Sin - two days before the ball
The manor was cloaked in silence, the moonlight casting thin, eerie shadows across the corridors.
Sin’s heart pounded as she crept toward Vivienne’s door.
Her body ached from the punishment she had suffered earlier, her back throbbing with each step, each sting a reminder of the scars that marred her skin—the very marks that made her feel monstrous, driving her to seek the glamour.
The glass stilettos—her only chance, her only key to the ball—were within reach. If she could wear them with the glamour, her scars would disappear, hidden beneath an illusion of flawless beauty, and for one night, she would be someone else—someone worthy.
The door stood ajar. Sin paused, listening for any sign of movement.
The manor was still. Too still. She eased the door open just enough to slip inside.
Her breath hitched as she took in Vivienne’s room, a world so different from her own—a place of luxury, silk curtains draped elegantly over the windows, furniture polished to perfection.
A faint scent of sweet perfume lingered in the air, making Sin’s stomach churn.
She didn’t belong here.
Her gaze locked on the stilettos, displayed on a velvet cushion near the far wall.
Their pristine beauty mocked her own reflection—unscarred, perfect, everything she would never be.
The glass shoes glimmered in the low light, so delicate and pristine, as if they had never been touched.
Sin’s fingers trembled. She was so close.
She had to move. She took a tentative step, the floor creaking beneath her feet, and froze.
The room seemed to grow smaller, the air thicker. She pressed on, inching toward the stilettos, her heart racing with every step.
Finally, she reached the pedestal. The stilettos were more beautiful than she had imagined. They were perfection incarnate—everything she wasn’t. Her scarred hands hesitated as they hovered over the glass. Could she really do this? Could she really steal them?
The floor creaked behind her.
Sin whipped around, panic flooding her senses.
Her breath caught in her throat as she strained to hear.
Footsteps. Soft, slow footsteps coming down the hall.
Someone was coming. She ducked behind a nearby curtain, clutching the velvet fabric with trembling hands.
Her heart pounded in her ears, so loud she thought for sure whoever was outside would hear it.
The footsteps grew louder, drawing closer. Sin squeezed her eyes shut, every muscle tensing. She couldn’t be caught here. Not now. Not like this.
The sound passed, fading into the distance.
She waited a few more agonizing moments before releasing a shaky breath, her pulse still hammering in her chest. She stepped out from behind the curtain, her knees weak, and quickly grabbed the stilettos.
Their cool glass surface felt foreign in her hands, their weight heavier than she had anticipated.
But there was no time to linger. She had to get out before someone returned.
With one last glance toward the door, she darted out of the room, moving as swiftly and silently as possible through the dark corridors of the manor. The night air hit her face as she finally slipped outside, her heart still racing, her palms damp with sweat.
The shoes were hers. But the risk… the price… it loomed over her like a shadow.
* * *
Sin walked briskly through the forest, her breath uneven. The night was thick with fog, the air damp and heavy. She quickened her pace, the feeling of eyes on her back growing stronger with each step.
Magnolia’s cottage wasn’t far, but the journey felt longer than usual.
The trees seemed to press in on her, the branches overhead twisting into unnatural shapes, casting grotesque shadows across the path.
Every sound—a twig snapping, the rustle of leaves—made her jump.
Was someone there? Or was it just her imagination?
Sin’s stomach twisted with nerves. There was too much at stake. She couldn’t fail now.
Finally, she reached the clearing where Magnolia’s cottage stood.
The scent of lavender and mugwort drifted toward her as she approached the door.
She knocked, her knuckles brushing the wood softly at first, then harder when no one answered.
The door swung open slowly, revealing Magnolia standing in the doorway, her sharp eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Magnolia’s expression shifted the moment she saw Sin, her brows lifting in surprise as she caught sight of the bag and the stilettos within.
“Sin?” she asked, confusion in her gaze. “Why are you here so late? And what is this?”
Sin swallowed hard, her voice tight with desperation. “Please, Magnolia. I need a glamour tonight. A strong one.” Sin nearly dropped the crystal stilettos as she held them up. “These are enchanted, and I need you to bind the spell into them.”
Magnolia’s brow arched as she took the shoes from Sin’s trembling hands. “Where did you get these?”
Sin’s eyes darted away for a moment before meeting Magnolia’s gaze. “I stole them. From Vivienne.”
Magnolia’s eyes widened, shock and disbelief flickering across her face. “Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
Sin didn’t answer. She didn’t have to. This night was more important to her than living another hundred years as a slave.
Magnolia exhaled sharply, the initial surprise melting into something more contemplative.
