The Infinity Ball

III

Felicity

It has been two days since Briar disappeared after the Infinity Ball. Last night, I went to the ball as I always do and despite me telling them they shouldn't, my sisters came. I tried to watch them, but it was hard when I was dancing. I decided to stop dancing at eleven and sat on a couch. Rowan sat next to me and asked me if I was alright. I fibbed because I didn't know if he knew anything about Briar or if I felt like discussing my issues. He kept sitting next to me. I thought about telling him to dance with someone else since I was being silent.

At eleven fifty-nine, I left the ballroom with Rowan and watched the inside, as Cynthia and Zora were in there. Rowan yelled to tell me which boat he was getting in, so I turned toward him. But then when I stared at the ballroom, no one was in it.

This morning, Cynthia was gone. I asked my family about her and they didn't know who she was. Unlike Briar, I have no idea where she went after the ball. And even with Briar, I have no idea how she would end up at the Perneete palace.

Tonight, I am going to the Infinity Ball anyway. Besides, my sisters are going and I have to make sure they're okay after midnight. Despite me telling them that they should stay in the palace, all of my sisters are going to the ball. I hope no one disappears as Cynthia and Briar did.

Rowan, or at least I hope it's Rowan, knocks on my door, so I open it.

"Are you ready to go to the Infinity Ball?" he asks me.

"I am," I say.

Rowan is one of the best things in my life right now. Even as my sisters disappear, I have him. Maybe it's a good thing he's not a prince. If he was, he could be more in danger of Zorana and my father. But there wouldn't be much reason to hurt an innocent guard-in-training. Tonight, we go to the ball at the same time as my sisters. Hopefully, none of them will go missing. But why would Zorana just attempt to kill the twins? They don't have much political or magical power. They're three. Why wouldn't she be after me? I don't want to be killed; I am just trying to figure out why Zorana and Father would try to kill the twins. I have more magic abilities than most if not all of my sisters. I may not be able to use the ultimate form like Lucinda, but I know some magic spells. I'm not the heir, but I'm third in line and an adult. But why would the twins be a threat to Father and not me or Lucinda?

When all of us get to the Infinity Ball, I stare at Zorana. Last night, she was staring at Cynthia and she tried to kill her. Two nights ago, she was staring at Briar and tried to kill her. I wait as she notices us, assuming she'll stare at Lucinda. Lucinda could fight Zorana. She could possibly win, since Zorana's in her eighties or nineties. And despite my jealousy of her, I'd help Lucinda fight Zorana if she needed it. But my jaw drops as Zorana shocks me by staring at Jemima. I notice Zora in disguise in the ballroom, also staring at Zorana looking surprised. But why would she try to kill Jemima next? She's the youngest princess now that the twins are missing. But they were the youngest two and they were the first princesses she tried to kill. Is Zorana trying to kill us in reverse order?

As usual, I dance with Rowan while watching Zorana stare at my sister. I check the time during almost every song, worried that it will be midnight and I'll be in the ballroom, unprepared. That's something about this ball. You don't know when it's midnight unless you have your phone or a watch. There aren't any clocks in the room aside from one, but it can be hard to hear if the band is playing pop music. And Zorana doesn't say anything or stop the music. The musicians are odd, too. They almost look fake, as they look translucent. They all look young and are all dressed in suits or gowns with accessories that look pricy. If they're young royals, why aren't they partying? As Rowan and I dance the waltz, I spin close to the stage. One of the royals in the orchestra looks like Princess Norene! She used to come here until she went missing! But why is she on stage? And why would she be translucent? I hear a sound that's quiet, deep, and repeating. It's a clock. But it's so quiet that I could be imagining its chimes. I crane my neck up and sideways. It's midnight.