Chapter I ~ The Seventh Hill
She pressed her fob and unlocked the Honda before she sat in it, after her 8 hour run. Cassandra always pinned the lock right when she got in, and took a look at her phone. Upon the sight of one new text message, she gave a sigh of peace, ready to leave work worries right outside her car door.
Dad -
— Hi, sweetie. Thanks for the arrival message this morning. It really gets the day started for me. Let me know when you're on your way. I'll open the gate for you.
Around her wrist she still wore that blue yarn around her wrist as a momento, with it clearly in her view as she started texting back.
— Just got into the car, locked tight. About to head back. 6 minutes tops. I’ll drive careful. Love you.
She sent the message as quickly as she typed before she turned her key in the ignition. Cass had grown into a confident woman after all that time. She had turned twenty four recently, in November, and the rains were coming in. Memory ran from that one night still, and they always checked in on each other. Richard was a known scriptwriter lately, having done a broadway show during the last couple of years as she was diving in Child Development. Her job didn’t pay much but it was start on a path that felt most important to her. To create a safe space for children when they were away from their parents for several hours a day. It was a far cry from her memory, at least. It was a sensitive time for a new human, given how she used to deal with things. As much as she could help it, she would try to make days as simple as possible ~ with the every day things.
I once crossed the threshold, to regain an ounce of control
‘Cause I couldn’t stand the thought of being hit again
Cutting out all of my dreams…
Someone chose to look at me
Struck me down like a lightning volt
In the mirrors we see at once, an angered Queen listens in
She holds her hand out to him…
~My Safe Place is torn down~
An envious Sorcerous hunts for us in the Darkness
Everything has turned out wrong
Tales of Bears, Lights and Voices
Under the eye of a Dark Fae
Will we become trophies in her halls?
I had a home, only for it to be taken out…
All we want is Home…
Her personal drive home was a silent one, while typically not thinking about much. Her hair was fashioned in a layered curl, cut short at the length of her shoulders. She wore a neatly knit longsleeve of simple purple with a light floral pattern, and a single purple beaded bracelet that a child made her beside her blue yarn.
In the heart of the Magic Kingdom where there were several hills that sparkled like stars, there was a cottage that homed seven little brothers~ the Seven Dwarfs. There came word of the terrible Queen Grimhilde making a horrible wish upon an enchanted starstone that once graced the sky with its splender. With this wish, came a dastardly price~
“Mirror Mirror, On the Wall~ Share with me now, who is Fairest of them All?”
The cruel shrouded form ordered of this ancient bronze frame with this swirling storm at its center.
A red stone had shown bright upon its crown.
Cassandra non-chalantly pulled into the driveway of her gated home, opening to this brilliantly white home, a single story house after they moved shortly after the encounter with the mirror. Soon, after parking and gathering her bag and things, she quietly came in through the kitchen’s back door. She shut it and naturally locked it before she realized she even did the deed. She scoffed to herself as she hung her purse.
“Da! I’m home,” she called out as she shrugged her jacket off. It was not before she overheard that Richard was on the phone.
“It’s sad to see you go, Charles. I was looking forward to collaborating with you…” she overheard, and she picked up on the worry stone being rubbed in his hand.
Richard still looked like how he had when she was young, however, he had greyed and held this pepper colored short beard that delightfully framed his face. His natural style of checkered long sleeves and jeans had never changed, as she glanced while on her way to her room. She did not pass by until they met eyes ~ the smile lines of his eyes glowed at her before she continued her way.
Her room was a small space she preferred of a simple bed, a small Sony flatscreen and dvd player as she often rested here after long days.
“Yeah, yeah - I’ll be sure to keep up with you and see how things go from there. Thank you, thank you. Yes. Sounds good. Bye.” she overheard the conversation was casually dropped as she listened in.
“That didn’t sound good, Da…” she spoke out, confidently.
“Eeh, guy got dropped.” was Richard’s reply, with some anxiety laced into his gravelly voice. “Tried to give him a nudge to the door but he got intimidated, I guess. So…” he spoke as he walked down the hall towards her room, as he tucked his phone into his back pocket. “… anywho, how was the ship today?”
“Sharp. Loud and reeling,” Casey replied when she was guided into a hug. “New babies coming in before the school year goes out, so it’s that basic reboot on routine again.”
“Routine is the baseline, ain’t it?” he reassured. “I know you set it straight for each new line, hon.”
“I take it slow. One day at a time…” she had to assert to shake the stress of the day off. “I’m glad it’s Friday.”
“Same, heh. Welcome home, sweetie. I am just sorry to be on the phone when you came.”
“Say, I can make some spaghetti tonight for us, to keep it simple. It seems we both need the rest tonight.” she offered, able to tune to his true mood. He never glowered at her, no matter how he felt.
“Oh, hon… Are you sure?” he asked, his voice softening.
“Of course. I cook better when hungry, anyway.” she smiled.
The evening was peaceful, and it felt nice to put concerns to bed for a little bit, and they watched a film as the night wore on. They watched a little bit of an old Disney film that she commonly collected for herself over the years. An often vision for her on late night was his dozing in his chair with a script in his lap. Unseen by him, the imagery of some of these dark hearted villains made her stomach churn as she watched while she curled in her blanket on the couch. At the sight of the queenly villain all adorned in sharp technicolor, she shut the television off before sitting in the dark for a moment. Richard gave a stir at the change of white noise, and gave a stretch before he caught his script from falling off his lap.
“Oh! Dozed off again, hmm…” she heard him groan before she forced a smile for his sake.
“Me too… It’s pretty late, must be the kids draining me.” she told him before they both stood up from their chairs.
He shared a slight twinkle in his eye in the lamp’s light as he closed his script in his hand, an ounce of worry.
“You aren’t overworked, are you? You’d tell me, would you?” he asked while walking up to her, his weight shifting the wood floor.
“Always, Da…” she told him before settling a kiss to his cheek before they were on their way towards the bedrooms.
“Tomorrow, no getting up, I take it?” he remarked, with a wink before they parted ways. She chuckled.
“There is no way I am getting up at 7 am tomorrow.” she held a bit of laughter in her voice.
“Good night, Cass… See you in the morning~”
She watched him enter the master bedroom before she softly shut her door. Cass sighed in her silence for a moment. Soon, she went to her roll on closet and got ready for bed. Lazily brushing her teeth and charging her phone, and soon enough she plopped on her bed. Still, she was trying to shake that feeling of unease from her stomach, however it lingered there. She knew he picked up on it, they were both shaken since that night… They kept it personal ever since. She remembered how raw it all felt still, regardless of how long it has been since that supernatural attack. She knew it still hurt him and that even he was afraid like her, and yet they still looked back on it as though it happened yesterday.
