Gabe gritted his jaw and I watched the muscles in his face clench and release. “I can’t talk about this right now. Why don’t you ditch your new boyfriend and then maybe I’ll believe you’re actually sad about me leaving.”
I was shocked. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.” I turned away, wishing I could make myself disappear. I knew Gabe wasn’t supposed to be around me. It was like a commandment from the Man upstairs or something. “Stupid chayot rules.”
Gabe’s shoulders slouched and I realized he was suffering as much as I was. “Can we go somewhere? Talk privately?”
I wanted to say yes. I missed him. Terribly. Missed the way my body reacted to his touch. Missed our time together. But there was Leo, and Polly, and Mizrabel, and Quilla, and a whole world that needed saving. I belonged to their world. They believed I could help save Polonias. I wouldn’t let them down.
“Maybe another time.” I took his hands in mine and squeezed, hoping he would ask about me, that he would take an interest in what I was doing. “There’s something I’m looking for: a glass lyre. Ever heard of it?”
Gabe snorted. “Of course.” His eyes darkened again and he glanced back at Leo. “It’s said that possessing it will give the owner untold power.”
“Do you know where it is?” I asked expectantly and found myself leaning toward him, desperate for his nearness.
“No.” He shook his head. “Maybe you should ask the false prince to tell you why he’s lying.”
I was confused. “Lying?” I glanced at Leo and noticed his face turning a deep shade of purple. What surprised me more was it seemed even Gabe knew of Leo, and I wanted to ask him how he knew, what he knew…
“Shut up,” Leo shouted, interrupting my thoughts. “If I’m a false prince that makes you a pretend angel. You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Leo was so mad his entire body shook.
Holy merde, I thought.
“Are you lying?” I asked tentatively, taking a step toward Leo.
“What would I have to lie about?” Leo responded through clenched teeth.
“I don’t know.” I shrugged. “You tell me.” My eyes kept going back and forth between the two men and I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for myself. I knew as soon as I thought those thoughts that I was being an idiot, but the feelings wouldn’t go away.
Gabe walked past Leo, shoved him, and pushed back the curtains. “The glass lyre is more of a who than a what.” He pushed up the windowpane and stepped over the sill so he straddled it. His eyes found mine. “Leo knows that.” Without another word Gabe stepped onto the roof, snapped into the sky like a whip, and was gone.
“Gabe,” I whispered. He kept leaving me. I didn’t like it.
The Glass Lyre
Leo came up behind me and touched my shoulder. I shrank away, repelled at having someone other than Gabe touch my body. I was still mad at Gabe. I was furious at Leo.
Stupid boys.
“Is it true? The glass lyre is a person?” I asked the question but already knew the answer. Gabe had no reason to lie.
Leo walked toward my bed and sat on the edge. He stared ahead, seemingly someplace else. “I’d hoped to wait until we found it… him-her.”
I growled. “Well which is it? An it, a him or a her?” The words came out clipped, sarcastic—my way of dealing with things I didn’t understand or was afraid of. Also, I was tired of the crap and wanted to sleep.
So tired.
A spell from The Eye of Abernathy flitted off my lips. “Bohemia. Coverith. Irreavilth.”
“Why’d you do that?” Leo sounded frustrated, but he looked as tired as I felt.
I pulled back my covers, flopped on the bed, and turned away from him.
“Cinderella?”
I sighed heavily. “I’m exhausted and I don’t want my parents or a maid to catch me in here, although that might not be a bad thing. It’s hard to know what’s the truth and what’s a lie with you.” I knew it was a cut, but I didn’t care. My world had been flipped upside down and I wasn’t sure how to deal. “Sleep next to me if you want, but don’t try anything.”
He didn’t respond, but I knew he’d heard me so I took a deep breath. “Night, Leo.”
I heard first one and then the other of his shoes hit the floor. He lay down and adjusted the pillow. After several minutes, his breathing deepened. I waited another couple of hours until I was sure Leo slept. Quietly I went to the window.
