I'm doing fairly well with NaNoWriMo! And yes, I have gotten to the part where you left off, the section of the novel I'm calling Powerless. After the events of Power Play Caroline gradually loses everything. Despite that... I can't seem to take her best friend Maisy from her. I know I should just destroy her... But I can't seem to crack that bestie bond she's got with Maisy... Whom none of you know much about yet! So here's a sneak peek!


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Maisy burst into the room. “I found another one!” Joan eyed her critically.

“You’re supposed to be asleep.” She growled accusingly. Maisy looked awful, bags under her eyes, hair sticking up at odd angles.

“Sleep can wait.” She waved her hands dismissively. She shoved her phone at Caroline. “She was just in Mexico.” Joan typed on the computer quickly.

“Found it.” She skimmed the text. “They are calling her la bruja de los santos.”

“What’s that?” Caroline asked blankly.

“It’s Spanish for ‘the witch of the saints’.” Maisy answered. Joan raised an eyebrow at her. “What? You thought I wouldn’t pick some stuff up dating Jimmy?” She scoffed.

“It seems as if she’d doing good work there.” Joan went back to reading.

“Is she still around?” Hans leaned over her shoulder, trying to decipher the Spanish on the screen.

““No…” She answered slowly, putting the most recent update through the translator. “Seems like she cleared out a couple hours ago.” Caroline slumped. Maisy leaned back against the table, defeated. Hans noticed.

“That’s it. Bed, both of you.” He ordered in a voice that brooked no argument.

“I can still look!” Maisy protested. Joan scoffed. Maisy shot her a dirty look.

“And I have to be ready when we find her!” Caroline exclaimed straightening. “There has to be more we can do!”

“Maisy, you’re two hours sleep away from deprivation induced hysteria.” Hans crossed his arms. “And Caroline,” Caroline’s fevered, desperate eyes met her prince’s, and he softened noticeably. “Just get some sleep. Please, princess?” Caroline didn’t want to. She was absolutely desperate to find Myriah, but the concern in Hans’ eyes pulled at her. She bowed her head in acquiescence.

“Come on, Maisy.” She said quietly, reaching out and taking her hand. “I can loan you a robe and nightgown.” Maisy frowned, but let herself be led up the stairs. Caroline stopped in front of her private bathroom. “You could use some freshening up. I’ll grab your clothing while you shower.” Caroline left Maisy, practically fleeing to her room.

Caroline struggled to pull out the bed tucked under her own. Maisy often used it when she’d stayed over too late to feel safe going home. When she managed to slide it out, she fell slightly, landing on her butt. Instead of trying to stand she hid her face in her hands. She was trembling. She didn’t know what she was doing.

When she collected herself, she went to her closet. She reached for the satin gown and then hesitated. Caroline loved the satin gown, but Maisy, she turned to the drawer and pulled out the flannel pajamas that she almost never wore. Maisy liked to look glamorous, but she actually loved things warm and practical. She’d sleep better in the flannels. Caroline left the pajamas just inside the bathroom door. She returned to her bedroom, and sat numbly on the bed, staring at the wall as if Hans was about to shout through it that they had a way. That they had found the witch and they had a way to return Caroline to her former self.

She didn’t even look up when Maisy walked in, toweling her hair off. Her best friend sat beside her on the bed. “The shower helped.” She said. Caroline didn’t respond. “It got me thinking…” Maisy hesitated. “Maybe this isn’t such a bad thing.” Caroline’s head whipped around. She stared at Maisy with eyes full of betrayal. “No, Caroline, please just hear me out.” She took her best friend’s limp hands in her own. “Healing has always been a bother to you. Let Myriah do it. Let her suffer through the exhaustion and the nausea.” Maisy’s hands tightened reassuringly. “If you can’t heal, no one will have any reason to kidnap you, no one will ever try to force you into something, no one will try to befriend you just because their aunt or mother or cousin is ill and break your heart when they ask for ‘this one tiny favor’ that leaves you feeling sick for days.” Maisy’s words were logical, but in Caroline’s head, they didn’t make sense.

“But…” She faltered and tears began leaking from her eyes. “It’s wrong.” Maisy’s breath caught.

“Oh, Caroline.” She pulled her into a hug. Caroline was almost unresponsive.

