The Masque of
the Fairytale
by Lisa McCourt Hollar
Katarina watched
them dance around the room, the King and Queen of the Masque. The anger inside
her surged as they twirled past, the two smiling, secure in their joy. That
should be her in his arms. He had been hers… Once upon a time. That was long ago, when she
had believed in fairy tales and happily ever after.
Then she had
shown him her sister. The curse the
witch had put on her made Aurora appear as though she were simply sleeping.
“We’ve been
waiting for the spell to be broken for seven years,” Katarina had whispered.
“What is the
cure?”
“A kiss from her
true love. But none that have tried have succeeded.”
Katarina had
turned to leave before she’d realized what Philip intended. When Aurora’s eyes
opened, Katrina’s heart was shattered.
“You should be
happy for your sister,” her mother said just days before the wedding.
She tried, truly
she did. And each day her anger grew, filling her until all she could think
about was destroying their love.
“I can help you
get him back,” the witch had whispered.
They looked
alike in every way, except that Katarina had a small mole on the side of her
lip. A blemish that no longer adorned her face. She’d had it removed with the
help of the witch.
“Lure her
outside and I will take care of your dear Aurora,” the witch promised.
“And my first
payment?”
“Your first
born…a fair trade to find the happiness you deserve.
Katarina pulled
the mask over her face and approached the happy couple.
“May I borrow my
sister for a moment, Philip?”
Aurora took her
arm, winking at her sister conspiratorially, as they had done when little
girls.
“Have you seen
the way Prince Dashing looks at you?” Aurora asked once they were outside and away
from the others. “I think he may have designs on you.”
Katarina
shuddered. John Dashing was short, barely taller than those idiot dwarves their
cousin Snow was slumming with.
“I have designs
of my own, dear sister.”
Aurora’s eyes
lit up with excitement. “Who is he? Is it the Duke? I saw you dance the first
dance with him. He’s not the most handsome, but I’ve heard stories… ”
“No sister, the prince
you stole from me,” Katarina said, removing her mask. “Philip.”
“Your mark… it’s
gone,” Aurora gasped, and then, “Philip?”
“He was mine and
you took him.”
“If you hadn’t wanted
us to marry, why didn’t you say so? Katarina, I never would have if I’d known.”
“Because,”
Katarina said, as black smoke surrounded Aurora, “he wanted you. And now he
will think I am you.”
When the smoke
cleared, her sister was gone.
“Where is Katarina?”
Philip asked when she returned to the ball.
“She had to
leave. She said to give you her goodbyes.”
