“He’s more than okay. He’s alive, because of you.” He led her to the castle doors and pushed open the doors. Julie gasped, her eyes widening when she saw Ariel lying in the bed. “Ariel?”
“Hi Julie.” Ariel smiled. “It’s nice to meet the girl who put everything back the way it was supposed to be.”
“It’s nice to meet you!” Julie cried, not believing her eyes. “I can’t believe this! I can’t believe I’m meeting you! You were everything to me as a kid!” She blushed. Maybe I should shut up now? “And look! You had your baby!”
“Yes, she did.” King Triton pushed through the doors behind them. “Thanks for the potion Eric,” he said, striding toward the bed.
“Are you sharing that thing with everyone now?” Ariel asked, raising a brow at Eric. “That thing is not easy to make!”
“You might want to stock up on it,” King Triton said, lifting the infant into his arms. “Because I am going to be here a lot to see my granddaughter. Julie, come here. Come meet Princess Juliet.”
“Juliet?” Julie raised a brow. “You named her after me?”
“Who else would I name her after?” Ariel asked. “If she’d been a boy, I would have named her after her Daddy. For having the guts to bring you here.”
“Well it wasn’t entirely Eric. It was that evil witch too,” Julie said, grinning as she gazed down at the child. “She’s so cute! But I need to get home. My sisters… I haven’t seen them in forever! And we have an evil witch to get rid of.”
“Can’t it wait?” Sebastian asked, scampering up her leg, and hovering on her shoulder. “It’s party time! A time to celebrate! Don’t you want to celebrate with us? The evil sea witch is dead!”
“Well, I’m glad to see you’re still chipper,” Julie murmured. “Wait. Flounder! Where is he? Is he…”
“Oh no. He’s alive.” Ariel pointed to the window. “Look.”
Julie peered out the window.
“Julie!” Flounder bounced out of the water. “You did it! You saved everyone!”
Julie laughed. “I guess I did. So glad you’re alive, Flounder!”
“Everything is exactly the way it’s supposed to be,” Eric said, walking up next to her. “Come with me. I’ll give you a tour of the castle and get you some food. I bet you’re starved!”
Julie laughed, her stomach rumbling. “Killing an evil sea witch definitely did work me up an appetite. Let’s go!”
They started out the door, and Julie glanced back. Staring at Ariel, her new daughter, and King Triton looking so happy. This is exactly the way it’s supposed to be, she thought, as a loud splash filled her ears. She froze. “Guys. What was that?”
“What was what?” Sebastian turned, his eyes widening. “Uh oh.”
“What?” Julie ran to the window, peering out. Her eyes widened when she saw the large wave headed for the castle. “Oh my God! It’s a…”
“Tidal wave!” Sebastian cried. “Everyone! Run!”
The wave crashed into the castle, water seeping through the windows and Julie gasped as she was dunked into the water. A whirlpool opening up beneath her and sucking her away.
“Whoa! What a rush!” Julie cried, lifting her head, and staring around the room. “Where am I?”
“Right where we started,” Josslyn said, lifting the hem of her dress. “Damn, it is good to be back!”
“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Jade said, twirling in her purple dress. “But dang! That was freaking cool! I got to meet Cinderella!”
“Let me guess…” Josslyn looked at Julie. “Little Mermaid?”
Julie nodded. “And you? You were in Beauty and the Beast! Look at that dress. It’s made for you!”
“Where’s Jasmine?” Julie asked, glancing down her own body, and realizing she was still in her black dress. She silently pouted. She’d liked the colorfulness of the sea!
“Right here!” Jasmine cried, as she and Sky jumped out from the hole in the ground. They clutched hands, and Julie frowned. “Jasmine, is there something you want to tell us?”
“Actually, yes,” Jasmine said, smiling. “Sky and I are finally together!”
“Well, it’s about damned time!” Jade cried, rolling her eyes. “You two have only been making goo goo eyes at one another for months now! It’s about time you got on that horse!”
“Horse…” Josslyn sighed. “I really did enjoy riding that horse.”