“I won’t be a princess anymore. I won’t be me.” Caroline started shaking with emotion. “I’m not a princess any more.” Caroline began sobbing. “Oh god, who am I? It’s like Myriah kidnapped the important part of me and let the rest of me go!” Maisy made comforting hushing sounds and tipped them over so they were lying on the bed. Caroline finally reacted to Maisy, but it was only to clutch at her like a lifeline. “She’s the princess now!” Caroline sobbed hysterically, hands knotted in Maisy’s flannel shirt, the same shirt absorbing a majority of her tears. “She’s the princess and the witch! And I’m nothing!” Caroline was in absolute hysterics, barely aware of Maisy there comforting her. When she finally cried herself into exhaustion and then sleep, Maisy was there.

She was also there when the former princess woke up. Sleeping beside her, arms still curled around her friend as if she could protect her from facing the world without her identity. Caroline stayed there for a time, pretending that she could.  

I must be crazy. I'll dedicate a lot more time to it tomorrow morning. I need to do 1,667 words a day. It's looking like I'll have about 3,000 words to do tomorrow. Man, wish me luck!

Track my progress!

Sneak peek of Chapter 1!

Metal struck metal with a resounding clash as Hans brought up his sword to ward off the attack. Caroline’s breath caught behind him but she did not waver, confident in his ability to protect her. Hans gritted his teeth and angled the sword, whipping the mace out of the goblin’s hands and into a wall. The goblin tensed and backed away. Hans’ eyes narrowed, and he used the hilt of the sword to strike the monster’s temple. He crumpled to the dirt floor, motionless but for his breathing. Hans lowered the sword but did not relax. He felt Caroline’s soft, slim hand on his forearm.

“You’re hurt.” She said quietly. Hans allowed her to draw his arm away from his side and touch the wound. His eyes closed slightly, as he felt the energy be drawn from her into the lesion. The skin knit itself together briefly replaced with a scar, then the scar smoothed itself out of existence and the only remaining evidence that Hans had been harmed was a torn shirt and drying blood. Caroline sighed and leaned against him. Hans adjusted himself so that he could wrap an arm around her.

“Thank you.” He murmured. She smiled up at him briefly before scowling around at the cave. The wooden door was usually fitted in the entrance hung loosely from one of its hinges where Hans had knocked it down. The bare bulb that hung from the ceiling was the only evidence of the modern world in the room.

“Unbelievable.” She muttered, annoyed. Hans resisted the urge to roll his eyes. She hated it when people kidnapped her and didn’t bother to confine her in reasonable accommodations. “Where does Myriah find these people?” Even though the Grey-Goblin Guild had taken her this time, there was no doubt who was behind all of it.

“Any idea what this group wants with you?” He asked, keeping his voice low. She sighed and shook her head. Hans pulled away from her and crept to the door where he peered out. “Well, clearly they weren’t prepared. I didn’t face nearly enough resistance when I came for my rescue.” Hans frowned. “Must mean that Myriah didn’t warn them what to expect.” What was she up to?

Caroline came and stood behind him. “Just proves that she’s as treacherous to her allies as she is to the innocents.” She scoffed. Hans frowned, his face still turned away from her’s. Despite Myriah’s actions, the statement didn’t ring true. Myriah might be malicious, but she was never cruel.

“Come on,” Hans moved confidently into the hall. Caroline following closely behind him.

Two part post because I can't let a title like "Novel thoughts" go to waste without a couple of interesting thoughts but this is relevant!

Part 1 - The Main Point
I've been thinking about writing a novel a lot. You've seen many of my short stories. I've been wanting to work on a novel for a long time now. I have plans for five or six novels. SciFi, Fantasy, SciFantasy. I've got them all. But I'm having trouble picking. Plus, I do have other things I'm working on such as Sword & Scepter Saga.

One idea I was playing with was just making Princess' Path into a novel. Thoughts?

I have so many novel ideas. But I'm worried it will cut back on the blog stories... And picking which one to write is really difficult! I should probably just set time aside for the novel work.

