Prologue
Once upon a time, I was in love with Nikolas, but he was in love with my best friend Tonia! How dare he! Couldn’t he see how much I loved him? He was my everything! I would kill for him, and I would give him anything he wished for! Couldn’t he see I’d do anything to be his?
Apparently not, because he married my best friend. That traitor! Of course, she wouldn’t see it that way. She made me her bridesmaid and expected me to be happy for her!
She knew I loved him, but she was in love with him too. She should have told him to marry me! I am the sister of the King, after all! Who is more worthy to marry him than me? I deserve him the most! But she didn’t.
Why couldn’t she step away and be happy for me? Don’t I deserve to be loved by a handsome nobleman? Where does my happiness come into play? I WANT TO BE HAPPY TOO!
Didn’t she care about me at all? We were best friends for crying out loud! Well, I hid my feelings deep inside because I loved Tonia like a sister. She didn’t have to know how bitter I’ve become. She is family… Sort of. I pretended to be happy for my best friend and the man who should have been mine. Neither of them seemed to notice my true feelings… I guess you could say over the years I’ve gotten really good at lying! (I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not…)
Less than a year after they were married, they brought a beautiful baby girl into the world. She is gorgeous. Her name is Natasha. She is spoiled rotten and beloved by everyone in the kingdom, including my nephew Alex, the Prince.
Just last night, I heard him talking to her parents about marrying her once she turns 18. She knows nothing of this, of course. She is still just 16 years old, dancing through her life on her pretty little toes, like the world owes her adoration.
And, of course, Nic and Tonia were thrilled that their precious ballerina caught the eye of the prince! Who wouldn’t be? I don’t think she even notices all the looks the boys around the kingdom have given her. All full of lust and desire.
She is too innocent for her own good. The little angel with golden hair and shining green eyes looks like she just stepped off a cloud. Her sweet smile can fool everyone into thinking she is this perfect little girl, but she will never fool me…
But did they even think about how I would feel about it? Of course not! Do they not see me anymore? Am I just made to be set aside and watch as they live their happy lives, oblivious to the pain I’ve been living in for years?
Well, no more! I am tired of being ‘nice’ when all I want to do is burn down the castle walls and throw a temper tantrum like an unruly toddler!
I look down on the love of my life, his hold on his lifeless wife in his arms is slowly loosening. His head is lulling on her pretty shoulder. His blood spilling out all his orifices and his eyes dulled in color and his breath slowed to a stop. A small twinge twists my heart as I watch the life drain from his beautiful body. This didn’t have to happen!
Didn’t he know, he could have stopped this? Didn’t he know this is all his fault? All he had to do was give up my so-called best friend and marry me! We would have been perfect together! And I would have had the beautiful daughter he cherished more than life.
A shriek fills my ears as Natasha pulls her parents to her chest and sobs. When did she get here? I thought she was still dancing… Even in her mourning she is graceful as tears drop down her cheeks. Her eyes shine like leaves on the trees after a rainstorm.
What’s the point? They are both dead. There is nothing she can do about it. I couldn’t even bring them back now, even if I wanted to! I’ve got my revenge on the couple who’ve been causing me unimaginable pain until I couldn’t take it anymore…
But wait! I have an epiphany! At 16, Natasha is the most beautiful girl in the land. She was the apple of her father’s eye and the light of her mother’s life. She also has stolen everything from me! How did I not see it? Miss Perfect even took my nephew from me! She must be punished too!
“Natasha, dear…” I cackle. My fingers tingle with magic just waiting to do my bidding. It’s dark and addictive. It fills me with power! It is the only thing that soothes me and my wounded heart…
“Aunt Sasha?” She looks at me in confusion. Her pretty brow is scrunched together, and her lower lip is trembling slightly. Her cheeks are flushed and pretty eyes twinkle in sadness. Why does she have to be so pretty? Can’t she even ugly cry like a normal human?!?
Then slowly the confusion changes to understanding. Dread passes over her angelic face. Once she trusted me as much as her mother… But I have a feeling she is finally seeing me for who I really am…
And I am glad for it! Finally! Someone understands the power I hold. Someone finally acknowledges me for my true potential!
“You, my darling niece… You don’t know it… But you have stolen everything from me…” I state with bitterness leaking from each word.
She shakes her head in denial. How would she know that all this is her fault? She didn’t ask to be born of the man I loved and the woman who was supposed to be my best friend. It doesn’t matter, because it happened anyway.
“And as a result, I will bestow upon you my favorite curse. It is the curse of the Dark Swan,” I explain while sneering down at her lovely face. I need her to know what I am doing to her! “You will continue to grow in beauty and catch many men's eyes. When they touch your skin, they will grow weak, and when they fall in love with you, they will slowly die. You will end up alone… Just like me!” I finish with a wail enough to shake the foundation of the castle we are standing in.
This will be my ultimate revenge! It fills me with glee just thinking of the misery the poor girl is going to unwillingly cause!
Suddenly, the sound of running interrupts my triumph, and I look to see who has joined me. This was not what I was hoping for! In fact, it could ruin everything! I can’t let them catch me….
“Guards!” calls King Ivan, my brother.
Guess that’s my cue to leave…
And I make my miraculous disappearing act in a cloud of black smoke.
I show up just outside the kingdom, in the Great Oak Forest. I’ll be able to keep an eye on that little tramp from here! No one will find me, and no one will stop me! I will have my vengeance and watch while it happens.
Let the dance begin!
