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.
Chapter Eight
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?”