the girl who granted wishes (a fairy tale)
Title: The Girl Who Granted Wishes (A Fairy Tale)
Author: twilight_rush
Fandom: Hey Monday; VersaEmerge; All Time Low
Summary: Cassadee needed the prince to marry her, Sierra fell in love with her, and this is what else happened.
Pairing: Sierra Kusterbeck/Cassadee Pope; Rian Dawson/Cassadee Pope
Rated: PG-13
Warning: Femslash, some violence
Disclaimer: I am the great pretender. If you’re the above people run, run, run far away.
Dedicated to: slashxmistress for beta-ing ♥
Note: Rian and Cassadee would have cute babies, js.
There once was a young peasant girl named Cassadee, who came from a family so poor they rarely ate for days at a time. Cassadee and her sister Ashley often went into town looking for work, but it wasn’t easy for the majority of jobs required strong boys, and hardly anyone wanted frail, measly girls who would probably steal their stuff to sell for money.
It was a modestly warm Tuesday when the king sent forth a herald to make an announcement: The king’s only son, Prince Rian, was coming of age to be married and become King. The king was looking for a proper wife for him, and all girls were invited to try their luck at a ball in the next three weeks. Cassadee’s parents immediately began to preach how important it was that either she or Ashley gained the prince’s affections. For if he chose one of them, the girl’s family would also be showered with wealth and no longer poor. This was more emphasized on Cassadee, since she was the youngest and they had higher expectations of her.
While Cassadee never went to a school or even learned how to read, she was not dumb. She knew her chances with the prince were nonexistent. Everyone in the town who was better off looked down on her family. She wasn’t unattractive, but she couldn’t get away with just a pretty face and a few charms and grace. It wasn’t enough.
She was desperate. She had to make Prince Rian choose her.
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The entire kingdom knew this legend, and just as many believed it. Cassadee was a small child when she first heard it.
Centuries ago, a young girl made a deal with a witch she could not keep. The witch had her turned into a ghost condemned to wander the forest for eternity, never resting. It was told this girl could grant any wish as long as you had a small gift to spare. It was only to be done at night, for that was when she came out.
Cassadee only had a smooth, white pebble she found at the riverside to give. She tied a black cord around to fashion it into a necklace. She waited until the sky was a deep blue before venturing deep into the forest.
She almost regretted it as the trees enclosed around her. She saw demented faces in the shadows and heard evil growls in the air. She told herself it was for her family, and kept going. She walked until she came to the biggest tree in the forest where folks said the girl hung around. She dropped to her knees at the base, closed her eyes and chanted the words that were suppose to make the girl appear.
“The night is here and
I come forth with a gift,
To which thou grant one a wish.”
Cassadee waited some, and then opened her eyes. Her heart hung low as she saw no one there but her own shadow. What was she doing out here like some pathetic child? A tale was a tale and nothing more. Nothing was to help her win the affections of a prince.
She rubbed her eyes of incoming tears and took the necklace out of her pocket. She tossed it off somewhere and was about to stand when a voice shook her.
“Oh, was that for me?”
Cassadee squeaked and tumbled around to see who was behind her. A pretty pale girl with a mass of dark hair smiled. Her eyes glowed gold and light brown. Cassadee wasn’t sure if she felt threatened or safe.
“You’re real?” Cassadee mumbled.
“Only if you believe in me,” she said. Cassadee watched surprisingly as the necklace she had thrown away materialized around the girl’s neck.
“What is it that you want?” the girl asked. Cassadee sputtered dumbly as she tried to remember her words.
“I-I want Prince Rian to choose me as his wife, to love me, so I can be married into royalty and my family will no longer be poor.” She expected to feel some jolt or see a beam of rosy light that proclaimed her wish was fulfilled. Instead the ghost nodded.
“As it will be,” she said. Her body began to fade but Cassadee yelled at her to stop.
“What it is?” the girl piped.
Cassadee stepped a bit closer to her and asked, “Who are you?”
Cassadee almost laughed at the girl’s scrunched up face, eyebrows touching each other in confusion.
The girl answered in mild annoyance, “How do you not know ---“
“No! I mean, what is your name?” Cassadee explained. “I’m Cassadee.”
The girl said nothing for the longest time, but then answered her with a quiet tone. “Sierra. I’m Sierra.”
“. . . you couldn’t remember your name,” Cassadee noted, feeling almost sad for her. Could a person roam in the same place for ages and slowly forget who they are?
“No one’s ever asked me for my name,” Sierra breathed, not bitter as Cassadee was expecting. “I give them their wish and then they go on their way.”
It was getting much too late but Cassadee didn’t want to leave Sierra just yet. Though Sierra tried to not to show it, her face looked too miserable. She’s probably been alone for a long time, Cassadee thought.
So she sat cross-legged on the dirt and motioned for Sierra to do the same.
