Hey guys, sorry its taken me so long to update this, but things have been a little hectic lately. I hope everyone's enjoying this so far, I know I am. To be honest, I find writing Monster High stories to be both fun and fascinating with all the different ideals and facts to work with, what with all the different monsters, so I hope I'm doing it all justice. Well, lets get on with the new chapter!

Despite all of craziness of the day, one person found peace in the dreary cold and quiet. For within the golden and white marble walls of her personal quarters, Queen Neferra walked a fast pace to one of the white doors. Now, normally, the golden, hyroglific-covered walls and white marble pillars would bring a sense of comfort for the familiarity of her distant homeland. The wide balcony-like window-seat, with its satin sheets and pillows would give her ease with their magnificent view of the land that was all hers as did her magnificent, golden and satin-sheet bed. But Neferra was in no mood for these comforts that came with her crown, oh no, throwing open the door and slamming it behind her, Neferra was in a foul mood and she knew exactly who to vent to.

As she marched down the dark hall, the unlit candelabras on the walls suddenly sparked to life with golden light as she past. This continued until she approached the end of the hall, where, instead of a door, there stood a tall, golden-framed mirror, the frame itself was decorated with rose carvings. But instead of slowing down, Neferra kept walking towards it as she whispered under her breath, "Mirror, mirror, on the wall..."

No sooner did finish speaking did the glass of the mirror ripple like water and Neferra moved through it. On the other side was a dome-shaped hut sitting on a sort of dock with a long pier leading up to the door, connected to a second, smaller done-hut, all sitting on top of a strange, dark gray sea. The water swirled as Neferra rose from it and was set on the end of the pier. Unfazed by the magical entry, Neferra walked on, intend on ranting the ear off whoever waited inside.

No sooner did she enter the first hut, she was greeted with semi-darkness. Small, lit candles provided basic light, but it didn't bother the mummy queen in the slightest, nor did the lack of decor. The were mirrors everywhere, embedded on the wall in long or short frames, sitting on side tables. They were everywhere one looked.

As soon as the door closed, the reflection in one rippled and Neferra's own disappeared. It took several seconds before it was replaced with a different girl. This girl was also a mummy with the same bronze-tan skin and sea-green eyes, and of course, the traditional Egyptian make-up, the difference between the two stopped there though. She was much younger, physically, she looked no older than Jacqueline and her friends. She had black hair that fell past her waist in perfectly straight locks with beads of gold along a few strands, resembling golden streaks. She wore a bluish-green dress of much simpler design compared to Neferra and her jewellery was no different, a simple gold-pair of ankhs with rubies and a wide gold, teal and blue necklace.

"Can you believe that baron? The nerve!" Neferra exploded as the girl watched blankly, unfazed by the queen's temper as she looked at her nails, "I mean, honestly, did he really think I would consider marrying him?" Not paying attention to what the younger girl was doing, Neferra kept ranting as she glared at the wall, "A woman has standards, after all, and an exalted woman like myself with my upbringing has exceedingly high standards!"

After waiting a moment to see if the older mummy would continue, the younger didn't look up from her nails, expression didn't waver as she commented idly, "Interesting." She long got over Neferra's displays of anger, in fact, nowadays it was her only source of entertainment.

Neferra instantly looked at her, unamused as she asked, "What is, Cleo?"

The newly named Cleo finally looked up and her expression didn't change as she answered, "You're response to his proposal."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Neferra questioned. Cleo shrugged, "Consider the options."

"Well, this option has no hairline, smells like the bottom of a lake," Neferra listed Barron Rocco's qualities, "And I wouldn't be caught in a crypt with him!"

Cleo couldn't help the quirk of her lips in knowing as she remarked, crossing her arms, "You've spent so much time supporting your vanity, you can't afford to say no."

"Well, then," Neferra looked at her crossly, "Why don't you just snap your fingers and make me a chest of gold, hm?" She then rolled her eyes, adding sarcastically, "You know, since you're the more magically inclined of the family!"

Cleo shook her head, answering, "Everyone has magic within them, Neferra, I've told you that many times," Neferra rolled her eyes in annoyance at that, "But few actually discover it and even fewer learn how to use it wisely."

