Chapter 5: The Forbidden Mountains

Briar Rose woke up, feeling even more exhausted than the day before. The room was still plunged into complete darkness. However, she could distinguish as she wrinkled fiercely her eyes a long and high shape which rose a few meters from her bedside, turned towards her and which seemed to observe her carefully.

''You definitely have a particular affection for slumber. Isn't it delightfully ironic?'' A smooth voice said in a smile.

The young girl startled, straighting up abruptly in her bed, on guard.

''You! What...what are you doing here?'' She asked hesitantly, sweeping views of the dark bedroom, not so sure if she truly wanted to know the answer after all.

''What am I doing here?'' The rich voice repeated before turning into a mocking sneer. ''According to you, what could I possibly do here, in your bedroom, princess?'' She questioned back, coming closer to the bed where Rose was still laying.

''I...I don't know... I...I don't understand,'' Rose stuttered, looking down, without knowing what to think nor what to say.
The young girl heard footsteps at her right as it got closer and closer. Rose didn't know what to do. Scream? Cry? Flee?
She didn't know what she must do, she didn't know what to think nor how to act in a sensible way anymore. Yes, it seems she had been gradually losing her mind lately. These dreams, that woman, those mysteries... All of this had made her lose her head.

Rose sighed as she delicately placed her folded hands upon her thighs, ready to accept her fate, whatever it would be. The sound of footsteps finally stopped. She could feel the fairy's ghostly shadow upon her. She knew that woman as beautiful as terrifying was just a few meters, or maybe even inched away from her, and she couldn't say what this damned creature had in mind at this very instant.
So, defeated, she didn't manage the slightest gesture and she waited in silence.

''You don't move at all, princess. You are not defending yourself,'' the smooth voice above her stated in an amused tone.

Oh God! She seems so close...

''What for? If you wanted to kill me, no matter what I'd do, I wouldn't be able to stop you. You are so powerful, and I, so powerless...'' Rose whispered, her voice weak.
The shape took another heavy step towards her. The young girl held her breath.

''So, if I understand you well, if I wanted to kill you right now, you would achieve absolutely nothing to try to defend your own life?'' The deep voice asked her, deadly slow.

''No. Anyway, if I don't die in your hands tonight, I will soon fall into a sleep like death... So, as I said: what for?'' Rose replied in a weary voice.

Then, the young girl heard a discrete and elegant wrinkling of fabric. She felt the shadow of the woman in black looming over her. A cold hand fastened on her throat, its forefinger and thumb pressuring the edges of her neck, but strangely it didn't hurt her so badly. Its only effect was to force Rose to look up into those dark endless eyes which never stopped piercing at hers, gleaming with anger. A flame was burning into these impenetrable orbs.

''You value your life so little that you would not care dying right now, in my hands, whereas you didn't even reach sixteen years of age? You are not afraid to die, are you?'' The voice provoked her, muttering those words as the grip around her neck tightened.
Rose choked, trying desperately to catch her breath, before she managed to articulate one single syllable, ''No.''

A few seconds which seemed like eternity passed before the twinkling eyes averted her gaze and the icy hand let go of her neck. The shape took a step backwards.

''I regret to tell you, princess Aurora, that you are whether totally reckless, or hopeless to a point I wouldn't dare to fathom myself,'' the fairy concluded in a neutral tone.

''I think, Madam, that I am probably both mad and desperate... You can be proud of yourself: you had succeeded." Rose replied right away, fakely playful.

''So you think I should be satisfied.'' The older woman said quietly, her red lips pursed into a cynical smile.

''I guess so...'' The young girl sighed. ''Why? Aren't you satisfied?'' She asked, turning her head towards the black silhouette which still stood a few steps away from her.

''Well, no. I am not satisfied. No yet...'' The deep voice objected coldly.

Briar Rose looked down again, for she didn't know where to look anymore.

''I...I don't understand. What do you want?'' She questioned, her voice trembling slightly.

''Oh, but what I want is none of your concern, Your Highness. But you will soon figure it out, believe me...'' The mysterious woman answered with a cruel grin which showed radiant white teeth.

As she heard those words, Rose struggled to hold back a cry of anger.
How long will she have to bear the silence of this woman? How long will she have to listen to her lies? How long before she finally learn the truth? Who was this frightening shape which had been haunting her dreams for years? What did it want from her? And why couldn't she just run away, despite the terror it inspired her? Why did she feel drawn to it, unable to resist? Resist her, her smooth voice, her lips as red as blood, her skin as green as apple...
Why?
So many questions remained unanswered, and this evil creature was about to escape once more without offering her a single answer!

