Deadly Witch: Cinderella Reimagined with Witches and Angels (Seven Magics Academy Book 4)

by RaShelle Workman

  I chuckled. “He’ll be there, and really he’s been nothing but charming. It’s his father who doesn’t seem to like me.”

  Snow took a deep breath, returned to her normal serious self. “Why does going to a party make you cry?”

  I sat up. “The party will be fine. It isn’t that…” I paused and rubbed my eyes. How did I tell her everything? How did I tell her about the posies, and Polly? About Quilla and Anna Belle? How could I—

  “Just tell me, Cin. Tell me what’s going on with you. I’m listening.” She touched my arm and I looked at her.

  “Okay.” I thought about where to begin. “There’s a woodland fairy named Anna Belle who’s cursed and changes randomly into two gigantic bunnies,” I said. “I have a fairy godmother; her name is Quilla. She’s allergic to magic. Then there’s Polly, the girl who is also a rose. She asked me to help her save this world. She said I’m her sister.” I shook my head. “I’ve been there a week and I haven’t done anything really, just walked around the castle. Plus, well, I’m still so sad about Gabe. How could he be such a jerk? And Leo is kind… to me, to everyone I’ve seen him come in contact with, and I feel at home there, but at the same time I’m also lost and lonely.” A tear trickled down my cheek. “Does that make any sense?”

  “I get that.” She shrugged. “Why not stay here? Don’t go back.”

  I started, and my heart began to race. It was my moment of clarity. I had a choice. I could stay and forget about all of it. Then I remembered Polly and Anna Belle. They needed me there. I still wasn’t sure why, but I needed to get back. “I can’t.”

  “Remember when we were little, and your dad would give us each a giant plate full of pasta?”

  “Of course. I remember the tummy ache after working to finish the whole thing.” I wondered where she was going with that.

  “As we got older, we were able to eat more and more. That’s all you need to do. Take what you’re doing, who you’re meeting, what you’ll become, one bite at a time, ‘kay?”

  I smiled. “I like it. Thanks for the pep talk.”

  “Welcome. Is that it?”

  “How do I do all I need to and not feel so lost at the same time?” I studied her and she smiled.

  “One bite at a time. Trust me, I understand feeling lost. Better than you can possibly imagine.”

  “You saying being the vampire queen isn’t all it’s cracked up to be?”

  Snow snorted. “Let’s just say if I could choose to go back to the way things were before Christopher bit me, I might consider it.”

  “But then, what about Señor Saucy Pants?” I meant Dorian, of course.

  Snow burst out laughing. Sucked in a breath and purred. Like, actually made a rumbling sound in the back of her throat. “We still would’ve ended up together, I promise you that. He’s…” She trailed off and I had a momentary pang of jealousy. Why couldn’t I have that?

  I wanted to smack the smug right out of her voice. “So glad one of us is happy,” I admitted, knowing my time was nearly up. “I need to go.”

  “You will be too. I know it. Have fun at your party.” She stood and I did too.

  She hugged me and I returned it before stepping back and closing me eyes. I took hold of the hourglass and thought Polonias and my room. The witch mists were noisier this time, like they recognized me, and I knew I needed to keep away from them. After several moments, I opened my eyes and sighed with relief. I was back in my room in Polonias. The clock said my party started in five minutes. Crap! Well, at least I hadn’t missed it. Using magic, I did my hair and makeup and had the dress cinched up. Then I slid on my glass slippers.

  A knock sounded at my door.

  Chapter 18

  Leo stood there looking handsome in a blue and silver jacket and black pants, the ends tucked into shiny black boots. His sandy-colored hair was combed back, but one lock kept falling over his right eye. He whipped it out of his face, then brushed his hair back with his fingers. Perfect lips curved upward in a smile as I watched his eyes slide from my face down my body and back up again.

  “You look very beautiful, Cinderella. I hope you don’t mind if I escort you to the party.”

  I smiled, glad he was there, that I didn’t have to go alone. “Thank you,” I responded. “I would like that very much.” Especially since I didn’t know where the party was being held.

