Lamps and Lies

by Laura Greenwood

  Blissfully, we move away from one another through the steps of the dance, which gets me out of trouble for now. Hopefully, I can hold my thoughts together for long enough to finish the dance so I can put some much-needed distance between the two of us. The closer we are together, the more likely I am to do something others would deem inappropriate.

  An arch of dancers form, and we join the back of it. One by one, couples run down the middle of it and join up again at the back. It's a lot of fun, and laughter fills the air as each pair of students makes their way through the dancers. I'm not sure who it was that imagined putting a step like this into a dance was a good idea, but I'm glad of it for people like me who don't have much dancing experience.

  Enver tugs on my hand and pulls me to the centre of the arch when it's our turn.

  "Ready?" he asks.

  "When you are," I respond, not even trying to keep the laughter out of my voice. I'm having fun and I want him to know that.

  With my free hand, I bunch up a section of my dress so it doesn't trail on the floor or tangle with my legs. Now I'm starting to understand why the other girls have such wide skirts after all, it keeps them from tipping over them while they're dancing. From what the genie tells me about our region, dancing is more of a thing to watch than a thing to do, so dresses aren't generally designed for such movements.

  Enver and I start our run, though it's more of a skip and a shuffle. Would this be easier in heeled shoes rather than the slippers I'm wearing? There's nothing I can do about it either way now. Maybe next time there's a dance I can make my way into town and buy myself a pair to try out.

  Once we get to the end of the arch of dancers, Enver pulls me away instead of joining the end once more.

  "What are we doing?" I ask, a laugh bubbling up inside me.

  "Somewhere private." He tugs me into an alcove. It's away from the other students, but if someone looks for us, then they'll find us easily enough. The perfect place for a stolen moment.

  "Why?"

  We're close together. Almost as close as when we were dancing. My breath catches in my throat as I consider the danger the two of us are to one another. It was hard enough resisting a kiss when we were on the dancefloor, but now we're even closer, it's going to be even harder.

  I have to at least try and resist. For both of our sakes.

  "I want to kiss you," he whispers. "But only if you say yes."

  My denial sticks in my throat, not wanting to be let out, even if I know it should be.

  Enver dips his head, but it isn't soon enough to hide the hurt which flashes over his features. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have presumed you feel the same way I do."

  He starts to step away, but I reach out and catch hold of his arm.

  "I do," I whisper.

  His face lights up as he closes the gap between us. "Is that a yes?"

  I lick my lips. "Yes."

  The fact I know I shouldn't only spurs me on to want it more.

  Enver reaches out and tentatively touches my waist. Excitement thrums through me at thought of what's to come. I've never been kissed before, and a small part of me can't believe that the first time is going to be with a Prince.

  I close my eyes and wait.

  Enver's lips meet mine and it's everything I want it to be. I melt into him, transported into another world by the closeness I feel towards him.

  His hand cups my cheek. I rest mine on his chest. The academy could burn to the ground around us and I wouldn't notice right now. I'm too lost in everything that is him.

  Chapter Eight

  I sigh, enjoying the day and lost in my memories of the ball. I couldn't have planned a more perfect night if I'd tried. Everything about it had been magical, and if I could live it over and over, then I would do. The only thing that could make it better is if Enver turns up now. But I know he won't. He has classes until mid-afternoon, and can only join me for the final meal of the day.

  Nothing can spoil my day. Especially since they're serving my favourite soup for lunch.

  Fatin drops down onto the chair bench beside me.

  Ah. Turns out I'm wrong. Something can ruin my day.

  "I have a plan," she announces when I don't say anything. Apparently, my silence isn't an indication that I don't want to talk.

  I eat a spoonful of my soup before responding to her, hoping that I can work out what she's talking about in the process. "What kind of plan?" I ask eventually.

  "To get power."

  "I thought you were going to win a Prince to get that?" I ask, paying more attention to my soup than to her. I don't want to be having this conversation. I get that she wants to be the kind of woman with her fingers in all the pies, but I don't get the impression she wants to gain that power in a legitimate way.

  "Yes, and I'd hoped to somehow convince Enver that he wanted me, but he doesn't seem interested in anyone but you."

  "Hmm." I want to be able to tell her that Enver and I are just friends, but after the kiss at the ball, I don't think that's true any more. Nor do I want it to be.

  "So what's the new plan?" I ask, mostly because I'm genuinely curious. If there's something that could secure my life so I never have to tell Enver I'm not a real princess, then that's something I want to do.

  A thread of guilt flows through me at the idea of lying to him for the rest of our lives, but I'm not sure what other option I have. The more I fall for him, the harder it's going to get to tell him the truth. Even if I want to blurt it out every time I see him, I know I can't. I need to find the right words.

  "Have you heard of genies?" she asks.

  "The magical beings?"

  My blood turns to ice in my veins and I barely hold myself back from twisting the ring around my finger. There's no way she can know about the genie in my ring, right? I haven't told or shown anyone. Maybe one of the servants heard us talking in my room?