“You saw a horse too?” Jade asked. “Me too! It kind of makes me miss the old barn we used to have. The horses grazing the field, and of course riding.” She sighed. “Oh the memories.”
“Jasmine, what fairytale did you get sucked into?” Julie asked, sending a look Jade’s way. Was now really the time to rehash old memories?
“Only my favorite,” Jasmine said, smiling. “Aladdin.”
“Oh. It must have been magical.”
“Wait. Stop.” Josslyn turned. “Has anyone noticed that everyone is still frozen? Nothing has changed since we left.”
“What? That’s not possible!”
“It’s entirely possible,” Sky said. “Remember, fairytales move at a different speed.”
“I’d say,” Jade said. “Look! There’s the demon!”
“He’s getting away!”
“Like hell he is!” Josslyn lifted her hand, a wave of ice flinging from her hand. It hit the ground, rolling underneath the demon and he slipped, falling to the ground.
“You’re not going anywhere!” They shouted in unison, striding across the room, and staring down at the demon. “Who are you?”
“The name is Raphael,” the demon said, chuckling as he stared up at them. “And you four have had quite the journey, haven’t you?”
“Stop with the jokes, Whitey,” Jasmine said, lifting her hand, and squeezing. “And tell me, why did you send us there?”
The demon coughed, raising a hand to his throat. “I can’t breathe!”
“Jasmine! We can’t get anything out of him if we choke him to death!” Josslyn cried.
“Right. Sorry.” Jasmine dropped her hand. “I’m a bit miffed they messed with my favorite fairytale.”
“Completely understood,” Jade said, crouching next to the demon. “Now, Raphael, answer the question. Why did you send us there?”
“Well to get rid of you, of course,” the demon said, laughing. “It’s the only way she’ll be the most powerful of all the witches.”
“You’re talking about the evil witch?”
“Marlena,” Julie said.
“Where is she?” Josslyn demanded.
“In a place you’ll never find her.”
“Please, we’re witches!” Julie cried. “We can find anything! But you, demon. Have taken your last breath.” She lifted her hand, fire spewing from her palm and she slung it forward. The flames scorched his flesh and he screamed, disappearing in a cloud of dust.
“Well, there’s one last demon in the world,” Jasmine said, linking hands with her sisters. “Are we ready to pay the evil witch a visit?”
“What about me?” Sky asked.
“We have to do this ourselves, Sky,” Jasmine said. “I’ll see you soon. Take care of the bar!”
“Take care of the bar?” Julie raised a brow. “How romantic.”
“Leave me alone! Anyone got a spell?”
“I do.” Josslyn closed her eyes. “We’ve been far, we’ve been wide. Through realms of hope, realms of love we seek the evil witch of all Hallow’s Eve. To see who is the mightiest of us all.”
A funnel appeared below them, and Jasmine groaned. “Here we go again!”
“Anyone know where we’re going?” Julie asked.
“No idea!” Jade shouted. “But wherever it is, it can’t be good!”
“Ahh!”
Josslyn, Jade, Julie, and Jasmine all gasped. They dropped out of the black hole, hitting the hard ground with a thump.
“You know, one of these days, we’re going to get used to those damned things,” Julie said, rising to he
r feet and dusting off her dress. “Couldn’t you have teleported us, Jade?”
“That power, seems to be more and more out of control these days,” Jade said, rising to her feet. “Plus, I’ve never taken people with me. And I’ve only teleported like twice. I need more practice.”
“Eek!”
The loud screech sounded nearby and they all jumped. Lifting their heads up toward the sky. “Was that…”
“A dragon!” Josslyn cried, grabbing Jasmine by the arm. “Look!” She lifted her finger, pointing, as the dragon flew overhead.
“Holy crap!”
“Where the hell are we?”
The dragon flew over their heads, circling, then spun back around. It opened its mouth, fire spewing from its mouth.
“Ahh!”
Josslyn lifted her hand, freezing the fire. “Come on!” she shouted. “We have to go!”
“Go where?”
“There!” Jasmine jabbed a finger forward. “Look! A castle!”
They all turned, staring up the hill at the dark, creepy castle sitting at the top.
