Free Sinderella by Tara Brown, Sophie Starr

hill, perfectly between our kingdom and the next.
    I walked for what felt like an eternity, but it was less than a full night’s walk. The sun was rising when I arrived at the massive set of stairs. The convent sat at the top of them, looking humble. I sat at the bottom of the stairs and stroked Gus’ back. He had been nibbling the bread Abbi had given me in the bag.
    I leaned against the stairs and let the morning sun brush warmth upon me. If I imagined hard enough, I could feel his lips in the heat, planting soft kisses along my nape.
    It was never going to be enough.
    It was then I made a decision that sealed my fate forever.

 
 
 
 

Chapter Eight

 
 
    I sat in the room they had given me and pondered my fate. Had I been a smart girl, I might have stayed at the convent. But clever girls didn’t sneak into balls and seduce princes. I wished then and there, I might have been able to stay at the convent.
    But the idea of swearing my life to God, after already swearing it to someone else, felt fraudulent. I had already mastered fraudulent. It hadn’t worked very well.
    I looked out the small window at the field below and sighed.
    A man knocked at the door and spoke softly. “Miss, are you wanting food?”
    “No. Thank you.” When I heard his footsteps leave, I curled up into my bed and waited for my plan for the rest of my empty life to form. After I had reached the convent and realized I could not stay, I fled for the next city, in the kingdom next to ours. I had more than enough coin, so I had gotten a room. That was as far as I had planned.
    My brain refused to do anything but see his face. The prince and I had hardly spoken. We knew nothing of each other. Yet somehow, I loved him. At least, I imagined I did.
    It was strange but my heart knew him, my prince.
    Prince Charming, that’s what we had always called him. He wasn’t all that charming, really. At least not with me. He had been desperate and frantic and excited. But not nearly as charming as I had imagined him to be.
    I missed him. Lying there, watching Gus eat breadcrumbs, I missed him. My heart ached and my stomach burned.
    I knew I couldn’t ever go back. There was nothing I could do. I was stuck and I always would be. Stuck in limbo, waiting to be freed from my miserable little life by death. Not that it would be a release either. Death would part us just as life had. For everyone knew royalty had a special place in heaven, and I was a fraudulent sinner, guilty of crimes I would never repent.
    I could never repent.
    For they were attached to my innermost truth. I loved him.
    I closed my eyes and sleep took me.
    My guard mouse wasn’t very good at his job. A loud banging on my door awakened me.
    “WAKE UP!”
    I looked around the room, wondering if it was me they searched for. Surely not. No one knew of me.
    “Open up!”
    I got up and looked down on Gus. He was still passed out in his puddle of crumbs. I opened the door, peeking my face through the crack. A man with a huge grin shoved his way into my room. He scooped me up. “You’re coming with us. The king wishes to see you.”
    “I’ve done nothing. I paid for my room. Please, leave me be.” I fought but he held me tightly to his chest, pinning my arms.
    I swallowed hard, imagining the king from my kingdom had sent word of my betrayal. There must have been a price placed on my head. I gave the man a look. “I will do anything you ask if you let me go.”
    He smiled wider, laughing boldly in my face. “Got us a live one, boys.”
    I hadn’t noticed the other men in the hallway. My lips started to tremble but he shook his head. “As much as I can imagine what a spitfire like you would do to a man like me, I cannot. My orders are to bring you in, unscathed.”
    I started to cry. “Please, sir. Please. I’ve done nothing wrong.”
    He shrugged. “My hands are tied, lass. You’ve done something. Now gather your things and come gently or we’ll tie and gag you.”
    I shook my