  I dismiss the notion. We're careful, and the genie is too powerful to be caught because of a tiny bit of accidental snooping. If she knows about my ring, then it can only be because she's seen or heard about one before. There's no way it can be anything else.

  "Yes, the magical beings. I think one of those could be the answer to my little power problem." She crosses her arms triumphantly.

  My soup sits forgotten in front of me. My appetite has been chased away by the conversation. Which is saying something. Since coming to Grimm, I've been enjoying having regular meals far too much to waste any of the food I'm offered. Though at first, I wasn't able to eat a full portion as it was too rich.

  "Where are you even going to get one from?" I ask. "Aren't they incredibly rare?"

  She sighs dramatically. "That is part of the problem. There's only one in the entire school."

  Don't panic. There's no need to panic, she can't possibly know.

  I take a deep breath and remind myself there's absolutely no way Fatin has found out about the ring.

  The urge to touch it is almost too strong, but I resist. Especially right now, I don't want to draw extra attention to it in case she does know. If she does, then she'd probably have tried to steal it already. She's the kind of person who would do that.

  Of all my reassurances, that one works the best, and I finally feel calm enough to ask the question she's no doubt expecting.

  "Where?" My voice comes out as a croak. I hope she takes the tone as intrigue and not the concern it is.

  "The Headmistress' office. I saw it during a meeting with her and Father, but I had no idea what it was at the time. It's kept under lock and key in the cabinet behind her desk."

  I have to think through what she's said a couple of times before I realise she truly has no idea about the genie in the ring. Relief rushes through me. At least I don't have to come up with a way to convince her the ring isn't as powerful as it is.

  "How are you going to get it?" And why is she telling me this? "I don't think asking for it will work."

  She gives a sharp laugh. "Of course it won't. I'm not stupid enough to
tell the Headmistress what I want to do. I'm going to steal it."

  I frown at her, desperate to do something with my hands. It's only then that I remember my soup. I can't waste it. Slowly, I take another mouthful of soup. It's cooled a little in the time she's been talking, but it's still tasty.

  "You want to steal from the Headmistress?" I ask after swallowing my mouthful.

  It's a bold move, that's for certain on her part, but that doesn't mean it can't work. Maybe I shouldn't be asking her more about her plan so I can claim that I don't know anything if she gets caught, but I have to admit that I'm intrigued about the prospect of another genie in the academy. Maybe he or she will know how I can set the genie of the ring free. After that, I can work on setting that genie free too. Unless they want to be one.

  "Of course not. You're going to steal it from the Headmistress." There's a note of satisfaction in her voice that worries me. Why is she so certain I'll do this for her?

  "I don't think so," I respond. "I don't have the right skill set."

  "Oh, you are going to do it," she says darkly. "Or everyone is going to learn your secret."

  The blood drains from my face, and I freeze, staring at her. How has she worked it out? As far as I'm aware, I've been careful to cover everything up, and I practice with the genie so I have the right mannerisms and etiquette.

  "Got you," she hisses, a twisted smile playing over her lips. "Your secret must be pretty bad for you to react so visibly." She crosses her arm, looking like satisfaction personified.

  "I don't know what you're talking about." My words are weak, even to my own ears.

  "I think you do, Alyeesah, and I have a good idea of what that secret is. And it won't even matter if I get the secret right. I'll make something up so that people look into you. There's nothing you can do to stop everything you're hiding being aired and gaining the punishment they receive." She pauses to let that sink in. "I wonder what Prince Enver will think of you when he learns you're nothing more than a liar."

  I swallow the lump in my throat. She's got me, and she knows it. I should have been more suspicious when she started talking to me more, especially when she started off by being kind of nice. She's not the kind of girl who does anything without an agenda, and I've known that since I first met her.

  And she's right. There's nothing I can do to stop her. If it comes out that I have a secret, people will start talking about it, and, sooner or later, the questions will begin. I might be able to hold suspicion at bay for a while, but as soon as someone asks the right question, I'll be in deep trouble.

  I have to stop delaying and tell Enver the truth about me. If I don't, then he's going to find out some other way. I don't trust that Fatin won't spill my secret anyway. Or that she won't keep using it against me until I get caught. Neither of those are how I want Enver to find out the truth.

  "Fine. What do you want me to do?" I grit my teeth together in distaste. I can't believe I'm considering this, but knowing I really don't have a choice.

  "That's up to you. I want that lamp. And I want it by the end of the week. How you get it is up to you." She shrugs as if it really isn't any of her concern.

  "I'm sorry, you don't have any kind of plan at all?" I can't believe what I'm hearing. Or maybe I can. She seems a little crazy.

  "That's your problem. I've told you what will happen if you fail. It's up to you to do the rest." She gets up without saying anything else and walks away.

  Right. Now what do I do? I can't just waltz into the Headmistress' office and pick up the lamp. I shouldn't have used my second wish on a dress, or I could have used it for this and made life easier for myself. I'm going to have to do some serious planning or I'm not going to be able to pull this off. And I can't ask the genie for help or he'll suggest I use my third wish, which I don't want to do.

  I push my soup away, having lost all desire to eat at all. I want this over and done with before it ruins my entire life.

