by Casey Lane
They laughed together and slammed several more casks into the place. Kiyara let out a small breath and regretted the noise she made.
"You know, we could always push the shipment one night. Try to get a last second ticket and dance with any maidens Prince Braedon rejects. What do you think?"
Kiyara gripped the nearest barrel with her fingers.
The other man scoffed. “We have about as much of a chance of getting into that ball as this ship has flying to the moon. And looking at that face of yours makes me think that the moon has a much higher chance."
The two of them roared with laughter and slammed the door behind them.
Kiyara let herself breathe normally again. “It's leaving tonight. This ship is leaving tonight and you're going to be okay."
The time seemed to creep by incredibly slowly. She noticed the gentle shifting of the boat beneath her and timed her breath to it. Everything in her world stood still until the boat lurched to life. She wasn't sure how long she held her breath, but when she finally took in air again, she knew the ship was moving.
Tears welled in her eyes as she hoped it would continue for years until she'd gotten away from a life she hated. From a life she'd never chosen in the first place. It was at the peak of her hope that the boat came to a complete stop. Over the sounds of the water that leapt across the sides of the ship, she heard a scream. And then another. Her heart leapt at each one. After their voices died down, silence painted everything.
Kiyara tucked her head between her knees and started to rock. She only stopped when the door to the storage room opened. Malina's sickly sweet scent was apparent immediately. She could almost hear the smile upon her sister's face.
"I know you're in there, Kiyara. I can smell you, too.” Her laugh echoed ominously throughout the room. “She's in here, Mother."
Heavy footsteps wandered into the room and a light glow illuminated everything. Kiyara knew her efforts had been for nothing. She stood up and watched her family come into view.
Armenia shook her head. “Since when did my obedient little flower become so insolent?"
"I'm sorry, Mother."
"Do you know how much power I had to expend to find you? If I hadn't dined on the blacksmith's heart today, I might've run out. You know that I'm saving up everything for the ball."
Kiyara nodded. “I know."
Armenia's hand glowed a bright red. Her lips curled into a smile. “The biggest surprise is that the prince actually seems to like you."
Malina crossed her arms, revealing a bandage caked with blood upon one of her forearms.
Kiyara stuttered. “I– I don't think he likes me. Of course, he likes Malina much better."
Armenia put her hand around Kiyara's lower back.
"Don't be modest, my dear, sweet flower.” Her hand began to grow hot on Kiyara's skin. “Your approach was a little more effective."
Malina scowled. “He'll change his tune. Just wait until he sees me in that dress."
Kiyara felt her mother's hand growing hotter.
Armenia pressed her hand deeper into the flesh. “Regardless of who he chooses, our plan won't work if you're in another kingdom."
Kiyara wanted to scream out in pain as the burn began to form on her lower back. “I'm sorry, Mother. I promise I won't do it again."
Armenia let her hand linger upon her daughter's back for a moment or two longer before withdrawing.
Kiyara almost collapsed but kept herself upright by grabbing one of the barrels. “Thank you. Thank you."
Her mother admired her handiwork, a perfectly tattooed handprint right on her daughter's back. “I believe you. Let's just not get into any more trouble, shall we?"
Kiyara nodded and grimaced as the air made her skin burn.
Malina wrinkled her nose. “Can we get out of here? It's starting to smell like rotten fish and dead bodies."
Armenia grabbed Kiyara's shoulder so abruptly that the girl forgot how to breathe.
Armenia's red eyes stared straight into hers. “You will obey me, Daughter. Or I will burn your stepsister Cinderella to death in her sleep."
Kiyara got the message loud and clear.
Chapter 25
The thief and the blacksmith's daughter walked quietly through the night. The blood in Cinderella's veins continued to pulse quickly, though more from the conversation with the prince than from her fight with the grotesque demon. She wished the prince were right in front of her and that she could punch him in the face for wanting to bring innocents into this magical battle. But she knew that Hannah had seen enough tonight. The thief shook off her annoyance and focused her attention back on the blacksmith's daughter.
"It's going to be okay."
Hannah sniffled. “It doesn't sound like you believe that."
Cinderella huffed and remembered a day when she could convince Tristan's daughter of anything. “You're right. I'm not convinced. But I'm not so sure that what I believe matters anymore."
Hannah looked up at her with wide, brown, watery eyes. “What do you mean?"
Cinderella turned them down a dim alley. “I thought for a long time that my father had forgotten how to love me. That he chose not to love me anymore. Now with these demons and fires and magical swords, I'm not sure if I was right.” The thief reached her destination and knelt down on one knee. “But I can be sure that the Godmother and I are going to take very good care of you until we figure out what's going on."
Hannah took in a deep breath. “Does that mean my dad is going to love me again?"
The thief looked up and wondered how often her late mother had to answer tough questions like this when Cinderella was a child. “For a long time, I would've said no. But now, I'm changing my answer to ‘I hope so.’"
The Godmother appeared at the entryway to her house and Hannah ran into her outstretched arms. The little girl had been on the verge of tears since they left Tristan's home. It was as if she didn't want the thief to see her crying. Now she let it all loose.
