75. The Witch’s Throne
As Rosella fled through the eastern door of the sewing room, she quickly shut the door behind her, leaning on it and
breathing heavily. The claustrophobic attack had almost caused the poor princess to faint! She squeezed her scared
blue eyes shut to try and get the image of that horrific black dress from her mind. When she finally had the courage to
open them back up, she looked around to see where this new door had led her. First she looked down the pointed toes
of her heels, standing on a lush patterned rug that ran the length of the room. The main attraction was at the center,
however. Raise up on granite steps was a lavish and intimidating throne. While it was plush with deep colored
cushions, it was made from the same harsh granite of the castle, bore large bat wings from the high-rise back, and claw-
like feet at its base. The empty throne forced images of an ugly powerful witch scheming in all her evil ways atop its
intimidating base while surrounded by her goons.
Lucky for the princess the evil Lolotte did not appear to be in the room at the time, nor were her servants, or Edgar for
that matter. The throne room was void of life, save for the timidly beating heart of princess Rosella. There was a door
opposite the princess that presumably led further into the castle, and hopefully to Genesta and her fairies, while another
path attracted her attention. To her right, there was a great set of double doors that looked like an exit. The temptation
was great in Rosella’s fearful little body. Her courage had gotten her to plunge through the magic mirror, tumbling back
to the land of Tamir. It had allowed her to overcome numerous dangers, had even allowed her to enter Lolotte’s castle.
But now she was inside the heart of evil. At any moment she could come face to face with the wicked Lolotte, and the
very thought made her veins chill as ice. Being inside the castle walls made her courage falter. There was something
evil and alive within the walls and Rosella was scared. The presentation of an exit gave her hope. No harm had
befallen her yet. She could walk out the door and perhaps find a way back to Daventry, maybe even make it back to the
ball she so had so wished to attend that evening. While it would abandon Genesta and her fairies and all in Tamir, the
thought attacked her courage, “what can you do? You are but a princess.” After facing her choices, Rosella decided
to…
Continue east
Take the exit