Hi everyone. This is my very first fanfic. I used to write stories
all the time but this is the first in almost six years. If you have
any feedback I am very open to reading it. Please email me at
katbee@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: I do not own any character in this story. I only own the
story itself. If you like the story and would like to use it I am
happy to allow that. Please let me know where you will be using it and
please please give me credit.
Christine opened her eyes. At least she felt like she opened her eyes
but as she looked around, she noticed Virginia-her daughter-leaning
over her body. Christine looked down at her hands, turned them over to
make sure she could still see them, and then just to be certain-she was
conditioned distrustful-she clasped her hands together.
"Well, this is an interesting turn of events," Christine said aloud.
Her voice sounded so normal she half expected Virginia to lift her head
and acknowledge her words. She walked over to where Virginia was
standing over her-or her body at least. She smiled in spite of herself
as Virginia spoke of when she would rub her fur coat up and down
Virginia's skin.
Tears came unbidden to her eyes as Virginia said, "I always wanted to
be your little girl." Christine watched in wonder as the dead rose
Virginia had placed on her chest blossomed. For some strange reason,
that made her very happy.
When Virginia left Christine stood looking at her body. She knew now
that this shell had been a prison more completely than the Snow White
Memorial Prison was. You see, since her death she was no longer
trapped in a body out of balance. She was no longer haunted about not
being in control-of not measuring up to what was expected of her. She
no longer feared losing her power over others.
As Christine stood looking at her body, she began to wonder what she
was still doing there. Didn't Evil Queens such as her go to hell or
Hades? You know fire, damnation that sort of thing. So, why was she
still standing here? Perhaps there was not anything of the kind.
Perhaps she was able to wander from place to place by her own free
will. Christine headed for the open door of the tomb and walked
through into the tomb again. She tried a different door with the same
result.
Christine was still used to getting her way and felt her temper begin
to flair and then just as suddenly it faded and she was left with this
indescribable need to laugh. She let out a snicker then because it
hurt to hold it in she let the mirth flow. Oh, it had been so long
since she had laughed so hard and completely. The last time she had
been 7 years old. Christine tensed as the memory flooded her psyche.
***Like all little girls Christine wanted to be just like her mother.
She would sit perched on a stool nearby whenever her mother was getting
ready to go out for the evening with her father. That evening she
studied what her mother did with such concentration that she hadn't
noticed her father coming up behind her.
"Boo!" he yelled.
Christine jumped out of her seat and they both fell to the floor
laughing and rolling around. Her mother eyed them distastefully and
asked Christine's father to fetch her wrap.
When he had left the room her mother looked at her and said, "You
really are a little guttersnipe aren't you?" an evil smile twisted her
face, "I am appalled that I have to claim you as my child. Get out of
my sight your very presence disgusts and offends me." Christine just
stared, shocked at her mother's words.
When her father returned with the wrap, he noticed her expression.
"Hey, Little Queen, don't look so glum. You'll get me the next time
I'm sure of it."
Christine smiled wanly, gave him a hug, her mother a kiss on the cheek,
and left the room. When she was almost out of hearing range, she heard
her father ask her mother what she had said to upset Christine so much.
However, she did not hear the reply.***
Christine wiped the tears from her eyes and took a deep breath. If
being trapped here was so she could take a trip down memory lane
perhaps, she had been hasty in her conclusion that there must not be a
hell.
***Christine was horrified to find herself kneeling by a bathtub.
Steam filled the room and water splashed noisily into the tub. The
door opened and 7-year-old Virginia walked in.***
Christine began to moan-an awful mournful sound.
***Virginia smiled and laughed as Christine washed her. She did not
struggle as Christine lowered her back into the water.***
Great sobs wracked Christine's body and she choked on her breath.
***Virginia looked confused and then panicked as Christine's fingers
wrapped around her neck and the water closed in over her head.***
Christine gagged on the pain.
***Virginia' s eyes were closed now. "What the HELL are you doing
Christine?" Tony screamed as he threw her out of the way and pulled
Virginia out of the water.***
Christine screamed and screamed. She screamed until her ears rang and
her voice was hoarse. Then she cried, sobbing, "My little girl, my
little girl, my little girl..." Repeatedly.
After an eternity, Christine began to notice the room seemed to be
getting brighter. She looked around. The rose Virginia had left was
glowing. She did not have time to ponder why because someone was
calling her name. She turned and fell to the floor at Snow White's
feet.
"Christine, you certainly present a problem don't you?" Christine
looked up surprised. "Not only were you forgiven by the person you
wronged the most. You have shown obvious regret for your actions,"
Christine rubbed self-consciously at her throat.
"Because you cannot go to the underworld when you mourn your actions
and you cannot go to heaven with the blood of others staining your
hands, you will be given a task." At Christine's look of confusion
Snow White continued, "You will be given limited power to change your
form to that of an old peasant woman and and back and the power to
transform another into the form true of his or her character. You will
also have the power to speak truth and recognize deception."
Christine finally found her voice, "What exactly am I to do with these
powers?"
Snow White smiled, "Even after all that's happened you still feel the
need to be in control don't you?" Christine lowered her head. She had
not meant to be disrespectful.
"Now, now head up, wallowing in guilt won't do any good that's what got
you in this situation in the first place." Christine's eyes met Snow
White's. "What you are to do with these powers is simply use them to
help others create a life of truth and light, trust, and joy."
"Your first assignment is a young prince in a far off kingdom that is
not part of the known ten kingdoms. You are simply to take the rose,
transform into the old peasant woman, and request shelter in exchange
for the rose. Offer three times. If on the third time you are still
refused shelter then return to your true form and transform him into
his true beast form."
Christine nodded at Snow White. "One more thing, if he is transformed
you must give him the rose with the explanation that it will bloom
until his 21st birthday at which time it will begin to die. If he has
not found true love and has not received true love in return by the
time the last petal falls he will remain a beast forever."
Snow White disappeared and Christine found herself standing at the door
of a magnificent castle. Her form was that of the old peasant woman.
She knocked on the door and an arrogant young man opened it. When she
offered him the rose in return for shelter he laughed and slammed the
door in her face. The second night she returned and again her offer
was refused. On the third night, she again offered the rose in
exchange for shelter. As the young prince began to shut the door
Christine returned to her true form.
"I can see there is no kindness in your heart. You are a beast." Even
as the words were spoken, his form changed to that of a hideous beast.
Christine looked at the beast prince with pity and disgust. "This rose
will bloom until your 21st birthday, then it will die. If you have not
found true love and it hasn't found you by the time the last petal
falls you will remain a beast forever."
"Wait! Who could ever love a beast?"
"That is not my problem," Christine said and disappeared.
~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~
Virginia suddenly sat up in bed. Wolf being sensitive to her every
movement was wide-awake instantly.
"What's wrong?" He asked.
"I just had the strangest dream. My mother was standing over me
crying. She took the rose I placed on her body and she gave it to a
horrible beast." Virginia's breath was slow and ragged. Wolf put a
hand on her knee to calm her. Reflexively she grabbed his hand and
held it tightly. "What do you think that means?" she asked him.
"Well, Virginia, what do you think it means?" A slight smile played on
his lips as he turned the question back to her.
"You know I think she's alright. I don't know why but, I feel like a
weight has been lifted from me."
Wolf smiled and gently wiped a tear coursing down her cheek. "That is
a burden you deserve to be free of." Virginia's eyes met his and she
smiled. "Now my creamy love, how about we go back to bed." With that
said he pulled her into his embrace and they fell asleep snuggled
together like spoons in a drawer.
THE END
Return to
Fairy-Tale Forest