"Please open the door!" Isabelle pounded on the kitchen door with frigid fists. Please.

She kept pounding till the door swung outward abruptly, smacking her in the forehead. She landed ass first on to the dirt, hand coming to her forehead where a welt seemed to already be forming.

"What in the devil-" Anna poked her head out, eyes rounding as she took in the mud covered mess. "Oh, goddess above! Is that you, child?" Anna lifted her skirts, trotting over, "thank the gods you're alive." She grabbed her by the elbow, hosting her up. Her hands were so warm, almost burning her skin. Anna gasped. "Dear, you're frozen!" She guided Isabelle inside.

The warm fire crackled in its hearth to the right and Isabelle wasted no time, plopping herself in front of the fire on a pile of blankets- her old bed. It seems they had left her space untouched in the time she had been gone.

"Isabelle?" there was clatter as something metal dropped to the floor. She turned from the fire, John's face perhaps more shocked than Anna's, a pale of spilt vegetables on the floor. John ran over kneeling in front of her and wrapped her in a warm-almost suffocating-hug. "You're alive. Thank God." he whispered.

"We didn't know if you got our messages, I was so worried."

"I got them." Isabelle spoke through chattering teeth. John picked up one of the floor blankets, wrapping it snuggly round her slender frame and rubbing her shoulders to bring back heat into her body.

"Did you not get the map? We were to meet by the gate. It's almost time." John got up, picking up the other pile of vegetables and Isabelle could see a few more crates and buckets packed with supplies. "We are leaving now, are you ready?"

"Pardon?" She looked at John's expectant gaze, the screams of the dead still ringing in her ears.

"Leave the poor thing, can't you see she's just crawled out of the devil's mouth!" Anna snapped, bringing a cup of warm water to her lips.

"But I-" John's protest clamped shut by another stern glare from the old witch. Instead, he picked up a few crates in his arms and headed out the back door.

"You poor thing," Anna picked some of the dirt out of her hair as Isabelle greedily drank the warm liquid, warming her insides. Feeling crept back into her feet with a painful prickle.

"Rosie and Adam?" Isabelle questioned through sips and the witches lips thinned to a frown.

"Rosie is with the King. He caged her right after he imprisoned you, smart bastard." She made a clicking noise of displeasure with her tongue. "Adam should be at the ball, getting Rosie. That is if they released him from house arrest.

This place is not safe Isabelle. At midnight they are locking the doors and setting it on fire."

"I heard them talking in the stable. It's Gaston right? The king's aid he's planning treason?"

Anna stood on creaky knees. "Yes, he wants to be the new king. Fool. King of what? He thinks the fire will only set in the ballroom, killing the nobles, what he doesn't know is that we have spread oil trails all over the castle while he was off at the hunt, this whole place will burn!" The witches face twisted to a malicious smile, a spark of magic behind her crinkled eyes.

"No!" Isabelle got up on shaky legs. "I heard that woman talking. The hole will only be big enough for humans. Adam. What if Adam doesn't make it out on time with Rosie before the doors close? We have to warn them!"

"I'm sure he will be fine. We need to go now." Anna offered her hand and Isabelle went for the kitchen door leading to the castle hall. "Isabelle! Isabelle!" Anna trotted after her grasping one of her thin wrists, causing her to pause and turn.

"I-I can't- I." Isabelle broke down. The fear, the pain, all running in a wash of tears down her face."

"Alright, calm down dear." Isabelle felt warm arms wrap around her and she cried harder.

"What happened!!" John poked his head in again from the back door

"You'll just make it worse. Finish packing!" Anna waved him off.

"Yes your majesty," he snarked, then grabbed a few more crates. "It will be okay Isabelle." He offered a warm smile over his shoulder before heading back out.

"There's no time for blubbering about. You are strong Isabelle, a true survivor and you will survive this. Now let's go."

Anna was right. She had survived in this cage of horrors, for months, despite all odds and found love and friendship along the way. She whipped her tears a small flicker back in her gaze. She was almost there, but not without all her friends.

"I'm going to the ball. I can help."

"Oh child." Anna seemed too weary to offer more of an argument. Finally, after a long thoughtful gaze she added. "Not like that, you aren't. You need a disguise... and a bath."

"There's no time for a disguise, can't you use a potion to change my hair or turn me into one of them or something."

"No I'm not going to turn you into one of those beasts. You're too pure for that. But maybe-" Anna went off to one of the crates, Isabelle could hear bottles rummaging, "-Aha!"

A small blue glass bottle, the size of her palm sloshed about in her grip. She popped the cork, a scent Isabelle immediately recognized as the soothing oil she had adorned her body with as a blood maid. "That's-"

"For the smell dear." Anna dabbed a generous amount across her wrists and the back of her neck.

"Does it have magical properties?"

"Heavens, no, it's just perfume. No. To disguise you I will use true magic. A glamor."

Anna rolled up her sleeves taking a butter knife from the table and making a shallow prick on her forefinger.

She brought the bloodied appendage to Isabelle's forehead and started drawing in a circular motion. A shiver of cold air running up Isabelle's spine as she spoke, as if the air was alive around them.

"Hair of silver light and beauty bright.

Face pale as moon and goddess light.

Shine in the eyes of all who gaze upon this girl tonight.

Voice clear as a bell, come forth vision of Danielle.

By the power of god's three I cast the vision on thee.

By the power of three by the power of three.

