“You look very beautiful, Cinderella. I hope you don’t mind if I escort you to dinner.”
I smiled. In spite of everything Snow had said, and the fact that he looked like he belonged on the top of a wedding cake, I was happy to see him.
“Thank you,” I responded. “I would like that very much.” Especially since I had no way of knowing where the party was being held.
Leo stuck out his arm at the elbow and I took it. When the door was closed we walked side by side down the hall, past several closed doors, through a large sitting area, and into a grand ballroom.
Music played in the background and several elegantly dressed couples danced in perfect unison around the dance floor. There was a large display of food and a fountain of pink liquid. Round tables covered in thick linens took up one half of the floor while the dancers and the musicians shared the other side.
When Leo and I entered the ballroom several heads turned toward us. Leo pressed his hand over mine. Tendrils of warmth shot through my fingers. I sucked in a breath and looked up at him. “Be strong. Don’t let them see you’re nervous.”
I wanted to tell him I wasn’t nervous, that I felt fan-freaking-tastic, that I didn’t care what these people, my people thought of me. But all of it would’ve been a lie.
“Okay,” I said softly.
Leo turned. “Care to dance?”
He gave me a look, one I couldn’t comprehend, and bowed, just exactly as the Prince in the Cinderella movie did right before they danced. It was like déjà vu and an episode of Supernatural combined.
“Um, I have no idea how to dance the way they are dancing,” I said, indicating the couples moving on the floor. They seemed to move like liquid, each step and sway concise and flowing into the next. It was breathtaking, but way out of my league.
Leo’s bottom lip brushed against my earlobe and I shuddered. “It’s magic,” he whispered.
I turned into him so I could see his eyes. “What is?”
“The dance.” He took my hands in his. This time I was prepared for the warm jolt his touch would bring, but it still surprised me, filled me with fluttery butterflies. “Exhailith. Duatith,” he said, his eyes focused on mine. An ache of magic shot into my fingers, up my arms, and through my body. Leo winked. “Think you can handle it now?”
“Yeah, actually. I do.”
I allowed him to lead me onto the floor. People stopped and watched as we progressed to the middle. Then Leo stopped and spun me into his arms. “Here we go,” he said, and our bodies began to move just like the others. Those who’d been dancing stopped to watch, but only for a moment. Soon they began dancing with us.
It was exhilarating: being in control of my body, but at the same time not. Leo was a great dance partner, and I realized I was laughing. Like, out loud.
When the song ended Leo and I stopped dancing. I realized everyone else had already stopped dancing. Some stared at Leo and me. Others were looking around the room. I followed the gazes of those not looking at us.
Leo must’ve done the same because I heard him take a deep breath.
“What’s the matter? Did something happen? Merde, did I do something I shouldn’t have?” I asked, afraid to hear the answer.
“No,” he said, his voice filled with awe. “Look at the trees.”
I did. Before this moment I hadn’t really paid attention to the potted trees; they just seemed to blend into the walls before. Now they were covered in bloomed flowers, all shapes, sizes and colors. “The flowers on the trees bloomed. They look beautiful,” I said, stepping closer to Leo. “Is that something new?”
Leo lifted my chin. “You did this.” He seemed genuinely surprised. “It’s just as Polly said. You will save this world.” He spoke as though he was just realizing something he hadn’t believed had now been proved true. Had he not believed Polly when she said I would be the one to help save this world? If that was so, why would he make such an effort to bring me here?
“Is that bad?” I finally asked.
“No, it’s good.” A huge smile broke out across his face. “Very, very good.”
“Dinner is served,” a man in a fuchsia suit said in a booming voice.
Dinner Custom
Leo led me over to a table that already had his father and two other people sitting at it. He held the chair for me and I sat while he pushed the chair under the table. I couldn’t help but be impressed by his good manners. Most of the boys back home seemed to be under the impression that good manners were a bad idea. I hadn’t noticed it until Leo was suddenly so kind.
