Hazel sat on a log outside the castle as she rested her chin in her hands. She looked more pitiful than ever as she sadly stared at the light pink sky reflecting off the snow. She had been thinking about how her brother and aunt leaving the kingdom may affect her hiding place. What if Cameron knew why they were really here? What if he knew she was here? He could be on his way right now, ready to kill her. Why did Onyx have to come here and ruin everything. This is all his blasted fault! If he had just stayed where he was then everything would be fine. She reached up her sleeve and pulled out the same golden key. Merlin had given it back to her a couple days ago, knowing she was willingly going to stay in the palace for a while. She sighed as she rubbed her finger on its golden surface and decided that the chances of her getting caught were very high. It was time to give this key a better hiding place.
"Guinevere?" she heard someone meekly squeak from behind her. She feared it was her brother until she saw the shorter, scrawnier, blonde boy. Hazel sighed and turned back around to scrunch her face.
"Please do not call me that." Hazel said defeatingly as she hung her head.
"This is really bothering you, isn't it. Everytime I look at you it is as if you're about to cry."
"No I'm not. I don't cry." she said rather stubbornly as she sat up and crossed her arms.
"Everybody does. And you shouldn't be afraid to."
"Ok then you're right. He could lour a man who wants to kill me -and probably you too- here…and that…terrifies me. And I hate it."
"It's ok to be afraid of things Hazel."
"I know it is. I just keep forgetting that it is. It's harder when you have nobody but yourself." Arthur finally got the courage to sit down next to her. He was very relieved when she didn't slide away or give him a weird look. She just calmly sat there.
"Well if it makes you feel better, I can remind you. Because I'll always be here for you." Hazel smiled in what seemed to be forever.
"Then I will be here for you," she said with a smile which then started to fade. "Only I don't know how much longer I'll actually be here."
"Oh, I almost forgot," Arthur said as he reached up his sleeve and pulled out a small necklace. It was a red gemstone on a gold plate that was attached to a gold chain. "This is for you," he said, placing it on her neck over her head. "Merlin told me it was my mothers."
"Oh it is beautiful! Thank you!" she said as she turned it over to see some writing on the back of the golden plate. It read: Heaven's Lost Angel. "It looks just like one I had in my own castle."
"What was it like there?"
"Oh it was alright, minus the whole death genre. If you're a girl, you only have three purposes in life: Look pretty, stand in the background and be quiet, and then act like a clueless mute baby until some boy twice your age asks you to kiss-."
"Kiss?" he asked wide eyed, his attention suddenly caught.
"Disgustingly so." she said as she nodded.
"How many did you kiss exactly?"
"Thirty two," Arthur let out a long monotone whistle. "I know," Hazel replied, wondering what he was thinking. "There was this one clown named Lancelot. He was ten years older than me. Thirteen times I had to kiss him." she said as she stared into the sun.
"What did it feel like?"
"Well, I don't remember very well but one word: Disgustingly awkward."
"That's two words."
"I mean it went well and all but it just felt wrong. As if I was doing it with the wrong person. I never really counted them as kisses. But being a toddler I didn't really care. Why are you asking so many questions?"
"Oh, u-duh uhm, am I?" he stammered.
"Uh huh. Now what is it?"
"Nothing I told you,'' Hazel raised an eyebrow. "Well, I thought it would be nice to know what it is like, just in case I have to do it in the future. But I think not since I am not the kissing type."
"Do you want me to show you?" she finally forced out. Arthur's inner self clicked with joy when he heard those words. He had always wondered what that kiss thing felt like but never had anyone to do it with. Not that he ever wanted to of course.
"Real– er um uh, I-i-i-i don't see why not."
"Ok then. Close your eyes," He did so. "And..please try not to flinch too much," she added. "Now, one, two, three," she said before gently pressing her lips onto his. Her delicate face had a peppermint and lavender scent. "How was that?" she asked.
"It felt kinda good," he said, trying not to blush. "Do you want to try again?"
"Why not?" she replied as they tried to do so again, but were greatly interrupted.
"What is going on here!?" screeched the flapping Archimedes. The two children pulled apart and tried their best to get their hearts to stop beating.
"What are you doing here?" Arthur asked the bird.
"I should be asking you the same question!" he sassed back. "I am here to inform you that the Grand Duke Onyx is coming to look for you." Hazel's eyes widened and she stumbled off the log, through the snow and quickly ran away into the castle like a scared little puppy. Arthur looked up at the owl.
