Halia: Daughter of Cinderella

by Armitage, J. A

  I swallowed hard. So Mikka hadn’t told Tia this part.

  “Madam was checking on you to see whether your eyes would change and show golden circles.”

  At Tia’s incredulous expression, I added, “Acacia never told Madam that I was the one with the golden rings. Acacia wanted me to work with her to bring down Madam so that she could rule Arcadia.” I sighed. “Acacia wanted me for my magic, while Madam needed to know who the adopted daughter of the king and queen was to bring them completely to their knees.”

  Tia shook her head slowly, speechless.

  “Eighteen years ago, the king and queen adopted a newborn but gave it away only a few months later. Queen Ella was terrified that Madam would kill the baby.”

  Tia stared at me, her mouth wide open. “Are you saying that you’re the heir to the throne?”

  I chewed on my lip. “I think so. When I worked with Ella in the kitchen, she didn’t recognize me because the golden rings in my eyes were hidden.” I twisted a hair strand around my finger. “I need to tell them who I am and see if they still want me.”

  Tia took my hand. “Of course, they do. Who could not want you to be a part of their family?”

  I smiled weakly. “I don’t think I’m princess material.”

  “No, you’re not. You’re much more than that. You can be anything you want to be.” Tia hugged me hard. When she finally pulled away, her expression was somber. “Do you have any clue where the queen is?”

  “No, but I have the bad feeling that she’ll make an appearance as Madam’s hostage when she and Rumpelstiltskin strike at the contest finale.”

  Tia nodded. “You have to stop them.”

  Determination hummed through me. “I will.” I had no idea how I’d accomplish that, but I knew I’d do anything to protect my kingdom and my parents. I might not really know the king and queen, but they were good people. They deserved to be happy and together. That’s why the heavens had granted me the gift of my voice, to give Arcadia a fighting chance in these dark times.

  6

  10th August

  I woke up to a hushed voice floating through the house and a warm body against my back. I turned and came face to face with Lorenzo, the reason why I had been able to fall asleep again after my recent nightmare.

  “Good morning.” His gentle voice caressed over me. “How did you sleep?”

  “Good.” I trailed a finger across his cheek, noticing the bags underneath his eyes. “Did you get any sleep?”

  He shook his head. “I couldn’t. Not after—”

  “It wasn’t your fault.”

  “If I hadn’t left you—”

  “Madam is very persistent. She would’ve gotten to me eventually.” I smiled. “And now we know that I can free myself from one of Acacia’s nightmares.”

  Lorenzo hugged me tightly, and I relaxed into his chest for a minute before I couldn’t ignore the pattern of door opening—verbal exchange—door closing from downstairs. “What’s going on down there?”

  Lorenzo chuckled. “Guess Tia’s and Mikka’s rumor spreading had the effect we desired.”

  I sat up. “Tia went into the city?” Lorenzo nodded. “I wish she hadn’t.”

  “She’s just as stubborn as you.”

  I jabbed him in the shoulder and began to dress. “I would like to talk to the girls before I have to get ready for the competition.”

  Lorenzo’s playful mood disappeared, and his face grew solemn. We both knew that even though we had survived so much, there were no guarantees after tonight. This morning might very well be the last one for all four of us.

  Since I was “dead” or “comatose,” I wasn’t quite sure what rumor Tia and Mikka had decided to spread in the end. Lorenzo went downstairs to get them while I waited in the bedroom.

  Tia brought in a tray with a large coffeepot and a fantastic selection of baked goods. Yummy scents of butter, cinnamon, and caramel filled the air.

  “That looks and smells delicious. Thank you.”

  My friend smiled. “Breakfast of champions.”

  I took a bite of a cinnamon swirl before addressing what I’ve heard. “Did a few people stop by to check how I was doing?”

  Tia nodded. “About two dozen. I couldn’t bring myself to say that you were dead, so we said you were very ill.”

