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“She s-sounds amazing,” I say.
“My mom liked to bake these little sugar cookies with sprinkles on top,” Geraldine says. “It was just dough and frosting with those colored candied balls, but they were heaven.”
“You’ll have to m-make them one d-day,” I chatter.
Max suddenly steps back, and the frigid air rushes in. A warm weight drops over my shoulders—a soothing, melodicvoice. “Come on now, precious cherub. Let’s get you somewhere safe to warm up.”
“P-p-peablossom?” I turn and find her beautiful face pinched with worry. “I’m s-sorry. N-not smiling.”
“Smiling is overrated.” Her eyes glisten as she addresses the others. “If you have a class, off you go. If not, head over to your dorm and pack your belongings.”
“Why?” Geraldine asks, frowning.
Peablossom tugs the blanket around my shoulders. “Lord Fox announced the Nothings as affiliates to the House of Shadow. And since all members of their house are currently situated in Shadowfall Keep, you must relocate this evening.”
They all look at me, eyes wide.
“I didn’t know,” I breathe. “I mean, I asked him to help, but this is...” My throat tightens. “Fast.”
“Shoo.” Peablossom gestures at them. “I’ll take care of our frozen petal.”
They hurry away while she guides me down the path. At some point, she hums a tune. It’s a forced, whimsical song that stutters when she notices my bloody footprints continue. Instead of returning to the keep, she leads me into the House of Shadow Tower.
It’s warm, empty, and quiet. Interestingly, the House of Shadow classes keep getting canceled. It’s almost as if someone doesn’t want them to influence the exhibitors. Somehow, we make it up the staircase to the first level, but she urges me up one more flight.
Using magic from one of her many charms, she lights the lantern sconces and fireplace, and the room fills with warmth. For the next ten minutes, all I hear is the tinkling of her charms as she bustles about and gathers supplies. She returns with a bucket, washes tears from my face and then offers me a handheld mirror.
“All clean,” she whispers.
I take the mirror and stare at my shame. The curse is back in full force, bloating and distending every little angle until I feel like a swollen puffer fish. How can it be back? How can I still feel so ugly when I promised myself it didn’t matter?
Feel so ugly.
Feel so ugly.
My sluggish mind swims around the words.
She’s getting uglier with every step.
As Peablossom turns her attention to my abused feet, I recall Titania’s original curse.
Your visage will mirror the ugliness lurking within your heart.
No.
It can’t be. All this time and... I lift the mirror to peer at my face again, then laugh.
“Oh, you must be ticklish.” Peablossom extracts a stone embedded in my foot, but I can’t stop myself. The answer was under my nose the entire time. It’s so absurd there’s nothing to do but laugh.
Her eyes fill with hesitant mirth. “Sweeting, are you well?”
“I control it,” I blurt out with a cackle. “Me.”
My shoulders shake so much that the blanket slips. I clutch it to my chest and double over in hysterics.
“I haven’t the foggiest notion of what you’re laughing about, but I am glad you feel better.”
My smile cuts short when thunder rolls, growing louder by the second. What is that? Peablossom and I look at each other as it increases in volume and pitch, almost like a roaring, buzzing swarm. An explosion quakes the tower’s foundations. Fox’s frantic bellow hits my mind with the force of an avalanche.