Part 2 - The Title
Random quotes of the day that I have posted... A lot of these are just things I've thought or said.
Quote of the Day: "I know the criminal mind. I should. I've got one myself."
Quote of the Day: "I'm not mad. Eccentric, certainly, but not mad."
Quote of the Day: "The assassin is vegan?"
Quote of the Day: "Deader than a corpse during the zombie apocalypse."
Quote of the Day: "You're not a terrible person, you just have terrible taste sometimes."
Quote of the Day: "Cross my heart... and my fingers."
Quote of the Day: "I feel absurd. I don't like feeling absurd."
Quote of the Day: “That guy’s more paranoid than a schizo on the run from the FBI...”
Quote of the Day: "Oh! Kay... So much hugging... Why is there so much hugging?"
Quote of the Day: "Context changes everything."
Thought of the Day: If you think enemies are better than friends, you have some serious problems.

Follow me on twitter for more thoughts and quotes of the Day!


Bonus!
Exchange of the Day:
Roommate: "So what are you going to be for Halloween?"
Me: "Oh, I have three costumes."
Roommate: "Of course you do."

So exciting things this week! I hope that everyone enjoyed the Accidental Immortal. An immortal named Fin has been kicking around my brain for a while now. I only recently had a revelation of how he became that way.  I have a lot of plans for Fin. He will have his own series called inFINite. I also know a lot about Eleven that I am holding back for now.

In bigger news, the Princess' Path was finally updated with the fourth installment Power Play. In this we finally learn what Myriah has been up to all this time. A new character was also introduced. I added an new picture to the story (I didn't want to make you wait any longer).

The next story will be Powerless and then the final installment of the Princess' Path, A Journey's End.

As you all know, I don't like specifying ethnicity in my stories, but when I do art, I feel that I should state it better. Specifically for Caroline. I had a fair about of trouble painting Caroline the way I picture her. Caroline is half Caucasian, half Filipina. Her hair is lighter than black but not quite brown, it's lightened more from exposure to sunlight than anything else.

The end of Power Play will have lasting ramifications for the characters. I hope you liked the twist!

The fourth installment in the Princess' Path.

Note: This is a long one, so for the full story you really have to click read more.



Hans glared at the goblin. He did not enjoy dealing with these low caliber villains. They probably didn’t even have a plan, a motive, to abduct Caroline beyond the glamour of kidnapping a princess. The goblin cowered before Hans, his comrades lying at the prince’s feet.

“Where is she?” Hans asked coldly. The trembling goblin led Hans through a series of tunnels to the room where Caroline was being held. An hour and several unconscious goblins later, Hans was walking through the door of his house with Caroline hanging off his arm. Joan looked up from her work, which was spread out on the kitchen table.

“Back already?” Joan commented. “Guess it wasn’t Myriah then.”

“Just some smelly goblins, thank goodness.” Caroline declared dramatically. Her lip curled in disgust, either over the goblins or the thought of Myriah. Joan rolled her eyes.

Hans had tried to get his sister to be nicer to Caroline, but they just didn’t get along. Hans couldn’t really fault Caroline for it. She made a real effort with Joan. Once Caroline realized that Joan didn’t enjoy shopping or spas the way she did, Caroline had tried a dozen other activities with the younger girl, even skateboarding. Joan remained as dismissively irritated by Caroline as ever.

“Why would you even bring up Myriah?” Caroline asked Joan. The mere mention of the witch clearly distressed her more than being kidnapped by goblins. Joan shrugged.

“It’s been a while.” Joan looked back at her notes. “I just thought she was due.” Hans’ jaw tightened. Myriah was due to attack. She was far past due. They hadn’t heard from her since the incident at the party. Six months, by far the longest they’d gone without hearing from her since Myriah first began her vendetta.

“Well, maybe she’s dead.” Caroline suggested hopefully. Hans’ stomach twisted. The thought had occurred to him as well, while the weeks, then the months, wore on. Unlike Caroline, Hans was less than enthused. His fury at Myriah for her actions at the party had faded. Now he was desperate for her to return, with her broom, cauldron, and unconventional methods of… encouraging Caroline to use her gift.

Caroline sniffed and her nose crinkled. “Oh dear, Hans, do you mind if I borrow your shower? Goblins are not terribly hygienic, and what with them manhandling me…” Hans waved his hand.

“Help yourself.” Caroline smiled and kissed his cheek lightly before ascending the stairs.

“I see it doesn’t even occur to her that you won’t be able to shower until after she is done.” Joan scoffed once Caroline was out of sight.

Hans sighed. “Can’t you at least try to be civil, Joan?” Quiet resignation filled his voice. Joan snorted.

