Candice had just finished lacing her waist when she heard a light knock on her door.
Johanna folded her wings in, relaxed and her teeth and claws retreated back into her jaw and hands.
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She's going to surprise Candice. That's one thing she's never been able to do.
Candice walked over to the door and answered it. There was a woman standing there. She had dark hair, dark gold eyes, and a pale complexion. The woman looked kind of familiar but she couldn't put her finger on it.
"Hello sister. Getting ready for the carination? I'm sorry I didn't bring the Nightshade." Johanna said in bright cheerful voice. "Faith? You look so different." Candice was flustered. "And what do you mean, you didn’t bring any Nightshade? They’re all over the forest. Now the entire kingdom will suffer because of you. They will all die, just like every other kingdom." Candice said accusingly. "Oh, I found a lot of Nightshade. It was everywhere. To the left, to the right, in front of me, behind me, everywhere." Johanna said. "Then why didn't you get any?" Candice said frustrated. "Because I didn't feel like killing the entire kingdom!" Johanna shouted. Candice was shocked. 'How in the world did Faith learn that? Has she been spying on me?' "How did you know that?" Candice asked. "I met a friend." Johanna replied simply. "And who would this friend be?" Candice asked. "I'm not here to talk about Nikita or the Nightshade. I'm here to make sure I'm the one wearing that dress." Johanna said pointing to Candice's carination dress. "What? I thought you were
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on my side." Candice said. "Apparently not, because you tried to kill me! That's besides the point." Johanna shouted. She was getting really frustrated. 'Why can't Candice be more cooperative? Maybe if I show her the real me she'll be frightened and give up the crown. But I can't unless I get angry.' "You know? This is not how I planned this conversation to go. The way it's supposed to go is, I walk in, you ask a bunch of questions, I give a bunch of answers, you give me the crown, and no one gets hurt." Johanna said calmly. "What do you mean, no one gets hurt?" Candice replied nervously. "Well, lets just say, the new me can cause a lot of damage. And by the way, my name is Johanna." "Johanna? What kind of name is that? Your name is obviously Faith. Faith is a meaningful name. One that describes you." Candice smirked.
Ok, everyone has their weakness. For Joanna, it's people criticizing her decisions. Her eyes darkened and her claws began to grow, her canine teeth sharpened and grew longer, and her wings unfolded from her back. "My name is Johanna, and I picked it myself! Never. I repeat, never criticize my decision!" She shouted and sprang towards Candice. Candice turned to run but tripped over the sheet that was hanging off her bed. When she fell she rolled over onto her back. Johanna leaped into the air and landed right next to Candice. The light was streaming through her wings, making them look purple. "Beautiful, aren't
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they? My wings, claws, and fangs. Take a guess on who gifted me with this." Johanna said, flapping her wings in Candice's face. "Oh Faith. I mean Johanna." Candice said sympathetically. "Who could have ever cursed you with this?" Johanna smiled. "Do you remember Zelda?" Johanna asked and sliced a hole in Candice's coordination dress at an alarming speed.
Chapter 6
Johanna? Who's Johanna?
