One day, when Eliza was ready to stay in her room until dusk, see no one, and talk to no one, she noticed Tommy was not around. Hiding her face as best as she could, the girl went out looking for him. She found him in the pantry, barely breathing, with a hunk of cheese next to him. It was poisoned cheese, left there for the rats that dare to go into the pantry. Heartbroken, Eliza lifted the fragile little body and took the cat back to her room. Without a second thought, she ripped the sixth amulet off the bracelet and threw it in the fire. Then, she sang, petting the cat's soft fur. When she finished singing, Tommy meowed softly, as if thanking her, then falling into a deep sleep. After dusk, the cat woke up, ate, and played as nothing happened.

'Oh, Tommy,' whispered Eliza through her tears, hugging it. 'I don't care how hideous I become. I cannot possibly lose you. You are my only friend.'

But the sixth amulet brought on some dreadful changes. Now, not only her face but the whole left side of her body contorted in such a way, that Eliza felt like dragging an old infirm body which was pulling down on her. She was to carry this helpless body wherever she went. Her hands were thin and wrinkled like branches of an old tree. Her fingers gnarled, her nails grew long and crooked. Her feet hurt and cracked with every step. Her body slouched, and she grew a hunch on the left side of her back.

To hide her hideous appearance, Eliza cooked up a new lie. Something along the lines of having caught a weird illness that made every spot of light hurt her skin. As the Palace's doctors have never heard of such an illness, they weren't even allowed to see her. The Princess ordered all windows and mirrors to be coveredand the candles and torches to be put out wherever she went. That is how she managed to leave her room which was turning into a prison to her.

Days went by without purpose, each one the same as the other before. But one day, Nanny Ana didn't show up and Eliza's heart was tight up in concern for her. She waited the whole day looking out the window from behind the thick curtain. She tried reading, but the story proved to be especially boring. She tried her hand at stitching a flower pattern but stung her finger. It was dinnertime and Nanny Ana still didn't show up; she knew something was wrong. She put on a cape, pulled the hood over her head and, carrying the burden of a withered old body, she walked slowly towards the nanny's room. She found her lying in bed, pale-faced, barely breathing. Two women were looking after her, both looking worried.

'What happened to Nanny Ana?' asked the Princess in a strange, rough voice that was not hers.

The two women didn't even notice they were speaking to the Princess.

'She has a high fever, the poor woman. She's delirious—talking about a false princess who needs to be saved from herself. What could be the meaning of this? As old as she is, we don't know if she can make it until dawn.'

And the women began moaning again.

'Leave this room immediately!' ordered Eliza. But the women didn't budge.

'I said leave this room now! Eliza repeated, 'I am the future Queen and I order you to leave this room.'

'We apologise, Princess, we didn't recognise you,' said one of the two and both left the room in a great hurry.

Eliza approached the nanny's bed and put her hand, the one untouched by the spell, on her feverish forehead.

'Nanny, can you hear me? It's me, Eliza. Don't be afraid, I wouldn't let anything bad happen. You will be all right, you'll see.'

Then, she threw the seventh amulet in the fire and sang a heartbreaking song. A strange song, coming from other worlds. Just as it happened every time. As if someone else was commanding her, and songs she has never heard before came out in a clean sound, taking anyone's breath away. As soon as the song was over, the nanny fell into the deep sleep that foreran the healing. After she was convinced her beloved nanny was to be all right, Eliza left the room.

The seventh amulet brought on even more terrible changes. The whole face and now the right side of her body was touched by the spell, wrinkling day by day. Her bones were hurting, and every move sent shivering pain throughout her whole body. Eliza spent every day braiding, sitting in her chair by the fireplace, just a shadow of the girl she used to be. Nanny Ana, who recovered completely, found her one evening dozing off over her braiding, Tommy curled up at her feet. With gentle moves, so she wouldn't wake her up, the nanny removed the veil that was covering her face for several weeks now. But she wished she hadn't. There was nothing left of the once beautiful face.

A hideous face, now asleep, was showing up from under the lace bonnet. Her eyebrows were missing and deep wrinkles crossed her face, below her blue lips. Nanny Ana was looking at the face of a woman well over a hundred years old. Her wrinkled hands rested in her lap and trembled in short bursts. Her hair was hanging in tangled strands. Her lips all wrinkled up trembled as drool was hanging off her chin.

After she got over the first wave of fright, Nanny Ana caressed the hideous face, so sweet not long ago. She felt pity for the young soul, still vibrating inside that old body.

Eliza felt the soft caress and woke up, smiling. But as she realised the nanny had uncovered her, she desperately tried to cover her deformity. Her hand went numb and didn't respond anymore.

