Emma glanced over at me—her blue eyes wide as dinner plates. “I feel like I’m going to puke.”
Laurel jerked back from brushing Emma’s hair to grab up a trash can. She thrust it in front of Emma. “If you’re going to do it, do it in there. With the million and one things I have to do, mopping up puke sure as hell better not be one of them!”
Emma blushed and took the trashcan. “I’m sorry. I always get nauseous when I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be nervous. It’s just a silly little competition,” I said, trying to ease her nerves.
“Oh, no, it’s much more than that. Think of the opportunity we’re being given. It is life changing,” she replied, wringing her hands.
“Well, I don’t know about that.”
Emma gasped. “You sound like you don’t want to win?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know how I feel,” I lied. They had no idea how conflicted I was about winning.
Another girl a few chairs down snorted. “Sounds like you’re a little spoiled if you’d want to give up a chance at having all of this,” she motioned around the palace. “I’d give anything to get out of the hellhole where I live.”
“We’re all entitled to our own opinion, Chandra,” Laurel chastised, as she put the finishing touches on Emma’s hair.
“Yeah, well, I was expressing mine,” she grumbled back.
Emma stared solemnly at me. “I just think about the good I could do for my family. And Kellan seems like such a nice guy.”
Guilt flooded me when I realized how many girls really wanted to win. They saw Kellan and marriage as a better life for themselves and for their families. I saw winning as a way to overthrow the government. Somehow maybe we wanted the same things.
I felt like a complete ass the entire time my hair and makeup were being done. “Chin up, girl. You look like you’re going off to your execution,” Laurel whispered in my ear.
“Sorry.”
“Just remember what I said last night. And most of all, don’t forget to smile. After all, you can hold the darkest secrets of the world behind a bright smile.”
“How philosophical of you,” I replied.
“I do try.” She gazed at me in the mirror one last time and then patted my shoulder. “Okay then, all done. Go get your dress on.” Glancing down at her watch, she shouted, “Shit! All right girls, ten minutes until pageant time. Let’s go!”
I hustled with the other girls to grab our dresses off the racks. Modesty was thrown to the wind as we quickly stripped and then hopped into our dresses. I didn’t even bother getting embarrassed when one of Laurel’s minions zipped me up.
“Cadence, you’ll be Number seventeen,” Mrs. Munroe stated as she thrust a number at me. My heart rattled in my chest not only at the significance of wearing the special seventeen. The seventeenth of October had been my mother’s birthday. With trembling fingers, I managed to attach the glittering number to my dress. After I finished, I raised my eyes to the ceiling. “I need your strength, Mama,” I whispered. “Griff said you’d be with me, and you’d help me. Don’t forget me.”
Emma’s voice caused me to jump. “Who were you talking to?”
“Um, uh, just myself. You know, trying to calm myself down and all.”
A knowing smile curled at her lips. “I knew you were putting on a show for the other girls. You’re just as nervous as I am, aren’t you?”
I returned her smile and tried to look sheepish. “Yep, you guessed it.”
“All right ladies, let’s go,” Mrs. Munroe bellowed, from the doorway.
The four dressing room doors opened, and we spilled into the hallway. Mrs. Munroe quickly checked to see we all had numbers, and we were in the right order. Then we exited out the backdoor to the corridor connected to the auditorium.
Like a string of ants, we inched forward towards the stage. I didn’t know what to expect once I got out there. The pageant had been advertised throughout the province, so it was only understandable that crowds would descend on the palace. I imagined that the poorer areas, like mine, would jump at a chance to visit the palace—anything out of the normal mundane aspects of our existence.
A flicker of the red velvet curtain gave me a peek at the enormous crowd. My stomach instantly lurched and fluttered. No, no, no! I couldn’t allow myself to get nervous. Being nervous would break my concentration, and I couldn’t let anything do that. I had to focus.