  Leo stuck out his elbow and I took it. We walked together down the hall, past several closed doors, through a large sitting area, down several sets of stairs until we finally arrived at a grand ballroom. It was twice the size of the one in Pops’ house.

  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 next to a fountain of pink liquid. Round tables covered in thick blue 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 cool 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 be 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 had, 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 flowing into the next. It was breathtaking, but way out of my league.

  Leo’s bottom lip brushed against my earlobe and I shuddered. “You can with magic,” he whispered.

  I turned into him so I could see his eyes. “Really?”

  “Yes.” He took my hands in his. This time I was prepared for the cooling-warm jolt his touch brought, 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?”

  My body already responded as though it knew the steps since before I was born. I grinned. “Yeah, actually. I do.”

  I allowed him to lead me onto the floor. People observed us as we progressed to the middle. Then Leo spun me into his arms. “Here we go,” he said, and our bodies began to move just like the others. Those dancing stopped to watch, but only for a moment. Soon they began dancing along 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 released me, and my body shuddered. “That was magical,” I said.

  His eyes raked over me. “That it was.” He took my hand. I realized we were the only ones left on the dance floor. Everyone’s focus was elsewhere, and they spoke with excited whispers. I sighed with relief until I felt Leo’s body get stiff.

  “What’s the matter? Did something happen? 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 that moment I didn’t notice the decorations, including the trees potted and resting along all of the walls. Before my eyes, they bloomed into flowers of all shapes, sizes and colors. My breath caught in my throat. “How beautiful,” I said, stepping closer to Leo.

  From the way everyone was speaking and the tension in the room, I got the feeling the trees’ blooming wasn’t a regular occurrence. “Is this 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 finally g
rasped something he hadn’t believed before. Like he didn’t believe what Polly said until that moment. 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.

  “You hungry?”

  “A little,” I said, only the teeniest bit nervous.

  Leo led me over to a table where his father and two other people were sitting. He held the chair for me, and I sat while he pushed the chair under the table. I was impressed by his chivalry. Most of the boys back home seemed to be under the impression that chivalry was truly dead. Not that I could blame there. There were a lot of women who didn’t like when men did anything for them because they took it to mean they were more, and we were less. I didn’t see it that way at all. Chivalry was kindness.

  Once Leo was seated, food appeared in front of us. It looked like a vegetable soup and smelled delicious. I was hungry but didn’t move to eat it because I worried about doing something I shouldn’t. What were the customs of Polonias, especially when around the king? I peeked over to see what the king was doing. He seemed to be waiting for something. I noticed one of the other women seated near him picked up her spoon and sipped.

  Leo leaned over. “It’s custom for the ladies to take the first bite, and then the men will follow.”

  “Oh.” Crap, they were waiting on me. I picked up my spoon and dipped it into the soup, lifted it to my lips, and tasted. It was every bit as delicious as it smelled. Leo and the other men followed and soon, thank goodness, everyone was eating.

  Glasses filled with something dark red. Thirsty, I moved to take a drink, but paused, leaning into Leo. “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.”

  “Okay.” I put my empty hand back in my lap and waited, thinking the king would probably 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 brave?” I tried not to sound condescending, but I don’t think I pulled it off.

  ***

  When the soup course was finished, the bowls and wine glasses disappeared. Thankfully I was able to empty my glass before it vanished. The second course was 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 as I waited for a blasted man to drink from his glass.

  When no one did, I leaned over to Leo. “Care to take a drink so I can?” I winked and he chuckled.

  “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 only they could hear. Finally Leo set his glass down. “I—” Leo began, but 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 eternally.” The king lifted his glass. Everyone followed, and a sea of hands, each holding their own glass of champagne, echoed the king.

  “To Cinderella,” they repeated, cheering before toasting in what seemed like a happy manner, then the moment was gone. The men drank first followed by the women before everyone returned to whatever they were doing before. A feeling of loneliness swept over me. That was the worst part about being here. Feeling like I didn’t have any friends.

