Plot Twist

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

"We're our own dragons as well as our own heroes, and we have to rescue ourselves from ourselves."

Tom Robbins

"So, what time is the ball again?" I asked Mason as we both sat in the sand. Since my little freak out, we had yet to return to our seats on the stone bench. I didn't really mind either—the sand was actually more comfortable.

"1900 hours—seven p.m.," Mason corrected, "I know you're nervous, but you're going to do fine. The ball is really just a formality, and everyone's just going to be grateful that there is a Queen to begin with. Besides, from what I've seen, you're very charming."

He does make some good points.

Speaking of charm, all my teachers used to tell my mom how charming I was.

Or was it how annoying I was?

I can never remember.

"Also," Mason continued, "You'll be the most beautiful woman there. I'll have some gowns sent over to your room for you to pick from."

Well, he's a regular fairy tale prince, isn't he?

God, I hope this cliche werewolf story isn't also morphing into a fairy tale like Cinderella.

If it is though, I hope it's the Disney version and not the one by the Brothers Grimm.

I'm sooo not into having to cut off part of my foot.

Although, wouldn't that make me one of the ugly stepsisters?

***

Not long after that, Mason left to go to some meeting and I decided to head back to the room I shared with Skylar. He offered to have Hulk or Samson escort me, but I declined—as fun it was to get under Hulk's skin, I needed some time to clear my head. I still felt a little rocked from my mini emotional breakdown and although I'd decided to focus my energy on the dimension I was currently in, I still did miss my family.

And my cat.

Mostly my cat.

The first thing I noticed when I walked into my room was that something felt off.

It was the same kind of feeling I get when the shady-looking guy at the supermarket stares at me. It was as if something inside of me--some primal, instinctual part of me--knew something was wrong. I could feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up, and my heart was pounding. My entire body tensed up, as if I was ready to fend off any surprise attackers. I scanned the room.

Appearance-wise, everything looked fine. Skylar's bed was made, mine was still a mess of covers and sheets from when I'd slept in it and my clothes still littered the floor. Everything was just as I expected it to be, so why did it feel like something was seriously wrong with this picture?

Have I been watching too much Criminal Minds?

Fake-twin was also nowhere to be seen--which was a little weird. I'd expected her to be sulking in here over Ryder.

I guess she's sulking somewhere else.

A knock sounded on the door.

Still focused on the scene, I called out, "Come in."

I heard the door open and close. "Your Majesty, I have brought some gowns for you to try on," Hulk's voice sounded, and I turned to see him wheeling a cart of fancy dresses inside the room. For a moment, I just stared--there were so many dresses. White, black, blue, yellow, green, red--a myriad of colors in every cut and design.