Once he was seated, food appeared in front of us. It looked like a vegetable soup. It smelled delicious and I realized I was hungry, but I didn’t eat because I didn’t want to do something I shouldn’t. So I took a quick peek at the King. He seemed to be waiting for something. I noticed one of the other women had picked up her spoon and was taking a sip.
Leo leaned over. “It’s custom for the ladies to take the first bite, and then the men can follow.”
“Oh.” I picked up my spoon and dipped it into the soup, lifted it to my lips, and tasted. It was delicious. Leo and the others followed and soon, thank goodness, everyone was eating.
Glasses filled with something dark red. I went to pick up a glass, but paused. “Is there a custom for drinking I should know about?”
He smiled and seemed pleased I wanted to learn to do things right. “Yes; the men usually drink first to make sure the wine is suitable for the ladies.”
I swallowed a snort. It was obvious the King would prefer to see me choke on an onion rather than do something for me out of the kindness of his heart. “Aren’t you all so chivalrous?” I tried not to sound condescending, but I don’t think I pulled it off.
When the soup was gone, the bowls and wine glasses disappeared. In their places appeared plates filled salad greens, along with chunks of pear and cranberry and celery, cucumber and slivered carrots. Another wine glass appeared at the top of my plate. It held a clear, bubbling liquid. I took a bite of the salad, enjoying the textures and flavors, then another bite as I waited for a man to take a sip of wine.
When no one did, I leaned over to Leo. “I’m thirsty. Care to take a drink so I can?”
He smiled. “Of course.” He picked up his glass. I watched his expression as he gulped down a large swallow. He was focused on his father, as though they were having a conversation that only they could hear. Finally Leo set his glass down. “I—” but he wasn’t allowed to finish before the King stood. He raised his glass and everyone else in the room followed suit.
“To Cinderella. We welcome you to our humble land of Polonias. May you live forever in harmony, and may you and your seed prosper in the land forever.” The King lifted his glass. Everyone followed: a sea of hands, each holding their own glass of champagne, followed the King.
They repeated, “To Cinderella.” They cheered and toasted in what seemed like a happy manner, then the moment was gone. Everyone went back to what they were doing: eating, playing an instrument in the orchestra, chatting with their friends. And that was the worst part. Feeling like I didn’t have any friends here.
But maybe Leo and I could be friends. I thought I’d like that. Thinking of him, I raised my face. He was in the process of taking a bite of salad.
“What?” he asked around the food.
I picked at a piece of pear and popped it in my mouth. “Nothing.” I picked at another pear.
The lights flickered once, and then again, and then went out.
“Having a party without me? How typical.” The voice was low and scratchy, like the growl of a prowling cat.
A red orb of light appeared in the center of the giant room. The face of a woman materialized, and as the light grew brighter I could make out more of her. Black hair streaked with gray and green hung in a braid down to her hips over one shoulder. Her black dress was thin and barely covered the girly parts. A slit went up to the middle of her thigh. She wore some type of ankle boots; in the glowin
g red light they seemed to writhe and hiss around her ankles and feet.
“So where is she? Where is the girl who’s destined to save this world?” She raised her voice to ask the questions.
Muttering drifted along the air, things like:
“She’ll kill us.”
“Why has she come?”
“Tell the sorceress where Cinderella is.”
And more.
I could just make out the outline of the King. His fork was midway between his mouth and his plate. He looked frozen. Leo was on the edge of his seat. The gleam of a knife shone in his hand. He seemed ready to stand and fight.
“Show yourself, girl, or I’ll start killing the guests.” A red light shot from her fingers and scorched a table near her.
I stood quickly, before I could talk myself out of it. “My name is Cinderella. I’ve come to… do what I can to help Polonias. I don’t know if it’s my destiny, but I get the feeling everyone in this room believes you’re looking for me.” As I spoke I lifted my chin, something my mother taught me.
