by Dana Piazzi
The priest looked at Gregory with a question on his face. “Don’t listen to her. She’s too stupid to realize what she is gaining today,” the prince said, brushing away my wants.
In hindsight, my next move was stupid, but I was overcome with rage. I pulled my hand back and slapped Prince Gregory with all my might. An audible gasp sounded from each member of the crowd in unison. Gregory looked stricken, and the priest made the sign of the cross and fixed me with a look of pity. I closed my eyes and regretted my impulsivity.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. In truth, I wasn’t sorry, I had to do something to stop this heinous wedding from taking place, but slapping the ruler of the kingdom; not the best idea.
Gregory’s look changed from shocked to furious. He turned such a dark shade of red, it was almost purple. I thought the blood vessel at his temple would explode. I put up my hands, afraid of retaliation. The prince stood still, apparently trying to decide what to do, when Darcy walked up to me and slapped me. “Since the prince is too much a gentleman,” she explained, batting her eyes at Gregory.
Kerra and Edwina took their turns rebuking me, before the prince ordered two burly servants over. “Take her to the tower,” he said. He turned around to walk away, but then had second thoughts, and his fist hit my face. I fell back weakly into one of their arms, and was carried out of the ballroom.
Chapter 13
I guess, in a way, I had gotten what I wanted. I was no longer forced to marry the prince, and I was going to spend the rest of my days with Sebastian. It was just going to be in a prison, located in the castle tower.
The room was bare except a chamber pot. There was one door that locked from the outside. Sebastian was knocked out, several feet away from me. He had become quite a handful when the prince hit me, and the guards needed to subdue him. I just hoped he would wake soon, so that I would know he was okay. I would go and check, except each of us were chained to the wall. There was a little give, but not enough to get over to him.
I looked at the blank gray walls, exhausted, yet relieved. I wished for sleep, but stress and worry wouldn’t let me. I stared so long, my eyes blurred and I blinked for moisture. “It’s not exactly how I pictured our future together,” Sebastian’s voice cut into my boredom.
“Thank God you’re okay,” I said, moving as close to him as my chains would allow.
He moved closer to me, and we just managed to touch hands. I grabbed on to his tightly. “I’m sorry that I failed you,” he apologized.
“You didn’t fail me! How could you know that Gregory would get you out of the way, and try to force marriage on me? I disliked him before, and even I couldn’t guess he was capable of all this.”
“I should have just run away with you, like you asked. I thought he was the same boy I grew up with.”
“That’s not your fault. I’m just glad you showed up. I’d rather be locked in a tower with you, than married to that monster,” I told him.
He squeezed my hand and gave me that smile that stole my heart so long ago. “I wanted better for you,” he said, trying to pull his hand away. I held on tight and wouldn’t let him.
“I just wanted you!”
I heard the rattling of keys and the large door was being pushed open. I expected to see Gregory or one of his henchmen, but Henry popped his head inside, instead. “I’m glad you’re alone,” he whispered.
He shuffled over to us and unhooked our chains. I stood up, and Sebastian got to his feet, a little unbalanced still. I grabbed hold of his arm and he leaned into me for support. “What’s going on?” he asked Henry.
“I’ve seen what the lady’s life was like before she met you, and yours, too, sir. I am here to let you go. I wish I could do more, but you both deserve to be happy.”
Who knew the young servant had such a romantic heart? “Thank you,” I said, squeezing his hand.
Sebastian shook his hand, too, and then Henry led us down the servant’s stairs and out the back door. There were two horses waiting for us, and no sign of the prince. We were tired, injured, and I was dressed inappropriately for an escape, but we got on the horses and rode away from the castle, past the cabin, and right off the prince’s property.
We rode until the horses needed a break. We were in a wooded area, and there was a blanket in one of the saddle bags. Sebastian spread it out on the ground, and we threw ourselves down on it. “I’ve been up for over twenty four hours, if you don’t count my bout of unconsciousness. But I just have to do this,” he said, lowering his head and meeting my lips with his.
I entwined my arms around his neck as he deepened the kiss. I was lost in the moment, even though I was fatigued. I turned into him, so that our bodies pressed together from head to toe. I never wanted the kiss to end, but someone else had other ideas.
“Ahem.”
Sebastian and I broke apart, and I took in a sight I never thought I would see again. Our kiss had been interrupted by a kindly looking, older woman with wings. “I need to speak to you,” she continued.
Chapter 14
I had no idea why the fairy godmother was there, but I worried it had something to do with the comment card I threw away. “I’m sorry-” I started to say.
“This isn’t about the comment card,” she said, reading my mind.
“What is this about?” Sebastian questioned, staring at the fairy suspiciously.
“You kids, and your impertinent questions,” she huffed. She hadn’t changed a bit. “The Fairy Godmother Department was acquired by the Happily Ever After Department. It came to their attention that the work I did for you did not go as planned.”
“I’ll say!” I couldn’t help but blurt out.
The fairy glared at me, putting her hands on her hips. “You were supposed to get a happy ending, that day of the ball. Due to some unforeseen circumstances, the plan went off track. The Happily Ever After Department would like to make it up to you, by creating the perfect life for you and your true love.”
