Cinderella's Secret Witch Diaries Box Set: Lost, Stolen, Found

November-1

November

November 4

Renée has tied me to a chair, but my left arm is free so that I can write. I do not know how many days have passed. How can we defeat someone who can be everywhere and do anything? What am I to do? I feel ashamed and out of control. I am fighting him. I am trying my best, but …

What? It’s not working? Don’t like the fact that I can just pop in and that all will be okay. You are mine now. Don’t ever forget that. Let me tell you a story about your future. Many years from now your story will be told to millions of children around the world. And do you know what they’ll remember? They’re going to remember that you were a poor little girl who had nothing and that you were mistreated by your stepmother and stepsisters. Poor little you! But then, one day, your Faerie Godmother comes and helps you get the prince who rescues you from your miserable little situation.

Isn’t that funny? That’s what people will remember you for. Not for anything else but that you became a princess and lived happily ever after. Isn’t that wonderful?

I will fight you. I will not let you win. I will. I will. I will.

Feel better now, do you? I’m going to take you on a journey. Renée has never truly explained to you what your powers are, has she? It is time that you understood what I want from you and how you can help me. Remember, you are a Chronicler of events. You can see them and capture them in your mind and share with others what you know and have seen, but there’s so much more for you to learn. Once you learn what you can do with your power, then we’ll see if you’ll fight me any longer. Ready, set, and here we go!

The journey is straight

the road is long

Where, oh where, has

My pretty girl gone?

***

I woke up lying in bed. I was untied, and from the window streams of the morning sun shone in, but it was quiet. The room looked different, and as I came out of my deep slumber I realized that I was somewhere else. I had never been in this bed before.

For a moment, I listened to the sound of birds calling outside. Early morning, and I would guess autumn. The smell of fresh baked bread came wafting in from another room. I rubbed my eyes, yawned, and then stretched a bit.

When I shifted my legs, I stopped. My left thigh had grazed a wet spot in the bed. I tried to sit up but was weak. I placed my hand under the covers and felt the spot. My heart raced and I looked at my hand, seeing blood. I threw the sheet off of me and called for Renée. My undergarments were saturated, and the cold, sticky feeling frightened me. I called for Renée again, and I could hear movement from the other room as she rushed to come to me.

I could not get up out of bed. I tried, but fatigue kept me there. My hands looked so pale. I put my hands on my belly and could not feel you. Were you hurt? Did I lose you? Shifting into the morning light, I focused and called on my power. My hand began to glow, and I fell back onto the pillow. I had no strength.

Renée came running into the room and I looked over at her—and saw the Silver Fox. He had dressed himself in her clothes and he was carrying a large, metal pot.

“Oh my, are you okay?” His sing-song voice tried, badly, to mimic Renée’s voice.

I wanted to hit him.

He smiled and barely contained his laughter. “Is there anything wrong, my dear?”

Again, I wanted to slap him, knocking his foxy look off his face. His face changed, and his feral side showed through and then faded back off into the background.

I tried to talk but could not. He came closer, hair pulled back like Renée’s, and as he stood next to me, he tilted the metal pot onto the bed and blood flowed out onto my legs.

“Haven’t had enough pig’s blood? I’ve plenty for you.”

His laughter cracked, and he threw the metal bowl across the room and could not stop laughing. He kept laughing until a coughing fit caught him, and he choked for a bit on his own fun.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

He fell onto the bed and propped himself up on his elbows. “Because, because, because—I can.”

I shut my eyes and listened. I was in a dream, within a dream, dreaming about a dream. His power, thick over me, pulled me back, and I opened my eyes.

“What would you do if you lost your daughter?” He pulled himself up and then sat on the bed next to me. His hands were covered in the pig’s blood. Brushing away the hair from my eyes, he asked, “What would you do?”

How could I answer? What could I say? I fought, in my mind, but he remained. I tried to shut him out from my soul, but could not. His power captured me whole. I began to cry. My body was wracked in pain, so I released my fear and fell into my sorrow.

He took pity on me and held my hand in his own. “It is time for you to understand why I need you. I have broken you enough and want you to understand how you can use your powers to help me.”

I sobbed and listened with no will of my own left. He had stripped me down and held all the power over me that should have been mine.

“I want you to save your mother’s life for me.” He said the words with reverence and waited to see if I had heard him.

“Did you hear me?” He held my chin in his hand and wiped the tears from my face.

I nodded in fear, as I knew not what he would next do to me.

“Renée hasn’t fully told you about your powers to change history. Now I will bring you to three key moments in your life. What you decide to change or not change is up to you, except when I call for you to help me save your mother. Then, if you do not obey me, I will take Phoebe from you.” He patted back my hair and his face changed again, his fox snout so close to my cheek that I could smell his breath. “I will let you go now so that you can rest. But soon I will come back for you.”