Of course, being slightly nervous didn’t help my sometimes klutziness. Since I hadn’t been in heels in years, I hadn’t thought to take the proper precautions like scuffing them. The moment my heels hit the freshly waxed stage, I skidded. When I tried to gain my footing, my legs ended up sliding back in forth like I was on snow skis while my arms flew out to protect myself in case I fell. Icy embarrassment pricked at my skin as I quickly recovered.
“Very graceful,” Chandra muttered behind me.
I jerked my chin up and chose to ignore her. Instead, it took every fiber within me to concentrate on making it to my mark on the stage. As soon as I found my spot, I gazed out into the packed crowd. My eyes skittered across the unfamiliar faces, desperately seeking out Griff or Micah. Finally, I found them in the fourth row of the reserved family section. Just the sight of their faces sent calm washing over me.
My eyes were drawn to the first row where Kellan sat outfitted in a tux with a blood red rose in the lapel. He appeared anything but thrilled at the proceedings. His eyes locked with mine, and he arched a blond eyebrow almost mockingly. It took my mind a moment to process what had just happened. He didn’t do it to any of the other girls who were desperately trying to make eye contact with him. So why did he do it to me? I mean, we barely knew each other. The day he’d wrapped up my hand was the longest conversation we had ever had. So instead of diverting my eyes like I should, I smirked at him. I mean, who was he to look at me like that?
One by one we were called to Guy, the host. Each girl tried as best she could to make the most of her walk down the stage. Everything hinged on impressing Kellan and Richard with beauty and charm. I doubted the interview portion mattered at all.
As each girl stood beside Guy, he posed inane questions about what makes a good wife or what does a woman have to give the world. They appeared to be the same question just posed in different ways. I don’t know why I was surprised. After all, they were looking for obedient, if not vapid answers, from a pretty face.
Finally, it was my turn. I drew in a deep breath and strode confidently down the stage. I locked eyes with Griff, and he bobbed his head encouragingly. Any nervousness I might have felt dissipated.
Guy smiled at me. “Cadence, what do you feel a woman’s place is in the world?”
I shifted on my feet. Mentally, I had been preparing for this type of question with each girl who had been called. I could recite word for word what I knew they wanted to hear. But that wasn’t an option. Laurel’s words echoed in my mind, ‘Richard may want a woman to be seen and not heard, but I know Kellan doesn’t.’
An old memory flashed in my mind. It was saying my mother had on the bulletin board in her office at the university. Something about woman’s place was in the house, but it was the White House, State House, and House of Representatives. Even though those things didn’t exist anymore, it was something I could work from. I drew back my shoulders and smiled convincingly. “Oh, I believe a woman’s place is in the house.”
Guy leaned forward, his expression bent on urging me to continue.
“Well, I believe a woman belongs in every government and financial house in the land. One only has to look at history to see the great contributions women once made.”
“But surely—” he tried interrupting, but I plowed right on ahead.
“At one time, women held degrees in subjects like law and medicine. They healed the sick and fought for the rights of others. They gave of themselves beyond their front doors. I believe it was once said that behind every great man, there was a greater woman.”
G
uy paled under his thick coating of stage makeup. He twisted the cards in his hands while casting a worried glance at Richard. “Well, uh, yes, that’s true, but at the same time, our world fell. Women are needed for more important things like procreating our new race.”
I smiled sweetly. “That is true.” I locked eyes with Richard. “And I hope to have a house full of children someday,” I remarked, playing off the ‘house’ pun of my question. His dark expression lightened at my response while nervous laughter twittered around him.
“So, um, thank you Cadence.”
“And thank you, Guy,” I replied, with the goofy smile still plastered on my face.
We were then herded backstage to await our fate. As other girls primped and preened in front of the lighted mirrors, I wrung my hands and paced the floor. Had I done the right thing by following Laurel’s advice? Or was my potentially feminist rant a deal-breaker for Richard? Minutes ticked agonizingly by. Finally, they called for us. I met Chandra’s eye and smiled weakly. “Good luck.”
She rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”
Seventeen of us would be walking out on the stage and only seven would return for the next competition. Guy took to the stage, brandishing his sparkling silver microphone.
“Ladies and Gentleman, it is with great pride that I announce the young ladies who will be advancing on to the next step of the pageant. For all the other ladies, our supreme Emperor appreciates you giving of your time, and he wishes you the best of luck in the future.” Guy paused to draw in a dramatic breath. “And the winners are Number ten, Emma York…”
Names and faces whirled through my mind as Guy read the names. When I heard Maggie’s name called, I couldn’t help but notice the momentary disappointment that flashed on her face before she quickly replaced it with a smile. The closer they got to the end, disappointment and fear filled me.
“And our last contestant is Number seventeen, Cadence O’Bryant!”
My heart skidded to a stop in my chest. Air constricted in my lungs like I had the breath knocked out of me.
“Cadence, go on,” Chandra hissed beside me.
Dazed, I peered from her to where Guy stood waving me over. Somehow I managed to pick one foot up and the other miraculously moved as well. The world around me seemed muted like I was under the surface of the water. The pressure reigning down on me also made it feel like I was deep below the waves.
I squeezed in between Maggie and Emma. “Guess we’re still not a member of “the toos”, huh?” I muttered under my breath.
“Unfortunately, not,” she replied.
“Now ladies and gentlemen, we hope you’ll come back this evening for our second portion of the competition. It’s a masquerade themed evening competition, and each girl will embody a certain character. After we narrow our ten down to three, the final ladies will spend allotted time with Kellan tomorrow, so he can make his choice. We’ll see you tonight.”
When we got backstage, we were met by a beaming Mrs. Munroe. “Congratulations ladies! This must be thrilling to you and your families. Now, we’re going to go back down to the room where you were fitted for your dresses, so you can pick out your dress for tonight. Then it’ll be up to you to come up with your costume. Your stylists and their assistants will help you with any props.”
“Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, they outdo my expectations,” Maggie whispered.
The other girls trailed to the elevators after Mrs. Munroe like she was the Pied Piper. The door to the dress room opened, and several girls shoved and pushed each other in. It had the same desperate madness as the first food shortages after the Great Fall.
Maggie held back with me for a moment before a dress caught her eye. She calmly, but determinedly, strode over to the rack and snatched it up. Just a quick flick of the label, and she was satisfied. “Have fun,” she mused, as she started by me.
“Any ideas on what you’ll do with it, you know, costume wise?”
She arched one eyebrow. “Let’s just say I won’t be going for the Queen of Hearts or a Domestic Diva. I’m going home one way or the other.”
My eyes widened at her determination. After Maggie left and there were only four girls left, I figured it was now or never and headed to the racks. Before I reached one, someone cleared their throat. I glanced up in surprise where Laurel stood in the corner, pretending to be going through a make-up case. She gave a quick shake of her head. No one but me would have even noticed she had done anything.
Since I didn’t know what in the world she was talking about, I held back, watching the remaining girls ooh and aah over the dress choices. Instead, I pretended to be preoccupied with a black dress on the end of what could only be an undesirable rack.
Once the four girls had snatched and grabbed what they wanted, they scampered back out the door, hugging their dresses to them. It went without saying that all the dresses were red—Kellan’s favorite color.
I turned to find Laurel smiling wickedly at me. “I got in here before the others.”
“Sneaky,” I replied, with a grin.
She glanced around before she took my hand. “Come on. It’s already in your room.”
Eyeing the hideous black number, she said, “Take that one just in case we’re stopped along the way.”
We weren’t exactly doing anything wrong, but it didn’t stop my breath from coming in nervous pants or my heartbeat zigzagging out of control. I didn’t calm down until we were safely closed into my room.
“Okay, so where’s the mystery dress?”
She went into the bathroom and then emerged with a shimmering emerald satin dress. “Ta-da!”
