She watched as Knotgrass, Thistlewit, and Flittle approached the baby. They looked older and perhaps a bit plumper, but otherwise they appeared the same.
Stefan isn’t the only one to have fooled the kingdom, Maleficent mused. Simple humans. So scared of magic, yet so in love with tricks. They probably thought the pixies adorable, with their little wings and harmless magic. Shaking her head in disgust, Maleficent waited to see what they would do next.
Knotgrass was the first to say something. “Sweet Aurora,” she began. “I wish for you the gift of beauty.” Reaching down, she touched the sleeping baby’s blond curls.
Aurora? So that was the baby human’s name, Maleficent thought. Surely Stefan hadn’t been the one to name her. It was actually a nice name. It meant “dawn,” which was Maleficent’s favorite time of day. She shook her head. Now was not the time to be pondering the definition of a name. She turned her attention back to the bassinet.
Next Flittle granted a wish. “My wish,” she said, “is that you’ll never be blue, only happy all the days of your life.”
Finally, Thistlewit stepped forward. “Dear baby,” she began. “I wish you…I wish you…”
Maleficent could no longer idly stand by. Raising her staff, she sent a frigid wind whistling through the hall. Headpieces and clothes were blown about, and the crowd let out scared cries. Thunder cracked and lightning flashed and a dark gray smoke filled the hall. When it cleared, Maleficent stood there, her head held tall, her horns held high. On her shoulder sat Diaval.
The room erupted in whispers as the assembled court tried to figure out who this strange creature was. But one person knew for sure.
“Maleficent!” Stefan cried, his hand at his throat.
She raised an eyebrow. “Well, well. Quite a glittering assemblage, King Stefan,” she sneered. “Royalty, nobility, the gentry, and, how quaint…” She paused and pointed at the three smaller pixies. “Even the rabble.” She turned and looked at the queen. “What a pretty necklace. I really feel quite distressed at not receiving an invitation.”
“You’re not welcome here,” Stefan said, puffing out his chest while beside him Leila brushed the stone at her neck with her fingers.
“Not welcome? Oh dear, what an awkward situation.” Maleficent turned, as if to leave.
Behind her, Queen Leila spoke up, her royal upbringing getting the best of her. She knew who Maleficent was. She had heard the stories from her father and then from Stefan. They had called Maleficent cruel and evil. But she seemed almost agreeable at the moment. “And you’re not offended?”
Maleficent turned back. “Oh, why, no, Your Majesty,” she said, her long fingers fluttering at her heart as she moved closer to the bassinet. “And to show you I bear no ill will, I, too, shall bestow a gift on the baby.”
Stepping in front of Maleficent, Stefan tried to block her. But Maleficent moved past him easily.
“Stay away from the princess!” Knotgrass said, standing protectively in front of the bassinet.
Maleficent laughed. “Gnats,” she said. One by one she flicked them out of her way. Then she leaned over and looked into the bassinet. Baby Aurora smiled at her, her cherubic face as adorable as anything Maleficent had ever seen. In that instant, anger and jealousy swirled inside her like a tempest. She would never have a baby that beautiful. She would probably never have a baby at all. No one to care for. No one to carry on her mother’s wings or her father’s green eyes to a new generation. She could have, but that option had been taken away from her when Stefan betrayed her.
Whipping around, Maleficent angrily threw up her arms and addressed the crowd. “Listen well, all of you,” she intoned. “The princess shall indeed grow in grace and beauty, beloved by all who know her.…”