✦＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿✦
"Dreams are like songs. Their task is not to offer an exact image of the world but a suggestion of it." - Bernard Cornwell
✦＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿✦

The weekend came sooner than the twins could realize. Each day their classes flew by, but their thoughts focused on anything besides their schoolwork.

They continued to ride the dreaded bus, sacrificing personal space to avoid their grandmother and friend. Friday afternoon was bitter, just below freezing. The twins elected to catch a ride with Eli, recently licensed, to evade the cold.

Carolyn ran to the silver Chevy truck, Aura not far behind. She shivered in her seat after slamming the door shut, rubbing her hands together to warm them up.

Eli chuckled as the twins shivered in the black leather seats. "It's not that bad."

Carolyn glared at him, trying her best to look intimidating through her frozen features.

As they drove, warm air blew through the vents, allowing the twins a momentary lapse in shivering before they were forced to run from the truck to their house.

The second they were enveloped in the comfort of their home, they hung up their coats and looked at each other.

"I need to go back," Carolyn spat out, unprovoked.

Aura nodded, her expression serious and focused. "I was thinking the same thing."

Without another word, they ran up the stairs, images of Sherwood Forest flashing through their minds as they dashed towards the attic. Within minutes they had pulled more medieval dresses from the old wooden chest and had laced them up to fit their figures, this time making sure to switch both of their shoes as well.

Carolyn pulled up half of her hair, leaving a couple of pieces down to frame her face. She twiddled with her golden locks that she had formed into loose curls that morning, staring deeply into the mirror. Her mind wandered as she smoothed out the wrinkles in her dress, eager to jump through the mirror and back into Fabula.

Aura searched through boxes behind her, catching her attention. Her questioning look didn't go unnoticed, and Aura looked at her sister in the mirror's reflection.

"I'm trying to find that purple liquid that Bailey—" Aura began to explain, her voice stumbling over their friend's name. She sighed before speaking up again, "that she forgot last time."

Carolyn spun around, deserting her reflection. "Do you think we should tell her?"

Just as the words left her mouth, the doorbell rang from downstairs. Carolyn looked down at her dress that was less than suitable to welcome guests in, a groan escaping her lips.

"I'll be right back, just keep looking." Carolyn ran out of the attic, throwing on a robe she retrieved from her bathroom as she descended the second set of steps towards the front door, but her disguise failed to cover the entire lengthy dress.

She grumbled to herself at the sight of Bailey through the peephole. Carolyn slowly cracked open the door, trying to hide behind it.

"Hey!" Bailey said, but suspicion quickly took over her face. "What's going on?"

"What're you doing here Bailey?" Carolyn asked flatly.

Bailey eyed the blonde curiously. "I figured that maybe you two would want to go back."

Carolyn's wide, shocked eyes were confirmation enough for Bailey, who pushed open the door and inspected Carolyn's attire.

Slamming the door behind her, Bailey entered the house in a huff. "I bloody knew it! You two were seriously going to go back to Fabula on your own?"

Carolyn's anger instantly matched that of her friend's. "We figured it's better to be alone than with a liar."

Aura was on the stairs at this point, their yelling perfectly audible from the attic.

Bailey rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "You wanna know why I lied to you both for so long? I care about you."

Carolyn's eyes softened, her posture slumping.

"It's the same reason I brought this." Bailey tossed a familiar vial filled with violet to Aura.

Aura caught the potion in one hand, glancing over it with her blues for a moment before running to hug Bailey. "Thank you," she murmured.

As Bailey changed into a dress and cloak in the attic, they talked for the first time they had all week.

Before they could fall back through the mirror's polished glass, Silvia burst into the room.

"I thought I heard someone up here." She examined their clothes, her eyes glancing at the mirror. Her face dropped, disappointment filling her amethyst eyes. "No—"

"–Yes," Carolyn interrupted, tying the string of her cloak tighter.

