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. “AnnaBelle 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.
She didn’t though. “It’s true. We hoped to wait a while before you found out.”
“So who’s my father?” I crossed my arms and turned away. “Never mind, I don’t think I want to know.”
Quilla shut the curtains, throwing the room into darkness. “It’s better if you know everything. The sooner, the better at this point, but first you need to find the glass lyre. I spoke with Violet, the recordkeeper, and she said it’s been mentioned several times in the Life Scrolls.”
“What about Mizrabel? Why would she even suggest that I find them? Why would she try to help me?”
Quilla shrugged. “It isn’t that your mother is against us, she’s just never been with us.”
“If I go back to Salem, will you come with me?”
Quilla’s face softened and she touched my hair. “Haven’t you figured out that I’m always with you? Even if you can’t see me.”
She didn’t answer my question directly, but I got the sense if I needed her she’d be there. “Okay, well, I guess I’m going home… or back to Salem.” A lump settled in my throat. I’d be back in my room, the place where Gabe and I had spent many nights together. He’d kissed me, told me he loved me. And he’d broken up with me there. I didn’t want to go back alone.
“At least you won’t be alone.” Quilla said and opened the door.
“I won’t?”
Leo walked in. “My magic is stronger than yours. I’m going with you.”
Home Again
I liked the idea of Leo going. At the same time I didn’t. It could get awkward. “Um, that isn’t necessary, Leo.” My heart sped up.
Leo tucked his hands in his front pockets. “I’m going.” He threw his shoulders back. “That’s final, Cinderella.”
For him to use my full name made me feel like a child being scolded by an unhappy parent. I didn’t like it. Through gritted teeth I said, “Since when did you start making decisions for me?”
He signed. “This isn’t about you. It’s about this land. As the Prince I’ve been commanded to come with you.” He raised an eyebrow and I got the feeling he wanted me to understand. This had to do with his father, the King. He’d told him to go with me, which meant he had to go. He wasn’t given a choice.
“Fine,” I said. “When do you leave?”
Leo stepped close. “Now,” he said, taking my hands.
That reminded me: I needed to practice the method of travelling from this world to Earth and back again. He’s said two words. What were they again? Avardas. Stolendra. Avapa. Stolapa. I wasn’t sure. My hand made a fist around the hourglass charm tucked in my cleavage.
Leo gave me a funny look and stood next to me. He was so close I could smell him, like morning sunshine and man and citrus, a heady combination.
“Besides,” he whispered. “You need me to get you back.”
I thought about the last time we journeyed across the worlds together, of the way we’d travelled to get to Polonias. I’d been in his arms. My face grew warm.
“Right.”
The colors in the room started to swirl like mixed paint, and I didn’t even have time to say good-bye to Quilla. I focused on Leo’s face. His eyes were closed and I knew he was concentrating. I wondered if I should be doing that, too, but I wasn’t sure where he was taking us, and I would’ve hated to do anything to mess him up. It was backward from the last time: a strong heat followed by gray-black mists. This time, as we moved through the mists, I saw the shadows of those dwelling there—red and yellow eyes bored into me and I clung harder to Leo. When the wet air vanished, we stopped. Leo opened his eyes, and a little piece of my heart softened.
“You’re a good guy, right, Leo?” The question had him backed into a corner, because if he wasn’t a good guy he wouldn’t want me to know that, so he’d lie. But I hoped he was.
His hands found the belt loops at my hips and he pulled me closer. “I’m your guy, Cinderella.”
Dear Diary,
I only have a second, but I had to write because life is weird, weirder than I ever imagined, and I’ve imagined…
Worse, I’ve seen some pretty bizarre stuff. Here’s what I’ve learned: Just when I think I’ve got everything figured out, life throws a curve ball. One so huge it’s going to change my life forever.
More on that at a later date.
XOXO,
Cin
Salem
We travelled through the mists for what seemed like forever. When we stopped, I opened my eyes. Leo and I were in front of my house. A thrill shot through me.
Mom. Dad, I thought, stepping from Leo’s arms. He reached out and stopped me.
I looked at him. “What?”
“You shouldn’t go in. You sent them a letter, told them you’d be gone for a while, and we’re going to have to go back soon. Why put them through the pain of saying good-bye again?”
I stepped away from the door. “You’re right. So why bring me here then?”
He pulled me back into his arms. “Your house is the perfect place to start looking for the glass lyre.” He pushed me against his hard body. “Abrevas.” At the word we moved like ghosts through the walls, up the stairs, and into my room.
“I think I would know if I had a glass lyre in my room,” I said, regarding him.