“Caroline hasn’t even tried to help anyone in weeks.” Joan was utterly scornful. “Whatever respect I might have had for her is fading fast.” Hans couldn’t exactly argue. He took a seat at the table and leaned back.

“She doesn’t do well without motivation.” He said, closing his eyes. There was a silence. Hans was starting to relax into it, barely.

“You’re worried about her, aren’t you?” Joan asked.

“I’m always worried about Caroline.” Hans replied without moving.

“Not her.” Joan shook her head. “Myriah.” That got Hans’ attention. He looked at his sister. Joan looked back at him with a piercing gaze that he rarely saw from her. It made Hans consider what he said next.

“Myriah makes Caroline… better.” Hans marshaled his thoughts. “She doesn’t just force Caroline to heal.” Hans recalled Myriah’s many monologues to Caroline. Monologues, disguised as villainous rambling, they were full of disparaging remarks about the princess. Things that Caroline wanted to prove wrong. “Myriah,” Hans struggled with his next words. “Makes Caroline want to heal.” Even after they left the hospital or warzone Myriah left Caroline in, Caroline carried Myriah’s cutting remarks with her. Things Hans was sure that Caroline remembered when people sought her help. Hans glanced at the door to the stairs Caroline had vanished through and inwardly sighed. “It’s something that only Myriah is capable of, and I don’t know what to do with out her.” Hans laughed hollowly. “It’s heard to believe, but Caroline’s worst enemy is also her greatest ally.”

Joan didn’t laugh. She just watched him. “Do you think Caroline is right? That Myriah is dead?” Hans’ insides twisted again, even more than before. Joan could not know how much Hans didn’t want that to be true.

“I hope not.” Hans’ desperation bled into his voice.

“Then what?” Joan demanded, tossing her notebook aside in frustration. “Where did she go? Why isn’t she here making Caroline a tolerable human being?!”

“I don’t know.” Hans put his head in his hands. “The only thing I can think of is that she realized that she went too far at the party and backed off because of it.” That or Caroline was right, but Hans didn’t even want to think about that.

“Does that mean we are hoping she goes bad again?” Joan asked. They both stopped and thought about that. Joan started to laugh. Hans slowly began to chuckle. They weren’t exactly sure why they were laughing. Maybe it was the ludicrousness of them hoping a bad guy turned good would go bad again. Or maybe it was the fact that they were talking about an enemy like a friend. Either way, it had become hilarious.

“What is wrong with us?” Joan gasped. Hans just shook his head and tried to stop laughing.

There was a knock at the door. Joan, her shoulders still shaking with laughter went to answer it. “What’s so funny?” The black haired beauty framed in the door way smiled at them quizzically.

“Oh, come in, Tiffany.” Joan waved her inside, still trying to get a handle on her laughter. Hans attempted to compose himself, but the occasional half laugh still found it’s way past his defenses every few seconds. Tiffany stepped inside with a gracious smile.

“Thank you.” She walked over to the table and rested her hands on the back of a chair. Tiffany had been Hans’ friend since elementary school. “I heard that Caroline was kidnapped again, so I thought I’d come over to see if I could help.” Tiffany smiled at Hans. “I take it from your demeanor she’s back home safe?”

“Safe and sound.” Hans nodded.

“Good.” Tiffany smiled. She reached out and lightly touched his shoulder. “I’m glad.” There had been a time that Hans and Tiffany might have become something more. Then Hans discovered his destiny as a prince… A prince always fell in love with his princess. Always.

Joan suddenly cursed, breaking the moment Tiffany had tried to initiate. “Hey, language!” Hans frowned at his little sister.

“Sorry.” Joan said distractedly, gathering her notebooks and pens in her arms hurriedly. “I forgot, I’m meeting a partner for a project! I am so freaking late!” Joan dashed up the stairs. Hans heard her sprint down the hall and crash through the door to her room.

“Careful!” Hans shouted.

“Sorry!”

Hans shook his head. Within thirty seconds Joan was darting out of the door with barely a goodbye. The front door slammed behind her, leaving Tiffany and Hans in the kitchen.

Hans’ thoughts turned back to Myriah; where she was, what she was doing, when Tiffany spoke quietly. “I wanted to thank you again.” Tiffany looked embarrassed. “For convincing Caroline to save her. I wasn’t sure if Caroline would heal a dog.” Tiffany’s dog was a thirteen year old lab, incredibly old for a lab. “Midnight seems so much better. I think Caroline might have healed more than her kidneys.”

