Zanzibar: Prolouge

Prolouge
The forgotten beginning
"Sometimes the things you fear most
are the things most worthwhile."
- Mandy Moore
Chasing Liberty

Daria's worn out eyes swept the sleeping village. Oh how she loved her people. They were all estatic about Daria's newly born daughter, Tabitha. But something kept riding on Daria's shoulders; whether they would accept Tabitha if they knew what she really was. That question haunted Daria's dreams and thoughts ever since she found out Edward's true identity.
I was a fool. Young, stupid ... and in love, Daria thought to herself. But the mental block she put up kept crumbling, and for the moment - only for right now - she let her mind wander back a couple of years. To the years of when she was a moonstruck Princess ...
It was at King Rodney's ball. Daria had been 17, a fiery but gentle young woman ready to take the throne. On this night, she looked absurdly beautiful. She had two locks of her hair twisted back and her gown was a dark green that matched her wide eyes. She was sitting on her place on the throne, chin in one hand, watching the other dancers move about the floor. She sighed, irritated with the shyness of the people. No one of the male gender has asked her to dance, and she was quite irritated. Suddenly, from the crowd, a knight from her father's army came and bowed down with such grace that it took Daria's breath away.
"May I have your daughter's hand for a dance," he asked. His voice was like velvet, smoldering her. Daria rose cautiously out of her seat. The knight held out his hand and Daria put her hand in his. And then, he spun her out onto the dance floor.
Daria stared up at her companion. He was pale with two pieces of coal for eyes. And his lips. Daria took an intake of breath. His lips were full ruby red, enough to make any female lose her train of thought.
"My name," the knight said. "Is Edward Mayehem. I'm a knight in your father's army. "
"I'm Princess Daria. But I suppose you knew that." Daria said once she got her breathing under control. She blushed scarlet as Edward stared straight into her eyes.
"Perhaps," Edward murmured. "Tell me, Princess. Do you have a lover?" It came out of no where, and Daria missed a step.
"What? No, no. I don't. Why do you ask?" Daria replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Such a beautiful woman and no lover," Edward murmured. Then he leaned in, making Daria's heart race, and kissed Daria's lips.
Those next few wekks, Edward and Daria would sneak away to see eachother.
"I missed you," he'd say between kisses.
"I've missed you too." She'd reply.
One day, while Daria was brushing her dark brown hair, Daria saw Edward go into the front doors of the castle. She abandoned her brush and ran down to the King's hall.
"What is Edward doing?" She asked a faun standing guard of the door.
"He wishes to see the King and Queen privatly." The faun replied sternly. Daria stomped her foot and crossed her arms like a child. She started to pace with impatience. She hadn't paced long when the door swung open and a dog stood there for a minute before bowing.
"Your Majesty ..." he began but Daria shoved past him.
"What's going on?" She demanded looking from Edward to her parents.
"He's asked for your hand in marriage." Queen Olleander said. Daria stood there shocked before her clear green eyes turned to Edward.
"Is it true?" She asked, fearing for her heart. Edward smiled and Daria rushed into his arms.
"Oh, I do. I do, I do, I do, I do!" Daria exclaimed, her eyes swelling up in happiness. The Queen sighed behind her.
"I guess we're being pushed off the throne," Olleander said. Olleander had a nasaly voice. Everything about her was boring. Her hair was dull brown and it was always slicked back into a bun. Her eyes were a plain brown with no sparkle, and she always wore dark blue. King Rodney, on the other hand, was quite opposite. Full of life, always cheerful. His bright green eyes were always dancing.
"Do we have your blessing? Your permisison?" Edward asked.
"Of course. We need to retire, Ollenader. Our bones are old," King Rodney said.
The wedding itself was spectacular. It took place three months after the engagement. On Midsummer's eve.
Daria was dressed in layers of white. In her curled hair was a crown of white rose petals. She arrived to the church on her black and white unicorn, Jadica.