One moon—the Earth’s moon—hung full in the distance. Thousands of stars twinkled against the dark night sky. Puffs of smoke billowed from random fireplaces like dancing phantoms. Below were a pool and a tennis court in my yard —both lit. They didn’t seem to fit in with the smoky apparitions. On either side stood tall trees that led to the forest beyond.
My home, I thought, nostalgia creeping over my skin like tiny spiders.
“Tivia Revella.” The window opened and I slid through. Out on the roof I focused and spoke the word that would allow me to travel the way Leo did.
I floated off the roof, nervous but determined. The scent of chlorine, smoke, pine, exhaust, and cigarette smoke swirled in the air. I skimmed along the ground, past and through fences and trees, down streets, through random houses and garages, even a bookstore until I reached Professor Pops’ house.
But I didn’t stop there. Without a second thought, I went through the front door, past the kitchen, and down the stairs to the basement. The door at the bottom was closed but I went through it into the enormous room filled with stuffed or waxed or… whatever figures.
It was the Museum of the Supernatural. Snow had told me all about it more than once and I’d seen it myself the night I rescued Snow’s mom and brought her here with Professor Pops and a few of the brothers, when we all still believed Dorian was dead.
I went past the waxed vampire, werewolf, fairy, and troll, each enclosed in their own casing, and over to the wall where the secret stairs were located. It looked like an ordinary wall. Flat. Painted a light cream. A picture of a seaside landscape hung in the center, but I knew it was all a mirage. I went through it and floated down the stairs and into the secret room.
“Illuminous.” At the word a blue light appeared over my head. “Lithlia.” The light rose toward the ceiling and got brighter. The room was the same as the last time I’d been in here, complete with a TV, a bean bag chair and the hole where Snow and Dorian slid down the twisty slide. There were shelves on either side of the TV filled with movies, statues, a potted plant that needed to be watered… and a glass lyre.
“Really?” I walked over. The light followed, causing the beautiful instrument to sparkle. It was the height of a hardbound book and a bit wider. I picked it up. The glass was smooth and actually heavier than I thought it’d be. “I thought you were supposed to be a who,” I said softly, brushing my fingers against the long thin strings. It didn’t make any noise, just shone soundlessly. “This can’t be right.” I spun in a circle, at a loss about what to do next. Had Gabe lied? Or maybe this wasn’t the glass lyre I was looking for. Maybe it was just a coincidence. It seemed too easy. Gabe would’ve had to know if it was down here, and if he had, why didn’t he tell me, or use the power it supposedly contained for himself?
Dozens of questions thumped inside my head, making it hurt. Or I was just tired. The bean bag chair looked way too comfortable, and my head hurt way too much. So I did the most logical thing possible—I sat down on it. The soft material hugged my body like a supple blanket.
It felt wonderful.
And I realized that for the first time in a long time I felt safe. No one knew where I was. Closing my eyes, I allowed my mind to wander over the past several weeks. The time I’d spent in Polonias with Leo, Quilla and Polly. Meeting Leo’s father. Wandering their old castle filled with tapestries, large paintings, and fireplaces bigger than an SUV. My mind went to the painting above the fireplace in the main sitting room. I’d only been in there twice, but I’d walked past it every day on my way to t
he kitchen.
The painting was of a family: a man, a woman, and two sons. The woman and sons smiled, but the father kept his face stoic. On his head he wore a large gold crown, as did the woman. I guessed it had to be the King and Queen. There was something familiar about the boys, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. Was it their eyes, the way they wore their hair? Perhaps it was the clothes. Exactly the same, right down to the boots…
Twins
I dreamt of dancing clowns, their faces covered in white paint, red Styrofoam pinched on their noses. Orange curly hair bobbed on their heads. They wore white one-piece suits with various colored polka dots and they rode a unicycle, one clown doing the pedaling while the others sat atop his shoulders. There were hundreds of them rising toward the ceiling. I looked up, trying to see the top, and a huge clown face appeared, its evil black eyes glaring.
He opened his mouth and said something, but I didn’t understand the words. Over and over he repeated the same thing. I could tell by the way his mouth moved, but there wasn’t any sound.
