“Dazzling,” I said.
Quilla smiled. “You’re dazzling, Cinderella.” She ran a finger along my mask. “Whether you’re the Heart or not.”
I blinked back sudden tears. “Thanks for saying that.”
“Twixit. It’s nothing. Now let’s get you to that party.”
Philippe
I stepped from my glorious carriage and touched down on the cobblestone road. All around me beautiful men and women of all races made their way toward the entrance of the castle. The men mostly wore black, white or navy tuxedos. Their masks were elephants, lions, and tigers. The women were much more lavishly clothed, their dresses extraordinary in color and design. Their masks were swans and peacocks, panthers and gazelles.
My heart raced with nervousness. I wasn’t sure of the exact reason, whether it was because I would see Leo again or because I was afraid he would reject me. I didn’t know.
When it was my turn to be presented, I pulled the invitation Quilla had given me from my wrist and handed it to the man at the door. He unrolled the parchment, looked it over, and announced:
“Lady Stephania of Silverbough.” He eyed me warily.
Everyone in the room turned.
I had a sudden urge to run away, but I resisted. This was for love. For Leo. I could do this.
Upbeat music played loudly, filling the vanilla scented air with beautiful sounds. I inhaled slightly and carefully maneuvered down the marbled steps into the ballroom. Everyone had gone back to his or her conversation and I relaxed a little.
Until I saw him.
Leo Loyalor. King of Polonias. My brief husband, lover, and, I’d thought, friend.
He was seated on a filigree-edged golden throne. Where everyone else had on a mask, he didn’t wear one. A large gold and jeweled crown sat atop his head. It looked odd, like he was trying too hard. But he was still exceedingly handsome. His suit was black. He wore a white shirt and cravat underneath the perfectly fitted jacket. His pants skimmed down his long, muscled legs to his black shoes.
I hadn’t thought my heart could break again, but it did. Shattered into hundreds of shards and spilled from my chest onto the floor. It hurt. Seeing him. Remembering the look on his face after I’d become the Heart. It hurt so badly.
Leo’s eyes found mine just as I stumbled down the last step. He rose from his seat, but just for a second. Then he pulled on his jacket and stood gracefully.
He’s the King, I thought, knowing he was trying to be what the people wanted. That didn’t mean it was who he was. Right?
He stepped from the pedestal and into a group of fawning girls. Squeals of delight rose from them. It suddenly felt like I was at a concert. Leo was the rock star, and those surrounding him were the groupies. They pawed him, ran their fingers through his hair. Several even tried to touch the crown.
Immediately, before it got to out of hand, four guards pushed their way to Leo. “Stay back,” one of them shouted. The girls quickly obeyed, casting their eyes downward like they’d been reprimanded.
If I hadn’t been such a bundle of nerves I would’ve laughed. Leo seemed to turn green, and I realized he wasn’t thrilled with this arrangement. He was doing what he thought was best, but that didn’t mean he was enjoying it.
He adjusted his jacket, smoothed down his shirt, tightened his cravat, and stood tall. I saw him searching the crowd and wondered if he was looking for me. Before he had a chance a girl in a sexy yellow dress slinked in front of him. She placed a hand on his chest and fiddled a little with his cravat.
Jealousy raged. I wanted to take her beaded mask and strangle her with it. How dare she touch him?
She said something and he chuckled.
How dare he laugh?
I clenched my fists at my sides. Could I stay? Should I? When sexy Big Bird finished talking to Leo, there would be a hundred other girls waiting in the wings. It was depressing. Obnoxious. Could I watch that?
The whole situation was…
“Merde.”
“Swearing in French? I like it.”
I turned toward the French-accented male voice, surprised. This was Polonias, not Earth. Very few creatures knew about the languages from another planet. “Thanks,” I said softly, studying him.
“Do you want to dance?” he asked.
