𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 - L. VALDEZ

I BECOME PART OF THAT WORLD

I BECOME PART OF THAT WORLD
[NAME]

I wanted to run for the elevator

It was either that or I attack the weird princess now, because I was sure a fight was coming. The way the lady's face glowed when she'd heard Jason's name had been bad enough. Now Her Highness was smiling like nothing had happened, and Jason and Leo didn't seem to think anything was wrong. Piper, however, was on my side.

The princess gestured toward the cosmetics counter. "Shall we start with the potions?"

"Cool," Jason said.

"Guys," I interrupted, "we're here to get the storm spirits and Coach Hedge. If this—princess—really is our friend—"

"Oh, I'm better than a friend, my dear," Her Highness said. "I'm a saleswoman." Her diamonds sparkled, and her eyes glittered like a snake's—cold and dark. "Don't worry. We'll work our way down to the first floor, eh?"

Leo nodded eagerly. "Sure, yeah! That sounds okay. Right, Piper?"

Piper glared daggers at him: No, it is not okay!

"Of course it's okay." Her Highness put her hands on Leo's and Jason's shoulders and steered them toward the cosmetics. "Come along, boys."

Piper and I had no choice but to follow as the boys blatantly ignored the glowing warning sign that was her face telling us to run for the hills.

They looked entranced by her. And I couldn't tell whether they were genuinely interested in her magical potions show-and-tell or if she had them under some sort of freak spell.

"And here," the princess said, "is the finest assortment of magical mixtures anywhere."

The counter was crammed with bubbling beakers and smoking vials on tripods. Lining the display shelves were crystal flasks—some shaped like swans or honey bear dispensers. The liquids inside were every color, from glowing white to polka-dotted. And the smells—yuck! Some were pleasant, like fresh-baked cookies or roses, but they were mixed with the scents of burning tires, skunk spray, and gym lockers. My eyes were already tired of looking at colors I didn't even know existed but now this?! My senses were going to lose it. I looked around the shop for any other hidden exit, my eyes catching on this vintage looking perfume bottle, ones that I would see in my mother's room.

The princess pointed to a bloodred vial—a simple test tube with a cork stopper. "This one will heal any disease."

"Even cancer?" Leo asked. "Leprosy? Hangnails?"

"Hangnails isn't a disease," I mumbled under my breath, but he was either still ignoring me or didn't hear.

"Any disease, sweet boy. And this vial"—she pointed to a swan-shaped container with blue liquid inside—"will kill you very painfully."