His eyes captured mine and he held my gaze. “We need to look around just in ca
se. Sometimes things get put down and forgotten. If Mizrabel says the lyre is here in Salem…” He shrugged. “It just makes sense to start with your space—your bedroom.” He leaned down like he was going to kiss me. It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. In fact it might be great, his lips claiming mine.
I watched him glance at the bed and back at me. It was obvious what he wanted. Me and him together, rolling around in the sheets. And the old me might’ve taken him up on it. But since Gabe, my feelings for him, and Snow, the way she loved her husband… I wanted that.
A meaningless romp with someone who didn’t care about me wasn’t exciting anymore. I wanted more, a relationship like Snow’s. I wanted my own happily ever after.
Taking a deep breath, I pulled away and checked out my room. It looked exactly the same as it had when I left. Nothing had been moved. Even my clothes were still thrown over the chair near my closet.
“Do you have anything that might be considered musical or, I don’t know, something made of glass? We should check it out. See if there’s magic within it.” Leo walked over to my closet and went inside. “You have a lot of shoes,” he said, his voice muffled.
I snorted and followed him. “Yeah, so? What’s your point?” I pulled a pair of Jimmy Choos from their shelf. They were made of crystal and cost almost three thousand dollars. When my dad got the bill he had nearly blown a gasket. I thought for sure he’d take away my credit card. He didn’t, just told me not to spend that much money on a pair of shoes again. I can’t help but wonder if he let me get away with so much because of guilt or because he didn’t care one way or the other. It hurt to realize the people I believed were my parents were just puppets, pretend parents. I felt like I’d been living a lie, that everything I ever believed was a mirage.
Leo took the shoe from me, interrupting my thoughts.
“They’re glass slippers. Do these count?” I asked.
He smirked. “They’re… pretty. Definitely not the glass lyre, though. You should send them to Polonias.”
I raised a brow. So he knew what the lyre looked like? I hadn’t thought he knew, which was why we were looking around in my closet. Unless he was lying. “Leo?” I began, but he turned away, taking the other shoe.
He whispered. “Prelilith Polonias.” The shoes vanished.
“What the hell?”
“I’ve sent them back to your room. When you return to Polonias they’ll be in your closet.” He smiled. “Now what about a glass lyre? Have you seen one of those?”
I wasn’t sure how to react to him sending away my shoes without asking—without finding out if I was okay with it.
“Cindy?” Leo asked, touching my shoulder.
I needed to concentrate. Shaking my head, I sighed. “A lyre is what, exactly?” I asked, opening one of my drawers and pulling out a pale peach scarf.
“It’s like a harp you hold on your lap,” Leo answered. He opened a drawer and pulled out a pair of black lacy undies. “Nice,” he said, and I blushed.
“Put those back. There’s no glass harp in my underwear drawer.” I returned my scarf and closed the drawer. He put my undies back and shut it.
“Fine. Does this house have any secret passages, secret rooms, a basement, or an attic of some kind?”
I thought about that. “Not that I’ve ever found, and when I was younger I searched for secret places quite a bit.”
“Hmmmm, okay. Know anyone who might have a hidden passage or room?” Leo grabbed me around the waist and pushed me against the island in my closet. I felt all of him against me. For a brief second I felt a little afraid. He was coming on so strong. He grabbed my ass and pressed me hard into him. I planted my hands on his chest and pushed.
“What are you doing? Don’t.” I tried to scoot away.
He moved his hands. “Sorry. I’m just teasing, trying to lighten things up.”
“I don’t like it,” I whispered.
Anger quickly flitted across his face. It was there and gone so fast I almost wondered if I’d imagined it. He walked to the closet entrance. “Well? Do you know anyone who might have something like that?”
My mind immediately went to Professor Pops’ house: the opening in the library, behind the bookshelves in the library that led to the room downstairs. I opened my mouth to tell him, but for some reason nothing came out.
“Cinderella?”
“Oh, sorry,” I said. “Off the top of my head I can’t think of anyplace like that. Maybe we should sleep on it, get a fresh start in the morning.” I yawned and stretched, making my weariness look genuine.
“Sure. Sounds like a plan.”
“Cool. Where are we going to sleep?” I didn’t want to sleep in my room, just in case my mom or dad or one of the cleaning ladies came in.
“Well, I was hoping you’d have a suggestion.”
“I don’t… Hang on,” I said, and ran into the bathroom.
Snow White
Closing the door, I called Snow using magic. “Mirror. Mirror. Made of glass. Get me Snow. Do as I ask.”
