Undoing the Swan Girl
Page 6
Then, it happened. Skin that covered Xavier fell from his body and his true form appeared, bloody, but not seriously wounded. One by one, each of her brothers lost their grotesque skin and took back their human forms.
The audience gasped at the spectacle that befell them. They believed this to be part of the show, a surprise theatre production for their titillation and amusement.
But all was not over. Valentina stepped close to Princess, lifted her hand, and flicked open the onyx rose on her finger.
Valentina took a breath inward, and Princess knew she was about to be poisoned. There was no escape. She would die momentarily, or be transformed into some mutant being as her brothers, and her lover had been.
Just as Valentina began to blow, a shrill whistle split the air. Simultaneously, Valentina lurched forward, a look of shock and disbelief crossed her features. She stumbled a few steps, and dropped to her knees. A trickle of blood escaped her mouth before she fell forward onto the stage, an arrow pierced her back.
In the background, the audience murmured.
From the shadows emerged Erich, in his deadly nightshade form, and tossed aside the bow. Princess ran to him, but he held up his hands at the last second before she vaulted into his arms, and took several steps back from her.
“Erich, I love you, I love you! You’ve saved me! Take me from this place!” She cried out to him.
“And I love you, my Princess, but you know what I am, and what I am made of. Surely, if you come away with me, in time you will die just from being in my presence.”
His words would not deter her.
“I do not care if I die, as long as I can spend my remaining time with you. I will be lucky to have you and your love in my life, no matter how brief. I will go to my grave remembering the love we share in those fleeting dream moments.”
She took a step closer to him.
“I love you.”
The tendril of nightshade that framed his face, dropped to the floor of the stage.
She took another step.
“I love you.”
The tendrils which wound around his muscular arms fell.
“I love you.”
Slowly, the purple hue that colored his skin and lips melted away to reveal his true form beneath.
“I love you,” she repeated once more, not being able to stop the smile on her face.
With the final sentiment, his eyes returned to the glacial blue she only knew from their dreams.
Princess leaped into her lover’s arms, lips crushing against his.
“Only your true love could free me, Princess,” he mumbled against her lips.”
“That’s the missing prince!” Someone yelled out from the audience. The audience responded with rapturous, near deafening applause, believing not only that the play ended, but the prince thought lost to his people and his kingdom, was now found.
“Prince, huntsman…whatever you may be, with my eyes opened wide, carry me away from here so we can make a home together forever.”
He lowered her to her feet, but his arm remained protectively around her as he kissed her again. “I live to fulfill your wish, my love, my Princess.”
Epilogue
The sound of the train’s impending arrival barely registered, as Aria listened to the old man’s tale, clinging to his every word.
“So did Princess and Erich live happily ever after? What about her brothers and father?” she asked, as the train pulled into the station.
“Princess’s father never again left his home after the death of his wife, Valentina. Some say he turned gaunt and grey overnight from the horrific experience of such an evil witch coming into his life.
In exchange for the loss of their own innocence, the six brothers took all of their many skills and applied to them to operating the Swan Club, once again entertaining by night the social elite, royalty, and dignitaries.”
“What about Princess and Erich?” Aria demanded.
The old man smiled then. “Princess and Erich lead a very happy life. Though some say, about every six weeks, a beautiful swan girl with an ethereal voice of an angel, appears on the stage at the Swan Club, and captivates an audience with her gifts of song and dance.”
Aria’s eyes sparkled beneath the dim lights of the station. “It is Princess!” she breathed. “I must now make it my mission to find the enchanted, secret Swan Club, and myself become a beautiful swan, just like Princess.”
She rose and lifted her battered suitcase with determination. She placed a few coins in the old man’s hand, as a show of thanks for giving her a new found purpose.
As she walked away, she heard the final words of the old man.
“There will be a price to pay, Aria. But the rewards far outweigh the cost. Do not be deterred. Instead, find your own happiness.”
About Natalie-Nicole Bates
Natalie-Nicole Bates is a book reviewer and author.
Her passions in life include books and hockey along with Victorian and Edwardian era photography and antique poison bottles. Natalie contributes her uncharacteristic love of hockey to being born in Russia.
She currently resides in the UK where she is working on her next book and adding to her collection of 19th century post-mortem photos.
Visit Natalie online at www.natalienicolebates.com