Angelica made her way to Penelope’s room slowly. She had wandered in the forest for the last part of the day, only turning back to the castle as the last rays of light faded from the sky. Jasper stood just outside the door, and smiled as the princess approached. She avoided his gaze, and knocked on the door.

“Come in,” a voice said from inside.

Angelica pushed the door open, and entered the room. Penelope sat in front of her mirror, one of her maids brushing her hair.

“Oh, Angelica. What a pleasant surprise.”

“I was wondering if I could talk to you,” Angelica said carefully.

“Of course. Marissa, if you don’t mind?”

“Yes, Miss.” The servant set down the brush and moved from the room, shutting the door after her.

Angelica moved over to the bed and sat down.

“Is something a matter?”

“Did you see Kenneth today?”

“Yes, he came just after midday and apologized for being so scarce. He is really very nice.”

“Listen Nell, I’m sorry. It was my fault that he was scarce this morning.”

“You said you didn’t know where he was.”

“I didn’t, but when I got down to the lake…he was apparently there waiting for me.”

“He was…waiting for you?”

“Yeah. I admit that I liked his attention. I mean it was the first time anyone’s actually been interested in me. I don’t even know how things got that far, and so I told him that he was marrying you, and so he should spend time with you.”

“Oh, you did?”

“Yes, I’m so sorry Nell. It was just the first time anyone showed interest in me, and I lost my head. I know silly thing for me to-”

“Please leave.”

“Nell?”

“I request that you leave now.”

“What do you mean?” Angelica stood up.

“You came here to tell me that my future husband is interested in you, and would rather spend time with you, but you felt sorry for me, so you tossed him my way when you were done with him?”

“No…that’s not what I-”

“And last night you could not help but draw his attention to you. Taking him and dancing the night away while I was left on the sidelines.”

“Nell, that is not what I was trying to do, I just wanted to-”

“Jasper!”

The door opened immediately and Jasper appeared in the doorway.

“Please escort Angelica from my room.”

“Nell…”

“Now.”

Jasper’s hand closed over Angelica’s arm and he guided her toward the door. The upset princess went without any resistance. Jasper shut the door after them.

“She didn’t understand…how could…” Angelica looked up at Jasper. His eyes were full of questions. The pain of wanting someone you could never have. Jasper knew this pain, and she had teased him. “I’m sorry.” She managed, but tears began to spill down her cheeks, so she pulled away from him and hurried to her own room.

The Renegade Princess flung herself down onto her bed, curling up around a pillow. After saying those encouraging things to Penelope just this morning, she was the one who ended up hurting her the most.

Kenneth was the first guy to ever show interest in her, it seemed just her luck that he was already betrothed to her sister. She was perfect after all, and she always got whatever she wanted. And him coming on to her like that when he had Penelope. What was he even thinking?

She pulled the switch to turn off the crystals and rolled over. Maybe it’d just be better if I weren’t around…

Wind howled through the window in a sudden burst, waking Angelica from the slumber she had not remembered falling into. She groaned in tired annoyance and rolled over, trying to slip back into unconsciousness. The window shutters clacked against wall, stirring her further from sleep.

She mumbled to herself as she climbed from the warm bed, her feet finding the slippers beside her bed. The wind was bitingly cold against her skin as she groped for the shutters, which were still dancing around wildly.

An arm slipped around her neck from behind, and another attempted to pin her arms. Her responses were still dulled by the blanket of sleep and she found herself thrown back onto the bed before she could respond.

Now Angelica was beginning to wake up, and her training took over as she landed a strong blow into the figure’s stomach. She refused to cry out. She did not need any help. The last thing she needed were the guards rubbing in the fact that she had needed to be saved. There was a grunt in response to her attack, and then whispered words drifted into Angelica’s ears. Suddenly a pair of dark wings flared out from the figure’s back.

Oh by the powers…it’s a demon…

Fear clutched Angelica as realized she was in over her head, and she opened her mouth to scream. But nothing came out. A wave of peacefulness washed over her, and her eyes began to feel heavy.

No, I can’t go to sleep now. I can’t…