Leo placed his hand in mine and rose beside me. I could feel the tension in his body and sensed he was upset, but I didn’t have time to figure out why. His voice boomed so loud it startled me. “Mizrabel, leave this castle at once. You are not welcome here.”
The lights came back on. The woman sauntered over to us. I couldn’t help but study her, and realized she had probably been quite beautiful once. Her eyes were black as coal, and even her lips were dark; I wondered if she’d used black lipstick. As she got closer I could see the veins through her paper white skin. Black blood seemed to pump through them.
Mizrabel seemed to study me with the same intensity as I studied her. Not for the first time I tried to picture myself as she would see me. Curly hair. Perfect makeup. Lips glossed. A sweet blue dress and sparkling silver shoes.
I was nothing but a child. To think I would be able to go up against her seemed impossible.
Fear snaked through my belly and ate all of the butterflies.
All my life I’d believed I was brave. Staring at the woman before me, I realized I’d never understood what fear was. Until now. Until her and this very moment.
She reached out a hand and I noticed her long black nails. I wanted to shrink away but I had manners, so I took her hand in mine.
“It’s nice to meet you,” I said, and felt immediately stupid.
Her eyebrows lifted. She stared at our hands clasped together. A myriad of emotions travelled across her features: Sadness. Happiness. Anger. And others I couldn’t figure out. Finally her gaze met mine.
“It’s nice to see you again, daughter.”
Family Tree
Leo stepped between us and separated our hands. “I’ll not ask you to leave again nicely. The next time it’ll be with a Witch Blade to your navel.”
Mizrabel lifted her head and laughed. “Dear boy, don’t make threats you aren’t prepared to keep.”
I was in shock. Had that woman just called me her daughter? Did she mean it literally or figuratively? Like, we can both do magic, so that makes me part of a long line of witches, which means we’re somehow connected… “Merde,” I swore quietly. My head and heart pounded as one. My palms started to sweat, which was a big deal for me because I wasn’t one to sweat. Like, ever.
“I’ll leave as soon as I make my toast.” She spun in a circle, taking everyone in at once. “To Cinderella.” She caught me around the waist and pulled me into a hug. “To save them, you must leave them and search for the glass lyre.” Mizrabel pulled me closer. I heard shouting, but it sounded far away. “When you find it, bring it to me. I’m not the evil monster I’ve been made out to be. You need my help to save this world. Remember that, Cinderella. My daughter.”
Her words repeated over and over in my mind. I really wanted to ask her about the whole “daughter” thing. It was starting to freak me out, but it didn’t feel like the right time. What seemed important was finding the damn glass lyre. “Where do I begin to look?” I asked, not expecting an answer.
She stepped back and blew some kind of red powder at my face. “You’ll find it in the most expected place, near the most unexpected person.”
“Like, can you give me a demographic area?” I asked, wiping the powder off my face. I needed her to be more specific.
Mizrabel put her hands on her hips. “Go home, child.” With those three words still lingering on her lips, the sorceress vanished.
What happened after Mizrabel left was kind of blurry. People loitered around. They spoke words, but it all sounded like a muffled foreign language. Someone lifted me and I was carried, then laid on a bed.
Quilla appeared. Between her sneezing and her bright yellow and green outfit, there was no way I could mistake her for anyone else. Her concerned face came close to mine. She peered into my eyes—s did Leo and the King. Even AnnaBelle and the leopard I hadn’t talked to yet… what was her name? Violet. Even she came into the room and looked at me. I couldn’t figure out what they were doing or what was wrong with me. I knew I needed to get out of bed and begin looking for the glass lyre.
The whole thing sounded ridiculous, but I felt in my bones it was what I needed to do.
Finally everyone left me alone. The lights turned off. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine what Mizrabel could’ve meant about going home. If she was my literal mother, wouldn’t that mean this was my home? But if she actually meant where I was raised, then I would need to go back to Salem. And if I’d seen a glass lyre in Salem I’d remember it. Wouldn’t I?
