Cinder & the Prince of Midnight

by Susan Ee

  But Helene seemed to not care that the glamour was temporary. She simply had Lalyn reapply it daily. As soon as they got home from the market, Helene called the fairy into her room.

  While Lalyn was applying magic layer upon layer, Cinder finished up her chores as quickly as she could. As soon as she was done, she ran over to Silver’s cottage. With the ball so close, no one paid any attention to her.

  She trained in the yard even though Silver was not there that day. Full moon was coming. Cinder had had years of training now, but it never felt like it was enough. Chances were decent that she could best a hunter. Her head understood that, but her heart knew that hunters ran in packs.

  Silver had continued to train and protect her in the woods, but there was never a guarantee. Each month, the full moon drove Cinder to train harder.

  As the moon grew fat, Cinder’s fear grew with it.

  Chapter 29

  Cinder trained hard, but she still had nervous energy when it was time to go home. She hoped her run back home through the cool night air would wind her down so she could sleep tonight. Sleep always became more precious as the full moon neared.

  The background sound of the crickets and frogs accompanied her as she jogged back home under the stars.

  She was halfway home when someone walked out of the shadows near the edge of the woods.

  He walked onto the road before she had time to decide what to make of him.

  “It’s about time,” said Dante as he blocked her way.

  She slowed down to a walk and Dante joined her.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Waiting for you. What else would I be doing out by the road at night?”

  “Why?”

  “Because you so rudely left in the middle of our conversation.”

  “It was time for me to go.”

  “Why did you run from me?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?”

  “I told you I wouldn’t turn you in. I’d have just as much explaining to do as you would. So would Gallant. We’d all be in trouble if we told what happened.”

  “You and your noble brother would be in trouble. But I’d be tortured and hung.”

  “No one is going to torture or hang you.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I’ll make sure of it.”

  She burst out laughing. “Only the king can make such promises, and I wouldn’t believe him either.”

  “Maybe I have more power than you think.”

  “That’s even worse. No one should ever believe it when someone in power claims he’ll take care of you.”

  She was thinking of Helene. When she’d first convinced Cinder to call her stepmother, especially in front of other people, Helene had promised to take care of her. She’d said that she’d loved Cinder’s father and couldn’t imagine his little daughter fending for herself out in the world alone.

  Helene had promised that she’d be the mother Cinder never knew. But she could only do that if the world believed that she had been married to Cinder’s father. And Cinder had believed her. Just for a fortnight, while Helene was convincing the world that she had married Cinder’s father just before he died, Cinder had believed that she wouldn’t be alone.

  “It sounds like you have some experience with people in power,” said Dante.

  “Not someone with real power in society. Just power over me.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  They walked in silence together for a time.

  “Perhaps we should speak of lighter things,” he said.

  She scoffed. “Lighter things? In Midnight?”

  He shrugged. “Life still happens here. Lighter subjects are as much part of life as darker ones.”

  “Do you live here or are you just visiting? Because anyone who lives here would know better.”

  “Oh, I know lots of things. But I feel compelled to speak the truth, and the truth is that there are lighter subjects even in Midnight.”

  “So what light subject do you have in mind?”

  “Hmm…” He thought about it for a while, proving that lighter subjects were not so easy to think of in Midnight. “Oh, I know. How about whether or not anyone is courting you?”

  She looked at him like he was daft. “Courting me?”

  “Sure. You’re not so terrible to look at, at least not in the dim light of night, which is where I’ve always seen you. For all I know, you might have crooked teeth and a lumpy nose, but I’m sure there are worse faces out there.”

  She glared at him. “I’ll have you know that my teeth are straight and my nose is…well, not lumpy.”

  “Really? The next thing you’ll be telling me is that you’re beautiful under the starlight.”

  She gave him a sideways glance. “I wouldn’t say such a thing.”

  “But others do? Do they tell you that their hearts flutter for you, my lady?”

  He bowed grandly, obviously being silly.

  “Do they sing poetic verses to you and tell you that they’re your hero under the stars? Do they say that you should let them court you because they are rescuers of women, defenders of puppies and friends to kittens?” He waved his arms about in a dramatic gesture.

  A smile snuck up on Cinder’s face. “No, they don’t. But you’re right—they really should.”

  “Absolutely. Surely you must have a face that a Fairy Queen would envy. One day, I shall see it in the light and see for myself. Your voice, though, that I know. It’s a voice that matches a songbird, and you have hair that outshines moonlight. You, my lady, deserve to be queen of the land. That’s what all the lads you know should be telling you.”

  Cinder rolled her eyes and shook her head, but she couldn’t help smiling at his flowery language.

  “Which land?”

  “What?” he asked.

  “Which land should I be the queen of?”

  “Hmm…” He tapped his chin. “’Tis true that you are far too fair to be queen of Midnight. How about Everness?”

  “The land of eternal sunshine and gold? Where everyone basks in love and lives in beautiful houses and feasts happen every night?”

  “That’s right. No other land is worthy of such a magnificent creature as yourself.”

