5. Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Calliope

They were right there.

I leaned over the banister of the small balcony in my room, looking at the breathtaking view. The vibrant curtains gently caressed my ankles while the cool breeze whispered against my bare thighs.

I could almost see the big, green orcs down at the courtyard-turned-campsite. They looked like little peas walking around, or cooking meat that smelled delicious. The orc camp was bustling with activity. I could see them prepping more pieces of meat to be cooked over a roaring fire. The smell was intoxicating, and my stomach grumbled in protest.

They argued a lot and when they couldn't agree on something, they settled the argument by throwing fists, clubs or swords. They swung and yelled, stomped around, and told one another they were ugly.

I found it pretty funny.

I wish I could see up close what they looked like.

Some said they were hideous, others said they were ruggedly handsome. I wanted to see for myself.

Dang it for being a human and having small, squinty eyes.

I leaned over a little more before I heard Simon bleat behind me, grabbing the ruffles of my night dress that settled on my upper thigh, and pulled me backwards.

Simon had expensive taste. He loved silk. He already ate the bottom of my silk dress last night when I tried sneaking peeks of the burly, green men.

Simon pulled harder. The threads ripped, and I swatted him away.

"Ugh, you are no fun," I grumbled, and planted my feet firmly back on the ground, with my hands fisted the golden railing.

I wish there were vines closer so I could grab hold and climb down, just so I could see them without detection, but of course Uncle Osirus would be meticulous in his directions for the gardeners and make them prune the foliage away from my window.

All the other windows and balconies had vines on them. Mine didn't.

You get caught climbing down from your room one time, and he has to have the gardener go clipping away.

I narrowed my eyes again and crossed my arms. Simon bleated, dipped his big horns and pushed them into my butt to get me moving.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm going," I said, before I looked over the railing one more time to see if the orcs were still there.

They were filing inside.

The orcs arrived yesterday, and I'd been dying to get a closer look, but Aunt Melina had kept me busy. She took me to the palace spa, where the glistening private pool was fun and relaxing. We got body scrubs and facials.

Aunt Melina was trying to keep my mind off of the ball. People who were working on the ball preparations were freaking out with flowers, decorations and food. She was trying to keep everything fun for me, but I couldn't help the longing to go.

I was old enough. I could find a mate.

So, why doesn't Mom want me to go?

"I'm sorry we can't take you," Melina continued to say, over and over during our spa days. "We promised."

Melina had to get her wings cleaned, as well as her hair and makeup done, today. She had them do the same to me, and no one said a word about my wings being fake. They even added glitter to them, smiled and told me how pretty they were.

Melina did all this so I wouldn't feel left out.

I was really lucky to be blessed with the family I had. Why was I even complaining?

Simon pulled on my nightgown again, and this time he took a chunk of the ruffle of it. His tongue fell out of his mouth to lick at the random string that hung down his chin, continuing to lick until he'd slopped it up like spaghetti. Simon's hooves clomped toward a fancy cradle where Uncle Osirus had the royal hay put inside for him. Simon twisted his nose up at that and plopped his butt on his bed.

The bedroom I always stayed in when I visited was a far cry from my small room at the treehouse. It was too big, you could get lost in it. I preferred smaller rooms; I liked to feel cozy, and so, I often made a tent in the corner.

Today, my mind had raced too much. I was obsessed with the ball. Obsessed with dancing, the food, watching fairies, fae and other creatures find their mates. And—what about me? Could my mate be down there?

I flopped on the bed, my hair spread out and I let out a deep sigh. It was then, that I could hear the faint music of the ball from here. It sounded so—fun.

I groaned and took a pillow, slapping it over my face.

I must be grateful for what I have.

Simon bleated, his hooves trotting against the wood floor and his head butted my leg. I sat up and reached behind his ear to scratch it.

"I'm being stupid. I just need to—"

"—You just need to go," a voice urged from the corner of the room.

Simon half yelled and paused before unceremoniously tipping over with a plonk on the floor.

I scrambled off the bed to check on him. He didn't have soft ground to land on, but a hard wooden floor.

