Kingdom of Mirrors and Roses

by A. W. Cross

  "Well, some fun and delicious foods and you'll be right as rain," Griselda smiled at her, taking her hand. The touch of their fingers sent a gentle zap of something soaring through her, so gentle and enlightening that she almost mistook it for something else.

  It was the flash in Griselda's eye told her that what she felt was real.

  "What was that?" she asked the woman, who only laughed sweetly in response.

  "What was what?" She raised her eyebrows.

  Bella scrunched her nose in realization that the woman wasn't going to tell her a single thing.

  "All right," Bella said, "Keep your secrets. I'll find them out eventually," she said, smiling.

  "I'm hoping so," she responded.

  Gustavo tossed and turned all night, thinking about Bella captured by some large beast. Be it dragon or something else, he couldn't shake the feeling of something being completely off about the entire situation.

  Lucien was his best friend and had been for years. He had stood by Gustavo every time Bella had turned him down. He had helped him have the confidence to become mayor. Of course, he believed him, but just what kind of animal could the man have actually seen?

  Unable to sleep anymore, he hopped out of bed, and made his way to the kitchen of his home.

  Shuffling about, he grabbed an apple and bit into it, the juices flowing down his chin, he wiped it away.

  "Bella, what have you gotten yourself into?" he said aloud.

  "Is the master quite all right?" Frederick moved from the shadows, emerging into the moonlight.

  "Frederick," Gustavo dropped the apple onto the table. "I just can't sleep."

  "What troubles you so?" Frederick asked, wringing his hands nervously.

  "It's just unlike Bella to do such a thing, she's always been so responsible. Thought out every action, you know? For her to up and abandon her father's farm, her father's animals. I just can't wrap my mind around why she would do such a thing? Did I push her too far? Was my incessant asking her to marry me, too much?"

  "No, no, my master. I don't think it was that at all, she lost her father. You know as well as I, that he was everything to her. They ran that farm together, they ran the business together. Without him, she had no one."

  "She had me!" Gustavo shot back, growing more frustrated by the moment. "I blame myself, but I would have done anything for her. She had no right to just get up and leave."

  Frederick paced back and forth, clearly upset by his master's outburst.

  "Oh, don't fret, Frederick. It's not your fault. There's nothing you can do."

  "No," the man said, clearly holding back something, of which Gustavo had no idea.

  "Do you have something to tell me?" he questioned, wondering why Frederick seemed so disturbed.

  "Not much, master. Although perhaps I should tell you, that it was I who purchased Bella's farm. I know you are aware of my part in giving her Stan, but I think you deserve to know that."

  "You bought her farm? Are you planning on leaving my employ?" Gustavo asked, heart dropping to his feet. Frederick had been on his staff since he was a child, and he couldn't imagine him leaving now. Just after Bella had left, what would he do without his good friend and most trustworthy servant.

  "No, that's not what I was planning on doing at all," Frederick replied. The moonlight growing more faint as the sun made its way into the sky.

  "It's almost morning. Tell me, what were your plans?"

  The servant paced some more, trying to recall what had possessed him to buy Bella's farm, but the truth was he didn't remember much. Just that he knew it was something Gustavo wanted.

  "To be honest, my liege. I believed it to be something that you would have wanted. She wanted to leave. She wanted out of here so badly, and I truly believed that this was something that you desired." it wasn't a lie, but he felt like there was a piece missing. Something that he couldn't recall in his memory to save his life.

  "I never said such a thing! I wanted to help her save her farm. Not sell it, and I certainly wouldn't have bought it from her. I wanted her to stay here. I loved her. I still love her, and no matter what happens, I always will. I have to try to find her, to bring her back."

  "I do recall those conversations of you wanting to help her, but I distinctly got the feeling that you wanted to help her have a better life. Selling her farm to us gives her that chance at a better life," Frederick tried to reason with him. Though in his mind, as they talked, he realized he had made the wrong choice.