"I don't agree, but I suppose I accept," Jadica said. Daria didn't think anything of it at the time, but now she pondered that, wondering if Jadica knew what Edward really is.
Everyone had come out of their houses and wept when they saw Daria's beauty. The whole wedding was beautiful. Almost a year after the occasion, Daria gave birth to Tabitha. It was only when Daria had been holding Tabitha in her arms and noticed how cold Tabitha felt. When Daria mentioned this to Edward, he spoke those cruel words. "I'm a vampire."
Daria went into a rage. She threw Edward out of the castle, banished him and threw out a law about how two seperate species couldn't be intimate with eachother. Edward ran to the island of Lamice where Jahida reigned. They joined together and Daria declared war.
A small sneeze brought Daria back to reality. Had she been dreaming? She was sitting on the cold stone of the balcony, so she imagined so. She looked up at the sky and gasped.
A Night-mare and her filly stood in the stars. Now, you must get one thing straight; Night-mares aren't nightmares. In fact, they're quite opposite. People say that they live in Celestial's land. Their bodies are the night sky, and the stars come alive to outline their bodies in the horse form. They come to you to warn you or to give you a goodnight's rest.
"Nightmare," Daria gasped, scrambling to her feet. The Night-mare chuckled and her filly snorted.
"Can I please play with Acelin now?" The filly asked in a whiney voice. Acelin was Jadica's colt. He was a few months older than Tabitha.
"Allright, Peagadina. Just ask Jadica if its alright," the mother Night-mare said. She waited until Peagadina was inside the stable before saying to Daria,
"The war is arriving Daria. Jahida is planning to overthrow you soon, when you're at your weakest. You and Jadica must leave here immediatly."
"My baby," Daria started to say.
"Get your favorite maid, Sarah and bring Tabitha and Acelin to the Gap and let them into the other world." Daria pressed her hand to her heart.
"Forever?" She asked. The Night-mare shook her head.
"Until the time is right." Daria looked over to her sleeping daughter. She slowly nodded her head.
"Here's what you do. Jadica will say the spell that will remove Acelin's horn. Then you and Jadica go to Narcissa, the Witch's house. She'll be waiting for you. Leave Acelin's horn with her. Then go to the Celestic Lake where Celestial herself will be waiting. Now, I must go. Bring nothing," the Night-mare said. She turned at trotted down to retrieve Peagadina.
Daria hurried inside and changed into a black gown with a matching cape. She took sleeping Tabitha and bundled her up in countless blankets. Quietly, she crept into Sarah's room. She shook the maid awake and quickly explained everything.
Wide-eyed, Sarah changed into a black dress and went down to the stables with Daria.
Jadica and Acelin were all ready waiting. Jadica's black and white coat and horn gleamed in the moonlight. They walked out into the rainy darkness, past the sleeping houses and to the far meadow. They finally reached a bare patch in the meadow.
Jadica turned towards Acelin.
"Sweetie. I want you to memorize the place you appear. Take care of Tabitha. When the time is right, birng her home. I love you."
"I love you too, mommy." Acelin said. Jadica said a few hushed words and in a small bright flash, Acelin's small horn came off. He whimpered loudly.
Daria picked it up and pocketted the horn. She cradled Tabitha and kissed her forehead.
"I love you," she whispered before handing her over to Sarah. Sarah put one arm around Acelin and cradled Tabitha with the other. Staring straight at Daria, Sarah and Acelin took a step back into the middle of the patch. With a bright flash, they were gone.
Quickly, wiping away her tears, Daria jumped onto Jadica's back. They galloped swiftly back to the village and turned down a street with a few pubs.
"I think she lives on the street around the corner," Jadica whispered. They turned down a deserted alley and then onto the next street. Sure enough, there was Narcissa's house.
It was one of the very few houses on this street. Narcissa's was built into the back of a pub called the Boar's Tooth. Once you were inside her house you couldn't hear the music or hollering from the pub, though.
