by J M Bingham
“And what is that?.” hissed April
Smiling wickedly the witch didn't reply Hortensia cackled loudly a black mist covering her and
the cloud of black mist swooped into the drain on the floor.
“April?, April!!!.”
April panicked picking up her backpack finding Tory leaning against the bathroom door, with a
concerned look on her face.
“Who were you talking to?.”
“Uh... no one, said April growing red.
Tory rolled her eyes.
“Don't lie to me April, I heard voices. “
April sighed.
“Come to my house tonight, and I'll tell you everything.”
Chapter 8
Snoring loudly on the couch, April's step dad didn't hear the door bell ring. A couple more dings and still no answer. April rushed down the stairs, opening the door to find Tory with her book-back and a huge new piercing on her nose.
“Whoa, replied April where did you get that thing?.”
“At the mall today, remarked Tory proudly, the guy did it for me free, I think he like liked me or something.”
April laughed.
“Not every guy is into you Tory. “
“A girl can dream can't she?” said Tory flipping her hair.
Tory followed April upstairs, dodging the unfolded clothes left from the day before. Hearing
yells from Greg downstairs
“Don't worry said April, mom is actually home tonight.”
“I don't know how you put up with him” said Tory reapplying her black lipstick.
April smiled.
“So... said Tory growing excited “ tell me what happened today in the bathroom.”
April sat down next to Tory on the floor, opening up a bag of Pringles.
“It's kind of a long story Tor, are you sure you want to hear it?.”
By the look on Tory's face, April had no choice.
“You know when we were three and I told you I was a princess?.” “Well, I wasn't lying.”
±
“No!!!, you can't do this, Mother!!!!. screamed Eleanor as she was dragged down the raggedy stone steps to the dungeons below.
The guards remained stoic leading the princess into the dimly lit dungeon. The floor was covered in straw, rusted cells on each side. One brightly flamed torch hung from a hook on the wall. One of the guards pulled it from it's stand, as a big fat rat scurried past. Eleanor cringed as she and the guards walked further down the aisle of empty cells until they came to a cell on the very end. Opening up the creaky door, Eleanor was pushed onto the rotten straw floor.
The princess watched as the guards walked away the light growing dimmer and dimmer until Eleanor could barely see her hands. The princess carefully sat on the floor making sure there were no rats or anything else disgusting. Hot tears ran down her face. Putting her head in between her legs, the princess began to cry, the echoes of her cries permeating the whole dungeon.
“Are you... alright miss? Came a voice from a cell beside hers.
Eleanor looked over to see a shadow of a grungy old man his scraggly beard down to his chest, his once stately clothing now tattered. The princess came closer to the old man, inspecting him thoroughly.
As Eleanor came more into the light, the old man gasped.
“Eleanor?. The old man replied.”Oh my dear, how in the world did you end up down here? .”
The princess became sad.
“Mother.....”
The old king shook his head.
“Come here my darling the old king replied beckoning for his daughter to come closer to the rusted bars.
“You know said the King stroking his daughter's hair, your mother , somewhere deep in that black heart of hers, loves you.” “She just.... isn't the same as she used to be.”
“I'm sorry father replied the Princess quietly, but I cannot believe that... after all she's done.....”
“Oh my dear, said the king sadly, I know...” but all we can do is hope, that things will get better.” “Your mother has said that your sister Gwynneth will be betrothed soon, when she becomes Queen, things will be different.”
Eleanor almost laughed.
“I'm afraid not father” said Eleanor grimly, “she's just like mother.”
The old king sighed and continued to stroke his daughter's hair.
“Father? Said Eleanor breaking the silence, “Did you know Mother was like this before you were betrothed?.”
The king smiled faintly.
“Unfortunately... I didn't my dear, replied the king..” You see, our meeting was very... mysterious.” “One day I was riding in the woods, and came upon a carriage stuck in the mud, A woman was crying on the side of the road, her footman I had supposed had run off. I helped her get the carriage out of the mud and took her to the palace to rest.”
