you will never find peace in an environment you're not supposed to be in

It had been a few days since Rhiannon's run-in with Robin Rexius. She'd been reeling since that moment, although it was almost nothing.

Rhiannon hadn't ever been affected by a boy. Magical or not, creature or human - none of them had made her feel the way Robin had made her feel. She didn't believe in love at first sight or any of the bullshit that Stephanie had believed in, and she knew this wasn't love, but it was something. And something was more than nothing, especially for someone like Rhiannon.

The blonde found herself dreaming of the warlock. It wasn't normal, to be so bothered when she hadn't even had more than one conversation with him. The rumors she heard along the street were the most she knew about him - which she obviously couldn't believe. There was just something about the way he'd spoken to her, acted around her - that had her thinking of him in the small confinement of her room.

Rhiannon found herself feeling happier - lighter, as she got ready for work the next day. She found herself singing along to the music playing from her stereo, dancing around her room as if she were in a musical. It was rare for Rhiannon to show such traits, and when she'd notice she'd attempt to stop, but then the green-eyed warlock would invade her mind again and she'd feel as light as a feather.

She walked with a pep in her step as she made her way toward the boutique, new ideas for fashion pieces forming in her mind. Ones of emerald green and a soft brunette color - obvious inspiration from the famous warlock that plagued her mind like a disease.

By the time Rhiannon arrived at the boutique, it was already open. Her mother and Stephanie should be there - unless Stephanie's still running around with the boy she'd been obsessed with. Rhiannon didn't care, as she knew if Stephanie was absent then that meant more work getting done on her end.

However, as the blonde entered her mother's store, the doorbell wasn't heard by the older woman. Rhiannon slowly made her way inside, organizing different things that were slightly out of place as she began to make her way to the back of the store. Just as she approached the room where they put their fashion pieces together, the sound of her mother's voice caused her movements to stop.

"I just think she's not taking this seriously," The older blonde said, wiping down counters. "She isn't interested in anyone. She doesn't realize her ignorance is what's putting this family in danger."

"Well you didn't hear this from me, but-" Another woman responded. Rhiannon peered around the corner to see an older woman with black hair and dark brown eyes. "The Ares family is looking for a wife for their eldest son. He's a bit older than Rhiannon, but the family's full of money, and lord knows they care about looks. Rhiannon's a beautiful girl, it would solve both problems."

Rhiannon's eyes widened as she realized they'd been talking about her. Her first instinct was to interrupt and protest, but she knew nothing good would come out of that. So instead she stayed silent, hidden behind the wall as she listened to her mother and her friend.

"I did get an invitation in the mail requesting our presence, something about needing to speak to me regarding Rhiannon. I just haven't had the chance to convince her to come. Everyone knows if I were to tell Rhiannon the truth, she'd never go. Even if their son was the cutest, most handsome man on the planet she wouldn't go. I'm almost thinking she doesn't like men." Her mother told the woman.

Rhiannon's nose twisted in disgust. She clenched her fists at her sides, biting her lip.

"So trick her. You know how she works, you know what will get her. Trick her into signing the marriage license then let them take her away. Once she signs it, there's nothing she can do." The woman responded.

"You're right. I'll tell her I need some paperwork done for the store. I'll make her sign the papers and by tomorrow she'll be out of our hair, and my family will have the money we need to survive." 

That was all Rhiannon needed to hear. Once her mother agreed to sign her away, she silently booked it from the boutique shop. She didn't care about work, her previous light-hearted thoughts of Robin Rexius erased from her mind as worry filled her body. She knew Stephanie would get in on it, too, if that meant getting rid of her and getting money to survive.

They didn't need money that bad, and Rhiannon knew this very well since she handled most of the paperwork and budgeting at the boutique shop. She knew they just wanted to live the rich life - and her mother wanted to gloat about the fact that her most beautiful daughter had been married off into a rich family and had been wanted by many men. 

Rhiannon ran down the streets, bobbing and weaving through the people who began to flood the shop area. Once she was out of sight and knew her mother wouldn't find her she made a beeline back to her house her heart pounding in her chest as worrisome thoughts filled her head. 

She made her way into the house, grateful Stephanie had already gone out. That meant she could be in and out - grab a few essential items she needed and the money she'd been saving, and she could leave this no-good town forever.

Call it a rash decision, but Rhiannon wasn't taking any chances. She'd rather be homeless for the rest of her life than be forced to marry someone she doesn't love, let alone know.

After packing her bag and grabbing her money she took one last glance around the room. With a soft sigh, she left, knowing that she'd probably never see it again.

As she approached the front entryway of the house, her movements halted. The front door stood wide open, the outside wind blowing inside the small house. She glanced around, confused, as she knew for a fact she'd slammed it shut as she entered.

"You're not as beautiful as they say," A voice spoke, causing Rhiannon to jump. Her head whipped to the right where she'd heard the noise come from, her eyes landing on a woman walking around her kitchen. 

"Who the fuck are you?" Rhiannon couldn't help but ask, her nose scrunching up as she looked the woman up and down. "And what are you doing in my house?"

Of course, it wasn't technically her house anymore since she had planned on leaving. But this woman didn't need to know that.

"What are you doing with Robin Rexius?" The woman asked in return, her dark eyes boring into Rhiannon's.

"Wha-"

"You're nothing but a measly little human, what would someone like Robin see in someone like you?" She stepped closer.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Rhiannon muttered.