  He still couldn't recall why. He knew that Gustavo wouldn't have bought Bella's farm, his master had been in love with the woman since the day they had met. Why had he thought otherwise, and more importantly, why was there a blank spot in his memory?

  11

  Sitting at the table in the dining hall, a plethora of servants had arrived bringing out plates of every kind of food imaginable.

  "Where did all these people come from?" Bella exclaimed, having been in the castle a few days and having only seen Griselda and her son Charlie.

  "It's magic," Griselda said, smiling wide as she pranced in the room, her son in tow.

  Bella wanted to question her, wondering if she was kidding or serious, but conversations thus far had proved to be unhelpful.

  "All right, keep your secrets," she responded, as the servant's danced around them, bringing trays of cookies, jams and jellies. Not a single man or woman spoke, just moved with purposeful grace as they placed the serving platters on the table. "I certainly hope this isn't all for me?" she asked.

  "But of course, my dear! You said you were just traveling through, hoping to be moving on shortly. We just couldn't let you leave without a proper send off." Griselda said.

  "What?" Bella's face drained of color, why had they gone to all this trouble for her? "I don't understand?"

  The woman patted Bella's lovely chestnut hair, "my darling, don't question, just enjoy."

  Like a ballet, each servant flittered in with elegant grace, pushing the rolling carts as if they were the most dedicated dance partner in the world. In succession, as each servant left, Bella thought she could see the hint of wings on each individual.

  Who were they? Angels? Fairies? A figment of her imagination?

  The longer she stayed here, the more confused she felt. she scooted out of her chair, to leave, but Griselda's face paled.

  "Oh no, please don't say you're leaving?"

  "I have to," Bella responded. "I have to get out of here while I can."

  "While you can? You can stay as long as you need, dear. The ocean will always be there waiting for you."

  Bella shook her head, as she stepped away from the table. The servants themselves stopped their flitting about, the smiles on their faces gone in light of Bella's actions.

  "I understand, and I am so appreciative, but I really need to get out of here," she continued, taking one last long look at the beautiful display of food that had been prepared before her, before she ran from the room.

  "Momma, why does she want to leave so badly? Doesn't she know the truth about Mr. Winslow?"

  Griselda shook her head, "No, and we aren't allowed to tell her. She'll have to figure it out on her own."

  "But at this rate, he'll be a dragon forever."

  "I know," she nodded, wrapping her arm around his shoulders and pulling him in tight to her side.

  Fletcher had flown farther than he had ever dared before, needing to clear his head and not think about the beauty of a woman who now occupied his castle. She stirred his human emotions and he couldn't allow that, not now, not ever. When he'd gotten far enough away that he could think clearly again, he turned around and come back. Occasionally swooping in and devouring a wild rabbit or deer. He needed something to get his mind off the fair-skinned female who waited for him back home.

  As he descended on his castle, he took a deep breath, feeling his sides heaving in and out as he landed with a thud on the dirt pathway leading toward the heavy wood doors of the castle. Doors he had alm
ost completely destroyed over time. Long scratch marks, and jagged edges were the results of his handiwork.

  The had been desperate need of replacing for a long time, but without his human body there was nothing he could do.

  "You could use magic," Griselda spoke, as she walked toward him.

  "How did you know I was back?" He questioned her.

  "Are you kidding, I've memorized the sound of your wings years ago. I can hear you coming from miles away," her voice was kind. Always concerned about the well-being of the dragon man who she'd worn to protect with her life.

  "I don't understand it," he said honestly, heavy taloned claws thudding against the ground as entered his home. Griselda staying close to his side, her eyes on his every movement.

  "Well, you don't need to. I was serious though, you can use your magic to fix those doors."

  "You know I won't do that," Fletcher replied.

  "I know, but it's worth a try," she urged him again, as she started to walk away.

  "Where's Bella?" he questioned her. "Did she enjoy the meal?"

  "She did, but master," she paused, "She's getting ready to leave."