Sipping a drink from her cup, Cass soon laid down in her bed, looking at the black screen of her flatscreen for a second before locking her gaze to the ceiling. After a long moment had passed on by, she felt her eyes begin to droop.
Yes, do sleep, child. Welcome the abyss… just as your father did.
That black face of the resting flatscreen began to reflect something, from a faint glow to a bright crimson star as she fell under a calm sleep after a long day. It was a swift spell as a swirl of magic appeared to pull out of the reflective screen, taking form of a great gnarled hand that appeared to hover over the young woman… With one forceful lunge, that gnarled spectre opened wide to snare her, body and soul…
*
Richard awoke with a jerk, as if he had been pushed off the bed. His stomach fell with a sickening thump. The air felt thick to him and he simply could not place it at first — a strange scent of something burning. On edge, he flew the duvet off and got up to go check on things around the house. The chill in the air was almost too shrill, as he began to naturally rub over his arms as he checked the thermostat… This was not the norm, in his mind, as he turned towards the hall to Cassaandra’s shut door, and chose to go check on her.
He was stunned to find that the house was wholly empty. He stood overlooking the kitchen nook and the sofas of the living room before he went to get his phone. He had to be practical, before stooping to panic. Where would she go at this time of night- at 1:20 am? Why would she? His mind went to odd places to find reason for his daughter not being here, however… something deeply rooted was slowly coming to realization. That happened 18 years ago…
As he called her phone, he heard her ringtone from her bedroom. With a gasp, he snapped the phone shut, realizing his core fear. His eyes stung as he blinked at the mere possibility. “… wait, it-it can’t be.” he uttered, his voice a little shaky. “No… no, no!”
In flight, he sprinted to her bedroom again. There were no mirrors, so how could it be?
Once again, he tore into Cassandra’s room again, looking for any sign of oddity before spying her phone on her bookcase. However, after a long moment of his heart beginning to crack, his eye caught a glint in the flatscreen’s sleeping face. He focused in on it before slowly approaching the screen. He turned the lamp on… Slow, he reached up to the center of the screen, noticing a crack as if someone struck it with a bat. It was something he missed in the dark. Richard had no power over it, but his tears betrayed him even as he tried to rationalize it. He couldn’t… He sat back on the empty bed, the shock settling in.
The Seventh Hill
Act I
Cass hit her head on something, and fell onto something chilled, but wet. The last thing she remembered was coming home and she saw something going on with the black screen of her sleeping flatscreen. There was this sucking wind and she either slipped or fell off the bed somehow. Now she had struck her head that sent her mind into a whirl.
Everything spun for a minute before she felt someone come with gentle hands to cradle the sides of her head.
They were warm, and so was the voice that greeted her dull ears.
“Oh — Gosh! M-my lady? Dear? Do open your eyes!” spoke a little man’s tender voice, full of worry and befuddlement, yet sounding so sad at first. “…please~”
It brought her back to life, thank goodness. She felt the presence of someone else by her side, someone who feared for the worst before she gave out a groan as she opened her eyes. Colors from all around, even though it was dark, sharpened at her eyes like light rays that she had to blink hard for a second.
“You’re — my gosh, you’re waking up!” spoke the other, in joy of witnessing her moving. She felt them support her head to her neck and back as she was helped to rise up from the grass. “… oh, sweet lady. Are you all right?” he asked her.
She saw just who it was, a stout, round little dwarf. It wasn’t Richard… He had bright brown eyes, with a tufty cloud white beard with a light gold cap over his head. With a dark brown vest and belt, he wore a long sleeved tunic with patches on the elbows. With blue hose and flat shoes… obviously one of the Seven Dwarfs that she enjoyed watching on screen as a child. This one was the often jovial one, who’d laugh and smile all the while but right now, he looked close to weeping by how scared he was when he found her.
She felt him take her hand as he supported her strongly with his other, allowing her to take a minute. She was in her pajamas, oddly and gladly she wore some leggings during all this but she realized something after waking up to something so extraordinary… Besides the fact that he was there for her, she looked down at the thicker hand that held hers, she was able to tell that her own skin matched his in that same animated tone. His were thicker, while hers were dainty and fine, with the blue yarn. As a chill ran up her spine, she gasped before whipping her hand out of his, not intending to spook him too.
“Sorry, sorry — I’m okay, I am…” she rambled, still a bit shocked. She tenderly gripped her wrist that wore the yarn. “Th-thank you…”
“Are ya for sure? Got mighty scared, y’know. Saw you fall down such a way~ I- f-forgive me, ma’am.” he stammered before he stood up and took his cap off, revealing a bald head.
“The name’s Happy, ma’am~!” he piped up, seeming himself again before offering his hand to her.
“Oh~ thank you.” she smiled, brushing herself off a bit. She could fully see now that they were standing in the midst of a beautiful forest. It was only her. Her home was gone, Richard was gone… Her chest turned to ice at the realization before she gazed at the stunned Dwarf.
“S-sorry for spooking you. It wasn’t you at all, by the way. It was just… I don’t seem to l-look like myself today…” she went on looking over her hands and arms. “I-I think I bumped my head harder than I thought… Um. Right, it is really nice to meet you, Happy. I-I’m… you can call me … Casey.”
“Truly?” he complimented, never have heard that kind of name before. “No finer of a name, I say, ma’am~ Casey. It’s-it’s not so often that we find maidens in our woods… but its become more common than naught.”
She felt truly stumped at being told that. “What do you mean, Happy?”
He happened to have to bite down on a lip, before taking her hand. “Stick close to me~” he whispered to her. “… because we mustn’t speak here,”
She had to let him pull her to a more secluded spot by a tree bow. The action led Casey to feel naturally frightened, if her rescuer here was scared… “… it is very dangerous for you.” he continued.
“… mind… letting me on some?” she found herself asking, her thoughts landing on her father, firstly. “I did hit my head.”
Rather, she was anxious regarding where she was but she did not need her new companion to feel any worse than he did. After all, it felt like she was thrown into this world, unannounced. Or so she thought… This was stemming from the first experience, and she was trying not to panic.
“The Queen, she is a wicked one… From all around we have hearing of maidens going missing, ever since our little Princess had gone with her Prince, Florian.”
Her mouth ran dry, that this Queen was still around but besides that, people were going missing — mainly young girls? This felt strangely familiar.
“A Queen…?” she found herself asking, yet she had a clue of who. But weren’t they dead?
