Chapter 34
I take a shaky breath.
This is it.
This is where it all will all begin or end.
“Pierce says this will be the last dress he makes you,” Mort says as she types and blinks. “He also says it’s been an honor.”
~My engagement dress~ .
I grab the Darling necklace that hangs around my neck and squeeze it. It’s finally time. I am to be escorted soon.
April, Destiny, Ivy, and Laura came to me earlier, wishing me good luck. They all have found a home here except for Cherie, but that’s okay. She has had the time of her life apparently—no regrets.
I have not seen April my entire journey here, being a slave and all. But when I saw her, she appeared wild and free, a far cry from when I first met her as a timid little pixie girl.
She was so happy for me, saying that it was meant to be. Pierce had told them about me being from here all along, the real lost princess. This place is where it all began for me. Fate has taken me back.
Destiny is in love with a very handsome man and seems happy. Ivy has also come to love it here. I forgot that the girls were all living their experiences here as well. I was not the only one who came out on top.
Which is why I need to win Apollo over today.
“Tell Pierce the honor is mine.”
A tinge of sadness washes over me. I will miss him, and especially Mort. I give myself a shake not wanting to think about that yet.
I start to spin, not needing Mort to tell me. My skin tingles and sparkles flicker around me.
This never gets old.
I gasp, skin feeling hot. I glance down and just stare. I am now in Cinderella blue, a shimmering gown that must have rivaled hers. My hands touch the magical fabric and I sigh, feeling like a goddess.
It’s gorgeous, like everything Pierce makes. The off-the-shoulder neckline exposes me just enough to seduce and tantalize.
I feel my hair. The raven locks twist and twirl down my back, shimmering as if enchanted. “Mirror,” I breathe.
Mort holds a mirror out in front of me, and I suck in a breath.
“Pierce really wants you to have the best chance.” Mort grins.
I glance at her and I raise a brow. “That sounds a little vain, but I will take it. If this does not work, then nothing would have worked.”
I touch my full lips, a glistening nude. My lashes are sooty black, contrasting with a pearlized eyeshadow. I look angelic.
“I don’t think you can look prettier than that,” she agrees .
“Thanks, Mort.”
“No problem, human.”
I suddenly hug her, making Mort gasp. Her stiff body slowly relaxes, then she hugs me back with a fierce hold. We embrace it for a little while before I pull back.
I can feel my eyes cramp with tears, but I will them back into my eyes. I can’t say anything to her or I will cry, and I think she knows this.
She nods at me, then I turn to leave right as the knock on my door comes.
They’re here to escort me to the ballroom, where I will meet up with Apollo. The announcement has already been made this morning.
I can see the guards’ eyes widen when they see me which gives me a little more confidence.
The long walk to the ballroom seems like it takes an eternity. My skirts swish and glitter as I walk, trying to calm my breathing.
I round the last corner and see Apollo talking to a group of men, faced away from me.
His hair is back to normal, its platinum ringlets escaping the confines of his tie. He is dressed in sleek Garthorn finery, metals and sashes of cobalt blue on top of stark black.
My heart flutters every time—the man’s beauty will always hold me hostage.
His wide shoulders turn, a laugh playing on his lips.
Apollo sees me and my breathing hitches.
The smile on his lips slowly disappears as his dark gaze takes me in. Then our gazes clash and I am lost, swimming in the dark abyss that is his eyes.
His mouth drops open and the tilt of his head makes my stomach twist.
He walks over to me, never taking his dark gaze from me. Grabbing my hand, Apollo kisses it like it’s the first time we are making contact. My heart constricts. The feel of his gentle touch has me undone.
“You, my dear, look like a goddess. Is that your secret, then?” he asks in a low voice.
I close my eyes and nod. “It is.”
“The way you look tonight, I’m actually not sure if you’re being serious or not.” He pulls me close where I can feel the heat of his body.
“You mesmerize me. I find that it is hard to breathe when I’m near you. I feel like you are not real.”
~Not real.~
I cringe.
“Can I tell you my secret now?” I whisper, needing to get this off my chest.
“After a dance and champagne. There’s no rush, Angel,” Apollo insists, as he pulls my arm without waiting for an answer.
We enter the ballroom, and everyone cheers for us. I smile, on the verge of a panic attack. I just let Apollo lead me, praying I do not fall and die from heart failure.
Tunnel vision.
We dance as everyone watches us in awe.
He spins me around the Gothic ballroom. The feel of his hands on me makes everything else fall away for a split second. My gown glitters and sparkles like diamonds in the low lighting.
Finally, the dance is over. I feel like everything just happened in a blink of an eye. Maybe I’m not ready. Doesn’t matter if I’m not ready, it must happen.
It’s time.
Apollo leads me to the gardens, the cool night air kissing my flushed face. Each heartbeat echoes in my mind. My fingers feel numb .
I sit on a stone bench as he stands, walking around as if he can’t sit still.
“All right, what weird things are you going to tell me?”
