When I reached the top of the stairs, I gave Leo a sideways glance and knew I couldn't go. "Can I meet you later?" I didn't know where he would go, and at that moment I didn't care. It was apparent Gabe still wanted to talk.Leo scrunched his brows together. "I thought you were through with him." He threw his hands in the air, frustration oozing from his pores. "Please," I added."Sure. Whatever." Leo walked out of the kitchen, and I heard the front door slam.Professor Pops came up the stairs and cleared his throat. "I've got some work to get done. If you need me, I'll be in my office.""Thanks, Professor Pops," I said, suddenly feeling nervous Gabe and I were going to be alone together."Of course." He disappeared inside his office, closing the door. Gabe came forward and wrapped me in a hug. "I hoped to see you again."I clung to him and tried to forget everything he said to me that night, not so long ago. But I couldn't. I stiffened. "I'm here," I said, but stepped back, pushi
I wasn't the greatest cook. Okay, I sucked at all things cooking related, but I was at least proficient enough to put some ground meat in a pan and slap it on a bun. I got him some chips, a pudding cup, and a large glass of ice water too. When he finished it all, he was still hungry, so I made him a banana split. That finally satisfied him."You are amazing," he said when he sat back in his chair.I resisted the urge to blush. It dawned on me after I put the cherry on the banana split that I could've used magic and made him a meal fit for a prince. Too late now. "Thanks," I said, putting the empty bowl in the sink and rinsing it.He got out of the chair and came around, taking my hand. "I guess we need to go confront my father and brother."I held my nose. "First, I think you need a bath." If I had to be around him, he needed to smell tolerable. Also, I wasn't ready to give him up just yet. I hated to admit it, but I enjoyed being around him. He gave off a quiet, kind aura.
"Get inside, and we can talk." Mizrabel ushered us through the door to her home. I expected the place to be small, a hovel, something that went along with the inside of a giant tree. I figured the furniture would consist of branches, leaves, and a fire pit.Instead, the home was spacious and airy with billowing white curtains, a chandelier made of different colored gems, and a large open kitchen. The floors were black marble. A lush black rug sat in the center of the living area and surrounded by dark red furniture and a slate gray fireplace."The bedrooms are down the hall through there." She looked at Quilla. "You won't be staying here. You and your strange fashion sense will go back to wherever it is you came from." She flicked her finger, and Quilla's outfit changed from lavender to a putrid green."Oh no, you don't," Quilla said with a sneeze and changed her outfit back. "Rude." Mizrabel snorted and altered it again."Twixit. That's enough." Quilla switched it back.Mizrabe
"Will you marry me?" I said the words aloud, hoping practice would calm my nerves and steady my beating heart. It didn't. So I tried again. "Gabe, my one true love. Will you marry me?" I grunted. That sounded stupid. I had just left Polly and was clinging to the hourglass charm dangling from the chain around my neck, desperate to reach Gabe. Before entering the witch mists, my thoughts were clear and focused on Pops' mansion since that was where Gabe lived when he wasn't out saving humankind from evil supernaturals. But then I became distracted by all I needed to do."I'll marry you." The voice came from within the witch mists and I started. Those words were the first I understood coming from the beings who dwelled within. I turned at the sound, slowly seeking out the one who spoke. Though I knew I wasn't supposed to. Leo - no, Lawson - advised some of the creatures within wanted to trap unsuspecting travelers. "Who said that?" I squinted, searching for the culprit, my steps slo
Kimberly stepped forward. "It's about the Halloween dance." She was tall with curly blond hair. Her lips where painted red, but she wore no other makeup. "Oh?" I shuffled around some papers on my desk, waiting for them to go on. The last two years, on October thirty-first, the ballroom was transformed into something out of a scary movie with blood spatter on the walls, cobwebs dangling from the ceiling, eyeballs floating in the punch bowl, and ghosts flitting around the frigid air. The decorations were awesome, but change was good too. "We know the student body officers are in charge, but we were hoping to do something a little less blood and guts and more light and fun," Kaylan chimed in. She didn't wear make-up either, except her for lashes, which were thick and black, accentuating her brown eyes and brown skin. Her hair haloed her face in a short afro. "Yeah, like based on the movie, Hocus Pocus," Kimberly added. Kaylan and Heather agreed. "We could still do the haunted ho
I flinched at both of his questions. They were equally true but they were both important, too. Gabe needed to understand the seriousness of the situation. At the same time, marriage was a big deal. I knew that. Millions of people struggled to make it work. But for some damn reason, my marrying Gabe would save Polonias. How could that be a bad thing? Frustrated and stalling, I picked up the fork and cut into the egg before shoving it into my mouth. And sighed. The food was so good. "Where did you learn how to make omelets?" I asked, changing the subject while I collected myself. He took a bite of his eggs, chewing slowly. "Chayot headquarters. One chayot in particular, Delphina, is very adept at great-tasting art. She showed me how to make them." "Delphina?" I ignored the jealousy forming in the pit of my stomach. While she had a beautiful name, surely she had wrinkled skin, sagging boobs, and short curly white hair. He nodded before shoving a huge bite in his mouth and chew
"I'm glad you're back, Cinderella." Polly gave me a small smile. "You won't think so when I tell you Gabe said no." The words caused my already broken heart to fracture further."I am sorry, Cinderella, but there is still a way. Do not lose hope yet, sister.""How?" I asked, wiping at my eyes, resolute in my willingness to do whatever it took to save her and this land. That she called me sister didn't go unnoticed, but I thought perhaps it was a way of greeting others within the land and not literal. At least that's what I wanted to believe at the moment. "Your marriage to Gabe would have saved our land. He is your soul mate, regardless of what those above him say. I sense the truth of it. But had you never left Polonias, you would never have met the angel, which means there is one from this land you can marry. His name is - "Before she could continue, Leo pushed through the lushness of the forest surrounding Polly's secret spot. He lifted a hand. "Is it okay if I come over?" He
If I had to pick a place to be married, this wasn't bad. It wasn't Paris. Definitely not. And that was okay. In a lot of ways, Polly's garden was even better. The magnificent waterfall colliding into the crystal clear pool, to the lily pads with lilies floating along the surface, to the way the lush grass danced lazily in the soft wind. There were dozens of flowers growing wild along the edge. Trees surrounded this place - the heart of Polonias. Polly's Paradise. That was what I wanted to call the place.Beyond the physical beauty was Polly herself. My sister. Her sweet disposition radiated around her. She belonged here. That much was obvious. Maybe it was because it was part of her.Then there was Leo. We were nearly strangers. He didn't love me any more than I loved him, but this wasn't about love. It was about magic, and it seemed our magics bound together would save Polly. I needed to go through with this."You'll marry me?" Leo asked again, and I saw the doubt beh