“Yes, and a dangerous one, dear lady.” Happy once again looked fairly worried, and was now holding both of her hands, as though protectively. She had only just met him. “It is a good thing I found ya~ before she had. She has a mirror that tells her who is the fairest in the land… I fear, my dear, that you are the next fair maiden…”
Perhaps her closet mirror played a part in this…? Ever since Richard endured the same in his only it stole his heart away. Could it possibly be magic, of the dark variety again, that had brought her here? Casey was beginning to think this may have not been a dream, after all…
“Me…? A fair maiden, sure….” she muttered to herself, much to Happy’s confusion.
“What, ma’am?”
“N-nothing — nevermind, Happy… I’m just trying to take all this in.” she replied, having scooted backwards against the bow of the tree they were beside.
“Uh, er - if it’s all fair to you, ma’am. You are quite beautiful. Even if you migh’ not agree t’that.”
That sweet comment made her smile, despite that her hair was all over but curly down her shoulders and her cheeks covered in dirt, and how tired she felt. She felt everything but that. Her heart ached for the man she was taken from, but did not want to worry her travel mate even more so.
“… all-all the more that ya stay hidden low. If you stay with me, I can take ya to our Mine. We’re all hiding there.”
Casey rose a brow at that… What of that sweet little cottage in the glen? Perhaps that place was an obvious target, she hoped that was the case.
“… okay.” she nodded in worry but she didn’t wish to confuse her new friend with questions, but she wanted to know. Eventually, she supposed. She had nowhere else to go nor did she have any way to get back home, somehow. It was just her, Happy and this Forest. She could only imagine Richard’s fear as of this moment.
“I’ll stay with you - right now. You helped me, and I am really happy to not be alone in this place… I’ve never been alone before…” she commented, finding it strangely familiar since she was very young. “I certainly need some help to know what exactly is going on to some degree… and I am so thankful that you came along. We’ve just met but I’m happy you’re here ~ Happy.” she chuckled at repeating that word twice with it being the kind dwarf’s name.
He gave quite the chortle at that with his eyes all aglow. “Gosh, ma’am - awful kind of ya to be sayin’ that — We’ll be gettin’ along just fine now. Keep tight hold, we have quite a trek ahead~”
“I was taken through a - my tv…” she thought at that strange possibility. “I have a father back there, so I don’t know how to contact him… or get back to him somehow?” she had to follow her heart in asking.
“A father knows you’re missin’, oh dear, ma’am.” he told her, seeing a furrow in her brow.
“Last thing he said to me was seeing me again in the morning…” she stated, clearly afraid.
“It’ll be figured, ma’am… It’ll be figured… Don’t ya be afraid now…”
After saying that, he took her hand again, and she tightened her grip before they both began to run, with her in tow at first. Mind as well run while blindfolded since only he knew this brilliant place while she just gawked at how those trees loomed during this dark night, feeling the same unease Snow White probably felt. How she was thankful to not be alone. However, she knew none of this was normal and she did not know what to say. She was left with some thought as to what to say when the time would come.
This Forest had a specific feel to it, she was not sure what, but when she saw eyes keep peering at her through the trees and crevices. Soon enough Casey had realized that they were all shy animals following them. Happy soon settled down in his sprint and so did she after a minute to hide behind some fallen tree…
“Don’t look back, ma’am! The woods can be full of her spies~” he whispered before they came to a form of rock, almost golden in the sunlight. She let him lead on to the entrance into this mine where it grew severely dark as soon as they entered.
At first, it was like that until they ventured deeper into the cavern. It all began to sparkle with colorful gems imbeded in the stone. It was almost hypnotizing to look at… and the more she looked, the better she began to feel. Earthy smells hit her nose during the slowing walk. Soon there came a cavern after reaching a wooden and iron track… It was a wide open space, and their steps echoed through so easily that it easily made Casey cringe. Voices, though. There were voices… Happy looked at her, with some encouragement before there were others marching forth, with anxiety. One, with a teal cap and bright doe brown eyes, skid to a stop upon seeing her, as this grave one in crimson and brown stopped as well… with his scowl soon melting away into a look of shock.
From those two, came four more… one strong with spectacles, one small and silent, one that yawned, and one prone to rubbing his nose. The first words from the grim one that Casey heard were~ “where did y’find her?” asked the one whom she knew right away was Grumpy.
He was the fiestiest of this troupe, that much she knew. Yet he looked intrigued as well with the other men approaching them. Casey did not know what to say, even now… They were all wide eyed and staring at her as though she just grew three heads. “H-hello,” she uttered out, with a dry mouth.
The eldest, perhaps the more emotional of the bunch took a step forward, removing his spectacles so that he could wipe a tear from his eye, before putting them back on to see her.
“T’is a ladle - a lady… Is she truly?” he asked. His voice was timid over his tripping over a word, but he seemed almost enthralled at the fact that she existed.
“She certainly is, Doc… It’s no trick.” Happy spoke up, soon letting go of her hand so he could chat things over. “Alive and breathin’~”
“Answer the d’rn question then! Where’d ya find her?” Grumpy snapped.
“Over by the Swan Falls. She had fallen there, out of nowhere. The Queen’s doin’, I suspect! She seeks to steal another…”
“Ya brought her here,” the doe eyed, shy one, Bashful spoke up.
“Gosh, could she be the last in these parts…?” Sneezy asked.
Casey stood there as they uttered to one another, listening to get more context of this sticky situation. They soon locked their eyes on her again, and the one who first spoke~ Doc — began to approach her.
“No squeed — need to be afraid, my-my dear.” Doc spoke to her, seeing how wide her eyes were. “When we thought all was well, seems that Old Sly One found a way.”
Casey was finding her courage to speak with them soon finding their own courage to address her.
“We’re the seven miners of the seventh hill…”
“~ yes. I’ve heard of all of you.” Casey finally spoke. After all, that was the truth of it.
“Ye heard o’us, heh?” Grumpy coughed after observing for a moment. “These wiles be gettin’ outta hand~ if women be droppin’ from the sky now. An’ what’s this garb?” he prodded at her shirt with the handle of his pick. “Y’ain’t from ‘round here…”
“No. No, I’m not from here at all…” she opened up, not wanting to start anything.
“Grumpy…” Happy tried to interject.
“Give ‘er some air.”
“Heh~! Jus’ where exactly are you from?” Grumpy prodded, for fine reason. “y’got a name?”
“… Casey. I’m from somewhere far different. Well, some place with very little forests, you can imagine.”
“Strange, hmph!”
“I was about to go to sleep and I had a mirror in my bedroom. It did not seem out of the ordinary. And I awoke to this strange light, and saw that it was coming from my mirror. It opened up like a window, and it started to pull me in… and I - I just fell in.”
All seven little men listened. Grumpy tightly winked his right eye which was tell tale sign that he was suspicious.