'Don't be afraid, my dear!' said the nanny softly.

Eliza smiled faintly and tucked her face inside her chest. 'Oh, nanny, what have I done?'

'My child, I told you not to play with forces you don't understand, more powerful than you. Now you are paying for your foolishness. I would love to help you, to take this burden off your shoulders, but there is nothing I can do. I would gladly give my life so you could be happy, but only you can right the wrongs you have done.'

'But I feel so lost,' she sobbed in that shivering voice. 'I lied and deceived so many people, especially the ones I love the most. I only meant well. I would never have thought it will get to this.'

'Hush, my child!' tried the nanny to calm her down. 'We will find a way to get your life back. Until then, you need your rest. You must realise you are caught inside an old body that cannot bare a young soul. Now rest, my dear.'

The nanny helped her put on her nightgown as she used to, a while back. When Eliza was laid in her bed, she whispered to her nanny, 'Tell me, how is he? Prince Gabriel, that is.'

The nanny couldn't hold back a sigh. 'He is sad you don't want to see him anymore. He got lost among battle plans and became again bitter and grouchy. He doesn't know what is really going on with you. Sometimes I see him looking in a distance on his walks in the garden. His look is so sad, that I tear up. And now, with this illness that spread along with the kingdom, he is even more concerned.'

'What illness?'

'Oh, this dreaded flu that strikes the little and defenceless—the children. It seems like all children under ten years old fall suddenly ill, and are confined in bed with the fever. And they wither by the day. Even your little friend, the laundry lady's child, was touched. Hard times have come again upon this kingdom, like a curse.'

Eliza shivered at the news. But she knew what it had to be done.

'Go to the Prince and tell him to spread the word all over this country—tomorrow at dawn, all mothers must bring their children to the castle. Make every sick child be there, for tomorrow will be their only chance to heal. Now go! Hurry!'

As the door closed behind the nanny, Eliza smiled. She fell into a deep sleep like she hasn't for weeks. The following day was to be very important.

●

Early in the morning, she was awoken by the the great fuss and buzzing outside, as in a bees' hive. She hurried to get ready and went out.

Looking out the window, she saw a big crowd waiting. Parents from all over the kingdom, mainly women, carrying their children in their arms, gathered in front of the main tower where the King and Queen made their appearance once, around the big popular holidays. Now there were hundreds of people in front of the tower and Eliza shivered thinking of their suffering.

This day was especially gloomy and cold so Eliza could hide under the thick clothes.When a black, hunched silhouette made its appearance in the balcony, nobody knew who she was. But when they heard the unearthly voice, full of hope, their eyes filled with tears and for a moment, time stood still. The thick heavy clouds scattered and a bright, healing sun warmed the still crowd.

When she finished the song, the children stopped moaning. A deep sleep replaced the fever and the delicate bodies were carried home in loving arms.

'Long live the Princess, our caring angel!' a voice was heard from the crowd and the whole Palace was filled with cheers addressed to the Princess.

Only Eliza couldn't take joy in this. Indeed, her heart was filled with joy for saving innocent souls. But a great concern was enveloping her like a fog coming from nowhere. Dragging her feet, she tried to creep towards her room. But it seemed so far away for such a withered body. Trying to pick up the pace, she bumped into someone on her way. Someone her heart recognised at once. It was the Prince. Luckily, her clothes covered her deformed body and the Prince would not have believed that the hunched being in front of him was Eliza. When the Prince was ready to ask of her being there, Nanny Ana showed up.

'Old Mary, here you are. I was looking all over for you. Hurry! They are waiting for you in the kitchen. Please forgive her, Your Majesty. She is so old she forgets her place.'

The Prince looked at her but didn't pay much attention. 'Nanny,' he said in a voice trying to sound as natural as possible, 'do you know where the Princess is? Her singing really made wonders today and I would like to talk to her. To thank her. On behalf of my people.'

'Unfortunately, the Princess isn't feeling very well. She went to her room to rest,' said the nanny without leaving any hope he could see her.

Eliza saw a worried look on the Prince's face. 'I could send the doctors over to see her if she would allow it. I know she doesn't want to see me and I respect her choice, but she must look after her health.'

'Worry not, Your Majesty. The Princess will make her recovery soon, and she will be as good as ever. I will personally see this happens as soon as possible.' And by saying this, Nanny Ana took Eliza by the hand and they both disappeared in the shadows of the castle's cold corridors.

Thank you for reading! It makes me so happy to see you so captivated with Eliza's story. Please let me know what you think about it. It would mean a lot. Also, I would really like to know what you think about the song accompanying this chapter. It is the song I imagined Eliza was singing for the balcony scene. It is also one of my favorites songs while writing Eliza's story.