Some Like it Hexed, page 11
He gripped tighter to my wrist as I told the story, and when I was done, he took a long, deep breath and sat up farther in the bed. "I need you to be careful. I need you to be watchful during the ball."
"Telling Callie some of your riddles?" Shade asked with a chuckle as he walked into the room.
I tried not to visibly flinch at the sound of his voice, but it was really hard after seeing him the night before. I watched as he lovingly greeted Alabaster and then pulled up a chair next to the bed. Alabaster shook his head, and I knew it was coming. He launched right into how we needed to be safe and secure after what had happened the night before, and I could see the confusion riddled on Shade's face.
"You don't know?"
"I just haven't had a chance to tell them," I interjected.
Reluctantly, I told him the story as fast as I could, trying to ignore the glares of anger he was throwing in my direction. I was glad he chose not to reprimand me or want to have a conversation right there in front of Alabaster.
Instead, he paused for a moment and then nodded. "I agree that we should be watchful but inconspicuous. We want to blend in so nobody notices us. If somebody is watching us, they'll still think we know nothing about it or have no suspicions whatsoever."
I quickly stood up, wanting to leave before Shade so that I could avoid the conversation altogether. "Well, Uncle, I'll come back to see you, but I've gotta go get ready for the ball. Apparently, there's a team there ready and waiting for me."
Shade went to stand up. "I can walk you out."
I waved my hands. "No need. My uncle needs you more than I do. I'll see you tonight."
I tucked my tail and ran as fast as possible, hoping Shade didn't follow me. Thankfully, he did not. I kept moving through as quickly as I could back to my room. The truth was, it wasn't time for me to get ready yet, but I just wanted out of that situation. No matter how nice Shade seemed, I fought with my suspicions against him, coupled with my desire to kiss him. It was miserable, and the last thing I wanted was for him to suck me back in. If I were going to be inconspicuous, I would be inconspicuous with him as well.
When I arrived at my room, I paused and decided that maybe I should try to talk to Willa. I was sure she was probably nervous about the ball, and it might give me a chance to gauge what she knew and what she didn't. However, as I walked up to the door, one of the guards stepped in my way. "We're sorry, but she isn't to be disturbed."
My brow wrinkled. "I'm pretty sure if you tell her it's me, shall be fine with it."
The guard shook his head. "I'm sorry, we were given strict orders."
I looked at the door and them, in my mind contemplating whether I could pull some amazing stunt move and slide between their legs, simultaneously opening the door and rushing into Willa's room. Then reality slapped me, and I knew that I'd just end up probably banging my forehead against one of their crotches and knocking myself out, heading to the ball with a black eye. That wasn't a story I wanted to tell. So, with that unsettled feeling in my stomach, I went back into my room and sat on the edge of the bed. I would just wait there until it was time to get ready to face whatever was headed my way.
As I sat there on the edge of the mattress, my bracelet was buzzing wildly. It hadn't stopped since I had gone to see the queen regent, and it was getting stronger by the second. Some points almost took my breath away. It was as if the magic were trying to tell me something. But I wasn't a magical being, so understanding it was virtually impossible for me. All I knew was that it was incredibly uncomfortable and whatever it was trying to relay to me wasn't something I could ignore. There was nothing I could do about it, though. So, for now, I focused on what I would do to blend into the ball and keep my eyes peeled for anyone suspicious. If they hadn't caught the person in the cabin and they were still out there, the plan was still in motion.
If the plan were still in motion… Well, I might just want to wear my yoga pants under my dress in case I had to make a mad dash.
20
Shade
* * *
Melodic music played quietly in the background as fae from all over the realm gathered in their most beautiful dresses and fae suits to mingle and celebrate the return of Princess Willa.
It was an extraordinarily glamorous event, far beyond anything in the human world. Magic transformed the ceiling into a sparkling diamond sky. Vines moved and blossomed along the walls, and pixies carried trays of drinks with their wings fluttering in overtime. Tables were sectioned out and spaced, strategically planned for who would sit where. They explained the ball as the re-welcoming of the princess for the people, but none of the real people of the fae realm were actually there.
Much like on Earth, those kinds of affairs only included those of the highest caliber and status. Beneath my magical exterior, I was not one of those people. However, I wasn't there for the pomp and circumstance. I was there to help find the stone, the fae king, and most importantly, my brother.
I wouldn't lie and say that Callie wasn't another reason I didn't hesitate to cross realms. Ever since I had run into her the night before, she had been acting strange. While I wanted to know what was going on, it was not the time.
There was a threat, not just the underlying danger of the King Collector, but a significant threat that none of us were very sure was being taken seriously by Willa's aunt, who up until that night was the queen regent. Willa would take that spot, though I wasn't sure exactly how that would work if she were trying to find the stone and her father at the same time. I hadn't seen Willa's face since we had arrived, and I had no idea where Esmeralda or Harry had gone. They had to take care of themselves at some point, and I had to focus on finding my brother and keeping Callie safe.
