My stomach is still queasy and my body is weak. Princess Maloret’s announcement rings in my ears as the music restarts and everyone celebrates. She made me an honorary princess of her court. I don’t know what that means, but I know I don’t want it.
I want to go home. But where is home? Does it still exist? Did it ever?
Questions race in my mind. Meriwether hovers beside me, saying something, but I can’t hear her over the noise of the crowd.
I struggle to climb down from my chair, desperate to leave. Return to my room and my bed. I don’t want to be here anymore.
I can’t be here.
Just as my feet land on the floor, Princess Maloret grabs me by the wrist, her grip like steel.
“Not so fast, Princess,” she hisses out the word, a cruel smile on her face. “Tell me what you desire most in the world, and I’ll grant it.”
“What I want most is to go home!” I blurt out, trying to pull my hand out of her grasp.
She laughs, and all around us, the creatures echo her with their strange sounds. Meriwether flits above us, wringing her hands nervously.
Princess Maloret clucks her tongue at me. “This is your home, Rosie.”
“It’s not! It can’t be,” my voice wobbles, making me sound pathetic.
She grins. “There’s only one way to break your curse, dear girl. But to do that, you’ll have to slay your biggest dragon, and I don’t think you’re ready for that.”
Her words make me frown. My biggest dragon?
I don’t even know what to make of that. Before I can question her further, she releases me and saunters away. Her shadow creatures follow her, slicing and snarling their way through the crowd. Pained cries and fearful shouts rise above the music.
I rub my wrist from where she grabbed me, nausea rolling through me. Her words replay in my mind.
Tell me what you desire most in the world, and I’ll grant it.
Was it a trick? Another game?
A deep sigh escapes me. I’m tired—so tired—of the princess and her tricks. My eyelids grow heavy and I’m vaguely aware of Meriwether motioning for me to follow her. My legs are shaky with exhaustion as I move toward the fairy.
The sound of the others and the music fades as I make it to the hall. I blink slowly and wait for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. Meriwether’s velvety wing brushes my shoulder, making me jump.
“Come on, Rosie. I’ll get you to your room.” Her words sound muffled. Far away.
The thought of my bed urges me forward. My dress scrapes along the castle floor, filling the silence. All I want to do is throw myself down on the mattress and hide under the blankets. The events of the day have left me unraveled. Scared.
An honorary princess. What does it all mean? What will happen now?
I push away the questions and suck in a lungful of cold air. I don’t know how I’ll break free of this curse, but I know I’m the only who can. No one is coming to save me. Meriwether, as much as she would like to help me, can only tell me so much. To get the answers I need, I’ll have to leave my room. Explore more of the castle, which I’ve been too scared to do. I need to go where I haven’t gone before.
A thought strikes me. Why not go now? It’s the perfect time while everyone is busy in the ballroom.
“Rosie?” Meriwether calls me, noticing my pause.
I look up at her. “I’m not going back to the room yet.”
Her head cocks at me, her lips pursing in confusion.
“Meri, does the princess keep any kind of … I don’t know … record of her curses? Anything you think would help me break mine?”
Meriwether doesn’t answer. She gives me a solemn look, her eyes drilling into mine. “You want to break your curse? That’s risky, Rosie. Too risky.” She shakes her head and wrings her hands together.
My heart sinks. If my only friend won’t help me, I don’t know what I’ll do.
“Come with me. I think I know something that might help you,” Meriwether says, turning in the other direction.
I pick up my gown and hurry to keep up with her. My heart hammers in my ears. We’ll have to be quick about it because there’s no telling how long the party will last. What if we run into other creatures lurking in the castle? The ones not invited to the ball?
A shudder runs down my spine. I don’t think I want to see the monsters that even the princess avoids.
We race down the dimly lit hallways. Snarls and moans echo from somewhere in the castle, making the hairs on the back of my neck bristle. Meriwether sets a pace I can barely keep up with, but the thought of the princess finding me pushes me forward.
All too abruptly, the fairy stops, and I smack into her. My face collides with her velvety wings.
A tremor runs through her.
“Meri?” I whisper in the dark.
She doesn’t answer. Something wet falls on my bare shoulder, making me yelp. I blink against the dark. “Meri?”
A rushing sound fills my ears, and more water pelts me. Rain, I realize.
I gasp. “Are we outside? How did we—”
Meriwether’s icy hand covers my mouth. “Shh.”
The urgency in her tone kills my excitement. The few times I’ve been allowed outside the castle, there was still daylight. I’ve never been outside at night.
Though the air is much warmer now, a chill fills me.
“I’m sorry, Rosie. I shouldn’t have brought you here.” Meriwether’s words are laced with fear.
“What do you mean? Why? Where are we?” My questions are carried by a huge gust of wind.
My gown is soaked, weighing me down.
Meriwether glides closer to me, her body trembling. “I’m—”
An ear-splitting shriek cuts her off. My heart drops to my stomach.
We’re not alone.