Immediately I was able to see into Snow’s bedroom. The Vampire Queen’s husband stood naked, his handsome derriere turned toward the mirror.
“Hi,” I said quietly, trying to keep my eyes down.
He yelped. “Fu— Snow, the damn mirror’s for you.” He dashed into the bathroom, mumbling something like, “Why can’t mirrors be used the way they were intended…”
I fought back a giggle.
Snow appeared. “Hey, Cindy. Long time no chat.” She laughed, tucking a towel around her.
“What the hell do you two do all day? Are you even handling the Queenly stuff? Or do you spend all day in this room? Doing… I mean jeez, Snow.”
Snow snorted. “We’re newlyweds. I do what I need to each day, but I can’t help it. The truth is,” she leaned in close, “I love…” Snow covered her mouth, and then crossed her arms. “Being with him. I mean, lu-uhve it.”
I snorted. “Merde, yeah, sex is good stuff.” I couldn’t help but think of Leo and his brazen offer a few minutes ago. Maybe I should change my mind. It might help me relax.
“Sooooo good,” Snow said. She looked toward the bathroom and then faced me, her cheeks flushed. “I had no idea.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I put my hands in front of the mirror and shook. “I’d love to chat sex with you all day, but I have a question.”
She put her hands on her hips. “Fine. What’s up?”
“Well, I’m… no longer in Polonias. I’m in my room. Leo is with me. It’s just the two of us. Alone.” I lowered my voice. “And we need a place to stay.”
“Really? Why?” Her face darkened. “And why’s he with you? What are you doing?”
I huffed. “He’s here to help me look for a glass lyre. Ever heard of it?” I wanted to tell her about the sorceress, Mizrabel, and that she claimed to be my mother. But I didn’t. Instead I gulped down a sigh.
“You know I was at a meeting where the glass lyre was mentioned. It’s said to hold great magic and will give the one who possesses it untold power.”
“That sounds about right. Did the person at the meeting happen to say where to find it?” I leaned against the counter, suddenly wishing my biggest worry is life was what to wear to school the next day.
Snow shook her head. “No. It was actually discussed as a myth.”
“A myth? Snow, you’re a vampire and you live in a magical land with all sorts of creatures we believed were fictional not that long ago. I don’t believe in myths anymore. If someone mentioned something, it’s most likely true.”
“Possibly. I’ll ask around, but it was said the last time the lyre was seen was in Earth’s realm. I’d talk to Professor Pops, or Abernathy.”
“Okay. Thanks, Snow. I’ll let you get back to… whatever. I don’t want to know.”
“Alright. Love ya, Cin.”
I leaned in and kissed the mirror. “Love you too.” Snow waved and skirted the bed, heading into the bathroom. “Mirror. Mirror…�
��
Gabe
I brushed my teeth and then went back into the bedroom. Leo was backed against the window and Gabe had his forearm at his throat.
“What the—Gabe, stop!” I yelled, unable to move. My heart flip-flopped at seeing him again and I yearned for him. At the same time I couldn’t let him hurt Leo. That would make things worse back in Polonias, especially with Leo’s father.
Gabe released Leo and turned. His piercing green eyes bored into mine, questioning. Leo coughed and leaned over, trying to catch his breadth. The blue curtain he’d been pressed against fell back into place. I knew I should go over and help him, make sure he was all right, but Gabe’s gaze held me captive. Anger stretched across his face, but immediately softened in relief.
“Cin.” He took one giant step and scooped me into a hug, pressing my body against his.
I was momentarily lost in him, his strong arms that were so familiar. Gabe smelled light and crisp and some kind of cologne… and, and…
“Gabe.” I hugged him back, enjoying the way my body fit into every one of his hard lines. “You— ” I stopped. Saying any more would lead to fighting, and I wasn’t ready to fight. Not yet. I didn’t want to let him go.
“When I sensed you were back I came over. When I only saw that clown,” he motioned toward Leo, “and no sign of you…” Gabe hugged me tighter. “Cin, I’m sorry,” he whispered into my hair.
At the warmth of his words, my body melted. I wanted to forgive him, give him the chance to explain what was really going on. I did. Snow had given me the explanation, but I wanted to hear it from Gabe. He needed to tell me but, because he didn’t, wouldn’t, my heart and my mind weren’t in agreement.
I pushed away. “Sorry for what? Telling me you never loved me? Breaking my heart into tiny pieces and then leaving? Lying? Or maybe it’s your complete asshole persona?” As I spoke tears welled in my eyes. “Dammit, Gabe. What are you sorry for?” I pleaded with my eyes, begging him to explain.
The Cindy Chronicles: The Complete Set Page 8