Cinderella: Ninja Warrior (40 page)
Read Cinderella: Ninja Warrior Online
Authors: Maureen McGowan
Tags: #Fairy Tales & Folklore, #Juvenile Fiction, #Adaptations, #Interactive Adventures
“Please accept my apology, Natasha,” King Stefan said. “I’m sure it was an oversight.” He looked at his wife with pain in his eyes, then turned back to the vampire and continued, “But how fortuitous you arrived before the naming ceremony. We were just about to begin.”
“Lovely.” Queen Natasha smiled and her fangs showed between blood red lips. “But not before I offer my gift.”
“No need for a gift,” the king said, his voice strong and deep. “Especially not after your invitation failed to arrive.”
“Do you think me that petty?” the vampire queen asked.“It is tradition for all reigning monarchs to offer gifts to new members of the other royal families.”
“You are most gracious,” King Stefan said.
The young queen tensed, because she knew that the vampire queen was not gracious at all. More like vengeful and desperate for power.
Many believed Queen Natasha had killed her husband for his power, and that she wouldn’t stop there. They believed the newly crowed vampire queen coveted the kingdom of Xandra’s gem-rich mines, its fertile farmland, its vast coastline, its fine fleet of ships. Her quest for power would not stop at controlling Sanguinia, the land of the vampires, she wanted to rule over the humans, too.
“What are you naming the child?” the vampire queen asked.
“Rose,” Queen Catia blurted before her husband could speak.
“What a fitting name.” Natasha stepped back and her skirts swirled around her. “A flower with fangs. I like that. Now, if you will hand me the babe”—she bared her fangs—“I will bestow my gift.”
“Never!” Queen Catia retreated, hugging the baby to her chest. “I will never let you touch my child.”
Natasha snatched the baby from the young queen’s arms, and leapt to the empty orchestra balcony, high above the room. The assembled crowd screamed in shock and dismay.
The iron- and protein-rich vampire diet made vampires notoriously strong, but none had seen one jump so high.
“Get her!” Queen Catia screamed. “Someone! Save my baby!” The guards raced for the stairs.
Stefan stepped forward and called up.“Natasha, what are you doing? Please don’t hurt my daughter.”
“Hurt her?” The vampire queen held the child high above her head, and a stream of sunlight burst through the darkness and struck the babe. “Nonsense. I’m only offering my gift.”
She set the baby down on a planter of flowers on the balcony railing, then addressed the crowd. “ To punish her rude mother, this child’s blood will bring a curse upon the Kingdom of Xandra.”
The entire room gasped, knowing such words might lead to war between Sanguinia and Xandra, after so many centuries of peace—so many years during which the necks of the Xandrans had not been at risk of vampire bites.
“Here is my gift.” Natasha glared down at the assembled crowd of royalty and other dignitaries.“One day the princess will prick her finger, and the instant her blood is shed, she shall never again wake while the sun is in the sky. Every morning, as the sun breaks above the horizon, the princess will fall into a deep sleep, waking only as night falls.” The vampire queen smiled. “And every other citizen of Xandra will suffer the opposite fate. They will fall asleep each night at dusk, leaving the princess alone in the darkness.”
The vampire queen picked up the princess, and Queen Catia screamed, “Save my baby.” The guards reached the balcony, but the vampire queen leaped onto the railing, balancing on the toes of her black stilettos.
She expelled a cackle that filled the room and shook the crystal chandeliers. “This child and the people of Xandra will pay for their young queen’s rudeness and deceit!” She licked her lips, flew into the air, and vanished.
Sunlight once again streamed through the windows, and everyone shaded their eyes against the sudden onslaught of brightness.
“My baby!” Queen Catia ran toward the window as soon as she could squint her eyes open. “She’s taken my baby!”
“No, she’s here!” King Stefan yelled.
The queen turned to see her husband standing next to the cradle between their thrones. When he picked up the child, her little hand poked out from her blanket and her tiny fingers wiggled.
Queen Catia ran to join her husband and fell into his arms. “I’ve changed my mind,” she cried.“Our daughter will need all the light in her life we can offer. Let’s accept the fairies’ gift and name her Lucette.”
SLEEPING BEAUTY
VAMPIRE SLAYER
ISBN-13: 978-1-60710-256-4
available now
VAMPIRE SLAYERISBN-13: 978-1-60710-256-4
available now
Silver Dolphin Books
An imprint of the Baker & Taylor Publishing Group 10350 Barnes Canyon Road, San Diego, CA 92121
www.silverdolphinbooks.com
www.silverdolphinbooks.com
Copyright under International, Pan American, and Universal Copyright Conventions. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage-and-retrieval system, without written permission from the copyright holder.
“Silver Dolphin” is a registered trademark of Baker & Taylor. All rights reserved.
eISBN : 978-1-607-10485-8
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
McGowan, Maureen.
McGowan, Maureen.
Cinderella : ninja warrior / Maureen McGowan.
p. cm.
p. cm.
1. Plot-your-own stories. [1. Ninja--Fiction. 2. Stepmothers--Fiction. 3.
Princes--Fiction. 4. Fairy tales. 5. Plot-your-own stories.] I. Title.
PZ8.M1761Cin 2011
[Fic]--dc22
Princes--Fiction. 4. Fairy tales. 5. Plot-your-own stories.] I. Title.
PZ8.M1761Cin 2011
[Fic]--dc22
2010037054
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