  Chapter Nine

  The setting sun shines over the trees of the forest on the Grimm grounds, illuminating the grounds in the most beautiful way. I take in the sight and let out a soft sigh. It's so different from the way the sun sets back home, but it's just as beautiful. I wonder what the sun will be like wherever I end up after the academy.

  My thoughts sour as I realise there's a chance I'll never see the sun again if all of this goes wrong. I bite my lip in an attempt to stop the tears which are threatening to fall. I hate this. I thought pretending to be a Princess would be an easy way to make my life better. I thought it would be as simple as turning up and nodding at a few people until I found someone to care for.

  I suppose I managed the last one, but it's complicated things rather than made them easier.

  Can the genie turn back time? He's never explicitly said he can't, but he did say that he can't raise the dead, and that's something he'd probably have to do if he turned back time. I guess there's no going back to before I met Enver and undoing all the lies I've told.

  Which means I have to tell him about everything.

  Gravel crunching announces someone approaching from the path behind. I'm on my feet within seconds and turning to find Enver striding towards me.

  My heart skips a beat at the sight of him, even while I'm struggling with what I need to tell him about myself. The early evening sunlight bounces off his dark hair, illuminating his features and making him appear even more handsome than I've ever seen him before.

  Why have I done this to myself? I'm going to end up hurting us both at the same time, which is the last thing I want to do.

  "Sorry, I got caught up in class," Enver says as he reaches me.

  He kisses my cheek in greeting, then pulls back. I touch my fingers to the spot he kissed, still feeling the echo of it there.

  "That's all right," I assure him. "I've just been sitting here and thinking."

  "About anything important?" he prompts, taking a seat on the bench I just vacated.

  I take a deep breath and sit down next to him, making sure to keep a little extra space between us so I can keep a clear head. It's now or never, I can't back out. "Actually, yes. There's something I need to talk to you about."

  "I think I know what you're going to say," he admits.

  He does? How has he worked out that I'm not who I say I am? I don't think I've given it away while we've been together, but if Fatin worked it out, then perhaps I'm simply not as good at hiding things as I think I am.

  "And you're right, we do need to talk about it." He sounds so serious.

  I nod, then wait for him to carry on. I know it's cowardly of me to want him to be the one who brings up such a sensitive subject, but I've never told anyone about it before, and if I'm honest with myself, I'm a bit lost for what to say.

  "I should have brought this up before the ball, and I'm sorry I didn't. It's not fair to you."

  Wait, what? The ball? Why wouldn't it be fair to me to out my lies? I'm the one who has been deceiving him, not the other way around. I'm too stunned to say anything else, so simply sit there in silence.

  "I want to make my intentions clear to you, in words as well as in actions. You deserve a lot more transparency than I've given you."

  "Oh."

  "I wish to court you, Alyeesah. I've never felt the way I do about you around anyone else I've ever met, and I want to spend even more with you in the future. I don't know if you need me to ask the permission of your Father before I formally court you..."

  "No," I blurt. "There's no need for that."

  He chuckles and rubs the back of his neck. "Good, because I will admit to feeling a bit nervous about that part. I've never told a King I want to court his daughter before."

  And you won't.

  I suppose I could tell him to write a letter and then pretend to take it to my non-existent Father, then write a reply giving him permission, but I can't get myself more entrenched in this lie. It's time for it to end. Maybe not to the world as a whole, but to Enver, it has to.


  "There's something I need to tell you too," I say before I can chicken out. I need to get this out in the open. I'm sure he'll be angry about it, but we can work through that, I'm sure of it.

  "I hope it isn't that you're betrothed to someone else," he half-jokes, but I can hear the thread of seriousness in his voice.

  I laugh uneasily. "I'm fairly certain I'm not."

  "Than what is it?" The earnestness in his eyes makes it even more difficult to say the words.

  "I..."

  "Alyeesah, there you are!" Fatin calls, hurrying towards me.

  I close my eyes and take a deep breath. "I can't escape her, can I?" I whisper.

  "Sorry, I don't think so," Enver responds.

  I sigh, then turn to face the other girl. "Is everything all right?" I ask through gritted teeth. She's not the person I want to see right now.

  Or ever, if I'm honest.

  "Prince Enver is needed back at the palace. I said I'd come find him because I wanted to talk to you too, and I knew the two of you would be together."

  I scowl. She's trying to make life worse for me. It's bad enough that she's trying to blackmail me, but now she's actively trying to make things difficult.

  Enver sighs. "I'll see you later?" he checks with me.

  I nod.

  He hesitates for a moment, as if he wants to lean in for another kiss, but decides against it in front of Fatin. It's a wise decision, I don't know what she'd do if he showed me so much affection.

  I watch him leave, sad to see my ally leave me.

  "What do you want, Fatin?" I snap once I'm sure he's out of earshot.

  A twisted smile spreads over her face. "Oh, nothing. I just saw you out here and wanted to remind you about your mission."

  "Consider me reminded."

  I don't wait for her to taunt me again, and walk off. I'm going to steal the lamp tonight. I don't want to drag this out any longer than I have to.

  Chapter Ten