An hour passed as I stood with the witch. My toes were aching, pressed together tightly within the glass slippers. I wished I could kick them off and run through the room barefoot.
But I knew that wasn't possible. Many things were not possible.
The witch did not waste time scolding me. Instead she wanted every detail of our conversation from the time before the Prince stormed off. Because that was what it had looked like to everyone else that I'd said something that angered him. Prince Phillip had left the room and not returned. At the toll of the clock, my heart lurched. It was past eleven. Normally, I would be leaving now. But not tonight. There was no escape from the witch's control, and she wanted me to remain until the prince claimed me as his bride and went to the gardens.
She smiled while she spoke, If you are not withholding anything from me, then I am certain we can fix this, quickly. We must have you home by midnight. She fussed with a stray curl, putting it back in place. Listen carefully. The spell upon you makes other men covet you. Simply dance with another and the charm will invoke the Prince's lust for you. She spoke so coldly. Her mind was such a twisted web of thorns that she didn't notice that I truly cared for him. The Duke's son smiled at me. A girl slightly older than I was, was on his right arm. My mother stepped in front of the boy, causing his date to step aside. May I have a word, your eminence?
The boy smiled at the flattery and bowed his head acknowledging my mother. She said quietly, I believe my daughter has offended the Prince. But since we are mere women, we cannot figure out what it was that she has done.
Perhaps you would find it in your heart to dance with the girl, and help her discover her mistake?
The boy's eyes widened. There was a second's hesitation.
But, he extended his elbow for me, and I held on. He led me away from the witch and to the dance floor. I smiled and nodded, playing along as the dumb girl trying to mend her mistake with the prince. Before we circled the ballroom twice, the Prince appeared. I felt his eyes on the back of my neck, slipping across my cheek, and finally meeting my eyes as we danced by. Others approached the prince, but he was despondent. His eyes were transfixed on me. When we were to pass the prince again, he stepped in front of us, blocking our path.
If I may... Prince Phillip said, and cut in. His hands gripped me hard as he took the boy's place. As we danced away, I saw the Duke's son back away with sorrow on his face. My mother's spell was thick, and it was as if the boy mourned me, though he only spoke to me for a moment.
I felt my mother's eyes on me. I couldn't speak here. She'd know what I'd said.
The prince seemed irritated, and immune to the spell that seemed to enchant the rest of the men in the room. All male eyes were on me, staring. All female eyes were enraged as they coaxed their dejected men to dance.
Prince Phillip seemed not to notice. He spun me once, and pulled me tightly to his chest. What have I done? What would make you say such a thing? And don't deny that you love me, Ella. I see it in your eyes. Year after year. It grows stronger, as do we. Tell me. I won't let you go until you tell me why we can't be together. He turned and a several pairs of dancers moved between the onlookers in the crowd, including my mother.
I spoke softly. Quickly. Take me somewhere we can be alone. Take me to your bedchambers. Now. I looked into his eyes, begging that he would understand. If he couldn't detect that something was very wrong, we would both die. Before he could say anything, I added, tilting my head toward the guards Tell them you're going to the gardens. Make certain that no one knows.
His perfect lips were silent as he nodded. The last time I was up there in his bedroom, we were children sneaking away from a party. Now we were adults, and it would look quite different if we were caught. Go up the servant's stairs, he whispered. I'll meet you there.
I nodded once, and smiled shyly. I was aware of my mother's gray eyes on my face. I turned to smile at her. It was the sign I was supposed to make when the prince was to take me to the gardens. It was the signal for her to take over. I was to leave the palace and return to my prison as I'd done so many times before.
When the prince moved away from me, he walked towards his guard. This was to be expected. He would tell them to keep their distance while he proposed to me. The clock, with its hollow bells, chimed that it was nearly midnight. After I walked out of the ballroom, and away from prying eyes, I clutched the skirt of my gown in my hands and ran. But my shoes didn't want to stay on my feet. And they were so noisy that it sounded like a pot clanging on stone every time my foot struck the ground.
Stopping, I hopped and pulled the shoes off. Running barefoot, I held one shoe in each hand and darted up the servant's staircase on the far side of the castle. The narrow passageway was empty as all the household staff was tending to the ball.
When I reached the upper-landing, I looked out into the garden. My mother sat shrouded in darkness, waiting for a prince who wouldn't come. Her wrath would be worse than anything that the people dancing at the ball would do to me. Turning quickly, I sprang down the long hallway, and through a doorway.
I emerged in the Prince's bedchamber and slammed the door behind me.
Prince Phillip rushed at me, throwing his arms around me, and kissed me hard before letting go. His kisses were like last year, but also different and terrifying.
When he broke the kiss, he asked, What's wrong? What's happened that you're acting like this?
He held me in his arms, and I felt like I could tell him anything. That he'd protect me from her. That he'd rather die than see something happen to me. He'd said so many things to me, and I believed every single word. My mother was wrong.
The prince loved me. He would always love me, no matter what.
I felt my lower lip tremble as I looked into his eyes, and took the chance. I told him the truth. The woman who came with me tonight... she's been holding me prisoner since I was a child. This is the first time that she hasn't had an enchantment on me that sealed my lips and prevented me from speaking of her. Phillip, she'll kill me if she knows what I've done. We must run away. There is no other way. I looked into his green eyes as I spoke. His hands clamped around my waist, leaving no space between us. I would be queen if we stayed here, but it wasn't worth risking him. I had no power to overthrow the witch. I couldn't kill her.
The prince soothed me, holding me tightly in his arms. I'll take care of it, Ella. There is no reason to run. I'm a prince, and after tonight you'll be my princess and one day my queen. We do not run. My guards will take care of this woman, and punish her for what she has done to you. He paused, his eyes drifting lower, staring at my shoulder. He released me, and turned me slowly. His fingers pressed into the smooth bare skin on my back, where he'd seen the marks from the branding iron long ago. But now they were gone. He swallowed hard. She did that to you, didn't she? And she used magic to remove the scars for tonight? Ella you've always had those scars. I remember them. I remember asking you how you got them, but you wouldn't say.
It was done by the same person, wasn't it?
Phillip, please. You don't know what she's like. Please believe me. We need to run. If you and I are to be together, we cannot stay here. She'll figure out we aren't coming to the garden at any moment. Pulling on his arm, I tried to get the prince to walk towards the servant's stairs and run. But he wouldn't move.
Phillip shook his head, Do you not think I can protect you? Ella...