Pumpkins and Princesses (The Tales and Princesses Series Book 3) by Aleese Hughes

Author:Aleese Hughes [Hughes, Aleese]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-07T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

As I peered at myself in the clouded mirror in my room at the inn, I couldn’t help but admire the image, though blurred and hardly viewable due to the filth and age of the glass. I had been right about the color flattering my skin tone. I gathered up my waves and pinned them up the best I could with the pins Harry snatched up from a booth and paid for before a smelly, plump woman eagerly stole them away for her daughter.

“You are taking what’s rightfully the future Queen’s!” she had raged.

Harry just rolled his eyes and said, “You know the likelihood of your daughter actually getting chosen is little to none, right?”

I thought the woman was about to hit him, but instead, she huffed away and threw a tantrum like a little child would.

I pushed my thick hair to keep it from falling down, squeezing the steel pins in as far as they could go. Yes, there were going to be things about my appearance at the ball that would have a stark difference in comparison to the other women, especially the fact that my shoes would be my old, brown boots instead of delicate slippers, but I was excited all the same. The one thing I was worried about the most was all the people… But at least Harry would be with me.

“I’m ba-ack!”

The sing-songy voice of an old woman sounded behind me, and I leapt two feet from the floor. It couldn’t be… I whirled around to face my visitor, and there she was: that mysterious witch Bavmorda.

Before I could even open my mouth to speak, the witch began circling around me with a crooked finger pressed into her chin.

“Well, the dress is okay, but it could be better. And we need to do something about your makeup, hair, and those hideous shoes on your feet!”

She finally paused long enough for me to get a word in: “What are you talking about? Why are you here?”

Bavmorda waved at me to be quiet and leaned in close to me. I grimaced at her breath. It smelled like rotten fish.

“Stand still, child.” She pointed her long fingers at me and began chanting strange words. Her entire body shook, and I was afraid such an old body as hers couldn’t take the tremors. I half-expected her to collapse, lifeless, at any second.

“What are you doing?” I squeaked, inching away from her and nearly tripping on the hem of my gown.

The witch stopped chanting, and her eyelids flew open. “You’ve got to be kidding me, Ellie! I was nearly done. Don’t you dare interrupt me, or I won’t help you.”

I bit my tongue to keep quiet, but more because I was scared of her than wanting her help. She began wiggling her fingers at me again and muttering the words. Was it a different language? From ancient times, perhaps? From the Lurid Kingdom? Magic words?

As she chanted, my entire body began to glow a brilliant gold. The space around me sparkled from the intense light, and I gasped from fright.

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