by Bonnie Dee
Together they strolled down a red carpet, separated from the crowd on either side by thick, velvet-covered ropes strung between short poles. Aurora did as Joel bid; she waved her hand and bestowed a smile on the people on one side of the carpet, then the other. She’d had a lifetime’s worth of practice waving from balconies, paths and doorways to cheering townsfolk and peasants who visited the castle on special days—just to see her, according to her doting parents. And she’d graciously accepted many a bow or a curtsy from noblemen and women.
Just as then, she seemed to attract more than her share of attention. As she and Joel neared the front door of the grand house, she became aware of a rush of cameramen and women to this end, all pointing and flashing their lights at her and Joel—and this despite the arrival of other guests behind them.
“Who’s your date, Joel?” one of the crowd called out.
Someone else cried, “Joel, does your lovely lady have a name? National TV viewers want to know!”
“Why do they want to know that?” Aurora asked, baffled.
“Because you’re beautiful and they’ve never seen you before. People still love a romance.” He gave a quick grin, as though acknowledging that though he’d meant to be cynical, he spoke in the surprised tone of a man making a new discovery.
Aurora laughed and, as she put her foot on the first step, she called back over her shoulder, “Aurora! My name is Aurora!” A hundred flashes seemed to go off at once, blinding her, and she had to depend on Joel to guide her into the house.
In some amusement, he murmured, “They’ll love you now! Almost as much as I do.”
Still in a dizzying haze of lights and slightly smug happiness, Aurora rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. Since it was a warm summer evening, they had no coats to give up to the army of servants who lined the entrance hall and the stairs up that they climbed in the wake of a middle-aged couple.
“This is almost like the old days,” Aurora murmured. “Vee lives a little like a queen, does she not?”
“She likes her luxuries,” Joel acknowledged. “On the other hand, all these people don’t work for her all the time! She’s hired them for tonight just to make her party go smoothly.”
Nonsense, it’s to impress her guests. But Aurora kept that unkind thought to herself. She chose to be magnanimous in victory, and had every intention of showing Vee nothing but civility. In fact, she could almost feel sorry for the other woman, losing Joel so completely. However, she refused to feel guilty. Marriage with Vee would have been disastrous for Joel, locking him into the cold, soulless world he so badly needed to break out of for his own happiness, even for his own sanity. She, Aurora, would bring him happiness, and in return, she was receiving it.
Vee stood just inside the large drawing room to greet her guests. Resplendent in a sparkling black evening gown with trailing black gauze flowing from her hair and one shoulder, she looked chic and sophisticated as she exchanged quick words with the man whose hand she still held. Her back was to Aurora, so she had an excellent view of the woman’s swan-like neck, her perfect coiffure, and the jet drop earrings that dangled from her ears.
Aurora couldn’t help drawing in her breath, no longer with fear of a rival, but with amazement that she’d won Joel from so stunning and talented a woman as Vee undoubtedly was. Joel’s fingers curled ’round hers, as if to reassure her, and she loved him even more for that. She cast him a quick, loving smile just as the eager man in front finally released Vee’s hand and she was able to turn to the middle-aged couple ahead of Joel and Aurora.
Only it wasn’t Vee.
Aurora stared. Blood sang in her ears so loudly that she was afraid she’d faint, and she gripped Joel’s hand like a vise. It was as if Vee had put on—no, taken off—a mask and the jolt of recognition nearly overwhelmed Aurora. Memory, the pain of fear and loss rushed on her so fast that it was a moment before she could actually put a name to the being behind the mask.
Valborga.
Aurora couldn’t breathe, not even when the middle-aged couple moved on with only brief greetings of “Happy Birthday, darling!” and Vee turned to Joel, reaching for him with the talons of a witch.
Terror for him broke through Aurora’s paralysis at last and she lunged forward to get between him and Valborga. At the last moment, the evil enchantress shifted her attention from Joel to Aurora and her eyes widened almost imperceptibly before they darkened like night.
