The darkness of the forest that had so irreversibly filled my retina subsided, and the familiar glow of luminescent torchlights filled my eyelids as they opened irritably, revealing to me the enormous hall of Windsor Castle. My hands and legs felt numb and immovable as I had been tied against the great hall wall, except that no ropes were used. Malena stood facing me right underneath the chandelier. “Well, well, well. Looks like little Ellie has woken up from a deep slumber…or should I say little Princess Talia?” Malena hissed in her dangerously silky voice. I was tied against the wall by Malena’s magic which felt tighter than ropes. “Hope your journey on my pet beast’s back was comfortable. Mind you, I had strictly instructed it to act as gently as the situation allowed, in escorting

