Witch Land (The Cindy Chronicles #2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

leaned over to Leo. “I’m thirsty. Care to take a drink so I can?”
    He smiled. “Of course.” He picked up his glass. I watched his expression as he gulped down a large swallow. He was focused on his father, as though they were having a conversation that only they could hear. Finally Leo set his glass down. “I—” but he wasn’t allowed to finish before the King stood. He raised his glass and everyone else in the room followed suit.
    “ To Cinderella. We welcome you to our humble land of Polonias. May you live forever in harmony, and may you and your seed prosper in the land forever.” The King lifted his glass. Everyone followed: a sea of hands, each holding their own glass of champagne, followed the King.
    They repeated, “To Cinderella.” They cheered and toasted in what seemed like a happy manner, then the moment was gone. Everyone went back to what they were doing: eating, playing an instrument in the orchestra, chatting with their friends. And that was the worst part. Feeling like I didn’t have any friends here.
    But maybe Leo and I could be friends. I thought I’d like that. Thinking of him, I raised my face. He was in the process of taking a bite of salad.
    “ What?” he asked around the food.
    I picked at a piece of pear and popped it in my mouth. “Nothing.” I picked at another pear.
    The lights flickered once , and then again, and then went out.

 
     
     
     

     

     
    “ Having a party without me? How typical.” The voice was low and scratchy, like the growl of a prowling cat.
    A red orb of light appeared in the center of the giant room. The face of a woman materialized, and as the light grew brighter I could make out more of her. Black hair streaked with gray and green hung in a braid down to her hips over one shoulder. Her black dress was thin and barely covered the girly parts. A slit went up to the middle of her thigh. She wore some type of ankle boots; in the glowing red light they seemed to writhe and hiss around her ankles and feet. 
    “ So where is she? Where is the girl who’s destined to save this world?” She raised her voice to ask the questions.
    Muttering drifted along the air , things like:
    “ She’ll kill us.”
    “ Why has she come?”
    “ Tell the sorceress where Cinderella is.”
    And more.
    I could just make out the outline of the King. His fork was midway between his mouth and his plate. He looked frozen. Leo was on the edge of his seat. The gleam of a knife shone in his hand. He seemed ready to stand and fight.
    “ Show yourself, girl, or I’ll start killing the guests.” A red light shot from her fingers and scorched a table near her.
    I stood quickly, before I could talk myself out of it. “My name is Cinderella. I’ve come to… do what I can to help Polonias. I don’t know if it’s my destiny, but I get the feeling everyone in this room believes you’re looking for me.” As I spoke I lifted my chin, something my mother taught me.
    Leo placed his hand in mine and rose beside me. I could feel the tension in his body and sensed he was upset, but I didn ’t have time to figure out why. His voice boomed so loud it startled me. “Mizrabel, leave this castle at once. You are not welcome here.”
    The lights came back on. The woman sauntered over to us. I couldn ’t help but study her, and realized she had probably been quite beautiful once. Her eyes were black as coal, and even her lips were dark; I wondered if she’d used black lipstick. As she got closer I could see the veins through her paper white skin. Black blood seemed to pump through them.
    Mizrabel seemed to study me with the same intensity as I studied her. Not for the first time I tried to picture myself as she would see me. Curly hair. Perfect makeup. Lips glossed. A sweet blue dress and sparkling silver shoes.
    I was nothing but a child. To think I would be able to go up against her seemed impossible.
    Fear snaked through my belly and ate all of the butterflies.
    All my life I ’d