“After that, we fell in love very quickly.” “ your grandfather... well.. was not very pleased with my choice, but he consented since she was of royal blood.” “After... a few years of marriage an old woman appeared at the castle, a ghastly thing.” “ she and your mother met regularly and then all of a sudden she disappeared .” “When I confronted your mother about it, she didn't want to talk about it.”
“That's when after a couple of days, she led my army into the palace, and I was arrested and put in prison. “I've... been here ever since.”
“Oh father! Replied Eleanor, how terrible for you.”
The king smiled.
“I was foolish Eleanor, admitted the king, I didn't see your mother's true side till it was too late.”
“ Stupidity is more like it came a dark voice from the shadows. “
The king held Eleanor close, as an old hag appeared, her clothes tattered, her face green covered with puss.
“What in blazes? Said the king, “who are you?
The old witch smiled, her black teeth rotten.
“That's between the princess and I old man, So sorry.”
“Eleanor, whatever you do, warned the king don't listen to what she has to say.” I
recognize you now, the king hissed, your the same old woman from long ago.”
The old witch cackled.
“How very strange”said the witch licking her lips, “I did not know you knew of me.”
“My meetings with your dear wife were very secret.”
“All the same, it is too late for you my dear man, but not... your daughter. “ “ Here, said the old hag holding out a vile of dark liquid toward the princess, drink this and you shall be free.”
Eleanor hesitated, remembering her father's words. As the princess was about to step toward the witch, a harsh wind began to blow, the old hag's eyes narrowed, her face became surprised. A portal opened within the prison a sweet serene voice heard within the commotion.
“You have no place here Hortensia said the voice.” “Leave! Before you are destroyed.” This is not the girl's fate, in time I will allow her to be tested, but not as of yet.”
The old hag screamed, disappearing into the shadow, and Eleanor being whisked away into the portal.
“Eleanor!!!. yelled the old king over the wind...
The princess began to cry as she saw one last glimpse of her father before she disappeared into oblivion.
The portal blew open in the forest at the edge of Darkwood popping the princess onto the forest floor, A tall beautiful woman with long blue hair standing over her. The woman of the wood touched Eleanor's head slightly, a bright light appearing inside the princess's head. And then the beautiful woman was gone.
*
“Whoa! Tory exclaimed, you're joking right Ape?.”
April shook her head.
“It's all true Tor.”
Tory got up and started pacing the room, stuffing peanut butter in her mouth on top of Oreos.
“So... like, how did you end up here then? I thought that chick dropped you off in the forest.”
“She did, answered Tory but then after a while.
.. I left. “
“What do you mean left? Said Tory, didn't the lady say you couldn't?.:”
“That's what I thought too, replied April, but one day I guess I decided to leave, I had this friend, that talked me into it.” “And I met.... someone.”
“You had a boyfriend! “ Screamed Tory, man, all these years, and you didn't tell me!.”
April smiled and shook her head.
“I promised the woman of the wood that I wouldn't say anything.” “She said it like would protect from that old lady that tried to kidnap me.”
“Whoa, so... was that the chick that was in the bathroom today?
April nodded her head.
“She told she planted some bug in me or something.” “I don't know... it's crazy.”
Tory continued to stuff her mouth with oreos, wigging out with everything that April was telling her.
“ So what happens now? Asked Tory.
April shrugged her shoulders.
“Don't know.” “I guess stay low.”
“K, K, K, said Tory, tell me about this boy....
In the shadows outside, the old witch was watching plotting her every move. The Princess was close, but not close enough, it would take a lot to push her over the edge.
Lockers slammed around April as she shoved her books and papers into her locker at the end of a long school day. Tory hadn't shown up yet, so April waiting patiently, putting on some chapstick. Seeing a pair of black shoes standing next to her locker, April started talking as if it was Tory.
