Verena
Entering the ballroom of Aurefeld Castle fashionably late makes quite the scene.
Chandeliers blaze overhead. The orchestra is already playing. Hundreds of exquisitely dressed, masked guests are laughing and chattering or twirling around the dance floor.
And yet, the second my group and I walk through the massive double doors into the masquerade, all eyes are on us. A lot of people stop dancing to gawk at us, while others turn away from platters of finger-foods and wine glasses, eyes bugging.
All the staring clearly makes Snow White anxious, because she starts fidgeting and takes a half-step behind me. She's in a striking, sparkling red gown and mask tonight. Ingrid is beside her in a light sage-green ensemble and a white mask that she adjusts nervously, looking uncomfortable.
But they shouldn't worry too much, because the stares are really directed at me.
"Look, Mom. I'm famous," I mutter as we begin walking into the room.
Anika is on my left. Tonight, her A-line ball gown is the most vibrant, rich shade of purple, with shimmering silver accents to match her silver mask.
"I get the feeling they're not just admiring these lovely gowns you created," she says, pointedly side-eyeing the Pied Piper walking behind me. He's keeping a respectful distance so us ladies can walk together, but her voice drops to a whisper. "Should I ask why he is with us, Verena?"
"Really long story," I whisper back. Then I tilt my head. "Nope, actually it's short—the Faerie of Wrath put a spell on poor Fritz so now he can't leave my side."
She's speechless. I nod, because that's pretty much how I'm feeling about this whole scenario.
When we finally reach a part of the ballroom where the staring is less noticeable, I turn and take Snow White's hand, smiling at her, Ingrid, and Anika.
"Can I ask you all for a favor?"
"Anything, Vera," Snow White says at once, with Ingrid nodding eagerly.
Anika eyes the Pied Piper again before asking, "What favor?"
"There's a girl here tonight that I need your help tracking down. It's really hard to explain right now, but her name is Cinderella, and I need to talk to her."
I describe the gown I saw yesterday and add that she should be a young woman, closer in age to Snow White and Ingrid. I add that I was looking for her yesterday when I ran out of the festival.
"We'll go look for her right now," Snow White says, determined. Then she pauses, worry in her blue gaze as she looks me over. "Is that the only reason you left the dance early yesterday? I was worried for you—and even though you look splendid, as usual, you also seem…tired."
"Apologies," Eris smirks from one of the reflective silver accents on my dress.
He's so smug, and I can't even blame him. My Adonis did not let me sleep—thank god, because I was in desperate need of a good fuck.
"I'm great," I beam, reaching up to fix a curl in her hair. "Thanks for worrying, kiddo, but everything is fine. Go enjoy the dance, but if you see Cinderella, let me know."
Ingrid and Snow White nod and leave to join the dancing. People are still staring, but Anika sticks by my side, scanning the crowd.
"I can help you search for Cinderella," Eris offers quietly. "Simply promise to ask her benefactor to send me to your world, too. If you're feeling particularly kind-hearted, you might ask to have Wulf sent along, unless you don't mind leaving the Huntsman to his heartbreak."
I want to insist that the Huntsman will be fine when I go, but…will he?
Would his pledge still hold up if I'm gone? I know I would miss him, but it's hard to imagine that powerful Viking-like man heartbroken over not seeing me again.
No. He'll be fine. And so will Eris, because Wulf will make sure they find his body. I'm not about to trap Eris in a world where he will have absolutely no chance of getting out of that glass again.
I'm having a really fucking hard time not focusing on every blood-red dress or cape suit that passes by, and the glasses of red wine are starting to drive me insane—but then Anika nudges me.
"The princes are headed this way."
"Plural?" I ask, alarmed. Looking up, I see that she's right. Both Prince Leif and Prince Konrad are making their way through the crowd toward us, the stepbrothers drawing even more attention our way. "Fuck."
"Fuck," she agrees.
"Do we run?" I hiss.
"In a ballroom? I'll leave that to you," she teases. "The staring is bad enough. No need to make it worse."
The two princes are standing in front of us suddenly. Thanks to my status, me, Anika, and the Pied Piper still have a nice bit of space around us, so at least all the avid onlookers probably won't overhear.
Prince Leif is in a white cape suit and mask that contrast beautifully with his skin, his smile bright as he looks at Anika.
"Lady Bellevyr. The only thing that could complete a vision as stunning as you would be if a crown that matched mine rested atop your head."
Holy fuck, he's smooth. Is he implying what I think he's implying?