Cinderella stayed on the ground and looked into her mentor's eyes. There was sympathy there, but also a sense of determination. The Godmother didn't seem like she'd be satisfied by picking up the pieces. Like Cinderella, she probably wanted revenge, too.
"I heard about what happened."
Cinderella shook her head. “Of course you did.” She touched the hilt of the red-jeweled sword. “How did you know this would protect me?"
The Godmother almost smiled. “It's one part of a puzzle that only you can put together. I think you already know where to find the next piece.” She looked up and Cinderella followed her gaze.
Circling in the air and looking quite impatient was the golden bird from her past, her present, and perhaps the future salvation of the kingdom.
Cinderella stood. “Are you truly as in the dark as I am, or do you know how this all ends and you're just toying with me?"
The Godmother stroked the back of Hannah's head. “Some answers work best when you find them out on your own. I'm going to take her to bed."
Cinderella smirked. “And I guess I'm going bird-watching."
The thief was thankful for the bird's quick pace, which forced her to run at almost top speed, keeping most of her thoughts at bay. Every time it seemed that the prince or Kiyara came into her mind, the golden bird made a sudden jerk left or right, and Cinderella was forced to drop all of her worries to quickly change her direction. Her legs started to burn from the strain, and she loved how strong the sheer amount of effort she put in made her feel.
The bird took Cinderella out of the village proper and past a small network of canopied forests. Small woodland creatures scampered away as she went by.
Soon enough, the bird rested above the mouth of a large, deep cave. The golden creature mercifully let Cinderella catch her breath and stretch out her legs after testing her endurance. The rapid beating of her heart and full exertion of her limbs only allowed for trickles of Tristan the blacksmith, Prince Braedon, and Kiyara to enter her mind.
As she examined the lip of the cave, she realized the Godmother used to take her here for training runs in the dark. It was one of the ways she developed her near-perfect vision under the moonlight. After all, she learned to fight in the pitch black of the musty and slippery cave. While many travelers might require a lantern or other source of light to enter into the darkness, even a little light was more than enough for her.
But this time, Cinderella didn't just have night vision. She had a glowing golden bird to light the way.
The creature seemed to smile as it flew headlong into the gaping hole. Cinderella descended into the cavern and wondered how she'd suppressed this golden icon from her memory for so long. She'd never seen such a thing before her mother's death, and she hadn't seen it again until the last few nights. Either it was coincidence or something big was about to happen.
Cinderella had lost all track of time when the bird fluttered its wings and rested before a fork between two caves.
"You know which way you're going?"
The bird nodded so quickly and assertively that Cinderella knew it understood her words.
She shook her head. “Thank you for saving my life. Twice, I guess."
She'd never seen a bird smile until now.
"What am I going to find in here?"
The bird paused for a moment, as if trying to determine how to convey the upcoming danger. Then it made a motion with its wing as if pulling something out from its hip. When Cinderella mirrored the motion, she came right into contact with the hilt of the jeweled sword. When the bird nodded, Cinderella knew it was time to draw her weapon.
"I'm not sure how you understand me, or how you're doing what you're doing. But I hope you're not getting me killed tonight."
The bird was a little more solemn than the thief expected. Was the golden creature worried the thief wasn't up for the task? It portrayed no further trepidation as it left off its perch and chose the path to the right. Cinderella had no choice but to follow.
After what must've been an hour of silence in the cave, Cinderella was surprised to hear voices echoing through the cavern. The golden bird flew just high enough that it was able to illuminate all the way to one of the guards who stood watch.
But what is he watching?
The thief looked to the bird, who'd found a jagged rock to perch upon as it closed its wings and dulled its colors. Now the only light came from what seemed like a far-off lantern beyond the unsuspecting guard. But he wasn't the one talking.
Cinderella hid behind one of the folds of the cave and listened.
"I can't believe she has us stuck in here, so far away from the action. It's almost like she's punishing us or something."
A higher-pitched voice laughed. “I'm not surprised. I'd take one look at you and punish you as much as I could."
The thief heard the two men pushing each other as the first guard, who seemed to want nothing to do with the rabble, stayed completely silent.
Cinderella once again glanced up to the bird, whose body was pointed straight past the guards. The creature nodded intelligently for emphasis.
She sighed internally. “I guess this is the part where I trust the magical bird to lead me somewhere important.” She withdrew her red-jeweled sword. “I've had worse informants."
She looked up and returned the nod to the animal. Without a moment's hesitation, the bird let its wings fly loose and bask the entire cave in gold.
The guard in front who had an accent Cinderella didn't recognize turned back and shouted. “We need a net. The other twin is back."
When the foreigner turned around, Cinderella was right there to meet him. “Good evening."
The guard's eyes went wide as he tried to draw his sword from his scabbard, but the thief was much too quick for that. With one slice she ripped the sword from his hip and it clattered to the ground. With a sideways swing she clocked the guard in the side of his helmet. The sheer force of the blow sent him to the ground unconscious. The other two guards came running toward her. One of them had a net in his hand.
