Charmed

by Jen Calonita

  “But, Mother,” Azalea whines, pulling at her pearls, “we’re the only two girls at the Royal Academy without glass slippers! Everyone has a Cobbler pair but us.”

  A Cobbler pair? My name is famous! I’m starting to like this. Finally, our family has some respect.

  “Too bad.” Flora takes the boxes from the girls and hands them to Blackbeard. I watch Madame Cleo cast a spell through the mirror and poof! The boxes disappear. Dahlia whimpers. “They’re mine for safekeeping,” the Wicked Stepmother says. “I won’t return them to the shop, because that would affect Gillian’s father’s sales, but you will not be receiving the shoes ’til you’ve learned your lesson about lying and spending.”

  “A walk on the plank would work,” Blackbeard whispers in Flora’s ear. I see her wince. Pirates don’t have the best breath. “Have Cleo put a few sharks in the waters, and I promise those poppets will never touch a Magic Express card again.”

  Azalea begins rummaging in the one bag Cleo’s charm missed. The Red’s Ready for Anything Kit is still there, and Azalea opens it and pulls out something called a Quick Cover Stink Bomb that I can only guess she’s about to toss his way.

  “I can assure you, Miss Azalea, that the effects of that can in your hand are spotty at best,” Professor Wolfington says, looking anything but alarmed. “May I suggest saving that for an unsuspecting garden gnome, perhaps?” Wolfington should know. He’s tangled with Little Red Riding Hood before.

  “Azalea, we do not spray teachers,” Flora says wearily. “And that kit is going back.” She turns to the pirate. “Thank you for the suggestion, Professor Blackbeard. I think I’ll save the plank for another day.”

  “Aye. Suit yerself, lass.” Blackbeard looks disappointed.

  Azalea raises her hand. “We aren’t reform school students.” She glares at me. “So can we be excused? We were just in the village to go shopping.”

  Flora sighs. “Yes, but you should know that all of you students have two weeks of detention with Madame Cleo and Blackbeard.” We groan. “And, girls, I will be by your quarters later to speak to you further.” Azalea and Dahlia do a lot of huffing as they shuffle past us. I notice Azalea trying to hide a Pinocchio bag behind her hoop skirt, but Flora takes it out of her hands as she passes.

  “How’d you even know we were missing?” I ask when they’re gone. That is the part I still don’t understand. It’s not like we had to check in, since there was no classes. I smell a rat.

  “I told them.”

  I turn my head toward the open stable doors and stare at the girl in black who has her arms folded across her chest. Jocelyn. (Professor Harlow always said a person’s stance gives their mood away. That’s one thing she was right about.)

  “Why do you have to stick your nose where it doesn’t belong?” I snap.

  “Me?” Jocelyn looks like I just told her black was the new pink. “You’re the one who Broke. Out. Of. The. School. I was doing you a favor! It’s dangerous out there with Alva on the loose, and you sure as bread crumbs can’t take care of yourself.”

  I give an exaggerated laugh. “As if you’re worried about my safety.”

  “I’m not worried about you,” Jocelyn snaps. “I’m worried you’ll lead the rest of your crew into harm’s way. You only worry about yourself.”

  I wish she would stop saying that! “Yes, wanting to see your sister captured and Alva put out of commission to protect Enchantasia is very selfish,” I say sarcastically.

  “Thanks to you, your sister has her first FTRS offense.” Jocelyn holds up a mini magical scroll as proof and I pale. They know Anna helped us? “Like I said, selfish. At least my sister puts me first. She went off to spy on Alva and kept me here where she knows I’ll be safe.”

  Jax and I burst out laughing. “You think Harlow broke out to spy on Alva?” I ask, looking at Flora, whose expression is blank. “You really are as crazy as your sister.” Jocelyn lunges for me, and Blackbeard extends his sword to keep us both apart.

  The Wicked Stepmother purses her lips. “Enough stalling! Why did you sneak out of school today?” No one answers. “Believe me, you do not want the amount of detention I will give if you don’t tell me what you were up to.”

  I refuse to say anything. It’s just my way. Innocent until you can prove me guilty! I look at the others, hoping they’re just as strong as I am.