Protect this child, so that she may flee."

Isabelle opened her eyes. She felt no different as she looked down at her own hands. Anna brought a shining metal tray up to her face.

Her hair was white as snow, skin smooth and face soft with full red lips, carrying the countenance of an ethereal beauty. Only her brown eyes reflected the same shade back at her.

"I look like.."

"Yes. The lost Princess. It's a gamble. But if the king has any humanity left, I fear the only person he would listen to is the woman he once cared for. However brief a moment that was. Perhaps, with this you can convince his attention away from Rosie. You bring that mouse back safe and sound."

Anna grabbed her hands away from her face. "Whatever you do don't touch your forehead. The spell will wear off when the blood seal is broken." Isabelle nodded. "John and I will wait as long as we can. Be quick and be safe."

"What about my dress?" Isabelle looked at the simple scullery maid garment she had stolen.

"Ah yes, you should have a dress befitting such an affair."

"Blue as sky and petal fare,

May this dress be fit for a queen to wear.

Mask to hide the fare of face,

shimmer bright with poise and grace."

It was a simple phrase as Anna touched Isabelle with her bloodied appendage, but the words held the same electric power she felt prickle her skin once more. The raggedy dress on her body, shifting before her eyes.

The blue gown lengthened into a sweeping floor length dress, her sleeves lengthening till they billowed down at her side like great blue wings. She felt a prickle on her neck as the garment shifted, fabric becoming soft and light, not like the stiff wool of the dresses she'd been accustomed to. This felt like an extension of her body. White ribbon criss-crossed across her bussom tapering down her torso to her waist in a hatchet pattern across the front of the dress and a beautiful rose pattern wound its way across the now velveteen rich looking fabric. Isabelle ran her hands down the billowing skirts. It was soft as rabbits' fur to the touch. Isabelle brought her hands to her face. A thin veil of lace fabric disguised the top half of her face.

"This is-" It's real! Not a glamor, nor trick of the light. Anna had just turned water into wine.

Isabelle stared agape at the woman with the reverence of the divine.

"You're going to attract flies if you keep staring like that." Anna gently closed her mouth. "It's a masquerade. Though I doubt you will find it hard to recognize any one of them. Now. If you can't convince the king to give you Rosie, you take this. Stab that monster where his heart should have been and you run!" Anna slipped a thin fileting knife in Isabelle's hand. It was thin enough to conceal in one of her billowing sleeves.

"Is that truly necessary?" Isabelle loathed the king, what he did to her. To Sarah, to Rosie and Adam. His laundry list of sins followed him like stains on his heart and the hearts of those he hurt, but to kill someone-Could she really?

"If the spell can't be broken by a selfless deed, then perhaps if he dies..."

Isabelle saw the hatred in the woman's eyes. The plan to burn the nobles in the ballroom. It's what she wanted. She wanted him to die.

"I- I don't think I can do this-'' Isabelle stepped backward away from the door leading into the wide all of the castle. She was not a murderer or a liar.

"Yes you can." The Witch fixed her fake white haired curls in place, only to have Isabelle disrupt them again with another shake of her head.

"Anna, I can't. How do I play the princess!? I've only ever heard stories of her. What if he asks me questions I can't answer? What if he threatens Rosie? What if I act inappropriately? I've never been to a ball, or even taken etiquette courses. I looked after our family's-"

"Breathe!" Anna gripped her shoulder, shaking the words right off her lips. "You are brave. You are strong." Anna's dull green eyes searched her brown ones, willing Isabelle to carry onward.

"I can't kill him." She whispered.

"I know dear. You're too good. For all of us." Isabelle had never thought herself a good person. She had tried to be kind, but she was selfish and the same dark thoughts swirled in her heart that shone from Anna's eyes. She was certain she could be cruel. But she would not take a life. Life was precious and sacred, even if she seemed to be the only one in the room that shared that sentiment.

"I know what you need!" Anna shuffled to one of the wooden crates that held an odd assortment of different size and shaped bottles. She found a dark amber one, popping the lid and handing it to her. "Drink up."

Isabelle put the bottle to her nose. It smelled sharp, fruity? Almost like sour apples. She took a swig. Coughing as the liquid burned down her throat.

"Uh. What is that?"

"Liquid courage, my dear! Stronger than any wine you've tasted I'm sure."

Isabelle took another swig. Anna raised a brow of surprise, as Isabelle handed the bottle back. The burning feeling crept down to settle in her insides. She didn't much care for the taste but it was a welcomed distraction from the tightening sensation in her chest.

"We'll wait as long as we can by the gate." Anna took the thin filet knife and tucked it carefully in her sleeve.

Isabelle had already lost one knife tonight, her confidence at retaining the second was slim.

"Now go, be quick about it."

Her pulse quickened, she bobbed her head. Lifting the skirts of her dress the fabric gleaming in the firelight.

Isabelle squeezed the old woman's hands in gratitude before turning out the door, hastening down the long hall. The Ballroom was on the second floor at the end of the hall on the right. She had only ever glimpsed at it on her exploration through the castle. But from the small bits of chatter she had picked up from the guards during her time in that lonely cell she knew that's where it would be.

Walking up the winding stairs, Isabelle gathered all the courage she had left in her small frame and took a deep breath. The ornate golden double doors were shut, the strings of violins and light lilt of a flute floating with bubbling laughter from beneath the door.

She took a deep breath and opened the door.