Atop the stairs, I discover my next problem: a line of ten vials, all of them filled with green potions.
“Question for you, Grunt.” Turning around, I look for my ex-guard.
No one’s there.
Which makes sense. Trolls are shadowcoe, meaning they’re experts at vanishing when they wish. Kneeling down, I take a closer look at the tiny bottles. It’s a border spell of some kind. This line of glass containers must be magically hiding my position from everyone else. I tilt my head and think things through.
What I know about potion magic is next to zero. Maybe I can just walk over the vials, no problem. Or perhaps once I cross the line of vials, their power could singe me into a little Cinderella burgers.
I poke at one vial with my finger. It shifts over an inch. Then it tumbles over. Green liquid oozes out onto the floor.
Ick. That smells like old man farts.
Nothing else seems to happen, but it’s just too risky to push more. Plus, my jolt of magic is starting to wear off. I’m feeling a little woozy and a lot thirsty. Closing my eyes, I pull on my inner power once more. This time, I lean into my fae ability.
Gustav? Are you there?
My legs turn rubbery beneath me, so I slump down onto the top step. Not sure how long I sit there, but it’s enough time that I wonder if I could drink the green fart water and live.
Gustav appears on the other side of the threshold. “Elle? Are you there?”
“Yes,” I whisper. “You can’t see me because there’s a spell.”
The wall beside me rumbles. After that, it implodes. A massive white wolf leaps into the basement. It’s Bry in her animal form. She gallops over to me.
“Elle!” Wolf-Bry nuzzles her snout into my neck. “We’ve been so worried.”
Wolf-Knox jumps up behind her. “Let’s get her to Az. He’s a healer.”
“No.” My voice sounds rusty. “Heal me here. Please. I must go to the Glass Slipper Ball tonight.”
Tilting her head, Bry lets out a wolfy whine. “That’s not a good idea.”
Knox nods. “Bry’s right. Alec has changed. You can’t go near that ball.”
I glare at Wolf-Knox. “If it were Bry at the ball, and you were me, what would you do?” I round on Bry. “And if it were Knox?”
Wolf-Bry nuzzles me again. “I understand. Where do you want to go?”
“My old room is on the second floor. Back right door.” I nod toward the line of potions. “Watch out for whatever that is.”
Wolf-Knox sniffs. “Border char. It would have killed you, Elle.”
I try for a sassy grin. Not sure it works. “I thought there might be a problem.”
Wolf-Bry nudges my hands with her snout. “What are you holding?”
Loosening my fists, I show off the tiny glass slipper in my left hand and pumpkin in my right. “Don’t let me forget these,” I say.
Then I pass out.