  "What?" he roared. "What do you mean, she's getting ready to leave?" His eyes roared to life with fire, and he began walking quickly forward.

  "Master! Stop! Do not go to her like that! Do not be angry at her! She didn't leave home to come here and be trapped for the rest of her life."

  "I don't care! I didn't give her permission to leave!" she ignored the woman's pleas, and kept marching forward, stomping up the stairs to her room where he shoved open the door so hard it flew off of its weak hinges.

  "Fletcher!" Bella said, startled by his actions. "What are you doing? Why did you do that?" the girl’s eyes had gone wide, her face paled in fear at his thundering actions.

  "Who said you could leave this castle!" he yelled at her, scaring her into the corner, where she quickly grabbed her father's carousel and held it to her chest.

  "Please, Fletcher... don't hurt me," she pleaded.

  "I'm not going to hurt you, but you're not leaving."

  Gone was the gentle beast she had witnessed in the garden. Gone was the kindness she had seen in his eyes. Gone was any redeeming quality that had drawn her to him, and she could feel herself shaking in fear all over.

  Was he going to kill her? One swipe from his thick claws and she would be gone. She pleaded in her mind that he would just calm down.

  "Please, fine, I'll stay, just don't hurt me," she pleaded. "I'll do anything!" she held up her father’s carousel, offering it in place of herself. "This isn't much, but I know it will fetch a pretty penny. Please take this in my stead? Sell it, keep it, I don't care."

  As she held it up, the sun streaming in from the windows hit the mirrors just so, refracting it around room in a dance of sparkles and delicate shadows that made her heart soar. She had never seen it do such a thing, and in that moment, she realized what her father meant when he had given her the gift before he passed.

  "Be gentle with this daughter and keep it close. It will reveal beauty when there is none to be seen. It is magic," he promised.

  "But father, magic isn't real."

  "Oh, but it is, my dear. One day, you will realize just how real, and you will never look at things the same again."

  "Father," she said softly, as she watched the dancing shadows around the room. She stood up, and held the carousel higher, taking in the moment, forgetting that Fletcher's angry form was bearing down on her, with a look in his eyes that could kill. She turned the key for the music box on the bottom and as she did so, the mirrors turned, and the reflections changed.

  Fletcher had stepped forward to watch the fractals of light with her, just as entranced as she was. They were lost in the moment, like viewers of a brilliant night sky watching the twinkling of stars unfold, and as he got closer to her, the heat from his dragon from reaching her skin, the tiny mirrors stopped spinning, and she saw the reflection of his dragon form in them. Only in its place, she did not see a dragon.

  In its place, there stood a man, robed in blue and gold, a strong chin and golden chestnut hair that looked to be made of rays of sunlight.

  His eyes were as blue as the ocean she had hoped to one day see, and suddenly everything made sense.

  This was why she had been brought here. This was why her father had said that magic existed, and one day she would see it for herself, even though she could hardly believe what she was truly seeing.

  "Fletcher," she gasped, all sense of fear gone from her voice.

  "What?" he said, still angry, but his rage considerably softened after witnessing such beauty.

  "You're a human?"

  It was his turn to drop all emotion, and step back. It was his turn to feel fear.

  "How do you know?" From the hallway, Griselda had witnessed the whole action, and she smiled broadly. She had a feeling about the Bella girl, and it appeared that her feelings had been right.

  12

  Bella looked from her carousel, to the reflection again, and then to Fletcher. Could her eyes be deceiving her?

  "How did you know?" he repeated, taking another step back. The fire of anger, now gone with her accusation.

  "It's the carousel," she said, winding the bottom again, it's delicate melody floating through the air and the mirrors twirling with it once more. She walked closer to his dragon form, holding the carousel up as it turned.

  In front of her very eyes, his large body heaved with every breath he inhaled. His scaly nostrils letting small gusts of smoke with each exhale.

  "What do you mean, it's the carousel?" His dark eyes wide.