Candice screamed for the guards. They came rushing in to see Candice on the floor with a large rip in her coordination dress and an oddly attractive creature standing over her. She had large dark wings, blinding fangs, and long sharp claws. "Hello gentlemen. What can I do for you on this fine evening?" The woman said in a dark, cold voice. The guards were awestruck. "Stop standing there like statues and her off of me!" Candice screamed. The guards stepped forward. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." The creature warned. "Who, who are you." One of the smaller guards stammered. The creature shot him a breathtaking glance and he ran behind the larger guard. "The name’s Johanna." She replied. "Seize her!" Candice wailed. "B, but the, I mean, Johanna told us not to." The smaller guard said again. "And when has that ever stopped you?!" Candice shouted, getting annoyed. "Since they fell in love with a beast." Johanna spat. "Your not in love with, this. Are you?" Candice asked pointing to Johanna. "She's so beautiful." One of the older guards said. Dazed. "She's got you under a spell. That's it. That's what's
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wrong with you." Candice cried. "Oh Candice. I have no magic of my own. It's just another thing you never knew about me. I have ability to make the simplest commoner fall in love with me at first sight." Johanna whispered to Candice. She stood up from Candice and stared the tallest and guard in the eye. "I want you to take this woman to the dungeon until further notice." Johanna said sweetly. "Yes my love." He said and took Candice by the arms. "This is an outrage! I'm supposed to be queen! Faith is supposed to be gone!" Candice cried as the guard led her out the door. "My name is Johanna!" She shouted and sprang towards Candice. She grabbed her from the guard and flew her to the ceiling and then dropped her. "Guards! Catch her!" Johanna ordered. The guards obeyed and caught her just as she was about to hit the ground. Johanna lowered to eye level with Candice. "So Candice. Did you enjoy your ride? You'll be getting more of those if you can't learn my own name." Johanna said coldly. "I, I'm never going to speak to you again." Candice barely uttered. "That's going to be hard considering you'll have to give a vow granting me the crown." Johanna sneered. Looked up into Johanna's gold eyes and said, "Never." Then closed her eyes and let the guards take her to the dungeon.
Johanna had terrible nightmares all night long. When she awoke she only remembered one. She was at the carination. Candice was taking a vow to make her
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queen but the weird part was that she wasn't saying the right words. Everything she was saying was in Latin. Johanna felt that she didn’t need to be in human form because she wanted the entire kingdom to know the real her. When Candice had finished saying whatever it was she was saying in Latin Johanna felt a horribly sharp pain in the back of her head. She fell to the ground clutching her head, trying to make it stop. And then there was this glowing that spread across her body. It burned. The entire audience was screaming in fear. All except Candice. Candice was standing straight and tall and smiling the biggest smile. Johanna's body was suddenly engulfed in flames and her wings began to shrivel and her back completely closed. Her claws flattened out and shrank into normal nails. And finally her fangs shrank into normal canine teeth once again. When all was calm again and the burning stopped, Johanna looked up into Candice's eyes. "Dear sister, welcome back. Faith"
Johanna was sweating. She unfolded her wings to make sure they were still there. 'Good' she thought. She got up and put the same green dress she's been wearing since she was gifted. She cut two holes in the back for her wings. She slid it over her head. She put a pair of black shoes with leather soles she "borrowed" from Candice and made her way to the dungeon to check on her.
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"Good morning dear sister. Guess what day it is? Sunday. Do you know what that means?" Johanna asked, trying to sound pleasant. "The worst event of my life is taking place today." Candice whispered coldly. "Don't be so dark sister. To make you feel better, I'll have one of the guards go and get a book for you." Johanna offered. Candice face lit up. "I'd like that." She smiled. Johanna left to go and eat breakfast. Candice stood up and whispered into the guard’s ear. "You know what to do." And she slipped him a $100 bill. The guard went up to the library and found a book so precious it was made of bronze. The book was titled, "Transformations." The guard picked it up and gave the librarian the $100 bill. He made his way to the dungeon. When got down to that rank place he gave the book to Candice. "Perfect. Thank you Howard." Candice said sweetly. The guard named Howard nodded and stood at his post. Candice spent an hour going through the book. She was looking for the spell to undo a transformation. When she finally got to page #142 she found what she was looking for. "Yes!" Candice shouted. "By the end of the day, Johanna will be known as Faith once again and I will be quee
n." She whispered to herself.
Johanna was lacing the same dress Candice tried on yesterday. There was a patch where she had ripped it. She cut two holes in back for her wings because she wanted the entire kingdom to know who there
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queen really was. She just finished combing her hair when there was a large bang in the front of the kingdom. She jumped at the sudden noise. It scared her so much that for a split second her wings unfolded and claws and fangs sprang out but the moment she realized what happened she calmed down and everything was normal. She got up and walked into the hallway. She's been using Candice's chambers for the day. She unfolded her wings and leaped into the air flew down to the scene. When she got there the throne was practically covered in guards. "Clear out." No one budged. "Now!" Johanna ordered. "Oh, sorry my love. I did not hear you. Yes my love." Apologized one of the guards. Everyone cleared a path for Johanna. The queen was slouching to the left with her eyes wide open. There was no life in her eyes. They just stared blankly. Johanna stepped forward and closed the queen’s eyes. "The queen is dead." She announced solemnly. "I did not like the queen very much but I still grieve for her passing." Johanna said. "The carination will take place immediately. Gather all the men and young boys in the kingdom. I'm afraid to have any women and girls at the carination because they obviously cannot and would not fall in love with me." She ordered the guards. They obeyed and marched towards the town. Johanna went down to the dungeon to fetch Candice. "Candice. It's time to make
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your vow." Johanna announced happily. "I can't wait." Candice replied coldly.