No, I won't let this happen this time...

''But who...who are you? What are you looking for? Why have been haunting my dreams since as long as I can remember? How can you be so powerful? How do you know all those things about me? What do you want from me? Whoever you are, I don't care. I'm just asking you to answer me, for God's sake!'' Rose shouted, suppressing a sob as she got out of her bed, ready to throw herself towards this shadow which might soon vanish into a green smoke, like it always did.

The woman in black and purple took a step towards Rose. She settled in front of her before she leant in closer, taking the young girl's chin in her cold green hand.

''Hm... I see you do have a great thirst for knowledge, princess. Of course, it would be a pleasure for me to satisfy this desire, but...'' The fairy's sweet voice whispered, her red lips hovering above the girl's mouth.
The frightening woman rested her long and thin forefinger on Rose's lips. She slowly stroked down her top then her bottom lips in a slow and gentle move. The young girl let out a light sigh. She couldn't help closing her eyes, unable to pronounce a single word, for her mind was already far, far away...
Then, the dark shape sat on the edge of the bed, right next to Rose, without removing her hand from the girl's lips, who was still holding her breath. The hand slowly slipped down to the chin, then along Rose's neck, who was frozen in fear, or want, she couldn't say anymore.

''But I am afraid you are asking the wrong questions, dear Aurora...'' She finished in a breath.

The cold fingers slid against her throat and went down on the birth of her neck. Another hand set on her cheek and caressed it almost fondly, releasing an icy chill which rolled down Rose's face, down her throat, and then crossed her whole body, but strangely only resulted in warming her up.
Briar Rose understood thanks to the grinding sound of her bed that the shadow of the woman who had always obsessed her was now bending over her. She felt her green cheek against hers, a cold blow tickling her ear.

''Don't forget to breath, princess. It would be a shame for you to die right now,'' the amused voice whispered in her ear.

Deadly slowly, the scarlet lips pulled away, brushing her cheek on their path and stopped a few inches away from her mouth. Rose could feel a calm and chilling breath entering her warm mouth through her parted lips. She wanted to open her mouth in order to speak, but something prevented her from doing so. She felt the red lips' presence a few inches away from her own, and she didn't dare to perform the slightest gesture, by fear of touching them. She knew if she scarcely brushed these smooth full scarlet lips, she would never be able to leave them...

She slowly looked up, finally allowing her gaze to meet the dark eyes which were peering at her like if it might devour her in a blink of an eye. The hand that was previously posed in the hollow of her neck slipped, brushing her cleavage, and went down along her back, drawing Rose's body closer to the fairy's impenetrable figure. In spite of the strong shudder crossing through her body, the young girl did not even try to resist.
Breathless, she didn't know where to look, nor what to say or what to think. The poor girl struggled to open her mouth to talk.

''You- Why are you torturing me that way?'' She asked eventually as she felt the fairy's lips calling for hers, barely an inch apart.

''Torturing you? What is it you mean by torture, princess?'' Maleficent avoided her question knowingly.
The black shadow stroked the younger woman's cheek gently as she ran her hand down Rose's neck. Rose felt her heart skip a beat once again.

''Why...why are doing this? Why are you...touching me in a way- the way you are, at this very moment?'' Rose inquired weakly, her voice hoarse with fear - or perhaps desire – of actually touching those red lips which were mesmerizing her.

''You see, princess, I am afraid you are not asking the right question once again. Your issue is definitely not what I am doing to you, but rather why did you not try to stop me, not even once?'' The deadpan voice replied.

The wicked fairy didn't perform one single move which could pull her away from Rose, so that she could keep the girl's chest pressed against hers as she placed firmly one hand around her wraist.
This question, which she never dared to ask herself, had the effect of a stab in the heart to Rose who remained speechless, unable to find any suitable answer.
The hand set behind her neck compelled her to tilt her head, forcing her to look up, and drawing her even closer - so close - to the dark fairy's face which was illuminated by a red and ruthless smile.

''Do you want me to stop, princess? If it is what you wish, then you know what you must do...'' The smooth and terrifying voice muttered against the corner of her lips.

Suddenly, stricken by an unknown panic at the thought of this frightening but nevertheless enticing touch put to an end, Rose grabbed the collar of the older woman's black cloak, trying to keep this magnificent creature's body against her own, in a rough and desperate move.