The man was older, old enough to be my father, but distinguished. His hair was salt and pepper. One icy blue eye watched me thoughtfully. The other eye was covered by a patch. He wore an oversized hat with a large white plume extending from one side. His jacket was long and burgundy. Underneath was a flouncy white shirt. His pants were tight and he wore leather boots that rose above his knees. The man looked like a pirate, plain and simple. I thought maybe it was his costume, except he seemed too comfortable in it.
“Sure,” I answered. “But be warned, I don’t know the steps.” I figured my confession would sway him. No one liked a bumbling cow as a dance partner.
It didn’t. “Not to worry.” He gently clutched my elbow and steered me into the crowd.
I let him. Those around us parted quickly, like prey sensing a predator. He took us to the middle of the dance floor, like he wanted everyone to see us. Then he spun me toward him and placed one hand on the middle of my back. The other hand he tucked at my waist. I placed my hands on his shoulders.
The music began. The older man led us around the dance floor. He was right. He was an excellent dancer. My body and feet seemed to know instinctively where he wanted them to go and they obeyed—all in time to the music.
“My name is Philippe Hook, at your service,” he said, giving me a smug smile. “My family resides to the south of the castle.” He winked with his good eye, which just looked weird.
I thought about what was to the south. It was basically the ocean. “So you live on the water?”
He chuckled sincerely. “Perceptive. Yes, something like that.”
“Interesting.” I studied his face, observed the creases on his tanned skin. “What made you leave your boat to come to this party? Do you have a daughter here vying for my hus—the King’s hand?”
Philippe raised the eyebrow above the patch. “No, my dear. I’ve come for y—”
“May I cut in?”
I knew that voice. It was Leo’s. Angry Leo’s.
Philippe released me and turned to the King. “Of course, Your Majesty.” He took my hand in one of his and pulled his hat off his head. There was a slight crease where the hat had been sitting. Then he bowed. “Thank you, ma petite fille, for the dance. It was a pleasure meeting you.” He kissed my hand, put his hat back on and glided away into the crowd.
I was stunned for two reasons. The first was that the man had said ma petite fille, which was French for my little daughter. The second was that Leo, my perfect, amazing Leo, was near, and he was giving me an amused look.
Part of me wanted to go after the man and confront him, ask him why he’d called me that. The other—the bigger part of me—wanted to stay right where I was.
As soon as Leo put his hands on my waist everything else disappeared.
Dance
I allowed myself to be swept away in the music. It was a sort of soft jazz and classical combination. I rested my cheek on his chest, deliciously oblivious to anything but him and the way I felt in his arms.
I’d missed him.
And being near him made me feel better. Whole.
Mask or not, I figured he’d know who I was, though. So his next words surprised me.
“You’re Stephania?” he asked, after we’d been dancing a while.
It’s me. Cinderella. Duh! I wanted to shout. Instead I said, “Uh-huh.” I searched his hazel eyes for a clue that he was teasing, that he knew who I really was. We’d been intimate in more ways than one. I loved him and he loved me. Ugh!
He smiled. “Stephania,” he said again as though he were trying to decide whether he liked the way the name rolled off his tongue or not.
I tried not to glare. “Your Majesty.” I curtsied.
He nodded.
“Now that we have that established.” I felt sick. Could he really not see who I was?
Leo grinned, seemingly oblivious. “Where exactly is Silverbough? Is that in the north?”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
“I see…” His voice trailed off. “Have we met before?” He looked at me intently.
I wanted to bop him on the head with my fist. “Yes, we have.”
He looked closer. “Were we friends as kids or something?”
I sighed. Holy freak!
“You look beautiful. I love your mask. It’s like magic.” He touched it lightly. Quilla had made it a part of me and it felt like he stroked my skin.
“Th-thank you,” I said. My knees were quaking. The way he looked at me, I felt like he wasn’t even the same person. And at the moment, something occurred to me. I looked really closely at his eyes. Was the man holding me Leo or Lawson? Had Lawson somehow forced Leo to take his place in the Witch Mists?
It would explain so much.
“Are you Leo or Lawson?” I asked, getting to the point.
His eye twitched. I knew it. There was no way, after everything Leo and I had been to each other, that he wouldn’t know me. “Leo, of course,” he said.