"No? The talk of the town says otherwise." The woman raised a dark brow, "No matter the truth, I can't take any chance. That man is mine, has always been mine, and will be until the end of time. I'll never let someone like you take him from me."

"Okay, lady, I get it-" Rhiannon rolled her eyes, "Dude's not mine. He's yours. No need to worry."

"No, you don't get it." The woman towered over her. She was older - much older than Rhiannon and still older than Robin, but not as old as Rhiannon's mother. It was obvious she had a weird obsession with the warlock, but Rhiannon wasn't surprised.

She'd had one small interaction with the man and she couldn't stop thinking of him. Who knew what he'd done to this woman to make her so obsessed she showed up at people's houses?

"Jesus, you're a freak," Rhiannon muttered, scrunching her nose up. "And obsessed. Does he know you're going to be together or whatever? Cause that's embarrassing if not."

The woman seethed, her lip twitching in anger at Rhiannon's comment. "I see it now," She calmly spoke. She reached out, twirling a curly blonde lock of Rhiannon's between her fingertips. "You're the most eligible bachelorette in all of the land," She circled around the shorter girl, seeming to examine her. "And you know it too, don't you?"

"What?" Rhiannon asked with annoyance in her tone.

"You know you're beautiful. You know you're what every guy wants, what every girl wants to be." The woman cooed, brushing her fingers through her hair.

The action caused goosebumps to grow on Rhiannon, a feeling of unease settling through her. The woman stopped in front of Rhiannon again, an evil-looking smirk crossing her older features. "No one will want you now-" With a wave of her hand silver dust fluttered over Rhiannon, falling on her body. A weird feeling settled through Rhiannon, although nothing happened. She looked at the woman, her brows bunched together.

"What'd you do?" She asked.

The woman laughed, slowly stalking toward the open front door. "In time, dear, in time." And with that, she left, the door magically shutting on its own once she left.

Rhiannon was stunned. She was confused, her mind momentarily distracted from the fact that she'd been in the middle of running away. Once she gathered her thoughts she began to leave the house.

Once she approached the door, a momentary glimpse in the mirror caused her movements to freeze. She blinked, looking at her reflection. She stared at herself, although there was one problem - it wasn't her.

The usual appearance she was used to seeing was long gone - replaced by someone she didn't know. An ugly monster, someone who would be looked down upon in society. Well, for the most part. She wasn't an actual monster or creature, but a regular human - just uglier.

Her eyes were extremely small, despite being the same blue color they usually were. Her nose looked similar to The Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz, and her lively blonde hair was now dull and flat. Her teeth were bucked slightly, and her brows were bushier than normal.

She wasn't the ugliest, and she knew this, but she was no longer the Rhiannon she'd lived with her whole life. "What the fuck did that broad do to me?!" She angrily asked, messing with her face. 

Panic coursed through her veins. She didn't even look like herself - so what was she supposed to do now? She booked it from her house, tripping over her own feet as she made it back into town. People stared at her as she ran. Whether it be from the way she ran through the streets or her look - she didn't know. But nobody recognized her as Rhiannon Michaels, instead as some boring nobody who walked the streets.

She made it to the familiar shop she visited frequently, not hesitating to throw the door open. The bell jingled violently as she slammed the door open, causing everyone in the shop to look at her.

"Can I help you, ma'am?" Logan's voice rang through.

Rhiannon looked away from the judgy stares, speed-walking straight to the counter. "Logan," She said as she slammed her hands down on the counter.

The boy looked at her with a look of confusion, "How do you know my name?" He looked her up and down.

"Logan, it's me. It's Rhiannon." Rhiannon rolled her eyes, slouching slightly. 

Logan laughed loudly, the sound echoing through the small shop. She glanced around at the staring people before back at Logan, grabbing his collar and pulling him close. "Listen to me, I need you to leave town with me."

The boy's laughter halted immediately, looking at the blonde with wide eyes. "W-what?"

"I need you to run away with me," Rhiannon repeated, her blue eyes searching his. "Please. I can't stay here and I've been put under a spell and I need to figure out how to get rid of it."

"And you expect me to believe you're the pretty girl that comes to visit me every day?" Logan raised an eyebrow.

"Okay, fine." Rhiannon let go of his collar, letting him slouch back. "Don't believe me. Don't come." She shrugged, "Looks like you won't be marrying me when I'm pretty again and still single in a million years."

Logan studied her. He didn't believe she was Rhiannon - or, that's what he told himself - simply because it was hard to believe he'd just seen her the day prior and she looked like the usual beauty she always looked. But the woman standing in front of her - looked nothing like her minus the piercing blue eyes. Her voice sounded the same as well, but sometimes people sounded the same. He thought about it for a long moment before sighing, "Fuck it. Got nothin' else to do."

Rhiannon breathed a sigh of relief as she watched Logan climb over the counter. He left the keys on the counter and without a word, went straight for the door.

She was a little shocked he agreed so easily - especially since this was his job and he would definitely be fired for this. Not to mention he obviously didn't believe that she was who she said she was, thinking she was an imposter or whatever it was Logan was thinking at the moment. But he went with her with little to no convincing and didn't even seem to ask questions about it.

"So... where we goin'?" Logan finally asked as they left the shop. Rhiannon fixed her backpack, glancing at him once before responding. 

"We're going to find that famous wizard and make him change me back to normal."

++

Hi, sorry for disappearing <3