Rexi set the breakfast tray down on the table and motioned for me to take a seat. The tray was brimming with all sorts of goodies: mini cheesecakes, burrberry croissants, chocolate wands, and an apple. They looked and smelled delicious. Adorning the tray was a white agave lily. All of my favorite things—and I was extra pleased that I remembered that these were my favorite things.
I looked around the room to see what else I could glean about my life. The walls were bare and sterile. The nightstand held a single vase of gardenias. The room seemed…empty. “Weren’t there a whole bunch of red flowers here earlier?”
Wearing the tight smile again, Rexi plucked a flower from the nearby vase. “Yes, but I find white to be much more appropriate for a wedding.” She started plucking the petals off to emphasize each word. “It symbolizes new beginnings, a blank slate, if you will.” Her smile got big and toothy, like she was doing a commercial for sparkle toothpaste. I had the urge to say, Grandma, what big teeth you have.
She called for Nikko, who had brought a satin pillow. On it was a silver hair comb adorned with a large, white flower. She clapped in pleasure. “Let’s get you ready for your big day.”
A loud commotion came from outside my window, and I peeked out to see what was going on. People were running around yelling like Munchkins while some kind of animal roared and reared up. The huge beast was being led by chains—kind of. Even with ten men, they had a hard time getting the big, winged creature to cooperate.
“What in Grimm’s name is that?”
I wondered if that was one of the beasts threatening my kingdom.
Rexi looked out the window too, her face set into hard lines. “That is dinner for the feast.” She stomped to the door. “Nikko, help the princess get dressed and make sure she eats. Everything. I’ll take care of preparations for the barbecue.”
She stayed by the door for a minute more, watching me expectantly. Picking up one of the chocolate wands, I took a bite. Apparently satisfied, she turned and left.
As soon as she was gone, I pulled a face and tossed the wand back on the tray. The candy tasted sour and a little funny, like maybe it was stale or had gone bad.
Nikko set about pinning my hair into some intricate style. He was surprisingly nimble, considering he had big apelike hands, and but he probably got a lot of practice since he so much hair of his own—all over his body, not just under a hat, which looked like some kind of upside-down takeout food box. In fact, I didn’t want to be rude, but he looked rather much like a gorilla. While he worked on my hair, I gingerly examined the flowered headpiece he’d brought up. I’d never seen anything like it. Delicate white petals shot up through the middle and seemed to cascade over like a waterfall.
“Mind the thorns, Lady Emerald. Sometimes even the most beautiful things can bite,” Nikko whispered. It was the first time I had heard his voice. It didn’t really match the oafish old man.
Following his warning, I looked closer at the bloom. Sure enough, hidden beneath the flower’s head were sharp, spindly thorns.
“It’s called a lotus rose.” He continued to whisper as if he were afraid to be overheard even though we were the only two people in the room. “It used to be the symbol of a powerful sorceress. I haven’t seen one in many years. Did you know that if you tried to grow it in a garden, it would never bloom? The flower only blossoms in the most horrendous conditions. But when it does, it’s strong and almost nothing can kill it.” Nikko gently took the flower from my hand and pinned it into my hair. “There. All done.”
“Is there a looking glass handy so I can see it?” I asked and glanced around the barren room.
“I’m sorry, but the wizard has sent away all the mirrors. They had some sort of magical malfunction.” Nikko pulled the wedding dress out of the armoire and laid it on the bed. He looked from it to me, then back to it again, blushing.
I took pity on him since I didn’t think that ladies handmaiden was in his typical job description. “You really don’t have to stay while I get dressed. I’m sure I can manage myself.”
He looked around, distressed, probably worried his boss would yell at him for leaving me alone. “I don’t—”
Placing a hand softly on his arm, I gently nudged him out. “You can stand just outside the door, and I’ll knock when I’m ready for you to come in.”
Looking relieved, Nikko bowed and scurried out the door, closing it. I think I heard the snick of a lock. Honestly, what was everyone so jumpy about? Worried that I would become a runaway bride or something?
My memories were starting to come back to me. I remembered bits of my childhood, like tagging along with Verte because everyone was always too busy for me. And the desperate desire to please my parents but always falling short.
Well, not this time.