The Engagement

    I got lazy when I came back to our room, while Freda is still in high spirit. She is humming and turning, she has even sung our favorite song. I just lay in bed watching her. My heart is pounding heavily. I just wanted to disappear into nowhere, and cry to my heart's content.

    It is already late in the afternoon, when Freda asks me to stand up so that she can do my hair and make up.

   "Freda, I just want to do my hair and makeup for tonight, I don't want you to get stress, now that you have done an excellent job for yourself, just try to relax." I told her, and I pulled her up from the vanity chair, and let her sit down onto the edge of her own bed. Her makeup is elegant, I surprised her, by changing her simple dress into a silver satin, off shoulder beautiful gown, she looks so pretty and stunning, I hope this time, Hale will notice Freda differently.

"Wow! Thank you for this wonderful gown, Malia." She said, then she stands up, and look at her reflection in the mirror.

"I know you are powerful Malia, I also want to see you do magic to yourself, your magic can be so handy Malia, time will come that you will love using your own power, I have been in your world for so many years without doing magic, now that I am back here, where I can freely use it, I felt bored, I wanted to do it your way, because human do things in challenging ways." She said smiling at me.

In one swift motion, I change my dress into Fuchsia pink mermaid cut gown, with strapless sweetheart neckline, I can see my own image, in the mirror, my makeup is extraordinary, this time I can see my mom and aunt Thalia's face looking back at me.

"Wow! Malia, I can't find the right words right now, to tell you how you look, you are just gorgeous." Freda said, looking at me, with total appreciation in her face.

We meet, our date at the grand staircase, as usual the boys look like models, they both put the fresh flower bracelet into our wrist. Nick took my hand, his warm touch gives me courage to take my first step in going to the palace grand ballroom, where my heart will be sentenced to death, knowing the love of my life will be engaged to my number one enemy, makes me think, tonight my heart will stop beating.

   Nick brought me to the assigned table with his family, while Hale brings Freda to their own table. I greeted his family cordially. The moment we arrived, Prince Gregory wasted no time, he stands up and kissed me on the cheek, that made his own father shook his head, while Nick's face flushed with anger.

    "Brother, please! Malia is my date, so keep your hands from her, don't use your playboy charm on her." Nick said, he was not able to hide his irritation, but Gregory only laughs with his brother's reaction.

    "Easy there Nicholas, Malia is single right? She maybe your date for tonight, but you are not her boyfriend, it means I can still court her." Prince Gregory said honestly, he is looking at me eagerly.

The siblings stopped their bickering, the moment the ceremony started. King Cassian and Queen Sophia both look good together, they are amazing. I saw the royal family of Katharos, next to our table, Declan waved his hand at me, the moment our eyes meet, I have no doubt, the beautiful lady, sitting beside him is Princess Nathalia, she is indeed a pearl in the ocean. She has a very beautiful smile, that could make boys head over heels with her, no doubt that, once Nick and Hale were both crazy about her.

     I tried my very best to keep my tears from falling, the moment I heard the name of Prince Flynn being called, followed by the name of Princess Avery, they both emerged at the center of grand ballroom holding hands. The crowd applauded loudly, they look so perfect with each other. Avery looks so vibrant, her ivory long gown, with flower sequin embroidery, with lace sleeves made her look like a goddess. They both smiled at the crowd before them.

    The engagement ritual ended, the moment Flynn put the engagement ring on the right ring finger of Avery, the ring symbolizes the seal of their betrothal, together with the promise that they will love each other, until the end of time. I felt my hand caressed by Nick's hands under the table, I touch his knuckles, and smiled at him weakly. Avery deliberately looks in my direction, with a wide smile on her face.

"Malia! You can't do anything right now, Flynn is only mine. I have all the power Malia, you can never win against me, you will be a loser forever. If I were you, you better go back to your old world, leave this place behind at once, if you want I can help you." Princess Avery entered into my mind without warning, I immediately shut off my innermost thoughts, she is not allowed to enter into my subconscious mind, she can't know my deepest secret.

"You can't make me leave into this world Princess Avery. I don't care about Flynn, you are engaged to him already, why bothered telling me now. I will only leave, if the King of Erthesia will ask me to, for now, I just want to tell you once and for all, I am not leaving, and I am not afraid of you, or your fiance, tell him to stay away from me." I told her, I can't hide my agitation.

"I never asked him to kiss me in the first place, I don't know why he has to do that, if he only wants to play with me, he can win me over, just by touching my hand and with his sweet talks, without kissing me, maybe he really likes me." I said to her, I purposely emphasized the kiss part, because Freda was right Flynn never kisses Avery, I haven't seen him kiss her.

I know that Flynn is only playing with my heart, but I don't want to give Avery the pleasure of hurting my feelings tonight. I need to be strong in front of everyone, and she almost got me killed, when she turned me over to the dark forces, she still needs to pay for what she did to me. She makes my life miserable, here in Erthesia. I saw her smile fade, the moment I told her about the kiss. I was glad she left my mind quickly, without saying hurtful words to me, I am glad I made her back off.