  "It's the carousel," she said with a soft gasp. Staring into its mirrors as they turned with the melody, watching his human form reflected.

  "It can't be," he said, and in the mirrors the human version of spoke as well. It was true. He was bewitched, or spelled, or something else beyond anything she could have imagined.

  "How is this possible?" Bella asked him, hands shaking gently as she watched him retreating away. "What are you afraid of?"

  "Not you!" he said indignantly, staring hard at the device in her hands. She turned her body slightly, to get it out of his line of sight.

  "Well, you shouldn't be scared of a handmade item, either," she chided him. Quite suddenly feeling fearful that he would whip his tale around and break it.

  "Handmade?" he asked.

  "Yes, it was the last thing my father created in completion before he died."

  "How is this so?"

  Griselda stepped into the room, placing her hand across Charlie's chest to have him stay in the hallway.

  "May I suggest something?" Griselda said loudly over the top of them, immediately commanding their attention.

  "Yes, please," Bella said, not taking her eyes off Fletcher.

  "Magic only begets more magic. There cannot be magic, where there was none previously," she said, smiling knowingly at Bella.

  "You always speak in riddles woman! Say something that makes sense!” he said with a flick of his tail.

  “I’m saying, there cannot be magic where it never existed. Meaning, that whoever created this had to have some magic of their own.” Griselda grinned wide at Bella as if she knew something the girl didn’t. Which reminded the chestnut-haired woman of something she had questioned from the moment they had spoken in the hallway of magic beings.

  Bella moved with purpose towards Griselda and held up the carousel. She wound the music box again and watched the reflections as it spun around and around, the familiar melody now a recipe for anticipation as she waited for it to stop spinning and reveal Griselda’s true form. It seemed eternity before it stopped, and then, to Bella’s confusion and delight, she saw, as she had before, the outline of translucent wings that splayed out behind the olive-toned woman with elegant grace. Only the mirror made them clearer.

  In the mirror, Griselda wore a pale lavender gown that flowed to her ankles, the bottom of it sheer and see t
hrough revealing the woman’s slender golden legs. The upper torso to the hips the only thing not seen through, and in Griselda’s hair, the most delicate of floral crowns sat upon her thick wavy hair.

  Bella let out a giggle, not believing her eyes. Griselda’s matronly from, and dark blue dress and apron was in stark contrast to the soft lavender gown reflected in the mirror.

  “Are you a…” Bella couldn’t even get herself to say the word out loud. It sounded too preposterous, too strange for her to say.

  “I am a fairy queen, one of the last,” she said, without an ounce of irony or teasing.

  Bella shook her head.

  “A fairy, and a dragon?” she giggled again. “I feel like I hit my head very hard somewhere, and this is all a dream.”

  “Don’t forget fairy prince!” Charlie ran into the room, tugging at Bella’s dress. She held the carousel lower and looked at his reflection, smiling as his fairy wings showed up, along with a red and brown floral crown.

  “You are the most darling fairy prince, I’ve ever seen,” Bella said honestly.

  “That’s because I’m the only one you’ve ever seen,” he laughed, and then darted out of the room, running off to play and cause mischief as fairy boys tend to do.

  She set the carousel on the bed and folded her arms across her chest, as she stared at Griselda and Fletcher.

  “There is a whole lot going on here, that I am not going to pretend to understand. First of all, Griselda, if that’s your name, tell me what you mean by ‘there cannot be magic where it does not exist?’” Bella pushed, eyes narrowed at the woman she would dare call friend, had not all this occurred.

  “Well, Bella dear, that carousel contains a rare form of magic that can only be created by those from the old world. Your father must have been someone very important, in order to create it.”

  “He was important, he was important to me,” she shot back, fighting back the rising lump in her throat.

  “No, no, Bella dear. I mean, your father must have been someone important in the magic world for him to have created such an old-world spell. He was a magical being, probably in hiding, just like Charlie and I. Just like the sprites and fairies that assisted in today’s meal.”