But it wasn’t true. He was completely lying.
That made me feel better, so much better—and scared too.
He pulled me toward him tightly. One of his hands snuck to my neck and squeezed.
“I saw what would happen to Polonias if I let the Heart die. It was a foolish mistake and I won’t do it again.” He was so close I could smell his awful breath. He licked my cheek and I shuddered.
It was Lawson, not Leo, and he knew who I was.
“Gross.” I gagged, trying to figure out how to get away. A spell. Something.
“That doesn’t mean I can’t keep you as a prisoner.” The hand around my neck pressed harder and I felt my skin bruise.
“I have to spend time near the waterfall. If I don’t I’ll die, and so will Polonias.” The words came out with difficulty. I could barely breathe.
He grabbed my ass and ground his body into mine. “I’ll make sure you spend a little time there.” His lips covered mine. I thought he would swallow my face. “My brother was revolted by your change.” He winked. “I get that. You do taste differently.” He bit my bottom lip.
I tried to cry out.
“But I think a union between the Heart and the King is mandatory.” His hand around my neck loosened slightly. “That’s why my dear brother would never make a good ruler. He’s more interested in the things of the heart. He cares little for the people. Only for himself.”
Lawson placed his hands on my waist. “You and I will be married immediately. That way your power will become my power. Your life will become my life.” His lips lifted in a pretend smile. “It’ll be beautiful.”
Mizrabel
I felt the tears on my face. It was then that I realized I was crying. How had I made everything such a mess? If I would’ve stayed bound to Leo, Lawson wouldn’t be able to marry me now.
“What’s the matter, little Cinderella? Usually you have so much to say.” He smiled wickedly.
“I-I-I…” Not a single word came to mind. Where were Abernathy’s spells when I needed them? Where was he when I needed him?
“Don’t stutter, dear. It isn’t becoming of the Queen.” Lawson sneered. A distinct need to slap his face filled me. I reached up a hand but he caught it like I weighed nothing.
Never in all my days had I felt so hopeless. Magic had abandoned me, as had Leo, Gabe, and everyone else.
I closed my eyes, unable to look at his handsome face a moment longer.
A loud crack filled the room. Screams rang out, scaring me, and I opened my eyes.
Lawson was startled as well. His hands momentarily dropped from my body and I could breathe. I hadn’t realized until then how much he affected me. He was like poison. Making the most of the opportunity, I took in a deep breath. I needed the dirt. It was too soon to be away from my place near the waterfall—Polly’s Paradise—for so long.
I backed away, running into someone.
It was Philippe Hook. “Come with me,” he whispered urgently. His eyes flicked back and forth between Lawson and me. “Please, dear. I’ll find a safe place for you.”
I nodded and started to follow, but a bright red light shot between us and I was blinded. I shook my head and blinked my eyes, trying to get rid of the white spots blocking my vision.
“How dare you?” a female voice shouted. The light exploded and a woman descended into the light. It was Mizrabel.
There was a squeak and I turned back just in time to witness Lawson being turned into a mouse. It was then I remembered Anna and Belle. Mizrabel had cursed Anna to share her existence between two rabbits and a woodland fairy. What did this mean for Lawson?
Hook’s grip on me tightened and I took a step toward him.
Mizrabel had betrayed me twice already. It seemed reasonable that she would do it again. Her eyes flashed red. She faced me. “Cinderella…” She paused and searched the ballroom. All eyes were on her, even though everyone was cowering in fear. “Frethia. Mobrethia. Ciatha.” A blood red mist settled over everyone in the ballroom except me. They were all frozen in place, like colorful stone statues.
When the last person was still, she lowered her hand and laughed. “It’s about time you and I had a serious talk, don’t you think?”
I searched the room for an escape route. There were several exits, but they were too far away. It appeared talking to Mizrabel was inevitable. I sighed. “Fine. What do you want to talk about?”
Her shoulders slumped and, for the first time, I saw Mizrabel looking like an old woman. “I want to say I’m sorry.” She floated over until she could touch my face. Her fingers were cold, and I cringed.