All the Kings and Queens, stand up to congratulate them, followed by the Princes and Princesses, Gregory didn't stand up immediately, only Nick and Mallory followed his parents. All the royals are on their way to greet them.

"Aren't you going to congratulate your future king for his engagement, Prince Gregory?" I asked him, I felt something is not good between him and Flynn. I can see Flynn gives him a hard look, the moment his eyes land into our table.

"If you ask me personally I don't really want to." He said, looking at me keenly. I remembered what Nick had said, it seems they don't really get along.

"You like Avery?" I asked him directly.

"What? Why do you think I like her? She is not what she seems Malia, and it broke my heart seeing my greatest contender in terms of sports, power, popularity, or even good looks, fell for her tricks. She is proud and a great pretender, I can see her through, it is one of my gifts, her energy is mixed with something I can't quite understand." Prince Gregory said, I was stunned, because I can feel it too, something is not right about Avery's energy, so Prince Gregory is really powerful.

He is right, in terms of looks, he is the only fairy I could say, that can compete with Flynn. His charm is irresistible too, and I can feel he has a strong personality that can attract the female species, I can feel my heart beats faster, every time he looks at me, I never feel like this, except from Flynn, but I know deep in my heart, I only admire his good looks. What I felt for Flynn is deeper.

    Then his father, signalled him to be with them, Prince Gregory has left no choice, but to greet Flynn and his fiancee best wishes and congratulations.

   Dinner is served, no matter how tasty all the food on the table, I find it, hard to open my mouth, and take a single bite, everybody is having fun, except me, I am glad, that right now, I can't see any distinction among the fairies, since all the royal have a commoner date, so every table is mixed with nobles and common fairies, at least for this situation I can't see any inequity.

    When I arrived here in Erthesia, especially in our Academy, the royals don't associate themselves to any commoner. I am happy for all the common fairies who have been invited for tonight, at least they are enjoying the function.

Then Flynn and Avery went to the front to dance, they are so close with each other, I know Avery is trying her best to get kissed by Flynn, she is flirting with him all she can. Then a lot of couples, started to dance with them on the dance floor. I can see that Flynn keeps whispering in Avery's ear. I lose my self-control.

    I stand up quickly, I plan to get away from the ballroom, but strong hands of Prince Gregory caught my arms, and without saying anything, he takes me to the dance floor, I wanted to run away from him, but he is too strong, his hand is already in my waist, I don't have a choice, but to put my hands on his shoulders, and started dancing at a slow pace.

     "Sorry Malia, if I caught you off guard, I should have asked you first if you want to dance with me." He said looking at me with burning desire in his eyes, his intriguing, sexy dimples keep me hypnotized, and he keeps the pain I feel at the moment forgotten, his toned warm body gives me temporary comfort. We swayed together slowly with every beat of the music.

"It is an honor Prince Gregory, but please accept my apology, I am not a good dancer, and aren't you afraid that your name will be tainted?"

"You are so humble Malia, you are a natural dancer, please call me Gregory, I would like to hear you call me by my given name, like the way you address Nick. Regarding your question, we both know you are not ordinary."

"It is inappropriate if I call you by your first name." I said hesitantly.

     "You can Malia, when we are this close to each other, this is temporary, soon you will be known to the entire kingdom as the real Princess of Erthesia." He said never leaving his seductive eyes from my face, I am looking up at him, because he is so tall. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Prince Flynn's smiling face changed into indignant look. Why is he angry? I don't want to look at their direction anymore.

     But it seems my eyes have their own mind, I can't turn away from them, then my innocent heart shattered into a million pieces once more, the moment I see Prince Flynn kisses Avery on the lips. I stopped dancing, my mouth hang open, I couldn't believe, what he just did. The only thing that keeps me hopeful, my only edge from Avery is his kiss, but right now he is kissing her passionately in front of the whole guests.

   "Are you alright? Malia, why do you look so pale?" I heard Prince Gregory's worried voice, but my whole body turned cold, and it takes a lot of my will power to leave the grand ballroom speedily.

    "I am sorry Prince Gregory, I need to go." I said to him, then I glided in going out from the grand ballroom using my commoner wings, then I go directly to our room, then I opened the window of our room, tears are streaming down at my pale face, then I take flight from the window, going nowhere, I just wanted to go as far away from the castle.

     My tears are still falling, I am already far away from the Palace, I can see the beautiful lights illuminated from the lanterns of the whole Erthesia Capital, as they celebrated the engagement of their beloved Crown Prince, who never stop shattering my heart. I spread my Spektra wings widely, I make it sure that no one saw me, by concealing myself using my magic.

     I soared above the outskirts of the Kingdom, then I fly high above the clouds, the full moon is shining brightly, giving light on my path, at first I don't have any direction, then I can feel my second home is calling me. In no time I arrived at the Magical Forest, I knocked softly on the front door of the chalet, aunt Thalia opened the door swiftly.

    "Malia?" She said, I can see the confusions on my aunt's face, the moment I saw her face, I broke down and my tears started flowing down my cheeks, my lips trembled as I cry out loud, I think all the animals in the forest heard my cry of anguish.