The Lady-in-Waiting

Chapter 11

Lucinda

Going through the forest reminds me of the last time I was in one. It had been when I fought Zora. She blasted me with her spell and what had I done to stop her? I tried to blow her away and then finally did the smart thing and took her wand away at the last second. But I was too late. Or at least late enough that I look like Zora right now. I know I'm in her body, but Zora looks different when I'm her. She looks fierce, but I look weak. She's so powerful and all I can do is make a breeze. Anyway, why am I comparing myself to her? She's the evil witch after all. The only thing she's skilled in is magic.

"Lucinda, are you okay?" asks George.

"I am," I say. "Why did you ask?"

"Wind currents were swirling around your head," says George.

Must be my royal gem. What else would it be? But why was it acting up like this? I haven't been studying magic for very long. Was there something wrong with my royal gem?

"We take a couple of rights after this," says Desiree, looking at her handmade map.

"Siree, aren't craft projects for children?" George asks, laughing.

"I made this for visualization!" protests Desiree. "And yes, craft projects are for kids- kids like you!"

"I know you're older but does that matter anymore?" protests George.

"It does because you're twelfth in line for the throne," Desiree laughs.

Watching them argue reminds me of my sisters. We get into a lot of arguments. Felicity, Zoey, and Valentina are the easier to anger. Which is why I try to leave them alone when they look mad. My other sisters on the other hand...my other sisters are fair game when it comes to fighting. My argument with Milicent a month ago was normal. We fight more than some would think. I look at George and Desiree who have stopped fighting. George is looking around and Desiree looks confused.

"What happened?" I ask curiously.

"You guys know how I made a map?" says Desiree.

"What happened to it?" sighs Eli.

"It was...just a guess of where Baba Yaga lives," Desiree continues. "I studied what I could about her and the forest, but I guess my map was wrong. I don't know where we are."

"So, you took us into the middle of nowhere because you made an 'educated guess' of where we could be going," Eli says angrily. "Great. I'd use a real map but there's no cell service in the woods."

"I could call my fairy godmother," I suggest.

"I thought you were a fairy godmother," says Eli.

"I'd call one of ours, but we aren't that close with ours," says George.

"Are you looking for Baba Yaga's house?"

We all look up at the sudden voice and see a figure standing on a tree branch several feet above us.

"Yes!" yells Desiree.

The woman jumps down and Eli runs towards her, arms out, but the woman lands with no injuries.

"Are you crazy?!" yells Eli. "People get hurt jumping from that high!"

"I'm fine," says the woman. "Anyway...if you are looking for Baba Yaga, I'd be willing to take you to her. I need to see her as well."

"Thank you," says Desiree. "That would be great! I've been looking for her, but now we're lost."

"You need someone who knows where they're going to guide you," says the woman. "Her house moves often. It has chicken legs, after all."

"That must have been fun for the local construction team to build," Eli mutters sarcastically.