Cinderella vs. Happily Ever After

Chapter 16

            The door swung slowly inward revealing a room in the same style as the tower. The room was shaped like an octagon but four of the corners were thin, sharp points much longer than the other four. A large circle in the stone ceiling was made of glass or something similar because sunlight was pouring through it, almost blinding after the dimness of the staircase.

One wall was covered in ceiling to floor bookshelves, stuffed haphazardly with books and papers, some having already fallen to the ground. Opposite it a large iron table was covered in various bits of glassware, some empty, some filled with strange coloured liquid and one which was sending jets of steam up.

In the centre of the room a brass telescope was pointed up at the glass hole, while various mismatched chairs, couches and tables took up the rest of the room, half of them covered in odd little objects of various materials, some whistling, others dormant, and some shivering slightly. Plates and the half-finished remains of what looked like three meals lay scattered on the table nearest the squishiest looking chair. It was also the only one occupied.

Valerie stared at Enax. She had come in expecting Dumbledore but instead had gotten Magneto. He was tall, lean, clean shaven and dressed in loose, dark grey shirt and pants. His hair was light grey and closely cropped over his brown eyes. His long face stretched into a wide smile at the sight of Miette. He stood and opened his arms wide as he strode over. “Mi! I have missed you.”

She walked into his embrace, hugging him back. “I have missed you as well, Enax.”

He looked up from her and noticed the rest of them crowding the doorway, looking around, the children practically vibrating with the desire to touch and see everything. “You’ve brought friends. But I don’t see the thief?”

Miette pulled away and met his eyes. “Lyel is in danger. We all are.”

Enax frowned, took her hand and gently pulled her to a chair. When she sat, he waved at the others to join them. The kids flew into the room and jumped onto one of the couches, turning this way and that to see everything while Isaac and Valerie followed more slowly. Only when they were seated as well did he sit back down into his chair. “Tell me, Mi.”

“The palace has fallen. Lyel…he laced my tea with catnip so that I would agree to leave. By the time I was myself again it was too late. The palace was full of the enemy and I could not return. They have an army while we have only raw recruits        and small handfuls of survivors,” she said staring at the hands she had folded in her lap.

“Hmmm. Well I feel better about the thief that he sent you to safety. I would have liked it better if he had brought you here himself. Did you leave you with these people?” He said, tapping his chin as he gave the rest of them a once over.

“No. We found Miette and Sora in the woods. Miette said we should come here. We picked the kids up along the way. We’re looking for allies to help us take the palace back,” Valerie said, chin up and eyes holding Enax’s steadily.

He smiled at her. “I do like girls who have fire. Who are you?”

“Valerie Ash. This is my friend Isaac, and the children are Bayon, Cavyle, Senera, and Rabar. Their parents were in the palace as well.”

Enax looked over the children who were busy whispering to each other and pointing then nodded. “They are near the ages of my grandchildren. I am sure my daughter will be happy to watch them for a while. Who knows? Maybe one of them will have an aptitude,” he said before turning to look at her. “I have heard of only woman by the name of Valerie. You would be Lady Ruby then? The most hunted woman alive?”

She nodded. “It’s because one of the godmothers has gone crazy.”

He waved his hand as if to banish the information he deemed useless. “I have only one question. While the rumours carry every sort of detail, the one thing they didn’t say is what I am most curious about. What type are you?”

Val flushed and frowned. Isaac began laughing. “She’s a Cinderella though she won’t admit it.”

Enax sat back and stared. “Truly?”

She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at no one in particular. “I am not! Just because I threw my shoe at Darren’s head it doesn’t make me Cinderella.”

The wizard took one look at her expression and began laughing, a sound like a donkey braying. “I like you, Valerie Ash. Much better than the pale princesses I have encountered before.”

“Will you help us Enax?” Miette asked, leaning forward.

He took on of her hands and kissed it, smiling. “For just your sake Mi, I would have helped. For the sake of the thief, as much as I find it impossible to like him for stealing you away, and for your amusing friends I will do all I can. But what I will do will take time and planning. I can be of some use to you in the battle but I will be of more use in the preparation for it. And for that I must remain here. Will you be safe without me?”

“She has us,” Valerie said. “And we’re going to go gather more allies.”

He nodded. “Good. Then I will leave Mi in your care. I will send the children to my daughter as soon as we are finished.”

“Nuh-uh!” Bayon cried. “We’re staying with Valerie.”

“No, you’re going somewhere safe. We have to run through more woods, which all of you hate and don’t you dare say different because the amount of whining I had to deal with is proof of that. And we’ll be in danger. I won’t have you where you can get killed. You’ll be safe at Enax’s daughter’s place,” Valerie said, meeting the horrified looks of the children with a steely gaze.

“Rhia is a witch. She is teaching her children magic and should you be able to, I am certain she would be happy to train you as well,” Miette remarked, looking at the bookshelves as if not concerned.

Val could actually see them re-evaluating being sent away. They still weren’t happy but they weren’t going to be difficult about it anymore.

“Then it is time you tell me all you know,” Enax said, laying on finger along his jaw as he leaned toward them.