“These are powerful,” she murmured, turning them over slowly in her palms. “Strong enough to hold the glamour you’re asking for.
” She cast a shrewd glance at Sin. “Why these? Surely there are safer objects to enchant?”
Sin’s throat tightened. “If it is a night worth dying for, then I shall embrace it until the sun rises.”
Magnolia’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of suspicion quickly replaced by calculation. Sin watched the gears turning behind her gaze, a silent decision forming in Magnolia’s mind.
Finally, Magnolia nodded. “All right. I’ll help you. But it might take a while. Why don’t you sit and rest your heart for a moment?”
Sin nodded, taking a seat at her crafting table while Magnolia gathered items.
The air thickened with the scent of herbs and magic. Sin assisted, handing Magnolia the ingredients as she muttered incantations in Vhaevari. The room seemed to shimmer with an otherworldly glow, and a sharp tingle ran across Sin’s skin.
Magnolia handed the stilettos back, her eyes glinting with a mysterious light.
Sin took a breath and slipped them on. The moment her feet settled inside, the stilettos began to hum, a soft, resonant vibration that seemed to sync with her heartbeat.
Instantly, all the pain from her torture vanished, replaced by a rush of relief so profound it brought tears to her eyes.
The magic surged over her skin, cool and electric, erasing every imperfection as it passed.
Sin stepped toward the mirror, barely recognizing the figure that stared back at her.
The magic coursed through her, and she watched, wide-eyed, as the scars on her body faded into smooth, unblemished skin.
The runes glowed against her skin until fading away.
Threads of silvery light wrapped around her, weaving into a tangible dress that shimmered like a blade—beautiful and lethal.
Now, she felt like a glorious piece of artwork.
She nodded at herself in the mirror, silently telling herself that tonight would be the night.
Even if tomorrow comes and reality kicks in, forcing her back into the shithole she called her life. Tonight, she would feel the skin of someone else against hers.
“Take my horse; it will get you there faster,” Magnolia said, her voice laced with finality. Her fingers lingered on the doorframe, eyes flicking to Sin one last time, as if committing her to memory.
Sin took a step toward the door, pausing for a moment.
This was her chance—her only chance to escape the chains of her past. “Thank you, Magnolia,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.
Magnolia’s eyes softened for just a heartbeat before she turned away, busying herself with clearing the remnants of the spell.
Sin glanced back one last time, taking in the glow of the cottage that had given her hope.
The weight of anticipation pressed down on her, mingling with the exhilaration racing through her veins.
With a deep breath, she stepped out into the cool night air.
The silence was heavy, broken only by the rhythmic thudding of her heart.
Determination solidified within her as she climbed onto the witch’s horse, its sleek coat gleaming under the moonlight. The creature snorted, sensing her urgency, and with a light press of her heels, they surged forward.
The wind whipped past her face, carrying the scent of the forest and the faintest trace of lavender from Magnolia’s spellwork.
Sin’s pulse quickened. The dark canopy of trees finally gave way to the clearer path—the path that led straight to the palace.
Each stride of the horse brought her closer to the moment she had dreamed of, the promise of freedom and a new beginning.
But even as she neared her destination, the sensation of being watched lingered, a shadow that refused to let her go. Without waiting another moment, Sin stepped out into the cool night air, her mind spinning.
Every step through the woods felt heavier, as if the weight of the decision she’d made was bearing down on her more and more.
The darkness pressed in from all sides. The trees stretched upward like skeletal hands clawing at the sky.
She couldn’t shake the feeling of being followed.
The forest’s skeletal branches reached skyward, twisted like gnarled fingers clawing at the stars, casting long, jagged shadows that seemed to shift as she moved.
Something—someone—was out there.
She glanced over her shoulder, but saw nothing. The forest was too quiet—the only sound was the horse’s rapid footsteps crunching the leaves beneath her. The sensation of unseen eyes on her skin prickled with every passing moment.
Sin urged the horse to go faster, the powerful animal responding with a burst of speed that sent the trees blurring past. The air was thick, heavy, clinging to her like a second skin.
Her breath came in ragged gasps. She couldn’t let fear consume her—not now.
She steeled herself, clenching the reins tighter.
The ball was within reach.
Finally, the trees began to thin, and the distant lights of the palace appeared through the fog. Magnolia’s horse slowed its pace, Sin’s pulse still racing, her body trembling from both exhaustion and anticipation.
As she emerged from the forest, her heart skipped a beat. The ball was waiting for her. Her future, for better or worse, was there—inside that palace.