I eased down on the bed. “Hmm, let me guess why you picked it. One, because we wouldn’t want the color everyone else is doing, and two, green looks good on redheads.”
“Actually, I have a little idea of how to make you into a nymph.”
“From what I remember of my literature, nymphs were very sexual creatures.”
Laurel waggled her eyebrows. “Yes, and you will be too when I finish with you.”
“Um, call me crazy, but I don’t think the way to win Kellan over is by going out there looking like a prostitute?”
“Wasn’t I right before about knowing what Kellan would want?”
“Yes, but—”
With a frustrated grunt, Laurel grabbed me by the shoulders. “Sweetheart, let’s get serious for a moment. Kellan is eighteen-year-old man, and I think we can both agree that most men think with only one thing. You want to stand out enough to get into the Top Three? Then, you better go out there looking sultry as hell and acting like the spunky talking girl who won him over this afternoon.”
She then shoved me behind the partition and handed me the dress. “Fine. But it doesn’t say much for Kellan that I need to look like a slut to win him over.”
“Once again, you need something to stick out above the crowd. You’ll see he’s more than a sex-crazed maniac when you get to know him.”
Grudgingly, I removed the evening gown and slid the dress off the hanger. I had to admit it was gorgeous. I couldn’t wait to feel the satin material on my skin.
As I stepped into the dress, the material suctioned to me. It hugged every curve I had and then some I never, ever imagined I had. “Um, Laurel, did you get Naomi to take this dress in or something?”
“Of course not. She couldn’t possibly have had time,” she replied indignantly.
“Whatever,” I mumbled. When I came out from behind the partition and started towards the mirror, I gasped. The dress had two thigh length slits. Whenever I walked, the satin material slid to give an ample peek at my upper thighs. I began to doubt whether I really had the strength to pull this off. “Oh, this is bad…very bad.”
“But Kellan likes bad, so that means you’re very, very good.”
Someone cleared her throat, and I glanced over to find Naomi standing with two large glittering objects in her hands. “What are those?”
“They’re your wings
,” she replied.
I arched my eyebrows skeptically at her. “And why do I need wings?”
Before Naomi could answer, Laurel’s free hand swept to her hip. “Well, your costume is supposed to be a nymph, right?”
“Well, yeah.”
“I rest my case.”
“How in the world did you find those quickly?” I asked.
“Actually, there’s a whole treasure trove of vintage costumes and clothes in an old banking vault in the basement. Some of the stylists and I have been down there before cataloguing and inventorying clothes, so I had a pretty good idea of what was available. I have a feeling some of the prima donnas from the hill will have some help with their costumes.” She motioned for Naomi to fix the wings while she started getting out my make-up.
“The wings were actually my idea,” Naomi said in a low voice. “I knew they would help to conceal your tattoo.”
“Oh,” I murmured. I met her eye in the mirror. “Thank you for thinking of that.”
She nodded as she attached the wings to the dress’s straps, winding extra thread around them to keep them upright. “There, all done.”
Even with my less than zero self-esteem, I had to admit I looked hot. Laurel had truly transformed me with just a simple dress and wings into a full-fledged nymph. Now, all I needed was her to work her magic with my make-up and hair, and everything would be complete.
Laurel glanced at me in the mirror and then wolf-whistled. “Damn girl, that’s some more outfit.”
“You think so?”
“Oh yes, I know so.” She shook her head and grinned. “I’m gonna have to hang out backstage, so I can see the look on everyone’s face when you walk out on the stage.”
I chewed on my bottom lip. “You think it’ll be that bad?”
“Oh yeah…but I think it’ll do the trick. Now have a seat, so I can get busy.”
Having nymph wings made getting ready rather difficult to get ready. Laurel ended up having to drape the bed sheet over my dress, so I wouldn’t get makeup on it. Even though she talked a mile a minute, I don’t think I heard a word she said. My head was too clouded with thoughts and fears.