“Do you mind if I stay a bit?” Cassadee asked. Sierra said no. “All right . . . How long have you been here?”
“Since time was created.” Sierra began twiddling with a blade of grass as she spoke. “I’ve changed my mind. You should go home. It’s not safe for you to be out here.”
Cassadee frowned, but agreed regardless. “Can I come back tomorrow?”
“Why?”
“You’re my friend.”
“You just met me. How do you know I’m a good friend or not?”
“I don’t. That’s why I’ll be seeing you tomorrow, and the day after that.” Sierra stared at her, unable to think of a reasonable reply to what was said.
Cassadee didn’t want to be like all the others. She could see Sierra wasn’t just a ghost who granted wishes, and that there was more to her.
She said a goodnight to a still confused Sierra and promised once more to visit tomorrow.
Sierra stood at the spot Cassadee was, her heart beating with every no, no, no that spun in her head. But she knew it was going to happen either way, and she had to hope it wouldn’t end as terrible as the first one.
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Cassadee kept her word. She visited every night up until the week of the prince’s ball when she had to stay home and prepare.
It wasn’t much, but her mother managed to make two simple, pretty dresses from old worn ones for the girls to wear. She even piled their hair on top of their heads and braided some fake pearls into the strands, so it looked like snow had fallen on them.
As they walked to the castle, Cassadee thought of nothing but Sierra, and how she wished she could show her how she looked now. She also wanted Sierra to reassure her everything would be okay.
She’s learned plenty about Sierra. The full story was that Sierra’s mother was sick, about to die, and so Sierra went in search of a witch who could help her. She found one and the witch said she’d help her, but Sierra had to kidnap the queen’s newborn daughter for her. Sierra agreed, and while her mother got better, Sierra couldn’t take the princess. So the witch cursed her.
Back then Sierra used to sing all morning and night to the forest creatures. She had friends but now she was all alone. She’s seen many things that have made her feel older but not wiser. She’s granted many wishes that were against her morals, but she had no choice.
Cassadee’s grown a deep attachment to her she doesn’t understand nor has time to dwell on. They’re at the castle now.
There were many girls around with fine dresses made from foreign silk and their hair combed many times to look bright and clean. Cassadee had doubts about her wish coming true, but when Ashley grabbed her hand, she understood things would be okay.
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Prince Rian danced with half the girls there, majority of them being a little too uppity or demanding for him. He couldn’t see himself marrying any of these half-faced boars.
However, by time he got to a petite girl with green eyes named Cassadee, he thought perhaps the ball wasn’t such a horrible idea after all.
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As soon as the ball ended and they were within feet of home, Cassadee made up a quick lie to Ashley and went to find Sierra.
Sierra was sitting by the tree, picking white petals off a flower. Cassadee noticed many petals scattered around her, but didn’t question it.
“It worked!” Cassadee cheered, face bright pink. “We danced all night and he didn’t want to dance with anyone else . . . He wants to see me again. I think he’ll pick me.” At that she grabbed Sierra into a hug. Sierra felt as warm as Cassadee’s excitement did.
“Thank you,” Cassadee mumbled into her shoulder. Sierra nodded, and hugged tighter to calm the quivering in her stomach. But Cassadee pulled away and looked at her, worried.
“Why do you look so upset?”
“I’m not,” Sierra piped. “I’m happy.”
“You’re not telling me the truth,” Cassadee said. No matter how much Cassadee pried Sierra would not tell her the truth, which was that she didn’t want her with the prince - she wanted Cassadee for herself.
It was just like the last person, except it was a boy who knew how she felt and still ran away.
She urged Cassadee to go along, and she did, with an unsettling feeling in her.
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Now known as King Rian, he and Cassadee married on a sweet day in June. While Cassadee tried not to feel so big-headed, she couldn’t help but feel smitten at the envious looks coming from the peasant girls - the same ones that had mocked Cassadee her entire life.
It was almost a week before Cassadee was able to go out and see Sierra. Their last meeting worried her but the feeling of elation overcame it. She told her stories about life inside the castle. Sierra never said a word, only smiled and nodded.
But when Cassadee stopped talking Sierra asked, “What’s the matter?”
“I’ve been thinking,” Cassadee started, holding Sierra’s pulsing hand in her own. “I don’t want you here anymore. I want you to be free, to be human again, to be . . . with me. In the castle!”
A smile spread fiercely across Cassadee’s face, but Sierra frowned gloomily.
“You know that can’t happen,” she complained. “The witch won’t let me.”
“Then I’ll talk to her! Perhaps I can -“
“NO!” Sierra yelled so loud an owl hooted in fright and caused Cassadee to squirm.
“You can’t talk to her or bargain with her. No. It’s dangerous!”
“But I want to,” Cassadee persisted. Sierra hated it, but she oddly admired Cassadee for being so determined.
