Chapter 1

Kayla sat by the windowsill, breathing in the fresh air free of the fragrances that her mother insisted on spraying around the room, cooling her flushed cheeks and blowing her wispy chestnut hair. It was nearly three in the afternoon, and sooner or later a servant would come by to tell her that she was to start getting ready for the annual Winter Ball that her father, King Wendell of the Fourth Kingdom, hosted every year.

She was dreading it.

Kayla hated parties and things of the sort. Of course, it was nice to see Auntie Virginia, Uncle Wolf, and their son Warren (whom she’d had a crush on for years), but other than that, everything was horrible.

She would never admit it, but one of the reasons why she hated the Winter Ball especially was because it was during one fourteen and half years ago that her parents had met and fallen in love.

It was so very obvious that Jasmine Cinder White, a daughter of a Lady in Cinderella’s court, had only married Wendell for his power and wealth. Wendell, however, was entranced with her beauty and charm, and that was all he needed in a wife; nothing more.

It was also obvious that Queen Jasmine cared no more for Kayla than she did for Wendell. The minute Kayla had been born, the queen had handed her over to Juliet, an elderly servant, who had served as Kayla’s nurse until she had died just a little over a year ago. Kayla’s heart still ached when she thought of the beloved woman who had loved her as much as any parent ever could have. Not once had the queen offered to help in raising her daughter. It was as if Kayla had grown up without a mother.

Auntie Virginia was the only person that she really talked to... after all, Virginia was the only one who actually understood. Sometimes they’d just sit in the palace gardens, or at Virginia’s cottage’s backyard, and Kayla would talk – just talk. Virginia was an excellent listener. She never had to say anything; her reactions were written in her never-ending blue eyes. And when Kayla was done, Virginia would talk, relating her past experiences to Kayla’s current ones. Kayla, of course, felt extremely fortunate to have as good a friend as she. The only thing she hadn’t told Virginia was that she had a crush on Warren.

“Your Highness, Queen Jasmine has asked that I help you to ready for the ball tonight.” Mandy, one of Kayla’s many servants, had appeared in the doorway, with a crimson gown draped over one arm and a pair of red slippers to match in her free hand.

“Very well,” Kayla replied with a sigh, and began the preparations.

“Kayla! Over here, honey!”

Kayla whirled around at the sound of her name, feeling the stiff red dress brush against her legs.

“Auntie Virginia! Uncle Wolf!” Grinning, she rushed over to her best friends and hugged them each in turn. Warren was standing next to his father, slightly embarrassed. Kayla noted his red face and decided not to hug him. Instead, she gave him a shy smile.

“Hi, Warren.”

“Hi.”

“Oh, I’m so glad you could all make it!”

“Of course we could make it,” Virginia said.

“Yeah… who would want to miss the food?” Wolf added.

Kayla laughed. “Come on, get seats next to me and Uncle Tony!” she said, and they followed her to one of the tables.

Tony stood up to greet them. “Hey, everyone!” he said warmly, kissing Virginia and shaking Wolf’s hand. He ruffled Warren’s hair. “How’s my grandson?”

“I’m doing great, Grandpa.”

As they sat down, King Wendell went up to the podium in the front of the massive room, holding his hands up in a demand for silence. Queen Jasmine was standing next to him, smiling. Immediately, the room hushed.

“My friends,” King Wendell began, “it is my honor to welcome you all tonight to our 250th Annual Winter Ball!” The guests broke out into applause, and he waited patiently for it to die down before he continued. “Dinner will be served in about one and a half hours. In the meantime, I hope you will all take pleasure in our first dance – the traditional Cinderella Waltz!”

As the music began and happy couples began to whirl around the dance floor, King Wendell and Queen Jasmine kissed passionately. Kayla looked away, disgusted. Virginia saw Kayla’s expression and gently squeezed her hand.

“Would you like to dance?” Wolf asked Virginia lovingly, sweeping his arms to the floor as he bowed.