Silvia sighed. "No. Not without me."

All three girls paused and looked at her with wide eyes.

Their grandmother set down her briefcase and casually took off her small pearl earrings. "You snuck there once with no way of getting back."

Bailey hung her head.

"Gran—" Aura started, ready to reassure her as she reached for the vial of purple liquid.

Silvia cut her off before she could finish. "—I need to keep you safe."

The twins sighed in unison, still weary.

"I don't know..." Carolyn trailed off.

Silvia walked over to a narrow, black box on one of the shelving units. "Fabula is my home." She gingerly picked up a pearlescent wand and turned back to the twins. "And I'm going whether you like it or not."

The twins turned back to the mirror, holding their tongues. They nearly screamed in shock as a bright light shot out of Silvia's wand, enveloping the mirror in an amber glow. One by one, the group stepped through the golden frame.

The twins squeezed their eyes shut, expecting the brutal fall, but instead were met with a familiar oak smell and soft grass under their boots. The light chirping of birds in the branches high above filled their ears.

"Okay I like your way of traveling a lot better," Carolyn said, stretching her arms.

The warm glow of the sun encapsulated Aura until a soft blue glimmer caught her attention. Silvia was outlined in a piercing light coming from her wand, causing Aura to lift her hand to shield her eyes.

As the glow dimmed, the twins' grandmother was visible once more, but in place of her typical pantsuit was a simple brown cloak and dress.

The twins were taken aback, but it surely was not the strangest thing they'd seen recently.

As they walked, Silvia relished in the ambiance of the forest she had missed. She felt giddier, but also more anxious, with each step her feet took.

Their journey to camp was a silent one, not one of the four making an effort to speak. Instead, they simply allowed the humming of the wind to fill in the lack of words.

A flute played softly as they stepped out of the brush and into the familiar clearing. Instantly, dozens of pairs of eyes focused on Silvia's soft features. As their faces glimmered with hope, her rosy glow faded, her view encompassed by makeshift tents and almost-empty stomachs.

Bailey ran from the group when she saw Robin enter the clearing. She pulled him into an embrace, earning her a glare from Marian who stood beside him. He ignored Marian's sour expression, walking with Bailey back to the twins and their grandmother. "Robin, I'd like you to meet Silvia."

"Robin Hood of Locksley," he introduced himself formally, quickly bowing. "Welcome, Fairy Godmother. We're glad to have you back, Fabula has missed you dearly."

Silvia laughed, the skin around her eyes crinkling as she smiled. "You flatter me. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Robin of Locksley."

He greeted the twins next, and as Carolyn's eyes met his, she couldn't help but smile. She continued to study his face after his attention had turned back to Bailey. Admiring his green eyes as they attentively watched her friend's face, Carolyn realized she had missed the adventure that always lingered in his jade irises. She quickly averted her gaze when she caught sight of Marian's persistent scowl, her eyes finding her shoes.

The group set down the few items they had brought with them. As they helped the other people of the camp set up for Oílume that night, a small child caught Silvia's eye. Her face dropped as he munched away at a minuscule crust of bread, and she slowly approached him. The Fairy Godmother slid her wand out of the pocket inside her cloak, waving it gently above her open palm. A soft orange mist left the tip of the wand, falling over her wrinkled hand, leaving a blueberry muffin behind in its wake.

The little boy's big, crystal blue eyes lit up at the sight of the treat, gleefully accepting it when she offered it to him. He squeaked out a cheerful 'thank you' as he devoured the dessert.

Silvia noticed a small crowd of children had gathered around her, all hoping for their own treat. One by one, she gifted the kids toys and sweets of all kinds, a bright smile on her face.

A couple of hours passed as the group set up their tents and Silvia socialized with other people at the camp, doing small tasks for anyone who asked. That supper's portions were larger than they had been for months with only a few waves of Silvia's wand. The people of the camp feasted on rich, thick broth with ripe vegetables and tender meat. Pillowy bread and sweet fruit accompanied the filling meal.

