New text flashes on my computer screen.
Congratulations, Elle Cynder! You have completed 52% of your freshman year of high school.
I’m about to close out the program when another message pops up.
As a Magicorum, you are required to check in with your local Denarii League.
The text goes on to explain how magic is fading from the world and Magicorum like me must be protected even if I’m challenged.
Challenged.
That’s their way of saying I’m a fairy without wings. Whatever. The notice goes on to say that the Denarii league can help me, blah blah blah. There’s even an address where I can stop by and meet my group facilitator.
Wow. That’s so not happening.
I scan the fine print. To get out of these group sessions, my parents need to send proof that I’m living by a proper fairy tale life template. No a problem. I’ll send Mom and Dad a link to the paperwork for this stuff; it’ll be fine.
With my school work over, it’s time for some fun. Gaming is tempting, but I still need money for what I call my Cinderella’s In Trouble Fund. So I open a browser for Magicweb. Within seconds, I’m scanning through postings on a message board for lost valuables. One catches my eye.
Vampire coven seeks lost pendant. Reward $200.
Now in New York, $200 will cover lunch and a taxi ride to New Jersey. Still it’s interesting. In my mind, lost jewels are like a puzzle. Who took the gems? Where might someone find them? And what if that someone was me? I keep on reading.
Jewel last seen in Manhattan. It’s three perfect emeralds set into gold disc. Reverse side contains runes of protection. Family heirloom. See image below.
Magical runes? That means most stores wouldn’t try to sell it. Not a lot of places would. The MITRE agency would be on your back in a hot minute. Only one human I know would carry this kind of item. Dirty Leon. If it’s dangerous and magical, it often ends up in Dirty Leon’s pawn shop.
I tap my chin and wonder. Dirty Leon’s store is just up the street. What would happen if I stopped by? Would I find the pendant?
I might find trouble, but it’s been a boring week.
Closing my eyes, I summon in my fae power and call out to my mousey friends.
Anyone nearby? Need some help here.
A minute later, one of my favorite animal buddies skitters across my desk. It’s Gustav the mouse. He’s a little grey guy with big eyes like black marbles. He sits back on his haunches.
“Do I look fat to you?” asks Gustav.
I shake my head. “I am not having this conversation with you again.”
“So I’m fat.”
“You are a sleek and gorgeous marsupial.” Gustav needs fresh compliments. I have to look up new words online in my spare time.
Gustav runs his little hands over his pointed nose. “Thank you.”
I tap the computer screen. “You see this pendant? I think it may be at Dirty Leon’s. Can you go check out?”
Gustav sighs. “I’m not sure.”
“I’ll get you some Cheerios.”
“And a candy bar?”
Now he’s just getting greedy.
“How about we work out another outfit for Halloween?” I made Gustav wear a tiny shirt four years ago. He still lives in terror of it, considering that be believed it showed off his so-called love handles.
“I’ll go! I’ll go!” Gustav skitters off toward the window.
Once Gustav is gone, the door behind me swings open. The scent of rose-hips and rotting leaves wafts into the room. Only one person carries that particular stench. Marchesa. I quickly click back from the Magicweb to my online classes. The less Marchesa knows about my actual interests, the better.
“Don’t mind me,” she says. Like always, she wears a fitted black dress. “I’m just dusting.” Marchesa then raises her dust cloth as evidence.
Totally believable. In another universe.
After that, Marchesa does zero in the way of actually removing anything that looks like dust from anywhere in my parent’s office. Instead she checks behind chairs, scans inside filing cabinets, and generally snoops around.
No question what she’s looking for.
“It’s not here,” I say.
“Whatever do you mean?”
“The Coffer of Wonders. My parents hid it.”
“How clever of them. Do you know where it is? As the Office Manager, I should be aware.”
“Well, as the teenage daughter, it’s not on my need to know list. Can’t help you.”
Turning away, I pretend to be super busy with the computer. In reality, I keep reading the same line onscreen, over and over. Is Marchesa trying to steal the Coffer of Wonders? I wouldn’t put it past her.
“About the coffer,” I begin.
“What?”
“It’s bonded to the store, not my parents. It won’t help a person. Just in case you’re wondering.”
Marchesa narrows her eyes. “Are you certain?”
“The animates want to keep Cynder going. It’s my parents legacy. Helping a person ends when they die. Cynder can go on forever. That’s why the coffer is aligned to the store.” I keep scrolling the screen up and down like I’m actually reading stuff instead of fuming about what Marchesa might really be up to. “Kokkivo told me all about it.”
Marchesa pauses. For a moment, I think she might leave. No such luck. Marchesa drags a rolling chair to my side.
Uh oh. This is going to be one of her talks.
Sure enough, Marchesa leans into my personal space. “Since we’re alone, I’d like to have some girl time.”
“Sorry.” I put on my disappointed face. “No can do. I have really important school stuff I’m working on.”
“Like what?”
“Tests. Reading. You know. School.”
Marchesa keeps going like I didn’t say a thing about having actual school work. “Look, I know it can’t be easy for you. Your father is more a prince of a man than an actual prince.” Marchesa gets this dreamy look in her eyes as she says that prince of a man part. Eew.
“Meaning Dad isn’t rich. Got it.”
“Your mother could have been the Cinderella of her own life story. Instead, she married your father and became the mother to another Cinderella. You know what that means.” She sniffles. “I want to help.”
“Good point. I have an idea there, as a matter of fact. You can stop saying things that upset Mom.”
“Me?”
“You’re always chatting about how Ivy and Agatha have all this stuff I don’t. It makes Mom feel bad. So, you know, stop.”
A look of rage flashes through Marchesa’s eyes, but it’s gone as quickly as it appeared. Still, I totally saw it.
Hate you right back.
Marchesa pats my shoulder. “If you need to talk, I’m here.” At last, she leaves.
Thankfully.
Once Marchesa is gone, I plan out six different speeches where I verbally shred the Frenemy Queen into little bits of bitchy. At some point, I notice Gustav tapping my hand. I look down.
“Hey, Gustav.”
“I have good news for you. I saw the pendant. It’s at Dirty Leon’s.”
After that ugly encounter with Marchesa, I’m all jacked up on adrenaline. I need a mini adventure. After a little prep work, I’m ready to hit Dirty Leon’s. To be specific, I pull out picture of Legend Le Charme that was cut from Midtown Magazine. It’s something my father was experimenting on. To be specific, Dad was testing out a new enchanter spell. He wasn’t totally happy with the results, so Dad chucked it into the trash.
Whereupon I rescued the pic.
And now? I have the perfect opportunity to use it.