“I’d love to, Prince Charming,” Virginia beamed, and let herself be swept into her husbands arms.

“Um... would you… like to dance?”

Kayla looked up at Warren, surprised that he would even think of it.

“Well... sure!” she said, getting out of her seat and taking Warren’s hand as Tony watched proudly.

Warren led her to the dance floor. Virginia and Wolf watched, shocked, as the two teenagers danced tentatively, blushing, not knowing what to say.

“Our little boy’s grown up, Wolf,” Virginia whispered, not knowing whether to be happy or disappointed.

“He sure has,” Wolf whispered back. “He’s just like his daddy – charming, sweet, romantic…”

Virginia playfully slugged his arm, and they laughed, their feet moving swiftly.

King Wendell and Queen Jasmine were also dancing near Kayla and Warren… too near, Kayla decided. She purposely took long steps in order to move farther away. Warren noticed the difference and struggled to keep up with her.

“Hey… are you okay?”

“Hmm? Oh, I’m fine,” Kayla replied, not bothering to look over her shoulder at her parents. “Just fine.”

After more countless dances, the orchestra finally took a break, as dinner was being served. The guests returned to their seats.

“Huff puff, I’m starving!” Wolf exclaimed. “I could eat a whole farm load of sheep.”

“Sure, honey,” Virginia said, giggling.

Numerous servants brought out platters of food for each table so that the guests could eat in a buffet style. Wolf and Warren piled their plates with meats, eating ravenously. Virginia, Tony, and Kayla went for the rest of the vegetables and pastas.

“So… what’s new?” Virginia asked Kayla quietly.

“Nothing, really,” Kayla replied. “Same old stuff.”

“Oh. Well, you know you can talk to me about anything,” Virginia smiled at her.

“Yeah. Thanks.” Kayla returned the smile.

After everyone finished eating and the dishes had been cleared, servants began passing around glasses of champagne for the adults, and ginger ale for the children. King Wendell called Kayla over to him, and she obediently went to his side and curtsied.

“Yes, Father?” she asked, her head bowed.

King Wendell lifted her chin with his hand and kissed her cheek. “Kayla, love, stand by your mother and me while we make the royal toast, as a family should.”

Kayla nodded and went back to get her ginger ale. Then she stood beside her father, who stood up and gently banged the delicate glass with his spoon. The room hushed.

“A toast,” he proclaimed, and everyone stood up respectfully. Queen Jasmine took his free hand and used her other to lift her glass.

“It’s been a wonderful year,” King Wendell continued. “And I sincerely hope that our good luck will last forever more. To the Kingdoms!”

“To the Kingdoms!” The guests repeated merrily, and then drained their glasses.

An agonizing shriek was heard not far from Kayla, and she whirled around.

Her father, King Wendell Winston Walter White, was lying pale and cold on the floor. Queen Jasmine threw herself down beside him as the guests crowded around anxiously. Servants did their best to keep them away.

“Oh, Wendell, oh, my love!” Queen Jasmine cried. She turned upward towards Kayla angrily. “You witch!"

“Excuse me?” Kayla said, her mouth hanging open. How dare her mother speak to her that way?

“You murderous little witch! How could you?”

“What? I… I didn’t do anything…” Kayla, shocked, looked from her mother to her father, then back to her mother again. “Surely you don’t think…”

“You killed him!” Queen Jasmine shrieked. “I saw you! You put some sort of powder into his cup! You’ve poisoned the king!”

The crowd gasped and began to talk loudly amongst themselves, but Queen Jasmine was louder.

“Seize her!”

Guards lunged for Kayla, but she was faster. She hurdled over chairs and ran as fast as she could out of the room, into the hallway, and out the door.

I didn’t do it…I didn’t do it…

She glanced behind her and saw that the guards had given up the chase by the door and were going back inside the palace. Panting, she raced into the woods and leaned against a tree once she had left the castle far behind. Where could she run to? Where could she hide?

A light bulb went off in her head, and, catching her breath, she sprinted towards the only safe place she knew.