“She might have.” Hans nodded. “I saw you walking Midnight last week. Her arthritis seems better.”

“She walked for four miles!” Tiffany said proudly, sitting in the chair she’d been leaning on. “It’s like she’s five years younger.” Hans smiled. He had a lot of great memories of that dog. It was good to know that she was doing better. “Tell me, has Caroline’s healing gotten stronger?” Hans blinked.

“You noticed it too?” He started to smile slowly. “It was hard to tell, since she hasn’t been…” Hans trailed off.

“Been healing as much.” Tiffany finished. She bit her lip and looked away. “Yeah…” Hans’ smile slipped away completely. If even Tiffany was bringing up the lack of healing, the others must be talking about it constantly when he wasn’t around. They sat there in silence for a moment. Tiffany looked at Hans and then away. When she did speak it was hesitant. “I have a question.” Hans looked back at her. He knew that voice. Tiffany wanted to say something but wasn’t sure how to say it or if she even should. He put his hand on her’s and squeezed. She looked down at his hand. It was an invitation to say anything she wanted. “Do you love Caroline?” Tiffany’s voice was low and tentative. Hans blinked, startled. Tiffany couldn’t look at him.

“I… I’m her prince.” He said through a dry mouth.

“That’s not what I asked.” Tiffany pulled her hand away. Her dark eyes fastened on his face. “Do you love her?” Hans swallowed with difficulty. How could he answer that question? Tiffany continued to stare at him, then she released her breath.

“I thought so.” Tiffany looked away. “Hans, you need a better reason that ‘because you’re her prince’. You deserve better than that.”

“I do love Caroline.” Hans protested. He felt like he needed to defend the relationship. Tiffany looked back at him and he faltered. Now he couldn’t even defend Caroline? “Or, at least, I did…” Hans rubbed his face. “I love her sometimes.” Those times had become fewer and farther between as the weeks without Myriah wore on. The rest of the time… When exactly had his feelings for Caroline gone from love to duty?

When he looked up Tiffany was still watching him. “It’s complicated.” Hans said, his voice muffled by the hand on his mouth.

“Then let me make it simple.” Tiffany said in an uncharacteristic moment of bluntness. “Would you love Caroline if she weren’t a princess?” Hans froze, not just his body, his mind too. They sat there.

Tiffany finally shook herself. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t…” She was much less sure of herself than she’d been a moment before. “I just…” Tiffany swallowed. “I just want you to be happy.” She looked away from him, biting her bottom lip. “And I don’t think you are right now.” She stood. “I’m sorry, I should go.” Hans stood up and hugged her.

“Thank you.” He said into her shoulder. Tiffany hugged him back. “Did Joan coach you?”

Tiffany half laughed into Hans’ chest. “Not exactly.” She was crying. Her voice was choked and Hans could feel a few tears through the cloth of his shirt. “We’ve talked about your relationship, but she didn’t know I was going to say anything.” Tiffany laughed again. “I didn’t even know I was going to say anything.”

Hans stepped back and smiled at her. “Well, thanks for not saying the really bad stuff Joan’s probably said about Caroline.”

“I do like Caroline. I wouldn’t repeat any of that.” Tiffany giggled through her tears. “I never knew Joan had such a dirty mouth.” Tiffany sniffed and wiped her eyes. When she returned her gaze to Hans it was uncertain. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything?”

“No. It’s alright. Thank you. It’s different coming from you.” Hans reached out and squeezed her shoulder. “I’ll think about what you said.” Tiffany still looked uncertain, but she smiled.

“That’s all I ask.” Tiffany glanced at her watch. “I’ve still got some time. Are you busy?” Hans’ eyes flicked to the stairs. Tiffany’s eyes followed his. “Oh, I see.” She smiled at him. “I really do like her.” Tiffany said again. “Sometimes she’s better than others.” Tiffany’s smile tightened almost indiscernibly. “If you can work it out. You should.” Tiffany picked up her bag. “I should go.” She walked to the door. “And Hans,” She looked back at him. “Whatever you decide,”

“You’ve got my back.” Hans nodded. Tiffany smiled one more time and walked out the door. Leaving Hans alone with his thoughts.



Caroline smiled at Hans as she walked down the stairs. Her hair was still wet and she was wearing some of the extra clothing that she kept at his house. “Feel better?” He asked.