  “She’s a softie.” Mikka’s easy tone was in stark contrast to the careful way she watched Tia as if afraid she could vanish at any moment. I could hardly blame her. I didn’t want to think what would’ve happened to Tia if we hadn’t gotten to her in time.

  “People were shocked and disappointed that you wouldn’t participate in the competition,” Tia said.

  “And now the house is overflowing with flowers and get well cards,” Mikka finished. She smiled. “They’re really rooting for you. You are Arcadia’s princess.”

  Tia nodded. “They want you to win. You are their hero.”

  I swallowed a big gulp of my coffee, staring into the cup. A princess, a hero. Those were some big titles. I would do my best to live up to them, but there were no guarantees that my efforts would be enough to save the queen and Arcadia.

  “Let’s get you ready. We need two outfits. Your performance outfit needs to be stunning but easily hidden underneath your regular outfit. I think I have just the right thing in mind.” Mikka said as she headed for the door.

  “I can’t borrow any more of your clothes,” I protested weakly.

  She waved my objection away. “You can, and you will. You need to win, and a grand appearance is half the battle.”

  Didn’t I know it! I hoped Madam and her daughters would drop dead when they realized that sneaking me a nightmare potion hadn’t taken care of me.

  While Tia and Mikka figured out my outfit, I practiced my singing. I might have magic in my blood, but I still needed to hone my instrument, especially when I had no idea what the tasks in the last two rounds of competition would be like. No one had stopped by the house with instructions, so I guessed we were free to dress however we wanted for the final event. I hoped Mr. Goodwin wouldn’t try to disqualify me for appearing on the stage just as the show started. If he did, I would get the crowd riled up until he had to give in. A chuckle burst from my lips. Was I really that vain to be worried about the outcome of the competition when Arcadia’s future hung in the balance? Or was this my brain’s way of protecting me against everything that was about to go down? I bowed my head, closed my eyes, and brought my palms together. Please, if anyone is listening, please let us win. We need to rescue Arcadia, the king, and the queen. I breathed in deeply. Please keep Lorenzo, Mikka, Tia, and I safe. I have just found my family. I’m not ready to leave this earth when I have finally found happiness.

  After a quick lunch, the time had arrived to see what Tia and Mikka had concocted for me.

  “Close your eyes,” Tia instructed. “Don’t open them until we’re done with your hair and makeup.”

  “All right.” I trusted my friend completely and did as I was asked, even though my curiosity was eating away at me.

  To my surprise, I had to step into tight pants. “Ahem. You do realize that this is the finale, right? Shouldn’t I be fancy?”

  The girls giggled. “Don’t worry,” Mikka said, and I could practically hear the eye-rolling in her voice. “You’ll be very glamorous.” She attached something to my shoulders that reached the ground and then moved to my upper body, carefully sliding my arms into a tight, yet light material.

  Something came around my neck that felt like a long necklace. They braided my hair and pulled it up, pushing several sharp combs into it that doubled as weapons. I swallowed hard, realizing that they were making a warrior goddess out of me. My outfit would be gorgeous, but it would also be functional, allowing me to fight. Because no matter how much Lorenzo and Mikka would help me, I would have to fight against Madam and Rumpelstiltskin and whatever magic reserves they had from Acacia.

  So deep was I in my thoughts that I barely noticed Mikka applying makeu
p until Tia said, “All done. You can open your eyes.”

  A gasp escaped me as I saw myself in the mirror. My body was clothed in a tight black material with a sheen to it that looked as if it had been spun by a magician. Gold thread ran down my costume in geometrical shapes that made me look like a fierce warrior queen. My feet were in black boots, also with golden accents that ended right below my knees. My hands were covered in black gloves that didn’t feel stifling despite the summer heat. The detachable cape was baby blue, its edges adorned with golden thread. It simultaneously softened the look and gave me authority and a regal air. Somehow, my friends had managed to make me look like a goddess and an heir to the throne.

  “It’s beautiful,” I breathed. “You’ve outdone yourself.”

  The girls high-fived one another. “Do you like your hair and makeup?”

