Danae of Eden, the tenth child of the King and Queen of Eden. She was a beautiful portrait with skin painted in pure skin the color of oak, free from any blemishes, and hair the texture of curled sienna, with the color of the rings on her mother’s fingers and for eyes the princess’s skull held only the clearest of ambers which radiated through the painting as if they were stars in the night sky. She was the epitome of laughter and joy in the Kingdom. As she grew, her features became more defined, her once round and fluffy eyes those that resembled her mother became slender and deep, the fat beneath them protruding outwards creating a youthful mask that she wore.

At the age of 12, anyone would’ve said that the Princess next to the King and the Queen resembled neither of them, from their faces and their hair to the difference in the way their eyes shined. Everyone from the chamberlains, maids, lords, and ladies within the palace on any given day, Danae’s siblings spoke of this behind her back. Danae could hear everything they said behind the concrete pillars of the ballroom, even though it was her birthday she couldn’t help but bite her bottom lip in anticipation of whether or not her older sister, Carmine, would defend her Honor. She wanted to knock sense into those ladies committing treason in the Royal Palace, Blasphemy! Blasphemy!

“How dare you say I’m not my father’s child!” she wanted to yell but instead gripped her dress in disbelief, as the words flowed out of her sister’s mouth just as she had hoped. The young girl practically leapt out of hiding as her sister spoke. “Don’t you dare say such words about my sister, even if she isn’t my father’s child, she is still the child of the Queen. Pay your respects and shut your mouth.” She hissed as all of the ladies that were being reprimanded stared in the opposite direction, towards the pillar, and towards a distraught Danae who held her hand to her chest, the other gripping the pillar.

Danae breathed heavily as her tears swelled in her eyes. “She isn’t Father’s Child?” Her lips quivered with every word, as she felt her legs grow weak under the weight of the hefty Caroline and the fabric and jewels that her father (or rather who she thought of as her true father) adorned her in each year on this very day.

“I-I’m not fa-father’s child?” A step forward, a harsh breath as if her lungs were being consumed by guilt, and Carmine, the same older sister that would comfort Danae after a bad dream watched with a careful glare, her red pupils glistening like rubies as she looked on with wide eyes. The entire ballroom fell silent, the ladies that had been convening with Carmine had all dropped their dance cards and fled to their chaperones like ants.

Danae ran up to her second sister her eyes filled with tears, her fingers digging into her short, puffy dress. “How could you be so cruel Carmine, let alone on my birthday? Why are you always saying things like that?” her voice echoed between her useless sobs as she fell to the floor, the Queen and King reprimanded their daughter for causing such despair to the twelve-year-old girl they had coddled since she was born. Immediately, the girl’s guard whisked her away, her head on his shoulder, her muffled cries vibrating against his uniform, “Please calm down your Highness, ignore the Princess,” He tried his best to soothe the girl as the both of them disappeared into the garden. The weary crowd watched the Knight walk away, his lady in tow. Turning their attention back to socializing, Princess Danae’s party was a mere front, a tool to build connections.

The Queen of Eden, Mirelle, looked to her husband who returned the favor, not knowing what to say if anything. “Ariel, we must tell her sooner or later.” Mirelle looked at her husband with tired eyes, moving her hand to rest within his. He spared her a glance his white hair falling down his shoulders the moment his red eyes made contact with Mirelles a soft smile crept up his lips his face still avoiding hers, “Someday Our Daughter will be happy with her Prince, just as happy as I am with you.” Mirelle leaned over her seat wrapping her arms around her beloved, feeling his heart beat against her ears like the steady rhythm of a drum, “Regardless of what happens, I hope that you continue to accept her as our daughter we mustn’t hold the past against that girl.” Ariel turned his head, revealing his face covered in blush,

“I won’t consider any other possibility, Danae is your child, and any child of yours,” His eyelids lowered as he leaned closer, whispering into her lips which he had kissed many times over. He wanted to kiss them again, to alleviate the stress of the night, to wash away that barren fact, that the girl he loved dearly, was spoiled with every gift he could offer, to erase the guilt, to erase the feeling that might be leftover from that night, the pain that came with raising such a beloved child, knowing that just like the women before her, she too will be violated by the laws of their curse.