“You know, I really, really hate Halloween,” Jade muttered.
“I thought you loved Halloween!”
“That was before all this crap happened,” Jade said. “Come on. We should go before the…”
The fire suddenly unfroze, and they all jumped back as it flew through the air, hitting the tree standing behind them.
“Whoa!”
“Guys! We gotta go!” Julie cried, turning, and racing up the hill. “Come on! We have to go before…”
The dragon let out another high-pitched screech. It flew up high into the air, circling around the full moon above them. Then it turned, landing on the ground in front of them with a loud thump.
“Whoa!”
Jasmine gasped, teetering as the ground underneath them shook.
“Okay! That’s it!” Jade lifted her hand, a ball of electricity appearing in her hand. “If this beast wants to play with fire, I’ll give him freaking fire!” She clenched her fist, bringing her arm back.
“Jade! No!” Julie jumped in front of the dragon.
“Julie! Are you insane?” Josslyn screamed. “This dragon…. it’s trying to kill us!”
“No. It’s just following orders,” Julie said, turning back toward the large creature. She lifted a hand extending it out to the animal. It’s dark, green skin glowed underneath the moonlight, and she inched her hand forward again. “It’s okay, Mr. Dragon. We won’t hurt you.”
It huffed, it’s nostril’s flaring. Its dark brown eyes staring at her. Then it nudged its head forward, and Julie smiled. She stroked a hand along its large head. “You’re so pretty,” she whispered. “Jade, put that damned thing out. It’s harmless.”
“It’s so big,” Jasmine said, taking a step cautiously forward. “Weren’t dragons always just figments of the imagination?”
“Jasmine, have you not learned anything since we’ve become witches?” Jade asked, rolling her eyes. “Nothing is imaginary. Everything we thought isn’t real, is!” She glanced back over at Julie. “Julie, get away from that thing. I don’t trust it. It’s so big! And can breathe fire, and…”
“No.”
“What?” Jade’s eyes widened. “Julie, I said get away from it. Now!”
“And I said no,” Julie said, turning back to look at Jade. “Jade, you have to stop telling me what to do. This is not how this works. Yes, you’ve been there for me. You’ve taken care of me. You’ve lifted me up when I was down, but you are not my boss. You are not my caretaker, and you certainly do not get to tell me what to do!” She turned, stroking a hand along the dragon’s nose. “Dragons are loyal creatures. They aren’t evil, and they’re not good. Their a balance between good and evil. If you’re nice to them, kind to them. They in return will be kind to you.” She jumped up on the dragon’s back. “And it’s going to be our ride to the castle. Come on! Get on!”
“Julie, are you crazy?” Josslyn shook her head. “I am not getting on that thing!”
“Fine. Then I guess you have a long walk ahead of you,” Julie said, gripping the dragon’s neck. “Come on, Dragon. Let’s go. Fly!”
The dragon reared up, and she laughed as it suddenly started racing up the hill. Its large feet thumping on the ground, and it jumped, flying into the air.
“Wee!” She laughed again, clutching its large neck, glancing at the large wings flapping on both sides of her. Feeling free, as the wind rushed against her face. This is so cool! she thought. I got to swim in the depths of the sea with my favorite fairytale characters, and now I get to fly on a dragon!
They passed the moon and she glanced at the fullness of it. It’s so white! she thought, glancing below her at her sisters as they stumbled up the hill. “Okay, Mr. Dragon. It’s time to make our descent,” she whispered in its ear.
The dragon nodded, and they flew downward. She let out a whoop, bracing herself as the dragon’s large feet hit the turf with a hard thunk. She laughed, wrapping her arms around its large neck.
“Thank you, Mr. Dragon” she whispered, before climbing off. “That was amazing!”
“Julie!”
Jade, Josslyn, and Jasmine raced up the rest of the hill, gasping for breath.
“That was insane!” Jasmine cried.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen that big of a smile on your face,” Josslyn said, laughing.
“Guys! Look!”
Jade pointed above them, and they turned as twelve dragons flew overhead. Landing on the ground in front of them.