Chapter 7
The Carination.
The carination was amazing. There were flowers everywhere and everyone was enjoying them selves. Candice was chained to a bench so she wouldn't try to run away. Johanna wasn't nervous at all. She's waited her whole life for this moment. When princess Johanna (Faith) becomes queen.
"The time has come, your majesty." One of the guards said. Johanna stood up from where she was sitting and walked up to the very front. "Gentlemen and boys. Thank you for coming to this latest event." Johanna announced. "Some of you may be wondering who could possibly be giving the vow to hand me the crown. Well, my sister, Candice will be presenting the crown and giving the vow to grant me queen." There was an eruption of claps and whistles and cheers. All the men were on there feet whistling. All the boys were leaning towards the front.
'The time has come Faith. Your power will end and I will not fail in getting rid of you this time.' Candice thought with pleasure. Johanna was standing in front of the audience. The guard known as Howard has unlocked Candice's handcuffs, took her by the arm and led her up to the stage. She walked with a purpose. Candice has memorized the spell perfectly.
Johanna was ready. She stood proud. She turned to
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the audience one last time and said, "Candice will now say her vow and place the crown upon my head. While she says her vow, no one is to makes noise, or else." Candice walked up to the stage and began her vow.
'Wait. Something is wrong. The vow isn't in Latin.' Johanna thought with worry. Then it hit her. A sharp pain in the back of her head. It grew and soon it was unbearable. She fell to the ground, clutching her head. And then her entire body lit on fire. Her wings began to shrivel and her back closed. Her claws were flattening out and shrinking. Her fangs shrunk back into normal canine teeth. The pain in her head was unbearable. "Dear sister. Here, eat this. It will ease your pain." Candice said. She gave her a berry. It was black and had a drop of purple juice dripping down the side. Johanna couldn't think straight. All she could tell herself was to find a way to get rid of her headache. When Candice offered the berry and said it would ease her pain she took without protest. She ate it in one bite.
"Poisonada. Dear Faith. You just ate the most deadly berry in all the world. You will die quickly, do not worry. But before you slip away into the other world I want you to know that I will be queen. I am going to find Zelda and execute her. But don't worry, I'll burry her right next to you." Candice whispered coldly. "Zelda. Is. Dead." Faith said with her last breath.
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Everything was getting very bright. She could see her mother. Zelda was standing next to her. "Mother." Faith cried. "Dear Faith. I knew one day you'd come to know who to love and trust." The queen said in a heavenly echo. "You've achieved greatness Johanna." Zelda said in the same kindness. "Johanna? Who's Johanna?" Faith turned around to see whom Zelda was talking to. Nobody was there. "You were once known as Johanna. You were powerful. Mixed stands of DNA all into one being. You had wings of a bird, claws of a cat, and fangs of a bat." Zelda explained. "Your sister killed you so she would be queen. If that was God's plan for you to die at her hand then that is how you must die. Welcome to heaven my love." The queen cooed. And as fast as they appeared, all of Faith’s worries were gone.
About the Author
Hannah Willis was born in Grapevine, T.X. She lives with her sister, brother, mom, dad, two dogs, and fish (Sushi.)
She is 13 years old and has written many stories in the past. When she gets older she wants to be a teacher and write for a hobby. Matthew Otto is a talented artist and has helped Hannah with her story in the art work. Hannah drew the characters herself and Matthew designed the background.
Hannah now happily lives in North Richland Hills with her family.
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