Grishma (Necoh Saga) (15 page)

“What are you talking about? Are you okay, Princess Sophie?” asked Lenora.

Before she could sputter one more ounce of nonsense, her vision blurred and the room began to spin.

“There, there, Princess Sophie,” Adeline purred with a wicked grin on her face.

“Hand me the hot rods, I need to curl one last section of her hair.”

“I think her makeup is done. What do you think, Mora?”

“She needs more sparkle! This is her wedding, after all. She’s supposed to glow with happiness!”

“Glow with happiness? Ha! She doesn’t even know there’s going to be a wedding!”

“Yes, she does. Pinga let it slip. She has such a big mouth!”

Brooklyn’s eyelashes fluttered. “Where am I?”

“She’s awake! Quick, give me the last dose!”

Brooklyn felt a slight prick on her shoulder and everything went black again.

“Princess Sophie, it’s time to wake up.”

Her head felt cloudy and her arm ached.

“Who are you? What did you call me?” she asked.

A pretty young woman with auburn hair and emerald green eyes gazed at her and smiled. “It’s me, your best friend, Adeline, and I called you Princess Sophie, silly! Now come on, it’s time to get married!”

Shaking her head, Sophie said, “Oh, right, sorry, I was just confused for a minute.”

“I managed to sneak a peek at Prince Algid! He looks so handsome!” Adeline squealed. “You’re so lucky! Your father and Grishma picked out the best looking prince in all of Necoh!”

“Oh? Wow, yeah, I guess I am,” replied Sophie.

“Snap out of it, silly!” replied Adeline.

Just then, someone knocked at the door and Adeline rose to answer it.

“Um, I’m here to bring some food to Princess Sophie,” said a voice from behind the door.

“Please come in. You can set the food over there,” said Adeline.

A waiter came in holding a tray full of delicate appetizers that made her mouth water.

“Mmmm, smells delicious!” said Sophie.

The waiter set the tray down per Adeline’s instructions and then stared at the Princess intently.

“Do I know you?” she asked.

“I suppose not,” replied the strikingly handsome waiter. “Oh, before I leave, here is a message from Prince Algid. He wanted you to read it before the wedding.”

Sophie accepted a thick folded piece of white parchment. “Thank you.”

He bowed and kissed her hand lightly. “It’s my pleasure,” he replied.

After he exited the room, the Princess giggled. “I hope Prince Algid looks like that waiter!”

Adeline smiled. “He was really cute, wasn’t he?”

“Totally gorgeous! I love guys with dark hair and green eyes!”

“Anyway, enough with the help! Let’s read your letter from Prince Algid!”

Sophie grinned and unfolded the paper.

Brooklyn,

I haven’t much time. Please know I have been trying to find you since Grishma took you! I’m so sorry! Tonight, before the wedding, please meet me in the royal gardens. I have a way for us to escape!

Ryder

“Um, I think that waiter gave me the wrong letter,” said Sophie.

“What do you mean?” asked Adeline.

“Well, it definitely isn’t from Prince Algid and it definitely wasn’t meant for me! Here, look,” she said, and handed Adeline the letter.

“What a fool! He must have mixed up the letters!” said Adeline. “Excuse me for just a minute.”

Sophie simply shrugged and fixed herself a small plate of hors d’oeuvres.

A few minutes later, Adeline returned without the letter.

“So what happened?” asked Sophie.

“Oh, just a silly mix up. Everything is fine now and here’s the letter you were meant to get from Prince Algid,” said Adeline with a devilish smile.

“Ooh! Let me read it!”

Sophie unfolded the second letter and immediately began to giggle.

Dearest Princess Sophie,

Although we do not know one another yet, word of your beauty and kindness has travelled to Dratun. I am honored to become your wedded husband and I hope to become your best friend, lover, and confidant.

Forever Yours,

Prince Algid

“He already loves you!” squealed Adeline.

Her cheeks turned red and she reread the letter. “He really sounds wonderful, doesn’t he?”

“Absolutely! Now finish your food so we can get you into your wedding gown!”

Sophie looked at herself one last time in the full-length mirror. The dress Lenora had designed was magnificent and truly fit for a royal wedding.
Wow, I look stunning!

“Are you ready?” asked Adeline. She was dressed in a simple, yet beautiful, indigo silk dress.

“I think so,” replied Sophie. “But I’m really nervous!”

“Just think of the letter he wrote you! He can’t wait to marry you!” encouraged Adeline. “Now come on, you can’t be late to your own wedding!”

Adeline and three others helped Sophie out of the room while two little girls in white dresses held up the train in the back.

Walking through the hallways felt strange, as if she were experiencing déjà vu. Everything felt familiar, but still a bit foreign.

I hope this is just a case of pre-wedding jitters!

Assuring herself that it was, Sophie smiled and clasped Adeline’s hand. “What does the ballroom look like?”

“I have never seen it look so beautiful. You will absolutely love it!”