  But Kayla cracks. “We wanted to talk to someone at Happily Ever After Scrolls because we think someone there knows who the mole is in the castle,” she blurts out.

  The rest of us moan. “Kayla, remind me never to tell you my secrets,” Ollie complains.

  Kayla makes a face. “No! I’ve lied for too long. This time I’m coming clean. They can help us.” She turns to Wolfington. “We’re pretty sure someone there is sending Maxine clues.”

  “What clues, lass?” Blackbeard asks.

  Kayla falters when she sees my face. “I…have this one we got today in the village. It mentions me.” The teachers look at each other.

  Wolfington takes Kayla’s scroll and studies it. “Do you think it’s been bewitched with dark magic?” he asks Flora.

  “It doesn’t appear to have any spells on it, but we can have Madame Cleo examine it closer.” She puts it in her pocket and Maxine sighs. “You children know better than to try to tackle a problem like Alva on your own. Have you learned nothing from what happened last time?”

  “Last time we saved the day,” I remind Flora, who does not seem to like my answer. “We’re onto something here.”

  “You children need to let us handle things,” Professor Wolfington says. “We have eyes everywhere, and we’ll take care of Alva and this mole.”

  “But—”

  “No buts, buckaroo.” Blackbeard cuts me off. “We got that Rumpel matey protecting the school and—”

  “Professor Blackbeard!” Flora says.

  The rest of us look at each other.

  “You’re letting Rumpelstiltskin protect the school?” Kayla asks quietly.

  “That dude is crazy!” Ollie agrees.

  “Did you ask him about my family?” Kayla asks. “Does he know where they are?”

  Flora puts a hand kindly on Kayla’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. He wouldn’t talk about your family. He was here for reasons I cannot discuss at this time.”

  “Reasons that not all of the professors agree with,” Professor Wolfington lets slip, and Flora’s look is stern. “I believe there are better ways to protect FTRS.”

  “Agreed, darlings! We don’t need his help here,” Madame Cleo says.

  “That is my choice and it’s not something I want to discuss!” Flora is losing her patience. She glances at Blackbeard, who pretends to polish his sword. “But yes, he’s protecting the school since the royal court would not. Alva is waging a war to take over this kingdom and using the students at our school to do it. I will not let all our good work be in vain, so yes, I made a deal with him and it’s one I will have to live with!” She realizes she’s shouting and stops.

  “That’s why you met with him?” Kayla’s lower lip quivers. “You probably never even asked about my family! You don’t care about me at all!” She runs from the stables.

  “Kayla!” I yell. “Wait!” I turn to Flora. “How could you do that to her?”

  “You can’t talk to the headmistress like that,” Jocelyn says.

  “Since when do you stick up for the headmistress? Keep your nose out of our business!”

  A loud wolf whistle silences our bickering.

  “That will be quite enough,” says Professor Wolfington. “You two must learn that in life we sometimes have to work with those we don’t like to fight for the greater good.” I open my mouth to protest and Jocelyn does the same. “I know you don’t trust each other, but if we want to stop Alva, we’re all going to have to work together. Understood?” We both nod, but I don’t want to.

  Flora runs a hand over her skirt to smooth it. “Now, please proceed back to your quarters and let us examin
e Maxine’s mini magical scroll. Saving the kingdom is not a job for children.”

  I exhale loudly and we all trudge out of the stables. Jocelyn is with us, much to my chagrin.

  “Dude, we can’t let Rumpel help our school,” Ollie says. “He worked with Alva before, and he will again. Our professors have lost their minds! They’ll never find the mole.”

  Neither will we at this rate. Our breakout was a bust! If we’re going to find the mole, I need to get out of this castle and do some sleuthing on my own. But how do I break out again? There is no way out unless... The RLWs! They get to go to Royal Manor. Hmm... It couldn’t hurt to get chummy with some of those annoying RLWs anyway. I’m sure one of them knows the mole the way they were going on about their mission to protect themselves. I’m onto something here! Hmm…I wonder what Princess Ella will give my family if I save the whole kingdom again.

  “What are we going to do?” Maxine asks.

  “I just remembered somewhere I have to be,” I say as the others continue talking.

  “We’re kind of in a jam here,” Jax says. “Don’t you want to talk about this?”

  “We can at dinner.” I have no idea how long that royal tea is. “Or tomorrow!”

