6. The Kiss
The Kiss
Scarlet
H is words hang between us. What do I do? I have a feeling that neither of us expected the conversation to take this route, but I can sense King Remme's curiosity stirring. I need to use this and think on my feet to figure a way out of there with the crown.
"What do you want to do?" I ask.
I hold my breath as I wait for his response, both of us frozen in time until his lips finally move.
"I don’t normally speak of such things in a lady's presence," he says, his voice low and full of intrigue.
I smile, heart pounding in my chest. I can feel his gaze searching my face, no doubt trying to figure out what is happening. Why is my body reacting to him like this? I've never done anything like this. There's been a few quick dalliances when I was younger, but nothing that was more than a moment of convenience and inexperienced lust. I have to play the part and do it well, or I may not be able to get out of here alive.
"You said we were playing a game. What does the winner get?" I reply, my voice filling with more confidence than I feel.
He seems to consider my words for a moment before finally speaking.
"How about a kiss," he says simply, his eyes never leaving mine. I can feel the challenge in those words.
I feel a wave of heat wash over me. My body wants to do more than just kiss, and I'm afraid he can tell. But I have to remain in control of the situation, so I coyly raise an eyebrow and speak.
"I suppose that could be arranged," I say, my voice dripping with confidence that I truly don’t really feel.
King Remme smiles, a sly smirk appearing on his lips. He leans down until the noses of our masks touch. I feel every inch of his presence. His eyes burn into mine as if he can see right through me as if he knows I am hiding something. I bite my lip, and can feel his gaze lingering there before he finally leans in and kisses me tenderly.
I am lost in the moment, completely forgetting the crown tucked away under my skirt. We stay like that for what feels like an eternity before he finally pulls away. His eyes still burn into mine, and his lips curve into a small, satisfied smile.
"So, who won?" he asks, his voice a low whisper.
I slowly shake my head, completely lost for words. He chuckles before pulling away.
A sudden sense of urgency grips me as my head clears, and I realize I need to get out of there with the crown now. Before I let my guard down enough to get thrown in the dungeons below. I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts, my mind racing with ideas. Perhaps I can distract King Remme long enough to grab the crown and make a run for it.
"You won," I say with a smile, hoping to put him off balance.
King Remme raises an eyebrow, his eyes still locked onto mine. "Are you sure about that?" he asks, a hint of amusement in his voice.
I nod, trying to maintain my composure. "Absolutely sure. A mere kiss from me, though, isn't much of a prize," I add with a sly grin. "I have a surprise for you."
King Remme looks intrigued, and I can see the curiosity burning in his eyes. "What kind of surprise?" he asks.
I reach down to the hem of my skirt and pull out a small bag. "This," I say, swinging it between us.
"The Bodian crown," he says. "I'm afraid you won't be leaving with that. How about a trade? Anything else in the room, but you give me that."
I look between him and the bag. What exactly is this that he is willing to trade for it at such a hefty price? Anything? Only a fool would make that kind of offer.
I hesitate, weighing my options. The crown is valuable, but so is my life, and I can't risk staying here any longer. I toss the bag in his direction, watching as he jumps out of the way, refusing to catch it. That's odd; why isn't he interested in looking at what's inside?
Scooping up an identical bag from the floor, I'm already on my way out the door, running as quickly as possible.
The bag I tossed was a decoy; I always have a backup plan.
As I sprint down the hallway toward freedom, my ankle rolls, and I fall. Cursing under my breath, I scramble to my feet, feeling one glass slipper slip off in the process. Without pausing to think about it, I opt to leave it behind, choosing my life over a shoe-- for now at least.
I run through the castle, desperately trying to get as far away as I can. The guards and other masquerade guests are rushing around, making it difficult for me to stay out of sight. I duck into rooms and hallways, waiting until everyone has passed before continuing on my way.
Finally reaching the entrance of the castle, I pause for a moment to take off my other glass slipper before continuing on my way. Holding both the bag and slipper in one arm, I run through the courtyard and out into the streets beyond. As I emerge from the wealthy part of Fallwatch, I'm relieved to see that there is no one following me.
When I stop to catch my breath I open the bag to take a closer look at this crown everyone seems to want. A wave of dread washes over me as I realize what has happened. It's the wrong bag. How could I have been so stupid?
I curse under my breath as I realize that all my effort has been for nothing; now King Remme will undoubtedly hunt me down for stealing from him and probably kill me for disobedience.
I stared down at what little remained in my hands - a glass slipper and a bag filled with a dirty rag and an old horseshoe- realizing I only had two weeks left to get this crown and that there may never be a chance this good again. Sighing heavily, I tucked them away in a pocket before heading back to Fairy Godmothers home to report my failure. She was going to kill me.