Neferra huffed and walked down a hall to try and ignore her imprisoned sister's words, but this proved usually when she reached the end of the hall and the reflection of her own face in the hanging mirror was replaced with Cleo's own. With a smirk, the younger mummy continued, "Besides, you know I have limited power trapped in here, of course, as your younger sister, I am just a younger reflection of you and your power," Her smirk grew wider as she added in a low, sing-song whisper, "And I don't have wrinkles~!"

Neferra gasped at this, turning to a different hanging mirror as Cleo vanished, trying to scan her face for any such blemishes. "They're not wrinkles!" Neferra was quick to deny, motioning with her thumb and forefinger, voice lowering to a weakened tone, "Just...crinkles..."

Cleo once again shrugged uncaringly as she reappeared, this time in a small framed mirror sitting on a countertop, tone unconvinced, "As you wish, sister-dear."

Realizing what Cleo had done, Neferra wiped around, slamming her hand uncomfortably close to the mirror, making Cleo wince as her older sister glared down at her, asking incredulously, "Well, what do you propose I do?"

"Well, for a start, I suggest marrying someone rich...again," Cleo answered her tone turning a little flat and dry at the last part as Neferra sat down, "And that you do it quickly," But when Neferra rolled her eyes, Cleo continued to talk, tone persistent and forewarning, "Trust me, Neferra, because one day, you're going to ask me who the real fairest of them all is and trust me, you're not going to like the answer."

Neferra once again rolled her eyes with a huff, not taking her little sister's threat seriously. After all, she had no need to ask such a question, nor did she doubt she'd ever have to.

000000000000000000000000

Jacqueline had sorely underestimated how much the forest had changed since she was younger, fruitlessly searching for her missing father. With the snow as it was, the path to the closest town was almost invisible, but Frankie and Clawdeen kept it well described to her, so she didn't worry about it much. What she hadn't remembered was the almost deafening quiet, every little occasional chirp had made her jump the first few minutes into her walk, but now, she found it a joy in the otherwise disturbing silence.

She was just starting to cross the bridge her friends had told her marked the halfway point, when she heard an odd sound. "...elp!" It sounded like someone else had chosen to travel through the woods, it made her nervous as she tried to focus on it, "Help!"

Jacqueline blinked in surprise at the cry, but quickly lifted some of her skirts in order to rush in its direction a little further down her chosen path. No sooner did she get closer to the trees' density she heard the voice, male by how it sounded, call out again, "Hello? Is anybloody out there?" And monster, as she could guess.

Just as she rounded a rock, she paused when she heard a second voice, also male, speak, "Oh, shut up, Pharaoh," But this voice was different; it was deeper, almost a little older sounding and held something of a powerful tone, it made the young princess shudder, cheeks reddening, "Nobody can hear you in these woods."

The first voice, Pharaoh she presumed, spoke again as Jacqueline placed a hand over her chest, feeling her heart's quickening beat from the second voice, "On the off chance..."

The second voice scoffed in response, "That there's someone else in these miserable woods?" Taking a deep breath, Jacqueline took a moment to calm herself as Pharaoh muttered just loud enough for her to hear, "Well, there could be..." Which instantly got the second man's attention, it seemed, when he asked snappily, "Was that tone?"

"No, it's not tone," Pharaoh said sounding like he was trying to keep his patience, "I was repeating..."

The other didn't let him finish, interrupting in a remark of, "You did it a very smart way."

Sighing, Jacqueline walked out to see what was going on...only to stop and blink at the sight before her. Hanging from a tree branch in the center of the semi-clearing where two mansters who seemed to be just slightly older than her. One was clearly a mummy like her stepmother, with dark brown hair and bronze skin. The other was a monster she didn't recognize, he was tall, taller then the mummy with paler skin, not quiet as pale as her, more peachy and much more muscular and, what she found to be his most remarkable characteristic, was that he had several green snakes for hair, each of which sparkled in the sunlight like emeralds.

But...what Jacqueline found odd about the situtation was that they were handing upside-down by their feet, which were tied together and their arms were also tied...and they were positioned chest-to-chest...and where virtually naked save for their underpants...and shirt and bandages in the mummy's case. Jacqueline actually took a second to rub her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things.

"I did not!" The mummy, Pharaoh, protested, frowning at the other male, "I don't like being this close to you as I've told you before!"

Jacqueline shook her head in dumbfoundment as she stared at the odd scene before, muttering to herself, "I was warned of what I might find in these woods, but..." She couldn't stop the amused smile that spread across her face, pretty sure this wasn't what her friends had in mind during their warnings.

