Angel - In Dreams

Their return to Wendell’s castle (via a mirror supplied by Snow White.) had been a joyous one. The three once again were considered heroes, and a large banquet was held in their honor.

One of the three, however, couldn’t seem to share in the happiness of the occasion. Her mind kept drifting back to the woman who now sat alone in the dark cell (which Wendell had insisted on putting her in before arrangements could be made at the Snow White Memorial Prison) of Wendell’s dungeon. She was the only one that had truly seen into Andraia’s soul. The only one that had shared her memories, and for a brief second, felt her pain. Virginia hadn’t told anyone, but for an instant during the memory rush, she’d felt that pain Andraia had talked about. Virginia was glad it had only lasted an instant. She’d understood why Andraia had been forced to lock it away. The sudden crash of emotional turmoil was too much for any one person to bear alone. Andraia had been right about one thing. Virginia’s pain had been nothing compared to her own. Virginia had lost her mother, but she had Wolf and her father to help get her through the grief. Andraia had had no one.

Was it right to just lock her away like that? she thought to herself. Sure Andraia had cause pain and turmoil herself, but when you went to the root of her evil was it really her fault? She’d been a child when her power was released. A reckless child that didn’t truly understand her power or how it should be used. Should a child be held responsible for taking a path they were too young to understand? Virginia didn’t know. All she knew was that same child, now centuries later, was a broken woman, destroyed by her own pain, grief, and hatred for herself.

They didn’t have any trouble bringing Andraia back to the castle. The sudden wash of emotions had, in a sense, returned her to the child-like state of mind that she had once been robbed of. Why had it happened to her? Why had she been cursed with so much pain? Andraia could have used her power for so much good, like Snow White. Was it something that a person decided inadvertently by their own actions or was it just cruel fate?

“What’s wrong, cream puff?” asked a concerned voice from beside her.

Virginia turned to the man who had interrupted her thoughts and forced a smile. “I’m all right, just thinking about some things,” she said, trying to sound cheery.

Wolf looked at her curiously, not believing her answer was completely truthful, but also sensing that she didn’t want the subject pushed any farther. “Okay, want some food?” he asked, that wolf smile of his shining on his face.

Virginia giggled. Same old Wolf.

Wolf’s smile grew wider. He was glad to have cheered her up.

“I’m going to my dad,” said Virginia to Wolf, who was chewing on a piece of meat. He nodded and went back to eating.

As Virginia walked out onto the balcony where she had noticed her father, she couldn’t help but laugh at the memory of the “talk” Tony'd had with his son-in-law shortly after their return. She hadn’t heard all of it, but the part she did hear had involved advice from one father to a father-to-be and death threats if he ever hurt Tony’s “little girl”.

“Hey, Dad!” Virginia called through the crowd of people who had gathered to hear the tale of the heroic Tony’s latest adventure. Of course Tony’s tale had been edited and revised in certain places, not to mention exaggerated a bit.

“Oh, Virginia! Um...sorry guys...I’ll finish the story later.” The crowed hesitantly walked away and Tony went over to his daughter. “So are you glad to be back?” asked Tony, in a very cheerful mood. He loved the hero treatment.

“Aren’t you the one who kept saying ‘I hate this place.’?” replied Virginia smiling warmly.

“Well it’s not so bad when you’re not fighting trolls, curses, and evil sorceresses,” stated Tony matter-of-factly.

“Or when you’re getting the star treatment,” said Wolf coming up behind them, and wrapping one of his arms around each of the father/daughter pair.

“Ha ha,” said Tony with mock irritation. Mock because it was true.

“So where are we going to go now?” asked Wolf with eager anticipation, looking out at the vast kingdom before them.

“Go? What do you mean go?” asked Tony.

“Why on an adventure of course!” stated Wolf. “Heroes are supposed to have many adventures.”

“Hmmm, I know where we could go,” said Virginia. “The most dangerous place I know.”

Wolf’s eyes lit up with child-like curiosity.

“Where?” asked Tony, not really wanting to go anywhere dangerous again for a while.

“New York,” she said. “We could go back for a visit. Besides I never told Grandma about Wolf.” She said the last part shyly. She wasn’t looking forward to explaining to her grandmother that man that tried to eat her was now Virginia’s husband and the father of her grandchild. Besides,” she added, “it will give Dad’s head a chance to shrink back to normal size.”

“Hey!” cried Tony while Wolf and Virginia laughed. Things were finally back to normal.

Despite the cheer above, there was one person in the castle not celebrating. Andraia rocked back and forth in her dark cell. She still clutched the shard of glass, but she’d long ago dried out her supply of tears. The guilt of all she’d done filled her heart. So many emotions had built up inside of her and their sudden releasing had nearly been too much for her. Any weaker person would have been killed, but Andraia had a strong will. That will was what had kept her alive the night her parents were killed. It was what kept her alive now.

Her strong will hadn’t been able to protect her mind, though. She was plagued with images of people she’d tortured. Images she’d once found joy in. Images she now felt guilt for.

Andraia continued to rock. Somehow, a tune came to her through the tangled mess that was now her mind. It was a tune her mother had sung to her when she was a small girl. Andraia began to hum it to herself, and the pain eased a bit. It would be a slow process, but eventually Andraia’s grief and pain would ease. As she sat there humming, Andraia recalled warm memories of her parents, and despite all the pain and guilt, she smiled.