“I will love that child wholeheartedly without fail.” his lips pressed against hers, tension sliding off of his beloved onto the floor below their thrones.

….

Danae’s POV

“She meant every word, Sir,” I whined, my red-haired knight, wiping my flowing fountain of snot with a mountain of dirtied handkerchiefs on his right hand. “Blow,” he said softly and so I did still trying to complain as I did so. Her puffy eyes said it all, as my words stifled “Thank you, Sir Sirian,” the curly-haired knight sighed, looking at me with sad green eyes. “Danae, you mustn’t be so pompous, you can’t go waltz throwing tantrums like that,” he rested his hand on my head, making me feel like a child to the boy, who was four years older than me. I swatted his hand. I tightened my lips poking them out. “Saying something like that, questioning what man bare such a dark girl in public is unacceptable. I don’t deserve such treatment.” I paused turning my body away from the attentive gaze of the boy who had been with me practically since the day I was born, the boy knew me better than anyone else, and I enjoyed having his attention at all times, as his lady of course. As I swayed my feet, I watched him watch me, his attention not leaving me or acknowledging my gaze that was back on him. I continued to stare relentlessly, my eyes begging him to notice me, even if it was just for a moment. Time seemed to pass like a feather falling from a bird in mid-air, all I could hear was the sound of my heartbeat. But he simply closed his eyes after minutes of staring, the life returning to his eyes when he opened them. Lunching over, placing his elbows on his legs he held his head with his hand, confidence and relaxation oozing out like a chocolate fountain. I could feel myself become enticed by the handsome boy in front of me, my eyes, observing him, I felt light and fluffy as he calmly hummed into the night, sky, the moons above making him all the more ethereal as his milky skin shined like a pearl on my bodice, I couldn’t help myself but behave like a moth, and move towards the light “You’re right, It was uncalled for and honestly, her Highness Princess Carmine had done that to-” He’d noticed my proximity to him his breath hitching as I set my head on his lap, working with the small space on the bench so I could look into his eyes from below, my curiosity led me to wanting to know what he truly thought of me, wanting to know if he enjoyed me just as much as I enjoyed him, I knew that he wouldn’t think the same way about me.

He didn’t even spare a breath to complain; instead, he ran his hands through my curly hair as the moonlight lulled me to sleep, hoping that he felt the same affection I did.

That was… first love, or rather as my mother put it, puppy love.

Danae's POV

Four years passed since my twelfth birthday and now I’m going to be sixteen tomorrow. I want to puke, cry, and scream for joy all at once. I was finally going to be given my official title, I would get engaged, and marry the love of my life and…. Kiss, yes that's right. In about five years I’ll have my first Kiss!’ My inner monologue raged on and on about the possibilities of adulthood, the fantasy of meeting handsome men was all the rage in the circle of ladies my age, most of whom had made their debut due to my birthday being in the last month of the year. “What certified debutante wouldn’t talk about her fantasies of marrying the man of their dreams when they reached adulthood? No girl in her right mind would give up the pristine opportunity that was being in her prime! Which is why I, Danae, the daughter of the King and Queen of Eden will choose the most beautiful man to dance with tonight!”

I lied, I’m a big fat liar, I mean who else could I dance with besides the dreamboat that was my very own knight? I think that he was practically made for me. I mean, if a man is about a foot taller than you, with broad masculine shoulders, a snatched waist, red curly hair that was as luscious as a horse’s mane, the color of your favorite fruit, and eyes that shined like the most opulent eyes the same color of Adventurine, a fat ass, and to top it all off it would be a childhood friends-to lovers plot! I felt more proud of my father for choosing such a perfect four-year-old to protect a baby for the rest of her life as my arm was wrapped around his, hoping I wouldn’t become so flustered that my blush would be noticeable, but when he held my hand I felt happy, like a puppy wagging its tail, and all I wanted to do was climb into his lap and lay there forever.