I know he said he wasn't going to accept the betrothal his parents arranged, but damn. He and Anika must have done some serious catching up last night.
"Your Highness is incorrigible," Anika replies, fighting a smile of her own. "I'll wear no crown."
Aha, I see. It's a game of cat and mouse.
Konrad is in a dark suit and mask tonight, looking the exact opposite of his brother—except for the fact that they're both gorgeous and apparently impossible to discourage.
"So, Ruby. How was your night?" he grins, eyes sparkling with double meaning.
Prince Leif elbows him. "What are you doing? You still must address her formally. She is a queen."
"There's no one around to hear the stuffy titles," Konrad points out.
"It's about respect," the crown prince chides before looking at me. "I apologize for my brother, Queen Reinhilde. He is tenacious and well-meaning, but often uncouth."
"She likes that I'm tenacious," Prince Konrad declares. "And she likes her nickname."
He's not exactly wrong. Then again, I tend to like any nickname, since my parents had to go and give their kid a fuckass name like Verena Konigin.
Still, I can't encourage Cinderella's prince.
"Could you tell your uncouth brother he's deluded?" I ask Leif.
He laughs and says something else to Anika, but that's when Konrad spots Fritz standing nearby. One of the masquerade attendees has worked up the courage to approach close enough to say hello to the Pied Piper, gushing about yesterday's performance.
Konrad tilts his head. "Are you interested in the piper, or his music? I could take up some instrument, too, if you want."
"He really is persistent," Eris muses, still observing from some reflection on my ballgown.
Before I can tell Prince Konrad to stop flirting with me and go find Cinderella, the orchestral music cuts off. Everyone turns to look up as King Roderik once again stands on the dais to address everyone with a smile.
"Welcome back, everyone. As some of you have heard, our guests from Hamelnmark were delayed by a great storm on their long passage sailing to our far west territories.
They are finally joining us tonight, and shall be entering the ballroom any moment.
When they do arrive, I hope you will all give King Nemrick and his company a warm welcome. "
My world comes to a screeching halt.
Although I can see people in fine ballgowns and suits applauding around me, I can't hear them. My ears are glitching so all I can hear is the hiccupping of my own heart.
Until Konrad gently touches my arm.
I flinch, blinking up to see that his brow is furrowed, warm brown eyes concerned.
"Ruby?" he says, making me realize he's been calling that nickname.
"Verena?" Eris asks, too, this time from a gleaming button on Leif's suit. "What's wrong?"
I can barely get the words out. "W-what did your father just say?"
Konrad glances at the dais, where the king is saying something else I can't hear through the pounding in my temples. "Everyone in Hamelnmark was delayed by—"
"After that. At the end."
"You mean about welcoming King Nemrick and his guests?"
My stomach dive-bombs. The perpetual thirst tormenting me abruptly takes a back seat, replaced with this too-familiar paranoia.
No. This can't be happening.
It's a coincidence—it has to be.
Except I learned a long time ago that there are no coincidences.
Not with him.
I take a step back, then another. My entire body feels numb as I grip my fluttery wispfloss skirts, lifting them from the ground so I won't trip.
"I have to go."
"Is something wrong?" Konrad asks, alarmed. He takes a step toward me. "Ruby, what—"
I'm already turning to bolt out of the masquerade for the second night in a row. The terror and dread have me so turned around that I burst out of another set of doors instead of the grand entrance before I take off down the gilded, sconce-lit halls.
I don't know where I'm running, but it doesn't matter.
From somewhere far behind me, I hear Konrad's shouts echoing after me. I hear Eris, too, in a reflection I dart past, but I am not stopping to talk. How can I talk when I can't even fucking breathe right now?
"Where are we going?"
I yelp and stumble slightly, but it's Fritz, catching up with me as he also runs.
"Go back!" I shout.
I ignore the gasps and questions of several Aurefeldan servants I pass before I throw open a set of doors leading outside. I tear down the steps under the blue moonlight, the Pied Piper still right behind me.
Looking around, I find that I'm on the other side of Aurefeld Castle, where a few masquerade-goers have come for fresh air in the beautiful gardens and gold-painted pavilions.
Everything in me is screaming at me to run and hide, just like ten years ago—so the second I spot the entrance of a giant, labyrinth-like hedge maze off of this pathway, I run for it. But I'm not the only one running through the dark, leafy maze.
"I said, go back," I snap at him, turning left.
"You told me to stick to your side," he calls, keeping up as I round another corner.