"W-who in cheesus are you?" I said, as I petted Simon's head and stared up at the purple-haired woman.

She was dressed in a slim black corset and her apples looked very much like melons. She had dark leather pants and a dark cut-off leather jacket to complete her look.

So cool.

She leaned on the door frame to the closet and pushed off, her high heel boots trotting across the floor.

"Well, I am—" she started, but I gasped as I stood up.

This woman… she came out of nowhere. There are guards at the door. No one can get in or out of here without going through them. You would have to be a powerful witch or—

"Are you my fairy godmother!?" I screamed.

My fairy godmother looked back at me with wide, amethyst eyes and laid her hand on her full melons. "Pardon me?"

"You know, my fairy godmother? You've come to help me get to the ball!" I jumped up and down, clapped my hands and turned to Simon, who was just shaking off his short-term paralysis.

"I, uh, is he okay?" She pointed to Simon, and I nodded.

"Yes, he's a fainting goat. Perfectly normal, but I try to avoid his fainting spells. It worries me to death. I'm his emotional support person and, so far, I'm not doing a great job." I raised my finger to my lip and bit down on the nail.

My fairy godmother shook her head and pinched the bridge of her nose.

Huh, people do that a lot.

"Listen! I am not your fairy godmother. Do I look old to you?" She waved her hand up and down her body.

"No, you look great! Cinderella just happened to have an old fairy godmother. I do have to ask, though, where is your wand?" I walked closer and padded around her body. She raised an eyebrow and watched me circle her.

"My name is Starla, and I am not your fairy godmother. I don't even have wings."

"Cinderella's fairy godmother didn't have wings," I stated.

Starla huffed and crossed her arms. "Then, how do you know she was a fairy?" Starla said frustratedly and rubbed her eyebrow. "Ugh, anyway. I am here to get you to the ball."

I stood in front of her and stared at her blankly.

She had to get in here through magic, and she was going to get me to the ball. Who in the heck was she?

"Fine, I'm your fairy godmother." Starla sighed, looking defeated.

"I knew it!" I squealed, jumping up again, and Simon froze, this time not falling but standing in place. "Crumbs and cheese, sorry, Simon."

I was terrible at being his ‘person'.

But, as the excitement grew in my chest, I knew what I was about to do was wrong. I couldn't just go to the ball. Melina and Osirus said they couldn't take me and had done a lot for me.

Sure, I get in trouble sometimes: climb out of the treehouse when I'm not supposed to, climb out of a tower, maybe sneak some extra cupcakes, but this seemed like a really big deal. Besides, when I get there…they could just send me back to my room.

"What's going on in that brain of yours, Calliope?" Starla's face softened considerably more from how it was before. Her knuckles ran down my cheek, and I turned away.

See, she is my fairy godmother. She knows my name!

"I can't go. Uncle Osirus and Aunt Melina said they couldn't take me. My mom and dad don't want me to go either."

Starla hummed and pushed my pink, curled hair behind my back.

"Yeah, well, I have it on higher authority that you should be there." She nodded, agreeing with herself. "From a goddess that believes you are more than ready to be the woman you should be. It's time for you to grow up."

My lips parted and my confidence bloomed.

I'd wanted nothing more than to be told I was big enough to do something on my own. As much as I loved my family, I wanted to make decisions for myself.

"Really?" I whispered.

Starla nodded. "Yes and think of those words that your uncle and aunt told you. What did they keep saying when they left you in here?"

I certainly remembered before they closed the door to my room: 'We are sorry we cannot take you to the ball.'

I looked up into Starla's eyes. "They said they couldn't take me. But they didn't say they would stop me?" I pondered, and my mood lightened.

Starla laughed and walked toward my closet. "That's right. Now, let's use some of that fae logic and get you to the ball."

"And my parents?" I tilted my head and walked with her.

"For once, be selfish, Calliope. Kelsey and Birch want the best for you, little one." Starla turned to me, putting both hands on my shoulders. "But what Kelsey wants is to protect you from everything and everyone. It's okay to fall and scratch your knee. It's okay to feel pain and sadness. She cannot hold you in a bubble forever." Her finger trailed down my cheek. "The time is now."