“There’s so many!” Jasmine cried. “What are they doing here?”
“I think they’re being held captive,” Josslyn said.
“I agree. Look at the chains around their necks. We need to help them!”
“Agreed.” Jasmine flicked her wrist, releasing the chains that bound them. “We need to send them back to their realm.”
“As the clock strikes midnight on all Hallow’s eve, we send these thirteen back to where they once came. Through time and space, return to where you came, and where you will be nothing more than a memory to us.”
A loud roar sounded behind them. They turned, glancing behind them as a portal opened up. Bright, green grass spewed down in mounding hills, and dragons could be seen flying in the skies. “Oh!”
“Look! It’s home for you guys!” Julie cried, glancing back at the dragons. “Go! Before the witch finds out!”
The dragons glanced at them, nodding their large heads as if in agreement. A large, yellow one walked past them. It stopped, nudging Jasmine before stepping through the portal.
“Ahh! I think he likes you, Jasmine,” Josslyn said, laughing as a dark, purple one walked past her. A red one walked past, and they all strode past in single file. Disappearing through the portal one by one.
“They’re gorgeous,” Jade whispered, wrapping an arm around Julie and pulling her close. “And I heard what you said, Julie. I promise, no more bossing you around.”
“You could never promise that, Jade,” Julie said, softly. “It’s who you are. Just remember, I’m not an invalid.”
“I could never think that, Jules,” Jade said. “You’re stronger than any of us. Now come on, let’s go check out this creepy castle.” The portal closed, and they turned, trotting up the steps to the castle.
“On three?” Jasmine asked, wrapping her hand around the large circular handle.
They nodded.
“One… Two… Three!”
She pulled the door open, and they stepped into the darkness.
The door slammed closed behind them, and Josslyn jumped. She turned, glancing behind her. “Guys, this is kind of creepy,” she said, turning and brushing a cobweb out of the way. “Guys?” She glanced over her shoulder, her eyes widening when all she saw was darkness. “Where did everyone go? They were all just here!” She took another step forward, the floor trembling under her weight. She gasped, jumping back as the ground caved underneath her. Staring at t
he spikes lying underneath the boards. “Holy crap!” She stumbled back a step, and something brushed against her shoulder. “What…”
She glanced over her shoulder, a scream escaped her mouth as a man suddenly appeared out of the shadows. He lifted the knife in his hand, the blood glistening on the tip and he swung it forward.
“Ahh!” she screamed, jumping back. Ducking, the knife just missing her. She lifted her hands, trying to freeze him, but nothing happened. What? My powers are gone again? What is going on here? The man lunged toward her, his white mask glowing in the darkness as his black cloak whipping around him. She ducked, shoving him backward. He stumbled, falling to the floor and Josslyn spun on her heel. Racing across the room.
This isn’t happening! she thought as she ran. His footsteps sounded behind her, and she wrapped her hand around the banister, racing up the steps. I am not being chased by the psycho from Scream! Tell me this is not happening! The movie had given her the creeps as a kid, and to this very day, she refused to watch it. “Julie! Jade! Jasmine! Dammitt, where are you?”
A hand wrapped around her ankle, and she screamed. She fell to the floor, her head smacking against the stair, and she groaned. She lifted a hand to her head, staring up into his white mask. “Who are you?” she asked.
“Death,” he said, slinging the knife forward.
“No!” She raised her hands, grabbing his arm. She jumped to her feet and shoved him back. He stumbled, falling back into the wall and she hurried up the stairs.
“Josslyn…”
She glanced over her shoulder, watching as he struggled to his feet. Oh God. She reached the top of the stairs, wrapping her hand around the door handle.
“What?” She jabbed her shoulder into it, trying to get it to budge. “Are you freaking kidding me?” She stepped back, staring at the door. She traced her finger along the frame, leaning in close and staring at the glue. “It’s a fake?”
“Josslyn…”
The voice sounded behind her and she turned. Her breath hitching as he reached the top of the stairs. She stumbled back, her back hitting the wall. “Go away!” she cried, raising her hands and flicking her fingers. “Why the hell are my powers not working?”
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