She glanced away and slumped, the tree bark biting into her shoulders. “Why do you want to do this so much? What does it matter?”
A cool kiss was placed on her cheek and lingered there for some time, making the skin a deep red.
Cassadee muttered, “I care about you.”
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Sierra showed Cassadee the way but couldn’t go any further, for she was forbidden to do so in her state. She did hug her and warned her to be careful.
Up a slanted hill resided a shabby cottage. Black smoke curled out the chimney in a ghastly state. The two front windows seemed to be glaring at Cassadee as she went up and bravely knocked on the door. The fear didn’t settle in until she heard the footsteps approaching and she wanted to run back to Sierra.
The door revealed a tall woman with black hair and beady red eyes that beamed upon Cassadee. She smiled a row of sharp teeth, and for a moment Cassadee believed she was looking at the Devil.
She snarled, “Oh, princess? I was waiting. I didn’t think you’d show, but I guess you’re braver than I thought.”
It wasn’t too late for Cassadee to run away, but thinking of Sierra reminded her she had a purpose and she had to fulfill it.
“I want you to release Sierra. Make her human again so she can do whatever she want and not have to grant people’s wishes.”
The witch’s bellowed laugh made Cassadee flinch and shrink back. “You can’t just demand such a thing! You need to give something up in return, an offer, a trade.”
“I have access to the most beautiful jewels in the entire kingdom. I can offer you some,” pleaded Cassadee. “Or even money!”
The offers simply bored the witch. “I do not want riches of any kind.”
“Then what?” pressed Cassadee.
The witch thought curiously for a few minutes, before asking, “You really want me to free her?”
“Yes,” she answered.
Again the horrible grin came.
“Then it shall be done.” A swift breeze blew by that shook the trees and caused the cottage to groan in pain. “I will come for my trade soon,” the witch proclaimed, going to shut the door.
“You didn’t tell me what you want!” Cassadee shrilled. The witch chuckled.
“You’ll see soon, princess,” she sneered. “And you won’t be able to argue about it.”
The door slammed shut and the night appeared darker as the moon scurried behind the clouds. Cassadee hated the tension settled in her, but she did not want to dwell on what she just done. She quickly ran back to Sierra.
She found her collapsed on the ground, her skin looking tan and healthier. Cassadee pulled her onto her lap and called her name.
When Sierra opened her eyes they weren’t glowing. They looked more human. “I feel different,” she said. “She actually did it. What did you give up?”
“Let’s not worry about that,” she said, helping Sierra to stand. “You’re not bound to the forest anymore. You can actually live now.”
Sierra was going to protest when Cassadee kissed her again, this time closer to the corner of her lips.
She did not say a word the entire time Cassadee dragged her to the castle, to home.
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Cassadee managed to give Sierra a job at the castle, helping Cassadee with small duties around the place. Sierra got to stay in her own room there as well.
It was nice. Sierra was grateful for every bit of it. But being near Cassadee constantly caused her feelings to reach a new intensity she couldn’t keep down. Prince Rian was one of the nicest people besides Cassadee that Sierra has met. However, that did not stop the jealousy from forming.
It didn’t help that Cassadee had begun acting stranger as the months went by. She was being more affectionate toward Sierra and looking at her like she knew how Sierra felt.
That soon became unimportant when Cassadee announced she was pregnant with hers and Rian’s first child.
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Sierra sat on the window sill, watching as Rian and Cassadee cooed over their newly born son. She couldn’t feel anything but happiness for them as the boy slept soundly.
Though the night was warm, a breeze flew in that chilled Sierra’s back and made her shiver in disdain. But it did not freeze her like the voice in her ear did.
“Now it is time.”
At that moment the bedroom door slammed open and in walked the witch, smelling of strong sulfur.
“Who are you?” Rian demanded. “Guards!”
The witch sighed. “No need for that. I’ll only be here a moment.” She pointed a long finger at Cassadee and sneered.
“I have come for my end of the trade.”
Cassadee hugged her child closer to her chest, almost tumbling out of bed trying to get away. “No! You never said you wanted my baby! No!”
“You promised you’d give me something! You must keep up your end of the deal! I freed your friend, and now I get your child.”
By a wave of her hand the baby was snatched from Cassadee and into the arms of the witch. She smiled at the wiggling boy. “Such a lovely child.”
“I’ll give you anything but him!” shrieked Cassadee, but the witch paid her no attention, and vanished into the air just as the guards came.
Rian gathered his wife into his arms, trying to calm her. “What deal? What is she talking about? Cassadee!”
Sierra wiped the tears that were gathering on her cheeks and ran from the room, not answering to the yells of Rian. She ran far away from the castle and toward the witch’s cottage.
This was her fault, and she had to fix it.
