Tragedy in the Washington Palace
By A. Johnson
Published by A. Johnson at Smashwords
Smashwords Edition
Copyright 2010 A. Johnson.
Marlene sat at the computer and tried to think of something to write. Her life had fallen into a funk and she needed some way of getting out of it. She lost her job a few weeks ago, but was fortunate enough to have a sister Nia to take her in. Marlene felt bad and she felt ashamed because she was the oldest, she felt as though the oldest should take care of the youngest and not the other way around. She even felt more shame when she found herself enthralled with Nia’s boyfriend, Vince. Marlene thought of him as an olive, toned hottie. She couldn’t believe what she was thinking but at times she would catch her mind wander into a ‘dangerous area’ as she liked to call it.
Vince was attractive and he knew it. He took every chance that he got to get attention. Nia would call him an attention whore, not at all worried that he would wander from her. Nia didn’t care that girls hit on him, as long as it wasn’t right in front of her face.
“After all,” she used to say in conversation, “you can’t blame them, it’s not like it’s anything that I didn’t do. But…” her playful mood turned playfully serious, “I would have to knock a chick out if she sees me standing right there. That’s disrespectful.” To this everyone would laugh because Nia is one of the sweetest people Marlene ever knew.
‘How did she get someone like that?’ Marlene thoughts would begin to betray her.
‘He’s handsome, kind, and a doctor. That should be me.’ Marlene continued on the path of jealously as she could hear the couple giggling from her guest bedroom. ‘She doesn’t deserve him.’ Feeling restless Marlene turned on the light and looked at her reflection in the mirror.
‘No, that’s not me; I’m not that kind of person. After all she’s done for me, I should be happy for her.’ Marlene began to cry during her epiphany. ‘When did I become so angry? So cruel and bitter?’
Marlene’s crumpled reflection wept along with her and in a moment her reflection was no long her own. Her head lifted in the mirror and gazed on her weeping form. “Well, the first step is always admitting that you have a problem.” Marlene’s reflection said smarmily.
Marlene lifted her tear streaked face and jumped back, “Oh my…” before she finished her reflection instructed her to turn around. Marlene flipped to look at the other side of the room and there stood a woman in a long navy blue dress. Even though Marlene thought the woman was beautiful she still didn’t know what to say to the stranger. “My name is Callisto; I’m your Fairy God Mother.” The woman smirked.
“How did you get in here?” Marlene demanded to know, she wanted to leave the room, but Callisto was blocking the doorway.
“Don’t believe I’m a Fairy God Mother? I could be.”
“What do you want?” Marlene wiped her face.
“I want to help you with your problem; I understand there’s a short story contest you plan on competing in. I want to give you inspiration for your story. That’s all I want to do.” Callisto interlaced her fingers as she folded her hands.
“Why would you want to help me?”
Callisto rolled her eyes, “I’ve been doing this for over a hundred years and the cynicism remains the same. Listen, I promise you that no harm will come to you; you just need to be a hand maiden for a few days. I mean, you might as well come with me, your sister is leaving you all alone with that hunky piece of “what a man” for a whole week while she’s away at her “we’re learning to be more successful than you” seminar, do you really think you can keep your relationship intact while she’s away that long? I mean what have you got to lose?”
“What do I tell them?”
“The moment you take my hand, they’ll believe that you’re away at a writer’s conference, which in a manner of speaking it is.” Callisto held out her hand and Marlene woke up to the sound of a service bell ringing.
“Oh girl, girl.” Marlene could hear someone calling. Her clothes were different fancy but plain. She was dressed in designer jeans and a regular button down top. Marlene thought she looked like the assistant to a movie star. The guys and girls who follow around the celebrities to make sure they look camera ready. She entered into the room and there was a woman about the same age as she in her mid twenties looking through dresses, she was half dressed in corset leggings and shoes but no dress.
“Come now, girl, why have you made me call for you more than once?” The woman asked her hair was dark brown and done in a French braid.
