“Innocent men are being slaughtered on the Moors,” Ingrith answered, “and she’s talking about faeries!”
At that moment, Arabella, who had spent much of the dinner under the table fussing at Diaval’s leg, took the opportunity to lunge up and attack. Diaval shouted as he tried to move out of the way. Just before the cat’s long claws reached Diaval’s face, Maleficent flicked a stream of green magic, lifting the cat into the air above the table, where she hovered like a feline chandelier.
“Contain your animal,” Maleficent said, her voice icy, “or I will.”
“Why, if I didn’t know better,” Ingrith said, taking in the scene, “I would say you were making a threat.”
“So do you?” Maleficent asked.
Queen Ingrith raised an eyebrow. “Do I what?”
“Know better?”
King John slammed a hand on the table. “That’s enough!” he shouted, finally sounding like the king he was. “We’re here to celebrate.”
Maleficent let go of her grip on Arabella. The cat fell on the table, then jumped under Ingrith’s chair.
Ingrith nodded. “Forgive me,” she said. “He’s right. We must remember why we’re here. I would like to offer a toast: to the start of a new life—for Aurora.” She paused, lifting her goblet and her eyes, so they were locked on Maleficent. “You have done an admirable job, Maleficent, going against your own nature to raise this child. But now Aurora will finally get the love of a real family. A real mother.” She paused, and the air seemed to grow heavier. Aurora shifted on her seat. She felt uncomfortable, as though she were hearing a conversation she shouldn’t. “Because that’s the one thing I regret,” Ingrith finished. “Never having a daughter of my own. But tonight that changes. Tonight I consider Aurora…my own.”
MALEFICENT STARED AT THE PALE WISP OF A WOMAN IN FRONT OF HER. HOW DARE SHE? HOW DARE SHE SIT THERE IN HER GAUDY GOWN AND HURL ACCUSATIONS HIDDEN BEHIND FALSE COMPLIMENTS? Did Ingrith really have no idea what Maleficent was capable of, what magic she controlled? Did she think that she could throw a single dinner and take Aurora away—just like that? Did she truly think she was going to be Aurora’s mother?
No. Ingrith was a fool. And that was all she would ever be.
But unfortunately, she was a fool who would not stop talking. And with every word Ingrith spoke, Maleficent’s patience lessened and her anger grew.
Slowly, the Dark Fey rose to her feet. As she took her staff in her hand, it began to glow, illuminating her face—and everything around her—in an eerie shade of green. Wind blew through the room even though not a single window was open. Candles flickered and were snuffed out as the scarf on Maleficent’s head whipped away, revealing her large black horns.
She heard Aurora’s voice pleading with her to stop, but she couldn’t. She had tried to play the game nicely. She had agreed to this ridiculous charade out of love for Aurora. But she was not going to sit there while Ingrith threatened to take away the only family she would ever have. Aurora was hers. She would never be part of Ingrith’s family—not if Maleficent could help it.
Pushing back her seat, Ingrith brought a hand to her chest as more green magic swirled. “We’ve opened our home to a witch!” she said. Then she nodded to Percival and Gerda. “We must protect the king!”
As Percival left to get help, Gerda slipped from the room. Maleficent paid neither of them any mind. Her eyes remained focused on the king and queen. All kindness had vanished from King John’s face. In that moment, Maleficent could see how the king had gained control of weaker kingdoms through his wars. “Maleficent!” he shouted. “You must leave at once!”
In response, Maleficent spread her wings. She would never take orders from any king—ever. Behind her, the doors flew open and a dozen royal guards burst in, led by Percival. One beat of her wings sent them flying back. Fleeing through the open door, Diaval disappeared. Maleficent could only hope he would find his way to safety. She didn’t have time to do more.
Rising to his feet, King John put a reassuring hand on Ingrith’s arm as she cowered into him. The green smoke thickened and began to swirl around Maleficent’s feet as her rage continued to build. Ingrith could cower and shake all she wanted. It would do her no good. “There shall be no wedding!” Maleficent thundered.
Ingrith let out a weak cry and collapsed against her husband. “John,” she said, her voice trembling, “I’m so frightened.”