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The light emitting from the cottage gave it a sinister look, like a demon’s. It didn’t make Sierra go away in fear however.
Sierra hid under a window on the side of the cottage. The curtain was pulled slightly aside, so she leaned up to peek inside.
The baby was still wrapped in his mess of blankets, resting from his place on a cot.
The witch was mewling over something in the corner Sierra couldn’t quite see. The witch cursed and mumbled something that sounded like, “must’ve left it back in the village.”
She went over to the little prince. “I’ll only be gone a second, no longer,” she said, making sure he was wrapped up tightly before leaving. Sierra watched her disappear into the darkness.
She tried to see if the door was left unlocked. It wasn’t so she opted for breaking a shabby window with a rock and prayed the witch didn’t have sensitive hearing.
She hadn’t been inside the house since that dreadful day. The feeling of uncertainty she felt that day came falling back on, but she kept it at bay. There wasn’t time.
The boy peered curiously at who was picking him up before going back to sleep. Sierra smiled admiringly, about to go.
After all she’s been through; Sierra should’ve known this wouldn’t be easy, that the witch was not dumb. Still she gasped when she turned and the witch was there, red eyes glowering.
“You are the most infuriating girl I’ve ever met,” she sneered. “I should get rid of you completely!” She lashed out at Sierra but Sierra dodged and ran at the door. It still wouldn’t open, and even when she threw the rock she had at the windows they wouldn’t break. The witch was blocking her first entrance as well.
There was nothing for her to do but say, “Give them their son back and just take me,” she pleaded. “I don’t care what you to do me - just give him back to them.”
The witch roared, “Enough!” Again she ran at Sierra, nails longer and sharper.
Her brain thinking fast, Sierra randomly grabbed a bottle of strange green liquid off the table by her, and flung it at the witch’s face. Smoke steamed off her face as the liquid charred her skin, blood dripping and skull showing.
“You wench!” she shouted. “I’ll let you suffer for this!”
Loud banging was coming from the door, and Sierra could hear Cassadee’s cries. Sierra again tried to open the door. “Hel-“
Her voice gave away. The baby began to cry. Sierra looked down at her side, to see a knife sticking out, blood already beginning to fall.
The witch grabbed her collar and tossed her to the ground.
Sierra screamed when the witch jerked the blade out. She held it high over her head, aiming straight for Sierra’s heart.
The anger overrode the witch’s senses so she didn’t notice when the door finally gave away and a group of people stepped in, until she had a sword ripping through her back, piercing her own heart.
The wound dripped yellow pus and sizzled like her face had. The witch’s skin tightened and molded into a dead brown, until finally she began to crumble, and was nothing more than dust on the ground.
The guards stepped back as Cassadee cradled her son and Rian picked up Sierra. They wasted no time weeping, and hurried back to the castle.
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When Sierra woke up she was afraid that she was dead and her soul trapped somewhere dark and depressing. She saw instead the hot glow of her room, and Cassadee sitting by her, face looking worn but smiling nevertheless.
“She didn’t stab you too deep,” Cassadee consoled, holding her hand. “So you’ll be fine.”
“The baby?” Sierra squeaked.
“He’s fine. He’s with Rian now.”
Sierra nodded, studying hers and Cassadee’s hands. “. . . I’m sorry. For everything. She took him because of me. He was almost hurt.”
“It’s not your fault!” exclaimed Cassadee. “And it doesn’t matter. Because both of you are safe and the witch is dead.”
Sierra still felt terrible, like she was about to throw up from all the negativity still lounging in her. Half of it was from what just happened, and also because things would be going back to normal. Cassadee and Rian would resume their roles of wife and husband, parents and rulers, and Sierra would continue to pray she’d stopped feeling so strongly for Cassadee.
“I told Rian everything,” Cassadee spoke.
Sierra scoffed. “And is he mad?”
“No, he isn’t,” she laughed, staring at Sierra the same way Sierra did to her when she wasn’t looking. “It didn’t bother him too much.”
“Oh.” Cassadee’s fingers became tighter around Sierra’s. “Cass?”
“I told him something else, too,” Cassadee began. “He wasn’t mad about that either. He said he kind of knew.”
“I don’t understand -“ Sierra stopped short when her heart rate went up as Cassadee leaned closer to her. Cassadee didn’t say anything. She went ahead and kissed Sierra.
It was much sweeter than Sierra hoped.
Cassadee always did love Sierra. And while she loved Rian as well, it wasn’t exactly the same love she held for Sierra. She hadn’t known what to do about it before, especially since she was marrying Rian and then became pregnant.
But now the queen felt better about it. Rian still cared for her, and she had him, her son, and Sierra.
“I got everything I’ve ever wanted,” she said to Sierra.
A long, long time ago, before Cassadee was probably even born, Sierra used to wish every night to be able to know what it felt like to be happy, and to have someone.