Night fell, but not before a vibrant sunset had painted the sky in bright shades of orange and pink. As the two moons rose in the north, the bonfire in the center of the camp was lit ablaze. The music and dancing that night were especially lively.

Robin approached the three friends, filling the gap between the twins and Bailey where they sat on a log. The right side of his body was to the flames, making half of his face glow orange, the other half luminously icy from the soft blue moonlight.

"Alright," he began earnestly. "What's got you three so cross to one another?"

The twins exchanged a look, neither of them wanting to answer.

Bailey sighed. "They're still angry that I kept the truth from them."

"And rightfully so," Carolyn retorted under her breath.

Aura looked at her sister with scolding eyes, not wishing to start another argument.

Carolyn wanted to stay angry but couldn't help but soften under her sister's warning gaze.

Aura looked to Bailey. "It's just...gonna take some time," she said sympathetically.

Robin's forehead creased as he looked at Bailey, puzzled. "What truths did you withhold?"

She could feel her heart rate increasing as her face flushed in embarrassment. "Well, you know they came from Earth." Bailey shot him an unforthcoming gaze, making the twins that much more suspicious of their friend's true intentions.

Robin nodded, something in his expression allowing Bailey's features to soften, though his turned head caused his face to be hidden from the twins' view.

"I wanted to tell them of Fabula's existence, but I didn't know how or when to." Bailey was looking at her friends now, her eyes apologetic. "I didn't want to jeopardize our friendship."

Robin took her hand to comfort her, causing the twins' hearts to swell with guilt.

Bailey smiled softly before stiffening once more. Her eyebrows furrowed as she searched the trees. "Robin, do you hear that?"

A low humming played under the upbeat jig of the fiddles but quickly crescendoed, blocking out the breathy song of the flute. The ground began to rumble with the small pebbles scattered along the cool dirt beginning to bounce.

Women grabbed their children, pulling them into tents and behind shrubbery to shield them from whatever danger approached the camp. Marian ran to them from where she stood by the fire, not missing the chance to scowl at Robin and Bailey's interlaced hands, despite the impending doom.

"It's got to be the Sheriff," Marian discerned as Robin pulled the group into the thick, concealing foliage.

Silvia had found them at this point, and with a swift wave of her wand, a dim, pale green light shot down at the undergrowth. The leafy ferns grew before their eyes, encapsulating them where they sat on the dirt, a growth that normally would've taken over a year.

"I'm never gonna get used to that," Carolyn murmured before silence ensued, each of them careful not to make a peep while the rumbling drew closer to the clearing.

They stared intently out at the field, peeking in between leaves and branches to inspect the new arrivals. The twins recognized the leading horseman instantly, almost able to hear his unsettling articulation before he spoke so much as a word.

There were only a few men and women left in the clearing, standing there above reproach, their spouses and children remaining unbelievably quiet in the small huts.

Robin's eyes watched attentively as the Sheriff and his men dismounted their steeds and strode towards the group at the center of the clearing.

The Sheriff's dark eyes lit up as he looked into the flames. "Is there anyone else in this camp?" he asked the commoners blankly, his gaze not reaching them.

"Just our families, Sir," one man spoke up, trying to sound as respectful as possible.

The man's reverential tone did little to soothe the Sheriff though, as his face heated up with a deep rage. "And who among you practices magic?"

Realization struck the man's face, his eyes widening in panic. "None of us, Sir."

"Don't disrespect me with your lies!" The Sheriff yelled this time, spit flying from his clenched teeth in searing wrath.

Silvia could feel her heart beating out of her chest from behind the brush, guilt making her stomach drop. She was forced to look away, the remorse overwhelming her senses and breaking her focus on the conversation.

The Sheriff stood still for a moment, which only inflicted more fear on his victims who stared at him with wide, blameless eyes.

