Sleeping Beauty

By Aileen McDevitt

Sleeping Beauty is the retelling of an old tale. It follows Freya, the Godmother who is determined to save princess Amira from dark magic. A spell has been cast and Freya must find Amiras true love to break the curse. Follow Freya and the prince as they journey through obstacles on their way to save the princess.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jun 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496978516

Aileen McDevitt

Aileen McDevitt is a nineteen year old Media Student born and raised in Derry. She loves books, tv, film and music and it’s her love for books that led her to begin writing. She loves her family more than anything in the world and without them she wouldn’t have the confidence to share her writing.

Book preview

Chapter 1

I am galloping through the forest, being chased actually on a horse. It seems Cara saw fit to send two men after me to try and stop me, which means I am on the right track. I realize no matter how fast I go I can’t out run the men chasing me.

I unhook me feet and soon I am crouching on the saddle of the horse. Once I have slowed down enough and the men trying to kill me are close enough I pull my horse to a halt and flip backwards landing behind the men on the horses.

Grabbing two blades from beneath my cloak I toss them towards my targets and each blade hits the men. I hate killing but I do what is necessary to survive.

Freya, that’s been my name for a hundred years. I am forever eighteen. I know what you’re thinking and no I am not a vampire, I’m just a girl.

A long time ago someone thought giving me immortality was a gift but really it’s a curse, I just wish I had known then what I know now I think as I arrive at what’s left of Estonia, Cameron’s kingdom. Cameron is my last hope, I have tried everything else and nothing has worked.

Seventeen years ago I was traveling to an inn to collect material for a dress and I stumbled across a broken down carriage with a woman in the middle of labour and a flock of men around her that didn’t have a clue about giving birth so I stopped.

After I helped her give birth to a beautiful baby girl named Amira I found out she was the Queen of Foreland and I just helped deliver Princess Amira Fore. In my hundred years of existence that was the biggest shock I had ever gotten.

To say it was awkward not recognising the queen was an understatement but seeing as I was a recluse it was to be expected. Luckily the queen was a kind woman and thankfully just laughed it off.

Then the Queen gave me another shock. She asked me to be Amira’s godmother as thanks for helping her deliver her child safely.

I was preparing to say no but as I looked down at the beautifully innocent child in my arms I couldn’t bring myself to deny her request.

That day I broke a promise, a promise I had made long ago to never let myself get attached to anyone ever again. Letting myself care for Amira was the best and worst decision I had ever made.

I walk up to the door of Cameron’s castle and ring the doorbell. I have been travelling for weeks and I feel as though the ground could fall out from under my feet at any moment but I can’t let that happen. Not till I save Amira.

As I wait for Cameron to make his way through the castle and down to me I think back to the events that brought me here.

I watch as Amira greets some children from the crowd that is watching her with admiration. She is such a kind person I think as I watch her get down to eye level and easily interact with them.

Over the years Amira has grown into herself and is even more beautiful now than she was as a child. Her beautiful blonde hair now flows down her back and her big bright blue eyes look in wonder as if seeing the world for the first time.

We couldn’t be more different. I have jet-black hair that meets my waist and dull green eyes. My face still carries a bit of baby fat from my younger years whereas Amira’s features are sharp.

Amira and I, along with her guards, are going to the market. Amira loves her kingdom and I smile at her innocence. I am so happy that I was the one to help bring her into this world.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Cara giving Amira dirty looks that witch. No really Cara is an actual witch. Luckily Amira is too busy to notice Cara. Cara lives on the outskirts of town and even though she has never caused any trouble she has always been one of those girls that had to be the centre of everyone’s attention.

After going into town and shopping for a while Amira and I go back to the castle. As we pass through the castle walls I notice an intricate marking on the back of Amira’s neck. It can’t be.

I grab hold of Amira neck and push her hair to the side. Amira how did you get this mark? I ask cautiously.

I see a few guards lean in to see what I’m talking about and I freeze as Amira innocently asks, What mark?

Get her up to her room and call the king and queen, tell them it’s an emergency.

The guards follow my orders and take Amira up to her room meanwhile I run off in the other direction. There’s only one person that can do black magic in this day and age and that’s Cara.

As I run towards Cara’s cottage I am overwhelmed with anger. How could Cara use black magic on someone because of jealousy? Doesn’t she realise what she’s messing with?

Once I arrive I see an alter and on it what looks like the making of a spell so I destroy it. Then I hear her laugh. You’re too late. The spell has already been cast.

I hear Cara laugh from the shadows and turn around to face her. It’s too late. The spell has already been cast.

I put a blade to Cara’s throat. What did you do?

Oh not much. Our precious little Amira will just be taking a long nap.

So she cast a sleep spell. This is not good. A spell like that can last decades maybe even centuries if not cured. Amira could wake up one day and everyone she loves will be dead. It will kill her; she’s not as strong as I am. I can’t let what happened to me happen to her as well.

Undo it.

No.

Fine, I say sweetly pressing the blade further into her throat. Then I’ll just kill you.

Cara laughs once more, an evil sound. You know very well that killing me will not break the spell.

What will break it?

The old magic. True love, she says smugly.

Damn it. There are six million people in the land and I’m supposed to find one specific person. No wonder Cara’s so smug.

I lower my blade defeated and sigh. After leaving the cottage and going back to the