Her own wish finally came true.
THE END
Author: twilight_rush
Fandom: Hey Monday; VersaEmerge; All Time Low
Summary: Cassadee needed the prince to marry her, Sierra fell in love with her, and this is what else happened.
Pairing: Sierra Kusterbeck/Cassadee Pope; Rian Dawson/Cassadee Pope
Rated: PG-13
Warning: Femslash, some violence
Disclaimer: I am the great pretender. If you’re the above people run, run, run far away.
Dedicated to: slashxmistress for beta-ing ♥
Note: Rian and Cassadee would have cute babies, js.
There once was a young peasant girl named Cassadee, who came from a family so poor they rarely ate for days at a time. Cassadee and her sister Ashley often went into town looking for work, but it wasn’t easy for the majority of jobs required strong boys, and hardly anyone wanted frail, measly girls who would probably steal their stuff to sell for money.
It was a modestly warm Tuesday when the king sent forth a herald to make an announcement: The king’s only son, Prince Rian, was coming of age to be married and become King. The king was looking for a proper wife for him, and all girls were invited to try their luck at a ball in the next three weeks. Cassadee’s parents immediately began to preach how important it was that either she or Ashley gained the prince’s affections. For if he chose one of them, the girl’s family would also be showered with wealth and no longer poor. This was more emphasized on Cassadee, since she was the youngest and they had higher expectations of her.
While Cassadee never went to a school or even learned how to read, she was not dumb. She knew her chances with the prince were nonexistent. Everyone in the town who was better off looked down on her family. She wasn’t unattractive, but she couldn’t get away with just a pretty face and a few charms and grace. It wasn’t enough.
She was desperate. She had to make Prince Rian choose her.
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The entire kingdom knew this legend, and just as many believed it. Cassadee was a small child when she first heard it.
Centuries ago, a young girl made a deal with a witch she could not keep. The witch had her turned into a ghost condemned to wander the forest for eternity, never resting. It was told this girl could grant any wish as long as you had a small gift to spare. It was only to be done at night, for that was when she came out.
Cassadee only had a smooth, white pebble she found at the riverside to give. She tied a black cord around to fashion it into a necklace. She waited until the sky was a deep blue before venturing deep into the forest.
She almost regretted it as the trees enclosed around her. She saw demented faces in the shadows and heard evil growls in the air. She told herself it was for her family, and kept going. She walked until she came to the biggest tree in the forest where folks said the girl hung around. She dropped to her knees at the base, closed her eyes and chanted the words that were suppose to make the girl appear.
“The night is here and
I come forth with a gift,
To which thou grant one a wish.”
Cassadee waited some, and then opened her eyes. Her heart hung low as she saw no one there but her own shadow. What was she doing out here like some pathetic child? A tale was a tale and nothing more. Nothing was to help her win the affections of a prince.
She rubbed her eyes of incoming tears and took the necklace out of her pocket. She tossed it off somewhere and was about to stand when a voice shook her.
“Oh, was that for me?”
Cassadee squeaked and tumbled around to see who was behind her. A pretty pale girl with a mass of dark hair smiled. Her eyes glowed gold and light brown. Cassadee wasn’t sure if she felt threatened or safe.
“You’re real?” Cassadee mumbled.
“Only if you believe in me,” she said. Cassadee watched surprisingly as the necklace she had thrown away materialized around the girl’s neck.
“What is it that you want?” the girl asked. Cassadee sputtered dumbly as she tried to remember her words.
“I-I want Prince Rian to choose me as his wife, to love me, so I can be married into royalty and my family will no longer be poor.” She expected to feel some jolt or see a beam of rosy light that proclaimed her wish was fulfilled. Instead the ghost nodded.
“As it will be,” she said. Her body began to fade but Cassadee yelled at her to stop.
“What it is?” the girl piped.
Cassadee stepped a bit closer to her and asked, “Who are you?”
Cassadee almost laughed at the girl’s scrunched up face, eyebrows touching each other in confusion.
The girl answered in mild annoyance, “How do you not know ---“
“No! I mean, what is your name?” Cassadee explained. “I’m Cassadee.”
The girl said nothing for the longest time, but then answered her with a quiet tone. “Sierra. I’m Sierra.”
“. . . you couldn’t remember your name,” Cassadee noted, feeling almost sad for her. Could a person roam in the same place for ages and slowly forget who they are?
“No one’s ever asked me for my name,” Sierra breathed, not bitter as Cassadee was expecting. “I give them their wish and then they go on their way.”
It was getting much too late but Cassadee didn’t want to leave Sierra just yet. Though Sierra tried to not to show it, her face looked too miserable. She’s probably been alone for a long time, Cassadee thought.
So she sat cross-legged on the dirt and motioned for Sierra to do the same.
