Hope and a sudden happiness flooded through me as I raced over to hug Cal, I felt as if I were back home in his arms. I breathed in the familiar scent of pine and pollen. A smile spread over my cheeks as I imagined being back home. The tall trees that framed our house. The large doorway and the parlour where you could always find my mother and father. I wanted to be back there. Back where everything seemed to be okay.

"I missed you too." He whispered and held me tighter. We stayed like this until I realized where we were.

"Cas, you have to leave. Right now" I said and started to push him towards the left of the balcony so no one could see us. The darkness enveloped us and made it hard to see Cas's face, one that I had been wanting to see for the past few weeks.

"What's the rush? I haven't seen you in two weeks." He said and took hold of my wrists so that I would stop pushing him.

"Their going to kill you. They can't know you're here." I answered, worry laced my shaking voice.

"Don't worry, I have an invite." I looked down at his attire and was surprised at how much of a gentleman he looked. Cas's black tux fit nicely on his toned body and a burgundy tie was tied handsomely around his neck. His usual messy, disorganized hair had been slicked back and... cut! For some odd reason, I liked his other look, the handsome farm boy look, not this fake, expensive one.

I saw him smile and knew I had been caught staring. Thought he only brushed a stray hair behind my ear. It was much different than Damians attempt, then it felt forced and frightening, as if he was trying to make me submit to him . Now, with Cas, a blush spread over my cheeks and I felt a fluttering in my stomach that could only be caused by his touch.

"Is my mother here?" I quickly asked, trying to hide my blushing as I looked out into the crowd of people for a face that resembled mine.

"No, the Prince knows what your mother looks like, therefore she thought it best that I come alone. Since nobody knows who I am." Cas's smile did little to ease my nervousness, but I was still thankful that he was here.

"Why did you come? It isn't safe, you could get-"

"I could get killed, I know, you said that." He interrupted. "But we had agreed that this was necessary."

"We? Who is we?" I questioned. Though I felt a bit stupid asking the question, I knew my mother must've been involve since she had recommended he come here.

"Your mother, Daphne and a few of the towns folk."

"Why?"

"Isn't it obvious." Cas paused. "We want to rescue you."

"Cas I-I don't need your help." I lied. The truth was I didn't think I deserved their help. Not after my father had been killed trying to do the same thing. I couldn't bear the thought of being responsible for another loved one's death.

"From what I saw just five minutes ago, it seems like you do. And when your mother told everyone about Jacobs death, they wanted to help you. I must say you are an extremely popular person."

"Yes, well, I might be with our town, but the people here are extremely different." I said, recalling the events of the last two weeks. This was nothing similar to back home.

"And that is why I am going to get you out tonight." Cas said.

"No, not tonight. There are people here who are trapped here like me. I need to at least help them." I confessed and saw his confused expression. "It shouldn't be fair that I can escape but they, who have been here longer than me, can't."

"But you just said-"

"I know what I said." I shushed Cas. "But they are here against their will and I need to help them."

"Aurora, think about this. You could be gone from this hell-hole tonight and never have to see it again. We could run away together. We could leave this forsaken place and go somewhere we could be together." Cas said, taking my hand and holding it. My heart leapt from his words, but I knew that couldn't happen, not until I saved these people.

"Cas, as much as I would love to. I have to help these people. I've gotten to know them and... and they're much like me." I said, thinking about Calia and Lizzy.

I watched in Cas's blue eyes as he contemplated his decision. Though I doubted it was a hard decision. Save me or save people from the lifetime they've had under the reign of the King and Prince.

"Alright. I'll help you. Only on one condition." He said, a playful smile landing on his lips.

"Anything." I returned the smile.

"A kiss from Princess Aurora Whitmore." Cas said exactly as he had three weeks ago. The memory settled itself in my mind, it felt longer than three weeks, an eternity. Though just as I had before I leaned in, feeling his warmth against me as we grew closer.

His lips brushed softly against mine before pressing harder and opening his mouth. The butterfly's came alive in my stomach as I felt his lips against mine. The fact that we weren't supposed to be doing this made my heart beat with excitement. My arms circled around his neck and the heat of his hands on my waist felt as if they would burn holes through the thin fabric of my dress. Though the idea sent pleasant shivers down my spine

Cas pulled away and leaned his forehead on mine. Our breaths tangled together as we took in air, breathless from our forbidden kiss.

"I will save you from this place no matter what it takes." He whispered, a smile flashing across his red stained lips.

"I don't doubt it." I smiled.

"Aurora?" I heard the familiar voice say from beside me.

I quickly leap away from Cas, lightly hitting my head against the stone wall behind me. Though despite how light the impact was, my skull still ached a bit.

"Calia. I thought you would be inside, enjoying the party." I said, nervously. This was a different Calia, I had noticed before, this was one who thinks her husband and son are loving and would never hurt her. One that was loyal to the crown.

