The Tyrant's Pet

The sound of chimes caressed Aries's ears, standing under the linden tree where eleven women were hanged upon it. Each of them had bells hanging on their toes, ringing each time the wind blew past them.

Aries had been in this dream many, many times. But when she raised her head, deep lines appeared in between her brows as her mouth fell open. In the past visions, she had never seen the faces of the women hanging on this tree. All she could remember was the dirty and worn-out dress they wore.

"That child and elderly…" whispered Aries, her eyes lingered on the familiar little girl and old lady swaying along with the gust of wind. She looked back to check if those two were standing on the spot where they would usually stand while looking at her silently.

They weren't there.

"They screamed, <strong>'burn the witch!'</strong> and I thought they meant to burn her in the stakes…" Aries froze as a familiar vengeful voice tickled her ears, making her turn to the woman standing beside her. "... this fury is burning me, creating this inferno that seeks to harm."

Just like the first time Aries had seen this woman in this dream, the sadness, pain, and anger mixed into one filled the woman's eyes and voice. The woman spoke the same resentment through her gritted teeth, eyes burning.

"... they asked for it." Once again, just like in the previous dream, the woman faced Aries. This time, however, Aries maintained her calm, looking back at the woman's eye. "Soon, Maleficent. We'll have this world at our feet."

"I'm not Maleficent," whispered Aries. "You are."

Her breath hitched when the woman suddenly gripped her shoulders. "Do not deny me."

"I am not denying you," Aries stressed, keeping her composure since the last time she had gotten nothing from her. "I am simply accepting you as a part of me, not my entire persona."

This time, the woman's reaction wasn't aggressive while staring into Aries's eyes.

"They killed them…" tears formed in the corner of the woman's eyes as her voice broke. ".... they killed my sisters. They had done nothing wrong and yet, they mercilessly dragged them and hanged them on this very spot… I had fostered."

"Who did this to them?" Aries asked softly.

"Them," the woman answered vaguely. "All of them tore my flesh, broke my soul, and murdered my…" she trailed off as she looked up at the women. "... our dreams. I cannot and I will not forgive them — I am unable to."

Aries's eyes softened as she kept her eyes on the woman, witnessing a tear roll down the woman's cheek. The latter was beautiful, and despite that, her voice was laced with an unquenchable thirst for vengeance, she sounded kind. She was like a person who was backed in a corner and was trapped within the fire line as it crawled to her feet.

A person who had no other choice but to fight back to survive.

This was Maleficent.

The real one.

The original.

Aries glanced up at the women on the tree as realization dawned on her.

"They were your custodian," whispered Aries as she looked back at Maleficent. "The people who held your heart before me."

"They will do the same to you," Maleficent replied under her breath. "I won't let it happen again. Not this time. Not again."

Aries held her breath at the firm resolve shining in the woman's eyes. "How?"

"I will come for you." Maleficent nodded reassuringly. "You are me, and I am you. They are you. We will protect you."

"I am watching." A misplaced subtle smile then appeared on her beautiful face. "Always."

<strong>****** BREAK ******</strong>

Aries weakly opened her eyes, catching the familiar ceiling of the empress's chamber. When she first had those recurring dreams, she would be gasping for air. But over time, she got used to them. The only thing that annoyed her in having these visions was that she could barely recall every little detail.

Aside from the linden tree, the women hanged upon it, snippets of the woman's remarks, everything was a blur. Today was different, though. Aries could remember the dream as if it had actually happened.

A deep exhale slipped past her lips as she closed her eyes. Her head was throbbing. Aries slowly turned her head to the side where Abel slept last night while reopening her eyes. To her surprise, Abel was lying on his side. His temple was propped against his knuckles, eyes on her.

"I thought you left already," remarked Aries in relief, pleased to see him early in the morning.

"How can I when my wife demanded my love?"

"I'm glad you remembered." Aries lazily moved to his side, squeezing her body to him as she wrapped her arm around him.

"Bad dream?" he asked, massaging her hair with his fingertips.

"Not really."

"Then, why do you… look so gloomy the moment you wake up?"

"Because it was a slightly sad dream." Aries rested her forehead against his chest. Her eyes were partially closed. "I've met her."

"Who's her?"

"Maleficent."

"Oh…"

"She looks kind, Abel," she whispered, drawing her head back to look back at him. "It makes me wonder if she is like you."

"Just like me?" Abel arched a brow. "I don't think so."

Aries smiled subtly, assessing his beautiful morning face. Conan told her Abel was the kindest and the most thoughtful back on the mainland. But that sounded a little like a lie, since Abel and compassion didn't suit in one sentence.

If only Aries hadn't managed to take a spot in his heart, she wouldn't imagine Abel having any positive traits.

The woman in her dreams also looked kind and harmless. Not just by appearance, but Aries's heart was certain that the woman, Maleficent, used to be someone full of kindness and had so much love to give. But now, in that dream, that woman's sadness had taken the form of anger.

<strong>Just like Wrath.  </strong>

"Should we rest today?" she wondered, making him raise his brows. "You said everyone can wait, so a day of rest will be fine, right?"

"I don't mind, but are you sure?"

Aries nodded. "Yes, I am. Let's stay like this today… or should we ride a horse away from the palace? I heard about the festival, and it sounds fun to join our people's festivities. Let's have a date."