“Sounds like uh, -uh er, a spell er somethin’~” Sneezy gathered.
“… conjured by you know who, I’d wager.” Bashful replied.
“So… I really am aimless here. I really don’t know what’s going on but, please help me to understand… I mean no harm. Honest~”
“Hmph~ well, I ain’t gonna bite ya.” Grumpy let off. “By them eyes, y’seen much. If that snake had gotten ya we’d be at a loss ourselves. We’ve been tryin’t track some of these poor women… but they just vanished away, like dust. Pretty li’l things like you are being sucked dry by her wiles, somehow and we gotta find a way to stop it — She somehow survived that fall…”
“Happy told me. A Queen.”
“Heh! Some Queen… Her brains are full of straw, I say!”
“Well, with all that’s said and done~ You have been found~” Doc proceeded, in an attempt to calm their new guest. He was at ease that Grumpy was able to lessen the girl’s stress in his own way. The youngest and by far the only one who never said a word got brave enough to want meet her.
“Hi~” Casey smiled greatly at him and he giddily hopped closer. She shook his hand as he hopped up and down.
“Well, I su-suppose we should, uh, info - slippo - Eh! Introduce ourselves. Shall we, men?” Doc cheered up. “Ye can call me Doc, my dear~ and this is Dopey.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dopey~ and Doc, so kind.” Casey smiled, thus making Dopey blushed.
“Heh!” Grumpy scowled with a roll of his eyes. “Mush~” he crossed his arms.
“Of course, ya know me already~!” Happy chimed in, much to her delight.
“Gosh, I-I’m, ohh gosh! I’m, Bashful!” the doe- eyed one began to tie his own beard into a knot, he was so embarrased as his face turned beet red.
“And I - Hahee—ahhooo— atchi- HAFF— HaHAA! AHHFFFfff!” there came a great bellow and a great wind over them all.
Casey couldn’t help herself but to burst out laughing at such an hyperactive sneeze. She knew just who this was! Happy was well with her on that, chortling so much that he near bent over as the auburn one swiped his nose along his arm.
“Ammph~ I’m Sneezy~” he nearly coughed amidst their laughter. Grumpy leaned his head back and slowly rolled his eyes again.
“Sneezy! Aren’t I pleased?” Casey greeted with glee. “Here, this might help a little~” she offered, taking what she had out from her pajama pocket and giving it to him. It was a crumbled tissue but it helped.
“Gee— thanks!” Sneezy thanked her as he gratefully took it.
There was one there who hadn’t spoken, simply because he was fighting a well needed nap, but he happened to yawn, scratch his back a bit and then stretched a heavy smile at her. “And I’m uh *yawwwwn*~ guh… sleepy.”
“Oh, all of you~ The pleasure’s all mine.”
Seeing where this was headed, Grumpy kept his arms crossed even when this maiden, with such a strange name, had gazed over to him, there was a second where that scowl softened a bit. Casey, she thought it was best to keep it subtle, as happy as she was at meeting them all. As he was the last one, his fellows seemed to have that hope that he would say something to the lady.
“Eh, Grumpy — and what of it?” he sneered at her with that signature wink of his.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Grumpy. It really is~ to meet all of you.” Casey expressed as she sat down on one of the stones. “At such a scary time. You see, I am not what you might think I am. I mean~ I’ve come from somewhere very different.”
“Someplace where there are no forests, yes?” Doc asked.
“What kind of place has no forests?” Bashful wondered.
“It’s a place that’s been built up with, I suppose you can call them castles, but… they’re not used as castles. People are blind, always looking down. Most people aren’t fair or kind. People ignore or push you away. That’s why I was so happy to find one person there… I could be very well alone then, like in those woods.”
Happy’s eyes looked about ready to tear up at that. “People who ignore you? Push you away?”
“What kind of kingdom is that?” Grumpy prodded.
“A bad one.” Casey stated.
“That’s y-y-your home, my dear?” Doc asked. “Who helped you there…”
“A man named Rich.” Casey softened, her eyes misting up a little. “My father… he took me in when - no one else would, at-at the time. I miss him, and he has to be so scared…”
She had to keep his smile in mind as she went on.
“We lived in, what we call, a city, called Los Angeles. I grew up there. Many things go on, and days go so fast that it leaves you dizzy. You work a lot to earn, yet get so little with the earnings. It’s like you work for years on, collecting these gems that will only get you food and clothes. No home or a roof. Just those two things, only…”
“Gosh~” Bashful gaped.
“Wh—what did you do there?”
“I was trying to find a trade for myself. I just have his name. No dowry or anything great. It was just me and Dad. He gave me everything. Although, I don’t know any way to get back to him…” Casey swallowed tight, worried now. “I’m only a village girl, really. I’m no princess or anything close…”
“Hmph.” Grumpy huffed with more understanding. “Y’are to someone, woman…”
“…a-and yet, the Queen chose you, dear Casey.” she heard Doc say. “All maidens are loved and despaired…”
Casey’s brow deepened, a protective anger rising within her. “She chose me? By means of hurting him? The families who loved them?”
“W-well, you see, lady… the Queen possesses many wicked ways to get her biddin’ done. If these maidens be missin’ at the drop of a hat, eh… She be gettin’ desperate now.” Doc explained.
“These maidens… Don’t tell me, all of them are…?” Casey asked, feeling dread.
Dopey sobbed yet he was then hugged by Doc. “We don’t mention ‘em much.” Grumpy stated, finally, sounding fairly serious now. He cleared his throat, clearly showing sorrow. “They were invited to that castle, and they never came out… Then we came upon the lake,”
“Oh, Grumpy…” Bashful choked up, alerting Casey.
“What is it?”
“The swans… They have gone mad.” Doc added.
“Swans?” she asked, confused.
“These swans turned up there, outta nowher’” Grumpy went on. “Some looked d’rn off as if they knew a thing or two~ flappin’ their wings, tryin’ to tell us somethin’….”
“Yes… Some of them even looked like they had tears in their eyes.” Happy added.
This was where things were entering into strange territory.
“Didn’t wish to frighten ya, ma’am,” Happy was trying to be careful with his words. “I only needed to get ya here should there be a spy out there…”
“It’s all right, Happy.” Casey heart felt warm. She was basically rescued in the midst of this huge mystery. Missing women, tyrant Elizabeth Bathory level Queen… and now strange bird behavior. It seemed like, to her, that their work was all cut out for them.
“I needed to know all this— I’d be a sitting duck out there if it were not for any of you.” she continued as Grumpy was keeping his eyes peeled on all corners of the mine. “If all of this is true, this flock might be onto something. Like you said,” Casey agreed with Grumpy, practically thinking out loud with them all.