His jaw remained clenched, and his hands were balled into fists, but he was calmer when he spoke up once more. "Because I am generous, I will allow you a chance to reveal your witch."

The twins were panicking now, their heartbeats increasing at the official's words. They lost control of their breathing as the men stood frozen in their tracks, fearful for their lives.

Bailey looked to Robin, uncertain of how they should proceed. "What do we do?"

"This is my fault," Silvia said, her whisper almost inaudible. "I'll turn myself in."

"No no no," Aura rushed out, grabbing her grandmother's hand. "Please don't leave us." Much to her surprise, her anger towards Silvia had nearly vanished, her emotions being overtaken by fear.

"She's right," Robin spoke as quietly as he could manage. "If the Sheriff sees that they were harboring the Fairy Godmother, it'll only make things worse for them."

They watched then as the Sheriff commanded his soldiers to seize the men and women. The guards threw swift punches to the criminals' abdomens, blood tainting the shiny metal of their armor not long after they began beating them to a pulp.

The twins averted their gaze, unable to witness the violence for any longer. Carolyn held her sister close to her as Aura silently cried.

The gory scene carried on for a few more moments until the once strong individuals were crumpled bodies on the dirt ground. They were barely conscious, coughing up blood that was undoubtedly due to internal bruising. The Sheriff, a towering beast of a man, pulled the smallest of the protestors, crumpling the collar of his shirt in his fist.

"Let them be an example!" the Sheriff screamed now, projecting his voice so that the people in hiding would hear his warning. "If anyone practices magic, we will do this and worse!"

He dropped the bloody shell of a man to the ground, sending one last kick to his stomach before marching off. As the steeds rode away into the deep woods, men and women ran out of hiding, instantly attending to the injured.

Robin was the first to run out of the foliage, chopping through the excess greenery Silvia had created to shield them. He helped carry the men and women away from the heat of the flames that still roared high into the night sky.

Marian followed after them, her usual envious venom wilting away, taken over by a deep worry.

The twins remained in the brush, unable to move.

Silvia's eyes were wide and more fearful than her granddaughters had ever seen, the bright amethyst now a soft lavender, terror evident in them.

"I'm so sorry," she began, struggling to find the right words to say. "This is all my fault, I should've never used my magic."

It was then that Carolyn stood up and, without saying a word, walked towards the flames.

"How could they just hurt people so easily?" Aura spoke, her voice trembling.

Silvia scanned her granddaughter's face, saddened by the pure frailty she found. She wracked her brain, trying to find a solution to Aura's fear.

"Whenever you are unsafe," she began, cupping Aura's hands in her own. "I want you to say 'hostem propulsare.' It will push your enemies away from you so that you can escape."

Aura nodded, forgetting the anger she felt from her grandmother's deceit, and fell into Silvia's arms. She brushed Aura's hair out of her face, holding her tight.

Carolyn sat in front of the bonfire, her knees tucked to her chest, as she tried to block out the screams she heard from inside the small huts. She noticed Marian run out of one of them, telling a woman she'd gather more dressings for the wounds, before darting off into the dark woods. Her figure had all but disappeared before Carolyn noticed a larger outline following Marian closely, sending a burning feeling through her veins.

Carolyn quickly sprung up from where she sat, rushing into the forest. She jumped over tree trunks and roots, narrowly dodging branches that hung low in her path. Carolyn's eyes darted around, adjusting to the dark, before catching sight of Marian not far from her, a towering dark, metal-clad figure holding a knife to her chest, their other hand clamped over her mouth.

Carolyn rustled through the leafy forest floor before her palm found a large, heavy rock. She took the slab in her hand, running to Marian. Before the soldier could turn to face her, Carolyn had bashed the jagged rock into the back of his skull, thankful she couldn't see the blood that was inevitably flowing from his lesion.