I lifted my chin. I needed to show her a brave face.
“I’m too late, aren’t I?” Her voice was soft. Sad.
“For what?”
She sucked in a breath. “You don’t need a mother anymore. You’re grown up, a woman.”
I understood she was feeling bad. I had similar feelings. All my life I felt different, as though I didn’t belong, and that was because I hadn’t. I wasn’t even human. The mother I had was kindly enough, though. I think she did the best she could. I never wanted for anything material.
“Whatever,” I said softly.
Mizrabel gritted her teeth. “Not whatever. You need to let me apologize. And I need you to accept it.” She dropped to the floor and pressed her hands together.
“There’s nothing to forgive. I liked my mother. I liked growing up on Earth. It prepared me more than you can imagine.” I thought of my best friend, Snow White. I thought about the seven brothers, Professor Pops, and Abernathy. School. My job. My other friends. I didn’t regret growing up in Salem. I wouldn’t have traded it for anything.
“Yes, but you’ve given up everything for a world that doesn’t even know you.” She closed her eyes. “This was the destiny I wanted to keep you from. It was a stupid idea. I knew in my heart you would end up fulfilling it.” She moaned softly.
I studied her features. Mizrabel was miserable. I felt bad for her. “It was the right thing to do,” I said softly. It was true. Even though it hurt intensely when I thought about all I’d lost—especially Leo.
Images of his kisses, his touch, of the way he spoke to me when we made love… they cut through my ribs and shredded my already tattered heart.
She seemed to sense my pain because she covered the area over her heart with her hand. “I can fix it, you know. In fact, I want to. That’s why I’ve come.”
“Fix what?”
Her cold hands wrapped around my arms. “Let me take your place. I’ll become the Heart. You can go after Leo, marry him again, and everything can go back to normal.”
“You’re serious?” I asked, knowing she was by the way she spoke.
�
�Yes.” She swallowed. “It’s too late to be your mother. I know that, but I want to do this for you—if you’ll let me.” Her features softened.
All sorts of thoughts and questions tumbled around in my mind. The only reason I agreed to be the Heart was because I hadn’t wanted to be responsible for the death of an entire world. But why couldn’t someone else take my place? Abernathy had mentioned it was possible.
“Please don’t say no,” Mizrabel said, interrupting my thoughts.
My eyes were downcast, but I made an effort to study Mizrabel. She wore all black. Her dress was long with a slit up to each thigh. Her hair was a tangle of pine needles and dead leaves and berries. They created a crown of sorts. And that’s how it should be. Mizrabel deserved to be a queen. She’d been around a long time. She’d done and seen a lot, but she still had time. Lots of time left in her to take my place.
And if I were free, no longer a plant, I could find Leo, let him see that I was back to normal, and we could have our happily ever after.
“I don’t know how to get to the Witch Mists,” I said, stalling. “And what about Stryker?”
She snorted. “He’s a pussycat.”
I nodded, not wanting to give Abernathy away.
“I’ll take you to the entrance of the Witch Mists once I’m able. They aren’t nearly as scary as you might think. Trust me.”
Yeah, right, I thought. Asking me to trust her was like asking a trout to trust a grizzly bear. “Fine,” I said at last. “You can take my place.” My heart sped up at the prospect of seeing Leo again. I had to know if he would’ve come back for me, if he could have. If Lawson hadn’t switched places with him, if he’d been able. I hoped so. I wanted to fight for him. I’d let him go without even really thinking about it. I’d broken us apart like we meant nothing. I wanted him to know I’d never do that again, if he’d have me back. If he’d give me a second chance.
Mizrabel heaved a huge sigh and smiled so big I saw all of her teeth. “Excellent.”
I clasped my hands together. “So how do we do this?” I thought about what Polly had done to me. It seemed pretty easy. I touched Mizrabel’s chest. “Are you sure?” I asked, before I thought the words Polly had spoken to me.
The Cindy Chronicles: The Complete Set Page 20