As the ballroom door opened, the light of the chandelier shone on me, and a maid stoked the large fireplace that helped keep us warm but he held my hand nothing could compare to the way he asked “Are you ready for this, my Princess?” a simple question but it stroked the flames of my heart. As I shyly replied “I’m always ready Sirian” I looked at him trying to hope my cheeks hid my real feelings. He looked down at me a soft smile spreading across his lips. I wanted his hand to stay in mine forever, even when we stepped out of the cold hall and into the warmth. My mother was the first to greet me. Her face showed no sign of age, her clear green eyes were filled with tears, and at that moment Sirian’s hand let go of mine as my mother grabbed my shoulders, the uncomfortable fabric of this dress rubbing against my skin. “Look at you!” She tried not to wail I know she did, but that didn’t stop her tears from falling. As she hugged me, I rubbed her back, my eyes immediately flowing to my father, a tall white-haired man with red eyes and pale skin, he was a man nothing like me, but I am his daughter, I’m sure of it. “You’re beautiful Danae. I thank the creator goddess for blessing me with such a lovely child!~” She wailed into the crook of my neck. My mother always worried incessantly but when my father spoke up her attention turned. “My beloved, don’t worry it’s only natural our daughter is growing up” my mother sniffled still gripping onto my shoulders and taking my father's hand as he came to my side “Happy Birthday my Daughter” he placed a kiss on my forehead his skin was warm. My mother wiped her tears “That’s right, you’re sixteen today.” They looked at each other in understanding, as if they were talking in a language nobody but them could understand just like how I tried endlessly to communicate with Sirian without words nor actions, a language called “Love”.

“I apologize for your mom being such a wreck she’s afraid of watching you grow up and me reminding you that you were turning 16 didn’t help much.” He placed a kiss on her forehead like he did mine, yuck.

I rubbed my forehead with my gloved hand, a chill running down my spine.

“Sister!”

“Auntie!” I heard nine voices at once, and when I opened my eyes again I was surrounded by my family, being pounced on by children from the ages of six to the one who just learned they could walk. My entire family was there, my four to five brothers and four sisters, their spouses, and four nieces and nephews. My father let out an old man's belly laugh, almost tipping me over as I crumbled beneath the weight of my nieces, Alliane and Ymir, and their brothers, Selene and Metis. All of them were children of my oldest sister Chivette, a shy twenty-eight years old, and her spouse. She stood side by side with her husband, the captain of the royal guard. Smiling, quietly observing her children destroy the hours of work the maids put into designing me today as my other siblings Colette, Cisset, Cirel, Cecil, Carwel, Carmone, Carmine, and Clovette aka “Clover” began talking to me unable to shut their big mouths.

“Look at you, my children, all here at once–” my mother giggled gently scraping a toddler off of me, in the back of my head I wanted to thank her, but she spoke first”

“Look at you~ My dearest Selene!” she ogled over the blue-haired child who giggled as they hugged. Her laugh whisked me along intrinsically, and I laughed, Gods it was foolish to even attempt to hide my love for this family. But that’s how teens are supposed to be. I am just a dumb teen girl.

The party continued as normal, and I easily became swayed by the music, the lights flowing onto me like a river into a stream. This scenery was so familiar as if I’d seen it all before and would want to see it a million lifetimes over. I danced with the men who wished to impress my parents, but their sweaty hands filled with nervousness and greed, they could never compare with his. I drank a small portion of wine, but I gagged at the taste of thick pomegranate at the tip of my tongue.

Urgh

I placed my cup down in search of something better to do than drink, maybe just maybe I could see him. My future, no he will be my husband. I am going to see my future husband, I wanna blush ridiculously and jump up and down, unprincessy, but whatever.

When I see him from across the ballroom I want him, I want him but ugh, a man with a mustache and slicked-back strawberry hair, stands in my way. I want to punt this man like an air-filled pig bladder. But I gritted my teeth instead, put on my best smile, and did what men thought I should do, smile.

