Maleficent

Prologue

THE MOORS WERE QUIET. THE FAERIES WHO CALLED THE LUSH LAND HOME WERE SAFE AND PROTECTED. THEY SPENT THEIR DAYS PLAYING AND LIVING AMONG THE BEAUTIFUL TREES, FLOWERS, AND PLANTS THAT GREW IN ABUNDANCE. They gathered in harmony and danced under the moonlight. They no longer feared the world beyond the borders of the Moors — at least, not as much. They could sleep at night free from nightmares. They were free. They were happy.

Aurora had seen to that.

Five years had passed since Maleficent had bestowed the greatest gift of all on the beautiful young princess. Giving her the kiss of true love, Maleficent had awoken the sleeping beauty and brought her back to rule over the faeries, as had been Aurora’s wish. For five years, Aurora had ruled with grace and kindness. And under her rule, the Moors had thrived.

Maleficent, too, had found peace — as much as the winged fey ever could. She had been a steady presence in Aurora’s life and had spent her days happily flying in and around the Moors, watching with pride as Aurora transformed from a young girl to a young woman, from a hesitant princess to a strong queen. She also watched as Aurora and Prince Phillip grew closer, their bond deepening as their love became more real, more mature. Still unsure of humans, Maleficent kept Phillip at a distance. But bit by bit, even his presence had become a familiar — and almost welcome — one in the Moors. He spent more time there than in his own kingdom of Ulstead, which lay just across the river.

But where there is light, there is also darkness. And darkness was coming to the Moors. An unexpected evil that was only beginning to reveal itself…