That night we were going to be unassuming, fading into the background and watching just as the guards did all throughout the days and nights of the fae castle. I kept my eyes open for Callie, waiting for her to arrive. I knew that she wasn't looking forward to a formal event, which made two of us. I not only hated the stuffy-shirt act that I had to put on for all the important people, but there were far more important things to think about than rubbing elbows with high society. We weren't in my home, though, and I didn't have a lot of control over what happened.
A small murmur fell over the crowd, but they continued talking. I glanced around the room, my eyes falling on a beautiful woman entering on the arm of one of the servants whose job it was to walk in anyone who was not accompanied by a date. The woman was breathtaking, and it took me at least two minutes before I realized who I was looking at.
Callie stood in the entryway of the ballroom with her hair pinned up loosely, flowers decorating it like a crown. She wasn't wearing a large puff-sleeve gown like she thought she was going to. That was just a little tease from Willa. Instead, she wore a thin-strapped dress that sparkled like the magical ceiling and perfectly matched her skin tone. Had it not been for the floor-length skirt that hugged her curves like it was made for it, I would've thought she had just painted glitter on her body before she came. Her makeup was subtle yet beautiful against the porcelain of her skin. The only thing that threw me off was the color of her eyes.
The fae had transformed her into one of them, but her eyes were much more striking in her human form in reality. I couldn't help but smile at her, and I didn't fault myself for that as I walked across the ballroom and put my arm out for her. The servant and I nodded at each other as he transferred her arm to mine. The volume of the music raised, and several people walked out onto the dance floor. She followed my lead, and I took her hand in mine, placing my other hand on the small of her back as we readied to dance. It wasn't my initial thought, but it only seemed natural to lead her out there.
"I thought we were going to be unassuming and inconspicuous," I said, whispering in her ear as I pulled her closer to me.
She smiled, and her cheeks grew rosy. "I didn't pick this out. Blame the fae."
I leaned in, brushing my cheek against hers. "You look beautiful."
It was hard to keep my mind on the task at hand with her dancing in my arms, and for a moment, I gave in. I twirled her around the dance floor and pulled her close, looking into her eyes and having that one moment, even if it only lasted for that moment, that we had wanted to have since we met. When the song came to an end, I dipped her back. I then cleared the floor with her, standing at the edges and clapping as the royal court maneuvered into position for their traditional dance.
Glancing over at Callie, I saw her staring up at Willa. Willa sat stone straight, her eyes focused somewhere we couldn't see, her expression transfixed. Callie's eyes were sad. "She's acting so strange. It's like she's not even there anymore."
"I don't know what it is, but something's not right. We're going to get to the bottom of this." I really hoped I wasn't giving Callie false hope.
21
Callie
* * *
"Dammit," Shade said, standing next to me as we watched the royal court finished their dance.
"What is it?" I asked him.
He patted the front of his jacket and reached into the pockets. "I forgot something. Will you be all right here for just a moment?"
I looked around at all the fae and shrugged. "Most likely. But don't be gone too long. I might be swept away by one of these rich fae socialites."
He smirked and hurried off. I watched him until he left the room, my smile quickly fading. I moved to the outer edges of the party, holding a glass of something bubbly but not drinking it. Meandering around the crowd, I looked at every face, eventually landing myself at the entrance, leaning against the wall, waiting for Shade to return. He said he would only be gone for a moment, but that moment had quickly passed and had been quite a while. I looked up for Willa but saw that her seat was empty. That wasn't fair. If I had to be there, so did she. They probably had her taking a break or changing clothes, or whatever it was that the fae did.
The longer I was there, in the fae world, the more I wanted to go home. I was starting to feel like I was stuck in one of those fantasy movies, with no control over anything and no idea who anybody was. Anybody could be an enemy. I had no way to spot them. Frustrated, I turned from the crowd and looked out over the gardens, a few people were milling around, but it was mostly empty. Everyone was inside, rubbing elbows with each other, talking about how important they were in the fae realm.
As I scanned the scenery, I stopped, staring at a figure in the distance. I stepped out of the ballroom and onto the veranda, trying to get a closer look. The person was cloaked just like the one in my dream, and they hurried along nervously, looking around as they went. Up in the sky, magical fireworks cracked loudly above, shaking me to my core. The person hurrying along the field toward the old, abandoned cabin looked to be frightened, too. When they turned and looked back at the castle, I almost dropped my glass of bubbly.
I set it down on the table and took several steps closer, my mouth falling open. "Willa?"
Before I could get to the bottom of the steps, she had disappeared into the cabin. I hurried after her, this time not caring whether someone saw me or not. There were no guards and no one watching her. I didn't understand what was going on. I raced across the field to the cabin and found the door wide open. Carefully I stepped inside, looking around. "Willa? Are you in here?"
The place was abandoned and falling down, but in the center of the room was a hatch sitting open. I hovered over it, looking down into the darkness below. Next to the hatch were fresh footprints. I puffed out my cheeks and shook my head. "Guess it's time for another adventure."