“Good Afternoon...” My voice nearly cracked but I stopped it just in time,

“Sir,”

He looked up at me his eyes filled with an unfamiliar gaze, his eyes looked up as his gaze focused on me, and I gulped as the man bowed. Rubbing my gloved hands together. But he takes it instead, a shiver runs up my spine. I want my father.

“Princess Danae, the light of Eden.” His eyes look up to me once more and I’m earnestly being undone. I feel danger, yes that’s what this is.

“Shall we?”

I look into his eyes, his eyes glisten like rainbows beneath the flame high above.

I can’t help but feel that if our bodies are in contact any longer I would throw up, my stomach bubbled in anticipation. And my body grew cold as I shouldered every emotion within me.

“Princess?” his voice was sweet, so sweet I could melt into it, that I might fall into it if I listened any further. My eyes closed, and my chest became filled with a hot feeling, panging against its walls like it wanted to escape. He spoke to me like we were familiar, in a mask that I vaguely recognized

“Hush, don’t say a word, just dance with me”

Those were the last words I’d hear for a long time.

Mirelle's POV

Every Sleeping Beauty is different. My mother was a Sleeping Beauty, and so was her mother and so was I. My name is Danae, the daughter of Roe, the granddaughter of Indita. My name will be Danae until my 16th birthday. I’m aware of the fate that lies ahead for me, and I’d be lying if I said I weren’t scared. I don’t believe that there is someone out there for me to love, someone that will be my “Prince Charming”. I don’t want to separate from my mother, I’m soft-hearted and I wouldn’t last long in whatever limbo lies between my slumber and my eventual awakening. My father kissed my mother to wake her up, but most of my ancestors haven’t been as lucky. I hope I inherit the luck my grandmother prayed for, that my mother, who didn’t have to suffer the fate of being a crushed flower earned by her birthright, after being born of such a horrible thing. If not… I’ll remember to write a love letter to my daughter, because that’s what the firstborn always is. I’ll write a letter about how much I love her, about our story, and about the reason I died. Because I wouldn’t want to live to see her suffer, I’d apologize and it would end there.

I want to meet a man, one who’s caring, loving, funny, and charming, and the kind of guy that a girl would find herself fawning over for the rest of her life. I want that more than anything, and I, in this marriage to the prince of Neh’ir will never find that. Tonight is my wedding night, but I’m sure I’ll be in a glass case before dawn, breathing softly in my slumber I think I’d rather die, but being this close to the day of salvation the curse would never just let me die.

Tomorrow is my sixteenth birthday, the day my entire life will fall apart in one way or another. But I hope this diary, tucked beneath my bosom survives the hundred or so years I’ll be asleep. I hope my mother and father will be proud of the woman I will become, smiling down at me in heaven. I wish to be like them with someone. They were peasants, but foolishly in love with one another. If things are different I will be like them. We will be like them.

I lay in the bed of my bridal chambers, tears still stained my cheek as I looked down, to the sleeping man who had kidnapped me from my home, destroyed my village, and killed my parents. All to have me. Ironic ain’t it? I should kill him, right here right now, shouldn’t I? The young man beside me is a pathetic waste of space. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, the satin itched and caused nerves to bump up on the side of my thigh. Steadily, I ignore the feeling, as the blanket drapes off my body like grainy butter. I turn to the window, the moon staring down my bare form. As my pitch-black hair voided half of my vision, I pulled it back. I could hear the water dripping from the rooftop onto the limestone below, and guardsmen drunkenly scurried around like insects. I reached to the vanity, my vanity pulling away an unlit oil lamp, rubbing my finger and thumb together over the wick, and in an instant it was alive, dancing between my fingers spreading and crackling like a small child throwing a tantrum, although I tried to hide it a giggle escaped my lips. As it creeped up my hand, my body followed, as it hopped from end to end of my body. I was in a fury of laughter as it tickled me, its heat going everywhere but nowhere at once. It felt so cold but when it touched me it was like something clicked.