“Girl? Who do you think you’re calling, girl?” Marlene started to defend herself unaware of where she was or who she was talking to.
Callisto entered the room, she seemed as if she floated in, “Lady Elise darling, allow me to have a word with my handmaiden.” Callisto gently pulled Marlene over to the side.
“Remember what I told you, you’re a handmaiden.” Callisto grinned for show, she knew Elise was watching.
“Why because I’m black?” Marlene asked upset.
“Don’t be absurd, it’s not because you’re black.” Callisto waved her hand, while Marlene sighed a breath of relief.
“It’s because you’re poor.”
“What?” Marlene’s eyes grew wide.
“Just do what she tells you to do; it’ll all make sense to you later. And swallow your pride, some things that may be offensive to you may be seen as a compliment or normal around here.” Callisto adjusted Marlene’s bonnet.
“Just where is here?”
“Another dimension.” Callisto said lamely before flipping Marlene around to face Elise, she bent slightly to whisper in Marlene’s ear, “And don’t pass out when you see the King and Queen of America are also black.”
“What?” Before Marlene could ask any more questions Callisto pushed her towards Elise who had been waiting.
“I need a dress; none of these are suitable, go down to my Cousin Hannah’s room and find out if she has anything for me to wear.” Marlene didn’t know how she knew where Hannah’s room is but she figured it must have something to do with Callisto. ‘Was she a witch? Or was she a fairy? A mutant? Come on Marlene be serious.’ Marlene decided to let things play out, she didn’t seem to have a choice.
When Marlene entered Hannah’s room she saw something she didn’t expect to see, “Oh my gosh I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to…” Marlene was embarrassed.
“You didn’t mean to what? Not knock, girl?” Marlene rolled her eyes and held her tongue. She was too angry at the ‘girl’ comment to notice that Hannah and the man she was with had finished putting back on their clothes.
“Lady Elise wanted to know if you had a dress for her to wear; she’s finding it difficult to get ready.” Marlene’s voice shook; she couldn’t believe she was a little intimidated.
“My cousin always has a difficult time getting ready,” Marlene noticed that Hannah had a Spanish accent. “She never had a knack for natural beauty such as my own, right dear?” Hannah held out her hand towards the man who took it and kissed it.
“Right you are my dear.”
Marlene was stunned and could only stand there in complete shock.
“What are you looking at?” Hannah put her hands on her hips.
Marlene just couldn’t believe that some one could be that conceited, but she was even more surprised that someone would agree with her. “I’m looking at what a knack for natural beauty looks like.”
“Take that dress there and go.” Lady Hannah pointed to the dress sitting on the fainting sofa. She turned to the gentleman in the room, “I’ll see you later on tonight, my love.” Hannah turned and left to get ready her blonde hair bounced as she walked away.
The man laughed as he crossed the room, “We haven’t met so allow me to formally introduce myself, my name is Prince David.” David bent forward and reached for Marlene’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss…” he placed his hand over top of hers and Marlene prayed that her hand would not get sweaty.
“Marlene. My name is Marlene.” She looked at him and only one thought came to mind.
‘My God, he almost looks just like Vince.’
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Marlene.” He smiled placed her hand back walked across the room and came back to her holding the dress. “Your dress my dear, Lady Elise doesn’t like to be kept waiting.”
Suddenly Marlene’s pocket began to ring she answered the cell phone she didn’t know she had. “Why am I still waiting?”
“I’m sorry, I’ll…” Elise hung up before Marlene could finish.
Marlene brought Lady Elise her dress and Prince David accompanied her to explain her lateness. It was then that Marlene realized the reason why Callisto had sent her to this time and place.
“Oh, Prince David, I was not expecting you here, I thought you’d be with my cousin Hannah.” Marlene handed the dress over and she noticed Lady Elise blushing as she tried to advert David’s gaze. Marlene could see right through what was happening, ‘He’s an attention whore just like my sister’s boyfriend. But he’s more charming and less obvious about it.’