“Much.” She answered. “But I am running late.” She kissed his cheek. “I’m going to go ahead. Will you text me later?”

“Sure.” Hans nodded. Caroline let her hand linger on his shoulder as she walked to the door. She began singing as soon as it closed behind her. Hans winced, but a fond smile unfurled on his lips just the same. Caroline couldn’t carry a tune to save her life. It was odd that that was one of the things he found endearing about her. Hans latched on to it. Tiffany’s question had left him somewhat muddled and it was good to be reminded that there were things that made Hans care besides being a prince.

He listened to Caroline’s off pitch singing as she walked down the driveway. Suddenly he was out of his chair and out the door. Caroline’s voice had been cut off by her scream. Hans raced to the street. He saw Myriah pulling an unconscious Caroline into a black car with dark windows. She looked up, and they made eye contact. She smiled. Then wrenched Caroline the rest of the way into the back seat and slammed the door. The car sped a way. Hans chased after it, but there was no way for him to catch up.

Hans slowed, breathing heavily. Myriah kidnapped Caroline… Hans smiled. He couldn’t help himself. Myriah was back.

When I first wrote Why a Witch? I did not expect it to be as popular as it was or to continue it. I was focused on keeping it short and sweet. But given that I have written three in the series (which I have rechristened the Princess' Path), I thought that I should expand on the settings that I neglected in the first story.

I'm pretty sure that most of you thought that this was a medieval fantasy world. Now take that, and fast forward several centuries to the modern day, with cars, movies, and scientists tearing their hair out because they still can't find a scientific explanation for how magic works. Add in the dragons, the griffins, the magic, and you have the setting to the story!

And don't forget to vote for your favorite Blog Story in the poll on the right!



Bonus Scene!

The third installment in The Princess' Path.

Myriah had hated princess Caroline for a long time. Ever since she refused to use the power to heal to save Myriah’s older brother. Since that dark day when the only person left that Myriah loved died in her arms, Myriah had only two goals in her life: force the arrogant, self-centered princess to actually use her ability and to make Caroline suffer. It was Myriah’s obsession.

Myriah grinned as she uncorked a bottle and gently blew the vapors that rose from it over the roiling surface of the cauldron’s contents. There was a faint high-pitched sound as it mingled with the steam. Myriah corked the bottle with a chuckle. Banshee’s Breath was hard to come by, but it would be worth it.

Myriah hummed with some delight as she twirled over to a notebook and picked up an old-fashioned pen.

It is ready. She wrote. Myriah put down the pen and checked on the potion. She glanced up when she heard the pen scratching on the notebook. That was fast. She returned to the pen, writing on it’s own.

So am I. The pen wrote. Just tell me what to do. Myriah smiled. That was what she liked to see.



Caroline was having a party. It made Myriah angry. She didn’t deserve to have anything to celebrate. A bitter smile curved Myriah’s lips. The party wouldn’t be so cheerful in a moment. Myriah watched the bright windows. There was Maisy, Caroline’s best friend and charm caster. Maisy’s knight of a boyfriend was talking to Avery, a normal college student. There were several people that Myriah didn’t know. They were probably Caroline’s ordinary friends who did not get involved in quests. She spotted prince Hans pass by the window. His little sister Joan followed him, looking vaguely bored. Myriah supposed that she should feel guilty for hurting these people, but if anything happened to them, it would be on Caroline’s head.

Myriah observed with grim satisfaction as Caroline’s friends began to gasp and clutch at their chests. Caroline began to panic. Myriah had selected a poison the princess’ healing ability protected her from. Myriah’s associate put the poison in the punch. Everyone in the room would be unconscious except the princess. It was time for Myriah to make her entrance.

The front doors slammed open in an unearthly wind, blowing Myriah’s cloak around her. Caroline jerked up and stared at her with a tear stained face. A face that hardened into hate when the eyes landed on Myriah.

“You.” She snarled. Myriah smiled.

“I’ve been good for you. A few years ago, you would have just cried.” Myriah stepped over the unconscious forms scattered about the room. Caroline was on her knees next to Hans. She was clutching his hand. “That won’t be enough.” Myriah said.  She knelt beside Joan and checked her vitals. Joan’s heart was fast and her breathing was shallow.

“Witch,” Caroline hissed at her. Myriah rolled her eyes.