The blow knocked him to his knees, but not out cold. Without a second thought, Carolyn grabbed Marian's hand, running through the brush back to camp with her. They had only run a few feet before they heard a heavier set of steps trotting not far behind them. The guard continued to chase them into the camp, indifferent to the hot liquid trickling from his skull.

The two broke through the barrier of leaves and back to the heart of the camp, Marian screaming at the top of her lungs, the soldier not far behind.

With a shove of her arms, Carolyn pushed Marian into one of the tents. She grabbed another rock from the ground and spun around ready to throw.

The man bounded towards her, his dagger gripped tightly in his hand. Before he could reach her, his stocky frame was hurdled to the ground by a familiar body of green.

With his bow in hand, Robin wrung the soldier's head in between the belly and the bowstring. He brought the man to his knees and pressed the bow harder into the man's neck, pressing on his windpipe enough for him to struggle for air.

"If I ever see you again so help me God, I will not hesitate to shoot an arrow straight through your heart, do you understand me?"

The man sputtered out incoherent words, his downturned eyes widening.

"Tell your almighty Sheriff that because I am so generous, I let you go to live another day," Robin spat.

Carolyn stood back from the scene, panting heavily as she watched the man fight to breathe. Bailey ran to her side, postured to fight if necessary.

Robin unsheathed the sword from the soldier's scabbard before sliding his head out of the bow.

The man scrambled to his feet, fleeing into the dark wilderness.

Robin walked to Carolyn, holding out the sword for her to take. "For next time," he said as she warily took the weapon from his hands. "It might work better than rocks."

She looked down at the sword before looking back up into his jade green eyes, which were now filled with an emotion she had not yet seen him wear: gratitude.

"Thank you," Robin said sincerely. "You've more than earned my respect. I owe you one."

Marian ran from the tent, wrapping her arms around Robin's neck, crying into his shoulder.

He placed a soft kiss on her head, the most affectionate Carolyn had seen him be with her. He cupped her face in his hands, looking into her caramel eyes. "It's alright. He won't hurt you. I've got you."

Silvia warily approached the group, her eyes watery. "I'm so sorry that I caused all this. I'll create the portal and we'll go."

"We should really wait until morning," Bailey protested. "Using magic right now will only draw the Sheriff and his men back to us."

Silvia nodded, looking at the trees that surrounded the camp. "We'll sleep outside of the camp, then. I wouldn't want to cause any more trouble here."

Robin left Marian's side, gathering a few things before leading the group into the woods to set up for the night.

They walked for a while before pitching up their tents. Bailey thanked Robin profusely as Silvia gloomily retired for the night.

Aura and Bailey crawled into their tent as Carolyn hung back, studying Robin carefully. She slowly approached him where he sat in between the two makeshift shelters.

"Thank you, again."

He looked up at her, his greens almost sparkling in the moonlight that peeked between tall oak trees.

"Are you okay?"

Carolyn was slightly taken aback by his question.

She chuckled lightly. "You ask as if that was my first time being chased by a guard."

He shook his head, but he couldn't hide the small smile on his face.

"Are you going to bed?" Carolyn asked.

"I'll wait up and watch," Robin replied, the grip on his bow tightening. "You should get some sleep, though."

Carolyn nodded, retreating to her tent. Despite the atrocities she had witnessed that day, knowing that Robin was guarding them allowed her racing thoughts to cease enough for her to drift off to sleep.

The melodies of the wind mingling with the leaves rang through the air in harmony with the songs of bluebirds.

The twins' eyes fluttered open to see sunlight seeping through the leaves of a towering oak tree. Slowly propping themselves onto their elbows, Aura and Carolyn basked in their surroundings.

Swans glided peacefully across a shimmering pond, with small waterfalls feeding into the basin. Above the rocky wall of cascading water, a lush forest raced up to the grand mountains that were blanketed with snow at their peaks.

The twins looked to one another for confirmation that what they were seeing was real. Their eyes widened in surprise to find, instead of in their simple dresses, they were dressed in gowns with layers of flowing material and glittering crystals. Their wrists were adorned with dainty bracelets made from wildflowers that shimmered a soft gold.

