Lilly, a short petite little girl with long dark hair past her bottom, lived in her father's castle with her knight brothers and her servant mother. Her father was king of the castle, Lord of the Manor.  He expected to be called Lord Father and demanded that the household tenants treat him accordingly.

Lilly and her brothers were permitted to run freely throughout the cul-de-sac. They ran wild with the neighborhood kids. They laughed, danced, played games, Hide-N-seek and tag were their favorite challenges, occasionally, they'd participate in the neighborhood sporting events.

Her leash of freedom only went so far; it was drilled into her repeatedly to avoid the woods behind their home. In the woods were many dangers; she would not be strong enough to fight. Dangers that meant her harm, along with creatures who wanted to rob her of her innocence and virtue.

Only the adults left the safety of their homes and the protection of the cul-de-sac; the men went to work, and the women scheduled shopping days. The women formed groups to go shopping , it helped protect them from the evils of the world.

The cul-de-sac lead to nowhere. The only way out was the way in, and that was under the scrutiny of their neighbors. If you tried to leave without permission, calls were made to the king of your castle. Those phone calls lead to severe punishments, that sometimes lasted for days. Punishments that changed your life.

As Lilly grew, she became aware of the severity of disobeying. Twice she was sent to her room and ordered to cover her ears. It was easier to cover her ears with her noise reduction headphones. Still, she heard the wails and pleading for mercy over the instrumental music playing in her ears, sending shivers down her spine.

When the wailing became unbearable, her mother came to her in the middle of the cries for help, wrapped her arms around Lilly, and tried to comfort her.

"Why is Chandler being punished?" Lilly looked at her mother with confusion and tears in her eyes. "What did he do?"

"I will tell you, but we can never talk of it again, " she promised, glancing at the bedroom door. "You can't discuss it with your brothers either

"I won't, " Lilly held her pinky up. Her mother wrapped her picky around her daughter's and shook in agreement.

"Chandler broke the rules and went into woods, " her mother began.

"With the creatures?" Lily exclaimed, wide-eyed.

"Yes! One of them got their hooks into him, " mother admitted.

"What was the creature?" Lilly leaned forward, eager to hear his tail.

"A peasant! She had her claws in him, trying to make him flee his castle of protection. She wanted his pile of gold the king has promised to give him.

"No! Is he hurt?"

"She hypnotized him, promising him riches and gold mixed with happiness."

"Lilly, and now your father is trying to break her hold over him."

"It sounds like he is winning, " Lilly listened to the now quiet castle.

"He will be a man after this lesson, " her mother informed her.

"A man?" Lilly tilted her head in thought.

"A man is the leader of the home. He rules over those living behind his walls."

"Oh, the king! Like Lord Father, he is our leader, " Lilly said.

"Chandler will be a knight in training after tonight. He will no longer run and play with you; he will leave the cul-de-sac with the men, " Mother informed her.

Lilly's eyes drooped, and her shoulders hunched, "I shall miss him. Hunter can still play, Can't he?"

"It depends on Lord Father's decision."

"Go to sleep now. You have a big day in the morning, and I need to be available for when Lord Father calls." she kissed Lilly on her forehead, tucked her in, and whispered a prayer over her.

The big day her mother told her about was the loss of her freedom. Chandler's actions changed the lives of his siblings. The three of them said goodbye to their playmates and began their training for the adult world. After dinner, Lord Father, Chandler, and Hunter went into the garage to begin their training, while the women cleaned up after dinner before learning how to run their households.

Lilly was bound to her mother's side, learning to cook and clean. At night, she learned lessons in submission and obedience.

Her fairy tale world was torn from under her. "Someday, Prince Charming will come for me, " Lilly casually mentioned to her mother as they scrubbed the bathrooms.

"He's not coming, Lilly." Mother stated matter of fact, fiercely scrubbing the tub.

"But why?" Lilly stammered, trying not to cry.

"Stop your pouting! It's time for you to grow up and live in the big world. Disney lies! They create fantasies and present them to the real world as truth. He can't come; Prince Charming does not exist."

The years went by slowly for Lilly, who counted the years and days until she turned eighteen. She planned on facing the woods and the horrors hidden inside; they couldn't be any worse than the ones inside their castle.

Lilly's daily routine consisted of cleaning, cooking, and sewing. On special days she was permitted to go grocery shopping or clothes shopping if her brothers needed new clothes. She was expected to wear an apron over her clothing to make them last longer.

She became the keeper of her brothers. She prepared their meals, washed their clothes, cleaned their rooms, and drew their baths for them. In return, she was to call them sir, walk two paces behind them, serve them their food, lower her eyes when speaking to them, and do as she was told without back talking.

