Strike at Midnight(56)

She stared at me and I stared right back. But then a grin appeared on her lips as she broke eye contact to look at Mia.

“Yep,” she said, “no virgin sacrifices here.”

“I’m not here to preach or judge,” Mia said with a smile. “I like girls who know how to have fun.”

“We’re not there to have fun,” I said, needing to keep things in perspective in why we were going to the stupid castle. “We’re going there because we have a job to do.”

“And have some fun,” Melody said. “Since when did you have a flagpole stuck up your ass?”

“Since she became sensitive about the prince,” Rapunzel said with a smirk on her face. “She’s avoiding.”

“Mia,” I said. “Turn them into frogs.”

“That’s not my specialty,” she said, and then she pulled something out of the purse she carried with her. “But I think this will do just fine instead.”

She took a drink from a silver flask she held in her hand then handed it to me. “It’s only rum. To start the fun…” she said, and I took it off her. It was rum, so I took a deep swig before handing it to Rapunzel. The burn was welcome compared to the shit swirling around in my head right now, and it quelled any further talk of the prince.

After the rum had been shared around a few more times, the demeanor in the carriage changed into a more relaxed atmosphere.

“Briar was right to tell you not to trust me,” Mia said, and I gave her a look. “But we have an understanding. I will not hurt her friends.”

“You gave me rum,” I said, feeling more ready for what was ahead of us. “We’re good.”

Mia laughed and then stuck her head out of the window when the Royal Castle came into view.

“This is going to be one hell of a trip!” she shouted out the window, and we all burst out into laughter when she put her windswept head back into the carriage.

“Some decorum, please,” I said, and Melody leaned over to Rapunzel.

“Like she would know what the hell that meant,” I heard her whisper way too loudly.

Who was I to deny them the truth?





CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Welcome One and All, to the Prince's Country Ball!





The invitation we had all been sent was now resting in my hand as I waited for the others to dismount from the carriage. It addressed the event as the Royal Country Ball because apparently, the “country” part meant there would be other things to do other than dance and bitch about people all night.

The gold italic writing stared back at me like a taunting swirly snake, and I wanted to crumple up the hardened parchment in my hand.

“They’re taking our things up to our rooms,” Rapunzel said from my side, “and we are to make our way into the main entrance of the castle to be shown the way.”

“I need champagne,” I muttered to myself, and Rapunzel linked her arm through mine.

“Did anyone tell you that you drink too much?”

“Did anyone tell you that you stick your nose in too much?”

She chuckled, and Melody and Mia came up alongside us.

“This is so exciting. I want to pee myself,” Melody whispered, and I rolled my eyes.

“Don’t go peeing in that dress,” I said, “you’ve only brought three with you.”

“Five,” she corrected me, and I looked at her as if to ask the hell why. “I couldn’t decide on what to bring,” she said, “so I went with the five.”

“I’ve brought three,” Rapunzel said, making me feel better. But then she said, “However, I’m only going to be here in the day so I only needed three. Five would ideally be required.”

“Why?” I asked in a panic. I had only brought the three gowns. “Why is it required?”

Melody shrugged, and Rapunzel looked at me with concentration on her face as we walked in unison along the large pathway to the castle entrance.

“One for traveling in,” she explained, “one for the banquet this evening, one for tomorrow day, one for the ball tomorrow night, and one for traveling back in on Sunday.”

“I have to get changed again for this evening?” I asked. “Just for dinner?”

“They like to change quite often when they are of a certain station,” Mia said from the end of our row. “And they like to do it with gusto. Every garment will be as fine as the next as they all compete with each other for being the most fashionable.”

“But I only have three gowns. Why the hell didn’t he mention I needed more in his letter?” The pomposity of my own comment made me cringe. “I mean, I didn’t want any from him. But if he was going to be sure I met with his sense of propriety, why not tell me?”

“Because he sent them to help you out,” Melody said, “not to make sure you were up to standard.”

“He probably doesn’t know,” Rapunzel said. “He’s a man. Three days, three gowns. In his mind, you were sorted.”

“Or expected…you know—a woman—to have at least some dresses in her closet,” Melody said with a grin on her face.

“I’m so screwed,” I said after shooting her a glare.