Behind them, rising above the trees and the rolling hills, proudly stood a castle seemingly made of crystal. Its spiraling towers gleamed in the golden rays.

A horse pulling an open carriage trotted along a dirt trail and up a small hill that allowed entry into the secluded glade.

The chestnut steed neighed as high-pitched giggles filled the air. Two little girls, no older than five, sprinted down the hill, racing one another to the bottom.

"Come on! Hurry up!" the girl in front teased over her shoulder.

The second girl, who was not too far behind, called, "I'm coming!" When she got close enough, she jumped forward and tackled the first girl, the two of them laughing as they tumbled down the rest of the hill.

Aura and Carolyn heard laughter behind them. Turning around they saw a young couple walking arm-in-arm towards the oak tree. They seemed too deep in their conversation to notice the twins in the shade.

The sisters were frozen in place, their lungs unable to take in air. Their eyes were wide with shock and disbelief as they stared at the couple.

The man towered over his wife and had sharp blue eyes that were visible from across the meadow. He had light, warm ivory skin that contrasted against his short, chestnut brown hair. An intricate gold crown sat atop his head, glistening in the warm sunlight.

The woman was even more striking, her features softer than her husband's. Her strawberry blonde hair was pulled up into a braided bun, away from her rosy face, securing a gold tiara adorned with luminescent crystals.

Aura struggled to find her words, her eyes welling up with salty tears. "Is that..."

"Our parents," Carolyn finished breathlessly.

The pixelated photograph of the couple from the twins' beloved newspaper article barely did their lively demeanors justice. Sheer happiness and content radiated off of their bodies as they stared lovingly into one another's eyes.

The couple stopped in their tracks, studying the twins' faces. As recognition crossed their eyes, the younger girls in the meadow faded away in a flurry of petals.

As the sisters' parents ran to them, dark clouds rolled across the sky, blocking out the sun's rays. Before they could reach the twins, a stream of red smoke sprawled down from the clouds in the sky. When it connected with the emerald green grass, the flora died instantaneously.

The fog surrounded the twins' father first, pulling him away in a dark haze.

Their mother ran faster, reaching Aura and Carolyn moments later.

She grabbed their hands with her own, her panicked hazel green eyes searching their faces frantically.

"Come save us," she rushed out, her voice shaking. As the blood red smoke pulled her up into the clouds, the twins were kicked back to the ground with a brute force. All that stood in their mother's place was her elegant golden crown.

The fog continued to spread, encapsulating the entire meadow, reaching out with sharp talons towards Aura and Carolyn, who quickly scrambled to their feet.

The ominous haze cleared to reveal Onyx, the woman they had seen in Orrinshire. Her raven black hair cascaded down her open back as a maroon gown hugged her thin frame. Her plum lips were etched into a scowl as her fierce mocha eyes studied them with an unsettling fury. A black wand was tightly encased in the woman's hand as she pointed it towards the twins.

"This is for ruining my fate," the woman snarled as black smoke escaped from the tip of her wand, hurtling towards them faster than they could blink.

Aura and Carolyn screamed as the world went dark. The final sound they heard was the crack of a lightning bolt...

The twins jolted awake as someone roughly shook their shoulders. Bailey tugged at their wrists to persuade their tired bodies to leave the tent.

When they clamored out of the canvas shelter, the twins instinctively covered their eyes to block out the bright morning sun. When the ringing in their ears faded, it was replaced with the rapid firing of arrows.

"GET OUT OF HERE NOW!" Robin yelled.

Aura and Carolyn were suddenly pulled away from the tent. Their eyes finally adjusted and were met with Robin's back crouched behind a rock as his hand nimbly grabbed arrows from his quiver to reload his bow.

