Princess
Selina woke early in anticipation of her victory over Miranda. She dressed quickly then hurried down to the
garden. She knew Starchild would be
there early in the morning. He was the
last one. Soon she would be The Lady of
the Manor.
"Good
morning Starchild. Isn't it a beautiful
morning?" Princess Selina strolled
into the garden.
"Good
morning Princess." Starchild
continued working with his roses.
"I
was thinking,” she began. “Since today is The Lady's birthday wouldn't it be nice
to give her The Rose at breakfast?"
Princess Selina watched for Starchild’s reaction.
"That
is a wonderful idea. I will pick the
best rose and take it inside."
Starchild liked the idea of giving his Lady a rose at breakfast. He began looking for the perfect flower.
Princess
Selina walked up to Starchild, placing her hand on his shoulder, "I can
take it in for you, if you will pick it for me.
Then you can go back to working in your garden." She smiled at Starchild and whispered in his
ear.
Miranda
awoke not knowing what catastrophe the day would bring. The sun was shining and it promised to be a
beautiful day. She looked out the window overlooking the garden; all she could
do was stare. There in the garden she
saw 'her heart' as he was giving The Rose, Miranda's rose, to Princess
Selina.
Tears
filled Miranda’s eyes as she watched Princess Selina take the rose from
Starchild. Miranda felt a pounding in her heart, she knew her heart was
breaking.
Feeling
the pain in his heart, Starchild looked up at the window and saw Miranda. The pain he felt confirmed that the bond
between them had been broken.
Their
betrayal was complete. Miranda no longer
belonged to The Masters.
They
had broken her heart, they had broken her will, and they had broken their
promises to her.
The
Dark Ones were going to win.
CHAPTER
14
Devastated, Miranda again called for her mother and her father.
"Please take me with you. I cannot take this pain anymore." She sobbed once more in her mother’s arms.
Christine and David knew Miranda had been broken. She had been tried and tested, and she had failed. She was not strong enough to be The Lady of the Manor. The Dark Ones had interfered and had done this to their daughter. Miranda’s spirit had been broken beyond repair. Christine and David agreed they would take her with them if that was what she wanted.
The
Masters gathered in the great hall, each carrying the guilt at their part of
the betrayal. They waited for Miranda
hoping they could explain and that she would understand and forgive them.
They
waited.
Miranda
never came downstairs.
The
Masters went to Miranda's room where they found Miranda’s body laying on her
bed. She was gone.
Christine
came back one last time. She watched the
grief and sorrow cross the faces of The Masters. She realized they were truly sorry for what
had happened. She felt pity for them.
"It
was what she wanted.” Christine said gently.
The Masters looked from Miranda’s body to Christine. “She could not take the betrayal and she
could not take the broken promises. She
could not take any more pain. She just
was not strong enough to survive. I am truly
sorry." With that Christine was
gone.
The
prophecy would not be fulfilled, not now.
Demon
looked down at the lifeless body of his Mandy.
Her violet eyes now closed forever.
Tears streamed down his face. The
Masters had waited so long for her and now she was gone. How could they have done this? How could he have done this to his Mandy?
With
loving care, they dressed her in the new dress she was to have worn for her
birthday celebration. They wrapped her
in her special blanket and they buried her in the meadow with her cat doll in
her arms. The only possessions she owned
in life were buried with her in death.
Demon
built a bench by her grave so he could sit with her and protect her. Starchild
planted a field of roses for her because she was always comforted by their
fragrance.
They
had protected her when she lived under the bridge, when they did not know who
she was. Now they gathered to protect
her in death.
Each
of The Masters grieved in his own way.
In
the days that followed Demon spent most of his time sitting by her grave. He had loved her the most; from the day she
was born.
Demon
did not think he would ever love anyone again.
Miranda
was gone. Now it was time for Princess Selina to take her place as The Lady of
the Manor.
Princess
Selina believed she no longer needed the power of The Dark Ones so she took off
the pendant and went in search of The Masters.
She
found them in the great hall in front of the fireplace. The fireplace that had been the instrument
which brought Miranda back to them.
"I
will send word to my father and have him send my things. I will move into Miranda's room. I know everything will be fine now and you
will love me more than her."
Princess Selina gushed as she wandered around the room.
The
Masters all stared at Princess Selina in disbelief.
What
did she say? She was going to move into
Miranda’s room? She was going to take
Miranda’s place? Love her more than Miranda?
Had she orchestrated all the betrayal that had led to the death of their
beloved Miranda?
Each stared at Princess Selina as she twirled happily around the room. They were unable to utter a sound or to even move.
Regaining
his composure, Starchild was finally able to read her mind. He discovered all
she had done, about the magic spells, about her desire to become The Lady, and
how The Dark Ones had used her.
Starchild telepathically told the others all he had discovered.
It
was then that The Masters realized and finally understood Princess Selina was
working with The Dark Ones.
They
gathered Princess Selina and her attendant and escorted them to Selina’s
home. As punishment for their treachery,
The Masters banished Princess Selina and her father the king to a crystal
sphere which Celestial teleported to the center of the world. The kingdom as torn apart and then burned in
punishment. No one from their land would deal with The Dark Ones again or they
would suffer the wrath of The Masters.
Having
been found out, The Dark Ones went into hiding.
They knew that The Masters were angry at the death of The Lady. The Master’s anger had been directed toward
Princess Selina and her father but it had not been purged. There was still anger coursing through The
Masters. The Dark Ones knew it was best
to stay hidden.
But
for now, Miranda was gone and the prophecy could not be fulfilled.
The Dark Ones felt safe. For now.