The king, holding up his wife, winced slightly and then once more looked at Maleficent. “I said get out.” But as he spoke, his face paled and his grip loosened on Ingrith. “What has she done?” he murmured. Then he slumped to the ground, falling unconscious in front of the golden cradle that had begun it all.
Dropping to her knees, Ingrith tried to wake the king. But he wouldn’t stir. As Phillip rushed over, Ingrith turned and pointed at Maleficent. “A curse!” she shrieked. “Maleficent has cursed the king!”
Maleficent took an involuntary step back. The king had fallen on his own. She had been across the room. “I did no such—” she started in protest.
But Ingrith cut her off. “A curse!” she screamed again, the word echoing in the now silent room.
Maleficent stared at the scene in front of her. Phillip was trying, in vain, to wake his father while Ingrith stared at her with cold, accusing eyes. Images from long before, when she had been wrongfully accused, flashed through her mind. She began to shake her head. No. This was not happening. This could not be happening again. Slowly, she turned, looking for support from Aurora. But she saw that Aurora was frozen.
Aurora’s eyes were locked on the fallen king. Then she slowly lifted her head, turning until her eyes met Maleficent’s.
“This was not my doing,” Maleficent said, unsure why she had to say the words aloud. Aurora should know she wouldn’t do such a thing.
“He simply asked you to leave!” Aurora said, her voice full of anguish. “Wake him up! Wake him up right now!”
“Aurora,” Maleficent said, reaching out her hand. They didn’t belong here. She had said so all along. They could cover up her horns and play nice, but it was a foolish and pointless game—and now someone had lost. It was time to go. Aurora would come with her and leave this horrible place. That was what would happen. She stretched her hand out again.
Aurora backed away.
The movement was as painful to Maleficent as if Aurora had reached out and slapped her. Maleficent felt something sharp in her chest, and it took her a moment to realize that it was the breaking of her own heart. Aurora—the girl she knew better than anyone, the human who had given her hope—was now an alien species to her. The pain sharpened as Aurora joined Phillip and his mother. As all three hovered around the fallen King John, they looked every inch the portrait of a family.
The sound of footsteps pulled Maleficent out of her pain. Looking around, she saw the guards were beginning to raise their weapons. Maleficent had no choice. If she stayed, the guards would take her prisoner—or worse.
With one last look at Aurora, Maleficent spread her wings and then, lifting into the air, swooped toward a high window. Crashing through it, she burst into the night sky.
As shattered glass rained down, Maleficent flapped her wings and headed toward the Moors. But then something suddenly zipped past her. Over her shoulder, she saw Gerda standing at the top of the castle. In the engineer’s arms was a huge crossbow. As Maleficent watched, Gerda pulled back her arm and let another arrow fly. Maleficent ducked out of the way. Turning, she lifted her hands, ready to send her magic back at Gerda. But to her surprise, the engineer didn’t seem worried. She placed a small round object into the bow. Once more, the woman took aim and fired. Only now, instead of an arrow, a bullet zipped through the air.
It moved so fast Maleficent didn’t have time to dodge it. A moment later, she cried out as the bullet struck her stomach. Her flesh hissed and smoked as iron met it. Trying to get away, Maleficent pumped her wings. But the pain was too much. She hovered in the air for
another moment before plunging down, down, down into the cold and murky depths of the river. Maleficent fought against the current. Each swing of her arms was excruciating. She had no choice but to let the water take her. With no resistance, the current pulled her quickly toward the large waterfall that marked the end of the river. The falls pounded over a rocky cliff, dumping water—and soon Maleficent—into the ocean below.
The last thing she saw before the pain overcame her was Gerda staring down at her from atop the castle, triumph in her eyes. As far as she was concerned, the mighty Maleficent was no more.
Inside the castle, the king was rushed to his chambers. Aurora and Phillip watched as guards gently placed the unresponsive man on his bed, then they kneeled beside him. The queen remained standing, her hands clasped in front of her, as the royal doctor began his examination.
“This magic—we have no tools to reverse it,” he said as he worked. “There must be a lesion—proof of her witchery!” He started to lift the king’s sleeve.