“Suggest ye stick around, heh —“ Grumpy spouted suddenly at that. “… So far we have been in search f’r weeks for even sighting one of ya,”
“If she ever discovers that you’re here, she will snatch you up quick like she did to the others.” Doc told her.
Casey felt her eyes warm up with tears as this situation was escalating the more she listened to it come out of their mouths. These sweet little men had held so much compassion in their hearts even for a stranger like her.
Her own situation was as strange as anything as a Friday night was going as normal. She had just finished a Child Development class at around eight o’clock or so and had just driven home after texting Richard that she was on her way. Most nights were relatively sweet, where she found it relieving after such long days of work. She loved children and wished to find a way for herself to explore her passions among them as well as art, along with her dad’s writing. Rather it would be amazing if she was able to teach art to children one day- However, she had a long way to go still… All one needs is patience beyond measure though, and she was still practicing that.
All this talk of Swans began to take get back to such mundaneness because at a small pond on the college grounds there was always an old swan there. He was getting slower over time but he enjoyed students walking by, so he’d come out for a treat sometimes…
Beyond just fond memories, her world was nothing like this one by far. Other than the fact that she was blessed to not be alone, Casey was willing to do her best… She was at a loss since she had nowhere to go~ so this was best route to take until there came a chance to get back home… Back to Richard. And she would not be well if his heart was broken again…
It was not long until the Seven all came upon a deeper and much different area in the Mine shaft. Casey was not used to it but they kept three of themselves on either side of her, just in case anything were to happen. Doc and Grumpy kept ahead of the rest, all eyes peeled. Happy and Bashful remained at her side even when she was fully capable of scaling each step — in her socks, no less. Of course, she could not travel through this world like this… She would need to a new wardrobe, but she needed to focus first on the issue at hand… This impending danger above all of their heads.
“If you come with us, we’ll make sure you make a quick get away.” Happy whispered to her as they journeyed on.
“W-well, um…” Casey struggled at the thought. “… what about all of you?”
“We’re makin’ do.” Grumpy remarked, gruffly.
“I have no place to be~ maybe I can help with all this…?” Casey tried to reason, as dreadful as her stomach was feeling after all this news given. “You all have been so kind to me…” she stated, not realizing what memory she had just shot at Grumpy, personally.
Grumpy looked at her as soon as they came to an archway. He did not look as annoyed as she would have thought, but he was earnest, in this one moment when she said that. “Righ’ now, yer more precious than any gem. Mark me, we will make short work o’that wicked wench. Once and f’r all!”
Based on where they were taking her, it all made her wonder if anything happened to that wonderful little cottage in the glen. If something had been done then they were all trapped in a continuously dug hole. This immortal Queen by the sound of it was pulling off something that would sound completely mad that would even disgust people at home. There was only one way to see if they could all get some more details. The Dwarfs had their suspicions, especially Grumpy had his own.
These girls were either alive or dead… and Casey dearly hoped that it was the latter. Should she be targeted to join them soon, a fear was instilled in her heart. At least she was happy to know that she bid goodnight to her family the night before all this happened… If this was all a dream, then was superbly vivid if it was…
Surrounded by her new seven companions, Casey followed them closely now until they came to an even stranger place where water seemed to trickle through the rocks from a stream above into a shimmering pool. Among all the sparkling diamonds around, it was ultimately a beautiful sight.
“What is this place?” she asked, completely enthralled by what she was seeing.
“It’s the waters from the Swan falls~” Happy brought up. “That’s where we were close to~”
This is either ironic or something other, however it got her thinking some more. However, the more they approached the waters, Casey got herself too intrigued and went slowly to get a closer look. That proved to be a mistake because, even to the surprise of the Dwarves, something began to happen… Casey looked into the pool only to see a pair of sharp beautiful green eyes staring directly back into hers. Something piercing seemed to invade her thoughts before she heard a grim voice…
As soon as the light touches your wings…
Suddenly, she found her arm and hand being yanked —
“Don’t look!!” she heard Grumpy cry out, quite viciously. Casey felt immensely dizzy for one second before she was pulled away from the pool.
“What was th-that?” she asked with a shake of her head.
“One of her wicked wiles!” Grumpy told her, solely focusing on her for a second to be sure.
“Oh gosh!”
“It’s just as we feared! She is lookin’ for ya!” Bashful feared.
“That means we gotta move mighty fast!” Sneezy whispered.
Casey shook all that fuzziness aside not yet stating of the voice she heard but no, that was like a mirror… Water was just as dangerous on this front…
“God, I was so stupid to be doing that~” she cursed at herself. “I’m getting too comfortable~ I am sorry, I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“Oh, it was not you. It was her! She darn near cast a spell on ya~” Doc voice was nearly trembling. That was merely a reminder that they had to remain careful and quick.
“Come on. men… We will have to stick with it and do somethin’~ Or Cas will be dragged in with the rest o’em in due time!”
“I am going to help you all, in any way I can…” Casey stated, noticing how her name was shortened. “Please, allow that, sir?”
“On me death bed, woman.” Grumpy countered. “After bein’ close to losin’ the Princess, we ain’t startin’ with that! I agin’ it —“
“If only there were people like you at home…” Casey dreamed aloud to them. “… I mean, there are, but they are like finding needles in a haystack. But please, don’t take me as some common damsel. I am as angry as you all are.”
“Fine kettle o’fish~” Grumpy sighed.
“Oh dear, it’s not that we think that of you…” Doc let her know, looking aghast at her even saying such a thing.
“Also, I am not thinking of any of you any less either, but if we stick together on this, we might have some upperhand. Besides, all this talk of missing girls sounds all too familiar to me. It is the same mystery where I come from…”
Dopey’s blue eyes looked horrified at the idea that this was possible in other lands next to theirs, and it all just made their hearts fire up even more. Doc sent an initial glance at Grumpy, whom was contemplating on what she said. Alas, avoiding anything reflective was ideal, and well… she was in need of something better to wear because these strange ones she had on now would make things worse. Finding a chest in the cave so far of collected curtain and twine, she decided to form herself a gown. At least her best effort, as she did learn to knit from her mother years ago. With what she had, pink and white, she was able to fashion something close enough to what she imagined — Long sleeved in pink with a shawl that trailed fully down with the pink gown, delightfully so… And so she disguarded the old pajamas, black and soiled. While the Dwarfs rested, she set it up all since she was too anxious to sleep anyhow. Not all of them rested well though — Grumpy surely did not.
He silently stood vigil as she worked on something to pass on these anxious hours. She had an inkling about magic, ever since that morning when the clocks began to tick again. Richard’s voice… tight and shaken, telling her to wake up.