Daria swung gracefully off of Jadica and knocked softly on the door. Almost immeadiatly it swung open and a young woman about 20 poked her head out. Her eyes were bronze and her hair was black as a raven's feather. It was oily, but beautifully so. She had a small pointed nose and chin and a small mouth.
"Come in," she said. She opened the door all the way. Her eyes rested on Jadica as both Jadica and Daria walked through the broad doorway.
"Are you the Witch?" Daria asked. The lady gave Daria a pointed stare.
"Actually, I go by Narcissa. But yes, I am a witch." Narcissa said handing a hot mug over to Daria.
"Oh, thank you," Daria said blushing in embarassment. She looked over at Jadica who was lying down in the living room in front of roaring fire. Jadica's eyes sparkled in amusement as she pointed her horn at two small, dirty feet behind a red moth-eaten curtain. A tiny head peeked out revealing a young girl's face. She couldn't be more than eight years old. Her face mimicked Narcissa's, except the little girl's hair was a lighter color. The girl gasped when she met Daria's eyes and jumped back behind the curtain.
"You can never be too careful about whoes knockin' on your door," Narcissa said from the kitchen sink. Daria looked at the little feet and with a pang she realized how she would never see Tabitha grow to be that age.
"The girl," Daria said waving a hand at the curtain. "Is she yours?" Narcissa looked over while wiping her hands on a rag. The girl stepped shyly out from behind the curtain.
"Yes. She's mine. I promised her that she could see Jadica. Come here, Pippo. It's alright," Narcissa said opening her arms to the girl. Pippo ran into her mother's arms.
"I think it's time we get on to business," Jadica said. Upon hearing the Unicorn speak, Pippo's eyes widened.
"Pippo, dear. Remember that pretty box I made the other night? Will you go get it for me?" Narcissa asked. Pippo nodded vigourously and scuttled into the other room. In a matter of seconds she came running back with a long wooden box. Engraved on the box were white roses.
"Daria? The horn," Narcissa asked. Daria slid the horn from her pocket. She twirled it in her palm before handing it to Narcissa. Pippo's eyes widened and she brushed a hand over the tiny horn. Narcissa put the horn gently in the red, velvet lined box and mumbled a spell.
"Celestial is waiting," Narcissa said closing and locking the box. Daria nodded and Jadica stood up and shok her mane. Pippo tugged on Narcissa's plain gray dress.
"Mommy? Can I stroke Jadica?" Pippo whispered, but loud enough for all to hear. Jadica chuckled.
"Of course you can stroke me." Pippo's eyes got wide, but she walked shyly over anyway. She reached out her hand hesitantly and then stroked Jadica's nose. When she was done, she hurried back behind Narcissa.
"We best be on our way," Daria said.
"Right. Look. When you go outside keep going west. There will be a small meadow. Hurry across it. Marshcows are breeding this time of year. Go to the lake. Celestial will be there," Narcissa said draping another cloak around Daria's shoulders. Daria was surprised to feel tears pricking her eyes.
"Thank you," she said hoarsly. "For everything." She crouched down in front of Pippo. "Be good to your mommy, okay?" Daria asked. Pippo nodded.
Daria and Jadica walked outside and waved goodbye as they rode off into the sleeping village once again.
They soon came to the outskirts of the village and onto the meadow Naricssa had warned them about. They cantered through, both keeping a lookout for Marsh-cows. Daria saw one - a female. The Marsh-cow's decieving blue eyes glowed at them before shrinking off into the meadow's shadows.
Before long, they reached Celestial's Lake. There she was. Celestial. She was standing on the water itself and seemed to glow with the white light. Daria wondered why she didn't see Celestial from a distance.
"Welcome, Daria and Jadica," Celestial said, her voice ringing like a bell. Daria and Jadica bowed low before mumering their hello's.
"Come," Celestial said turning towards the moon. "The time is right." Daria took a quick last glance at her city, but all she saw was a white light. The white light that had been surrounding Celestial had morphed around them too.
"Goodbye," Daria whispered before turning to face the moon and her future.