The magic was pumping from my bracelet throughout my whole body, sending tingles of electric shock from head to toe. I turned around and carefully began to climb down the ladder, trying to ignore the fear of what I was going to stick my hands into as I went down. I really hated spiders. The climb down was farther than I thought, and the darkness made it hard to see where the bottom actually was. Taking another step down, my foot slipped, and there was a crack, the bottom of the ladder crumbling beneath me. My hands, cold and clammy from fear, released the last rung, and I fell, trying not to scream. I imagined I would fall for quite a while before I reached my untimely death, my body at the bottom of some pit where no one would ever find it. But about two seconds into the fall, I hit the ground with a thud. I was pretty much all the way to the bottom when the latter broke.
I groaned and picked myself up, a large chunk of my updo uncurling, letting strands of hair fall all over the place. My hands were darkened with dirt and soot. I shrugged and brushed them down the front of my dress, figuring, at that point, it was a lost cause anyway. I put my hand out, squinting through the cavernous space, and tried to make my way down what looked to be a hallway of sorts.
Keeping my ears perked for sounds of anyone coming in my direction, I moved as quickly as possible without making too much noise. Willa, or whoever was in that cloak, wasn't anywhere to be found, but there was no way they could've gone anywhere other than down. Up ahead, the tunnel turned to the right, and I could see the flickering light coming from around the corner. As I approached, I heard voices, and I instantly backed into the shadows.
Putting my hands down to feel behind me, I continued backing up, looking for the wall. However, when my hands finally found something, it wasn't the hard surface I expected. Instead, I felt a soft fabric with a body beneath it. Before I could even move, an arm wrapped around my chest and the other slapped a hand over my mouth, pulling me farther back into the shadows.
22
Callie
* * *
My eyes were wide as I stood there, not knowing what to do.
If I screamed out or struggled, whoever was in the cave would hear me, and I wasn't sure I wanted them to know I was there. On the other hand, if I didn't, whoever had me pinned up against them, could easily dispose of me in three seconds without anyone ever knowing.
Contemplating my options, the voices grew fainter as if they were heading deeper into the caves. When I could no longer hear them, the hand released my mouth, and I pushed off, quickly turning around. I backed to the other side of the cave hallway and watched as someone emerged from the shadows.
"Shade? So, I was right. You are involved!" I lunged at him, slapping him hard on the chest over and over again.
Okay, it wasn't my finest moment, but he quickly grabbed my wrists and stopped me.
"Be a little bit quieter. And what are you talking about? I'm not part of this."
I put my hands on my hips, narrowing my eyes at him. "Oh yeah? And where had you gone yesterday when I came back into the castle after someone mysteriously disappeared from the cabin and I found you in your cloak having been outside? And I thought you went to your room to get something."
He stared at me for several moments with an uneasy look on his face.
I crossed my arms over my chest and lifted both eyebrows, waiting for his response. "Well?"
He untied the tie at the top of his cloak and pulled both sides open like a back alley watch salesman. However, instead of stolen goods, there were small intricately braided stems with beautiful blossoms of flowers on them. I was so confused.
Shade closed his cloak again. "I was making a small flower corsage. I know it's stupid, but it's the way the witches do things. Last night, I went out to scout the greenhouse the fae have on the property. Willa's uncle said I could pick some flowers there to make it. I ran out of time earlier and couldn't put it all together so, I wanted to do it really fast and bring it to you."
Slowly, my arms unfolded, and my shoulders relaxed though my pride took a huge hit. I felt like a complete asshole. "I… How did you end up out here?"
"Probably the same way you did. I was on my way back, and I swear I thought I saw…"
I finished the sentence "Willa?"
He nodded. “We're already down here. But we're not the only ones. I had seen several figures going in and out of the house, but I couldn't make out from a distance what kind of creatures they were."
Suddenly, the vibration of my bracelet shot up my arm, and I put my hand over it, wincing. "I think the stone has to be close. I noticed it last night when I got close to this building. The magic coming from my bracelet is almost hard to take. I think it increases the closer I get to the stone."
Shade nodded. "That makes sense. It's got a piece of that stone in it. You're like a homing beacon."
"I've been called worse." I chuckled. "Well, I think we should go after them. If that was Willa, I can't imagine that she knows what she's doing. We have to stop them and get the stone back as well as Willa. I don't know if this has anything to do with the King Collector, but if we don't do something, I feel none of us will get back to Earth. And I'll be honest with you, I really don't want to stay here."
Shade chuckled, putting his hand out to help me step down from the rock I had climbed up on. "Is the magic wearing off on you. A little too fantastical for your taste?"
I rolled my eyes and leaned my head back. "It's like being stuck in Toon Town, only there's no cute rabbits or sexy red dresses."
We both got our bearings and continued down the path, following it for quite a while. The stone beneath me was slick and wet. I kept catching my dress on short pieces of rocks or under my feet as I slipped. I was covered in dirt, and the dress, unless they had some sort of magical cleaning products, was destined for the incinerator when I was done. I just hoped that I wasn't wearing it when that happened.
