Cassie nodded, and breath entered her lungs. Her arms and legs still refused to move, but she could inhale and exhale without restriction.
“Come,” Kemyss ordered. “I have someone to introduce you to, Cassie.”
Cassie was pulled along behind the witch as they moved back to the place of death.
Once there, Petunia glared at her and slapped her against the cheek again. “Don’t ruin my plans, Cinderash. I will kill you as soon as Kemyss allows me to.”
Aven only shook his head and leaned against a tree.
“Cassie, you are a part of this now whether you want to be or not. If you play your cards right, you can have a seat beside us at the victor’s table,” Miriam told her.
The monster stood there. Its large eyes almost seemed sad to her, drooping at the corners, blinking at her once, twice, three times. For a second, she thought they looked familiar. As if she knew them, the look inside them and the color.
She shook her head to clear the thought and answered her stepmother, “I won’t help you be a murderer.”
“You have no choice,” Kemys decreed stepping up beside her. “He is here because you are. I’m keeping you alive in order for him to do his job. Do you want to die, Cassie? Do you want me to have to kill him?”
Cassie didn’t know how to answer. She was willing to die but could she kill this poor creature as well? He was a manifestation of Kemyss’ plans as well.
She looked up at him. His sad eyes stared down at her. It continued to hold her gaze before taking off into the air. Its sudden departure sent a gust of wind through the area. It blew them all back a step, shook the hold Kemyss held over her, and caused the ashes on the ground to stir up.
“Let’s continue. We’ll make camp a few more miles from here. The soldiers will be coming to clear their dead. He knows what to do.” She pointed to the sky, indicating the dragon.
Fighting still, Cassie tried to break free as they walked on through the woods. They shifted north again. She had a feeling they were making for the castle.
When they made camp for the night, Kemyss tied her without rope to a tree. Cassie refused food. The dragon didn’t return. She had no idea where it might have gone, and she was afraid to find out.
Why would Kemyss need her? Why would her presence matter to the dragon? It was the connection she drew from Kemyss’ words. It was as though the dragon knew her. How?
The others slept while Cassie stayed awake and tried to think her way out of this predicament. Fighting against the spell which trapped her didn’t work. She leaned her head against the tree at her back after spending twenty minutes at it.
She was afraid there were no options. Heaving a sigh, Cassie tried to think of a way out of this dilemma.
How can I escape?
Why am I the ‘key’?
What does the dragon have to do with me?
Night had never been so long.
18
Castle Dalry
“Keep up,” Petunia sneered and pushed her.
Cassie almost tripped but regained her balance in time. The bonds she felt were only on her feet and hands this time, like invisible shackles. They were heavy even though she couldn't see them. It irritated her to have no defense.
“We are nearly there,” Kemyss told them.
Where? Cassie wanted to ask but refrained.
Since getting her voice back, she felt it was better to keep silent than to speak. The dragon had knocked all the words from her. They’d been walking since dawn. She wasn’t sure of the direction they were headed or for how long they’d been walking. The position of the sun indicated it’d been at least four or five hours.
Is Simon alive? Would he look for me if he was?
Even if Simon were alive, they wouldn't be able to fight against all this magic. It was useless. She had no idea what they could attempt to get rid of a dragon.
A dragon. In all my born days, I NEVER would have expected to see a dragon.
The beast had left them the night before, and she hadn’t seen it since. There were moments when she wondered if it was a figment of her imagination.
If only it were.
“Here we are,” Kemyss sounded pleased about thirty minutes later.
Without warning, Cassie was released from her bonds and again greeted the ground. Beyond the trees, she thought she heard music.
“It has only started. Everyone is getting to their places even as we speak. Ammandon said there was to be a meet and greet first. Tritium tried to talk him into a meeting before the ball, but Ammandon refused. We made very good time,” Kemyss mentioned, seeming to talk more to herself than to the group.
Cassie looked about but continued to see nothing but trees.
