Page 12 of Glass Hearts
“It’s so weird. Since the ball, I have had this weird feeling like someone has been watching me and following me.
And the way Valak looked panicked last night…
I’m kind of worried. Maybe it’s all just in my head.
Everything seemed to almost go over too smoothly,” I confide to Princess Buttercup the third, my neighbour’s daughter’s cat, who is perched on my windowsill looking quite bored.
My other familiars are busy helping me with my chores as I bake another pie for them.
One apple and the other a weird mix of apples, broccoli, and chocolate.
The last one is for my raccoons, Seeter and Skip, by special request. I learned long ago not to question their particular weird tastes with the ingredients they like to provide.
“I don’t care. I noticed one of your raccoons on my lawn the other day.
See that they keep their grubby little paws on your side of the fence.
Poor Alice had her chocolate stolen by those greedy trash pandas.
Also, as for your problem, it is probably all in your head. You are not that important or special.”
I nod and try to angle myself in front of the rubbish bin to hide the empty chocolate wrappers as she scampers back to her side of the fence.
Leave it to a cat to give you straightforward, brutal advice.
“Nice talking to you, too,” I mutter to myself.
The stepfamily is out shopping today; they seem to think they will be chosen in the next step of courtship with the Princes.
So, of course, that called for more spending on my deceased dad’s coin.
God forbid they wear the same dresses every once in and while.
They send me to drop off their clothes to get incinerated when their closet reaches max capacity.
Of course, instead of bringing it to the burn house, I donate the material either to Lo or to the community shelters.
My favourite time is when they are out of the house, and there aren’t too many chores.
Bernice seemed too busy to delegate many tasks to me today.
After placing my pies in the oven, I look at the loot I have acquired in the last few days.
The gold dagger is already serving its purpose, plus it’s just downright pretty.
No clue if I was holding it up in the correct manner to the doctor’s throat last night… but it felt right. Just like my bow and arrows Valak gave me when I first started stealing, it’s for show. I would rather not fight if I don’t have to.
The doctor wore two golden rings, and his watch is a nice timepiece that should fetch me a lovely sum.
I also have a few other jewelry pieces we snatched from the ball to get pawned.
The princes’ glass pendants, shaped almost like hearts, sit in a velvet pouch off to the side.
Kip that is just peachy.
Oliver quickly places them back into the pouch as a tall patron walks through the door. He is wearing all black, and I don’t quite catch his face as he stalks over to the corner.
“I am going to pretend I never saw those. Find a way to get them back before more trouble befalls you,” Oliver whispers to me as he hands the pouch back. “I can give you eight hundred gold coins for the remaining pieces, yes?”
All I can do is nod. And try not to panic. He processes all the pieces while the other patron is looking about the store. Something feels menacing yet familiar about the man, and I am not sure why.
“Here you go, dear,” Oliver says, handing me the gold pouch. “Please be careful. I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
“Neither would we,” a familiar deep voice says from beside me, putting his large hand on my shoulder. Oliver gasps as I look to the tall man who was previously just stalking around the shop.
“Prince Sylas. I-” I spot the other three princes looking into the window of the shop. Can’t just run out of this one.
“Whatever do you mean, my prince? I am just conducting business with this young lady. It’s always good to remind the young lasses to stay safe.”
“Ah, merchant, so you mean to tell me you aren’t warning her for her thievery of our magical glass hearts?” Oliver’s face falls at Sylas’s reply, knowing he can’t protect me anymore.
“Please spare her, my prince; she means well and did not know. Ladies and their jewels, am I right!?” Oliver stammers.
“It’s okay, Oliver, stand down. I will have a nice, quick chat with the Prince. It’s all a misunderstanding.”
Prince Sylas says nothing to that as he leads me out of the shop. Probably so they can call the enforcers to throw me in their dungeon. Fuckity fuck.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t The Shadow,” Prince Archer says with disdain. Yup, they are not happy. They all look pissed. Well, except for Prince Grayer, who is grinning like he is receiving a present at this very moment.
Before they can try to fully cage me in, I think fast and kick at Prince Sylas’s knees. He falls onto Prince Koi with a grunt as I take off running. Prince Grayer could have captured me, but he kept his arms crossed with a grin. I don’t have to be an idiot to imagine they are chasing me.
“Stop that girl!” one of them shouts. But when the community notices it’s me, The Shadow, nobody goes to aid them. Some even purposely impede the Princes, with expertly placed merchant carts. This is my domain, boys. With satisfaction, I continue to run.
The quickest way to get to the townhouse without having to run into any enforcers is through the forest. So, I make a beeline for the edge of the tree line and continue running.
As I run into the thick forest, my bandana gets caught on a branch, getting yanked off roughly.
Double shit. But there is no time to retrieve it as I hear them gaining on me.
My short legs are no match for the tall behemoths that like to stay fit like the Princes.
Heck, this is probably like a tame warm-up to their regular workouts.
Time for Plan B. I call to a few animals that are in the forest with a request for aid, the best I can do whilst trying not to catch my feet on stumps and roots as I run. I can also feel my connection to Petra, the crow, so she must be close by.
For the most part, I can call upon any animal.
But they still may choose whether they will either help me or leave me to my own devices.
Blessedly, I feel the animals confirming the bond and the task.
Which has me stopping abruptly, palms raised in surrender.
This visibly confused the Princes, and they stopped a few feet from me, the silence broken only by their heavy breathing.
Though I am now realizing they are also probably shocked to see my full face, too.
The vain part of me wonders if they like what they see.
I can barely catch my breath as I puff out, “Please. For-the-love-of-chocolate, stop making me RUN.”
“Well, Sunshine, it was you who started the running.” Prince Koi smirks, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Here.” I throw the pouch of necklaces to Prince Sylas, who has kept an angered, furrowed brow on this whole time. “Check it. Your precious little necklaces are all there. Let’s call it even, yes? You go back, find lovely brides, and forget what happened here. Everyone is happy.”
“Now, why would we do that, little thief?” Prince Archer sneers.
That is a good question. What do all men favour in importance… Ah yes. Their delicate egos.
“Would you really want to imprison me? After all, you would have to then tell the entire court and council how a female stole from right under your unsuspecting noses. They may even question whether you are fit to be kings. You must need to be observant and all that, no?”
In the corner of my eye, I can see the snakes I called upon wrap their bodies around each prince’s feet. Not tightening just yet.
“Listen here, little thief-” It looks like Prince Sylas is about to advance on me. So naturally, I panic.
“Tighten now, snakes! Petra and crew, fly at them or something!” I shout in a panic. Luckily, my familiars do just that. While the princes are flailing and trying to get the snakes off them, a few other birds fly down to join Petra in pecking at them.
“Please don’t actually maim the princes; they are too pretty for that! Also, Petra, please monitor them. Fly directly to me if it looks like they caught where I have been heading.”
And for good measure, I also yell out a ‘SORRY!’ to the princes as I make my hopefully final escape.