I shouted for him to tell me again, keeping my eyes on the cycling clowns, but no matter how hard I listened, I couldn’t hear the words. The movements of the clown pedaling the unicycle became more sporadic until it seemed he was trying to run me over. As one their faces watched me, staring. Noises came from their mouths, like a thousand buzzing wasps, but I couldn’t make out what they said. Finally I couldn’t take it any longer and covered my ears.
One voice cut through the sounds of the others and I heard it as clearly as though I’d spoken it…
“They’re twins,” I whisper-shouted, sitting straight up.
I was still in the secret room. The blue light continued to shine overhead, bathing everything in its peculiar glow. The glass lyre rested on my lap. I had no idea what time it was or how long I’d been asleep. Grabbing the lyre, I rose and was about to put the instrument back on the shelf when something shimmered in the glass.
It scared me so badly I nearly let go. Instead I took a deep breath and peered closer, figuring it was just a shadow cast by the magical light I’d conjured.
“What the—” There was definitely movement inside the glass and I was about to use magic to figure out what was going on when I heard noises on the stairs. Males. They sound irritated. Before they opened the door I quickly pulled a book from a row on an upper shelf, stuffed the lyre behind it, and slid the book back. Then I dove for the bean bag chair and acted asleep.
Keys jingled and the door opened.
I rubbed my eyes, pretending to wake up, and glanced sleepily at Professor Pops, Gabe, and Leo. They stood in the doorway, various forms of shock and surprise and irritation spread across their features.
Gabe, my mind screamed, happy to see him again so soon. My heart started pounding. He looked amazing, if a little disheveled. He studied me shrewdly.
Professor Pops came forward and helped me stand. “Hello, Cindy. Have a nice sleep?” I felt an overwhelming calm. He looked the same. Tan pants and a button up shirt with a thick camel sweater over it. Chocolate patches covered the elbows and he had reading glasses in the pocket.
“Hi Pops,” I said, unable to take my eyes off Gabe.
Leo stepped in front of Gabe. His features were angry. “I woke and you were gone. I figured I’d find you here.” He crossed his arms.
Gabe stepped in front of Leo. “Cindy, I’ve been so worried.” Relief radiated from his face. It was obvious he was concerned, but it was his own damn fault. He lost his right to worry when he told me he didn’t love me anymore. He couldn’t expect me sit around and sulk, even though maybe that’d been what I wanted to do.
“What are you doing? Don’t you have magical creatures to save?” I asked sarcastically.
“Ha. Ha. I didn’t ask for this job. I didn’t’ want it. I can’t believe you thought—”
Leo interrupted. “We don’t have time for this. Cinderella, did you find the glass lyre?” He searched the room, looking along the shelves. I held my breath. He had magic and I wondered if he’d be able to sense the lyre. After he spun in a circle, he stopped. “There’s nothing in here.”
Professor Pops gave me a strange look and I knew immediately he’d seen the lyre down here before and knew it should’ve been in there with us. I gave the slightest shake to my head. He seemed to get my meaning and didn’t say anything.
“Mr. Henry, are there any other secret passages in your house? Any other rooms that might hold the glass lyre?” Leo walked over to the exit where the slide ended and looked inside. “What about up there? What’s at the other end of this?”
Gabe responded. “That’s the library. There isn’t a glass anything in that room. It’s filled with old books, a map of the world, and stubborn dust.”
Professor Pops patted Gabe on the arm. “It’s okay. We should let Leo look, verify for himself. Who knows? He might find something we missed.”
Gabe gave him an odd look. “Did you want me to take you up?” he asked Leo.
“That would be great. Thanks.”
The two of them went to the stairs. “You coming, Cinderella?” Leo asked.
“I’ll catch up with you in a few. I need to talk to Professor Pops alone.” As Leo and Gabe went up the stairs, I watched, feeling a deep sadness settle in my stomach.
When they reached the top, I went to the bookshelves, moved the book, and pulled out the lyre.
“I knew you’d seen it. Why didn’t you tell Leo?” Professor Pops asked. He wore a peculiar expression as though he was asking a question but he already knew the answer.
