Fabled (27 page)

She pulled out a trunk from underneath a shelf. “This was made for another of Dekel’s wives, but she never wore it. She preferred to wear her mother’s rags,” Larelle said while taking the dress out slowly.

I stood there in that moment and thought about what was happening. I mean
really
thought about it. I was going to get married. I couldn’t help but envision my dad walking me down the aisle and my mom sapping up the event with her sniffling tears. Lil would be the bridesmaid from hell, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Dashielle. No Chester. No wait. I couldn’t see who would be waiting for me. This wasn’t the way it was supposed to be. I fought the tears.

It’s going to be okay. Just keep reminding yourself that you will have magic if you’re married to one of them. With magic, you can do almost anything.

“You must try it on that way Nurse can make any of the necessary alterations,” Larelle said.
 

It took nearly fifteen minutes to get me in the thing. There were so many buttons and layers. Nurse came to take measurements, and then I was allowed to go back to my room for lunch.
 

I couldn’t help but sulk. I ate my vegetable soup and bread and lay on my bed, defeated. I heard a tapping noise, looked up, and saw Humbert on the windowsill.
 

“Humbert?” I ran to him and gently wrapped my arms around him. He batted his eyes at me. He was carrying a note, of course.

Roe,

I’m sorry I didn’t protect you from the royals. I hope this finds you unharmed. It’s torture knowing that you’re there. Being away from you is more than I can bear. I’m going to get you out. Tonight at midnight I’m sneaking into the castle. I will find where you are and get you out of there. They will no longer keep you from me. I miss you.
 

Until then.

Love,

Chester

I had no pen to write him back. I returned the note to Humbert. “I can’t keep it here. They may find it. Thank you for getting it to me. I’ve talked to Cale, and I know where they’re keeping your parents. I just don’t know how to get them out yet.” He hung his head, gave me a gentle look, and flew away. I heard a noise and looked back at the door opening.

“Miss Lauren would like to go over some wedding plans with you. She’s asked that you meet her in the front garden,” Nurse said.

Lauren sat on a bench in the nearest garden square. Being in the maze of hell again made me even more anxious.
 

“What type of flowers do you like,” she asked, smiling.

“Roses,” I said without thought.
Tulips are my favorite,
I corrected Julia.

She waved her hand and a beautiful bouquet of red roses appeared. “Maybe with a glint of white?” She waved her arm again and tiny white flowers appeared in the midst of the red.

Beautiful. Perfect.

“White roses,”
I
said.

She smiled and with another wave the roses were white with greenery in the midst of them.
 

“What’s your favorite color?”

“Green.”

A silk sash appeared tying the flowers together with a neat, flowing bow.

We exchanged smiles.

“Where do you want it to be?”

I thought for a minute.

I can’t stand the idea of doing this. I can’t do it.

You must!

“I wasn’t expecting to have a choice. Where have the others been?” I asked her.

“The bride always chooses. One was near the lake, another in our garden, and another at her parents’ home. Isabelle’s was probably the most stunning. It was in a large tree home. Her entire family attended. There was something mystical about being surrounded by so many wings,” she said.

“What is she? Is the wings just her gift?” I asked.

“She’s a fairy. They’re the loveliest giftings of all of Mezzanine.”

“How many of them are there — wives, I mean?”

She thought for a minute. “Five. Isabelle is the only one we see very often. The others only attend family occasions. They each have their own wing in the castle. You will too. Isabelle sort of runs the schedule. She decides when each wife gets Dekel. He prefers them to work it out amongst themselves,” she said.

It all disgusted me. The whole idea of sharing a husband made my heart and stomach revolt, but I fought the urge to share my feelings with her.
 

“So where do you want to have your wedding?” she asked again.

It didn’t seem like it mattered much. If everything went as planned, I’d be escaping with Chester before the morning.
 

“Where it all began — at my portal. I haven’t seen anything more beautiful in all of Mezzanine than that place anyway. There’s something nostalgic about it,” I said.

She smiled and nodded. “Then that’s where it’ll be. You’ll love it.”

She started to go, but then realized she shouldn’t leave me alone outside of the home. She snapped her fingers and Nurse appeared. She led me back to my room.

“You’ll be joining the family for meals from now on, and I trust you’ll always be on your best behavior. None of the other wives get to eat with the family, except Isabelle on occasion. You should feel privileged,” Nurse said. “Your wardrobe has a dress for dinner in it. I’ll be up to help you dress in plenty of time.” She left.

I spent my time trying to figure out how I could get Cale, Mack, and Cilla out of the pit, but I kept running into major obstacles. I didn’t know where the keys were or who kept them.
 

You just need the magic. Once you marry him, you’ll be able to let them out easily.

I can’t stand the thought of marrying someone I don’t love or even like!

It’s not about you. It’s about the kingdom. Think of all the good you can do.

But I’ll be bound to them
—
to Dresdem. What does that mean?

It means nothing. All the binding means is that you’ll always be a part of the family. It’s just a name, not a reality. All you need to do is take the ink! You just have to beat him at his own game.

I knew marrying Dekel was necessary for the kingdom and for all the people I’ve grown to love here. Maybe this marriage would allow me to protect them from any further troubles with the royals. My grandma always said, “Hug your friends; kiss your enemies. A kiss is the perfect disguise for betrayal.”

Nurse came after my bath and suited me up for more family fun.

“This is a gift from your groom. He won’t be attending dinner tonight because of a previous engagement, but he sends his best,” Nurse said and handed me a teal blue box with a large white ribbon. I unwrapped it and saw a diamond studded headband with ribbons for a clasp.
 

