The Lady-in-Waiting

Chapter 14

Lucinda

It had been a few days since I had made a tornado. I still hear the fearsome sound of the wind every time there's a breeze. Colette has been helping me learn how to control my wind gem, but I'm too afraid to practice in between lessons. Aside from when I blow away Eli's hat, I have been taking off my royal gem. I know someone could steal it. I know Zora could notice it was gone. But if I were to use my powers again, I'm too afraid that something worse than one of Zora's curses could happen. I'm glad no geese nor humans were badly injured when I made a tornado. If I use my powers more and I have no control again, I could kill someone. I don't want to murder someone. I don't want to know what would happen if I did. So, I'm taking a break from magic.

It's one pm. I can finally take off my royal gem again. Eli won't be suspicious. I take off my necklace in the locker room. I hold it in my hands. It's too pretty for a goose girl. Maybe that's because I'm not the goose girl. I'm Princess Lucinda, the future queen of Norillia. But I guess no one will see me like that anymore. Unless I can break the spell. And I can only break the spell if I use my magic. I put my necklace back on. As much as I can't take the risk of putting lives in danger, my magic is getting more under control. I can at least keep myself from making a tornado.

Outside, Eli smiles at me. Not in a way a friend would. In an "I couldn't wait to see you." way. It's genuine, but I don't want it to be. I should probably tell him who I am soon. But if I can reverse the spell soon, I won't have to. He can be with Zora. I don't care if she's Zora or if everyone's too good for her. I just want to stop feeling like I'm lying to Eli. I want to be his friend, but that's hard when he thinks I'm his girlfriend.

"Zorana!" yells Eli. "I'm so glad you're back!"

Eli stops smiling and looks at the geese and then at me, looking terrified.

"What happened to the geese?!" I exclaim.

"They're okay," says Eli. "But there are more of them. Baba Yaga's spies are back."

I run over to the goose pen. I chose the wrong day to start wearing my royal gem again. What if one of the geese takes it? I can't lose my royal gem! I'd get in a lot of trouble with my parents! And not only them, but the gem branch of security!

"We can stop them!" says Eli, grabbing his flail from the ground.

"I...don't want to use my powers," I tell him. "Remember the tornado the other day? I made that on accident because I was using my magic too often. If I use it on the geese, that could happen again."

"Where's your wand?" asks Eli.

"It's my necklace," I say, trusting him.

"If your powers go out of control, I'll take off your necklace," says Eli. "I promise I won't let you hurt anyone."

He's so kind! I don't want him to hate this side of me. If only there was a way he could know, but treat me like he does now (minus any romance).

"Still, I think we should tell George and Desiree," I say.

"You don't have to call them 'your highnesses?'" asks Eli.

"Well, I am royalty myself," I say, recalling what I've learned about Zora.

"Do I have to call you her highness, Princess Zorana of Nixllapis?" asks Eli.

"Of course not!" I say.

Honestly, even as myself, I would feel weird having Eli call me her highness or Princess or anything like that. All of my friends just call me Lucinda or Lulu. I'm normal when I'm with them. Just like I am right now with Eli. I walk back to the palace.