“Do you mind if I stay a bit?” Cassadee asked. Sierra said no. “All right . . . How long have you been here?”
“Since time was created.” Sierra began twiddling with a blade of grass as she spoke. “I’ve changed my mind. You should go home. It’s not safe for you to be out here.”
Cassadee frowned, but agreed regardless. “Can I come back tomorrow?”
“Why?”
“You’re my friend.”
“You just met me. How do you know I’m a good friend or not?”
“I don’t. That’s why I’ll be seeing you tomorrow, and the day after that.” Sierra stared at her, unable to think of a reasonable reply to what was said.
Cassadee didn’t want to be like all the others. She could see Sierra wasn’t just a ghost who granted wishes, and that there was more to her.
She said a goodnight to a still confused Sierra and promised once more to visit tomorrow.
Sierra stood at the spot Cassadee was, her heart beating with every no, no, no that spun in her head. But she knew it was going to happen either way, and she had to hope it wouldn’t end as terrible as the first one.
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Cassadee kept her word. She visited every night up until the week of the prince’s ball when she had to stay home and prepare.
It wasn’t much, but her mother managed to make two simple, pretty dresses from old worn ones for the girls to wear. She even piled their hair on top of their heads and braided some fake pearls into the strands, so it looked like snow had fallen on them.
As they walked to the castle, Cassadee thought of nothing but Sierra, and how she wished she could show her how she looked now. She also wanted Sierra to reassure her everything would be okay.
She’s learned plenty about Sierra. The full story was that Sierra’s mother was sick, about to die, and so Sierra went in search of a witch who could help her. She found one and the witch said she’d help her, but Sierra had to kidnap the queen’s newborn daughter for her. Sierra agreed, and while her mother got better, Sierra couldn’t take the princess. So the witch cursed her.
Back then Sierra used to sing all morning and night to the forest creatures. She had friends but now she was all alone. She’s seen many things that have made her feel older but not wiser. She’s granted many wishes that were against her morals, but she had no choice.
Cassadee’s grown a deep attachment to her she doesn’t understand nor has time to dwell on. They’re at the castle now.
There were many girls around with fine dresses made from foreign silk and their hair combed many times to look bright and clean. Cassadee had doubts about her wish coming true, but when Ashley grabbed her hand, she understood things would be okay.
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Prince Rian danced with half the girls there, majority of them being a little too uppity or demanding for him. He couldn’t see himself marrying any of these half-faced boars.
However, by time he got to a petite girl with green eyes named Cassadee, he thought perhaps the ball wasn’t such a horrible idea after all.
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As soon as the ball ended and they were within feet of home, Cassadee made up a quick lie to Ashley and went to find Sierra.
Sierra was sitting by the tree, picking white petals off a flower. Cassadee noticed many petals scattered around her, but didn’t question it.
“It worked!” Cassadee cheered, face bright pink. “We danced all night and he didn’t want to dance with anyone else . . . He wants to see me again. I think he’ll pick me.” At that she grabbed Sierra into a hug. Sierra felt as warm as Cassadee’s excitement did.
“Thank you,” Cassadee mumbled into her shoulder. Sierra nodded, and hugged tighter to calm the quivering in her stomach. But Cassadee pulled away and looked at her, worried.
“Why do you look so upset?”
“I’m not,” Sierra piped. “I’m happy.”
“You’re not telling me the truth,” Cassadee said. No matter how much Cassadee pried Sierra would not tell her the truth, which was that she didn’t want her with the prince - she wanted Cassadee for herself.
It was just like the last person, except it was a boy who knew how she felt and still ran away.
She urged Cassadee to go along, and she did, with an unsettling feeling in her.
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Now known as King Rian, he and Cassadee married on a sweet day in June. While Cassadee tried not to feel so big-headed, she couldn’t help but feel smitten at the envious looks coming from the peasant girls - the same ones that had mocked Cassadee her entire life.
It was almost a week before Cassadee was able to go out and see Sierra. Their last meeting worried her but the feeling of elation overcame it. She told her stories about life inside the castle. Sierra never said a word, only smiled and nodded.
But when Cassadee stopped talking Sierra asked, “What’s the matter?”
“I’ve been thinking,” Cassadee started, holding Sierra’s pulsing hand in her own. “I don’t want you here anymore. I want you to be free, to be human again, to be . . . with me. In the castle!”
A smile spread fiercely across Cassadee’s face, but Sierra frowned gloomily.
“You know that can’t happen,” she complained. “The witch won’t let me.”
“Then I’ll talk to her! Perhaps I can -“
“NO!” Sierra yelled so loud an owl hooted in fright and caused Cassadee to squirm.
“You can’t talk to her or bargain with her. No. It’s dangerous!”
“But I want to,” Cassadee persisted. Sierra hated it, but she oddly admired Cassadee for being so determined.
