A/N: Here's the next chapter!
Last time…
When Céléna came back, she saw the girl from the video bent over one of Aurore's fairy tale books.
Céléna wanted to scream, but it got caught in her throat. When the girl lifted her head, Céléna saw that it was Aurore.
"What's wrong, mommy?"
"Nothing, hon."
Céléna looked at her for a while. Aurore had long black hair, and all her nightgowns were white. That, and the fact that her skin never stayed tanned for more than a week after summer went away, was the reason that Céléna had been so frightened.
"Come on, sweetie. Time for bed."
Céléna picked up her daughter and brought her to her bed. Sitting on the edge with Aurore in her lap, she pulled back the covers.
Afterward, she placed Aurore in her bed, tucked her in, and smoothed her hair back from her face.
"Will you read me a story, mommy?"
"Sure. Which one would you like?"
"Death's Godson."
"Why that one?"
"Because it's got an ending that's partially sad, partially romantic."
Céléna smiled at her daughter's use of big words.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, you know how in Romeo & Juliet, the only way they could be together was in death? Well, Death's Godson and the woman he loves end up the same."
"Okay. Which book is it in?"
"Fairy and Folk Tales."
"Ah. The one on the floor."
Céléna got up and found the book on the floor in the middle of the room. Just as she bent down to pick it up, she glanced at the TV. She saw the girl again, standing next to Aurore's bed, bending over her as though to embrace her.
Céléna turned around quickly.
Her daughter was in bed, but there was no one else there.
Céléna turned back to the TV, but the other girl was gone.
"What's wrong, mommy?"
"Nothing, honey."
Céléna picked up the book and returned to sitting on the edge of her daughter's bed.
"Okay… page 20."
Céléna began reading, but Aurore had fallen asleep before Death's Godson had even met the princess.
Céléna read to the end anyway, just to finish the story.
"Good night, sweetie." Céléna kissed her daughter's forehead, and shut the light on the bed stand.
With the aid of the moonlight streaming in from the window, Céléna picked up her daughter's discarded clothes which were on the floor, and brought them to the hamper in the bathroom.
Céléna's sleep was very uneasy. Aurore was a distance away. She called to her, but Aurore didn't hear her.
As she approached at a run, Aurore turned around, her hair obscuring her face. That was when Céléna realised it wasn't Aurore. The only thing she could see was the girl's eye, which was rolled downwards in a horrible way. The girl lifted her hands, and Céléna saw that she had no fingernails. She felt horribly sick, she wanted to scream or throw up or run, but she just stayed there, staring.
The images shifted suddenly, and an Asian man appeared before her. He had slightly long hair, partially combed back; a small beard and moustache.
Céléna…
He was speaking without opening his mouth. He had an unidentifiable accent.
I shall find you tomorrow. I know how to help you.
His words helped to make Céléna feel better. She knew she could trust him.
"Mommy!"
Céléna opened her eyes and found Aurore sitting on top of her looking very happy.
"What's going on?" Céléna asked groggily.
"It's the second Saturday of the month, remember? We go see a movie, and then we get a new book from Chapters, and you read it to me while we have stuff from Starbucks."
Céléna smiled.
"You're right. Go get dressed, okay?"
"I am dressed, mommy."
Aurore got off and onto the floor where she twirled once for Céléna to see. She was wearing a red plaid over-all dress with green skating tights and a white shirt underneath the dress.
"Okay, you go to the bathroom to bathroom to brush your teeth and hair, and I'll get dressed."
"Okay, mommy."
Aurore scurried off, and Céléna got out of bed, still half-asleep, musing over her dream.
Céléna settled for a pair of blue jeans with gold flower print on both hips, and a silver belt to hold them up. She also attached a purple head shawl through the belt loops, to have it rest on one hip. For a shirt, she decided on a white strap top and fuchsia poncho, which fit like an overly-huge shawl, but stayed on her shoulders. After brushing her hair, Céléna put it in one of those curly buns, leaving a few strands flowing down. She also put a small purple scarf with silver embroidered into it around her head like a head-band, except that the ends were flowing down over her right shoulder. The finishing touch was a sky-blue silk scarf around her neck.
"You look pretty, mommy."
Céléna turned to her daughter.
"You look even prettier." Céléna said, picking her up and bringing her back into the bathroom.
She placed her daughter on the counter, and pulled out her box of hair things.
"What do you want your hair to be like?" Céléna asked.
"Um… I think I want it in a princess pony tail."
Céléna smiled, then made her daughter turn around, so that she had to sit Indian style facing the mirror.
Céléna left a few strands in the front, but brought most of Aurore's hair back with the brush. She then lifted part of the hair up so that the rest fell in cascades down her back. The finishing touch was to make the hair she was holding into a ponytail.
"There we go. Now don't you look beautiful?" Céléna said to her daughter, beaming.
"Can I have some lip gloss?"
"Sure."
Céléna pulled open the drawer she kept her make-up in, and chose a raspberry scented lip gloss that coloured slightly pink.
After putting it on Aurore, Céléna put bright red lipstick on herself, blush, and black eye-liner.
"Okay, ready for the movie?"
"Yeah!" Aurore replied, her arms in the air.
Céléna picked her up and got ready to leave. Just as she was about to turn away from the mirror, however, she saw the other girl again.
Céléna turned around fast. The girl should have been standing right behind her. But no one was there.
"Mommy."
Céléna turned her head to look at her daughter.
"The girl never sleeps. The only time she can't hear us is when we're asleep. She hears us right now. She says that everyone will suffer."
A/N: Ooh… now Céléna has even more reason to be scared. Review!