“Aurora, always so affectionate,” she gushed, seizing her hands. But the words she projected into Aurora’s head were more honest.
So, you finally know me. I can’t make up my mind whether you’re slow-witted or lucky. What gave me away, in the end?
“Love,” Aurora whispered. Her limbs had grown heavy, her head was spinning. Terrified she was being sent back into the sleep from which Joel had awakened her, she hung on, trying to turn her head to see Joel.
You make no sense, Valborga said coldly. But then, you never did.
Her arms closed around Aurora like steel. Aloud, Vee said anxiously, “Joel, I think she’s going to faint. Let me take her to lie down for a moment.”
“I’ll take her,” Joel said at once, sounding alarmed.
“No, no, you stay here and look after the party—this is women’s stuff. I’ll only be a moment and then I’ll send her back to you.”
Over Valborga’s shoulder, Aurora could see him now but hazily. The sleep was coming again. It was taking her from him. She dug her nails so hard into Valborga’s arms that the woman let out a hiss. But it seemed Aurora couldn’t stop herself being led away, almost carried from the room.
Once outside the drawing room—they must have left by a different door because they weren’t at the top of the staircase but in a little passage—Valborga dragged her along with greater speed and no pretense of gentleness. Aurora didn’t care. Whatever sleep-spell she’d been fighting seemed to have lifted. Perhaps Valborga used it only to get her away from Joel.
Wrenching herself free of Valborga’s hold, she demanded, “Why are you here? What is it you want?”
“You,” Valborga said irritably, continuing to march along the passageway. “Why could you not just have slept another measly two weeks?”
She didn’t seem to care whether or not Aurora followed. Aurora glanced back at the closed drawing-room door, then back to Valborga, who waited at another doorway, almost tapping her foot with impatience.
The need to be with Joel almost overwhelmed her, but now that she could think and focus again, she knew she needed to find out exactly what Valborga was up to. Fleeing would only postpone the inevitable and she refused to spend the rest of her life, or Joel’s, running. Besides, she was fairly sure Valborga would have locked the drawing-room door, either physically or magically. She doubted anyone inside would hear her knocking or shouting.
Straightening her shoulders with decision, Aurora strode toward Vee, who bowed her into the room beyond with blatant irony.
“Come into my boudoir, Highness. Be my honored guest once more.”
Ignoring, that, Aurora merely brushed past her and, before Vee had even entered behind her, demanded, “What difference would it have made if I’d slept another two weeks?”
“The spell would have been lifted, and I’d have been able to deal with you away from prying eyes in that great mausoleum of a castle. Joel need never have met you and I wouldn’t have to go to the trouble of wiping his memory clear of you. You were always bloody annoying. Wait here.”
“Wait here?” Aurora all but exploded. “Is that likely? Wait here while you go back to the party and wipe Joel’s mind of the only happiness he’s ever known? Oh, no. I want to know what’s going on!”
Valborga laughed. “Yes, it was curiosity that pricked your finger last time too, wasn’t it? Only my blasted sisters kept me away from you then, mitigated what spells I had already cast on you all, so that you didn’t die but slept the spell away.”
As if she saw how her words were hurting, Valborga let her ha
nd fall away from the door handle and turned fully back to Aurora.
“You…” Aurora whispered. “I knew it was you, of course. But why did they just leave me there on the floor? Why did no one so much as put me into a bed?”
“Because they forgot you ever existed. As soon as they left it, they forgot the castle ever existed either. Yes, my doing. My sisters couldn’t stop that, though they prevented my gaining anything from it, damn them. They shut me out with a powerful protective spell, and I’ve had to wait another thousand years for this opportunity, a thousand years of boredom, Aurora. I owe you for that too.”
“The good fairies disabled you,” Aurora guessed. “Took away your magic so you couldn’t harm anyone else.”