"Who is this boy? What are you doing with him?" She asked, anger taking over her emotions and sense of righteousness.

"Calia, I can explain..."

"Theres nothing to explain. You are having a relationship with this boy when you are promised to my son. I will not have it, I am telling Damian right away." The imposing queen said, taking off towards the prince.

"No." I said, grabbing her arm and yanking her back onto the balcony and into the darkness where no one could see her.

"Unhand me this instant!" She cried and tried to bat my hand away, not using enough force. Through years of abuse her muscles had grown tired and frail and what she thought was pain I mistook for weakness.

"No Calia, you have to listen to me." I said, taking my hand off of her to show that I wouldn't hurt her. Though worry spread through me, maybe I couldn't trust this Calia, maybe she would try to run back to her husband and son.

"Aurora, I can't let you disrespect my son like this. He loves you and would do anything for you. I thought you loved him." The fact that she didn't run calmed my fear, but I still cringed from her words. I couldn't love Damian, he had no heart and I doubt if I did, he would never love me back.

"Calia, the king isn't this great man you've thought him to be." I said, seeing a defensive glare run through her eyes. "Nether is Damian. They've brainwashed you to believe so."

"I don't believe you." She defended and I felt a tang of sympathy for her.

"You don't have to believe me... you just have to trust me. Remember a couple of weeks ago when I had taken your place when your husband was abusing you?" I paused, trying to come up with something else to say. Though for a moment I could see a flash of something in her eyes. "You... You were the first person here that actually showed me kindness and I love you for that. You've been like a mother to me. I hope you can see that. I hope you can see through this spell and know that this isn't who you are. Because in this short time, I've come to know who you are."

I saw something flash across her face, remembrance, empathy, compassion. Things I hadn't seen in her eyes since the beginning of the ball. I saw a small tear appear in her eye, one that was of the other Calia, the one I had been trying to reach through my compelling words.

"Oh Aurora, I'm sorry." She breathed, tears now freely streaming down her heartbroken face. Her arms circled around me, bringing me into her motherly embrace. "I don't know what came over me. It was as if I was in a dream and didn't know how to wake up. Your words... they... they brought me back. Thank you."

I smiled and felt that the real Calia was back. We stayed in this embrace for a few minutes, until I unwillingly pulled away. I needed to ask her questions on the passing event.

"Do you know who did that to you?" I questioned

"Not really, everything has been hazy the last week." Calia said, and I felt anxious for the truth. Though I could see in her eyes how shooken she was, so I didn't press further.

"It's alright, as long as you're safe." I reassured her.

"Thank you dear." She said, I saw her notice Cas standing in the background. "Who is this fine gentleman?"

I smiled a bit at Calia's willingness to accept him when just five minutes ago she was going to tell the Prince about him and probably have him killed

"My name is Cas Garcia, your majesty." He said, bowing. A slight smirk appearing on his lips, obviously thinking the same as me.

"My, such a handsome fellow." I saw Cas look surprised at her compliment and I could almost hear him say "The queen just said I'm handsome!!!!"

"Well... I...ummm..." Cas struggled for a response.

"Calia, why did you come out here?" I asked, hoping to distract Calia from Cas' obvious flustering.

"Right. Damian is looking for you. He is upset that you haven't been seen in a half an hour and he convinced people that he was worried." She said and I felt my face fall.

I noticed that Cas's expression had turned hard and angry, the complete opposite of his usual laid back and sarcastic one.

"Let me teach him a lesson. He shouldn't be able to control anyone, especially you" Cas said, rolling up his sleeves as if to prepare for a fight.

"No Cas, that'll only make things worse." I said, suddenly thinking of a plan. "Actually I need you to do something for me."

"Anything." He said, his angry tone evaporating and being replaced mimic of my tone from when I had said the same thing only a few moments ago. The memory caused a bit of blush to appear on my cheeks.

"I need you to find a tribe of witches that go by the name of Welland. Find them and say that you know Lizzy and are trying to free her." I said and saw his anger turn to confusion.

"Who's Lizzy?" He asked.

"A witch I know." I said and turned to Calia.

"Calia I need you to-"

"How do you know witches? They are dangerous and evil, you shouldn't be around them." Cas interrupted and I turned back to him. His expression is filled with hatred and mistrust.

"Cas, they aren't dangerous or evil." I could see him starting to say something, so I continued. "You just have to trust me."

"Alright." He agreed quickly. "I'll trust you. But if those witches end up killing me, I'm blaming you."

"Thank you." I said, ignoring his statement. I turned back to Calia to explain what she would do.

"Calia, I need you to look out for a letter from Cas. He will send word when he has the witches as allies."

"Allies? It sounds like we're about to go to war." Calia's envois laugh rang out into the dark night.

"That's exactly what's going to happen." I said, walking back into the ballroom.

War. That was what the future held.