While Lady Elise continued to get ready Marlene waited in the front room of her bed room. She took a look around her surroundings and still couldn’t believe that such a place could exist. ‘It’s just like where I’m from; there are computers, mp3 players, cell phones and other electronic gadgets. But the styles are sometimes old fashioned and the last time I looked the United States of America was not a monarchy ran government. This is so strange.’ Marlene thought as she searched the internet for a quick history lesson. She learned that Lady Elise and Lady Hannah are actually respected figures in their community. They both share the family business which is a public relations firm, even though they do not run it, they own it. They are well known in Philadelphia, but in Washington, D.C where they are now, they’re no one. It was only by chance that Lady Hannah met Prince David and it didn’t take long for the two to cultivate a relationship.
Marlene continued to read about the two women and she learned that they had a history of competing with one another. Almost every time Lady Hannah would be the victor over Lady Elise.
“Girl, come help me with my hair and makeup.” Lady Elise called.
Marlene sighed and continued to go along with the charade. While Marlene brushed Lady Elise’s hair she could tell that she was sad. She picked up her phone and looked at it again, she slammed it shut and forcefully placed it back on the desk in a huff.
“Something wrong?” Marlene asked.
“No, just fix my hair. I don’t like this style anymore.” She whined.
“Okay.” Marlene picked up the curling iron and started working.
“My cousin, she thinks she’s better than me and smarter than me. I’m just as smart as she is; I deserve to marry a prince too. How dare the Lord of Bronx reject me for someone else. I’m just as important as a Polish Princess…right?” Lady Elise sighed while Marlene started on her makeup. “This is terrible; I cannot come to my cousin’s engagement party alone.”
“I don’t know, I’m in a similar situation myself and I haven’t come up with a solution either. But you’re a successful Lady, I’m sure you could find someone.”
“You’re right.” A devlish smile grew across her face, “I can find someone.” Lady Elise looked at Marlene’s finished work. “Oh my, this is terrific. Thank you.”
“You can call me Marlene.” Marlene chimed in.
‘Enough of the girl, business.’ Marlene thought.
“Thank you, Marlene. Your dress is on the bed, you’re coming with me.” Lady Elise beamed as she picked up her cell phone.
Once Marlene figured out how to put the complicated dress on she felt nervous, but then she again realized something. ‘This would be a great idea for a story. Two cousins vying for the affections of the same man? I’ll be sure to win that contest now.’
Marlene got into the town car that she ordered for her and Lady Elise. “My cousin, she thinks she’s so much better than me because she’s going to the Washington Palace in a limousine, wait until she sees my date. None of that will matter then.”
When the two arrived Marlene was surprised to see the White House, it didn’t look like the large mansion she was accustomed to, but it was a palace. The view took her breath away; the lawn was covered with not press like she expected but by paparazzi it was as if the political figures of the country were the celebrities. Marlene followed Lady Elise who was getting messages from her phone and she was constantly answering back.
“Oh there you are. I was about to text you back.” Lady Elise said to a very tall man. When Marlene looked again she realized that he was only tall to her because Lady Elise was pretty tall herself, she was almost as tall as he was.
“Marlene, darling, this is Lord Adam of Dallas.” Lady Elise introduced the two. “He’s my date to my cousin’s engagement party.”
“This is pretty devious even for you and me, Elise.” Lord Adam raised his eyebrows. Marlene got a good look at the Texan gentleman she saw how short his hair was cut and thought that he might have been in the service, but she wasn’t sure. Everything was so different here, but she couldn’t get over how tall he was.
“Oh that’s phish posh, if you thought it was that bad you wouldn’t have come. Are you ready?” Lady Elise lopped her arm around his.
“Phish posh?” Lord Adam asked as he escorted Lady Elise down the red carpet.
Marlene started to leave and join the other handmaidens by going through the back, but Elise had warmed up to Marlene and told her to come along with her.
