A/N: An apology to Nixiy, for misspelling her name. I didn't have internet connection when writing the author's note and forgot to check the name. Sorry. Thanks to her again for being my only reviewer. I just think you missed an important item in my chapter, judging by your review. Re-read the previous chapter and this one. Maybe that will help. ~*Mac*~
Chapter 4:
A week seemed to fly by to Cecilia, who was being prepped for her engagement. Madame Crow and Sophie fought over how to prepare Cecilia. The feud ended when the exasperated girl shouted out, "Lady McGrail, this is a matter between a mother and her daughter. I wasn't my mother and my mother alone!" Madame Crow left in a huff, calming things down.
Tina tried to cheer up her friend, even ditching her clipboard so Cecilia wasn't reminded of her duties. "I know you are probably dying right now, so thanks, Tina," Cecilia said, hugging her friend. "I just wish I could say good-bye to Orlando."
Orlando was going through the same torment as his fiancée, only under the control of Marie and her six sisters. They gave him advice on how to act, what to say, what not to say, and other essential information. He tried to wriggle away, but all seven women were faster than him. When he did manage to escape his "lessons," he spent them in the gardens.
Matt was trying to ease his friend's mood out of depression. He rode whenever he could to the border, trying to locate Cecilia for his friend. Unfortunately, his efforts had produced nothing. Cecilia was no where to be found. Every time he came back, Matt was forced to hand Orlando back the letters written for Cecilia. "I'm sorry, Orlando, I really am."
The day before her birthday, Cecilia was thrown a party. "Tomorrow will be the engagement dinner so we wan to celebrate your birthday separately," Sophie explained. For her birthday, Cecilia wasn't in a good mood at all. Her sour attitude was shared by Tina and her siblings. Cecilia had caught her younger brother Sam practicing one day, knowing he would be ready to seek vengeance on her fiancé if the Purezi prince hurt her. Her sisters Grace and Michelle were not so happy about their sisters' upcoming nuptials, though they were at an age when weddings normally appealed to them. And little Alexander took it the hardest. He locked himself in his room in protest.
The littlest prince, only six years old, now sat at the table, after Cecilia had coaxed him out of the room. Sophie and Christopher tried to cheer up their upset children, but nothing seemed to work. All of the them remained dejected throughout the night, even as each slowly drifted off to bed. Cecilia was the most upset, talking to her parents before she retired. "Now, before I go to bed, is there anything else I should know about myself?" she asked. Her parents didn't respond and Cecilia stalked out of the room.
The king and queen discussed their daughter's statement in their private rooms, out of anyone's earshot. "Maybe we should tell her," Sophie said. "And get her worried over nothing?" her husband retorted. "What if it is something?" the queen pressed on. "It is nothing more than a joke pulled on the royal family."
"She is part of the Onadi."
"And they have often pulled pranks before."
"Christopher…"
"Sophie," the king replied, "She is a sorceress who happens to like the story of Sleeping Beauty. Nothing more." Seeing his wife's anguished expression, Christopher sighed. "If you want, we will tell her after her birthday has passed." Sophie smiled and kissed her husband.
The next day, Cecilia's 20th birthday, was a warm, sunny late spring day. Cecilia woke up and groaned. Tina came bursting in. "Good morning, Cece," she said. "Good for who?" Cecilia asked. Tina's smile dropped. "Cecilia, try to look somewhat happy? Just when the king and queen of Purez are here," Tina said. "Et tu, Tina?" Cecilia quoted. "What?"
"I don't know. Litirie told me about it."
"Listen, I just want you to look your best when you meet these guests. Show them your true spunk. Please?" Tina begged. "Tina, why?" Cecilia asked. "Because if you don't, I will have to help Madame Crow for a week," Tina explained. "And if you don't smile, I may cry!" Cecilia embraced her friend. "Don't worry. I will, so you don't cry, making me cry. And because I definitely wouldn't wish Madame Crow on my worst enemy. Or the Purezi prince." The two giggled.