“Where are we?” she whispered.
“The palace,” Petunia’s awed voice held a note of excitement. “It’s about to begin. We’re going to make history. I can feel it.”
“I think you’re feeling the adrenaline rush of stupidity,” Cassie retorted.
Petunia slapped her along the back of her head. “Why don’t you just shut up and enjoy the fact you’re even attending this event. When the invitation came a few days ago, I tried to talk mom out of having you come. Unfortunately, she said we need you.”
“Why? Why am I here?” Cassie demanded.
“You’re still alive because of the plan. Kemyss has been waiting for this moment for two decades. You just happen to be a part of the deal.”
“What plan? What deal? Can’t you tell me already?”
“You’ll find out in enough time. There’s no reason to provide you with answers before it’s time to do so.”
“Petunia, you know whatever this plan is, it’s wrong. Please do the right thing. For once, think about someone other than yourself.”
“If pleading for my help includes insulting me, then you can imagine your plan isn’t working too well right now. Just relax, Cinderash. Soon, we’ll have what we want, and you can escape with your life.”
“Petunia!” Cassie made another attempt but was cut off when Petunia walked to the other side of the clearing.
Aven lounged against a tree to her left, and when she looked at him, he only shook his head.
“Don’t start on me,” he told her. “I’m not going to help you.”
“Aven, you know this is ridiculous. What if you end up dead? Will it be worth it? What if the king has a plan too? What if you’re all defeated?”
“It’s not going to happen. They couldn’t defeat the magic in the last war. They had the occult fighting against the occult. Turned each other against each other and look how it turned out. There’s no one to stop Kemyss now.”
“You don’t know that, Aven. Please help me!”
“Cassie,” Aven turned to face her as Miriam and Kemyss checked the clearing and made their way to the center. “You’re under some false impression that I care what you think and what happens to you. Let me be clear, I don’t. We’re finally going to get the life we deserve, so shut up.”
“Aven, you and Petunia can’t really be willing to let people die to get what you want? You’re better than that! You have to be!”
“No one is better than this, Cassie. Your mistake is thinking there’s good in everyone, and that we all want to help one another and sing songs. This is real life. We have goals which don’t involve slaving on a farm for the rest of our born days.”
“You could do something else! The king doesn’t make people do what they don’t want to! He asks for volunteers and helps people with their passions. Aven, please —”
“Shut up, Cassie. You don’t understand, and you never will.” Aven turned and went to join his sister on the other side of the clearing.
“The time has come. Are you ready, Miriam?” Kemyss stood facing her.
“Indeed,” her stepmother smiled.
“Let us begin.”
Cassie was yanked to her feet as the air began to twinkle around them. Words were whispered upon the wind, and she knew they we
re a similar language as before. In a matter of minutes, Cassie found herself and all the others dressed from head to toe in beautiful clothes.
Her dress was silk and simple. A delicate lace of mint green covered a darker silk green. The arms were long and wide with gold threaded through the green at the end of the sleeves and hem. Her feet felt warm but high off the ground. Staring down, she lifted the hem and spotted a pair of beautiful glass slippers.
Everyone looked ready to attend a ball. Miriam was dressed in a rich purple, hanging off one shoulder, and Petunia and Aven were in matching blue. Kemyss had decked herself out in all black.
Fitting for her black soul, Cassie thought.
“Think of me as your fairy godmother.” Kemyss smirked at Cassie and twisted to look at Aven and Petunia. “Keep an eye on the girl. We will meet back here at midnight. For at midnight, the real fun will begin.”
They were at the entrance to the Palace and climbing the steps before Cassie could blink. Her panic pulsed through her. She had no friends here. What could she do?
“Don’t think about running, little Cinderashes,” Kemyss whispered in her ear as they swept inside without any trouble.
The guards had been surprised to see them but allowed them to enter without the customary invitations.
“Mrs. Alasdair, you are all alive!” one guard blurted out.
