CHAPTER 10

Her first victim was Beast. She played on his ability to transform into a cat. "You know I've never had a pet,” Princess Selina purred to the Beast. "I wish I had a cat that I could carry around in my arms." Selina whispered the magic spell into Beast’s ear.

Beast, who was completely taken in by her charm and now under her magic spell transformed into his cat form.

Princess Selina picked up Beast and, carrying him in her arms, with a smile on her face, set off to find Miranda.

Miranda saw Princess Selina walking down the hallway carrying something in her arms and it was not until she got closer that Miranda realized that Princess Selina was carrying the cat, her Beast.

Miranda had no way of knowing that The Dark Ones sent Princess Selina or that Beast was under her magic spell. All she knew was the promise her Beast made her had been broken.

As soon as the cat saw Miranda, the spell Selina had put him under was broken. Miranda's hands started to tingle and she felt a sharp pain go through her hands. The cat jumped out of Princess Selina's arms as if he too were in pain in all of his paws. Miranda turned around and went back to her room.

Miranda could not face Beast. Whether he was human or cat he had betrayed her. She stayed away from the great hall and all of The Masters that day. Miranda said nothing to any of them.

Beast could not look at Miranda at dinner that night. He could not bear to see the hurt in her eyes.

Princess Selina smiled through dinner. One down, three to go.

She saw the hurt in Miranda's face and was secretly overjoyed. She was only beginning to take down Miranda. The Princess truly believed The Dark Ones when they had told her she would be The Lady of the Manor with all the power and privilege that went along with that position.

Princess Selina believed that The Dark Ones only wanted to get rid of Miranda. She never realized what they were really after was The Masters. The Dark Ones wanted The Masters destroyed.

CHAPTER 11

Before anyone was up the next morning, Princess Selina was after her second victim.

She found Celestial in the library.

"Celestial,” Princess Selina raced excitedly into the library, “last night I was looking out the window and something strange was happening in the sky. Since you know so much about the stars could we look at the stars now so you can see what happened and explain it to me? I am sure you could do this since I believe you are actually the smartest one of all The Masters." Princess Selina smiled coyly up at Celestial as she whispered in his ear.

He was taken in by her compliments, her smile, and of course the magic spell.

Miranda headed to the library for her usual lesson with Celestial to find Princess Selina there and Celestial was showing her the stars during the daylight. That had been his promise to Miranda.

Princess Selina saw Miranda. She placed her hand on Celestial’s arm and leaned in closer to him, smiling at the discomfort on Miranda's face. He had broken his promise.

Miranda's head started to spin and then to pound as if there was someone with a hammer trying to break out of her head. She put her hands to her head as tears flowed down her face. Celestial felt the pain too. He turned around and there was Miranda. As their eyes met he knew that the link between them had been broken.

Miranda ran from the room, she could not bear to look at Celestial and he could no longer look her in the eye.

What was going to happen next? She did not know how to deal with this. For too short a time she was really happy and now her world was falling apart. Two of her beloved Masters had betrayed her.

She went to her room and throwing herself across the bed she started to cry. Nothing she experienced before had prepared her for this betrayal. She called for her mother and father. In a flash of light Christine and David were in their daughter's bedroom.

Taking Miranda in her arms, "My daughter, what has upset you so much?" Christine asked as she gently wiped away the tears.

Choking back sobs Miranda could barely speak. "Beast and Celestial. They have found someone to take my place. They do not love me anymore." Miranda broke into another round of sobbing as her mother held her close.

Christine and David exchanged glances. They knew The Dark Ones were behind this but there was nothing they could do. After all, they were merely ghosts. The magic powers they once possessed were lost at the time of their deaths. All they could do now was observe.

"Mother, can I go with you? Please take me with you.” Miranda begged. “I do not think I can take this any more. It hurts so much." The pain was clearly written all over Miranda’s face.

"My daughter. We love you. But, we cannot take you with us. It is not your time." Christine’s heart was breaking. She did not want to see her daughter suffer so, but there was nothing she could do to help her. They were forbidden to intervene.

"I am loosing them. I just do not know how much more I can take." Tears rolled down Miranda's face. Once she had feared the tormentors from the village, now she had an even greater threat, loosing the love of her rescuers.

Her biggest fear, the one that was causing her the most grief, and the one she did not want to consider was that 'her heart' and 'her dragon' would betray her also.

She was not strong enough to deal with that. What would she do if they turned form her. The thought of loosing them was just too much for her. Again her parents said they could not take her, not then. She had to stay. As much as they loved her they could not interfere. Fate had to run its course.

CHAPTER 12

Two down, two to go.

The Dark Ones were beginning to believe that they would win. They could foresee the destruction of The Masters.

Princess Selina followed Demon to the meadow behind the manor house. He often went there for the peace and solitude. Starchild had his garden but Demon had his meadow.

"Oh Demon, it is so beautiful. I did not know such a place existed here." Exclaimed Princess Selina.

The Demon turned around in surprise. He did not realize she had followed him. He was not happy she was there. This was his place.

‘I'm growing soft.’ He thought to himself, ‘I should have known she was behind me. What if it had been The Dark Ones? I'll have to be more careful.’ Not only was he angry with Princess Selina but he was also angry with himself for letting her sneak up on him.

"Do you come here often?” Princess Selina batted her eyes, trying to flirt with Demon. “I mean, it is so peaceful here I can understand how you would want to spend as much time here as possible."

She placed her hand on his arm, softly uttered the words to her spell and The Demon was hers. The Demon was no longer upset by her presence.

They sat in the meadow and talked for what Princess Selina considered to be a reasonable amount of time. Finally, Princess Selina looked at Demon, "We should be getting back now. We are supposed to be getting ready for The Lady's birthday celebration."

As the Princess started back to the manor without warning she tripped.

"My ankle. I've hurt my ankle." She whined.

Concerned, Demon rushed to her side, kneeling down to look at her ankle. "Are you all right? Can you walk back to the manor?'

"I do not think I can walk. How will I ever make it back to the manor?” Selina looked at Demon then turned her gaze toward the manor and she innocently remarked, “If there was some way we could just fly back to the manor house.”

Pride filling his voice, “I can carry you back.” Having said that, Demon transformed into a dragon, picked up Princess Selina and flew off toward the manor.

Having been betrayed by two of The Masters, Miranda did not want to leave her room. As she sat by the window she watched as the dragon flew by with Princess Selina in his arms.

Miranda doubled over from the pain in the pit of her stomach. At the same time the dragon began to fall from the sky dropping rapidly as if, he too, were in pain.

Miranda was devastated. Her worst nightmare was coming true. ‘Her dragon’ had betrayed her too. That evening Miranda stayed in her room refusing to go downstairs for dinner.

Starchild knocked on her door but Miranda told him she was not feeling well and she would stay in her room. The truth was she knew her heart was about to be broken and there was nothing she could to do stop it.

She just could not bear the thought of looking at any of them any more.