My heart is pounding loudly as I take a steady breath. Time to rip off the band-aid. “I am not from here,” I say.
Apollo side-glances at me then raises a brow. “I gathered that, Angel.”
I nod. “Right. Well, I am not from this planet.”
“Come again?”
“I am not from this planet, Apollo. I was sent here on a mission with five other girls, a mission that involved you,” I blurt out, and redden. That might have not sounded the best.
He just stares at me with an ~are-you-crazy~ frown.
“I know what you’re thinking—”
“No, you don’t, trust me.”
I can feel his anger start to rise.
“I explained that really badly, but you didn’t let me finish.”
Apollo expels a breath. “I could probably agree with that assessment.” He holds up his hand, silencing me. “You are from another planet? Are you trying to play me for a fool? After everything, we went through?”
“No!” I yell, standing up. “I am from a different planet. It’s called Earth. You wanted the damn truth and here it is!”
“Earth? So you’re not Ursula, the lost princess of Galleon?” he asks, chest rising and falling.
“Well, actually, yes I am,” I say quickly. “Stay with me, it gets complicated.
“Irena banished me through a portal when I was four years old, and I landed on a planet called Earth. That’s why I never had a memory of my young childhood. I did not know this until a few days ago.”
He laughs.
I laugh as well, but in more of an insane way.
~The Darling Medallion.~
Thank goodness. “Apollo,” I say over his laughter, “touch this. It will make you understand what I am poorly trying to tell you.”
“You want me to touch your sparkly necklace?” He chuckles again. “And here I thought you were going to tell me the truth, not some insane tale of time travel.”
“Touch it.”
I’m starting to panic.
Apollo’s jaw tenses and he slowly walks over to me, humor gone. “What are you trying to do to me?”
I grab his hand and put it on my crystal. Instantly Apollo’s eyes glaze over and close as if someone put a spell on him.
I stand there with my pulse hammering like a fire dancer. I keep his hand on my necklace as I see his eyeballs moving around under his lids.
I close my eyes and plead, begging that this will work.
~Please.~
I am not sure how much time passes, but when he opens his eyes, I see the sheer shock. He is breathing hard, yanking his hand away from me.
“I can see why…” He pauses like he is regaining his breath. “Why you had trouble explaining it.”
I feel tears in my eyes. “Are you angry with me?”
He laughs and looks up into the sky as if seeking divine help. “Am I angry with you? I am not sure how to answer that.”
“What is going through your head?”
“That Pierce guy is very strange, we both can agree on that,” Apollo says, more to himself. “I can’t believe they sent three fleets to try and snag me.”
“Please don’t be angry.”
Apollo glances at me and I can’t tell how this is going to go. “You’re leaving tomorrow morning? With the other girls?”
Fear creeps into every pore. “If you do not want me, then yes,” I whisper.
Apollo drags a hand down his face. “Now the dresses make perfect sense.” He gives me a crude stare. “He did this one perfectly.” He nods to my gown.
I feel a tear stream down my cheek.
“Is anything about you real?”
I sniff, feeling like I am losing him. “Yes, everything else.”
Apollo nods and is quiet.
“I love you, Apollo,” I whisper.
I can see him tense at that. “Are you paid to say that, Angel?” He looks at me, pain in his gaze.
“Absolutely not, Apollo. We are not forced to fall in love. It is our choice. You are not forced either.
“Without Fairy Godmother Inc., I would have never met you. I would never have known what I was missing out on.
“When I say I love you, it comes from my heart, my soul. Fate brought me here, and I am grateful,” I say, and wipe a tear.
“I was born here, Apollo. This is my home. All my life I have felt out of place and never knew why, and finally I am back where it all began.”
Apollo gazes up into the sky and exhales.
“Say something,” I whisper.
“How long do I have?”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “Until dawn. On the South Shore. ”
“And Laura?”
“She will be leaving as well.” I continue, “Without our commitment, no one will benefit.”
Apollo looks at me, arms crossed over his large chest. “But she has to tell him too?”
“It’s not required. Only me, apparently.”
“Tarren must know.”
I wipe another tear. It seems I can’t control them anymore. “I’m sure she will.”
“Or I will.”
I just stare at him. “Do you love me, Apollo?”
“I am not sure I can answer that,” he admits in a low voice. “I am going to leave and clear my thoughts. Please, go in and enjoy the party.”
He turns to leave.
“Apollo!” More tears stream down my face.
He turns to look at me with pain in his eyes.
“Will you come for me tomorrow?”
“Time will tell, Angel.”
And he leaves me there, weeping uncontrollably. I know one thing: I will not sleep a wink tonight. My worst fear has come true.
But what did I expect? I don’t know how much Pierce revealed to him from the Darling Medallion. It’s a lot to digest.
I just hope Apollo does not make the worst decision of his life, because there are no second chances.
I do love Apollo Augustus Garthorn. He must see that he loves me too, despite everything.
In just twelve hours.