“Please,” Ingrith said, finally moving, “leave His Majesty his dignity. We all saw what she did to him.” She lifted a hand to her mouth, as if the thought alone was too much for her to handle. In truth, she needed to keep anyone from seeing the satisfied smile on her face. So many things had gone wrong over the course of the dinner, but some had gone deliciously right.
Aurora pushed herself to her feet and approached Ingrith. The queen willed herself not to recoil as the girl reached out and touched her arm. “I’m so sorry, Your Majesty,” Aurora said, her voice full of true anguish.
“A curse upon our king is a curse upon our kingdom. All he wanted was peace,” Ingrith said.
Her words made Aurora’s guilt grow tenfold. “This is my fault—” she started.
But the queen cut her off. She needed Aurora to see her as a kind, trustworthy figure. She needed to make sure the girl would love her, not Maleficent. “You have nothing to apologize for, my dear,” she said. “A beautiful rose is not responsible for her thorns.”
Then Ingrith approached the king’s bedside. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Phillip take Aurora’s hand to comfort her. “Maleficent is a threat to everyone,” Ingrith went on. She looked back at Aurora. “Especially you. We’ll do our best to protect you.” She smiled as Aurora seemed to shrink within herself. Good. She wanted Aurora to be scared. Worried. That would make her job easier.
“There must be a way to reverse this,” Phillip said.
Ingrith felt a momentary pang of guilt when she saw the devastation on his face. But her guilt vanished when he spoke again.
“Mother, have you tried kissing him?” he asked. “True love—”
“I doubt that would work,” Ingrith said quickly.
“Please,” Phillip begged.
Ingrith stifled a groan. She found her son’s—and his father’s—ridiculous notions of romance incredibly annoying. “A kiss is just a kiss,” she said flatly.
“It could save him,” Aurora added.
By now, everyone in the room was looking at Ingrith. She had no choice. If she refused, she would appear heartless, and she needed everyone to believe she cared. “Very well,” she said, moving closer to the bed.
The doctor stepped away as she stood over her husband. Leaning down, she tried to keep her disgust at bay as she lifted the man’s limp hand to her face. She kissed it quickly before dropping it back to the bed. But when she glanced behind her, she saw that Phillip, Aurora, and the others were all still watching expectantly.
She would have to actually kiss him.
The thought made her stomach wrench. But there was no other way. Once more, she leaned down. Hovering close to his face, she whispered softly, “You pathetic little man. You wanted peace—now rest in peace forever.” Then she kissed him on the lips.
Straightening up, she waited a beat. When nothing happened, she willed tears into her eyes and turned back to her son. “I told you,” she said. “This is no fairy tale.”
At her words, Aurora moved to the door. “I have to return to the Moors,” she said. “It’s the only way.”
“Aurora!” Phillip called, chasing after her. “Wait!”
Aurora’s face was awash with emotions as she looked among Phillip, the king, and the queen. “I have to go to her, Phillip,” she said.
“It’s the middle of the night,” Phillip said.
Aurora shook her head. “She will break the curse,” she said. “I know she will.”
“Then I’m coming with you,” the prince proclaimed boldly.
“I need to see her alone,” Aurora said gently. “And you should stay with your family.” She smiled up at Phillip, tears in her eyes. Inside, Ingrith’s stomach lurched at the unspoken emotion between the two. She really would have to do something about Phillip and his weak heart.
Phillip frowned. “You are my family,” he said, not giving up.
Ingrith had had enough. Things would be easier without Aurora around. “Let her go, Phillip,” she said. “Maybe she can save him.”
Aurora gave the queen a grateful look. “Please,” she said, turning to one of the guards, “I’ll need a horse.”
Aurora followed a guard out of the room, and Ingrith was pleased to see her go. Yes, things were indeed shaping up nicely. Now that Aurora was off to the Moors, Ingrith could continue with her work.
THE MOORS HAD NEVER SEEMED SO FAR AWAY.