My mind ran through different places within my parents’ house. Next I moved on to Snow’s, and finally Professor Pops. Could it be at his house? I scoured each room with my mind, trying to remember all I’d seen, but it was impossible for me to recall every detail. I needed to be inside each room.
Which meant going home.
Had this past week in Polonias been a total waste?
I knew the answer was no. If I hadn’t come I wouldn’t have met Mizrabel. And meeting her seemed like the most important thing at the moment. She’d told me what to do to save Polonias.
But why?
I rolled the questions around inside my head, trying to determine an answer. Exhaustion won out in the end and I fell asleep.
Fireworks
I don’t know how long I slept, but when I woke all my dreams were in the forefront of my mind. The dreams were of my mother—well, the woman claiming to be my mother. Mizrabel.
She terrified me, filled me with sadness and fear like I’d never known... but a tiny part of me, buried deep in the corner of my mind, wanted to get to know her. Feelings of guilt and pain raged through my body and I knew that was why I’d had such crazy dreams.
Guilt.
Sunbeams touched my cheek and I opened my eyes.
Leo stood at the window. He peered through the glass and I wondered what he saw, what he was thinking. He no longer wore his party clothes; instead he had on dark jeans and a forest green button up shirt. He’d rolled the long sleeves up to his biceps. Light shone in his hair and on his thick dark lashes. His lips, the shape of his jaw, and the trimness of his waist were gorgeous. He was gorgeous.
“How long have I been asleep?” I asked, sitting.
Leo turned slightly and a smile bloomed across his face. “You’re okay.”
I moved to the edge of the bed. “Yeah, I think so.”
He sat next to me. “Sorry your party didn’t end the way it was supposed to. Cake and fireworks were part of the finale.” His face grew dark. “But Mizrabel showed up and ruined everything. Do you remember that?”
“I do. I’m not sure what she meant or what I should do.”
His eyes left my face toward my body. I followed his gaze.
“Crap.” I was in a white tank and it didn’t cover much. “How did I get in this?” I asked, pulling the bed covers up to my chest.
Leo stood. He rubbed the back of his neck and turned away. He seemed uncomfortable. “Anna
Belle started to help, but she turned into Anna and Belle and, well…” Leo trailed off and shrugged.
“Got it,” I said with a short laugh.
“Quilla came in and finished getting you ready for bed.”
“Oh.” That made me feel a little better.
“Why don’t you get dressed, and then we can talk.” He used magic to open the door.
“Sure.”
“I’ll meet you in the kitchen in thirty minutes.” He walked out of my room and the door closed behind him.
I washed my face, put on some lip-gloss, and threw my hair in a high ponytail. Since Leo was in jeans, I figured I should be too, so I put on a pair of sandblasted skinny jeans, a boho-chic white blouse with a gray tank underneath. To complete the outfit I put on a pair of gray suede boots. The heels were flat and the tops zipped just under my knees. Totally casual, but adorable.
When I was finished, I used magic to open the door. Quilla was pacing just outside my door. A hand flew to my throat in surprise. Her outfit was flamboyant as usual: Bright yellow and pink dress, hair teased with butterflies pinned in, black pointy boots and black and pink polka dot tights. “What the hell?”
“Sorry, Cinderella,” she said breezily, walking past me and into my room.
“I was just leaving to meet Leo.”
She didn’t seem to hear me. The door shut and Quilla grabbed my hand. “I’ve been up all night thinking about miserable Mizrabel and what she said. Have you had a chance to think about it? Her fritzy toast, or curse, or whatever you want to call it.”
I gave her hands a squeeze and dropped them. “No, not really.” I turned toward the window.
The land of Polonias was beautiful, full of color, and vibrant with life.
“No?” Quilla asked, moving to stand next to me. “How could you not?” She waved her hand and my bed was made. Then she sneezed. “I mean, that woman is dreadful.”
I sighed. “Apparently that dreadful woman is my mother?” The question moved off my lips with the hope that Quilla would deny it.
Witch Land (The Cindy Chronicles #2) Page 3
