieve knew Wolf was special and she spend her entire life learning how to be charming and compassionate, to fufil his every want as a dutiful wife. And then he'd met that Virginia on his quest and everything she'd geared up for was lost. For a while it seemed as if she would get her man after all, since Virginia did not believe Wolf didn't know of his betrothal….. But then she'd shown up to the wedding, practically bare foot, obviously pregnant, and wolf had dumped her on the spot. If it hadn't been humiliating enough, she returned to her home to find that she HAD no home, her father had squandered everything, including her dowry. In a panic Genevieve had appealed to Riding hood, whom she had considered a friend, only to find that because she was no long her and asset, Riding hood did not wan her near anymore. So Genieve was forced to leave the 2nd kingdom, the only home she had ever known; with the clothes on her back and a few silver pieces in her purse. She was humiliated. Genieve had been wandering for months, sleeping on the ground, stealing food and feeling utterly out of her element. And it was all Virginia's fault. "Just wait until I get the chance Virginia, I'll destroy you for messing with my life." She cried out loud hauling herself up again. Her legs throbbed painfully but she kept going. Something was calling to her now, somewhere in the depths of the swamp…. She heard the voice again in her mind. "Come Genevieve, come and I'll give you all you desire….."
Two days later she came to a small clearing in the swamp. A tiny dank hut stood at the corner. It's wood dark and rotting and imitting a strange smell, it looked hostile and unfriendly, yet at the same time.. Strangely hypnotic. The voice in her head was stronger now, more resilient, and it nearly commanded Genevieve to enter the tiny cabin. She had to dip her head to enter and the door was not easy to open. Inside it was dark and damp and the smell of death wafted through the air. Shivering, Genieve lit a lamp and began to look around. A small table and chairs stood at one end, a cubord in the middle, and a straw tick mattress at the other end. She sat to think a moment, when she heard the voice again, and this time not in her head. "Genieve…." Came a plaintive cry from inside the room… "Down here…" Genieve followed the sound to a cellar door. Cobwebs hung over it like a mist, and the lark ornate knob clanked woodenly against the door. "Come to me my child" the voice insisted from behind it and Genevieve began to tug hard at the knob….it swung open with a loud crrreeeaaakkk.
Genieve hesitated for a moment, then took the lighted torch and began to descend down into the bowls of the shack. The steps were narrow and mostly covered in moss, which made the process slow going. Finally after what seemed like an eternity her foot touched solid ground once again and she paused… it was so very still…she lit another torch on the wall. Pale light leapt to all corners of the earthen room and as Genieve's eyes adjusted she omitted a tiny horrified scream that shattered the stillness.
Before her, in the middle of the small room upon an antient stone funeral pior lay a woman…or what was left of a woman. She had obviously been dead some time, she immited only the tiniest of smells. Her exposed skin was gray and very dry, cracked in some places showing the musty interior where flesh once abided. Her hair was heather Grey, and parting from her scalp, which was in turn parting from her head. All in all a gruesome sight, and Genieve began to back away.
"Close your eyes." A voice called from somewhere in the room. It echoed off the walls faintly and Genieve caught her breath. "Do not look upon what I have become. Close your eyes my dear and see what I once was…what you can be…" obediently, she closed her eyes. There in place of the rotting woman on the pior lay another, much younger, much beautiful woman. Her skin had a healthy alabaster glow and her hair flowed off the sided of the pior as dark as a moonless night; save for one tiny lock of hair, which stood out for being snow white. She sat up and opened her blue eyes, gesturing to her side. "Come girl"
Genieve made her way to the pior. "Who are you?" she asked breathlessly. "They call me the wicked witch" The woman said in a slightly amused tone. "The wicked witch? But she was killed months ago by Virginia…and…." The woman held up her hand. "No, that was my predecessor, the spineless sap. I am what came before; I am the stepmother of the much-famed Snow White… THAT Wicked Witch."
"Oh…" a shiver ran down her back and a voice in her head warned her to run, but she didn't. "What do you want with me?"
The witch smiled her perfect smile. "Even from beyond the grave I could feel your hatred, and your pain, and I decided to help."