“Yes, we are. We were on our way to visit family when we heard the news. We had allowed another family to rent our home while we planned to be gone. However, we couldn’t leave the area without attending the ball the king so graciously invited us too. It is a shame the other family was lost.”
Cassie’s head spun from her stepmother to the guards.
Family? What family? Did they kill them?
She opened her mouth to speak but found her voice could only squeak out a response like a mouse. Miriam's lies were easily accepted, and Cassie couldn’t warn them.
“Please head inside. King Tritium and Queen Arlyn will be delighted to see you,” the guard said and waved them inside.
“I’m sure they will,” Kemyss murmured.
Sweeping inside, Cassie took a look around the entryway of the castle. It was beautiful. Marble blue-black and white flooring, wood walls furnished with tasteful art scenes, a door to the right, double doors to the left, a long hallway in front of them with a staircase along the left wall, and servants everywhere.
Surely, someone will notice something is wrong! Cassie thought.
“Your shoes will alert me if you go past the castle walls. Your voice will only allow you to speak the customary words, so don't think you can warn anyone here. We will be watching. Remember, we leave at midnight.”
Cassie didn't want to know what would happen at midnight. She was afraid it had something to do with the dragon. Nodding, she looked around the room hoping to find someone she knew or could ask for help.
“Mrs. Kemyss,” a woman in green called out. “You look divine! I’m so excited to see you. My daughter-in-law said you helped the doctor with her birth, and it went well.”
“Yes, it was a very smooth birth. I wish they all were like that,” she responded, and both laughed.
“Well, we will have to catch up later tonight. The receiving line starts inside the ballroom’s doorway. King Iver brought his son. I wish my daughter wasn’t already married, or I would hope for a union with him. He’s beautiful.”
“Most young men are,” Kemyss joked, kissing the woman on both cheeks before moving away.
Cassie felt her feet compelled to follow. A few others in the entryway greeted Kemyss. Miriam was talking to another woman a few feet away. Petunia already had a few men surrounding her and vying for her attention. Aven had disappeared.
Any time she was greeted, she smiled and forced polite words of greeting from her lips. She sounded as if she were grating every sound her mouth made. For some reason, no one noticed or attributed it to her loss.
“Cassie, I’m so sorry to hear about your father,” one neighbor told her. Cassie couldn’t recall the woman’s name. It had been ages since she’d seen her, and she’d been under the impression that the woman had died.
“Th-thank you,” Cassie stuttered out with a sigh.
“When my girl came by to see if you all needed anything and bring a casserole, after we’d heard, she found your home burnt down. The neighbors all came running to save you all. They found four bodies. We were sure you were dead!”
“We were g-one. An-other fam-ily had rented it,” Cassie lied. Her lips wouldn’t even allow her to form the truth. She swallowed and tried again, “We were for-tunate—not to be there. It is s-ad the fam-ily was there in-stea-d and perished.”
Having attempted to actually say, “My stepmother and Kemyss are murderers, and they’re here to kill the king.” Cassie wasn’t surprised those words didn’t leak out.
“Indeed, indeed. Well, if your family needs anything, please don’t hesitate to ask! We would be happy to help in any way we can. Do you have somewhere to stay?”
Miserable, Cassie nodded.
“Good, my dear. Come visit sometime soon. I’ll make your favorite poppy-seed bread. I bet you thought I’d forgotten? It’s been a while since we had a visit.”
Probably before I left for my aunt’s house, Cassie thought.
“You should head inside,” the woman continued, “the king and queen are right inside greeting everyone and introducing their guests. You should meet them. They are ever so kind. I’m headed back inside myself. The ballroom is beautiful. I need to find my daughter, excuse me.”
Cassie nodded and watched her walk away without being able to shout what she really wanted to say. Her feet pulled her in the direction of her stepmother. She was walking beside Kemyss as they got into line and inched toward the ballroom.
Kemyss nodded to several people along the way, and many greeted her or called out to her along the way. She acknowledged them in a cool manner and continued a private conversation with Miriam.