One could never be sure but it all got her to think that something tremendous was going on and all this was not a vision. Those words she heard from the waters though still haunted her. It was the same attack done on Rich all those years ago. What did, ‘As soon as the light touches your wings’, mean? Did it go along with this talk of swans? So many thoughts were going through her mind, even with her being here with the Seven Dwarfs. Under the shadow of an evil already, Casey tried to find any idea that could shed light on all this.
*
Deep in the castle that was upon a ledge overlooking a great lake, a dark soul within a seemingly porcelain body approached a great oval mirror. A beautiful one made out of gold and ruby, ornate with two slithering snakes on both sides with a crown above them. At its heart laid a ruby, that glowed a sickly glow.
This woman approached the dead glass, with her arms open, gripping the sides of her flowing violet cape.
“Mirror Mirror, On the Wall~”
“What wouldst thou know, my Queen?”
replied a voice so dull, deep and emotionless from a face that appeared inside the glass.
“Speak of the whereabouts of this mysterious newcomer under that fall.”
“From a world of stone and flame, a maiden of heart and pain. Fairer than thou, wiser beyond her year, seeks shelter here ~ Under the protection of the Seven little men yonder there…”
“Alas~ for all of them. No maiden has been spared under your eye! Out of the six whom I have stolen, now their souls bound in her feather~ She too shall meet the same fate as they. Reveal to me her name~”
“Hair of Auborn, eyes of a doe, skin white as snow. The Seven little men call her Cassandra and the only one of her kind…She will either predict thy doom, or bring thy light.”
“She will be mine. As all of them had come to me, so will she…” Queen Grimilde flourished her cape as she turned away from the mirror. “Just with them, when the moonlight shines on their wings tonight…Tell me that Her curse shall thrive, and I shall become immortal.”
“Black wings shall coincide with the White~ An Undying Love shall end thine own plight~” the Mirror stated, bluntly, that ignited great prideful fire in the Queen’s terrible eyes.
*
It was among one of the slowest nights she ever had, as it was her first one in a new world that was so beautiful to the eye and was probably vast. Casey was aware that she wasn’t the only one awake, but at least she made herself something suitable for the time being. However, during her exploring in this cave, her stomach remained in knots. Almost tempted to look into the water again, she refrained, after before. Those words still echoed in her mind. Grumpy was close by, observing her explore the place, all adorned in her new gown that she had done on her own. It looked different but it suited well…
Casey held her old clothes, nervous about what she should do with them. Richard gave her these… However, when her eyes landed on that precious yarn, she sighed. She would never, ever take it off. This was the heirloom that she treasured. Her heart wanted to break…
Grumpy could clearly see their rescued maiden so deep in thought, and so he got up with her…
“Yer runnin’ ragged, woman.” she heard him quietly say. She saw the night watchman lean on his pickaxe.
“That I am. I’m sorry~ but I am not sure if I should get rid of these or not… I know there’s no need for them now but, it’s all I have to remind me of Dad.” she admitted, with Happy soon coming near.
The untouched diamonds began to light up the cavern so much that those waking up were able to see her in the light. To them, she looked mournful in the midst of her natural beauty. She saw that they were all roused up and were getting on their feet. The matter of her old clothes wasn’t truly what was troubling her.
“… why — may -my dear?” Doc’s voice came near.
“Have you not slept?” Happy asked, seeing how upset she was.
“No… I couldn’t.” she admitted. “… how could I? At first, I was worrying over finding a decent job for myself, and the next thing I knew…? … I am here, being told that someone of power wants me dead, just for existing. My father sure isn’t sleeping, I’m sure of it…” she explained herself to them. Her words were cause of a few tears falling. “It is all coming onto me all at once. But I… I managed to make myself more… presentable? What do you all think of it?”
“It’s — Oh goodness, it’s so beautiful, Casey.” Happy remarked, Dopey clapped with overjoy.
“Really?” Casey smiled at them before she tested it with a twirl. “I found some of these in one of these chests… Grumpy gave them to me. Thank you so much!”
“Hmph~” Grumpy huffed, while distracting himself with a carving in his hand. His usually harsh eyes held so much soul and thought. “…somethin’ suits ya, I s’ppose. Lookin’ as bright as the sun, y’are. Much like Snow.”
“Well, at least I’ve done something tonight. All of you are so kind~ I feel more ready than ever.”
“Not until y-yoy-you’ve eaten!” Doc announced.
“Oh! Do allow me, Doc!” Casey stepped forward to help them.
There was a stew, some vegetables and some fish with some baked bread that was brought along and spared, so it was slightly hardened. Nonetheless, the food tasted quite good after so much had gone on, as it gave them all strength to carry on.
To carry on with a plan, which was to find out for sure if these maidens were alive or not due to the Queen’s vicious dark magic. Something was amiss, of course and Grumpy was heavily onto it; as far as it was seen, the swans of the lake were acting strange and there were no physical signs of these girls. Only that they entered the castle and never came out. Casey felt deep down that she was going to be next…
It was a dangerous task, but this wicked woman had to be stopped. As long as she was here, Casey could not stand on the sidelines, watching it all get worse. This could end in two ways… They would be captured, cursed or beyond that… and when it came to cases like these, it worked to have some help. As means to getting it? Well… So far seven friends teaching her, letting her know of what to expect… and so, she had to remain firm and brave.
It was time when they came out of the great tunnels of the Mines. She was led in new wear with a new path to take now, because as soon as she stepped in the sun, there was no turning back. Certainly, there was someone who had knowledge because the woods were beginning feel severely different. Even she, they all began to feel something deeply rooted inside their hearts as soon as they set foot on grass again.
The day was becoming late, with the dusk falling close at hand, when the forest was beginning to feel severely different. As if out of nowhere among all the worry they already had, a sort of peace was over the forest… Her seven companions seemed to be on the edge about it. With her, she marveled at the beauty of the forest, not yet knowing of what was to come… Of course, it was Doc and Grumpy both keeping their eyes peeled while Happy and Bashful guided her out of the rocky mine.
The sun was setting beautifully between the distant mountains when they were close to ledge of the hillside. Something was overseeing them come out of hiding, protecting the girl. Grumpy beheld the very same feeling when he was the first to approach one of the glens. He waved a hand telling them all that it was safe to come out. Even he looked cowed by what he was seeing… It was as though someone was greeting them all here, particularly of greeting this mysterious maiden who had fallen straight from the sky.