After what felt like an eternity, they were face to face with the massive wooden doors that led to the ballroom.

Before the doors opened, she felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning around, she came face to face with the King.

“My darling Princess!”

“Oh, Father! Thank goodness you’re here! I’m so nervous!”

The King’s eyes glistened with tears. “My sweet daughter, you mustn’t worry! The Royal Family of Dratun can’t wait for you to join them!”

“Do you really think so?” asked Brooklyn.

“Yes, of course, my dear!” The King smiled and embraced her one last time. “Now, are you ready?”

Taking a deep breath, Sophie smiled and said, “Yes, Father, I’m ready.”

The King nodded toward one of the guards standing to the left of the door. The guard picked up a large trumpet and announced the arrival of the King and Princess Sophie. Then, setting the trumpet down, he and three other guards pulled the thick wooden doors open.

Sophie felt like she was going to faint. Beautiful music floated through the air as thousands of people stared at her intently from their seats on either side of the arbor.

The harpist began to play another song, this time accompanied by a string quartet. The audience rose and Sophie found it difficult to breathe.

Standing at the end of the beautiful petal-covered aisle was Prince Algid.

Eek! He’s so handsome!

Even though he was far away, she could tell he was drop dead gorgeous. Tall and lean with sun-kissed blond hair, he was drop dead gorgeous, even from a distance.

Sophie looked back at Adeline and mouthed, “He is sooo cute!”

Adeline smiled and winked back at her.

Holding out his arm, the King said, “My darling.”

Standing on her tiptoes, Sophie kissed her father on the cheek. Then, she linked her arm in his and they walked down the aisle toward Prince Algid.

Chapter Sixteen

H
ow could finding Brianna go
so wrong? She doesn’t even know who I am! She’s clearly under the influence of some type of horrendous concoction that causes memory loss.

He kept repeating, “It’s me, Bri, your brother, Ryder!”

“I don’t have a brother and I certainly don’t know who you are! Now, if you want me to show you to Princess Sophie’s chambers, please stop talking to me!”

“What about our mother? Is she here with you? Is she safe?”

“Listen, I don’t know how you know about my mother, but if you say one more word, I’m finding the nearest guard and reporting you!”

Ryder’s heart sank and he felt utterly devastated. He followed her silently up the stairs and through the castle. Once they reached Princess Sophie’s room, he went in to deliver the food and the secret letter he had written Brooklyn.

Before going in the room, he turned to Brianna and said, “I’ll be right back. I have to save Brooklyn, please wait for me.”

He looked Brianna in the eyes and attempted to hug her. Freaking out, she pushed him away roughly. “Get away from me!”

Anguish filled his body and it took every ounce of courage to walk away from his sister.

Stepping into the room, he broke out into a cold sweat. Being this close to Brooklyn made his pulse quicken and his stomach feel queasy.
Talk about convincing, Brooklyn barely even looked at me. I hope she has everyone else fooled, too!

When he came back out of Brooklyn’s room, Brianna was gone.

Damn it! Why didn’t I plan for this?
Never in a million years had he thought his own sister wouldn’t recognize him.
Now what?

He decided to continue to follow the plan and meet up with Lant and the others in the royal gardens.
They’ll be able to help me!

Finding unguarded hallways was difficult and it took twice as long as he had planned to get to the gardens.
Please let her be there! Please let her be there!

As soon as he stepped out into the cool, crisp air, he knew something was wrong. The surrounding flowers had wilted and before he could turn around and get back into the castle, the horrifying smell of rotten fish overwhelmed his senses.

“No!” screamed Ryder.

A deep, gravelly, voice spoke, “Ah, so we meet again, Ryder.”

Reaching for his sword out of instinct, he was instantly deflated when he realized that he had given it to Albie to bring to him in the royal gardens.

Oh no! What about Albie, Cridifer, and the others? Are they safe? Did Grishma catch them, too?

Ryder sunk to his knees. He knew it was pointless to run. Grishma would catch him and kill him or throw him in the dungeon.

Emerging from the shadows, Grishma towered over Ryder and the neatly trimmed hedges. “Come boy,” the beast said as she grabbed Ryder by the back of his shirt.

What is Grishma going to do with me?

The stench was overwhelming and Ryder could feel the bile creeping up the back of his throat.

After several turns, Grishma carried Ryder up a flight of stairs and onto a gray marble balcony.

Growling, she threw Ryder to the floor. “Here, you can watch your precious Brooklyn, oops, I mean, Princess Sophie, marry Prince Algid, and then I’m going to throw you in the dungeons with your little friends!”

Little friends? Oh no!

“The King and I were just discussing the need to eradicate the Tribe of Topher from Necoh. Just think, you have led them and the two orvbas to their death.”

Ryder’s blood boiled. “Let them go, you don’t need them!”

Grishma tapped her grotesque nails on the marble. “I know that, boy, but you see, I can do whatever I want! Now shut up and watch the wedding!”