“Obviously.” She said. Myriah brushed the hair out of Joan’s face and stood. “Now what are you going to do about it?” Caroline’s eyes flashed. She looked down at Hans and took his hands in her’s. Yes. Myriah thought. The atmosphere in the room changed. The chill Myriah’s wind had brought faded. Warmth spread through the room. The princess was glowing. A faint pink aura surrounded her and every one of her friends. Caroline’s eyes were closed. She focused solely on her power. Myriah uncorked an empty bottle. A charm around her wrist cooled as she circled the room. Wisps of the pink aura twined around her fingers and were redirected into the bottle. When the bottle was full of a shifting pink glow Myriah securely fastened a stopper on the top. Then she waited. Standing patiently behind the princess.

Finally, the glow faded. Caroline slumped forward. Myriah kept her from falling, holding her up by the hair. She took out a vial and yanked the cork out with her teeth. Myriah held the vial under Caroline’s nose. Once she was sure that Caroline had inhaled the vapor from the concoction Myriah dropped her unceremoniously. Myriah corked the vial again and pocketed it.

Myriah did another walk around the room. She checked everyone for their vitals. They were strong. Myriah scoffed in surprise. It seemed like she didn’t need that antidote after all. The princess had done good work. Still, maybe she should leave it.

Hans stirred under Caroline. “Myriah?” He mumbled groggily.

“Everyone seems alright.” Myriah assured him. She walked to the punch bowl and held out her hand. The poisoned punch boiled away. The steam was blown out the window. She set a bottle on the table.

“What’s that?” Hans asked struggling to sit up from under Caroline.

“Antidote.” Myriah answered. “In case the princess,” a snide note entered her voice, “missed someone.” She picked up the punch bowl. “Hans, please don’t take this personally.”

“Take what-? Myriah shattered the punch bowl on his head. Hans fell back. Myriah turned her attention back on Caroline. Her mouth twisted into a sneer.

“Sleep tight, princess.” She rolled Caroline off Hans, ignoring the broken glass. “You’ll need it. I’m not through with you yet.”

Myriah left. Her cloak billowing in the wind. She held out her hand and the broomstick flew to her side.

She was almost ready.

The sequel to Why a Witch? The second installment in the Princess' Path.

Caroline sighed as she let go of the old man's withered fingers. She smiled prettily at him while he fervently thanked her. She was utterly exhausted. Caroline raised her hand, and Hans helped her up. She thanked him as she leaned heavily into his strong shoulder. Hans supported her without comment or complaint and they left the building. He'd seemed distant of late. Caroline tried not to let it worry her. After all, he was entitled to his own life. Hans wasn't just her prince. He had talents, interests, and friends, just like she did, and Caroline respected that. Still... It concerned her sometimes. It was only natural for her to worry. He was her prince as much as she was his princess. His need to protect her when she was in danger was as powerful as her need to heal him when he was hurt.

Caroline worried that Myriah had done something to him, that dreadful witch. It frightened her to think about. Caroline knew that Myriah was up to something, something important. Myriah had collected Caroline's blood the last time they'd crossed paths, and her tears the time before that. It suggested powerful magic, the type of magic that could harm even a prince. Caroline had no idea why Myriah targeted her specifically when there were a dozen other princesses in the world, but she knew that the witch was dangerous. Caroline was so concerned about Myriah she was completely blindsided by the real threat.

Caroline could only scream as the vampiress Natalia spirited Hans away into the night. What was Caroline to do? She had to find away to reach Hans and heal him before he was turned, but how? She was a princess, not a knight. Caroline was about to call on several knights who owed her a favor, and the princess Gwendolyn to enlist the aid of her prince Cedric, when she blacked out and woke in one of Myriah's shadowy lairs. Caroline began to fight as soon as she came to. Myriah was surprised by Caroline's veracity. The princess was usually quite docile while she awaited rescue, other than the occasional tongue lashing.

Caroline foolishly revealed to Myriah her prince's fate. Myriah's interest was peaked, and she proposed a temporary alliance. She needed something from the vampiress Natalia, though she refused to divulge specifics. Myriah knew a way into the castle, but she needed Caroline's help to use it. There wasn't enough time for Caroline to find the knights who could help her thanks to the hateful witch. After Myriah revealed a few colorful details about Natalia's "collection" of princes, Caroline grudgingly consented.