"I picked the worst travelling companion," The mystery monster groaned. Jacqueline couldn't stop the laugh that escaped her as she started to walk up to them, "I never imagined this!"

Prince Deuce was beginning to think they would be stuck like this forever when he heard a girl's laugh, a laugh that caused him to almost freeze. It was soft, but bright and happy sound, chiming in his ears like a bell. Footsteps made him crane his neck to see a young girl who had to be just a little younger then himself, couldn't have been any older, physically, than eighteen, wearing the most beautiful red and gold gown, simple with its crimson skirt and sleeves, and gold bodice with its red rose-decoration, its matching cape and hood swaying elegantly behind her, while concealing most of her facial details from his sight, but he found it suited her. He assumed she was a vampire from her pale skin and a very beautiful one at that.

"Oh, thank Ra!" Pharaoh exclaimed very relieved to see someone else had been in the forest and gave her his best pleading face, "We are in dire need of you're help, ma'am!"

The mystery girl spoke, her voice, music in Deuce's ears, leaving his heart pounding a little as his cheeks burned a little at the sound, "What on earth happened?"

"We we're ambushed," Pharaoh began to explain truthfully, making Deuce panic, "By seven mo-"

With a deft swing and momentum, Deuce banged into his friend and travelling companion, both grunting as he did so and effectively shutting him up as the royal finished for him, "Bloodthirsty demons!"

The girl flinched back at the mention of the menace to monster and human-kind alike, "Demons?"

"We were out-numbered, we fought bravely, but they cheated!" Deuce lied earning a pointed look from Pharaoh, who recalled his own part of the encounter in question being any less than brave. "Young lady," Pharaoh began to request, "If you would be so kind as to help myself and the honorable Prince-"

Once again, he was cut off by Deuce, who interrupted, "The Prince of Royal Embarrassment!" Making the girl giggle, which just flared his cheeks even brighter as she lowered her hood. Imagine both their surprise to find this beauty was actually human, having no fangs in her smile with short black and blonde hair, and, to Deuce, and most amazing pair of sapphire blue eyes.

Remembering himself, Deuce continued his charade by saying, "I'm just a humble commoner," Of course, he then contradicted himself by ordering her like the royal he was, "Now, we order you to release us."

The girl just responded with a quirk of one of her elegant eyebrows, not moving an inch, "Order me?"

Mentally kicking himself, Deuce had no choice but to answer, despite how his tone made it sound as if it were obvious, "If you refuse, there will be dire consequences." Pharaoh didn't bother holding back the exasperated sigh that escaped him as he rolled his eyes, but reframed from asking how he intended to carry that out stuck in the position they were in.

As for Jacqueline, she was getting more and more amused with every word she heard, and she was tempted to see just how the odd male would carry out the threat, but didn't have the heart, especially as she look into perfect emerald hues, who seemed to betray his act of confidence and shone with hopeful-plea. So, instead, she stepped up to them.

Deuce raised an eyebrow, wondering what she was doing, until she leaned forward and blushed at the unintentional eyeful he received at her ample bosom, as did Pharaoh, if the cough and looking away was any indication, but if she knew the cause of the action, she didn't seem to mind. He quickly looked at her face and was surprised to find her smirking at him as if she knew something he didn't and something amused her greatly. It did something to him, something he intended to find out about as soon as he was down.

He was pulled out of his musings when the angel of a human girl spoke again in a sort of teasing tone that only made his cheeks burn more, "Only..." She purposely trailed off to make sure she had their attention before finishing, "If you say 'please'."

This left Deuce speechless and from her giggle, he was sure it showed. Pharaoh helpfully put in, "Given the circumstances, sir, I think a 'please' is in order." Which, thankfully, knocked Deuce out of it.

"You're right," Deuce agreed, shaking his head, before looking at her again, "Where are my manners...please?"

Trying not to blush at the puppy-dog look he was giving her as she finally straightened up, commenting idoly, "That's all you had to say." Before she headed over to where she spied the other end of the rope, which was tied to the branch of a fallen log.

"Oh, thank you! Thank you!" Pharaoh praised in relief as she hefted up her skirt to retrieve the hidden knife she kept strapped to ankle on Clawdeen's insistence. "Thank you so much!" Deuce added gratefully before they saw her grab the rope and raised the knife high.