  I stepped closer to the mirror and touched the diadem glowing on my head. It matched the shade of my metallic eyeshadow while my lips were painted a cruel wine red that promised pain and retribution. It was perfect. I turned and hugged the girls. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

  They smiled. “You’re welcome. Now go and kick some Fontaine and Rumpelstiltskin butt.”

  I chewed my lip. “I’m not exactly inconspicuous in this. Do you have something to cover it up with?”

  Mikka chortled. “You’re already wearing it, silly.” She pulled the light blue fabric around my shoulders and clasped it together in the front, making it look like a floating dress that would let me pass for a rich merchant’s daughter or a lower court member.

  A knock sounded from the door. “Come in,” I called.

  Lorenzo stepped into the room, studying me silently.

  “What do you think?” I shifted from foot to foot.

  “It’s perfect.” He brushed my lips gently.

  “What’s this?” I asked, noticing the gray patrolman uniform he was wearing.

  “I’m your guard for the night.”

  “Ah, I see.” It made sense I would have one if I was pretending to pass for a lower court member. I glanced at Tia. “Are you staying here?” I wanted her to be safe, but a selfish part of me wished she could be at the palace for moral support.

  She scowled. “Absolutely not.”

  Mikka winked. “We’ll slip in with the other spectators and help if you need us.”

  “Please keep her safe.”

  My words earned me a jab straight in the ribs from Tia, but Mikka nodded in understanding and said, “Will do.”

  “Ready?” Lorenzo asked.

  I hugged Tia and Mikka one last time, not saying goodbye because I refused to entertain the idea that this was the last time I saw them.

  Lorenzo and I walked toward the river. I deliberately looked out onto the water during the gondola ride, watching the stars twinkle above in the night sky. It was around nine now. The semifinals would start at ten. The finale would happen around midnight, and the celebrations would go early into the morning. Celebrations, what wishful thinking. There was no way Madam would let Arcadia have those. Even if we defeated her, there would be losses on our side. Innocent citizens would get caught in the crossfire. Not wanting to think about what would happen to me, I focused on my surroundings, memorizing every building we passed. Lorenzo didn’t push me to talk, and I was grateful for that. It was only when we got off the boat that he said, “I’m going to blend in while you make your great entrance and stay hidden so that Madam thinks you’re there by yourself.”

  I sighed. “She’ll never fall for that. Once she sees me, she’ll know that you, Mikka, and Tia are there as well.”

  He nodded. “But she won’t know where we’ll attack from.”

  “If the situation gets out of control, I want Mikka to take Tia home.”

  He sighed. “You know Tia will never agree to that. And to be honest, she might be safer surrounded by people.”

  I nodded slowly. If I had been drugged with a nightmare potion while asleep, someone could easily snatch Tia from our home. “All right. Just please keep an eye on her.”

  “I will.” Lorenzo smiled.

  “What’s so funny?”

  He squeezed my hand before releasing it quickly, needing to keep up appearances. After all, a guard shouldn’t get too cozy with his employer. “You. You’re about to face the enemy and be in direct line of danger, and yet, all you worry about is your friend.”

  “And you and Mikka.”

  “That’s not what I meant. I meant you’re selfless. Another person in your position would think about themselves.”

  A warmth filled my heart at his words. “I don’t want to die, but if I do, I’ll die a happy woman. I found you. I found myself. I’ll die knowing that I was loved and that I was in balance with myself.”

  Lorenzo’s violet-green eyes glittered. “Sometimes, when you talk like this, I start to believe that you’re the one who’s over two hundred years old, not me.”

  I chuckled. “I’m an old soul.”

  “Indeed, you are, Halia Bright.”

  Goosebumps exploded over my back at the passionate way my name rolled off his tongue.

  Our talk was put to an end when people pressed in from all sides, and we were forced into a line. We were almost at the palace gates now. With so many people in front of me, I couldn’t see far ahead. Thus, I stumbled along with the others, not daring to ask Lorenzo for any more advice in case a spy of Madam’s overheard me. Anyhow, in the end, I would have to listen to my intuition. This wouldn’t be a fair fight. Madam and Rumpelstiltskin had many more resources than we did. Anything could happen, and I was ready to deal with whatever they threw into my path to rescue the queen and the kingdom.