  “Are we still telling truths now?”

  “Oh, absolutely. There’s nothing more truthful than Everness. Who doesn’t believe in sunbeams streaming down all day long and unicorns prancing about?”

  “There are unicorns there?”

  He shrugged. “Why not?”

  “I know a truth.”

  “What’s that?”

  “You can’t keep up with me.”

  “What?”

  Cinder raced ahead on the dirt road without giving him any warning.

  “Hey!” There was laughter in his voice as he ran to catch up.

  Cinder was in better condition than she’d been the last time the two had run down this road. She didn’t know what came over her, only that she felt free for just this moment.

  Dante caught up with her with hardly any effort. He raced up a head, just enough to turn and taunt her by running backward and pretending to yawn.

  She ran toward a puddle and kicked mud at him. Then she ran. At the next puddle, he jumped in with such enthusiasm that it splashed on her.

  She squealed and chased after him, threatening all kinds of harm.

  By the time they reached town, they were laughing and muddy, just as they had been the first time they’d met each other.

  And like that first time, years ago, people peered out from their shuttered windows and closed doorways. It was now so rare to hear laughter that many of those people hadn’t heard it since the last time these two were outside their windows.

  This time, no one frowned with disapproval. This time, everyone was a little awed by it. This time, it even scared some people because it was so foreign to them.

  They couldn’t help but peek out and watch the couple as they flung mud at each other, laughing s
o hard that they seemed to have completely forgotten that they were in the kingdom of Midnight.

  After watching them for a minute, a few people shuttered their windows as though afraid of what might happen if they were caught enjoying laughter, even if it was someone else’s.

  The young man on the street looked up with a smile at the sound of the windows closing. The ones who were watching saw the girl slip into the shadows of an alleyway while he wasn’t looking.

  When he turned to say something to her, she was gone. The man looked around, but nothing moved in the shadows of the buildings.

  The secret smiles of those who watched faded as they watched the man looking around, trying to find the girl. Some of them watched until he gave up. He slumped his shoulders and walked off down the street alone.

  Those who watched until the end remembered why they no longer laughed themselves.

  It was too hard when it ended.

  Chapter 30

  The night of the ball was the busiest that Cinder had ever seen in Midnight. The women were more preoccupied with the ball than with the full moon.

  Every female in the kingdom was preparing. Ribbon prices skyrocketed, as did jewelry prices, because not everyone had managed to get a fairy with such power.

  Shoes were particularly difficult, as every woman wanted to impress the princes with their shoes. Rumor had it that they liked such things.

  Cinder ran herself ragged trying to do everything that her stepsisters wanted. Thankfully, Helene had locked herself up in her room for most of the day with Lalyn.

  By five o’clock, the stepsisters were downstairs and ready to go. They fussed impatiently while waiting for their mother to come down. When she did, the girls gasped collectively.

  Helene looked like she was in the bloom of youth. Her cheeks were rosy, her lips were full and her hair cascaded all around her in an intricate curtain of curls.

  “Mama, that’s not fair,” said Darlene. “What if you’re the one to catch a prince tonight? That would be one less chance for me.”

  “Well, that would be ironic,” said Tammy. “The prince would be quite upset in the morning when the glamour wore off.”

  Stepmother’s glossy lips pinched. “What makes you think I won’t look like this forever?”

  “Because ours is a rented fairy,” said Tammy as if talking to a stupid child. “We have to return her after the ball, Mama.”

  Helene gave a knowing smile. “Well, we all look gorgeous for the night. There will be plenty of wealthy bachelors at the ball, and it will be the height of fashion to become engaged tonight. If the princes are doing it, then that’s how the rest of nobility shall do it. So, ladies, prince or not, we might all come back with wealthy husbands.”

  “Oh, Mama!” Darlene’s eyes sparkled as she clapped.

  “You’re so clever,” said Tammy with admiration.

  Cinder wondered if Dante would be at the ball. Helene was right. All the noble families would be there, and whatever the royal family did, the nobles copied.

  It had been harder than she thought it would be to leave Dante. She didn’t know if she’d ever see him again, and she didn’t even say goodbye. But she had come dangerously close to standing in the light where he might get a good look at her. He might believe that he wouldn’t turn her in, but she couldn’t risk it.

  Would Dante and his brother choose their future brides at the ball?

  It didn’t matter. She’d never see either of them again anyway, if she was lucky.

  But no matter what she told herself, she couldn’t help but feel left out. Everyone else was going. It was a once-in-a-lifetime party—an invitation to walk through the front doors of the royal castle in the finest clothes she’d ever wear. For one night, it would be as if she belonged somewhere other than by the hearth, scrubbing the floor.

  One day, maybe she’d meet a fine farm boy who would take her away from all this. Silver said that wishing for a boy to rescue you was a hopeless and sad occupation. Cinder secretly hoped for her own boy anyway, even if he was as poor and trapped as she was. What would it be like to have someone love her?

  A memory of Dante standing in the moonlight came to her. She almost laughed. He was certainly no poor farm boy.