  “Where are you going?” Maxine asks, but I don’t answer. I run as fast as I can so that no one catches up with me.

  I’m back in the castle and three hallways down when I finally see the gold plaque with a bouquet of fresh pink roses on the door. I don’t bother knocking. I burst through the door. The RLWs see me and stop talking. Princess Rose steps forward.

  “Um, is it too late for me to join in?” I ask, trying to sound proper and failing.

  “Not at all. I’d be delighted if you joined us, Miss Gillian,” Princess Rose says.

  And just like that, I’m in—and ready to go undercover on my own.

  CHAPTER 10

  Simply Charming

  Princess Rose rings a bell, and the RLWs in attendance stop whispering and stand at attention.

  “Thank you for joining me for today’s special ceremony,” she says in a reverent tone as I stand beside her and do my best not to cringe. “It’s been two intense days of royal prep work with Miss Gillian Cobbler in my private chambers, but I am pleased to say today that she is officially ready to join you as a Royal Lady-in-Waiting!”

  The RLWs clap demurely. They’re dressed head to toe in pink (I’m still wearing my blue uniform) and have on pink sashes that look like Princess Rose’s. She places one over my head, pins a gold rose pin on my lapel, and makes my welcome into the club official. The girls applaud louder. I think I’m going to throw up.

  This is the first time I’ve been in the club chambers for more than a few moments. When I burst into their tea the other afternoon and announced my desire to join, Princess Rose explained that I would have to do some intense “royal thinking” with her before becoming a member. (I wasn’t even allowed to stay long enough to have a tea biscuit.)

  Turned out “royal thinking” was code for two days of lady training and questions like: “How would a royal slay a dragon?” Answer: “Have someone else do it for them.” So far, Princess Rose hasn’t said anything that has helped me in the mole hunt. If anything, spending so much time with her has only made my life thornier. I’ve missed meals with my friends and my excuses (Extra detention! Vegetable picking in the garden! Private fencing lesson! Magic Carpet extra help!) are wearing thin.

  I just hope becoming a member of this club is worth my time. The smell of roses in this room is overpowering. So is the color pink on the walls, the carpet, and the cotton candy–tinted couches. I let my eyes adjust to the frilly lace curtains and throw pillows on every seat. Flora’s daughters, Azalea and Dahlia, eye me skeptically as they stand there in rainbow-hued gowns. I have to watch what I say around those two.

  “To Gillian!” Princess Rose cheers. She points a pink wand at the ceiling and confetti and balloons fall, nearly blinding me with glitter. Everyone cheers. A few pieces get in my mouth and I sputter. “Have a seat next to me,” Rose adds, and sits in the center of her adoring group on a hot-pink throne. The princess is (shocker) wearing her signature color and her blond hair is pulled back in a long braid. I quickly tuck in my dress shirt, which I just noticed was hanging out of my skirt. This silly sash is making that easy task nearly impossible.

  “Girls!” Raza, a sprite foreign exchange student from a reform school in Hadingford, jumps out of her seat in a very unladylike fashion. I’m just saying. “It’s time for our pledge.” The merriment in the room dies down as all the ladies stand, wave their handkerchiefs in the air, and face Rose. I try to copy them, but I haven’t memorized the whole pledge yet. Tessa leads the RLWs as they speak in harmony.

  “I solemnly swear that I will uphold the Royal Ladies-in-Waiting pledge with my whole heart. I will honor the royals who give tirelessly on commoners’ behalf by:

  being a good and obedient servant,

  answering our royals’ call to duty whenever or whatever it may be,

  being the lady they need me to be despite my common (or unremarkable) upbringing,

  putting their needs before my own no matter the cost,

  and remembering that wearing this pink sash means I am worthy of being a princess even though it’s impossible for me to actually be one.

  Nevertheless, I will cherish the opportunity to serve royalty to the best of my ability all the days of my life and consider myself charmed.”

  Are these girls missing a screw or what? Worthy of being a princess even though I can’t be one? Charmed because I can serve royalty?

  Princess Rose gives them a standing ovation. “Charming!” She curtsies and they do the same. I tumble into Raza on my attempt.

