Page 39 of Glass Hearts

Watching my best friend try to deny she is falling in love is pretty cute of her. I can see the way her whole body lights up when any of the princes are around, that she is lying to me and herself. They all seem to be magnetized to each other, as if their bond was always inevitable.

My surly friend has always denied wanting to find true love, thinking it wasn’t for her.

Joking that I could love enough for the two of us.

Yet as I hug her goodbye from our sleepover, it makes me hopeful that the princes will bring out more of what I see in her.

That confident, smart and selfless woman that I love so dearly.

Bri and Winona have already left the room, along with Ella.

I sit on the plush bed, wondering if one day someone will look at me like the princes look at my friend.

Slowly, I begin to change, the soft fabric sliding against my skin as I get ready.

Lowering my hand, Ramen, my adorable pet ball python, slides up my arm to my shoulders.

Hitching his ride to my cluttered room, the same room where I sketch dresses and sew.

If they are going to be courting, Ella will need many dresses.

Being the in-castle seamstress is actually quite boring. Few clothing items to repair and no requests so far for any lavish dresses. I truly think Prince Sylas made up the job just so that he could make Ella more comfortable, since he probably knew we are more like sisters than just best friends.

Grabbing my tote of sleepover items, I head out past all the princes’ rooms and head towards the makeshift workroom. I pass the offices for all the councilmen when I overhear a conversation that makes my heart drop.

“You are now engaged to my daughters. Congratulations. You will forget about Arabella. You will be under our control with this spell with everything you say and do, up until your wedding night. You will appear in love and excited at the prospect of marrying my gorgeous daughters, who are frankly too good for the cheating lot of you. Inside, you may be warring, but frankly, I don’t care.

You all ruined everything by going after my whore of a stepdaughter.

Why am I not surprised she has been opening her legs for all of you?

Your spell will only be removed once you have accepted your fates and are faithful, loving husbands to my daughters. ”

I run away from the door, going straight to Arabella’s room.

My panic rises as I find her room empty.

Every spot I scope in the castle, Ella is nowhere to be found.

The castle feels strangely empty, echoing with silence.

Continuing my exploration, I notice the guest quarters are also vacant, including Winona’s.

All except for the Baudelaire’s rooms. The Quadias spot me before I can escape their clutches.

“Looks like we caught a snake. Now tell me, why is Belly’s friend in the castle at all? Especially snooping?” Zia, or is it Pia, says.

“I was sent here to retrieve some linens that need mending. I work at the castle now as the seamstress. That is all.”

I hoped this lie would spring me free, but instead, they gruffly shoved me into their overly perfumed room.

No! I need to find Ella!

“I think Mother will be quite pleased with us for this catch. Now what do we do with her? Tie her up or something?”

“Well, duh, Lia, that’s what mother would want. So she doesn’t get in the way of the plan. Then I am sure Victor will handle the loose ends.”

I try to squirm out of the two girls holding me. The third sister weakly punches me and tries to slap me. Neither land, but maybe it can buy me some time. Clearly, they have no clue what they are doing.

“Zia, we don’t even have rope!” They all look pensively around the room.

“Oh! How about our lingerie!? The princes will buy us new ones, anyway. A shame they didn’t even try to see these, though.”

Getting tied up with lingerie by the Quadias is a new low for me.

Ramen has already slithered into my long tresses, which are currently braided. I swear I feel the shake of his tiny head in embarrassment.

Mercifully, they clearly have tied no one up before, so I can already feel the material loosen. With my magic, I know I can always unravel the threads that are still tightly woven. I just need one of them to look away.

The Quadias move about the room, looking to be getting ready. If I am going to be a temporary prisoner, I might as well get some more information.

“What are you all getting ready for? Finally, leaving like the rest of the chosen ladies?”

“Ugh, no, Elora. We have been chosen by the princes. We are getting ready for our engagement dinner.”

“That is so sad that you have to get Mommy Dearest to weasel you into marriages. Tired of boys running away once they notice your ugly personalities?” This comment rewards me with another pitiful slap.

“Mia, don’t bother with her. She will be of little consequence to us once we get rid of Arabella for good.

Elora, we know you make dresses. Perhaps if you behave, you can keep your job here.

Forget about the trash princess, and maybe we will keep you around.

” Mia shrugs, smirking. As if I would ever beg to serve them.

The delusion of these ladies. Though I suppose if you get everything handed to you, you would think you can have anything or any person.

When I was younger, I had always hoped that the Quadias would grow out of their resentment towards Arabella, that they would become her allies and not enemies. They had been relatively kind to her when they were younger, but Bernice trained that out of them swiftly.

I continue to watch as they run around getting ready, putting on makeup, and fixing their hair.

Of course, always matching. The knock on the door has me screaming for help, but my pleas die on my lips as I see their wickedly evil mother walk in.

Unlike my bestie, I am not much of the confrontational type. But this woman makes me see red.

“Ah, good job, ladies, already making your mother so proud. Miss Elora, why might you be in the castle?”

“She is claiming to be a seamstress for the castle, Mother,” one of the Quadias interjects.

“I see. That just won’t do. I don’t need you causing problems.” She comes around, inspecting the tying job her daughters did.