Leaning forward, Cassie strained to hear what was being said. She didn’t hear a word. As they approached the doorway, her stomach started to push against her ribs. The feeling of needing to throw up overcame her. She wanted to shout the truth to everyone, but she couldn’t.
Cassie spotted King Tritium looking over at them when they were announced, and he gave her a warm smile. Beside him was his wife and a short, portly man with regal clothing of dark purple, jewels sparkling all over him. This was her first glance of King Ammandon, and his first glance of her.
“Welcome!” the king called to them.
He shook their hands and beamed upon them. His wife stood on the other side of King Ammandon. She, too, was friendly and kissed Cassie’s cheek. They both expressed their happiness to find them alive and well, and Miriam shared her concocted lie once again.
They sympathized over the loss of the family and expressed a desire to hear more of it later. King Ammandon stood erect and silent. He greeted her and the others with a bored countenance and flat voice.
He’s the man Miriam plans on marrying? He doesn’t seem happy to see her at all. Is it an act?
She watched them carefully, and if she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have noticed the slight wink he gave her stepmother. Choking back a gag, Cassie wanted to tell the king and queen the truth. Cassie wondered if the King would believe her. She had to try something.
But how?
Down the line, she met King Iver’s family and Queen Arlyn’s parents and sister. Polite exchanges were made with all of them, and still, no words could be forced out of her mouth.
“I wonder where the prince is?” Kemyss muttered as they walked further into the room.
“Pr-ince?” Cassie questioned.
“Prince Simon. Tritium’s son. He’s supposed to be here.”
Gasping, Cassie wondered for a second if her Simon and the prince could be the same person. Shaking her head, she realized it was a stupid assumption.
“Maybe he’s late?” she sugges
ted and looked around.
Her stepsister cut off her perusal of the room by grabbing her arm. Petunia's grip on her arm was strong. Cassie was guided into a corner, along one wall where drapes hung from the wall as part of the decor.
“You will stay here. Do not move. As Kemyss said, your shoes will alert her of your whereabouts.”
Petunia left, but Aven stood near her to the left. He kept a lazy eye upon her as he watched those around them and sipped from a Champagne glass.
I hope you choke, Cassie couldn’t help but hope. She also hoped he was busy looking elsewhere long enough for her to try and talk to someone. Maybe a guard?
People continued to stream into the room. Her gaze went over the royal assembly looking for the elusive prince. As her own gaze glanced around the ballroom, she spotted Kemyss, Miriam, and Petunia all glancing at her from time to time.
For an hour, people continued to enter. Finally, the royal party separated themselves from the greeting line and began to walk around and mingle with the guests. The prince hadn’t shown up.
“Welcome!” the king announced. He and his wife had made their way to the side of the ballroom lined with windows overlooking the front yard.
“Queen Arlyn and I extend our greetings and thanks for joining us this evening. As you know, King Ammandon has graciously come to share in our festivities this evening. We are glad to have him here. My wife’s beloved sister Princess Elaine, her husband Prince Elect Kearney, and their son, Prince Dudhlainn as well as King Iver and Queen Cleona, and their daughters. Please, let’s begin the festivities!”
The crowd clapped, and murmurs started as people around the room began to talk amongst themselves again. Biting her lip, Cassie watched as Kemyss contacted King Ammandon. The orchestra started up, and the dance floor cleared as couples paired off and began to dance.
No one has recognized her. Even the king and queen don’t realize who she is!
Cassie watched in the packed room as Kemyss had a dance around the floor with King Ammandon. Miriam was next. All three looked so happy, and Cassie knew it wasn’t for the right reasons.
“Isn’t it lovely?” Aven murmured next to her. He’d drawn closer and leaned down to her ear. “They look so happy. Do you know how long it’s been since my mother has been this happy? Not since before father died. I won’t let you ruin this, Cassie.”
The Four Tales Page 16