''No! Don't stop! Please...don't.'' She heard herself moaned desperately.

A hollow chuckle rang into her ears, chilling her blood in her veins. A hand stroked her cheek, before resting on her neck, bringing Rose's face dangerously close towards the creature's scarlet lips pursed into a devilish grin.

''So I believe you finally got your answer, princess...'' She said, leaning over Rose's face, her empty eyes staring down at the young girl's lips, filled with lust.
''All of this leads to one single answer, and you know it as well as I do, even though you can't dare to admit it to yourself...'' She continued, sneaky.

Rose had already left this room and this world, her mind flying and floating miles away from here, unable to bear the desire which consumed her at this very moment and, though she couldn't explain it nor control it, which was gradually eating her body from within.

''If I am doing this right now...'' The fairy started in a low voice, taking Rose's hand away from her collar and placing it between the girl's thighs, which caused the girl to shiver.

''And if you can't do anything to stop me...'' The enchanting voice murmured while the dark woman fisted Rose's golden hair, inching her head even closer.
Briar Rose held her breath, petrified, obsessed by the provoking proximity of those full red lips brushing hers...
Unexpectedly, the scarlet mouth slightly deviated from its original course and kissed the corner of the girl's lips slowly and sensually. This time, Rose was unable to prevent the gasp from escaping her shaking lips.

''That is because we both know that, in spite of everything, you do like it.'' She said eventually, her hypnotizing voice whispering against Rose's shaky mouth as an icy hand was still wandering around the young girl's neck, slipping from her chin to the hollow of her neck, brushing her cleavage uncovered by the nightgown whose buttons were miraculously untightened...

Rose couldn't bear to feel those lips so close to hers anymore. She intended to break the distance which still separated her from the tempting mouth when, all of a sudden, everything stopped.
It went so fast the young woman considered for a while all of this had been nothing but a terrible and yet beautiful nightmare. A delicious torture.
The hand on her throat disappeared, the lips pulled back, the hand on her wraist vanished into the dark, and Rose softly fell down on the wooden headboard, panting, cold sweats running down her arched back.
The shadow stood carefully in a rustle of cloth and walked away from the girl's bedside.
Rose believed she distinguished a hand wearing a black ring, stretched skywards. Therefore, without a second thought, she screamed.

''No! Wait! Please...''
The black silhouette abruptly turned around, her perfectly shaped eyebrows raised.

''What is it you want, princess?'' The evil fairy snapped.

''Don't leave, please. I feel so lonely. Please, take me with you... Whoever you are, wherever you go, I will follow you.'' She stuttered between raspy breaths.
The frightening woman laughed mirthlessly as she hit the ground with her staff.

''I am afraid you have lost your mind, Your Highness. This is out of the question. Farewell, princess Aurora...'' She refused coldly before she raised her arms above her head.
But her move was interrupted by another plead.

''NO! Wait, please! Wait. Tell me your name, at least...'' The girl begged her as she got out of her bed, joining her hands together.
The dark horned creature raised a terrifying smirk.

''Maleficent.'' The fairy declared emotionlessly.

After that, she vanished into a green smoke, leaving nothing behind her but the echo of an endless pure evil laugh.
Rose, devastated and appalled, her legs too weak to bear her weight, let herself fall on the ground without resistance. Tears of rage flowed from her eyes. She folded her arms around herself, hunching her shoulders.

What did she believe? What did she hope? What did she do?
At least, one thing was for sure: this time, she had really lost her mind.


Maleficent disappeared into a blaze of green flames.
She narrowly escaped from Aurora's bedroom in order to avoid answering for her behavior. After all, she was a wicked fairy, she might be cruel, but she was mainly invincible. She didn't have to justify herself.

She materialized a few seconds later in the kitchen of the little cottage in which the three good fairies had peacefully raised the princess Aurora. Her faithful servant Diablo was waiting for her, perched on one of the wooden chairs disposed around the table. He released a low croak, instantly cut off by a severe gaze from his mistress who instructed him to shut up. The fairy didn't need any word to express her will, and the raven ducked his head sheepishly and kept quiet.

While she was leading towards the shelves where Flora, Fauna and Merryweather hid their magic books, sheltered from the sight of their little protégée, the wicked fairy smiled, satisfied, grasping her scepter as she lifted her chin proudly.

