Chapter 5

Maleficent burst into Aurora's room looking for her. As she saw no sign of the Queen she retreated to the Grand Hall. She saw her crow now perched on the window ledge awaiting orders from its master.

"Mother!" Maleficent cried out as she spotted Aurora walking towards the grand stone table which was laid with all sorts of delicious food for breakfast.

"Now Lucinda" Aurora chided "You should've at least had a few more hours sleep."

"I couldn't sleep. I had many things to do" Maleficent smiled.

Aurora pulled her daughter into a hug. Maleficent was quite sure what to do so she just hung limp within Aurora's loving arms.

"Oh I'm sorry" Aurora apologised "I know you don't like being hugged in public. Well go get yourself some breakfast."

"Sorry…Mother" Maleficent replied "I'm not hungry. I'm off to do stuff"

"Wait a second" Aurora called out as Maleficent was close to the exit. She spun round and hoped she hadn't been found out. It wasn't the time to reveal herself yet. "What have I told you about talking that glass ball with you?"

Maleficent stood and smiled sweetly but underneath her lips she was grinding her teeth in impatience. "But I need it!"

"I don't care give it to me!"

"No!" Maleficent cried as a shot of magic passed through her.

"Lucinda!" but Aurora had seen Lucinda's face change for a second. It had looked a pale tinge of green. Bur Aurora shook her head in disbelief. 'It's my mind playing tricks' she told herself.

"Can I go now?"

"Yes you can go." Aurora had placed her palm over her eyes feeling a headache coming on. "Be back for lunch"

And with that Maleficent left the castle and set off to see one of her contacts. Cornelius Rindeheart.

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Lucinda had remained in this cave which felt like a day, her fear had subsided and she decided she needed to explore the place and see what she was up against. If her father had taught her anything, it was that if she was ever in danger she must make a plan and find the best way to safety.

As she emerged from the cave the storm had subsided for now and the wind had died down, leaving it safe to explore if only for a while. As she walked she wished for a companion. She hated exploring on her own and within the castle there were no children for her to play with. It was filled with adult and teenagers, who thought she was too young to be included within their chats.

Lucinda had made her way into a forest. It was a humid atmosphere and she had to remove her blue shawl. Her red dress was becoming more damaged by the second from all the broken branches and sharp stones that lay on the round. So she decided on using a sharp stone and messily cut an inch from the bottom. In the process she cut her hands a few times and drew blood but it didn't bother her.

When she had finished she looked around for food growing within in the branches, she spotted a bunch of banana's hanging above her, so she grabbed the stones and started throwing them up in attempt of freeing the bananas but after five minutes she gave up and sat on the soft ground and started to cry.

"Why do you cry girl?"

Lucinda looked up startled and saw a boy of around thirteen staring at her intently. She studied him carefully trying to work out if he was friend or foe. He was skinny with short brown hair, he had eyes as blue as the sky and was wearing very little.

"I'm hungry" she pouted "and I can't get those stupid bananas" she pointed at them.

"Easy" said the boy smugly and he began climbing the tree like a monkey.

Lucinda stood in awe and jumped as the bunch fell to the ground. But within a second she had a big banana in her hands and was greedily peeling the skin to get to the fruit that lay within.

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"Cornelius" came the voice of a young girl as she entered a shabby run down hut on the outskirts of the town.

"Huh? Who's there" Rindeheart replied. He hated intruders but delighted in getting rid of them. Sometimes he even had them for dinner if it was one of those hard months when he couldn't afford any food. Lately this was the occurrence, jobs where now non existent since the Witch had gone. He had been her go to man. As he walked to the entrance he saw none other than the Princess standing there in a white dress, looking at him with a strange gleam in her eyes.

"Princess" he addressed her while an evil smile.

"Cornelius. It is me. Maleficent" The middle-aged man started to laugh.

"You? Maleficent? Ha!" he said rubbing the tears from his eyes.

Unable to tolerate his laughing anymore, she grasped the glass orb and honed her magic into it; suddenly the girl's figure began to grow before Rindeheart's very eyes to reveal the Witch Maleficent.