Realizing she wouldn't be strong enough to lower them to the ground once the rope was cut, they panicked, "No, no, no, no! No! Wait, no!" But it was too late, with one stroke of her knife, the rope was cut, making the two mansters yell out and grunt as they fell to the ground.

Jacqueline gasped as she realized much too late of her mistake as they made quick work of separating their ankles so they could stand properly. "Are you alright?" The young princess asked, concerned as she hurried over to them as they stumbled to get to their feet, "Can I help at all?"

Despite the unpleasant fall, as well as being the first on his feet, Pharaoh wasn't about to kick the gift in the horse's mouth or however the saying went. He was quick to show her the ropes binding his arms and rifts as Deuce continued to stumble to get up. "Oh, yes, please," Pharaoh said very grateful as she sawed through the thick rope, "Watch the bandages, please."

Jacqueline chuckled at his clear, overstated relief as she pulled the fallen ropes away, "There you go."

"Oh, thank you, miss!" Pharaoh thanked rubbing his wrists tenderly, "Thank you!"

At this moment, Deuce had finally gotten to his feet and had started toward them to get his own ropes cut, when Jacqueline turned to see if the other stranger needed help as well, only to be face-to-face with him as she bumped into him. She squeaked in surprise, hands instinctively on his bare chest as she looked up at him, startled, but this proved helpful in keeping him up. Deuce looked back at her, just as surprised and found himself caught in her eyes, a truly stunning shade of blue, lighter than the sea, like a clear lake...a lake he found himself unable to mind drowning in and he was half-amused to see a soft red raising in her cheeks as she stared back. Jacqueline herself was blushing at the closeness, but also as she locked eyes with a truly magnificent pair of emerald green eyes and found herself rephrasing one of her previous thoughts; his eyes were his most unique feature.

As for Pharaoh, he was just watching with a highly amused expression, trying and failing to surpress his grin.

Snapping herself out of it, Jacqueline glanced away shyly as she asked nervously, "Um...do you...do you need help the...the rope?" Which of course, served to snap Deuce out of it as well.

"Yes," He nodded turning to allow her to cut them, "Thank you," As she set to work, he cleared his throat awkwardly, feeling his cheeks heat up at the sudden want to look into her eyes again, "I'm...I'm sorry you had to see in such a...a compromising position."

Once freed, he turned to look at her again and was a little disappointed to see her looking away from his shyly, her head ducked a bit. In attempt to strike up conversation, he said, "We're going north."

Jacqueline shyly looked up at him, motioning in the opposite direction as she said, softly, "I'm travelling south."

Deuce frowned a little, disappointed, "A shame."

"It is," She agreed daring herself to look at him more properly, their cheeks burned once more at the eye contact. Deuce clear this throat, scratching the back of his head as she giggled again. Deuce gave his best, charming smile as they made eye-contact once more, "Then I guess we must bid you adieu."

She nodded and turned, heading off to continue her trek to the town as the two monsters in turned and began heading in the other direction. But as her hands lingered on the hood of her as she paused and looked back. The sound of her footsteps pausing had caused Deuce to glance back over his shoulder to see her doing something similar. Jacqueline couldn't stop another giggle from escaping her, cheeks flaring at the memory of the strange monster as she looked back to her path, before she pulled her hood up and continued her walk.

"She turned around," Deuce muttered to his companion, rather excited about her action, not that he entirely knew why, having met plenty of humans before, but then again, none quite like her, "Did you see that."

Snorting back his chuckle at his prince's behavior, Pharaoh carefully schooled his expression to hide any of his amusement as he answered, nocturnally, "No...I don't think she's interested, sir."

Jacqueline was barely a fourth of a mile away when she heard Deuce's shout of disbelief, "How did you not see that?" She grinned mirthfully and giggled again before continuing her walk, absentmindedly wondering if she would ever meet him again.

Hmm, not bad if I do say so myself, even if it a bit short. I hope everyone likes this chapter, I'm doing my best with the updates, everything just sorts themselves out in the end for me, so the next chapter should be soon. I hope you guys like the interaction between Jacqueline and Deuce, I find it rather cute and I hope you like Cleo as the reflection in the mirror. Of course, she isn't actually Neferra's enchanted reflection, but I find the role fits in with Neferra's character role, after all, I think the Evil Queen would actually do that to someone.

Anyway, tell me what you guys think in your views, ciao for now!