Chapter three

Felicity drifted off into a dreamless sleep while Annabelle was left alone to think. She always used the dark and seclusion to sneak away to the Realms, but could she chance it with Felicity so near to her? She could always sneak out, but she did not know the grounds very well. Annabelle sighed, as she normally does when faced with a problem she didn't really want to have in the first place. Around one in the morning, Annabelle was finally overcome with sleep.

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Morning hit Annabelle hard. Her retina's burned from the sudden light. Felicity was already up and getting dressed.

"Good morning Annabelle. I trust you slept well?" Felicity didn't look at the other blonde.

"As well as any other night, I suppose. And you? Did your nightmare leave you in peace?" Felicity nodded and brushed out her tangled hair.

"Yes." Felicity turned to face Annabelle. "I meant what I said yesterday."

"You said many things. What are you referring to?" Felicity turned on the full power of her gaze.

"Don't get comfortable."

"Ah, so I suppose last night changes nothing between us?"

"What, pray tell, did you want from me that could have possibly been an effect from last night?"

"Friendship. I have a rare few friends, and shall like to acquire more."

"You act as if friendship can be bought."

"It can be, you just have to know how to pay someone." Felicity smiled at this.

"What would you bargain to obtain my friendship?"

"Oh, I shall need a few hours to think on it."

"And why is that?"

"Why, because I don't know much about you except….." Annabelle left her sentence unfinished, but the two knew what she was referring to.

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The day drug on at an alarmingly slow pace. Annabelle feared that Felicity would shun her, although she didn't truly understand that fear fully. Annabelle made up her mind. She was going to the Realms that night, no matter what.

Felicity was already undressing when Annabelle entered the room. Felicity hadn't bothered with using the changing screen. Annabelle averted her eyes quickly, to give her roommate some measure of privacy.

"You may look now. I'm decent, well, as decent as I can be."

"I should have knocked first. I apologize."

"It's your room too, for right now, at least."

"You sound as if you are going to kill me, or worse, humiliate me." Felicity laughed.

"You surprise me. I hadn't expected you to be so…."

"Charming?"

"…..amusing." Felicity pulled her hair into a braid and slipped under her covers. Annabelle took her nightgown and went behind the screen.

"Well, at least I'm something, just as long as it isn't boring or some nonsense like that. I wouldn't stand myself if that were the case."

"No, not boring. It's just……." Annabelle made her way to her own bed.

"What?" Felicity sighed.

"You're different, is all."

"You're one to talk."

"I don't mean that. It's just... I've only ever really opened up to Pip." Felicity saw the look on Annabelle's face. "Not like that! I mean emotionally."

"And why is that?"

"Because she was the only one ever there for me. No matter what happened, she was there." The last part was only a whisper.

"Felicity, I wish I could do something to help your pain. I would gladly trade places with Miss Cross—"

"Say no such thing! You have your own affair to attend to. Well, it is getting late. Goodnight Annabelle."

"Goodnight Felicity."

Annabelle waited until just about half past midnight. She was about to rise, when Felicity got out of bed. Felicity crept slowly past Annabelle, thinking the girl to be asleep. She quietly exited the room. Her curiosity peaked, Annabelle followed. Down the stairs Felicity went, and into the great hall. Felicity practically ran to the tent she had constructed. This called for serious magic if Annabelle was to spy. She concentrated on what she wanted. Her pupils dilated until all of her iris was completely black. The magic pulsed through her. She knew the magic worked, she could feel it running through her veins. Felicity and whoever she was with would not be able to see or hear her. She walked calmly over to the tent. She heard whispers as she drew nearer.

"Yes, Fee, I told you I'd take you back as soon as I could."

"So you've found a way back into the Realms?" Annabelle's heart quickened as she heard Felicity say the name of her home, the name of her very destination. If they left before her, she would surely be spotted. Annabelle made a dash to the staircase. She summoned the door of light and jumped through.

The gardens greeted her with its beauty. Annabelle quickly ran along the river bank, getting as much distance between her and the garden as she could. Gemma's magic would draw her to the spot in which Annabelle had appeared, and if she were spotted……well, her mother would be furious, at the very least.

Annabelle changed her nightgown into the cloths she normally wore in the Realms. A black bodice that showed her midriff appeared, with its loose and flowing white sleeves that were attached, and also black breeches and boots. She scanned the sky. No dragon. Well, she isn't expecting me, Annabelle thought as she continued walking. She needed to see Zasha, but did not want to totally risk the chance of the others seeing her. But then again, they wouldn't know who she was.

"Zasha!" Annabelle called into the sky. Now, all she had to do was wait. Zasha would come to her, she always did. Giggles were carried to Annabelle on a soft breeze. So the girls had gotten here. Annabelle leaned against a tree and just listened to the laughter and joviality. Annabelle heard a gasp and then,

"Pippa!"

"Felicity! Oh, Fee, you came back for me!" Now it had gotten interesting. But wait, Annabelle thought to herself, If she died weeks ago, she should have crossed over by now. Why was Pippa still in the Realms? She risked becoming a creature of the Winterlands. Annabelle scanned the sky once more, and this time she saw a dot on the horizon. A dot that grew bigger the more it approached her. Annabelle wanted to see Pippa, and gauge how far she was into the turning, but Zasha was fast. Already, Annabelle could make out the expanse of her wings. She would have to spy from the air, or not at all. It was tempting to just ask Zasha if they could be alone together. Sure, Zasha didn't know how Annabelle felt about her, but she would be suspicious none the less. After all, why would the Princess of the Realms want to spend time with her servant? Circe was already suspicious enough about her feelings towards the dragon. Annabelle decided she mustn't ask for such things.

