I hung the skirt back on the rail and turned to the next item, before dismissing that one too.
“He’ll not like you, no matter what dreadful outfit you pick. I don’t know why you are bothering.”
I shot the mirror a look but found myself staring at my own angry reflection. That was the downside to arguing with a mirror; you could only ever see yourself in it.
“Who won’t like me?” I knew exactly whom he meant, but I wasn’t prepared to admit it.
“That boy you’ve been mooning over since you were knee-high to a grasshopper. I swear, if I had a mouth, I would have vomited over all the times you used me to practice kissing him with.”
I blushed at the memory. I was about thirteen years old. “That happened once!”
“Once was more than enough. You’d have to make a costume to entice the poor guy. Preferably, one that covers your face.”
A smirk played at the corner of my lips. That's exactly what I'd do. I’d make a costume. I was going to design a dress that would blow people away, and if Jake happened to be impressed, all the better.
No one would have any doubt that I was Snow White's daughter, not even the mirror.
“Thanks!” I said, throwing a smile at the mirror.
“What did I do?” it huffed, clearly not used to being thanked.
I kept my mouth shut as I headed to the balcony and looked out over the kingdom that would one day be mine to rule. White buildings stretched as far as the eye could see, and pristine white streets kept clean by magic were used by the people going about their day. A few were already walking in the sunshine, their immaculate white robes almost glinting. I pulled on a pair of glasses to stop the glare and headed back to my wardrobe, pulling out my favorite black jacket. The night of the Frightfest, I’d wow everybody, but today I was happy enough being just me. As I walked out the door to start my day, I heard the mirror sigh.
“Black again,” it mumbled. I stifled a laugh and closed the door behind me.
8th October
A shudder ran through me, waking me from another restless night of dreams. My breath caught in my throat until I remembered where I was, safe in my own bed in the palace. Something had happened, something awful, but as usual. The dream had already floated away, the memory of it gone, but the fear it produced still evident in my pounding heart.
A quick look around told me my bedroom was the same. Absolutely nothing was wrong, and yet, it took me ten minutes of measured breathing to calm down enough to get out of bed. Once I was up, the trepidation dissipated, and Jake came to mind, chasing the last of the unease away. He was coming today. Jake was coming today!
I hummed to myself as I got dressed.
"What is that dreadful racket?" the mirror demanded from its spot in the corner.
I rolled my eyes. Just because he couldn't be happy in his life, it didn't mean I couldn't be in mine. And Jake was coming. That was enough reason to hum to myself. Maybe this time, he'd see me for the woman I was becoming, not the kid I'd been. That was the problem with crushing on a guy who was three years older. He'd already been in the adult world for three years, whereas I was just stepping into it.
I ran my fingers through my hair, giving it a tousled look.
Feeling brave, I made my way over to the mirror, readying myself for the onslaught.
"Where did the bird go?" it asked.
"Huh?"
"From your hair. it looks like a bird nested in it."
"Haha, very original."
"My job is to comment on appearance, not come up with original jokes. If you want that, then maybe you should find the clown who did your makeup," he taunted.
"I'm not wearing any." I ran my fingers over my cheek, feeling for the cosmetics I knew weren't there.
"More's the pity." The mirror sighed dramatically.
"I'm not looking for your approval," I sniffed.
"Good. You won't get it looking like that. What's with all the black lace? You look like a hired mourner at a funeral."
"Thanks."
The sting his previous words had caused eased slightly, but it was getting to me more than usual. Jake’s forthcoming appearance was making me second guess myself, and the barbs the mirror was throwing at me were sticking more than usual.
I was going to harness this feeling. The inadequacy, the bad things I thought about myself, I was going to fuel my creative side with them and enchant Jake in the process. At least, that was my plan. And it all hinged on having the best costume for the Fright Festival.
"If you divert the water from here, how many villagers will be affected?" Mother asked.
The man, who appeared to be some kind of general if his uniform was anything to go by, grimaced, clearly not quite as at ease with mother's question as he should be.
"Just what I thought," mother murmured. "Kelis, how good of you to join us." She beamed at me while gesturing to a seat at her side.
"Father said you'd be in here," I responded as I took the chair that had been mine for years.
"Yes, I was just talking to General Charles about some improvements he wants to make to the southern barracks."
I nodded, knowing exactly the ones she was talking about. "Is the land free to expand on?" I asked.
"The land is empty, yes," the general replied.
A flash of a picture came through my mind—waterlogged fields and dead crops in the fields near where he wanted to build.
"But there's something you're not telling us, right?" I gave him a pointed look. Father had no time for people talking around things, and had taught me how to spot when people were holding back, and this man certainly was.
He looked at mother, clearly expecting her to reprimand me
