Twisted Twelfth

"Wait! Stop!   My dress is caught! Come back!" 

Elizabeth screamed at the top of her lungs, but she knew it was no use, they were gone.  The resounding click of the spiraling staircase confirmed her dread.  She slowly freed her long skirt from the rose bush then stood up.

  She spun on the cobblestone pathway lifelessly, cloaked in shadowy moonlight.  The sight of her dancing could overwhelm anyone with joy or sadness, but no one was there to watch.   Through her tears she didn't see the golden palace turn black, or the warm light of the lanterns in the trees turn ominous.  When she finally looked up, the world was no longer beautiful.  It was a world of darkness and pain, like a burned face beneath a gilded mask. 

She barely recognized the place that had once been her escape.  With a sinking feeling, she realized that this was the world's true nature.  She looked around at the twisted trees and at the dark waters of the once glistening lake.  The world radiated darkness.  Her courage was consumed by fear and she shrunk back towards the jeweled forest.  Whispering voices slithered through the cool night air. 

"We're coming…we're coming for you…don't be afraid Lizzy…we won't hurt you…don’t be afraid…we're your friendssss.  Remember… we're commingcomingcomingcoming," the raspy voice hissed.

Elizabeth felt a snake slither down her spine as she realized that no one was there.  The trees seemed to look down on her and the black sky seemed to be closing in.  Ravens mocked her with their jeering calls as she fell to the ground.  She lay there in terror, sobbing into the dirt. 

Her innocent nature led her in to listening the dark voice.  She felt the darkness enter her soul, crushing the life within her.  She lay on the ground gagging and gasping for air.

"You fool girl.  You honestly believed me?  Oh don't worry, with that little sense, you would have died soon anyway," The cruel voice laughed. 

A dark hooded figure stepped out from the malevolent woods.  He threw back his hood, revealing a young face.  Through the mangled features, Elizabeth could just barely make out the face of the knight that had been watching them before. 

"Surprised, are you.  Well, let's make this quick.  Any last words," he paused.

"No," she replied, seemingly deep in thought.

"Hmm…Alright then,"  The Knight unsheathed a gleaming dagger.

Just as he plunged it through her heart she through the contents of a small crystal vial down his throat.  The healing water washed way the evil that coursed through his veins.  Realizing what he had done, he dropped down beside her.  He lay his head on her heart and saw that it was still beating, but was quickly fading.  He knew that there was nothing that he could do to save her.  He lay beside her making his final decision.  Then in the fading twilight he stabbed himself through his own heart and lay there to be forever joined with her.