Here is the opening to the book Stolen: Cinderella's Secret Diaries (book 2 in the series. Book 1 is Cinderella's Secret Diary: Lost). I hope you enjoy it:
"I stood on the prairie with land stretching as far as I could see. Such glorious long grass that blew in the wind like a living creature filled with such life. The blue sky and brilliant sun filled me with such great joy. We had found peace and happiness on the road. Renée slept still in the wagon and Bebe played in the tall grass behind me. Though, at ten, she had begun to find my nickname for her childish so I used it less and less often. To my right, the tethered horses still rested from the previous day’s long journey. The grass swayed and, without warning, she appeared before me, having hunted us down, parting the grass and walking out of the air. Fresh from my nightmares she seemed and all of my attempts to shield ourselves from her had failed. I should have known that I could not outrun her.
Queen Mab stood across from me, clothed in resplendent clothes, shades of purple and black, holding a rifle pointed up at the blue sky. The grass of the prairie and the leaves from a solitary tree rooted behind her swayed in the wind. She smiled at me and said, “I have come for you.”
I had been caught off guard. Bebe heard the faerie queen and crouched in fear behind me in the grass. “I told you that I will not come with you.” Again and again I had fought with her in my dreams, refusing to go along with her.
“Are you so sure?” She did not move or adjust the rifle but her implied threat was clear. “Come with me and let us do this the easy way.”
My left hand itched and I had long ago learned to control my powers when in stress or fear. Wild magic would not serve me well against the faerie queen. “I will not come with—”
Queen Mab lowered the rifle and fired. My hand burned bright and I stood straight and firm, shielding myself from harm. My magic would protect me. The sound echoed loud across the prairie and my heart beat fast. No shot pierced me and burned through my skin. I had survived. Raising my hands against her, I concentrated on an expulsion spell. “You have missed. Now leave us.”
The queen laughed and she lowered her rifle. “I never miss.” She motioned with her weapon over my shoulder and I did not wish to turn around. Renée stumbled out of the wagon, wakened from the shot, and out of the corner of my eye I saw her running to a point behind me. And then I knew. My hope and brightest star, my poor Phoebe, had fallen. The bullet pierced through her neck. I had failed as a mother to protect my own. I ran to her, releasing my strength and magic into her, but it would not be enough. Her eyes fluttered and she tried to reach for me but there was too much blood. The blood covered all. I could not erase what I saw.
Standing by my side, Queen Mab waited by me, looking down. She put out her hand and said, “Come with me and I will save her.”
I thought of what she asked and took it all in. My Bebe had only moments left to live. She had just reached ten years of age. I loved her. Renée’s calm exposure shattered as she tried to heal my daughter while my hands tried to staunch the open wound in desperation.
Queen Mab offered her hand to me again. “I will ask only one last time.” She waited a breath and said again, “Come with me.”
And, so I did. My hands covered in my daughter’s blood, I stopped and reached for Mab. I did what any mother would do.
Ron Vitale is the author of the fantasy novel Stolen: Cinderella's Secret Diaries who hopes that his daughter will grow up to find her own voice and not allow others to dictate who and what she can be.
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