Her brothers were cruel, often punishing her when she made little mistakes. If she was talking, they'd tell her to shut up. When they were younger, her brothers called her princess, beating up anyone who dared to disrespect her. They called her dumb, stupid, and the name for a female dog (she was forbidden to use curse words; her brothers spoke like sailors.)

It hurt her heart when they spoke cruelly to her, mother made faces, but she never came to her defense. She tucked her her head and went about her business.

The night before her birthday party, Lilly stood on the kitchen chair, placing streamers when her mother entered the room, glancing around for the men of the house.

"Lilly, come down, " she requested, keeping watch. "Hurry!"

Lilly jumped off the ladder and stood beside her mother. "Yes, ma'am?"

"Your father plans on announcing your engagement to his boss's son at your birthday party, " her mother confided in her.

"I don't even know him!" A shocked Lilly stepped away from her mother in defiance.

"He is a mean spirited, cruel boy. I don't want you to end up like me. Follow me. I have a present for you. I want to give it to you early." Her mother led her to the pantry.

"You're giving me food?" Lilly laughed.

"No, take this, " she said, placing an envelope in her hand.

As Lilly stared at the envelope, her mother bent over and pulled the bottom shelf out. Inside was a medium-sized box wrapped in newspaper.

"This is for you. Open it."

Putting the envelope in her apron pocket, Lilly tore the paper away from the box. Inside she found a suitcase with pants and girly tops. Puzzled, she looked questioning at her mother.

"These are what the young girls are we're nowadays. They don't wear long skirts and long sleeves."

"Lord Father will never let me wear this, " Lilly reminded her.

"The men are going to pretend to go to work tomorrow, when in fact, they will be picking up his bosses son. I am to go shopping for the things I missed on my shopping list. As soon as we leave the cul-de-sac, I want you to run. Run fast. Run far. Never look back, or things will be worse for you here."

"I am scared of the forest. I don't think I can, " Lilly shook her head, fear taking over her body.

Her mother scooted across the floor to sit in front of her. "Remember these words; there is no Prince Charming. The creatures of the forest and out in the world will promise to give you your dreams and gold. Don't accept it! There's a price to pay for it."

"Yes, mother."

"Keep running and don't make eye contact; they will try to hypnotize you with their charm."

"Keep running. Got it."

"They will ask you to let them into your heart. Don't do it! You are young and have the whole world to see. Promise me, you will see it for me, " her mother pleaded with her.

"I promise," she said tearfully, realizing she would never see her mother again. Her chest ached, squeezing her breaking heart.

"Don't open the envelope until you get to the other side of the forest. If you get caught, we will both be punished. Don't get caught." Mother hugged her, quickly pulling away when the men stomped into the house.

Lilly's nerves kept her from slumbering; she tried her best not to toss and turn. If Lord Father heard her, he would want to know what was bothering her, and she could not lie to him.

Mother was up early, so Lilly climbed out of bed to help her prepare breakfast. The aroma of bacon filled the house, rousing the guys from their deep sleep.

Lilly's heart rate increased as she tried to act normal until they left to pick up the boy who would never get to know her.

Refusing to let Lilly see her cry, Mother hugged her and ran out the door. Ordering her to go.

Lilly grabbed her suitcase, placed it in a trash bag so that the neighbors wouldn't see it, and fled the castle prison she'd known all her life. 

The forest was dark; creatures jumped out at her, just as her mother predicted.  She accidentally looked one in the eye, and he almost got her. His eyes were sky blue; his voice smooth like butter; he made a mistake that broke the hold he had over her.

"Don't worry. I'll give you everything you dream of, and you will be safe - under my control. Just let me in!"

The word control brought her out of the trance he tried to put her under with his charm. "There is no Prince Charming," she repeated Mother's words.

"Just let me in, " he demanded when she backed away from him., pulling her arm away from him and out of his reach, just as he tried to grab her.

Lilly ran, fast, screaming as she flew through the woods. She ran. Even when she felt out of breath, she ran. She worried about the creatures catching her, but she was terrified of Lord Father and his knights finding her. She ran faster at the thought of them.

It took a long time, but she pulled away from the forest and the scary things living inside. She made sure she put several streets between her and the path she'd just cleared before she brought out the envelope her mother had given her; inside was a note and money. A lot of money.

Dear Lilly, I will miss you, Princess. Below I have written my sister's address. Go to her, and she will help you set yourself up with a place to live. Happy Birthday, Love, Mother

Dedicated to MarrianneWonderland1