Page 7

SEVEN

After scarfing down a dinner that she'd barely tasted, let alone remembered, Lily headed back upstairs with an insulated jug of coffee in one hand and a box of leftover muffins in the other. Sure, she might not be a fee-paying student any more, but the staff at Mirror Academy certainly didn't starve.

The battery building would simply have to move, she decided. That much lithium was way too dangerous in such close proximity to homes and community buildings. Sure, she'd need to factor in more transmission lines, but if she moved the battery storage to somewhere down beside the lake, maybe near the fire suppression tanks, it would be a far more practical solution than the one she had now. Should some revolutionary new battery appear on the market after she'd submitted her project, she'd just resurrect the old plans and give those to the client. The client wouldn't care what she'd submitted for her final project, as long as it had earned her a good enough grade to graduate. That would make all her sacrifices, and all the late nights, worth it.

Lily turned to throw herself on the narrow bed, to better visualise the new plan before she had to draw it, only to find the bed already occupied by an enormous box that took up the whole width of the mattress.

A box with a note on top that said:

One night off won't hurt. Have fun. You deserve it.

No signature, of course. She didn't even recognise the writing.

Sighing, Lily lifted the lid. And gasped.

The fabric shimmered between silver and pale blue, embroidered with a thousand crystals that caught the light and sparkled like diamonds, even in the light of her bare overhead bulb.

She couldn't resist. She lifted the dress out of the box and the gossamer fabric seemed to float as she held it against her. Instead of a skirt that puffed out like a wedding cake, this dress flared out delicately, begging her to twirl.

One night. Just one night...

Lily stripped off her clothes, and donned the dress.

Soft as silk, as light as gauze, skimming her body without being too tight, it was a perfect fit. Or it would be, if she was wearing heels. She hadn't owned many fancy shoes before, but this was the first time she'd regretted selling the ones she had so she could pay her tuition fees. If she'd only kept one pair for sentimental reasons...but no.

She'd just have to take the dress off and put it back in the box, Lily told herself.

Her eyes darted to the box, and what had been hiding under the dress.

Her fairy godmother, or whoever had sent her the dress, hadn't stopped there. Sitting in the box was a mask and a pair of heels covered in cloth and crystals identical to the dress, sparkling like a freshly washed lead crystal champagne flute. A pair of glass slippers. She really would be Cinderella going to the ball.

She gave one last, longing look at her final project. The power plant could wait until tomorrow. The last coach back to the Academy left the ball at midnight, so she'd be back with plenty of time.

Her dad wouldn't begrudge her this. Sure, she hadn't gone to a ball since he died, and every day since she'd spent her every waking moment either working or studying so she could get first class honours and carry on her parents' legacy in the Hea Sanctuary, and whatever other projects came her way, but she could go out dancing for one night and not derail her whole future.

After all, what difference could one night make?