AS THE WHITE HORSE BENEATH HER FINALLY PLUNGED THROUGH THE DARK AND QUIET MOORS, AURORA DESPERATELY CALLED OUT TO MALEFICENT. But she was met with no response. By the time she reached her castle and galloped over the bridge made of trees and leaves, tears were streaming down her cheeks. A full moon bathed the green castle in bright white light. At any other time, she would have marveled at the beauty, but now all she could see was the emptiness.
How could it all have gone so terribly wrong? She had not expected the dinner to be perfect. That would have been lunacy on her part. But she could never have predicted the debacle that had unfolded. Or its outcome.
“Maleficent!” Aurora screamed, jumping from her horse and racing inside. “Maleficent!” The only answer was her echo. No one was there.
A wave of panic overtook her as she walked back out onto the bridge. Her eyes scanned the surrounding moors before turning to the high crag that dominated the far border. It was Maleficent’s favorite spot. Perhaps she had gone there. “Godmother! Please,” Aurora cried; the pain was so deep. “Just come back.”
No matter how many times she called, Maleficent did not appear. Finally, exhausted—both mentally and physically—Aurora sat on the steps to the castle. She let the tears fall as Pinto appeared and curled up beside her. Taking some small comfort from the little hedgehog faerie, Aurora absently ran her fingers along the creature’s back. Hearing footsteps, she turned hopefully. But it was only Diaval.
“She’s not in the Moors,” he said as he approached. “No one has seen her.” He looked as miserable as Aurora felt.
She stood, ran to him, and threw her arms around him. In the midst of the terrible dinner, she hadn’t noticed him disappear. Now she was glad he had. She needed a friend. “Diaval,” she said, squeezing him tightly. “I’m so happy to see you.”
Diaval returned the hug, his thin arms trembling. Maleficent was as important to him as she was to Aurora. “She’s nowhere to be found,” he said, pulling away after a moment. “What if she never comes back?”
“I have to find her,” Aurora said. I have to because this is all my fault, she added silently.
“You?” Diaval said. “What about me? I could be stuck as a human forever! Look at me—I’m hideous!”
His attempt at lightening the mood worked for a moment. Aurora smiled briefly. But then she shook her head. “She needs to break the curse! It’s the only way.”
Diaval frowned. “Have you considered the possibility—”
“What?” Aurora interrupted, confused.
“That it wasn’t her curse,” Diaval said softly.
Aurora shook her head. She had been there. She had seen her godmother’s green magic and watched the fury in her eyes. She knew how much Maleficent hated humans and how angry she had been. “Who else could do such a thing?” she finally asked. No, she thought when Diaval didn’t reply. He was wrong. Maleficent had cursed the king.
But that meant she could fix it. She could fix it all, if only Aurora knew where she had gone.
Maleficent was lying on something soft. She could feel it pressing against her skin, keeping her warm and comfortable. She dared not open her eyes. Not yet. She feared that if she did, she might discover the warmth was a dream.
She had only vague memories of the moments after she had been shot. She remembered falling for what felt like forever and the sensation of the water as she crashed into it. She remembered seeing the engineer on the tower and then her eyes closing as the weight of the water and her wound became too much and she was pulled along with the current until she went over a massive waterfall. Once again she had fallen, only to land in the colder water of the ocean beyond Ulstead. Caught in the current, she had begun to drift.
And then someone, or something, had pulled her from the water. She remembered being lifted into the sky and the sound of wings beating close to her ears. She could have sworn there was a shimmering blue light and then wind on her cheeks. Her eyes had flickered open a while later, and she had only the briefest glimmers of huge towering rocks and crashing waves before whoever was carrying her headed down and into what looked like a cave. Then her eyes had closed again as she gave in to the overwhelming pain.
Now she lay still, trying to make sense of what had happened. Finally, she opened her eyes. The comfortable bed she was lying on was made of moss. A high curved ceiling, made of tightly woven grasses, rose above her, giving the room a natural warmth. Hearing a whoosh behind her, Maleficent tried to sit up.
But when she did, pain shot through her. Lying back down, she gingerly placed a hand on her wound. The site was cleaned and dressed, covered in a bandage made of bark. Someone had clearly taken care of her.
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