Chapter Seven - By Chibi Maylan
Prince Helios sighed in frustration, his view of the stage was blocked completely, which he had missed the chance to see the royal family's happy re-unitement. It was only until everything was back to normal, that he saw three figures sitting on their thrones. One, in particular, was as he obviously knew, was the Princess Rini that everyone was celebrating. Helios shrugged, what's the deal? She's just a normal girl, but with a 'Princess' title added to her name, like his 'Prince' tagged onto everyone's' tongue when they see him.
Nevertheless, he could see his father wave for Helios to come to his side, which his father was alongside of King Endymion. Helios departed politely from the boring group of teenage royalties, and headed across the dance floor.
Rini watched couples dance, children running around chasing eachother and felt envious eyes of teenage girls' gossip about her. She felt her cheeks blush in embarrassment when one girl walked graciously to her, and asked if she had a boyfriend yet, since she seemed dazzlingly beautiful in her gown, and when Rini answered, the girl had mentioned her brother to meet Rini. Which Rini politely declined.
"You behave very much like a royal girl." Her mother whispered. "Unlike me, I'm always stuffing up my speeches and the media like to take my photos of me gobbling up food." Serenity murmured. "But I can't help it! Why, I'd like to munch on a chocolate donut right now..." she began to drool terribly.
Rini giggled, handed Serenity a tissue and averted her gaze back to the dancing people. "Good evening, Queen Serenity, King Endymion.. Princess Rini." Said a male voice, that strung into Rini's ears clearly.
"Good evening" Rini replied. The gentleman looked incredibly funny in his mask, as she stifled a laugh. "Why don't you two dance together? Become better acquainted.. come along now, shoo!" King Damon shooed the two away in the instant Helios came onto the stage.
The band had been signaled by Damon to revert the music to a slow, romantic tune. Princess Rini was mentally praising Lady Neptune for teaching her to dance correctly, as the Prince lead her around the dancefloor. "So you are the mysterious Princess, that was supposed to be deceased." The Prince finally stated. Rini nodded, the voice of the masked man was familiar... infact, similar to the only gentleman she'd met; the man from the forest. Yet, it could not be him. Rini told herself before, it was a mere dream.
"Yes, I had not known that I was royal since recently. So, I am not quite sure of how a Princess should act, sir." She replied. The Prince laughed from his mask. "Well, your doing okay for now. No stuff-ups yet. By the way, my name is Helios, not 'Prince Helios' and certainly not 'Sir'" he said. Rini blushed under her mask, and gave a slight nod. Suddenly, Diana popped beside the two, splitting them apart. "Sorry Princess, but may I steal you for a minute... Sorry Helios-sama. Come now Princess, the ladies await to dress you formally, here, give me your mask." Diana hopped to pull at Rini's mask. "N-N-No.. I mean, I'l take it off at the bedroom, Diana, not here!" Rini said anxiously. "What's the matter, afraid to show me your face?" Helios grinned slyly. "I dare you to take it off, right now and show me your face." He said. Rini felt her blood churn, she always took on dares with Lady Uranus, and Helios was not going to stop her daring records.
"Fine then!" she announced, untying her mask to reveal slowly her face. She saw Helios' eyes widen through the masks' eye holes. She poked her tongue in triumph. "Dare completed." She said. Helios grabbed her arm, before Diana could grab her other arm and pull her away. Helios kept his grip, his eyes fixed onto hers, she felt awkward as he began to pull her closer. "It's you..." he murmured, he was inches away from kissing the Princess, when Diana pulled her away. "No time, no time for pashing! Let's go!" Diana laughed.Helios watched as his maiden disappeared. He was in awe, all along the maiden that taunted his thoughts was there, before him. He couldn't believe it! Of all women, he had fallen to the beauty of Princess Rini. Helios took action, and ran through the dancing couples to find his Princess.
Diana advised Rini to wear a blue gown, with her crown glistening on the table. Diana had disappeared to fetch water, leaving Rini to admire her soon-to-be-crown. She lifted the glass dome, and gently placed it on the bed. Rini lifted the crown, slowly placing it on her head and looked at herself in the mirror.
"Wonderful!" clapped a woman from behind, closing the door shut with a rather large 'click'. The woman herself had a crown, her long fingernails painted red and her navy blue gown clashed with her wild reddish hair. "Thank you, madame." Rini said politely. The woman grinned, "why, what would look lovely on you is a matching light blue shawl. With the perfect materials, that'll glimmer and shine when your radiant beauty smiles upon men." She said, sitting down on an odd wooden machine. "Come, child. Look at this spinning wheel. Come, child..." came the womans soothing voice, luring Rini into her wheel.
Rini felt entranced, the woman stood up, as the tapestry of material weaved by itself, to form a magical shawl. "It's wonderful..." murmured Rini. The woman chuckled, "Sit, child. I shall teach you how to weave." She grinned. Placing her painted fingers onto Rini's delicate hands, she slowly moved their hands towards the needle. "Yes, child. Everything is alright." The woman gazed into Rini's eyes, now pitch black. "Everything... alright.." Rini whispered. As the woman finally placed Rini's finger onto the spindle needle. Blood seeped out in drops, as Rini fell backwards, onto the floor.
"I finally did it!" the woman cackled, throwing a hand at the spindle, destroying it within embers of flames. "It has been sixteen years, child. But as I promised, your gift from me has come true. Queen Beryl has given you the gift, of eternal sleep!!!" she cackled. "Everyone will think you have died!" she laughed once more, before Beryl heard the doorknob turn, it unclicked itself and Beryl disappeared.
Helios ran until he heard a shrill scream. He cut a corner in the hallway, towards the scream. He swung open the door to see Lady Saturn, Mercury and Venus at Princess Rini's side. Helios was shocked, as Rini's eyes stared forward, her ruby eyes he had longed to see again were black and she was lifeless.
"It has come true! It has, oh, it has!" Lady Venus cried. "Prince Helios, call her parents immediately! Queen Beryl has visited the Princess!"
Helios' eyes narrowed, the person he had loathed was here, in this room just a moment ago, harming Rini. He bolted out of the room, in search for help.
To Be Contiued...
