That’s when I noticed the sound had dropped out completely.
I opened my eyes to see why.
My heart seized at what I saw.
All eyes were gazing up at me, and I stood frozen in terror.
The world lit up just as she threw up.
—opening line attempt 17
The crowd let out a collective gasp.
“Clara, darling.” Eldrene’s drawl crawled up my spine and settled somewhere in my stomach, igniting a lovely curdling sensation. She sounded youthful and ancient at once. I slowly turned to face her—to do what, I didn’t know. Beg for mercy?
But seeing her up close stopped whatever groveling I’d half thought of.
Her mossy hair billowed out from behind her even though no wind blew in the Clearing. She was a striking violet—hair, skin, and eyes all glowing a deep purple. Every part of her pulsed with a power barely contained within its shell. She’d donned a dress crafted of tiny, living roots, melded together over her plump figure. A dress to make a statement.
I’d just ruined the Goddess’s grand entrance, I thought.
By the looks of her disgruntled Forest Train, it certainly seemed so. They were a menacing group of beings, their facestaut and haughty. Some donned antlers, others long beaks for noses; a few had eyes fully black and unblinking. There were only two humans in the Train, and they both were as stunning as if they were Goddesses themselves. Her Train performed the duties outside of Moss Wood that Eldrene could not tend to. And, apparently, they also served to terrify the living daylights out of me.
I audibly gulped. Eldrene raised an eyebrow.
Please don’t smite me, please don’t smite me.
“I’ll just…” I made to get out of her way, heading straight down the stairs toward the back wall of trees at the very fringes of the party, hoping that my green dress would camouflage me enough so that no one would look at me for the rest of the night—and for the rest of my life.
“No, please,” she said with a warm smile. Her violet eyes flashed with mischief. “This is the most fun I’ve had with an entrance in ages.”
Oh my Goddess, Eldrene saidpleaseto me. I started to hyperventilate just a little.
“Walk with us. And Clara, dear,breathe.”
Unfortunately, I forgot how to breathe, how to move, and how to exist all in one go.
“Um—what?” I fumbled for words. Eldrene wanted me to walkwithher, and nothing had ever made less sense in my life. I should have left then, abandoned ship and jumped off the side of the staircase, never to be seen again.
The lute music flared up, accompanied by a chorus of horns.
Eldrene’s entrance song.
The part of the evening where she cascaded down the staircase and the crowd looked up at her in awe. WheneverI witnessed this moment before, I always thoughtI’d trip right down those stairs, orHow does she not look down without falling?orIs she actually walking, or is she floating and has tricked us all into thinking she’s simply that coordinated?
“Um.” The only word I managed to utter.
“Hush, stand by Agnus.” I obeyed immediately, searching frantically around for Agnus. She was Eldrene’s right-hand woman, so to speak: leader of the Forest Train, confidant, closest advisor, terrifyingly stoic presence. She emerged from the fray, irritated and entirely put off. I mouthedI’m sorryto her and she rolled her eyes. I cast my gaze down to the stairs. Maybe if I avoided eye contact at all costs, no one would notice me.
“Chin up, Clara,” Eldrene chided.
Can I put my chin up if I’m throwing up?
Okay, look dignified. I can look dignified, and then I can vomit later.
“There now.” She gave me an approving nod, and bile rose into my throat. I swallowed it down so hard that I nearly choked. I shut my eyes, trying to focus onnotpuking on either the stairs or the Goddess.
“Eyes forward,” she tutted. The music swelled, vamping the prechorus movement until Eldrene entered into the party below.
