Page 20

Twenty

ELSPETH

F abric hung all over the dressmaker’s shop. Glittery fabrics, silk, cotton, linen, patterned. It was enough to make my head spin.

Auggie draped a gold fabric over her shoulders, spinning as it caught rays of sunlight.

The dressmaker pointed his wand at Auggie, saying a spell in the ancient language of witches: Ethorial. It was the only language magic responded to and just one reason why casting spells was difficult. All witches learned the language in primary school, but to actually use it to cast spells took much skill. You had to understand each word, each intonation and inflection, or spells could go horribly wrong.

He finished saying the spell, and the fabric lifted from Auggie, then wrapped around her bosom, down to her waist, trailing all the way to the ground. She squealed. It looked like an actual dress, sleeveless, sleek, beautiful with her wavy brown hair and pale skin.

“Mama, look!” Auggie said, gesturing.

Mama appeared from behind some fabric, different types slung over her shoulders as she made her way to Auggie.

“Please do not touch my work,” the dressmaker said to Mama in a thick accent that sounded like it was from the southern part of the realm, near the Werelands border.

Mama cleared her throat and twined her hands behind her back.

“What do you think?” the dressmaker asked, pinching the end of his thin mustache.

Auggie posed as she admired herself in the mirror. “It’s beautiful.”

I grimaced. It would cost all our gold coin to buy new dresses. We couldn’t afford this, but when I tried to be the voice of reason, Mama would hear none of it.

Adelaide walked out of a small side room covered by a curtain, and I gasped. She wore a white dress with sheer short sleeves and an A-line silhouette. It hung down her frame, the top layer sheer and revealing silky sparkling fabric underneath.

She looked breathtaking. Like a princess from the human lands. If he hadn’t already, Elm would fall head over heels after seeing Adelaide in this. Her blonde hair fell in soft waves down her shoulders, her blue eyes shining.

“What do you think?” she asked.

“I said do not touch!” The dressmaker swatted Mama’s hand away from Auggie, and Mama harrumphed.

“It’s gorgeous, Adelaide. Where did you find this?”

She shrugged. “It was in the back of the shop. It looked too big, so I figured there was no way it would fit. I decided to try it on anyway, and when I put it over my head, it conformed to my body.”

“It would look perfect with these.” I reached for two long white gloves that sat on a nearby shelf and handed them to Adelaide, who slipped them on. “And maybe a flower crown in your hair?”

She laughed. “Let’s not go overboard. I can’t believe you agreed to this.”

I crossed my arms. “You were there when I told Draven we’d come.”

“Yes, but I figured you were just trying to be polite. For once.”

My cheeks heated.

“Well, we’re stuck here in Thistlegrove, so we may as well make the most of it,” I said.

“Who are you, and what have you done with my sister?” Adelaide asked. “You’ve gone from wanting to hide away from the world to wanting to attend a ball at the manor of your nemesis? ”

“He’s not my nemesis.”

He wasn’t worthy enough to hold that title.

“Uh-huh. Well, promise you won’t get into an argument with him and cause a scene,” Adelaide said. “That’s the last thing we need.”

I scoffed. “Adelaide, I won’t. I told you that Draven and I are okay. So if you want to dance with a certain Elm Kingsley at the ball...”

“Careful, you’re starting to sound like Mama.” Adelaide poked me. “We’ve found my dress. Now what about yours?”

“Where is Prue?” I asked,

“Hiding behind those fabrics.” Adelaide pointed at the corner. “Of course.”

Out the window, Helena was walking down the dirt road, wearing all black today. I remembered the way she’d been studying me and Adelaide at the market the other day, a little too closely for comfort. I bit the inside of my cheek.

“Get Prue and make her try on some dresses,” I said. “I’ll be right back.”

I ran toward the door, and it swung open for me. The air was chilly, and I pulled my thick brown shawl tighter around my shoulders.

“Helena!” I called.

She stopped and turned, tilting her head and flashing me a smile. “Elspeth Moonflower. I’m still thinking about that soup I tasted the other day at your stand.”

“Well, it’s mainly Adelaide. She has a way with flavors.”

We stood in silence, and I twisted my hands together. Why had I run after her? I wasn’t sure what I was hoping to even accomplish. Maybe feel her out, get a sense of whether she knew we didn’t have magic. It was ridiculous to think she would or that she’d even do anything about it. She was a vampire after all. She had no reason to care about something like this.

“What are you doing at Witching Wears?” She pointed to the dressmaker’s shop.

“Trying on dresses,” I said brightly. “For the ball. Are you coming?”

“The ball?” she asked, and I winced.

Maybe she hadn’t been invited, and I’d just stuck my foot in my mouth. “At the Darkstone Manor?”

Her face darkened. “Ah. No.” She peered at me curiously. “Although I’ve heard you and Draven Darkstone have gotten into some heated arguments. I’m surprised you’re going when there’s such contention between you.”

I held back my sigh. Did everyone in this village know about our arguments? We’d only had two, for witch’s sake. Maybe three if you counted game night, but that was just some good, old-fashioned competition.

“If it makes you feel any better, Draven isn’t the easiest to get along with.” Helena placed a hand on my arm, her touch ice cold.

I met her gaze, her red eyes flashing. Maybe I was imagining things, but a bitterness seemed to coat her words.

“What do you mean?” I asked against my better judgment.

“It’s nothing,” Helena said. “Just be careful around him. He’s bad news, Elspeth. Cutthroat. He has power and wealth, and he’ll use both against you if you get on his bad side.”

“Elspeth!” I whirled to see Auggie stomping toward me. “We’re all waiting on you, and I’m almost positive the dressmaker is insulting us in a different language. He has four fabrics picked out for you.”

“Helena, this is my younger sister Augusta. Auggie, this is Helena.” I smiled apologetically at the vampire. “I better get inside before Mama starts yelling. Hopefully we’ll see you sometime at the soup stand?”

Helena flashed her fangs. “Oh yes. I have to leave soon, and I wouldn’t want to go before trying more of your delicious soup.”

With that, I turned and brushed past Auggie, going into the shop and spending the next half an hour getting fussed over and wrapped in different fabrics. But my mind wasn’t on a dress. It was on Helena and what her words about Draven Darkstone could’ve meant.