She had succeeded, like always. Now, this dear princess should feel so upset and scared that she will probably never dare to approach her again. It was true she had first been curious about meeting this so innocent and carefree young woman, and she must admit that what she saw had pleased her very much.
But now, she must keep her distance from the princess Aurora. The angelic presence of this pretty young girl with hair of sunshine gold and lips as red as the rose had certainly been a breath of fresh air in the dark and lonely life of hers. The grace and beauty emanating from this sweet creature turned out to be a relatively enjoyable hobby. Nonetheless, this little distraction, that sadistic game, but not less delighfully amusing, must end right away.
Three days before the spell's achievement, Maleficent had to retire from the stage and definitely disappear from Briar Rose's life.

Or most likely, from Aurora's, she reminded herself.

She knew that, as far as Rose was concerned, she will never really fade away from her life. At that thought, her grin widened.

Her face, her gaze, her lips, as soon as she got a sight of her, were such an entertaining thing to see Maleficent almost regretted that, since now, she'll have to live without it. But she could never forget the pleasure it brought her when she felt this squirming and shivering body against her own, agile and straight, nor the short breath of the young maiden, who was left panting in her arms, her shaky lips against hers. She could see, hear, and feel this unspoken desire stiffening Aurora's whole body. And she had become addicted to it.

She immediately drove away those stupid thoughts with a sarcastic laugh.

With a wave of her hand, the fairy dropped a thick leather-bound book on the table and with a snap of her fingers, the manuscript opened, showing her the page she was looking for.

There it was.

The Forbidden Mountains.

This thick book was dedicated to the places filled with the most powerful magics on the face of earth. It gave a precise and updated rating of all the most magic places in the world. Maleficent smiled when she saw the picture representing her fortress gradually vanishing from the fifth page to appear a few seconds later on the third. So, her power never stopped growing...

Perfect.

If Maleficent did intend to stay away from the princess, who shall soon become her victim, and her victim only, in less than three days, she couldn't help but impose her a last test. A trial which didn't worry the fairy at all since no one had ever escaped from it until now. It seemed quite obvious that the fragile and sensitive Rose wouldn't make an exception.
She left the manuscript opened on the right page, placed on the kitchen table, a prominent location. The young Aurora might not be very aware nor malignant, but she was nevertheless clever. If she wished to pay her a visit, then so be it.

Let her come!

But if that was what she truly wanted, she'll have to overcome many obstacles to reach to her. Her home's entry was not available to everyone, and there must be no exception, not even for the princess.

No matter how beautiful she might be, Maleficent thought with disdain.

But you must give her a chance, a quiet voice in her mind whispered to her.

Well, after all, she deserved to fight as much as the others did. Even if it shall lead her to a certain failure.

Once her plan perfectly set up, the dark fairy walked slowly towards the door that she unlocked with a quick move of her staff. She laughed already, thinking about the face of those three wretched fairies when they will understand their little girl, their little Rose, had vanished into thin air, and that in order to join the wicked fairy who cursed her to death on the day of her birth.

The fairies devastated, the parents distressed, the princess consumed by madness and asleep for a hundred years... And she, the Mistress of All Evil, shall rest in peace for all eternity.

That was indeed a tantalizing prospect which made her roar with pleasure. Her victory was assured. She shall triumph, like she always did, and always will.
The curse was the solution, the price of her freedom. The prophecy shall be conjured, the princess Aurora, as the main actor of this damned prediction, will be punished for the role destiny had assigned her.

Maleficent's red lips pursed into an evil smile as she drew her scepter above her head. Then she disappeared, lost into an ocean of yellow and green flames.

Since that prophecy had forecast the princess will lead her to ruin, then Maleficent had decided to destroy her first.

And nobody contradicted Maleficent's will.


Rose, still huddled up on herself, kneeling on the ground, wrapping her arms around her chest, was sobbing violently. She felt so much fear, then so much desire, or lust...
And after that, nothing. Everything was gone. In one breath, everything was over. As if none of this had ever existed.
Thus, she collapsed. She felt nothing but that torturous emptiness.

Maleficent...

That was indeed a name which suited just perfectly a woman such as her.

Maleficent...

So alluring, but yet so menacing. So terrible, and yet so beautiful.

Even if she could easily admit that knowing the name of this devilish creature didn't scarcely change a thing, Rose couldn't help but think, in her great naivety probably, that repeating this damned name again and again would someday allow her to reach to that elusive and insensitive woman that was Maleficent.