Cecilia pulled out the outfit purposefully made for her engagement. It was a gold dress, short ruffled sleeves and a dark yellow sash. She began to put it on while Tina read the schedule. "Tina, can you please fix my hair?"
"Absolutely. That's what I'm here for," Tina said, picking up the hair brush. She then proceeded to place Cecilia's hair in a braided bun. "And when can I schedule my suicide?" Cecilia asked. "Anytime between nine tonight and eight tomorrow morning," came her reply.
Later, Cecilia went walking down one of the palace corridors. Tina was called away to help with some last minute planning, leaving Cecilia to her own devices. She heard a voice singing from a room nearby. She looked in and saw a tall woman wearing a gray cloak singing. The hood was down, revealing her raven black hair flowing past her shoulders.
Cecilia walked closer after the mysterious woman stopped singing. "What was that song about?" she asked. "About Sleeping Beauty ad how she pricked her finger on a spinning wheel like this, the woman replied. She stepped back to reveal an olden spinning wheel. Cecilia approached the instrument and began spinning the wheel.
The woman walked behind the wheel. "Look at the spindle," she instructed. Cecilia kept spinning the wheel and observed the spindle.
The woman watched as Cecilia's attention was diverted. She suddenly stopped the wheel, causing Cecilia to jerk forward. She placed a hand out to steady herself, pricking her finger on the spindle. "Ouch, damnit!" she cried, watching blood appear. She turned to the woman and felt lightheaded. She grabbed the wheel and felt sick. "Help," she croaked, before crumpling to the floor. "Sleep tight, princess," the woman said, disappearing.
Or attempting to, anyhow. The cloud of smoke circled around her, causing the woman to begin coughing. "Tina entered the room. "Cece. Your mother wants you and I've been searching for you," she said. Seeing her friend's body lying motionless on the floor, Tina let out a blood-curling scream. Tina's scream sent guards, the king and the queen running to the room. Sophie rushed to her daughter's body. "Oh, Christopher," she moaned. Christopher glared at the choking cloaked woman. "Guards, seize her!" he ordered.
The guards rushed the woman, who jumped out the window. "Ow!" resounded up to the people in the room as the guards rushed downstairs. Tina rushed to the window to see if they would catch her. She saw the woman sprint across the courtyard, pursued by the palace guards. When the woman reached the woods, she saw some smoke and then no more. When the cloud vanished, so had the culprit. She sighed and turned back to her friend.
"Christopher, are you happy now?" Sophie screamed at her husband. The king knelt by her side. "Sophie, I'm sorry. You were right," he apologized. "Of course I was right!" the queen shouted back. Christopher took his daughter's hand. "You can play the blame game later," he said. "But her hand's cold."
"No, no, no!" Sophie moaned over and over again. "Tina, contact the Master of the Onadi!" Christopher shouted at his daughter's friend, who rushed out of the room.
Christopher carried his daughter down to her bedroom. Sophie was sobbing uncontrollably by her husband's side. When they reached Cecilia's chambers, Tina and the Master of the Onadi greeted them. Master Onadi helped the king place the princess on her bed and pull the covers over her. "She isn't dead, Master, right?" Sophie asked, her hysterics subdued.
Master Onadi turned to her. He was a medium sized man, both horizontally and vertically. He had balding gray hair and thin wire frames over dark brown eyes. These eyes held a knowledge and wisdom beyond an ordinary man. He held an air of reverence, but was approachable. Long had he been Master Onadi; long forgotten was his given name. Christopher's father had trusted this man as had Christopher, and as would Cecilia—if she ever awoke.
"No, Sophie, she isn't dead," Master Onadi replied in his low, whispery voice. Sophie began crying—out of relief this time. "She is just asleep," Christopher said, not needing validation. "How do we awaken her?"
"True love's first kiss," Master Onadi said. Christopher turned to Tina. "That boy Cecilia was talking about—send the guards to find him. And send a note to Purez," he ordered. Tina curtsied and left the room to fulfill her tasks. Christopher looked back at his sleeping daughter, and took his wife in his arms. "I just hope they haven't left yet."