The Hidden Kingdom

Chapter 7

After a full night's rest, I woke up the next morning feeling refreshed, and my brain was cleared of any concerns. The smell of waffles wafted into my room causing my stomach to growl. I guess Elana could smell them too because she stepped out of the room adjacent to mine at the same time I did. She looked much better than the previous night albeit her hair was a bit messy and her hair a bit rumpled. There wasn't a mirror in the room, but I could guess I looked a million times worse than she did.

Lilith cackled as she saw us standing near the kitchen entrance staring hungrily at a stack of waffles on the marble table. "They're for you, girls. There's no need to ogle at them; just dig in." We smiled and I thanked her politely.

Elana and I had planned to interrogate Lilith some more and then try to get her to invite us to the ball where sir pretty boy was bound to be. The hard part, however, was going to do this without letting her know we opened her mail. So as I drenched my food with syrup, I nonchalantly said, "You had mail yesterday. We placed it on the counter."

"Oh thank you. Do you have any idea whom it was from?" I didn't want to lie so I looked over at Elana pleadingly.

"No, but it looked quite fancy." Elana lied as she came to my rescue.

We returned back to our waffles. I carefully considered how to phrase my next question. "Yesterday, you told us that only a powerful wizard could create a portal. We think we know who he is- the one who created our portal. Would you be willing to help us?" I asked her.

She smiled. Her face softened, and her face wrinkled. "I'll do anything I can."

My heart warmed at the thought that this stranger would be compassionate enough to help us. My voice conveyed this feeling as I said, "Thank you. He has blond hair and blue eyes. Kind of an arrogant guy if you ask me, but a dreamy one if you ask miss flirts a lot over here." I sent her a side ways grin. "Also, we're positive he'll show up at the next big event you have here. He's had that air of importance to him" I continued- that at least wasn't a lie.

Lilith displayed a strange expression as if she was thinking this through. She paced along her cabinets until she seemed to remember her invitation. She read it aloud and looked at us. "Okay, but you two must do exactly as I say. There will be a ball tomorrow night. I'll lend you my granddaughters' dresses. You must be careful not to ruin the dresses or get yourselves into trouble. Is that clear?" We nodded. I was grateful things were going as planned. "Furthermore, you two will not make a scene. You will both present yourselves as commoners if you come across royalty. If you are asked by anyone to dance, except his offer." That last one I wasn't so thrilled about. "He might not help you so be prepared to offer something in return. And finally, if you get in trouble, please please please, don't tell anyone I helped you. I need this job. I have to support a family."

"We understand. We are very great-full." Reassured Elana.

There were still many questions left unanswered, but again Lilith had to leave. Her job seemed very demanding. I wonder how old this princess is? Eliza's mind must have been on a completely different path because she asked, "I wonder if they have wifi here? or cable?" I rolled my eyes, but smiled. Without wifi, my life would be a complete mess. Maybe I'm being over dramatic. Nah! what else could I do if there was no wifi? I couldn't go outside. That's the outernet. The outernet has sun- as if I weren't tan as it is being Latina and all.

We sat down on a soft white coach that sank beneath our combined weight. We chatted for a while, but spent the majority of the time staring idly at the walls lost in our own thoughts.