"What did you do that for!?" he exclaimed in a cracky voice.
"I told you! Onyx wants to speak with you!"
"Well you couldn't have waited five minutes!?"
"Afraid not! Young man, what has gotten into your head!? What were you thinking, kissing that stupid flat girl!?" Arthur swatted his hand at the bird.
"Forget about that! You scared her off!"
"What do you mean me? It's not my fault she's afraid of her own brother! Now come on!"
"Oh alright already!"
Hazel strolled alone through the long palace hallways feeling light as a feather about what she had just done. She felt that she only left the scene because she was a bit embarassed, not because she was scared of Onyx.
"Well that was cute," a voice echoed. Hazel jumped and looked around, only to see nobody in the room who could have possibly said a word. "And I suppose asking for consent is a bit old." Hazel recognized the voice right away. It was that ridiculous no good Mim.
"How are...where are you?"
"In your head Hazel. Obviously."
"No you can't be!"
"And don't even bother to yell. It just makes you look crazier than you already are. You will just look like a lunatic talking to herself."
"Then leave! I don't feel like dealing with you right now."
"The only reason you can hear me is because you want to. If you didn't then I wouldn't be able to speak to you, but here we both are," Hazel froze for a moment. She was right. She had the skill, the knowledge and the ability...she could have easily fled Great Britain and abandoned Mim all together. But she didn't. "Bet I can guess what you're thinking Hazel."
"Bet you can't." Hazel mumbled, quite annoyed.
"You know exactly why you came to me. I took you in Hazel. I took you in when nobody else did. Your life here is exactly how it was before you came to me. Unwelcomed and unfair while you simply cried alone by yourself. No matter what, you will always be standing in the boy's shadow, trying to hide your guilt and yourself from the world and let the darkness completly devour you. And you like it. You know why? Because you are just like me."
"You are unbelievable," Hazel growled. "Can we deal with this later? I have enough problems without you."
"Oh that's right. Big brother came for a visit. I can't imagine why he would want you back though, after what you did to him all those years ago."
"Stop it!"
"Why? Because it is true? Nobody can ever look at your pathetic little face and possibly love you. Especially anybody who knows the truth about you."
"Then they don't have to know."
"Oh but I'm afraid they will, darling. Because you and your brother, will be found within the next week."
"No..."
"Kiss the little moron as much as you can and enjoy these next few days, Hazel, because the truly are your last."
"No you're lying..."
"Hazel?" Arthur asked as he entered the hallway to see her talking to herself. "Who...who are you talking to?"
"Nobody."
The sun had just fully set and Arthur sat dining with the Leodegrance siblings and their aunt. Hazel was seated next to her brother and avoided turning her head to even look in his direction. The chilling message the witch had left her with had been haunting her for hours now. She didn't speak, eat or drink.
"So young man, tell me, how long have you been the King for?" Onyx asked.
"Six months." Arthur quickly answered, afraid of what the teen would think of him.
"It's a big responsibility isn't it?"
"Oh yes sir. But if it makes people happy then it's worth it."
"Generosity is a beautiful thing. Promise yourself that you will always keep it."
"I will." Astella glanced at her niece who was noticeably still.
"Gwenny you are not eating. Why?"
"She has a very delicate system Stella. If she eats too much she will topple over." Onyx joked which made everyone but Hazel giggle. She still kept her straight and unamused face on. 'Enjoy these next few days Hazel, because they truly are your last.' It repeated in her head, over and over again.
"If you must know Onyx, I do not desire to eat because I don't need to."
"And why is that little sister?"
"Because you and I are going to be discovered and killed soon." Arthur could not and did not want to believe what he had just heard come out of her mouth. Clearly the little talk they had was on the wrong subject. They should have discussed this instead of talking about kissing each other. But what would you say to a little girl who thinks she is going to be murdered any day now? Stella gasped quietly as Onyx slammed his hands on the table.
"Shut up you idiot!" he yelled as he pushed Hazel out of her chair and onto the floor. Hazel collapsed on her back but felt no pain. Why should she feel any mental or physical pain when the end was only a few days away? Onyx widened his eyes at what he had just done. "Oh Gwenny, I'm so sorry. I-I-I was just upset I-." Hazel stood up.
"I apologize brother. I will say no more." she said as she started to walk out of the room.
"Where are you going?" Arthur asked.
"To my room."