Maleficent. The stranger in the woods. The woman of her dreams. The woman of her nightmares.

Your worst nightmare...

Rose shook her head, too tired to ponder.
It didn't matter anymore.
But at this very instant, she didn't know whether she wanted to see her again, or even remember her name, her face, her eyes, her hands, her lips...

No. She wanted to forget. Everything. Maleficent had to disappear from her life. After all, she didn't have many time left to live. So why hanging onto something impossible, unreal, in the little time remaining to her?

Maybe after all, she should better keep living her peaceful life of the young peasant she was, her life of illusions and lies, while waiting for fate to end her.
Then, she would finally be relieved, plunged into a deep slumber, and nobody would ever torment her again. Not even...

Maleficent.

No.

Rose stood up very carefully, with the last bit of strenght she had left. She walked towards the door which she opened with a strike of her weak foot in a gesture of pure despair. She climbed down the stairs as fast as her numb body allowed her to.
She had always done everything she was told ever since she was born. She had always done everything she had to during all this short life of hers. She had thought that if she listened, she would do what is best.

She believed she saw an opened book on the kitchen table. She frowned as she came closer to have a better look. She took a wooden chair and sat in front of the thick manuscript.

Today, she would choose for herself. Today, she would listen to anyone but herself. Today, she would act as she pleased. Today, she wouldn't care about what the others might think. Today, for the first time in forever, she would be free.

She started to read. As she was progressing on her reading, a smile crossed her face.

The Forbidden Mountains.

That was indeed a name which suited a woman whose name was Maleficent.
Rose couldn't hold back a mirthless chuckle.

So, that was the place where she was retreating. Far from humans, far from everything, far from the world. How long have she been there? What was she doing? Only God knew.

This book had not ended up here by accident. It wasn't here when her aunts left. And then...

Maleficent.

Maleficent had put it here. Why? She wanted to escape, she didn't want to be found, she wanted to be alone, she didn't want her. She had abandoned her, alone in this dark room. So why give her the solution so easily? Why change her mind now?
Unless... What if it was some kind of...a test?

Very well. Maleficent wanted to test her. Maleficent wanted to play. Fine. Then she was going to play.
No matter what challenge she was launching her, Rose was ready to take it up at any cost.

The young girl grasped the buckskin purse resting on the wooden chair back, she opened a cupboard and took everything she could find to fill her little bag.
Anyway, her life didn't belong to her anymore. Her life was a lie. Her aunts were not her aunts. Rose was not Rose, and Aurora, the woman she truly was, was going to die.
So why continue this? She had nothing left to lose. Since she had to die, she would better die trying. She would better die fighting. The only cause worth fighting for, she knew it very well, was that dream, that dream which saved her from her dull and empty life.

She went back upstairs to her bedroom and put on a cloak. She went downstairs to the kitchen, fetched the old strange book, slid it into her bag, and put the strap around her shoulders.

The only true person was Maleficent. As ruthless and sadistic she could be, she had been the only one telling her the truth. She had been the only one who actually talked to her. She had been the only one considering her as a woman. She was the only one whom she still could cling to. She was the truth.
Her truth. The only truth. She was the answer to all of her questions.

Briar Rose might be insane, and she might not survive this madness, but she didn't care. She would find Maleficent, at any price.

The wicked fairy might have wished to disappear from her life for ever, she might have wanted to lay her a last trap before she vanished into this eternal sea of green flames, she might want her to give up definitely, tired of fighting for a vain cause. But she was not going to satisfy her.

The young girl lead towards the door with firm steps. She tried to push the upper leaf of the door hesitantly, and like she had guessed, the wooden door opened without any resistance.

Maleficent had even unlocked the door for her. How sweet of her!

But Rose didn't care about what did want Maleficent. That woman who had haunted her dreams since always had probably vanished into thin air for a reason, she had probably used her innocence and her youth just in order to let her down, as if she were nothing more than a doll. She probably wished nobody would ever find her again, she undoubtedly wished Rose to lose once again, to finally be able to cry victory, alone in her castle.

No doubt that was where the fairy's will was laying.

And who was Rose to confront that will? No one.

Certainly she might not get the victory, but she would fight until the end.

Without a second thought, Rose leaped into the woods, an hesitant smile creeping on her face. She hardly even bothered to close the wooden leaves behind her.

Nobody contradicted Maleficent's will.

Nobody, except from the princess Aurora...