She glanced away and slumped, the tree bark biting into her shoulders. “Why do you want to do this so much? What does it matter?”
A cool kiss was placed on her cheek and lingered there for some time, making the skin a deep red.
Cassadee muttered, “I care about you.”
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Sierra showed Cassadee the way but couldn’t go any further, for she was forbidden to do so in her state. She did hug her and warned her to be careful.
Up a slanted hill resided a shabby cottage. Black smoke curled out the chimney in a ghastly state. The two front windows seemed to be glaring at Cassadee as she went up and bravely knocked on the door. The fear didn’t settle in until she heard the footsteps approaching and she wanted to run back to Sierra.
The door revealed a tall woman with black hair and beady red eyes that beamed upon Cassadee. She smiled a row of sharp teeth, and for a moment Cassadee believed she was looking at the Devil.
She snarled, “Oh, princess? I was waiting. I didn’t think you’d show, but I guess you’re braver than I thought.”
It wasn’t too late for Cassadee to run away, but thinking of Sierra reminded her she had a purpose and she had to fulfill it.
“I want you to release Sierra. Make her human again so she can do whatever she want and not have to grant people’s wishes.”
The witch’s bellowed laugh made Cassadee flinch and shrink back. “You can’t just demand such a thing! You need to give something up in return, an offer, a trade.”
“I have access to the most beautiful jewels in the entire kingdom. I can offer you some,” pleaded Cassadee. “Or even money!”
The offers simply bored the witch. “I do not want riches of any kind.”
“Then what?” pressed Cassadee.
The witch thought curiously for a few minutes, before asking, “You really want me to free her?”
“Yes,” she answered.
Again the horrible grin came.
“Then it shall be done.” A swift breeze blew by that shook the trees and caused the cottage to groan in pain. “I will come for my trade soon,” the witch proclaimed, going to shut the door.
“You didn’t tell me what you want!” Cassadee shrilled. The witch chuckled.
“You’ll see soon, princess,” she sneered. “And you won’t be able to argue about it.”
The door slammed shut and the night appeared darker as the moon scurried behind the clouds. Cassadee hated the tension settled in her, but she did not want to dwell on what she just done. She quickly ran back to Sierra.
She found her collapsed on the ground, her skin looking tan and healthier. Cassadee pulled her onto her lap and called her name.
When Sierra opened her eyes they weren’t glowing. They looked more human. “I feel different,” she said. “She actually did it. What did you give up?”
“Let’s not worry about that,” she said, helping Sierra to stand. “You’re not bound to the forest anymore. You can actually live now.”
Sierra was going to protest when Cassadee kissed her again, this time closer to the corner of her lips.
She did not say a word the entire time Cassadee dragged her to the castle, to home.
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Cassadee managed to give Sierra a job at the castle, helping Cassadee with small duties around the place. Sierra got to stay in her own room there as well.
It was nice. Sierra was grateful for every bit of it. But being near Cassadee constantly caused her feelings to reach a new intensity she couldn’t keep down. Prince Rian was one of the nicest people besides Cassadee that Sierra has met. However, that did not stop the jealousy from forming.
It didn’t help that Cassadee had begun acting stranger as the months went by. She was being more affectionate toward Sierra and looking at her like she knew how Sierra felt.
That soon became unimportant when Cassadee announced she was pregnant with hers and Rian’s first child.
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Sierra sat on the window sill, watching as Rian and Cassadee cooed over their newly born son. She couldn’t feel anything but happiness for them as the boy slept soundly.
Though the night was warm, a breeze flew in that chilled Sierra’s back and made her shiver in disdain. But it did not freeze her like the voice in her ear did.
“Now it is time.”
At that moment the bedroom door slammed open and in walked the witch, smelling of strong sulfur.
“Who are you?” Rian demanded. “Guards!”
The witch sighed. “No need for that. I’ll only be here a moment.” She pointed a long finger at Cassadee and sneered.
“I have come for my end of the trade.”
Cassadee hugged her child closer to her chest, almost tumbling out of bed trying to get away. “No! You never said you wanted my baby! No!”
“You promised you’d give me something! You must keep up your end of the deal! I freed your friend, and now I get your child.”
By a wave of her hand the baby was snatched from Cassadee and into the arms of the witch. She smiled at the wiggling boy. “Such a lovely child.”
“I’ll give you anything but him!” shrieked Cassadee, but the witch paid her no attention, and vanished into the air just as the guards came.
Rian gathered his wife into his arms, trying to calm her. “What deal? What is she talking about? Cassadee!”
Sierra wiped the tears that were gathering on her cheeks and ran from the room, not answering to the yells of Rian. She ran far away from the castle and toward the witch’s cottage.
This was her fault, and she had to fix it.
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The light emitting from the cottage gave it a sinister look, like a demon’s. It didn’t make Sierra go away in fear however.