  She sighed and got back to work. There was no point in feeling sorry for herself.

  By the time the stepsisters and stepmother left the house in their overpriced carriage, Cinder was tired. She’d been so busy that she hadn’t had time to be afraid of the full moon.

  It’s all right now, she told herself. No one had come to get her for the hunt. Safe for another month.

  “Set me free, little one,” said Lalyn.

  The fairy’s thin fingers gripped the bars of her cage. Helene had insisted that Lalyn go back to her cage when they left for the ball. She’d left strict instructions that Cinder was not to return the fairy until she said so, even though they all knew that everyone had to return their fairies to the proper owners by morning.

  “You heard my stepmother. She’d kill me if I let you out. But I can get anything you want to help you be more comfortable.”

  “I don’t mean set me free from the cage. I mean set me free.”

  “You know I can’t do that.”

  Cinder absent-mindedly picked up dishes off the kitchen table. The kitchen was a mess. She hadn’t had a chance to clean the breakfast dishes yet.

  “You can,” said Lalyn. “We fairies are bound by our own oath. When we’re captured, your Dark King offers the choice of death by torture, or to bind ourselves to our owners.”

  “I’m not your owner. We just rented you from the slave trader.”

  “My oath transferred to you when that filthy slime agreed to let you have me. Until the moment you return me, I am bound to you, and only you can set me free.”

  Cinder put down the dishes into the sink and turned to look at Lalyn. The poor thing had gained a little weight since she first came but not much. Cinder hated the thought of making her go back to that horrible slave trader.

  “You are the property of the Dark King,” said Cinder sadly. “I’d be hanged if I set you free.”

  “Not if you’re the prince’s bride. You’d be part of the royal family. You could set a mere fairy free then, couldn’t you?”

  “But I’m not the prince’s bride.” Cinder picked up the broom and began sweeping. “I’m not even going to the ball.”

  “You could be. I could make you up and set you on your way, just like your stepsisters.”

  Cinder stopped sweeping and looked up at Lalyn.

  “You’d be beautiful,” whispered the fairy. “I saved the best for you, Cinder.”

  “The prince would never choose me. He wouldn’t even see me. There are a hundred noble families with beautiful daughters who know which fork to use and how to property talk to a prince.”

  “What difference does it make? You could enjoy a fantasy night out at the ball. Your stepsisters said they’d have fire dancers and magicians, jugglers and acrobats. It’s the party of a lifetime. Everyone will be there but you. So what if the princes never see you? You’ll still have a magical night out. And if you do happen to catch a prince…well, setting me free would be nothing to you then.”

  Cinder realized she was hugging her broom tightly to her chest. She made herself relax and put the broom aside.

  She had to admit, it would be fun. Just for one night. She might even catch a glimpse of Dante in all his finery.

  If she disguised herself and was very careful, it was even possible that she might even get a dance with him. See him one last time.

  Lalyn was right. Cinder would never get another chance to go to something like this.

  Chapter 31

  Cinder agreed to Lalyn’s deal. If she was selected to marry one of the princes, she would set the fairy free.

  Lalyn smiled in pure satisfaction. She went to work immediately, transforming Cinder’s old dress into the height of fashion.

  The new dress was a deep vio
let trimmed with shimmering gold. It was the loveliest gown Cinder had ever seen. Lalyn curled her hair and piled it high on her head. Then she draped strands of pearls over them the way a princess might wear.

  “I want to wear a mask,” said Cinder.

  “It’s not a masquerade.” Lalyn frowned.

  “I know. Something subtle, perhaps?”

  Neither Dante nor Gallant had seen her face in full light. Yet Dante had recognized her under moonlight. Besides, her stepfamily might see her.

  “I won’t go unless I’m at least a little hidden behind a mask.”

  “How will the princes be attracted to you if they can’t see your face? You must at least try to get their attention. It’s part of our bargain.”

  “I’ll try.”

  Cinder was confident that the princes wouldn’t notice her among the hundreds of proper ladies even if she threw herself at their feet.

  “But I won’t go unless I have a mask. If my stepmother or sisters see me, I won’t be able to get anywhere near a prince.”

  Lalyn sighed in a particularly human manner. Then she lifted her hands and got to work.

  She made up Cinder’s face with an intricate mask that sparkled with glitter on her skin. Her lips became plump and red and her cheeks glowed.

  And when Cinder looked in the mirror, she couldn’t believe it was her. She put her hand to touch the mask makeup on her face.

  “I admit, this makes you doubly intriguing,” said Lalyn. “And your stepfamily will never recognize you.”

  Lalyn studied the details of Cinder’s dress, tightening and fluffing here and there.

  “Now remember,” said Lalyn, “try to attract a prince’s attention as early as possible. Their papa has decreed that they only have this one night to choose a bride, so time is of the essence.”

  “They couldn’t possibly spend quality time with everyone they meet. They’ll have to pick a stranger or someone they already know.”

  Lalyn twitched her lips into a secret grin. “If I didn’t hate the king already, I’d almost admire him for his twisted games.”