“Sloppy knots, ladies.” She tuts as she grabs another set of stringy green lingerie and sets to tie a brutal knot. Well, crap sticks, that will be slightly more inconvenient to get out of as I feel the material bite into my wrists.

Once Bernice finishes re-tying me, she turns to her daughters. “My, what beautiful daughters I have. Soon to be queens.” She goes into her dress pocket and pulls out four gaudy diamond rings. The Quadias let out a screeching squeal and dutifully put it on their ring fingers.

I snort. “Yup, really sad you need to get Mommy Dearest to buy your engagement rings to princes that don’t even want you.” This earns me a real slap from Bernice. She grabs my chin with her claws as tears prickle in my eyes.

“Mind your business, you little rat. Once this is all settled, I will be dealing with you accordingly.” She turns to her daughters. “Now, come, my darlings. We have an engagement dinner to attend.”

They exit the room, choosing to leave me in darkness. I allow my tears to fall.

Needless to say, I don’t get slapped often—that was really doggone painful!

I need to get to that dinner to help Ella escape.

As predicted, though, I am having a hard time trying to get out of Bernice’s bindings.

Why does an old hag like her even know how to tie knots like this?

! My magic feels extra slow as it tries to unravel the threads.

This is too slow. My tears pick up anew in despair. I cannot fail my friend again.

After a few hours, I blessedly hear little squeaks, and my hope builds in my chest.

“Bert? Kip!? Is that you?” I whisper-yell. I let out a relieved laugh as their little heads poke up from under the door, in their cute tactile gear I created for them.

“I am so glad you boys are here. I am in a bit of a pickle. But Ella is in even more trouble if we don’t get to her. Can you bite through the knots!?”

Like professionals, they get to work, their little sharp teeth biting through the fabric. I cry in relief as I feel the last of the strings fall to the floor. I scoop up Bert and Kip, putting them in my pocket.

Carefully, so as not to get caught, I slink around the castle. The dining room was empty, though the sight of blood didn’t escape my eye. Do not think about what that means and find your friend.

I run back to her room, and yet again, she isn’t there.

But she had been, I spotted the bloodied rags and torn dress.

She was lashed again. I can hear the displeased squeaks of Bert and Kip.

Knowing my friend, she sent her mouse boys to me and has booked it to the mage.

Especially if Bernice has been threatening to sell her off to get married.

I need a plan. What do I do?

Losing my sanity, I look to Bert and Kip, who seem to look to me for the next plan.

“Did Ella say anything? Can you give me any hints about what I should do?”

They start to move their little arms while they stand up on their hind legs, as if trying to tell me something. I sigh. I don’t have time for mouse charades.

“Don’t worry about it, boys. I can’t understand you. I am sorry. Once we rescue Ella, I am getting her to teach you how to write or something.”

Ella has always been the one to plan. I am just her trusted sidekick. I am not the heroine of the story, dang it! Putting the mice back in my pocket, I decide to keep searching for the next thing to do. Maybe find Bri?

I continue to creep around the castle when I spot Victor and Bernice leaving from my hidden alcove on the top of the steps. Meaning the princes are still in the castle and away from their clutches, even if for a moment. I don’t hesitate as I run towards their rooms.

Bursting into Sylas’s room, I am shocked to find them all passed out, as if something put them to sleep. I suppose that makes sense; you can’t control your puppets if you are away, I guess. Jett is licking Koi’s hand, whining, knowing something is wrong with his master.

“I hope these idiots love her as much as I do,” I mumble as I think of how I can get them out of this state.

Technically, my magic is linked to me, my soul.

I don’t need my spell case to form a spell, like the witches do.

Though I do prefer to use ingredient supplies for spells as a crutch.

It’s safe. Reliable. Every time I try a soul spell, something goes wrong.

But my best friend is relying on me. I can’t let her down—again!

“Jett, help me bring the princes together. I am going to try to reverse the spell.” Jett uses his snout to push Koi closer to Grayer. I struggle to drag Archer over to Sylas. He is the leanest of the four, yet still so much dead weight at 6’2.

“Ella is going to owe me so many dang pies for this,” I grunt out as I move the windy prince. Accidentally, as I continue to drag him over, I bang his head into the coffee table.

“Oh shoot, sorry, prince.” I then think of all he said and did to Ella.

“Actually, never mind. You kind of deserve that for kissing that one girl in front of my friend. Not. Cool.” His forehead is bleeding a little.

I feel kind of bad again. With one last tug on his arm, he is by the other three princes. They are finally all closer together.

It’s now or never, Lo.

I take a deep breath, feeling the sweat beading down my forehead as I close my eyes, touching Sylas and Koi’s arms. Creating a magic circle between the five of us.

Going into that well inside of me, I think of my sweet, strong friend. Knowing she is in trouble. I plead to my magic to reverse the princes’ spell and push all my energy to the swirl of magic I feel deep in my soul.

It’s the most power I have ever tried to pull in years. My sweat increases, and I begin to pant. My body feels like it is being stretched and pulled, but I can feel it as it moves to the four bodies I am connected to.

“For Arabella!” I cry as I send all my power to the princes, requesting the spell to be purged from their bodies.

Four pairs of angry eyes open at the same time, their massive bodies sitting up instantly. I smile in relief. It worked. A single tear falls from my eye as I pass out from exhaustion.

I did it.