I bit my lip and slowly nodded.

I didn't think about not having anyone to break my fall, not having someone there to help me when I fell. Would I have someone there to pick me up? I didn't want to do it completely alone, but I also didn't want to live in a bubble either.

Starla turned and continued to lead me to the closet.

This was just a ball. It was one night. Surely one night wouldn't change everything…would it?

Simon shook his head and bleated, his steps following with mine as he walked to the closet. "Hey, aren't you going to make me a dress? That's what Cinderella's fairy godmother did."

Starla put her hand on her hip and stared back at me. "Fuck. You're serious, right now? You aren't short on dresses here and you are already in the damn palace."

Oops, bad word.

Starla put her hand on the rack. "Now, you get in here and let me dress you in something pretty."

My face flushed after being reprimanded, and I let her choose a dress for me.

"You look absolutely stunning!" my fairy godmother gushed, her voice filled with excitement, as we stood on the enchanting balcony overlooking the dazzling ballroom. Soft, golden lights bathed the room, which cast a warm glow over the opulent chandelier that hung low, creating an elegant but also a fast-paced party, the way they would twinkle slow and fast. The sweet scent of desserts and flowers wafted through the air, adding to the magical atmosphere. From our hidden vantage point, we could observe the grandeur of the ball without being seen.

I could see fae, fairies, shifters, a few vampires, and even my aunt and uncle dancing on the floor, swaying to the music. It was a ball that surpassed any dream that I could think of and my eyes roamed over everything.

I could stay on the balcony and watch, and be perfectly happy up here, but my fairy godmother wasn't happy with that. She was very much wanting me to go down and mingle.

"I-I thank you." I pulled down the dress she decorated me in, feeling shy.

It was blue silk. It looked like nothing more than a short nightgown slip, but it covered more than most of what all the other fae and fairies were wearing. I wore my wings, still too shy to let everyone know I was human.

I was sure they could smell human on me, but with all the fae wine and orc ale, I hoped I would blend in at least a little.

"You are the only human at the ball," my fairy godmother pointed out.

Well, crumbs!

"Why don't you take the wings off?" My fairy godmother offered. "Humans are a delicacy and I'm sure you will meet a male for the night?"

My face turned red, and I shook my head. My wings were a crutch, like a handbag you needed to carry, even if you didn't need it. I just had to have them to hold on to.

"Suit yourself. You don't need them, though. You should be proud of who you are, Calliope. You're stunning, and your personality is just perfect for him. I'll have to stay close and watch this one." She chuckled.

I tilted my head, and when I turned to face her, she was gone.

My mouth dropped open and Simon bleated at me, his head stuck in between the spindles of the balcony.

Stuck!

I'm gonna saw off his horns. That is just what I'm gonna do.

I tilted his head, trying to pull him out. He yelled again, and I could feel him panic. "Hang on a second, I'm coming." Simon would calm down when he saw me. With his head on the other side of the banister, I knew I was going to have to climb over.

I took off my shoes and lifted my leg over the golden, vine-woven balcony. It wasn't the prettiest sight leaping over, but I was able to get in front of him. "Okay, Simon. You have to calm down." His beady eyes saw me, and he stopped pushing on the rods holding his head. "Now, I'm gonna move your head." He stopped moving, and I managed to move his head to maneuver his horns and pushed him free.

He bleated a ‘thank you,' as I heard a shout from a guard my fairy godmother had put to sleep earlier so we could sneak past. "Hey, what are you doing!?"

Crumbs and cheese, I was in trouble.

Simon bleated loudly and charged at the guard. I watched intently, giggling, still holding on to the handrail, when another guard was suddenly at my side said, "Here, let me help…"

As he startled me, a high-pitched yip of a scream escaped my lips. In my panic, I released my grip on the gleaming gold medal, causing it to slip from my fingers. With a sudden jolt, I fell backward into the bustling crowd.