Maleficent(33)
The question snapped Maleficent back to reality. It was one thing to have the girl there for a short while, but it would not do to have her asking questions and wanting to come back. “It’s time to take you home,” Maleficent said, not answering Aurora.
“So soon?” the princess said, clearly disappointed. “May I come back another night?”
Instead of answering, Maleficent reached into her robe and pulled out another yellow flower. Once again, she blew on it, sending pollen into the air in front of Aurora. And once again, Aurora’s eyes fluttered shut and her body went limp.
As the other faeries looked on, Maleficent raised Aurora into the air. And then, in silence, they left the glen.
A short while later they arrived at the small cottage. Quietly, Maleficent floated Aurora into her room and gently lowered her onto her bed. Leaning over the princess, Maleficent felt a small smile tug at the corners of her lips. “Good night, beastie,” she said gently before turning to go.
At the door, she paused to take one last look at Aurora. It hadn’t been so bad after all to have her around the glen. But it was a one-time thing. It could never happen again. Ever.
STEFAN LOOKED TERRIBLE. He’d been up all night, pacing in the room he rarely left anymore. The sun peeked out, marking the dawn of another day. If he hadn’t been so distracted, perhaps this time of day would have reminded him of the daughter who had been named after it.
“You mock me,” he murmured just as a servant entered the room behind him.
“Sire?” the servant questioned.
But Stefan did not turn, did not answer. He simply gazed ahead, not blinking.
The servant decided to go on with the news he’d been trusted with. “Majesty, your presence is requested by the queen.”
“Leave me,” Stefan said simply, acknowledging the servant’s presence at last.
“Sire,” the servant pleaded. “She is not well. The nurses are fearful that—”
“Leave me!” Stefan shouted. “Can you not see that I’m having a conversation?”
The servant stared at him, mystified. There was nobody else in the room. Clearly the king had come unhinged. The servant left, closing the door behind him, deciding to come back when the king was better rested. He only hoped it would not be too late. The queen had hours left at best. No one knew what disease plagued her, but most suspected she was dying of a broken heart.
Stefan had not even noticed that his wife was dying, just as he didn’t notice that the servant had taken leave of him now. He started to walk straight ahead, still not blinking. “Intended to represent my triumph, my strength. And yet, day after day, year after year, you exist only to mock me. To remind me…It is not without purpose. Is it?”
He stared at the objects tormenting him: gigantic raven-black wings hanging in a glass case. Maleficent’s wings. Shafts of morning light shone around them eerily.
Stefan moved up to the case, peering in. Then, resting his head on the glass, he whispered, “Is it?”
Suddenly, the wings flapped. Stefan jumped back, startled and alarmed. The wings were motionless once more. He took in a deep breath, unsuccessfully trying to calm his nerves.
“I spare her life and this is my reward? A curse upon my child? Upon my kingdom? Upon me?”
The wings flapped again, more powerfully this time.
Stefan continued his monologue. “When the curse fails, Maleficent will come for me. This I feel. This I know. As sure as the sun rises.” He pointed an angry finger at the wings. “And on that day, I shall not be as benevolent. I will slay her as I should have done then. And I shall burn her carcass to ash!”