The Princess' Keeper- A Cinderella Re-Telling

Chapter Six

Alone in my room later that night, sleep evaded me. Instead, I paced back and forth in the unfamiliar surroundings, ignoring the luxurious bed. If I’d been anywhere close to happy, I might have given myself up to the feather mattress. The hideous grey walls further dampened my mood. The colour was so depressing.

“Argh!”

Flinging open the glass doors that led to the balcony, I took deep breaths of the cool night air. Below, the world was silent and no wonder. It was after midnight.

“What am I to do?” I whispered to myself. “I can’t marry him.”

A soft twitter sounded beside me. Perched on the rail was a bluebird.

“Hello. You look familiar.”

Chirp.

“Hmm. Well, it’s good to see you. If you’re the same bird from home.”

She hopped toward me, tilting her head from side to side.

“I’m in quite the predicament little one. Forced to marry that monster.”

She hopped onto my hand, and then up to my shoulder, chirping in my ear.

“If only I had been born a Skinchanger. I could escape this place unseen, like you, and never return. I could even warn the Keepers before fleeing the Kingdom.”

I paused, picking through my words. It wasn’t so impossible now, was it? For the first time in six years, I was completely alone. Well, aside from Nicholas outside my door. Sneaking out of the Palace would have its risks, and it didn’t help that I barely remembered the way to the main door. But if I could just make it outside, then I could run. It didn’t matter where I went; There were a million places I could go.

Forgetting the bird on my shoulder, I flew back into the room and into the closet, dumping the contents of my trunk on the floor. Sorting through, I pulled out my plain green dress, an extra pair of shoes, and my jar of cream. Quickly I changed out of my nightgown into another simple black garb. Then I paused.

“I have no food.”

Biting my lower lip, I shrugged. I could work for a meal. When I was settled someplace new, I’d find a more permanent job. Papa’s face suddenly swam before my eyes.

“I’m sorry Papa, I can’t do this. You always told me to be strong. This is me trying to do that.”

I hoped he approved. He would never want me out there, alone, but my other options were no better. I’d risk thieves and Murrow alike to be free, and my fortune be damned! Had I ever really cared about it? Stepmother could have it all. There was more to life than money. I packed everything into my small travel bag, hoisting it over my shoulder.

“I’m ready. Are you coming?” I looked to my unexpected companion hopping on my shoulder. “Let’s go.”

Pulling on my cloak, I left the hood down for now. The bluebird stayed under the fabric, poking her head out when I opened the door. Luck was with me; Nicholas was nowhere in sight, probably gone to the bathroom. The paintings on the walls watched me as I moved as quietly as I could past Darnella and Hannah’s rooms and then past stepmothers. We’d all been lodged in the guest wing, and I was kicking myself for not paying attention to directions earlier.

During the day, the Palace had been alive with servants and the constant hum of people talking. In the dead of night, it was exactly that. Dead. Which worked in my favor, but it gave me the willies, nonetheless. Taking a left at the end of the hall, I was delighted to spot a staircase. My crazy plan might turn out to be easier than I thought.

My hand had only grazed the banister when a clap of thunder sounded, shattering through the quiet. Instantly, I jumped three feet into the air, my hand covering the scream on my lips. My eyes flew to the window- When had it started raining? Voices reached me from the floors below. Soft and confused at first, and then a piercing shriek of terror. Recklessly, I raced down the stairs, my cloak billowing out behind me, nearly running over a servant.

“What’s happening?” I asked.

“Keepers my Lady! There are Keepers in the Palace!”

He looked beyond terrified.

“Quickly my Lady, return to your room and lock your doors!” he tried to usher me back up the stairs, but I pushed him back.

“A locked door will not keep them out!” I said.

Another blast sounded, much closer this time. The servant scurried off, leaving me alone. I ran in the opposite direction, frantically trying to remember anything about the layout of the Palace. When glass broke behind me, I deserted my route, ducking behind the closest door. I had expected a bedroom with a few options to hide. Instead, I found myself in a closet. Catching a mop I knocked over, I made my way to the back and crouched down. Another deafening c***k, the loudest yet, had me covering my ears. What were they doing?! Blasting down the walls?

The bluebird began to chirp frantically, wiggling out from my cloak.

“Hear that?” A man’s voice said from the hall.

“Hush!” I hissed. I grabbed for her, but she slipped through my fingers, squawking.

“Over there.”

Friend or foe, I didn’t care. I grabbed one of the mop buckets, raising it over my head. I knew how to handle myself; Despite being a girl, Papa had made sure I was never defenseless. I’d had tutors in fencing, sword, and hand-to-hand combat. Of course, stepmother had put a stop to the “boyish nonsense” following his death, but I’d managed to practice on my own in the apple orchard when I could. When the door opened, I threw the bucket as hard as I could before jumping out of the closet.

“Ow!”

I didn’t dare look back, even when their heavy footsteps pounded after me. I took turn after turn, left and then right, and then right again, praying I would come to an exit. My legs began to burn, as well as my chest. Skidding around yet another corner, I finally saw a familiar sight. A pair of hands grazed my arm as I jumped onto the wide banister adorning the grand staircase. It was a quick escape at home too when Darnella or Hannah were after me.

The main doors loomed across the room. Reaching the end of my makeshift slide, I pushed myself in their direction, breathing in shorts, burning gasps. Out of nowhere loomed a dark figure, arms outstretched; My feet slipped on the floor.

“No!”

Those arms wrapped around me as we collided, strong, holding me in place.

“You’re hard to catch.”

“Let go of me! Help!”

“Better close your eyes.”

The world around me spun sickeningly. The sensation was like being thrown into the wind. Or having the wind thrown at me, I honestly couldn’t tell. One second we were in the Palace, the next we were standing on a grassy hill. My stomach revolted. I bent at the waist, dry heaving. The man who’d captured me walked away, unaffected.

“Found her.”

Through my watery eyes, I looked up to see three cloaked men.