"I don't need any help, what I need is" Genevieve began but again the witch rose a hand. "You need revenge on that sniveling brat Virginia. I know what she took from you and how your soul begs for vengeance. I can give it to you. I can give you all your heart desires."
Genieve narrowed her brown eyes thoughtfully. "That sounds to good to be true. What do you want in return?" "Only your faith my dear, only your faith. Here" The witch said holding out her hand. "All you have to do is take my hand… take it and all you desire you shall have."
Genieve's head screamed for her to run.. "It's a trap!" but Genieve wouldn't listen, her heart bled for vengeance and she was going to have it. "Ok" She said and she offered the witch her hand. The witch smiled evilly as their hands touched. "It is done then!" she cried.
"Oh!" A pain ripped through Genitive's body with more force then a lightning bolt. All illusions of beauty were gone and she found herself in the steal grip of the dead woman's hand as she crackled with pure evil. "N……O…!!" She made out before loosing contiosness. The power that was surging into her body tossed her around the room like a rag doll and points of pure light sprang from her finger tips as she was lifted off the ground and spinned round and round. Slowly she was settle onto the ground as the cackle of the evil witch grew wan and finally died away. She lay there for some time, the solitary torch's light flickering faintly across her face. Suddenly her eyes opened and she smiled. Gone were her somewhat beady, always emotional deep grey eyes, and in their place were ones of large, azure blue. "hhmm" She said stretching as she made her way to her feet. She looked down at what was once the body of the powerful wicked witch. Only now she gazed down not in fear, but admiration. She brought the woman's hand to her lips and kissed it softly. "Thank you" She said smiling. "I won't let you down my lady, I promise. That Virginia will soon suffer as you have suffered I will see to that. I will make things right again." She proclaimed her long dark hair shining in the torchlight. She absently smoothed the snow white lock that now inhabited her dark hair away from her face before starting upstairs. She needed rest and food, and times to make her plans. "Sleep Well My Lady" she called down as she climbed. "We shall have our vengence"
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"Lola, have you seen my sowing kit lately? I was making a bonnet for the new baby and now I can't find it!" Virginia Lewis-Greyson stamped her tiny foot in impatience as her servant girl went off to find the missing sowing kit. "It's all right love," She said slowly moving her hand against her enormous stomach in an effort to sooth the soul inside it. She made her way to a large bay window to look out at her castle grounds and sighed pleasantly. It was a beautiful day.
Not once in the three years since Virginia and Wolf had decided to stay on as King and Queen of the 3rd kingdom had she regretted it. As much as she loved New York, the castle and grounds had become so a part of her that she seldom missed her home. That and the face that she was a happily married woman. She grinned openly as she spotted her husband Wolf playing with her oldest daughter Christine out on the lawn. Wolf was pretending to be sound asleep and as Christine would creep close to jump on her father to wake him up, he would reach out, snatch the giggling child and proceed to tickle her. As if he knew she was gazing at him, Wolf looked up and saw her watching. He grinned easily and blew her a kiss. "Hi mummy!" Christine called between giggles. "Can you see me mummy? Hu hu can you see me?" Virginia laughed out loud "Yes darling I can see you, I can see you just fine." "Why don't you come out and play to mummy?" Christine asked plaintively, while trying to dodge her father's darting hand. Virginia placed her hand on her stomach again. She hadn't been able to play with Christine during the last months of her latest pregnancy; this one was a toughie. About all she could do was sit at the window and try to hold Roman, Christine's nearly year old younger brother.
"What?" Virginia said as she realized that both Wolf and Christine were looking up at her as if expecting an answer. "Why don't we get you a nice comfortable chair to sit in out here, and have you put your feet up, the outside air will do you good." Being half wolf, Wolf had an appreciation for nature that Virginia couldn't fully understand, but respected, and he thought fresh air was the cure for any ailment. "Perhaps your right… but who will listen for Roman?" "Lola can do it."