“But they couldn’t bring themselves to have me killed. Their weakness, my opportunity. And this time, there will be no mistakes. This time, you die and I get the prince and the power to rule the world.”
Laughing at her own wit, Valborga reached again for the handle.
“I don’t understand,” Aurora objected. “Why should you get your magic back now?”
“Because the thousand years of my sisters’ spell is up. This is the thousandth anniversary of your aborted betrothal party, the day you pricked your finger and went to sleep. The thousandth anniversary of the day they took almost all my magic, leaving me weak and helpless, little better than a mortal in this stupid world. Why…”
“Where are they now?” Aurora interrupted.
Valborga blinked. “Where are what?”
“Your sisters.”
Something flashed in Valborga’s eye, a gleam of malevolence, a hatred deeper than any she’d yet revealed.
“Who cares?” she said and went out.
It happened so fast, Aurora didn’t even have time to blink. Somewhere, even as she leapt futilely to stop the door closing, she registered that Valborga shouldn’t be able to move so quickly. It was impossible, and yet Aurora threw herself at an already closed and locked door.
To be on the safe side, Valborga hurled a quick spell over her shoulder to protect the lock. Though she could feel her strength returning almost by the minute, she didn’t need a particularly powerful or long-lasting enchantment to confine Aurora. She just needed to keep her away from Joel until she was ready. She couldn’t have the little idiot prattling to Joel about his Vee being the wicked fairy who’d put her to sleep for a thousand years. She couldn’t be sure Joel would dismiss the tale as nonsense. After all, he seemed to have bought into the rest of it. He’d been quite clear that Aurora wasn’t mad, and even their little chat in the bar hadn’t weaned him off his passion for the wretched girl.
What is it about bloody Aurora? she wondered as she hurried along the passage back to the drawing-room. An entire castle full of royal family, nobles and staff, had all been completely besotted with her. Valborga’s own sisters had taken Aurora’s side against one of their own. Although it wasn’t the first time they’d done so, it was certainly the first time they’d punished Valborga so severely for her crime.
Valborga squashed down the old rage at that and returned to the present. Which was that Aurora now had Joel eating out of her hand when Valborga needed him to complete her plan.
Entering the drawing-room, she saw that, as usual, Joel was playing his part to perfection. It gave her a sneaking satisfaction to see him standing in as host for her, greeting her guests as if they were already married, already one. She hoped Aurora understood that subtlety too.
Smiling, she hurried up to him, noting with a twinge of irritation the speed with which he came to meet her, the anxiety creasing his brow as he demanded, “How is Aurora?”
“She’ll be fine,” Valborga soothed, smiling at a late arrival and offering her cheek with a few words of welcome. “She just needs to lie down for a bit.”
“What’s the matter with her?” Joel asked.
Damn him, why couldn’t he be as repelled as every other man by the mysterious and dreadful words “women’s trouble”?
“Darling, don’t make me discuss that here in public. Aurora would never forgive either of us. Now, come and meet Peter Grimm. As leader of the party, his favor will be vital to you.”
Actually, after tonight, the only vital favor in this country will be mine…
Joel found Peter Grimm to be most welcoming. They’d been acquainted socially for several years, but now, already clearly primed by Vee, Grimm was flatteringly delighted by Joel’s interest and by what his election could do for the party.
“We’ll be in power in no time,” he said with satisfaction. “This government has had its day. The next election is ours!”
Joel rather thought he was right, although after a slightly deeper discussion he found Grimm to be somewhat limited in vision. Vee was right about that—the party needed someone with more than just enthusiasm and a likeable manner. Joel knew that he could drive things forward, promote and carry out wide, sweeping changes that truly would benefit the country.
Even without Vee’s active support in the election, he could do this. And with Aurora by his side, who knew what he could accomplish?
For the first time in years, he felt excited about his career. A far more selfless ambition was rising up, inextricably tied with the unexpected new happiness of his personal life. Aurora…
The unease lurking at the back of his mind caused by her sudden “women’s trouble” rose again to the surface. Mixed with worry was a desire to tell her about his excitement at his new political future, and a basic, intense desire simply to be with her.