At first, Casey genuinely thought that it was Snow White visiting them. Judging by the look in Grumpy’s eyes, it was sure that he thought so as well. It was an extraordinary woman who wore a shimmering star blue gown, and graced with a beautiful loving face of pure pink lips and sweet blue eyes. Her face was adorned with beautiful golden hair. A fellow maiden just like her at first sight, and yet there was something deeply ethereal about her.
The Seven men were mesmerized by her, and all bent down to their knees before her. Casey was at a loss at what to do in the moment, but she was greeted with graciousness. Upon laying eyes on this woman, tears begged to come to each of their eyes. Yet Casey saw the woman open a palm forwardly to her, as if asking her to approach.
If she was not mistaken, this woman was someone well known in these worlds, as far as she knew.
“Do not afraid to come, dear child…” this beauty spoke with such warmth and dignity. “A great feat is about to come about before you,”
“You-you must be the Blue Fairy…” Casey spoke, at awe while she slowly came forward.
“That I am. I have come to you, yet it seems you have made some very fond friends.” the golden haired maiden replied, as though as proud as a mother. Casey warmly looked around at the Dwarfs.
“I would be nowhere without them~” she happily exclaimed, in a way that it touched them all. Dopey giddily hugged her hand.
“We had to~ before anythin’ else were to happen…” Doc explained, to the best of his own ability.
“A-and to be blunt and honest… I am not from here.” Casey admitted.
“I know that. Which is reason for my coming… The Queen of this land is growing very powerful. So powerful that there will be many obstacles in your way, if you are to find what you seek. I will be beside you, dear girl, for you are in a world far different from your own… and there are great forces at work here.”
“That does not surprise me all that much, if I may say so, your Grace.” Casey responded. “I am a bit frightened about it. Finding myself changed so much~ Do I even possess what it takes? Is there any way I can go back home?”
“The magic that has brought you to us is powerful and relentless… It is a journey you must endure, not alone, in order to find your true home.”
That remarkably confused her with the added word ‘true’, and alas, she did not understand that at first.
“M-my… my true home?” she asked, bewildered, if not slightly frustrated for a moment.
That was until she began to think more about it, of how much struggle it was to even keep a living, to keep a roof alone even food. Beyond that was how loveless it all was becoming, and how estranged and isolated she was feeling living alone. There was a lot missing while she was still fairly young. She had her family, yet how long was that to last…? Now it was starting to click firmly in her mind… Life was lonely and maddening where no one felt welcome much at anywhere. At this rate, going home was the last thing in her chest of worries. Now she was surrounded by others with actual intent in protecting her with their best efforts. Even before they even knew her name, nor did they care if she was just some random girl. The Fairy held onto a look of compassion and sorrow. There was more to this because it was clear that Casey was stuck at a crossroads…
“A true home is where your heart sings, where your mind is at ease even when strife comes your way. However if it is your wish to return to your guardian, I shall oblige you.”
“No.” Casey answered. “ where this can lead to him… I can’t...” she found herself saying. “N-not while all this is going on…”
“I’d rather ye leave to him, woman.” Grumpy prodded. “Get back home be a far better choice than stayin here with that wicked thing causin’ all the uproar.”
She understood what he was saying but who was she to flee off like that even though it was understood if she truly wanted to. It was as though she was in a hundred year sleep and had just woken up to this brand new ethereal reality. At least now, she was getting context — serious nonsense was going down whether she liked it or not. People needed help and she was going to stand around and watch it all fall into pieces. Would she bring this evil back with her, somehow, as it had happened before… The image of Richard frozen before his mirror… hypnotized by that otherwordly orb — The Fairy understood this.
“… I have made my decision to stay with you. Didn’t I say so, Happy?” Casey asked. “I have someone I want to protect too… even though I know he’s hurting right now… I want to be sure this is stopped first.”
“Y’certainly did, ma’am. It were a mighty scare t’find ya in that way. Quite brave of ya to wanna stay… for love?”
“For love. I am not scared of some selfish old hag… There are worse people from my neck of the woods, if you ever get a peek at what I mean. If you would all have me?”
“If your wish is to stay~ a word of caution I will provide for you. Queen Grimhilde had gathered malicious means to regain her temporary humanity by stealing the youth from others. She intends to do the same to you. As a token for this task, I will bestow upon you, this…”
From her magical wand that she held high, she touched Casey on the hand… and out of thin air came a necklace made of gold and silver, and at its heart was a diamond. It was small and quaint but it dazzled the eye quite nicely.
“As long you keep this jewel, no harm will ever come to you. No spell would hinder the possibilties of freedom as long as love shall endure. On your journey you will meet many others~ some will intend harm, while some will remain loyal… The young maidens who have battled with great strife are alive, but accursed as punishment. Stride forward with mindfulness, find them and they will follow your lead for your courage and dedication. I will be with you, Cassandra. Never fear, no matter what spell you encounter — none of it will be forever.”
Casey’s eyes remained wide as she listened to these warnings as she twiddled with the little diamond enchantment around her neck.
“Strong ambitions and dark minds and hearts seek control over our worlds. They will find ways to keep all of us imprisoned, especially faefolk and those who retaliate. However, I see a path for you, dear child, that will lead to a tender bond will lighten the life you have in your realm. It will help you as much as this charm will… Seek the diamond in the rough.”
“You are speaking about someone ~ not something.” Casey said, trying to make sense of this prose. It held so many answers for her though. She had heard that saying before if her personal experience with Disney was accurate. “… okay, your Grace. I mean… I am sure these types are out for blood, but I trust your word for it. Th-thank you. I can see what’s before me ~ these kind men, this beautiful place… Should all this fall into ruin, who am I to just let it all just happen…?”
“Once you take the first step, you must endure. My magic will provide you elements so that you can move forward~ As of this moment a great battle between what is Good and what is Dark commences as we speak. No human has ever set foot here. A great prophecy as been fulfilled tonight~ and as for your loved one left behind… I will see to it that he stays perfectly safe until you return.”
“Please. I wouldn’t know what to do if anything happened to— st-stay with him then. He’s gone through enough, so I can try. That’s my promise — I will try. I can’t handle knowing he’s been heartbroken again,” Casey’s heart was welling up, strongly, with emotion. “What kind of prophecy is this, madame? Please tell me more…”
“It has long been foretold that One without Magic shall become the downfall of a great Evil in these worlds. A White Swan overwhelms the Black in a field of stars~ They will do whatever they can to prevent your journey, so I must advise you to keep heart. I am with you and so will others. Until then will you find your True Home will grow.”
Again with the swans~ So that was all just a huge clue in all this mess.
