Outside The Midnight Hour

When The Clock Strikes 12.

"I'm honored that you made it to our humble ball, Your Highnesses," Grand Duke William Chester greeted with a bow.

"It's only right that we did. After all, it is your daughter's wedding ball," my husband responded.

"She makes such a beautiful bride," the Duchess spoke, glancing at her daughter clad in a wedding dress, hands holding her groom, and wiped a tear with a napkin.

"Indeed she does," I said in agreement and added with a smile, "Since she takes after you both, her beauty is both within and without."

The two of them became flustered at my compliment and bowed at both of us once more. "Your words are far too great for us."

I merely smiled in response and pushed up the sleeve on my right wrist.

11:55 pm- the time on the wristwatch read.

I turned to look at the man by my side, and his eyes were already on me. "You have to leave, don't you?"

I nodded. "It's pretty urgent. I'll see you back at the palace."

I placed my untouched champagne glass on a tray passing by and picked up my dress. A hand stopped me and I turned back to face him.

"Entertain them for me, King Charming." I nudged my head toward the flustered couple and moved to turn again, but his grip remained on my arm.

"Ella, wait." I waited patiently for him to speak again. "When will you tell me where you run off to every night?"

I peeled off his hand and squeezed it with my hands. "It's safer for you if you don't know." I tiptoed on my glass shoes and pecked his cheek. "But it's nothing dangerous."

His expression wasn't convinced, but he nodded. I smiled reassuringly at him and let go of his hand, hurrying out of the door.

Another glance at my wristwatch and it read 11:59 pm. "I won't make it in time if I take the stairs."

I burst into a room and strode in, pushing past the balcony doors, and leaped over the railings, dropping down.

The usual glittering and blinding light I was familiar with encased me, turning my glass shoes into leather boots, my pink dress into a black jumpsuit, and my tiara into a matching leather mask, concealing most of my face.

I pressed the little button in my ear and said, "Any minute now," as I dangerously neared the cemented ground.

"It's right underneath you," she said, and a block of cheese below transformed into a two-wheeled vehicle just in time for me to plop on the seat.

I picked up the helmet and wore it before turning on the engine, kicking up the stopper, and vrooming the machine, zooming off instantly.

"Do you have to do that every time?"

"Do what? Be magical?"

"Make me vehicles off the trash on the road. I can smell the staleness of the cheese. We have enough money to send me normal vehicles." I forced back an eye-roll as I evaded cars on the road.

"Where's the fun in that? It's like how you magically get into costume no matter where you are, rather than having to wear it manually."

"That's different, fairy godmother." I sighed.

"Hmph." The chair she sat on squeaked, possibly due to her reclining in it. "You used to love my transformations. I remember when I first met you. I changed your ragged dress into-"

"Where's the guy we're tailing?" I cut her off before she started her repetitive retelling of our first encounter.

She cleared her throat and clicked her tongue before answering, "I sent you the GPS location."