“The trick to these events is to act as if you belong. If you stick with me, no one will give you any trouble.” She said with conviction.
Marlene thought she was going to pass out; she never had so many people flashing cameras in her direction before. The red carpet sprawled out all the way down the length of the Washington Palace and people were screaming for Lady Elise and Lord Adam to look their way.
When they made it inside, Marlene remembered to breath she thought that just a few hours ago she was back home feeling sorry for herself and now she’s in another dimension at a royal engagement party in the Washington Palace.
‘I wish I was able to write all of this down but there’s no way I’d be able to do that without drawing attention to myself.’ Marlene thought as she soaked in her surroundings. She wanted to be sure to explain the extreme vaulted ceilings and the complex and intricate golden designs on the walls of the palace. She didn’t want to leave out the beautiful view of the garden. The centerpiece was a fountain that changed in color from red, white and blue. She looked around the garden and could see statues of past Kings and Queens and she looked on to see statues of angels and hedges sculpted in the shape of different animals. While Marlene walked around at the breathtaking scene that surrounded her she caught a glimpse of herself in one of the palace’s thousands of mirrors.
“There is no need to fret about your appearance my dear, you look ravishing. Would you like to dance?” a young man approached her.
Marlene was speechless; she just looked at the gentleman.
“My name is Lucio, I lost my accent a while ago when my family moved from Italy to America.” Lucio smiled.
“My name is Marlene.” Marlene responded as if she was going to say more, but simply stopped abruptly.
“And what a lovely name that is to match such a strikingly beautiful woman. Your brown sugar skin is amazing…”
“Marlene darling, there you are. Excuse me Lucio.” Callisto arrived to sweep Marlene away.
“You’re supposed to be watching Lady Elise, not flirting with the Prince of Italy’s cousin.”
“I wasn’t flirting with him…” Marlene tried to protest but Callisto cut her off.
“What’s going on so far?”
“Elise is upset with Hannah for being engaged to the Prince of America, which is really weird to say by the way. Hannah is very conceited and Elise thinks that Hannah thinks that she’s better than her. I feel like I’m in an episode of some strange teen drama. And what’s going on with the timeline here…”
Callisto only just heard what Marlene asked, “Oh, I keep forgetting that you don’t live here. African slavery happened but it didn’t happen for as long as it did in your time. Racism does not exist in this dimension, well, not anymore. The melting pot that is often times talked about in your time actually exist here – to an extent.”
Marlene walked along with Callisto who looked as if she was looking for someone, “So they are no wars?”
Callisto laughed, “Ha! Don’t be silly. There’s still wars, mostly religious ones, but not as bad as the ones you’re used to hearing about but they happen. Being left handed is no long considered a disease as of the past one hundred years. Did you catch the name of the man Lady Elise came to the party with?”
“She said his name was Adam from Dallas. So you’re telling me that people really thought there was something wrong with you to be left handed.” Marlene was fascinated with her fast tracked history lesson.
“She came here with Lord Adam of Dallas?” Callisto grinned. “Does Lady Hannah know this?”
Marlene turned to find the two cousins, “She knows now.” She said as she saw the two cousins walk off in a huff leaving Prince David and Lord Adam to talk among themselves.
Marlene eavesdropped on their argument, “How can you do this?” Hannah almost spat at Elise.
“Do what?” Elise said innocently.
“Don’t pretend like you don’t know. Don’t pretend like it’s not classless for you to bring that disgusting fool to my engagement party. Don’t pretend like you didn’t know that we used to date.” Hannah almost growled she was so angry she could barely hold her composure.
“My date cancelled on me, I tried the best that I could to replace him and Adam was the only one available.” Elise smirked.
“You make me sick. You are a pathetic, weak, useless, excuse for a woman, this is my engagement party, my day, and by inviting my ex-suitor as your date just shows how pitiful you are. You’ve always been jealous of me, I’m about to become a Princess and you can’t stand it. You’ll be nothing like me, even on my worst day.” Lady Elise, walked up to Lady Hannah as she turned her back to leave and pushed her.