“You will come to learn your own magic~ You will be protected as you face the Darkness. the Light shall follow you ~ I vow to you, sweet girl. Gather the swans for they will be your flock. A mirror accursed, and so your door shall open to our world. My star shall guide you~”
“Yes, your Grace…” Casey stated in awe with all this, with tears in her eyes before the beauty faltered away into shimmering white light. The Dwarfs all shuddered as her vision, even Grumpy stared on with her as it all went dark in the forest once again.
“I really am in another world,” Casey stammered out. “… she even knew my name. This is far bigger than I imagined it would be.”
“Wit’all that says~ yer here now.” Grumpy spoke up, with a slight tremor in his voice, no doubt. “It weren’t what I liked to hear~”
“Neither to me —“ Doc agreed.
“Nuh-huh, we gotta high tail it~” Sneezy argued. “What’d she say ‘bout that mirror?”
“That we have to destroy it…” Casey recalled.
“There is only one way how…” Bashful’s voice shook. “We need to get inside that castle.”
Casey gandered at the magical jewel she was given, twirling with her fingers for a moment while fearfully thinking. “…gather the swans.” she thought out loud. “The lake… We first need to get to that lake where you men saw them.” she spoke again.
“I don’t like this but… we know-we know where it is…” Doc announced. “My dear, are you so sure about this?”
“As sure as I’ll ever be. This is full low level what this witch is doing, and if there are more like her~ oh, we’ve got to start somewhere. Take me there, please~”
“The lake is cursed~ Who so ever goes beyond there never return.” Happy warned, tearfully.
“I understand. I-I just… She said I have to endure in order to find things normal again… That means we have to face these people — I mean whom I have to face. Did any of you know of this prophecy she mentioned?”
“No, but it makes perfect sense.” Grumpy answered.
“No human has ever set foot here, no doubt about it. To find my True Home, she did not mean any place by the sound of it. She was talking in riddles about someone. A diamond. In the rough… I’ve heard that saying before.”
“Where did’ya hear it?” Grumpy asked.
“Um~ I’ve only heard it once, and it was about a person, not an actual diamond.” she explained. Yet she would have to put that ‘not so’ little detail on the backburner of her mind. “… anyway, we have to find this lake…” she went right back on track.
The necklace she was given was now giving a neat little moonlight glow, much like a twinkling star would. The golden broach of which it was engraved in held the tiny floral pattern that reached out almost taking the shape of wings. There was this constant symbolism everywhere and it was starting to make her stomach churn now that she knew more. Black and White swans, beauty and this thick cloud of despair to follow them around… A perfect familiar combination of things that held the memory of an old ballet back in her world… and this time she was not excited about it. That existential dread was settling in like the quiet before the storm…
Personally, she did not see anything special about herself other than the fact that she did her best in her life before. However, she had many fears she wanted to overcome and she never felt ready for much~ such as settling down. Only fate would serve her to only be a tool in the workforce only meant to earn and labor for a good chunk of life. Her abilities went as far as serving other families but that was it… She adored people yet kept a distance. She had a fair share of love at one point only for it to be just one sided and fake… Since then Casey did not know what to do about that side of life, except to move on and hope for the best. Watching such animated films for years since she was little girl, it all just kept her troubles away for a little time. All she was seeing for herself right in this moment was so much to take in. The Seven Dwarfs had no knowledge of any of this, but she chose to tell the tale of this infamous ballet to them as they journeyed quietly through the dimming forest.
“… It’s a tale told over and over again through dance.” she began. “… it’s a tale about a girl who is turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer. They never say why he cursed her~ it was probably because he was enraged by her unwillingness to love him or he kidnapped her. But he curses her to be a swan by day and a girl by night. The only way to break the spell was True Love.”
“Gosh~ that is such a beautiful story!” Bashful batted his eyes, just imagining.
“Yes, but it does not end happily~ The Prince declares his love to the wrong woman and… well, the poor girl goes to die. She’d rather die than be a swan forever.”
“Heh- knew there be a catch.” Grumpy prodded.
“There were other endings in different dances too. Like, one depicted the Prince realizing his mistake and tries to make amends, but they both wind up dying. Another ending is more ambiguous where two loving swans fly off into the night. Oh, so many endings to choose from~”
“Oh goodness, they both fly— I mean die…” Doc spoke.
“Indeed, it’s a hard ending, but it’s a rather lovely libretto. Two lovers going beyond for each other… if only it was like that back home. There is a belief there that there is someone who went out of their way to save humanity through pure sacrifice to the darkness in our world… He did not have to do so, but He did. A Prince dies for his Bride, but His Kingdom is forever. There are signs this love existing still but its getting harder and harder to find. People are growing more blind and heartless by the day. It’s … safe for a woman to remain alone. I only saw this love in the man who saw me first..."
“So that Love exists for you too, my lady? You've seen it, the one spark your life in such a way that you never lose hope ‘bou it…Be sure of it.”
Grumpy and Happy both came along, leading them down a path that closed in at a body of water. Casey wiped her eyes upon her sleeve when she began to hear the sweet song of water nearby. It was feeling all too real now.
“Thank you, so kind of you~”
“The lake, m’lass~ look…” Grumpy hastily whispered to them all and pointed.
It was coming close to dusk as the sky began to take an almost sharp pinkish glow among sapphire and gold reflected above and in those seemingly tranquil waters. She, along with them, looked to where he pointed and there they saw a flock. A flock of white swans oddly swimming towards the castle in the distance, as though instinctly. It was a great towering castle above the shimmering lake above a great mount. With rose turrets and white brick, it kissed the sky so high. It looked beautiful however, it was not a pleasant place to be, given that some awful things were going on inside those towers. There was what looked like a small town at its base, complete with a bridge over a portion of the lake. Those birds had vanished behind the mount.
“Our Snow White, she used to live in that place~” Sneezy mentioned out of the blue after they gandered for too long.
“Had she…?” Casey said as she watched those birds vanish away out of sight. “A strong girl she has to be to have had dealt with someone like this.”
That was more of a thought but it touched her companions in a silent way. However, the matter at hand kept them on edge, especially when a branch snapped behind them. Casey turned and stared at who was coming, despite having her arm yanked for her to run. Without any words needed, the group flew off with something shadowed and hidden, something that she could not make out. Whether or not if it was a wolf or some wild boar, the sounds it was making was beyond horrifying~
“This way! Hurry!” she was called at and guided through back through the woods again which made her blood run cold.
Her mind begged for her to scream for what it was, but she did not dare to.
“We’ll hold ‘em off! Don’t look back!” she heard Grumpy cry out, strangely from somewhere behind but when she tried to look, something that resembled a veil seemed to come out of nowhere. It enveloped her before she could even think about what was going on. The next thing Casey knew was that she was suddenly very much alone…
Next Chapter ~>
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~Magical Thoughts~