Midsummer came around, and though Cora had been feeling very (very) prepared for it, it seemed the rest of the Yew had not (despite Symphora's constant hassling). She woke up from a sleep to find that the entire place had sprung into motion, and people were bustling all about. She could hear the commotion outside even before Lavinia, Tulla, and Opellia arrived at her room, ready for action.
"No more red dresses!" Lavinia declared, flinging open the wardrobe. It shook from her force, and the hangers inside rattled. "On midnights we wear..." She stuck her head inside, half-disappearing into the dresses.
"Not white, I hope," Cora said, sputtering as some of the powder Tulla was packing onto her face landed in her mouth. It wasn't the first time, and she'd been told she could eat it (which made her feel like it was nothing more than flour; she probably wouldn't have minded if it were something like powdered sugar), but it was still an odd sensation nonetheless.
"How did you read my mind?" Lavinia's voice was muffled inside the wardrobe. "Everyone wears white. Especially our lovely little debt-payer." She looked out and raised her eyebrows at Cora. Cora wiggled her own eyebrows back at her.
"You can wear a red sash, though," Opellia said helpfully.
"Opellia, don't give her ideas. We need to wean her off this assaulting color."
"My hair is red, Lavinia; I don't think you can do much to distance me from it." Though really, Cora didn't have a reason to wear red anymore. Luc was here, in Under-The-Green-Hill. He'd found her. They were going to get out. But then, why not wear red? It was her favorite color. It made her happy.
"I think a red sash would be a good idea," said Tulla.
"Tulla, not you too." Lavinia sighed. "Do you want to stand out more?"
"I mean, I think standing out would help," Tulla said. "If people think they can identify Cora with the red sash then they're not going to look closely when they see anyone who looks vaguely like her with a red sash."
They were all silent for a moment, considering Tulla's words.
"Tulla, you're a genius," said Lavinia.
"I was the one who had the red sash idea!" said Opellia.
"Ladies, you are geniuses," Lavinia amended. "Let's get her a sash. But must it be red?"
"Oh, Lavinia, we'll do another color if you wish!" Cora said. "After all, you're already doing this much for me."
"And for me, too," said Lavinia. "Then we shall go with a green sash. Green is the loveliest color. Red, being its opposite, must be the worst." She went rummaging in the wardrobe again.
"They're complementary, Lavinia," said Cora. "How about this—I start the night with a red sash and you with a green sash, and then we'll swap. That way I won't look suspicious either."
"Oh, all right." Lavinia finally found the stash of sashes she'd been looking for and put them all in a pile on the bed. They were all different colors, beautifully bright and silken.
"Ooh," said Opellia, running her fingers across them. "Can I wear the yellow one?"
"Of course!" Cora said. "Tulla, do you want one?"
Tulla thought for a moment. "Purple," she said, selecting that sash from the pile.
"Wait, how are we even going to hide the fact that my hair is red and yours is not?" said Cora as Lavinia pulled a stack of white dresses out of the wardrobe and plopped them beside the sashes.
"It'll be dark when the lights go out," Lavinia said. "I doubt anyone can tell. But if you're worried, a veil will work." She held up the dresses one by one. "Which do you want?"
YOU ARE READING
Midnight Wonders
FantasyFor Luc, life began seven years ago. It began on a bus, by the hills, beneath a black sky, with no one at his side but his sister, Cora. His world is mundane, routine, and perfectly adequate. At work, he teaches, and at home, he takes care of Cora...