Lady Hannah regained her stance turned around and simply said, “It is unbefitting for a Princess to fight with a commoner.” She walked out of the room calmly with a smirk on her face leaving Elise shocked and by herself, Marlene hid so that Hannah wouldn’t see her as she left the room after she was sure she was gone Marlene watched a visibly upset Elise clutch her purse.
Upset and shaken Elise reached into her purse and snatched out her cell phone, while she searched for the number she wanted she mumbled to herself, “Weak? Pathetic? Pitiful? Who does she thinks he’s talking to? Just who?” Elise shook her head as she waited for a response.
“Where are you?” Marlene could hear Adam shouting over the music on the other end of the phone.
“I’ve changed my mind. Bring it, bring it to me, I’m in the room across from the ballroom.” Elise hung up the phone and called Marlene.
Marlene’s phone started to blare down the quite hallway. Marlene thought fast.
“Lady Elise, I was just coming to look for you.”
But Marlene’s excuse didn’t matter because Lady Elise didn’t care, “I can’t take it anymore. How did she get someone like that? That should be me?”
Marlene’s heart sank because those words sounded familiar. “Listen, I know you’re upset but you don’t want to do anything that’ll…”
“The Power Elite.” Lady Elise said softly.
“What’s that?” Marlene asked.
“The Power Elite. The ruling families of the entire world, she’ll be one step closer. There is more to this than just love, I’m sure over time I could get David to love me, but the power, to have love and power, it’s everything. Do you know how the ruling families got to where they are?”
Marlene was afraid to respond but she knew she had to, “No.”
“Magic.” Lady Elise said with steel in her voice.
“Huh? What?” Marlene couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“Witchcraft. Why do you think the major governments of the world have outlawed all the books? It’s the ruling families. They have all the books; they have all the knowledge and the power.” Lady Elise continued it was then that Marlene noticed that she had been clutching something in her hand for the entire time they’ve been talking.
Lord Adam entered the room, “Here it is, honestly I didn’t think you’d go for this.” He handed her a small vial with a magenta liquid inside.
“Neither did I, but she’s pushed me to do this.” Lady Elise said looking at the bottle.
“Marlene keep a lookout.” Lady Elise instructed Marlene.
But instead of looking out she turned to watch what Elise would do with the vial. Elise put the hair she snatched from her cousin’s head and put it in the vial she swished it around until the magenta color turned into a light blue color. Marlene watched as Elise put the vial to her lips, tilt her head back and swallowed the drink.
“Ugh, that’s disgusting. Did it work?” Lady Elise looked at Lord Adam who only stared.
“Your eyes, they’re not blue anymore, they’re hazel.” He said in amazement.
Elise took out a mirror to see the elixir was working. Right before her eyes and the eyes of Marlene and Adam Lady Elise transformed into Lady Hannah.
“It works.” Elise said in amazement. “My voice. Even that has changed.” Adam and Marlene listened to Elise’s newfound Spanish accent. She now looked and sounded like Lady Hannah.
“Marlene, find a way to distract Prince David and bring him here.” Lady Elise snapped her purse shut as she gave Marlene the order.
“How will I know it’s you I’m speaking to when I leave?” Marlene was trying to think of a way out of this situation but couldn’t.
“Look, these are my mother’s earrings, I’d rather die than let anyone else touch or wear them, that’s how you’ll know.” Lady Elise leaned her head forward so that Marlene could get a better look at the golden angel earrings. Marlene chuckled to herself at the idea of a devil wearing angel’s earrings.
Marlene rushed down the hall into the ballroom where Prince David and Lady Hannah were announcing their engagement to the world. It would be awhile before she could find her way anywhere near either one of them.