“What does that mean, exactly?” I asked.
“You’ll see,” she warned, taking her wand out of her pocket. She twirled it around a few times and the woods were filled with a bright white light even in the middle of the night. It was so bright I couldn’t open my eyes.
In the light, I began to feel less tired, and the aches and pains from being hit and chained to the wall were fading. I felt refreshed and rejuvenated. The light began to fade and I found that we weren’t in the woods.
“I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore,” Sebastian whispered in my ear.
“We were never in Kansas,” I hissed back, hitting him playfully.
“This is your new estate, and you are now the Duchess and Duke of Earl,” the fairy godmother proclaimed.
“But we’re not married,” I corrected her.
“The Duke of Earl?” Sebastian asked.
“Give me a break! I had to create the title from nowhere. As for being married,” she said, circling her wand in the air once more, “I now pronounce you man and wife.” A pair of gold bands appeared on our fingers.
“The house is equipped with servants and the land is fertile. The horses you had were cleaned and you have a carriage now. Last but not least, you both have been healed and cleaned, and now married,” she said, handing me a card.
“This is my emergency number. This time we can’t be too careful. If you’re not happily ever after, let us know, and I or another fairy will be here to help you.” The fairy began to fade away, but called out as she disappeared. “Only in emergencies!”
I laughed, sure I wouldn’t call her even if it was important. She was not the most gracious fairy to deal with. Perhaps none of them were. I looked at my new husband.
He looked a little bewildered. “Did that just happen?” he asked.
“I think it did. We talked about being together, but how do you feel about being married without choice?” I asked him.
“I’m only sorry I couldn’t tell you the feelings in my heart, but you are
always my choice, Ella. Before I met you, I never felt I was entitled to be loved. Now I remember that I was loved and am loved. We deserve to be happy because of who we are, the strength of our characters. Being a duke and having an estate is definitely a bonus. Besides, there is one great thing about being married so spontaneously.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Our wedding night, of course!” he said, as he swept me into his arms and carried me through the front door.
After thirty years together, three kids, and ten grandkids, we loved each other more than ever. I heard that Prince Gregory married Kerra, and they had two children, a boy and a girl. I even heard the kids were cute with ten perfect little fingers, and eleven perfect little toes. Darcy became an embittered spinster with a lot of cats, until during a freak storm, a house dropped on her. We never needed to contact the fairy godmother ever again, because we lived happily ever after.
The End
About the Author: Dana Piazzi
Dana Piazzi lives in northern Illinois with her husband and two children. She has been an avid reader her whole life, preferring romances and YA paranormal series. Writing was not something Dana intended to do until she tried her had at writing fan fiction. The True Story of Ella and Prince Charming’s Brother is her seventh published anthology story. Dana still hopes to write and publish a full length novel soon.
Follow Dana Piazzi on the following venues:
Dana Piazzi’s Short Story Page
Facebook Author Page
Imaginary Friends, By: Jordan Hancock
“You can go in now,” said the girl sitting at the receptionist’s desk.
Leo nodded and went into the large, toy filled room.
“Come in, Leo,” said the president.
Leo made his way to the front of the room and sat down on his hind legs.
“How are you doing?” the president asked.
Leo shrugged. “Enjoying my break. I thank you again for giving me time off.”
The president nodded. “I know you were attached to your last child.”
Leo smiled, but it was not a true smile. His heart was still broken. He decided to change the subject. “You have a new mission for me?”
“Yes.” The president became serious. “A little girl; her parents just divorced.”
Leo nodded. He knew how to handle this type of child. “How old is she?”
“She’ll turn five in a few days.” The president shook his head. “I’ve seen what her future may turn into if she continues without help. She has no siblings, and she’ll be staying with a nanny, because her mother works. I see darkness and hate in her future if she isn’t taken care of properly.” The president waved his hand above him and a picture appeared before Leo. “Her name is Chloe.”
Leo studied her. Chloe’s short, brown hair framed her face, her cheeks and nose were dotted with freckles, and she was missing a tooth. In the picture, she was holding a small, stuffed lamb. Even though she was smiling in the picture, her green eyes were sad. Leo had been with enough children to know how to read them. Although he didn’t want to, Leo fell in love with her instantly and he wanted to be there for her. But he tried to push the thoughts away. That was the way he’d felt about his last child.
“So,” the president said, crossing his arms, “will you be her imaginary friend?”
Leo looked away from the girl’s face. He had known the president for some time now, so he wasn’t afraid to call him by his real name. “I don’t know if I’m ready yet, Sand Man.”
The president smiled. “It’s hard when a child grows up, and we have to say goodbye to them.”
Leo stood up. “I can’t do this alone.”
“I thought you might say that, which is why I have assigned two others to Chloe, also.”
Leo cocked his head to the side. “Who?”
The receptionist suddenly buzzed the president, interrupting. “Zoe and Daisy are here to see you, sir.”
“Send them in,” the president said.
The door opened and a fairy and a pixie flew in. Most people don’t know, but fairies and pixies are completely different. Fairies are often larger than pixies and have human features. Pixies are small and their skin glows so it’s hard to see what they look like most of the time.
