Tracks: Once Upon A Dream by Lana Del Rey, La Petite Fille De La Mer by Vangelis
SUMMARY: You are a cursed princess, to sleep forever. Due to this, your family gave you a guard. A Daemos named Pierce, who would always be three steps behind, much to your annoyance. One day, you run away, and he can’t reach you in time. And you become The Sleeping Princess.
TIDBITS AND T.W’S: a sleeping beauty retelling! Mentions of kissing you unconscious (not Pierce) manipulation, stupid reader lowkey.
A.N: first part of 5! I’ll put up a poll for who’s next! But for now, Pierce my love <3! Enjoy!
My Inner Demons Masterlist:🥀🌹
Once Upon A Time, you were a very annoyed princess.
Pierce has been your guard every since you turned 19. He was nice, but didn’t say much at all. But he also never left your side.
Because the moment he did, a spindle would call your name and you would go to sleep. Forever.
He knew that. Your parents knew that.
So you went about your life, Annoyed at your very admittedly handsome shadow.
To his credit, he wasn’t a burden. He never spoke out of turn. Never got in your way.
But the idea of him, of someone, watching you and following you, 3 steps behind, always.
Pierce wasn’t expecting you to dash out of the gardens like you did.
And that was exactly what you were going for. Hoping for. It was hard to catch Pierce off guard. He seemed ready for everything.
“M’lady!” Pierce didn’t yell, but it was louder then his usual murmur.
You didn’t even spare him a glance.
You ran up the stairs, the sound of soft grass crunching under your shoes turned to the soft taps of them meeting the marble.
You ran and ran, adrenaline coursing through your system as you reached closer and closer to where you were running to.
You’d see it. An easily locked door to a tower, which once housed old tapestries, now forbidden to you.
But the panic in Pierce deepened, rooting in his soul, when he saw where you were running.
“PRINCESS!” He yelled after you.
The shock you felt at his volume didn’t slow you. You open the door, closed it, and locked it.
“M’lady, please!” His voice sounded hoarse, desperate, a far cry from the regular confident murmur.
You sat on the spiral stairs for a few minutes before you let out a breathy chuckle.
“Princess!” Another thump on the door.
“Quite a loud one, isn’t he?” An elegant voice said from behind you.
You turned and saw a woman you’d never seen before.
She was the same species as Pierce, black horned. Her hair was long, blonde, flawless. Her eyes were piercing blue, the same color as her dress, which had a slit that went dangerously high, tied on with a golden ribbon.
“Not usually,” You disagreed “He’s quite quiet.”
She made a humming sound.
“Well, he’s making a lot of noise right now,” She tilted her head “The tower is quiet.”
You took that as an invite to follow her.
You walked up the long spiral staircase, Pierces pleas for an open door getting quieter and quieter, until they were gone.
Up in the tower, there was a single brown spindle, unassuming. A tapestry, showing a young woman sleeping in a bed of roses.
“Simple, isn’t it?” The young woman said “But useful in many ways.”
“My name is Bish, but I hold the title of Lady.” The woman, Lady Bish said
“Thread?” She chuckled “No. I find it common.”
“It’s a necessity.” You disagreed “Someone has to do it.”
“Try,” She prompted “I hear its easy.”
You contemplated for a second, watching Lady Bish for any betrayal of ulterior motive.
Her face was bland, revealing nothing.
As uneasy as it made you, you didn’t think it could hurt.
You sat behind the wheel, about to start.
“Wait!” Lady Bish interrupted you “Adjust the spindle.”
When you went to do so, you pricked your finger.
And your world went dark.
Pierce felt it. Like a dark cloud shrouding the world, flowers and thorns sprung up around him.
They covered everything as one by one, everyone fell asleep.
He knew you were asleep, alone. With that familiar, wretched woman, Lady Bish.
With a surge of strength, he broke the door with a grand slam!
He charged up the stairs, and then he saw it.
You, asleep, and Lady Bish, smirking, before she vanished into green smoke.
The hopelessness was a feeling Pierce knew he wouldn’t soon forget.
He picked you up, carefully.
There wasn’t much he could now, the curse had taken root, and he couldn’t fix it.
So instead, he walked to your bed chamber.
Put you in your soft, plush bed.
And began his endless vigil at your bedside, long sword at his.
Pierce never left your side.
But the “noble” princes who’s kisses didn’t wouldn’t work was starting to wear on him.
He started hoping the thorns would take them before their dirty selfish lips touched yours.
He looked over at you, still asleep. Still beautiful.
Affection bloomed warmly in his chest, like a flower blossoming.
He tucked you in a bit tighter and patted your head.
He ran a brush through your hair, tucked it delicately behind your ear.
He sat back in his stool, by your bedside, and continued.
Another prince’s kiss failed. Another day, another failure.
Hopelessness grew, festered.
And he was growing tired.
He knew the kiss might never come.
But if there was one thing Pierce was, it was determined. And he wouldn’t abandon his post.
He patted your head and tucked you in tighter.
He stood over you, watching silently.
Maybe the kiss was him, not a prince.
He’d always assumed it was prince. It usually was, in these mythical curses. A prince and a princess, fairytale romance.
Then again, Bish liked it to be tricky and she liked to win.
Pierce wouldn’t let her win.
He sighed in resignation and leaned down and planted a delicate kiss on your forehead.
And patted your head again.
And sat back at his post.
And heard the castle waking up too.
Silence. Brilliant silence.
“M’lady?” His voice broke the silence
You found out later it was Pierce who woke you. With a forehead kiss.
He waited for three years, on the rickety stool, with his long sword, watching every failed attempt.
An act of devotion. True love.
And that was what broke the spell.
And it was also what got your fathers blessing for your marriage.
Well, as simple as royals could get.
A simple dress. A simple church.
And the promise of simply forever.
And you lived happily ever after.
