Flunked (Fairy Tale Reform School, #1)(44)
CHAPTER 18
Playing by the Rules Is for Wimps
“I thought you were smarter, Cobbler,” Jocelyn says icily and flicks her annoying black cape so it billows out behind her. She’s leading us down a hall away from the ballroom. She has a small purple mirror I recognize from Harlow’s office pointed at our backs. She already warned us about trying to make a move to escape. “My sister gave you an out. You’d be home with Mommy and Daddy right now if you had just listened to her. Instead, you’ve made things much worse for you and your friends.”
“I swear! I don’t know what she’s talking about,” Kayla insists, whimpering as we’re led along. “Gottie told me she was coming to the ball.”
Jocelyn whirls around. “Do you really think she’d be so foolish as to show up in the middle of a room with all of Enchantasia watching? Why do you think she sent her gargoyles to do her bidding on Royal Day?”
“I guess Harlow wasn’t really under a spell that day, was she?” Jax asks. I watch him motion to Ollie to get something out of his jacket. He moves his hand slightly and Jocelyn’s hands begin to crackle. She sends a zap Ollie’s way and he flinches.
“Don’t be stupid. Harlow couldn’t fall under a spell set by gargoyles,” Jocelyn says. “She was trying to take out some of the royals for Gottie without having to bring the Wicked One into it.” Jocelyn’s dark eyes burn through me. “But you had to go and mess things up, and now I’m stuck delivering you five to her instead of staying out of things like my sister wanted.”
“So don’t do it,” I say, stalling for time ’til I can figure out my next move. “You don’t want to help someone like Gottie, do you?”
Jocelyn laughs. “What choice do I have? Even if we get out of this place, my sister and I will always be outcasts.” For a brief moment, I can see the pain that realization gives her. “She’ll never be forgiven for the things she’s done, and I’ll never be able to escape her legacy. So I say, why not have fun while I’m stuck here? Now move!”
She pushes Ollie and Maxine through a new hallway that has just popped up, and I see we’re descending to the dungeon level that I’ve heard about but never seen. Why would I? Flora built this place to deal with criminals like Gottie, but she’s never been caught. Torches illuminate our path down as the air grows colder and damp, and then we’re standing in the middle of a large opening among half a dozen cells. Harlow is waiting for us.
She’s in a gown and cape that glitter brighter than any of the princesses’ outfits, and her pale face has flawless makeup that looks like it took hours to apply. Atop her head is the most elaborate black-jeweled crown I’ve ever seen. Jocelyn hands her sister the mirror, and the glass swirls gold and silver, crackling like lightning.
“Ah, Miss Gillian, I see you stayed and brought guests to watch the show,” Harlow sneers. “Foolish girl. Now you’ll burn with the rest of this school.” With a flick of her wrist, Harlow pushes us into a corner and we fall into a heap. “It’s almost time for the main event. Upstairs, right above us actually, all of Enchantasia is dancing the night away, not knowing we’re about to turn their minds into goo. They’ll never remember themselves, let alone who runs this kingdom. Even if they could, the princesses will already be turned to ash.”
“You’ll never get away with this,” Jax says.
“Oh, but I already have,” Harlow says patronizingly. “Cleo is an ice cube in her aquarium, and Flora and the royal court are immobilized in the great hall. All that’s left is to deal with is you five—after I cast the spell.” She holds the mirror up to the ceiling and lightning flies out of it, sending rocks down on our heads. A crack begins to spread above us.
“You’re not strong enough to cast a spell that large,” I challenge her.
Harlow drops the mirror for a moment. “I know that. That’s why the Wicked One is here.”
A bushy, gray-haired figure emerges from the shadows of one of the cells. She’s flanked by two gargoyles that hiss when they see us. Jax begins to move our small group back. Gottie’s face, up close, is hard to look at. Warts cover her skin like freckles. Her nose twists sideways in an awkward position, and her teeth have clearly never seen a toothbrush.
“Hello, darlings.” Her full lips curl into a snarl. “Thank you, Kayla, for getting these nuisances out of the way.”
“I didn’t do anything!” Kayla cries. “You told me you were coming to the ball.”
“And so I have, but even I wouldn’t be foolish enough to announce my arrival. Not when there are other ways into the room upstairs.” Out of her pocket, she pulls a mirror that is identical to Harlow’s and aims it above us. It shoots out more lightning that makes the crack above us widen. I close my eyes to keep from seeing people fall from the sky, but so far, nothing happens. “Once they’re disposed of, I can rid myself of these horrid clothes.” Gottie shrugs. “Or I could do that now. It’s not like anyone up there will see me ’til after, and by then, they’ll only know me as their queen.”
A purple cloud of smoke surrounds her, and within seconds, Gottie’s ragged clothes, wart-covered face, and white frizzy hair have disappeared. An older woman appears in her place wearing a gown as red as fire and a cape with a collar so high it could practically be a hood. Her jet-black hair is pulled back with a gold comb covered in what looks like dragons. She has the same symbol on the thick gold cuffs on her wrists and the long necklace draped around her thin neck.