“It’s lovely,” I remarked. Nurse took it out and placed it on my head like a crown, tying the silk ribbons at the base of my neck. “This is how you wear it,” she said with a dim smile.

As I stared at myself in the mirror, I realized that since I’d been in Mezzanine, I’d done a lot of things I thought I couldn’t do. What’s one more?

Chapter 30

Dinner went smoothly. I barely spoke, only nodding and laughing politely when necessary. Before long, I was escorted back to my room.

I can do this. There’s really nothing difficult about being a boring, delicate woman. It just takes self-discipline and a scarred tongue.
 

I waited nervously for Chester to come. I wondered if he’d even make it through the castle doors. I knew they were protected by magic but wasn’t sure if they’d detect invisible people. I’d find out soon enough. I paced, counted freckles, twirled my hair, and stared at the ceiling. At one point, I thought I saw the crack in the stuccoed dome expand and crawl down the wall but must have been mistaken. I watched the moons outside, and when midnight seemed to be approaching, I started pacing once more. That’s when he appeared by the door.

“Chester?” I asked. The dim candlelight left shadows on his face, and oddly enough, he looked older.

He charged me, wrapped his arms around my waist, and buried his face into my neck. We held each other for a long moment, and for a time, everything felt right.
 

“I can’t believe you’re here! How?”
 

“It wasn’t easy, but it doesn’t matter. All that matters is that I get you out of here,” he whispered.

“I have to talk to you,” I said, pulling him to the bed. We sat Indian style, like a couple of school kids, staring at each other. “I can’t go…” I hesitated.

“What?” he interrupted.

“You don’t understand. Tomorrow I’m to marry Dekel, Dresdem’s son. This will allow me the power to get Mack, Cilla, and Cale out. It’s the only way.”

“You have lost your mind!” He stood up and distanced himself. I can’t imagine what he must have felt.

“I know it sounds crazy, but if I have magic, I can protect all of you. Then no one would have to be on the run and hiding.”

“You’d be one of them! You don’t understand that? You’d be a… royal. It’ll change you, Roe.” His whole face pleaded with me to reconsider, and I genuinely wanted to.

“Do you have a better idea?”

“Yes! Come with me.” He took my hands and got down on his knees. “Just come with me. Cale would never go along with this if he knew. He’d never let you do this for him or anyone else for that matter.”

“I got all of you into this, and I can’t think of another way to get you all out. Think about it.” He flopped on the bed next to me and stared at the ceiling. I didn’t know what he was thinking, but I watched his face contort and loosen. I lay beside him and placed my hand on his. Long moments passed before he spoke.

“Are you sure you can go through with this?”
 

We rolled over, and our eyes met.
 

“I know it won’t be easy, but I need to protect all of you. I just
need
to,” I said, squeezing his hand.

“What about consummation? How can you do that?” He tore his eyes and hands from me and rubbed his forehead. “No. I can’t do this,” he finally said.

To be honest, I hadn’t given consummation much thought. I mean, I thought about it, but I guess it was too much for my mind to process.
 

“Dekel has many wives. I’m sure I can stall it a little while,” I said, hoping.

“On your wedding night? I doubt that, Roe. He’s a blasted pervert! I cannot let you do this. I just can’t,” he cried.
 

“Listen. I’m doing this for us. For all of us. We will forever be running if I don’t. None of us are safe here without magic.”

He didn’t say anything. I could feel his anger radiating from his body. I took his hand anyway and snuggled into him. He wrapped his arms around me and spooned me.

“I love you, Rowena. I hoped you’d marry me someday,” he whispered sadly. I pulled his arms tighter.
He wanted to marry me?
I realized then that I had truly began building a life here in Mezz.
 

“It’s just a name; not a reality. My soul will never marry him, no matter what my body is forced to do. My heart won’t betray our love,” I said and allowed all the emotions to overtake me. Life’s dagger dug deep into my heart and carved this painful moment in it forever. Chester held me together as I cried until my mind forced itself to rest.

I dreamed of magic, yellow wings, ink, crowns, and the possibility of being married to Chester.
 

The morning’s rays glistened on my face as my eyes opened. I rolled over and felt for Chester, but he wasn’t there. I ran my hand across the space where he laid, trying to clasp some imaginary comfort he may have left. My tears picked up where they left off.

“Wakey, wakey!” Nurse exclaimed in an annoyingly chipper voice. She saw me crying but chose to ignore it. “Today’s the big day!” She went into the bathing room, followed by two men carrying a large tub. “You get hot water today.” She smiled.

After bathing, she tossed me a pink gown.
 

I hate pink.

She dolled me up — face, hair, and all.

“The ladies of the house will be having breakfast in the garden house today. It’s lovely out,” she said.

I followed her to the garden. It looked more like an enclosed gazebo to me. Confederate jasmine, my mom’s favorite plant, had conquered most of the structure and released the sweetest smell, which served as an ironic juxtaposition to my somber mood. The only furniture was a round French-country style table placed in the middle of the room surrounded by windows. A small chandelier hung from the center down. The room practically sparkled with sunlight. Lauren was the only one there.

“Hi sister,” she said standing and kissing both my cheeks. “Please sit by me.” She smiled. She was always smiling.
 

She poured me a cup of tea, and we chatted momentarily about the weather being perfect for a wedding. Larelle and Isabelle joined us. Isabelle allowed there to be one chair between us. She obviously wanted nothing to do with me. The thick negative energy Isabelle brought with her seemed to darken both the mood and the room.

“Rowena, you are going to love what Nurse has done with your dress. It looks absolutely amazing,” Larelle said with false excitement.