I closed my eyes to hide from him, and he disappeared, leaving me to my sobs and fear.

November 7

Renée and I have talked. The moments that I remain me are harder to find. I can see it in her eyes, as she wonders whether I am still me or if he possesses me. She is afraid that I will hurt someone or myself. I am in my room and am again tied to the chair. Renée told me that I had to be secured because I had run off and tried to hurt myself. She is worried for me, I can see it in her face, and I do not know what I can do.

How do you win against this insanity? I have talked and talked, but Renée has not been able to help save me. I am powerless and alone. No, that is not true. I am filled with sorrow. He will come back soon. He has not left me alone for more than a few days. I told Renée what he wants, and she fears that his request will break the natural order, but I have no sense of how to do his bidding, even if I did wish to do so.

I remember my mother’s smile. I pray for that now. I pray to understand what he wants from me and that she will come to me and fill me with light. A light that will cleanse me and bring me back home and fill me with peace.

November 11

As our little Cinder girl is taking a nap, let me try and entertain you. I’m not such a bad man. Well, I’m not a man. I’m a fey and a fox who’s a flighty little thing. I am the West and the East, and, well, I can see you don’t care. What do you care about? What do you do if you could be what you want to be? Like me, in a tree, with the sea, let me take a—well, let’s not go there or I’ll be off wandering down memory lane and you’ll not listen to me.

You’re not like your mother, are you? I like the dark I see in you. It is shades of nightfall and twilight in your eyes. She will never surrender to me and be mine and maybe that’s why I’ve stayed so long, as she won’t give in. She’ll fall apart and then I’d lose you and I don’t want that now, do I? Help convince her to give me what I want. Will you do that for me? Think on it.

Let me go now. You need your rest as does your mother. She is me and I am her as we are like each other. Take care of her and I’ll be back soon. I will. I promise. Good night, my sweet little one. Good night.

November 13

Renée has told me that it is cold outside. I do not remember the last time I was out. I have been here, in this room, tied to the chair for a long time. I am fed, and she has washed and clothed me. I have hours that I am at peace and we go for walks, and then I am brought back to this room. She told me that I keep changing into him and that she is afraid that I might hurt someone. When I am calm, like this, I try to not think of what has happened to me. The outer world has fallen away, and all I have now are these times. I do not remember when he takes over. I do not wish to talk more about this.

Soon it will be the time to enact our plan. The two of us are going to leave the encampment, and we will not be near any people so that I cannot hurt anyone. With my magic so strong and raw, Renée is afraid that I might surrender and use my powers for him.

I am going now. I do not know when I will be able to write next. Maybe there is a chance that I might lose myself entirely and, if I do, I want you to know that I love you. It is all I can say as a mother right now. I will fight for you, and I will not give up. But nothing I have done so far has worked. Nothing I have tried to do to stop him matters or even appears to have a chance of working. But I will not give up. I will keep trying. But for now, I just want some rest. I love you.

November 21

I am beginning to be bored with you. You resist me still. Your friend watches over you night and day, but her magic cannot stop me. Let me take you to your first chance. Let us return and see. I think I shall have some fun with this. And try not to be so glum, I have waited a long time for this. You could at least give me the satisfaction of playing along. Can you try and pretend to care?

I am not all evil. I am erratic and, oh, well you should know by now. I dote on you, my little dove. Trust me, I do. Come with me, come back, come to the beginning and let us see what you will do. Remember, you are a Chronicler and can change history. You must learn how! But, enough of that, let us go and travel back there. Now.

***

I opened my eyes and squinted. My head hurt and around me people danced, twirling around. I wore my beautiful blue gown, and my glass slippers were on my feet still. In the large room, I caught a glimpse of Clarissa dancing and laughing. I had traveled back. A young attendant came to me and asked me for my name. I told him and waited to be announced. Two women were in front of me with their family. I stood alone with no one to support me. My palms sweated and I took a deep breath, held it, and slowly exhaled. The dress made me look truly beautiful, but it was tight around my waist. I would be happy to be changed in a few hours.

I listened as the family in front of me was announced, and polite clapping filled the hall. The young attendant waved me forward, and I took a few steps more into the room. He blew a few notes from his trumpet and called out to the gathering of nobles, “From the west, we are honored tonight by Miss Sophia.”

My name meant nothing to any of them. I walked forward and my shoes shot out sparks of blue that whipped around me, little faerie lights, dancing around my dress. I strode forward with purpose, and heads turned to see my dress flow with power and might. Magic crackled around me and my entrance into society drew many an eye. I had always thought the magic that night had come from my Fairy Godmother. I knew better now. The clothes, coach, and shoes were given to me by the wily fox, but the rest was mine.

I could see people whispering to each other as I passed by, and with purpose I walked to the center of the room toward the prince. People gave way, and blue lights swirled around me, like tiny fireflies, dancing in delight.