Virginia agreed and before she had a second thought she had been whisked outside and seated in an overstuffed lounge chair of sorts. She had to admit the sunlight felt wonderful as it warmed her back and face. Virginia smiled to herself; the fresh air did help. She hadn't felt this comfortable in weeks. Suddenly, mid giggle Christine's mouth erupted in a huge yawn. "I think it's time for someone to take her nap." Virginia said softly. Wolf nodded "I'll do it" He said swinging Christine up into his arms. "You stay here and rest ok?" Virginia nodded and closed her eyes again, letting the suns warmth drain all the tension from her tired shoulders. For once the child growing inside her was still as well and Virginia began to feel a bit sleepy. Maybe a nap wasn't such a bad idea after all…..
It was dark; Virginia couldn't see anything but the mist swirling around her. "Hello?" she called out into the abyss. "Is anyone their?" A shadow drifted towards her, slowly taking shape until her mother stood, void of all color, all light before her.
"I have come to warn thee my child of bad tidings." She said. Her voice sounded hollow and far away.
"What bad tidings Mom?"
"The evil that consumed my soul lives again." Virginia shook her head.
"I absolved you of your evil, it died with you Mum, that is all over."
"No" the ghostly apparition said waving her hand in the air. "The evil, it never dies, it just lays in wait
"For what?"
"For a new soul, then it can be reborn, revamped, and replenished once again. She is coming for you my child, beware" "Who's coming?
"Soon, soon she will come… soon….soon…" the apparition was sliding away loosing it's form, until Virginia was alone in the mist once more. "Who's coming.. Mom??!!!"
"Mo…….m"
"Virginia? Virginia?"
Virginia felt herself being shaken gently and opened her eyes. Wolf was bent over her, his face filled with concern.
"What..where….did you see her wolf?" Virginia choked out softly. "See who love?"
"My mother she was just here.. She came to warn me of evil lurking around the corner." Wolf scratched his head absently "which corner?"
Virginia had to laugh at his confusion and pulled him closer until their cheeks rested against one another.
"Just hold me you big ox… I'm lonely… I had a bad dream" Wolf slid onto the cushioned chair next to her. Virginia yawned contentedly and laid her head on his chest as be began stroking her stomach. "I love it when you do that…wolf?"
"Hm?" "Do your realize that for a better part of the last three years I've been pregnant?" Wolf grinned at her.
"That's how I intended to keep it love, I told you I wanted a large litter."
"Don't you think I get ugly as my due date approaches?" Wolf looked at her increadiously.
"Are you kidding, that stomach of yours is quiet provocative…. When you're pregnant I desire you the most my love." He said nibbling on her ear. Virginia giggled and gave into the delicate sensation. "I love you wolf"
"I know"
Their love feast was brought to a halt when Lola came out, holding onto their son Roman, who was screaming at the top of his little lungs. "Their their now little one." Virginia said taking him into her arms. He stopped screaming at once and settled against her with a gurgling smile. Roman had his fathers features and his mothers porcelain skin and a shock of bright red hair to boot. He looked up at Virginia with his wide blue eyes and Wolf whistled softly.
"Someone's a momma's boy," He said kissing Roman on the top of the head. Virginia just smiled at herself thinking of the happy family and wonderful life She and Wolf had carved out for herself in the second kingdom. It hadn't been easy; they had to save the nine kingdoms, endure infidelity and arranged marriages, as well as a 5 month separation that put their love to the test. But in the end they had found each other, and they were determined not to let each other go ever again.
Virginia sighed contentedly and leaned back, holding Roman as he played with his fathers hand. In the back of her mind she heard her mothers hollow voice again "soon.. She's coming for you soon" What was that all about? "Oh well" she decided, it's not anything wolf and I can't handle…together"
!&!&!&!&!&!&!&!&
On the edge of the castle grounds a small carriage entered one of the gates. "Can I help you madam?" A footman asked as a tall willowy woman with long inky hair stepped outside. She squinted in the sunlight and pulled a strand of snow-white hair back behind her ear. "I'm here to see the princess Christine," She said softly. The footman's eyes began to glaze over. "I shall take you there at once," he said hollowly. Genevieve smiled. This was going to be easier then she thought. "The time for suffering is at hand Virginia" she muttered under her breath. "Are you ready?"
……End of Part 1…..