The high-pitched guard with a long wooden staff stopped and spoke first. “Who the heck are you?"
She tightened her grip on the hilt. “Loren Bird Preservation Society. I have a feeling you two are violating a few of our codes."
His grunt sounded like a teenage girl getting flustered, and he charged at her with his weapon.
She shook her head and timed her sword just right. The expert blade cut through his staff like butter. When it broke in two, the guard was so off-balance that the thief merely needed to stick out her foot for the man to trip over. He ended up with a face full of dust on the ground of the cave. Cinderella turned toward the guard with the net. She watched as he eyed the golden bird acting like an upper-class lantern in the corner.
The thief changed her grip and pulled the sword over her shoulder. “I don't think so."
With a mighty throw, Cinderella's sword zipped across the room and penetrated the guard's net. The throw was so strong that it wrenched the device from his hands and pinned the net to the wall, where it stuck in at least a foot deep.
The empty-handed guard cried out. “What are you doing?"
Cinderella shrugged. “Winning?"
The man rushed for her and she easily feinted both off-kilter punches. With lightning-quick speed, she took the man's head with both of her hands and brought it down to her knee. She felt his nose crunch from the impact.
The man yelped in pain and tried to stop the bleeding with his palm. Cinderella whipped her body around and kicked him in the side of the helmet. With a satisfying clank, the guard fell to the ground.
As Cinderella pulled her sword from the stone of the cave's wall, she heard a sound she was hoping to avoid. The golden bird flew down from its perch and landed on the thief's shoulder.
"That noise better not be what I think it is."
The bird seemed to form an apologetic gesture with its face. Cinderella crouched down in a stance of readiness, shifting her feet back and forth.
"What they're guarding better be worth it."
The sound of at least a dozen more guards approached, and the thief felt a smile taking over her face.
Chapter 26
Prince Braedon looked down at the bottom of another drink. Like the three he'd had before it, it was as empty as he felt. At least it numbed the pain from his shoddily patched shoulder wound. He placed the mug down on the counter, and the only thing that brought him out of his head was a mighty slap on the back from Falstone.
The gargantuan knight bellowed with laughter. “The only way through heartbreak, my boy, is to have about six more of those.” He gestured to the man behind the counter. “Three more of what he's having. Two for me and one for him."
The prince's head began to spin. It appeared that even two days without booze had made him a little more susceptible. “I don't think I should have any more."
Falstone's eyes grew large. “Blasphemy. Utter blasphemy, Your Royal Highness. My dearest friend, let me ask you something. Are you still sad?"
Braedon thought back to the burning building and the deep, painful feeling that he wouldn't see Cinderella again. He'd never felt that way about any of the highborn ladies who had strutted their way around the castle. He'd never felt that way about any of the beautiful servants and other employees of the queen. And now he was drinking his way into oblivion because of a common thief.
The prince wanted to lie, but his face already betrayed his feelings. “Yes, Falstone. I am sad, and I appreciate you continuing to remind me."
"If you're sad, then you should obviously keep drinking. It's the only way to stop it."
The prince wasn't sure which gave him more of a headache, Falstone's loud voice or the drinks that were working their way through his brain and body. “I'm not sure if that's the prescription for me today."
Falstone let his meaty paw rest upon the prince's uninjured shoulder. “I'm not here to pressure you, my boy. If you don't want to drink, we can go paint t
he town red in plenty of other ways. Why, I know this brothel–"
Braedon shrugged Falstone's hand away. “Maybe I don't want to get my mind off her just yet."
Falstone chuckled softly. Then the laugh grew and grew in volume until the man's face was as red as Braedon had ever seen it. “He's in love. The prince is in love!” Falstone stood up and raised one of his new drinks into the air. “Everybody, my best friend is head over heels in love!"
The dozen or so patrons throughout the room, who were in various stages of intoxication, stood with their drinks in the same position and cheered.
The prince buried his face in his hands. “I am not in love, Falstone. I don't even know if this girl likes me back."
Falstone wrapped his arm around Braedon and pulled him in tight as if he were telling the prince a secret. “You are quite the catch, my boy. Why, if my thoughts weren't overcome by the beautiful bodies of women from sunrise to… well, the next sunrise, then I would even say you are handsome."
Braedon rolled his eyes. “Thanks, I guess."
"Plus, the fact that you're rich and powerful works in your favor. If this Cindy person doesn't see you in that way, then she's probably crazy."
Braedon looked away. “She's different. She might be crazy.” He shook his head. “And I yelled at her."
Falstone nodded. “We've all been there. When in the company of a fine lady, I've probably said more wrong things than right. Maybe only wrong things, and that's why I'm here with you.” He laughed uproariously once again and downed half of his drink in a single swig.
The prince tried to take in enough oxygen to shake the fog from his brain. “Maybe it's not even worth thinking about all of this. After all, there are demons running around town taking my mother's men out of the picture. What's the point of thinking about the future when some creature might slice your throat the next day?"
Falstone pulled at his beard and began to stroke it. “You have it all wrong, my boy. When it looks like the end is near, that is when you absolutely need to take action."