Sierra hid under a window on the side of the cottage. The curtain was pulled slightly aside, so she leaned up to peek inside.
The baby was still wrapped in his mess of blankets, resting from his place on a cot.
The witch was mewling over something in the corner Sierra couldn’t quite see. The witch cursed and mumbled something that sounded like, “must’ve left it back in the village.”
She went over to the little prince. “I’ll only be gone a second, no longer,” she said, making sure he was wrapped up tightly before leaving. Sierra watched her disappear into the darkness.
She tried to see if the door was left unlocked. It wasn’t so she opted for breaking a shabby window with a rock and prayed the witch didn’t have sensitive hearing.
She hadn’t been inside the house since that dreadful day. The feeling of uncertainty she felt that day came falling back on, but she kept it at bay. There wasn’t time.
The boy peered curiously at who was picking him up before going back to sleep. Sierra smiled admiringly, about to go.
After all she’s been through; Sierra should’ve known this wouldn’t be easy, that the witch was not dumb. Still she gasped when she turned and the witch was there, red eyes glowering.
“You are the most infuriating girl I’ve ever met,” she sneered. “I should get rid of you completely!” She lashed out at Sierra but Sierra dodged and ran at the door. It still wouldn’t open, and even when she threw the rock she had at the windows they wouldn’t break. The witch was blocking her first entrance as well.
There was nothing for her to do but say, “Give them their son back and just take me,” she pleaded. “I don’t care what you to do me - just give him back to them.”
The witch roared, “Enough!” Again she ran at Sierra, nails longer and sharper.
Her brain thinking fast, Sierra randomly grabbed a bottle of strange green liquid off the table by her, and flung it at the witch’s face. Smoke steamed off her face as the liquid charred her skin, blood dripping and skull showing.
“You wench!” she shouted. “I’ll let you suffer for this!”
Loud banging was coming from the door, and Sierra could hear Cassadee’s cries. Sierra again tried to open the door. “Hel-“
Her voice gave away. The baby began to cry. Sierra looked down at her side, to see a knife sticking out, blood already beginning to fall.
The witch grabbed her collar and tossed her to the ground.
Sierra screamed when the witch jerked the blade out. She held it high over her head, aiming straight for Sierra’s heart.
The anger overrode the witch’s senses so she didn’t notice when the door finally gave away and a group of people stepped in, until she had a sword ripping through her back, piercing her own heart.
The wound dripped yellow pus and sizzled like her face had. The witch’s skin tightened and molded into a dead brown, until finally she began to crumble, and was nothing more than dust on the ground.
The guards stepped back as Cassadee cradled her son and Rian picked up Sierra. They wasted no time weeping, and hurried back to the castle.
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When Sierra woke up she was afraid that she was dead and her soul trapped somewhere dark and depressing. She saw instead the hot glow of her room, and Cassadee sitting by her, face looking worn but smiling nevertheless.
“She didn’t stab you too deep,” Cassadee consoled, holding her hand. “So you’ll be fine.”
“The baby?” Sierra squeaked.
“He’s fine. He’s with Rian now.”
Sierra nodded, studying hers and Cassadee’s hands. “. . . I’m sorry. For everything. She took him because of me. He was almost hurt.”
“It’s not your fault!” exclaimed Cassadee. “And it doesn’t matter. Because both of you are safe and the witch is dead.”
Sierra still felt terrible, like she was about to throw up from all the negativity still lounging in her. Half of it was from what just happened, and also because things would be going back to normal. Cassadee and Rian would resume their roles of wife and husband, parents and rulers, and Sierra would continue to pray she’d stopped feeling so strongly for Cassadee.
“I told Rian everything,” Cassadee spoke.
Sierra scoffed. “And is he mad?”
“No, he isn’t,” she laughed, staring at Sierra the same way Sierra did to her when she wasn’t looking. “It didn’t bother him too much.”
“Oh.” Cassadee’s fingers became tighter around Sierra’s. “Cass?”
“I told him something else, too,” Cassadee began. “He wasn’t mad about that either. He said he kind of knew.”
“I don’t understand -“ Sierra stopped short when her heart rate went up as Cassadee leaned closer to her. Cassadee didn’t say anything. She went ahead and kissed Sierra.
It was much sweeter than Sierra hoped.
Cassadee always did love Sierra. And while she loved Rian as well, it wasn’t exactly the same love she held for Sierra. She hadn’t known what to do about it before, especially since she was marrying Rian and then became pregnant.
But now the queen felt better about it. Rian still cared for her, and she had him, her son, and Sierra.
“I got everything I’ve ever wanted,” she said to Sierra.
A long, long time ago, before Cassadee was probably even born, Sierra used to wish every night to be able to know what it felt like to be happy, and to have someone.
Her own wish finally came true.
THE END