I shrugged. “I intended to, but something held me back.” I handed him the lyre. “I thought I saw something… or someone inside the glass.”
“Really?” He gave me a weird look and flipped the lyre over, trying to see something inside.
As he moved it I saw a face inside. “There!” I shouted and then lowered my voice. “Did you see? It looked like a guy.” He looked like Leo, but that couldn’t be right.
Professor Pops flipped it over. “No, I didn’t see anything.”
I took the lyre back. “Gabe told me the lyre was a person, not a thing.” I looked at the lyre more closely. “I swear I saw the face of a man.” The words of a spell came to mind. I opened my mouth to speak but Leo’s voice shouted down the stairs.
“Cinderella, there was nothing in the library. Shall we go?”
I quickly tucked the lyre back behind the books. This time I knew I’d felt emotions radiating from the lyre—up through the glass and into my fingers. They were anger and fear. For some reason the lyre didn’t want Leo to find “it.”
“Please don’t say anything, Mr. Henry.”
“I understand.” He seemed to be holding back something.
I walked over to the stairs and waved. Turned back to Professor Pops. “I may be back.” I lowered my voice, “If I can sneak away.”
He nodded. “That’ll be fine, Cindy.”
Leo
When I reached the top of the stairs, I gave Gabe a sideways look. “Leo, can I meet you later?”
It was obvious Gabe wanted to talk, but he seemed surprised when I said his name.
Leo became angry, but shrugged. “Sure. Whatever.” He opened the front door and vanished.
Professor Pops cleared his throat. “I’ve got some work to get done. If you need me, I’ll be in my office.”
“Thanks Professor Pops,” I said, giving him a quick squeeze.
“Of course.”
After he turned the corner, Gabe came forward and wrapped me in a hug. “I hoped I’d see you again.”
I held onto him, snuggled, and tried to forget everything he said to me that night not so long ago. But I couldn’t. I stiffened. “You look good. Leading suits you.” I stepped back. “But has anything changed? Did you change your mind again? Now you love me?” My voice was laced with disdain and, as happy as I was to see him, I knew there were residual feelings because the sad truth was I did still love him. But I cou
ldn’t go through his rejection again.
Gabe’s jaw dropped. He quickly recovered, gritting his teeth together. He leaned in and pushed a strand of hair behind by ear. His touch sent a wave of longing through me. “I thought you had more faith in me, Cin,” he whispered softly.
Before I could respond he turned on his heel and walked away.
I pushed down a cry, willing myself to stay strong. When I heard the door in the kitchen slam shut, I jumped. That conversation had gone faster than I thought it would. The lyre seemed to be calling, so I ran back down the stairs into the not-so-secret room and closed the door, locking it.
Removing the book, I pulled the lyre from its hiding spot.
The words to a spell entered my mind. “Forathua. Escapa. Revealantha. Fortimbrania.” The lyre began to shake. It left my hands and floated into the air. The shaking got faster and faster until it became a whirling blur.
“What in the…”
There was a twinkle of light and then it disappeared.
I gasped.
Because in its place stood a guy, and he looked just like Leo.
“Leo?” I said his name even though I couldn’t believe it was true.
He straightened. “How do you know my name?”
It was then that I realized he looked like Leo—kind of. This guy was thinner, his cheeks hollow. His clothes hung ragged from his body, as though he hadn’t eaten a good meal in a really long time. His hair was much longer than Leo’s and his hazel eyes were more golden around the outer rim.
“You’re not Leo, but you look like him.” I took a step toward him. Wow, he smelled terrible. “Yuck,” I said, pinching my nose.
He smirked. “Let’s see how you smell after four years stuck in limbo.”
“Limbo?”
“That’s right.” He rolled back his shoulders and stuck out his hand. “My name is Leo Loyalor. Thank you for saving me, Miss… what’s your name?”
I waved his hand away. “My name is Cindy, but you can’t be Leo. I’ve been hanging out with Leo.” I scrunched my eyes. “Admittedly, you look a lot like him.”
The Cindy Chronicles: The Complete Set Page 9