  With time, I thought Leo and I could be friends. It felt like we were on our way toward that sort of bond. I glanced over at the prince. He was about to take a bite of salad.

  “What?” he asked, then stuck the forkful into his mouth. I enjoyed watching his lips move.

  “Nothing.” I popped a pear into my mouth, enjoying the sweet flavor. Before I could say more, the lights flickered once, and then again, and then went out.

  “Having a party without me? How typical.” The voice was female 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 over one shoulder and down to her hips. Her black dress glistened like eel skin, the collar low, barely covering her breasts. A slit in the hem went up to the middle of her thigh. She wore some type of ankle boots; in the glowing red light they seemed to writhe and hiss like snakes in a cage.

  “Where is she? Where is the girl who’s destined to save this world?” She raised her voice to ask the questions, searching the room until her eyes fell on the king.

  Scared whisperings drifted along the air.

  “She’ll kill us.”

  “Why has she come?”

  “Tell the sorceress where Cinderella is.”

  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. The occupants wailed and screamed in fear.

  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 had taught me.

  Leo placed his hand in mine and rose beside me. I could feel the tension in his body, but I didn’t have time to worry about whether I upset him.

  “Mizrabel, leave this castle at once. You are not welcome here,” Leo said. Each word sounded like the boom of a drum and sent a shiver of trepidation down my spine.

  In the next instant, the lights came back on. Mizrabel sauntered over to us. I studied her and realized she was probably beautiful once. Her eyes were black as coal, and even her lips were dark. I wondered if she wore black lipstick or if she came by the color naturally. As she came closer, I could see the veins through her paper white skin. Black blood seemed to pump through them.

  Mizrabel kept her eyes trained on me, studying me with the same intensity I did her. Not for the first time I tried to picture myself as she would see me. Blond hair. Perfect makeup. Lips glossed. A sweet blue dress and sparkling silver shoes. I was nothing but a child. Fear snaked through my belly and ate up all of the butterflies.

  All my life I believed I was brave. Staring at the woman before me, I realized I 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 held firm and took her hand in mine.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” I said, and immediately felt stupid.

  Her eyebrows lifted. She stared at our hands clasped together. A myriad of emotions travelled across her features. Sadness, happiness, and anger as well as others I couldn’t figure out. Finally she looked at me. “It’s nice to see you again, daughter.”

  Chapter 19

  Leo stepped between us and separated our hands. “I’ll not ask you again to leave. The next time it’ll be with a witch blade to your navel.”

  Mizrabel lifted her head and cackled. “Dear boy, don’t make threats you aren’t prepared to keep.”

  I was in shock. Had the woman 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 pounde
d as one.

  “I’ll leave as soon as I make my toast.” She spun in a circle, taking everyone in at once. A glass appeared in her hand and she raised it. “To Cinderella.” She wrapped her free hand around my waist and pulled me against her side. “To save them, she must leave them and search for the glass lyre,” she said aloud. Then leaned down to whisper in my ear. “When you find it, bring it to me. I’m not the evil monster I’m made out to be. You need my help to save this world from the Sickness. Remember that, Cinderella. My daughter.”

  She stepped back, releasing me so we were face to face.

  There were people talking loudly, but it was only background noise. In that moment, it felt like there was just Mizrabel and me and the rest of the world was nothing but landscape. Her words repeated over and over in my mind. I really wanted to ask her about the whole daughter thing, but now didn’t feel like the right time. What seemed important was finding the damn glass lyre. “Where do I begin to look?” I finally asked, not expecting an answer.

  She gave me a wicked smile before blowing some kind of red powder in my face. I flinched when it touched me and began to see stars. From what sounded like far away, I heard her say, “You’ll find it in a place you may call home beneath books and wonderous foam.”

  “Direction?” I mumbled, wiping at the powder, but feeling woozy, like I hadn’t slept in days.

  “Go home, child.” With those three words still lingering on her lips, the sorceress vanished.

  ***

  What happened after Mizrabel left was kind of a blur. People 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—so did Leo and the king. Even Anna Belle 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.