The paper wrapping crinkled under Ombra’s hands as she fidgeted. How long would it take to give the other twelve gifts? She paid no attention as the fairies presented magical items to the infant. Three gifts for childhood, three gifts for education, three gifts for marriage, and three gifts for the kingdom. Ombra had heard the gossip for weeks already as fairies prepared, crafting enchantments with sun-magic and binding the spells to a myriad of objects.

Ombra gripped her gift tighter and smirked. None other had dared trifle with moon dust, but none would have a gift so dazzling, either. Beauty, wisdom, strength and talent sizzled within the package, the magic primed to enchant the little princess. With Ombra’s guidance, the baby would become the most powerful woman ever to take the throne.

And finally, all would see Ombra herself for what she truly was: the most powerful and brave woman in all the world.

Her glance stole to Lumina, seated across the hall. Ombra gloated at the hope her sister soon would see her proper place. Lumina had never seen the potential of moon dust as Ombra had. Perhaps, if only Lumina had been a bit more clever, she would have become the fairy the rest of the kingdom already thought she was.

But Ombra knew better. Next to her, Lumina was weak. Soon everyone would know. The king’s advisor had inspected Ombra’s prepared gift, and she had seen how his eyes widened at the potential. Soon, he would select her as the most honored fairy, and everyone in the kingdom would see and know her.

It was time. The advisor was taking the stage from the last fairy, ready to announce the thirteenth gift for the princess.

Ombra scooted to the edge of the chair as he spoke. “For the most esteemed gift, a blessing on our Princess Ophelia to be administered by the most honored and trusted fairy in the land.” He paused, but Ombra was already standing.

“Lady Lumina, please present your blessing.”

Ombra froze. Her hands felt numb as she watched Lumina take the stage. All eyes in the room gazed in adoration. They gave her a standing ovation as she bent over the princess and pressed a golden beam of sunlight to the baby’s forehead.

“My gift is resistance to magic. None will hurt our princess.” The crowd cheered. They adored Lumina.

The witch didn’t deserve it.

Ombra seethed. She didn’t realize she was moving until she stood in the aisle, toe-to-toe with her sister. Lumina raised her chin, defiant, blind to what would befall her.

“Fools!” Ombra’s voice magnified in the arches of the hall. “This petty witch deserves none of your praise! I could have given your princess a thousand gifts, endless beauty, wisdom beyond compare, and you choose this destiny instead?”

The hall was silent. From the corner of her eye, Ombra saw the king and queen quaking.

She turned to Lumina. For the first time, she saw her sister’s baby in a sling on her back. Yet another little whelp that would come to nothing.

“I will erase you,” Ombra hissed. “No one will remember your weakness. They will only see my power.”

Finally, fear widened Lumina’s eyes, but it was too late. Ombra drew the gift intended for the princess from its packet and twisted it into a new spell.

A death spell.

It left her hand as a silver bolt. Lumina shrieked and threw up a shield of sunlight, and that was when the impossible happened.

Ombra’s magic shattered.

She ducked to avoid the shards. The blast knocked Lumina to the side, but Ombra could see where the bits of spell landed. Most of it sprinkled the floor like glass, but two shards went terribly awry. One struck Lumina’s daughter,and the other hit the newborn princess. Devoid of the whole power of the spell, neither baby died. Ombra knew that without her help, the spell would fester and eventually be fatal to both girls.

“Now they see who you truly are,” Lumina whispered. “A monster.”

“Let them try to fix their problems without my help,” Ombra answered. “In a few years, when their princess lays on death’s door, they will beg my help, little sister. But you they will forget.”

She wrapped herself in a moonbeam and disappeared. Sixteen years she would wait, but she was right.

The kingdom would beg on its knees.