Chapter 4
Back at the palace, Evie came home first, and couldn't find Mal anywhere. She checked her room, that was where she found Mal's cell phone on the table. She came back in to the hall to find Gizelle. "Have you seen Lady Mal?" Evie asked her.
"No, Princess Evie, sorry. We had our monthly employee meeting this afternoon. I haven't seen Lady Mal since breakfast."
"Thank you Gizelle, oh is King Ben around?"
"Not yet, your highness, his meetings usually don't finish until dinner time. But Masters Jay and Carlos just came in."
"Great, thank you again, if you see Lady Mal, make sure she knows I am looking for her."
"Of course."
Evie, Jay and Carlos searched every inch on the castle, except Ben's office, that was locked, so they knew Mal wasn't in there. She didn't have a key. Evie even tried her mirror, and nothing. They were getting concerned now. They were pacing the front hall when Ben came in. Evie ran up to him. "Ben, please tell me…Mal isn't with you is she?"
"No. Wait she's not here?"
"No and no one has seen her since breakfast. Ben I am worried. I found her phone on the table by her bed. And her spell book…it isn't in its hiding place."
"Let's go into my office, and call fairy godmother. There doesn't look like a struggle happened, so maybe she just went to see her. I know this person controlling her was really bothering her." They entered the office to find a single red rose sitting on the desk in a vase. Ben's signet ring laced around the stem. A note leaned against the vase.
My dearest Ben.
I cannot stay here knowing that I need a spell to protect you from me. I can't be the one to hurt you, well physically. I know my leaving will hurt you emotionally, but you can live through that, my harming you, well you may not live through that. Please understand that I have to leave, and as of right now, I have no idea where I am going. I left the ring behind, to draw the person who is controlling me, away from you. This way you are safe. When I figure out who this is doing this to me, and I fix it, I will be back, if you'll have me. Please have Jay and Carlos look after you and Evie. Tell them I love them. And most of all, I love you Ben that's why I did this.
With all my Heart
Mal
Ps. Tell Evie the mirror won't help I have a blocking spell on me.
Ben dropped into his chair. The ring fell out of his hand. Evie was in tears. Jay and Carlos were running out the door, trying to figure out where to start looking for Mal first. After an hour of just staring at the rose, Ben finally came around enough to make a few calls. None of his friends had seen Mal in their countries. His last call was to Fairy Godmother.
"Hello Ben, Dear, what can I do for you?"
"Mal…she's run off. Worried her being around me will cause me harm. She left the ring."
"I will be right there." Fairy Godmother popped right over. She read the note.
"Ok, so she left the ring behind, what about the necklace and the bracelet?" Ben had forgotten about them. He quickly explained to Evie that they were also spelled, like his ring.
"Evie go check her room to see if she took her dragon necklace and the leather bracelet you made her before you came here."
"I…I have the dragon necklace. Mal let me borrow it. I was working on a new dress for her."
"Ok, well hopefully she took the bracelet." Ben said. They hurried to her room, there was no sign of it. They could only hope she had it with her since she never went anywhere without it.