“Girls, I’d like you to meet Leo.” The president smiled. “Leo, this is Daisy,” he said, gesturing to the fairy, “and this is Zoe.”
Leo nodded to them both.
“No one told us you were a lion!” Zoe said excitedly.
Leo looked down at his furry paws, and he nodded again, which made his mane bounce. “Yes. I am a lion.”
“How wonderful!” Daisy said excitedly. Her ebony hair was pulled back into a bun at her neck, and her purple wings fluttered anxiously.
“You’ll be leaving tomorrow,” the president said. “I’ll see all of you then.”
Leo followed the girls out of the office and walked with them down the hall.
Zoe flew up and landed on his back. “Are you nervous?”
Leo stopped walking and so did Daisy.
“What?” Zoe asked.
“I think we’re all a little nervous,” said Daisy. “I just came back from a little girl named Abigail. I miss her so much.”
“I just came back from a little girl, too,” said Zoe. “Olivia. I called her Livie.” She paused. “I loved her so much that I don’t know if I can handle losing someone else.”
They both turned to Leo, who took a deep breath. “My last boy’s name was Ben.” That was all he said.
Daisy straightened her shoulders. “Come on, guys. We can do this. That’s what fantasies are for, right?”
“Being a fantasy means being an imaginary friend for the children of earth,” Zoe said.
“The sole protectors of Fantasy Land,” Leo said.
Daisy bent down and placed her hand on Leo’s mane and took his paw. “We have to show the world love...”
“And peace...” Leo added, smiling.
“And happiness!” Zoe shouted.
Leo smiled. For the first time since Ben had grown up, he felt happy again.
Daisy walked beside Leo and Zoe, who continued to sit on the lion’s back. Daisy guessed that would happen a lot in the next few years.
Even though Daisy missed Abigail, Daisy was looking forward to being with Chloe. She had instantly fallen in love with the girl when the Sand Man had shown her the image of the little darling.
The three were making their way toward the president’s office, when Daisy felt the same nervous energy that she felt every time she was about to start a new assignment. This was her lot in life: to help the children of the world, and she had to do it right. She couldn’t make any mistakes.
“Here we are,” Zoe said as they waited to be led into the president’s office.
“You can go in,” said the receptionist.
The three fantasies looked at each other before entering the large room.
“Ah, good morning,” the president said, smiling. “Are you ready?”
“Oh yeah!” Zoe jumped in the air and landed on Leo’s back again.
“Good luck.” The president smiled as he waved his hand in the air. Golden dust flew from his fingertips and fell on them like snow. Daisy closed her eyes and felt the tingling on her skin. When she opened her eyes again, she was standing in the grass beside a playground.
A little girl sitting on a swing looked up and raised an eyebrow.
“Hi, Chloe.” Daisy smiled.
The little girl on the swings studied them each in turn. “Hi.”
“How are you doing?” Leo asked.
Chloe shrugged.
Zoe flew over to her and landed on the child’s leg. “Do you want to be friends with us?”
Chloe smiled for the first time. “Sure.”
Zoe did a back flip. “Great! I’m Zoe. The pretty fairy here is Daisy, and the lion is Leo.”
Chloe got up. “Do you want to go down the slide?”
/> “Absolutely!” Zoe squealed.
The three fantasies followed the small girl up the slide. Daisy wasn’t sure if Leo could make it up the narrow stairs, but the lion surprised her by standing on his hind legs and walking up the steps like a human. When he reached the top, he got back down on all fours.
Chloe marveled at him and hugged the lion’s neck tightly.
Daisy loved how children simply accepted that they were there, didn’t ask any questions, and simply played along.
Zoe flew up to Chloe’s shoulder. “So, what do you like to play?”
Daisy gave Leo a knowing look, and he smiled back at her. The fun part was coming up.
Chloe didn’t hesitate. “I like to pretend that I’m a princess.”
“Tell us about it,” said Zoe. “What’s it like?”
“I live in a big castle up on a hill.” Chloe closed her eyes so that she could see the details that she had imagined. “I wear a long red dress and my hair is pulled back like my mommy’s.”
Suddenly, the world around them shifted.
Daisy bent down so that she was right next to the child’s ear. “Open your eyes.”
Chloe’s eyes opened and she gasped. They were no longer standing at the top of the slide, but on a balcony on the tallest tower of her castle. The castle sat on a big hill that overlooked villages, forests, and mountains.
Zoe gave Daisy an impressed look. This child had a great imagination. They had to protect her from the horrible future the president had seen for her. They had to keep her imagination alive.
“My dress!” Chloe squealed. It was true. Chloe’s other clothes had transformed into a red ball gown and her hair was pulled back into a bun.
Leo came up behind Chloe. “Now who are we? What parts do we play?” He sounded completely excited about what was going on. For the first time in a while, he was eager to have fun.
Chloe thought for a moment. “You’ll be a knight.”
Shining armor suddenly appeared over Leo’s fur and covered him completely.
“Me next!” Zoe jumped up and down.