“What took ya so long Tor, you're not talking to that loser Kyle again are you?.”
The pair of black shoes didn't answer.
“Tor? Said April closing her locker door to see someone entirely different.
“Hey, said the boy from the day before.
April about melted into a puddle. The tall boy with dark slick black hair and green eyes smiled.
“I'm really sorry, said April pushing back her hair... I thought you were my friend. “
“That's cool said the boy. “ So... uh, I was wondering....” “Would you like wanna go to the dance next Saturday. “
April beamed from ear to ear, regretting that her whole face was growing red.
“Uh... sure she said with a big smile.
Aaron smiled back
“K, well I”ll... pick you up at seven? Asked Aaron.
April could just nod. As Aaron waved goodbye, Tory was just strolling down the hall, looking back at the boy that had just been at April's locker.
“ Who the heck was that gorgeous creature Ape? And why haven't I met him yet said Tory looking amazed.
“He's in my math class” April said dreamily, and then suddenly falling from cloud nine and coming back to reality, April heart sank. She didn't have a dress.
“What? Said Tory.
“I... don't have a dress Tor.” April replied sadly.
“No prob, I have plenty of dresses you can borrow. “
“K, well, I don't want to look like Morticia from the Addams family said April sarcastically.
Tory rolled her eyes.
“Don't worry... I have just the thing.”
Saturday rolled around faster than April had expected. Tory had come over two hours before the dance started, to help April with her hair and makeup.
“So when's Todd pickin you up? Asked April as Tory pulled her tighter and tighter, making her eyebrows arch up.
“Oh we'll probably be late like always, said Tory with a smile.
“Do you think I'll look ok Tor, asked April in a worried voice, I just don't want to scare the poor guy away.”
“Oh shut-up Ape, you're beautiful.” Now, hand me that other pin.
The door bell rang, Greg not even noticing. Tory ran quickly down the stairs almost tripping on a basket of dirty laundry.
“Hey said Tory with an awkward smile, as she slowly opened the screen door, she'll be ready in like a minute. “Just wait right here.”
Tory bolted back upstairs. Making the finishing touches on April's makeup. As April walked down the stairs, Tory holding up her purple dress, April couldn't help smiling at Aaron's crooked bow-tie.
“Hey, said Aaron with a smile, you look.... beautiful.”
April blushed. When she got to the bottom of the stairs, Aaron handed her a beauquet of roses, As Tory said goodbye to April, she whispered something in her ear.
“I'm sweating like a pig, said April, I'm so nervous.”
“You'll be fine, said Tory, just be yourself, if he's a jerk, I'll beat him up later.”
April smiled and walked out to Aaron's little red sports car parked out front. Aaron walked
around opening up the door for April. As the little car rumbled into motion, and jetted out of
April's driveway, April watched as Tory waved goodbye. For some reason April started to have a
strange pit in her stomach.
Chapter 9
The radio played softly, as both Aaron and April stared ahead barely turning into the school parking lot, lots of people outside talking in their prospective clicks.
“I guess we're here said Aaron with a crooked smile, sorry about the ride, my dad was supposed to take the car to the shop last week. “
“It's alright said April adjusting herself in her seat.” “No worries.”
Aaron came around and opened April's door holding out his hand. April blushed and took it, standing on the cracked parking lot pavement. Aaron held April's arm as they walked towards the front doors that led to the gym. A group of girls saw April and ran towards her, their dates awkwardly staying behind. April blushed as her friends complimented her dress.
Finally after April's friends rushed off with their dates, April and Aaron walked inside the school. The music from the gym shook the whole building it echoing through the halls.
“Are you ready for this? Asked Aaron with a smile.
April smiled back.
“I guess.. the girl said, but I don't.... really know how to dance....”
Aaron laughed.
“No worries... he answered.. .neither do I.”
The couple laughed and walked toward the gym. April looked through the crowded room of