Zasha came closer, and Annabelle could see her light eyes. The dragon landed gracefully next to Annabelle.

"Princess, I did not expect you back so soon." Zasha's voice was still soft, but it retained a soft hiss.

"Zasha, you should know I can't stay away from the Realms for long. It's too much a part of me. Besides, I can't stand being away in any case."

"And why is that, Princess?" Zasha gave her a mischievous look.

"You want a specific answer?"

"Well, you always speak cryptically when I am about. Specific is good in this case, Princess."

"How many times have I told you, you don't have to address me as 'Princess'? Save that for the others to do."

"Ah, but I am your slave. You made it so yourself." Annabelle's stomach clenched.

"You hate me for it, don't you?" The dragon let out a small flicker of flame from her mouth.

"No."

"You don't have to lie to me, Zasha."

"I'm not." The dragon lifted her head and sniffed the air. "There are others from the other world. Did you bring them?"

"No. One has power of her own. She is the one Circe wants." Zasha loomed above Annabelle.

"Are you going to take her now?" Annabelle shook her head.

"No." Annabelle sighed. "Walk with me, Zasha. In your old form, that is." The dragon nodded. She moved a good distance from Annabelle. The dragon twitched and seemingly folded in on itself, twisting and compressing. Zasha panted when she stood, and brushed her red hair from her face. She wore gold colored robes, and a pained expression.

"Are you alright, Zasha?" Annabelle steadied her friend as she swayed.

"Yes, Princess, I just get taxed of my energy." Zasha wiped the sweat from her brow.

"I told you not to call me—"

"Yes, but I am used to it."

"No, you're used to calling me a 'royal bitch', as I remember it." Zasha laughed halfheartedly.

"I did, but that was before….." Zasha stopped herself. How could she have been so careless to almost admit her affections to Annabelle? They were sworn enemies once, and now Zasha was her servant. She feared that was all Annabelle would see her as.

"Before I……changed you, and gave you orders?" They had started to walk down to the riverbank.

"I still called you a bitch. You were the one who ordered me to call you anything but that, so I called you 'Princess', and still do."

"Yes, well, you calling me by that title gets on my nerves more than calling me a bitch did."

"But why? Everyone else calls you that."

"Yes, but they are not you." Did that slip out? Careful, Annabelle thought, you have to watch yourself. Zasha looked at the blonde girl beside her.

"And why do you care so much what I call you?" Annabelle glanced at Zasha, then faced forward again.

"I don't know. Probably because you're my most trusted friend. I order you to call me Annabelle, and not 'Princess'."

"Yes, Princess." Annabelle wheeled on her.

"Did you just call me 'Princess' again?" Zasha nodded. "You disobeyed an order." Annabelle's mind reeled. How could that be? Zasha could only disobey an order if the spell was broken, and that was yet to happen. Annabelle would gladly remove the curse she had placed on Zasha, but she wasn't strong enough, so she feared Zasha would always be a dragon. A flicker of hope bubbled up within her. Maybe Zasha was fighting the curse and winning.

"Is something wrong, Annabelle?" Her hope was dashed to pieces.

"Zasha, I'm asking you to call me 'Princess'. This is not an order, by any means." Zasha opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She tried again, but to no avail.

"I'm sorry, Annabelle, but I can't say it." Ah, so it had only been a confirmation of her order. Damn.

"Pitty." Zasha put her hand on Annabelle's shoulder and gave it a small squeeze. She then removed her hand and ventured away from the blonde girl, and moved toward the river. She started to wade into the clear water.

"Zasha, mind the water nymphs."

"If any come, I shall scare them away. Would you care to join me?" She chanced a glance back at Annabelle.

"Most certainly not!"

"Annabelle, while I am here, nothing shall happen to you. I promise, both as servant, and as your friend."

"Yes well," Annabelle crossed her arms. "What if something should happen to you? Then I shall surely drown."

"I have little time left in this form. If anything happened to you now, I wouldn't accidentaly maim you with a claw," Zasha turned her back to the princess. "Like last time."

It had been an accident. They were flying high up into the clouds. Zasha still wasn't sure how it happened, but Annabelle fell off of her back. Zasha's natural instinct was to catch her, so she flew down after the blonde. When she reached out to grab her, she had accidentally drug a vast claw over Annabelle's torso, leaving a gaping wound down her chest. She almost bled to death, but somehow the Untouchables saved her. Annabelle had forgiven Zasha, after all, it wasn't her fault. But Zasha had never forgiven herself. She was angry at herself, and Annabelle, for turning her into such a monster. She hates Annabelle for doing what she did...but she loves her more because of who she is.

Zasha was pulled back from her memories when she heard Annabelle move to leave.

"I should be getting back to the academy before the others do." Zasha turned around to face her friend, who was kicking a small pebble with her boot.

"Will you be back soon?" A smile spread on Annabelle's lips. She raised her blue eyes to meet Zasha's goldn ones.

"Of course."