  No one around me paid me much attention, and thankfully, the guards were more interested in checking that I didn’t have any weapons on me, then my identity, which made me realize that Lorenzo hadn’t brought any blades with him. How was he planning to fight Madam and Rumpelstiltskin? I was certain they would sneak in some weapons.

  Once we were far away from the guards, I whispered, “Please tell me you used some magic to conceal weapons on your body.”

  Lorenzo smirked. “Nope. I’m trying to stay away from the fae these days.”

  Good call, but…

  “Don’t worry. I’ll get some from the weapons chamber in the palace.”

  I swallowed hard. “Is that a really good idea?” He could teleport and all, but if he was caught, it wouldn’t end well.

  “I’ll be careful, I promise.” He glanced at my hair. “Don’t forget, all of the combs are as sharp as blades.”

  I nodded, even as I hoped I wouldn’t have to use them. I might’ve stabbed Acacia a few times, but that didn’t mean I had grown comfortable around weapons or violence.

  “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” With that, Lorenzo disappeared into the crowd. I knew it had to be this way, no promises, no kisses, and yet my heart ached. I really didn’t want this to be our parting words. I shook my head. No negative thinking. I had no room for it. I needed to get a grip on myself.

  I pushed my way toward the stage, taking in the massive courtyard. Everywhere I looked were spotless colorful buildings with gold details. In the center was the palace, its high turrets with the dark-blue roofs reaching into the sky. The palace was only minutes away from all the concert-goers, and thus, within reach of our enemies. I gritted my teeth and brought my attention to the layout of the stage and auditorium. The stage had been erected in front of one of the courtyard buildings. A bit away from it was a smaller dais with three seats for the judges, and a higher, gilded dais with two thrones for the monarchs. Additionally, there was an elevated rectangular area with fifty or so seats. It was above the standing commoners but below the two daises, making me guess that it was for the courtiers.

  To get to the stage, I needed to work my way through the crowd, which had gathered in front of it. As I did so, I earned glares, which melted away as the early birds took in my getup. Thankfully, everyone seemed to see th
e rich court girl Mikka and Tia had made me into and didn’t recognize me. When I reached the front, I waited, knowing I couldn’t afford to do anything until everyone was on the stage, and Madam believed that I had been eliminated.

  The minutes trickled by painfully slowly, even though I had to wait less than half an hour until the show started.

  Mr. Goodwin and his assistant, Henry, came out onto the stage first and inclined their heads to the judges. They bowed deeply to the king to whom I only shot a brief glance, afraid I would miss something critical happening on stage. Then Henry made a motion with his hand, and the Fontaine sisters sauntered onto the stage. Their frothy pink gowns with white accents reminded me of a sugary strawberry cake, but the crowd applauded loudly. Next came the two male heartthrobs, Deryll Mortimer and Hendrix Cash, their scorching eyes and toned bodies sending the female attendees over the moon. Lana Shay, the female singer who looked like a model and had been securing gigs for years, also received a lot of attention. As soon as she was on the stage, I slipped toward the back of the stage, planning to make my entrance from the side wing as the other contestants had.

  “This area is off-limits.” A guard blocked my path.

  “I’m Halia Bright. I’m the sixth contestant.”

  He glanced me up and down, and recognition flashed in his eyes, but he fought it. “Halia Bright won’t be performing. She’s indisposed.”

  “Escort me to the stage,” I sang, not wanting to have to explain over and over who I was.

  He nodded slowly. “All right, but we need to hurry. You’re late.”

  I gave him a sweet smile. “After you.”

  He guided me past five more sets of guards, through the changing room, and onto the steps that led to the stage.

  “Thank you for welcoming our contestants,” Mr. Goodwin said. “As you can see, they are only five. Miss Halia Bright had to drop out due to being unwell.”