Vee was on the other side of the room, saying goodbye to guests who had to leave early. During a faint lull in the conversation—the music had paused too—he heard her saying, “I’m so sorry you have to go! I was about to show everyone my mysterious birthday present. But I’m sure you’ll hear all about it.”
Joel moved toward her, in the renewed buzz of questions and laughter and a burst of lively music from the discreetly hidden speakers. But someone else had caught her attention, and suddenly he just couldn’t be bothered with going through the motions of politeness and fielding curious questions from the other guests. He’d already acted as host for Vee this evening, so he’d damn well take advantage of the position.
Turning, he left the room by the inner door, the one that led to Vee’s bedroom and to the best guest room. In his time, Joel had occupied both and he was sure Aurora would be in one of them.
Striding down the passage, he came first to the guest bedroom, gave a quick perfunctory knock and threw open the door. Although it was immaculately made-up as usual, he knew at once that Aurora wasn’t there. He couldn’t smell her, couldn’t sense her.
Not even pausing to close the door, he covered the few strides to Vee’s own room and gave the same back-handed knock, almost at the same time as he turned the handle. Only this time the door didn’t budge.
That wasn’t very trusting of Vee, locking her door against her own birthday guests. Only why would she lock it if Aurora were in there? His gaze dropped to the lock. And why would she leave the key there? Frowning, he called urgently, “Aurora?”
There came a clunk, a thump and some rustling, through which Aurora’s breathless voice answered, “Joel? Oh good, how do I get out of here? She’s locked me in.”
“What the…?” Anger such as he’d rarely felt surged up against the woman he’d always regarded as a friend. What the hell was she thinking of? Furiously, he took hold of the key still in the lock and wrenched it around. The lock turned easily and he pushed against the door. It still didn’t give.
He frowned, trying in vain to turn the key farther. “Aurora, are you all right?”
“I’m fine…”
“I’ve unlocked the door but it won’t budge. I’m going to get Vee.”
“No!” Aurora cried out in clear alarm. “Don’t do that! She must have put some kind of spell on it. Joel, Joel, are you still there?” Her voice seemed to be coming from very close now, as if she’d thrown herself to h
er knees and was speaking through the keyhole.
At the obvious distress in her voice, Joel found himself crouching down to comfort her. “Of course I’m still here. I just want to get you out of there the quickest way, and Vee is in for the verbal smacking of her life.”
As he spoke, as lightly and soothingly as he could, he drew the key from the lock, peering inside it to find the source of whatever was blocking it. But all he could see through the tiny hole was a shadowy section of Aurora’s lips and her teeth biting down on her lower lip.
“It’ll be something more mundane than magic,” he promised her, eyeing the space between the door and the frame across which the lock should slide. There was nothing there, and yet when he turned the handle once more, he still couldn’t budge the door. “Bizarre,” he murmured.
“Joel, I understand it now, or some of it at least. I know why I slept so long and I know we have to stop Valborga before she regains all her old power and more—the power she wanted when she first attacked me.”
Distracted, Joel laid his forehead against the door. Somehow, in the last week, he’d become so absorbed in Aurora, in his love for her, that he’d almost forgotten the shadowy threat that hung over her. Any vague attempt to research her history had resulted in dead ends. Aurora’s birth had been recorded, but there was no record of her death or anything else about her. It was as if she’d been forgotten by history. But after a thousand years it wasn’t surprising. It wasn’t as if she’d ever reigned in Schlaushagen and, except as marriage tools and the bearers of heirs, women hadn’t been regarded as being very important in those days. She wasn’t the only woman to be lost in the mists of time. What was surprising, to say the least, was that she was still here. And in Vee’s locked bedroom.
Shaking his head to clear it, he said grimly, “I won’t let her harm you. Vee picked a bad time to play such games.”