Although camouflaged in the thick brush, the twins could see the faces of a dozen men with the Sheriff's wolf crest on their armor firing their own arrows into the small clearing.

"Get them!" one of the soldiers yelled to his comrades.

Their grandmother's hands wrapped around the twins' wrists, averting their attention from the archer in green.

Behind the Fairy Godmother, a golden archway was planted in the dirt and swirled with bright colors. She motioned with her other hand to urge the girls to run through.

The twins grabbed Bailey, pulling her towards the portal. She thrashed out of their grip, causing Silvia to push her into the vibrant whirlpool. The Fairy Godmother then quickly dragged her granddaughters with her, going through the golden archway back to Earth. Fabula faded before them as the twins' Massachusetts attic grew around them.

Tears streamed down Bailey's face as she shouted at Silvia. "Why didn't you let me help him? He could be dead for all we know..."

"And if we stayed, we would be, too."

Bailey's face scrunched up into a sob, tears flowing from her saddened greys. Aura reached for her, but she ran out of the attic.

The room grew silent as the front door slammed shut. Morning light flooded through the attic's windowpane across the room, glossing over the twins and their grandmother.

Carolyn's eyebrows furrowed, her eyes meeting Silvia's. Her thoughts flashed back to the nightmarish dream she had been pulled out of just a few minutes prior. The image of the red smoke raining down from the sky like blood, leaving a golden tiara in its wake crossed her mind. "The soldiers weren't just after you and Robin, were they?" she asked, already well aware of the answer.

"What do you mean?" Silvia questioned, her body overtaken by a swarm of adrenaline.

"The Sheriff of Nottingham tried to arrest us the moment we stepped into Fabula," Carolyn explained, her mind scrambling to fit together pieces of a puzzle. "Then they tracked us to the clearing Robin led us to, not to mention that every time we're at the camp people stare at us like we're—"

"—royalty," Aura finished.

Carolyn's wide eyes met Aura's.

"I had the same dream."

Silvia remained silent as she walked to the back of the attic, pulling back a panel in the wall and retrieving a small, wooden box from inside.

She strode back to her granddaughters, opening the box up to them. Inside laid two tiaras, identical in their intricate pattern and embellished with small opal stones. Their only difference was in their color, one being a bright gold and the other a soft rose gold. In between the tiaras, a small pendant was sewn into the black velvet. Molded into the crest's bronze backing, a bed of tourmaline stone sat under a small, gold key.

"Oh, shit..." Carolyn murmured, her eyes wide in shock.

"They stare at you like you're royalty because you are." Silvia smiled to herself before inspecting their confused expressions. "Your mother and father were King Anthony and Queen Felicity of Crystia, the 'heart of Fabula'."

Aura softly chuckled in disbelief. "You're joking." She studied her grandmother's face for any sign of humor, but there was none. "Oh my god, you're serious?"

Flashes of Bailey stopping her father from bowing when they had first met him and Robin's knowing glance at the Oílume the night prior raced through the twins' minds.

Silvia held the box out to Aura, offering her a crown to try on.

"Wait," Carolyn started, her eyes squinting in skepticism. "We can't be 'princesses' because that would mean that you lied to us once again."

"Carolyn, I didn't lie to either of you. I only withheld the truth—"

Carolyn scoffed, turning to walk out of the attic.

"—to protect you."

"You say that like it's better!" Carolyn exclaimed, whipping back around, staring her grandmother straight in the eyes.

"I didn't want to overwhelm you," Silvia argued.

"Too late." Carolyn turned on her heel, slamming the attic door behind her.

Hello lovelies!
A lovely, long chapter for you guys! Even though we wrote him, every time the Sheriff is in a scene we just feel a wave of disgust wash over us. But the twins are princesses and pretty badass ones at that!

Okay but also...Robin threatening the Sheriff's goon 👀👀

Question of the day: If you could rule over any fictional kingdom, which one would it be?

Until next chapter!

♡ Melody & Rebekah ♡