  “A few orders of business before we begin.” Tessa produces a scroll. “The Royal Ladies-in-Waiting spent our day off this week shining glass slippers and jewels for the princesses under the watchful eyes of Pete and the Dwarf Police Squad, and we were so honored to do so! We are very much looking forward to visiting Princess Ivy’s talk ‘Sorcery: A Royal’s Greatest Gift or Downfall?’ and were pleased that our royal offering of lilies was accepted with charm by Princess Snow. Our next RLW fund-raiser—pink, scented handkerchiefs—is sure to be a huge seller at school,” she adds with a squeak. “Who couldn’t use a little color pick-me-up in our dreary school uniforms?” I bite my lip to keep from laughing.

  “The royal court will be most pleased. Well, I know I will be,” Rose adds somewhat sadly. “It pains me to know my fellow princesses have done nothing to help protect FTRS from Alva’s wrath. My job is to serve you as you serve me, and I will stand by you and this school in its time of need.”

  “Thank you, Princess!” a girl calls out and everyone curtsies again. The move happens so quickly that several girls and fairies bump heads.

  “I know together we RLWs will prevail against evil,” Princess Rose says. “Like Gillian here.” She looks at me. “I’ve admired the way you’ve handled yourself at FTRS since the first day I saw you. Never becoming too much like the masses or conforming. Just doing what feels right.”

  I’m a bit surprised to hear this. “Really?”

  “Yes!” She places a hand on my arm. “I myself am this way. Of course, you can only rest on one act of bravery for so long.” She smiles thinly. “If you and your family are going to continue to be seen in a wonderful light, you have to think about what you will do to help Enchantasia next.” My stomach plummets at the thought of my family losing what they’ve just gained.

  She pats my hand. “Don’t worry. You’ll figure it out. You need to harness your own power. If you want something, you take it. Don’t wait for anyone to give it to you,” she says, sounding fierce. “That’s what I’m teaching the girls. It’s important to charm the world to get what you want out of it.”

  I’ve noticed the princess uses the word “charmed” a lot, but the sentiment doesn’t sound too shabby, if I’m being honest. Power is something I could use more of. T
hink of how I could use it to help my family and others! “You’re a smart princess,” I say and am surprised to hear the words come out of my mouth.

  “Thank you!” Rose smiles. “My fellow princesses might disagree, but a princess in power can do so much more than just sit and look pretty in a carriage. Look at me. I’m making things happen that no one would expect from a former sleeping beauty. I don’t just stay in the castle. I’m out at FTRS, meeting our people and working to help you all gain the power you deserve. Don’t you deserve a say in how your kingdom is run?”

  “Yes!” the girls agree, and I find myself saying the same. We all need a say in how things are done around here. The royal court is wrong to leave FTRS hanging, and Flora is crazy to not want our help when we offer it.

  “Alva is offering power,” pipes up a pixie in the back, and everyone turns and looks at her with a gasp. I listen closely. “She says if we follow her, we’ll have a say in running the kingdom. All we have to do is join her side.”

  A troll girl speaks up. “Would that be so bad? If we’re with Alva, we’d have the kind of power you speak of, Princess Rose. No one messes with a villain.” A few people mumble in agreement.

  “Look at all the attacks on the Royal Manor and FTRS and in the village that have happened by being against Alva,” Raza adds. “No one is able to stop her. Well, Gilly did for a half a second, but Alva will be back and this time she’ll have numbers.”

  I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I have to tell Jax and the others. I go to stand.

  But wait. He doesn’t know I’m here. I need to get more than pixie bread crumbs before I go blabbing about a discussion.

  “Having power is something we all want more of,” Rose says thoughtfully. “But you have to decide: Do you have power if you’re following Alva’s orders? I believe we should choose our own destiny. My goal is to make changes that will help everyone, not just one villain.” We take in what Rose is saying. “We should start today’s meeting. Azalea, could you tell us what’s on today’s schedule?”

  Azalea stands and curtsies. Rose curtsies, the group curtsies, and I feel like we’re going to curtsy back and forth for hours. Thankfully, Azalea produces a scroll and begins to read. “Today’s Royal Lady-in-Waiting challenge is conversation starters. As we are working on our RLW conversation patch, we will practice having a chat with a fellow commoner and practice how to talk with a royal.”