But the feeling of being enveloped by warmth, the snapping of the chains at my feet.

Ah,

I’m being touched by something, very warm and feathers come from all around me. It took a few moments to regain my senses and the clock inside of me had struck midnight, its arms strumming my arteries like a guitar. I hadn’t even noticed I collapsed to the floor or that I was fully clothed in a white dress made of feathers that lined my body perfectly. Above all else, I heard it, every memory, every moment I was called “Danae” my name in truth was--

“Mirelle”

My name is Mirelle.

Mirelle’s POV

Dear Diary, I’m speaking to you through a shell, the shell of time seeing as I have no hands to write anymore, and I cannot touch things that I have been touched by a human. My name is Mirelle, Mirelle of Shea. I’m sixteen years old, and I want to have a good ending, one where I don’t die, at least not in pain, because everyone dies right? In this new village I’m known as “Snow” I’m half angel, weird right? People know me as a ghost who brings justice, saving women in the streets from burglary, ridding infants of evil spirits, and helping men make sound decisions. I’ve learned that Angels and God’s exist in this world, as well as goblins, Gildolts, and Dwarves. Today is my 176th year of being alive but not really? I wouldn’t consider it my 192nd birthday seeing as I haven’t changed from that day. The day I quite literally changed the world. For the better? Not sure. However, something even more exciting happened. I met a guy, we touched and… well let’s just say, we are hitting it off, his hair is gray which makes him look old, but his defined face and golden eyes make it all the better. It’s been so long since I’ve been able to touch someone outside of performing Miracles, did I mention that? He’s so kind and protective over me, it’s safe to say that I do not doubt that he is my Prince. Mama was right; it was my birthright! *I squeal* If he can play his cards right then who knows? Maybe I might just end up coming back in 10 months with a baby in tow, if that happens I’ll have to fly up to heaven myself to show my mama her little darlin’ I’m so excited!

‘Did I just hear what I think I heard?” he hummed

I felt fingers creep up my wings, his touch sending electricity through my blood. As I put down the shell of time, he grabbed it from my hand, his thumb brushing against my lips if I’d been any lighter I’m sure my ghastly face would be glowing with a soft yearning.

“When did you get here Amoros?” he patted my head, running his fingers through my hair, causing me to squint as he came into view, the sun shone off of his Um, well-oiled body and directly into my eyes if I had a physical form I’d be blind, but as a ghost I can enjoy this sight forever.

Long live the gods!

“Does that matter Snow? You know I said I’d come visit you every day until you found your true love, and as a fairy, it would be unkind of me to break that promise.” I scanned his features just as he did with mine, his sultry eyes, in which lingered a desire, one I was sorely familiar with, his eyes were filled with adoration, the simple one, like a chicken boiled in salt he looked at me like a curious cub, his burnt sienna colored skin added to that image, he reminded me of a brown bear as he sat next to me his thick curls fell down his shoulders, his hair, almost a silver color ran down his back, despite the clothes he wore that made him look like a nervous teen boy it was obvious to both of us that we were much older than the other knew, after all we’d only known one another for the last year. But I felt that it was more than enough time for two people to grow and love each other

I chuckle,

“You do make a girl feel special Amoros.” I roll the 'r' in his name accidentally, the words slip through my teeth like water. He smiles, big and bright the whiteness of his enamel conflicting with the dark rich color of his hands as he lifts them, covering his mouth as he bursts out in a giggle.

“Amorros? That's a first” he purrs his “r”’s with me and I feel myself smiling, begging my muscles to not curl up and he drags his hand through his curls. His smile was wide enough that it felt like he’d be able to swallow me whole at any given moment, but I found it beautiful despite feeling unveiled fear in the depths of my stomach.

I felt my cheeks softly begin to be filled with blush as he held my hand. Our silent appreciation of one another told me all I needed to know about what exactly he felt about me, and I knew he already knew what I felt. We just sat there for a while.