‘Why am I doing this? I want to leave I never signed on to deal with jealous cousins, and…’ In the middle of her thoughts Marlene ran into Callisto who was in line to give the Prince and soon to be Princess her congratulations.
“Callisto.” Marlene approached her.
Callisto asked Marlene several questions about where she was and what Lady Elise was doing. Marlene told Callisto and begged her to bring her back home.
“I don’t like where this is headed, take me back home.” Marlene pleaded.
“But you don’t have the end of your story yet dear.” Callisto smirked. “What did she ask you to do for her now?”
“To distract the Prince and get him to meet her in the room down the hall.” Marlene soon regretted telling Callisto that part of the story because it was their turn to give congratulations to Prince David and Lady Hannah. When they got close Callisto handed Marlene her drink and pushed Marlene into Lady Hannah.
“You idio-,” But Lady Hannah caught her tongue, “Dear, girl, this is a very important dress, I need a new dress, come with me right now.”
Lady Hannah and Marlene found a new dress with the help of a handmaiden of the Queen. Lady Hannah freshened up and got dressed, “You’re lucky I saw Callisto put that drink into your hand, why do you think she did that?”
“I don’t know. Maybe she didn’t want to hold it anymore.” Marlene tried to think about the situation herself.
Suddenly Marlene got a text message from Callisto, “Keep her busy.”
It took Lady Hannah at least an hour to change to an outfit that she felt suited her. When Marlene and Lady Hannah made it back downstairs they couldn’t find Prince David. The two split up Lady Hannah went to find the Prince’s friend, the Prince of Britain Prince William while Marlene went to look for Callisto.
“Will, have you seen David? He’s not answering his phone.” Lady Hannah asked sweetly.
The Prince looked confused and then laughed, “Are you serious? I saw him leave with you about two hours ago.”
“What?”
“Yeah, you put on a new dress and the two of you disappeared for a little post engagement announcement celebration.” He chuckled a knowingly chuckle.
Lady Hannah’s heart sank.
Marlene found Callisto and learned that Callisto carried out Marlene’s instructions and told the Prince to meet with the fake Lady Hannah in the room down the hall.
“You were very helpful Marlene; I could not have done this without you.” Callisto sounded proud of herself.
“Done what without me?”
Callisto led Marlene down the hall to the room where she saw Lady Hannah take the elixir. “That potion is a very, very, rare and sought after potion. I knew someone had it and I needed someone on the inside to draw it into the open.” Callisto and Marlene entered the room where they saw Lord Adam trapped behind an invisible wall.
“Let me out of here.” He banged on the invisible wall.
“Who has the potion now? Is it still with Lady Elise?” Callisto asked with determination in her voice.
“I know what you are; you’re a witch, the last of them.” Lord Adam said. “Are both of you witches?”
“What? No.” Marlene said she was afraid.
“Little history lesson Marlene, witches used to rule this world, not in the way that you’d think, we didn’t cast spells on people to turn them into toads, and we didn’t make people do things against their will for no reason, we simply suggested things that people were already thinking with the help of some potions and spells.” Callisto spoke as she paced the room.
“So, it’s true then. Hundreds of years ago all the witches were banned from using their powers.” Lord Adam asked.
“Not quite, you see Marlene; you’re used to the world in where if you say a few lines of witchcraft you’re a bona fide witch. But here, being a witch is a bloodline, and one of us turned against the whole world of witches there is a powerful spell, that binds all witches from ever using their magic for our own means.” Callisto continued to pace the length of the invisible wall.
“What does that mean?” Marlene asked.
“It means that if I wanted to, I could not use a spell to kill, harm or persuade anyone. I can only use my powers for the good of helping others. I’m old Marlene, before the band on free witchcraft I put an immortality spell on myself. The rest of the immortal witches have been locked away. I’ve managed to stay hidden all of this time. I am looking for the traitor who locked our powers away. I know about the Power Elite, and there is no doubt that this traitor is either one of the Power Elite or very close to them. I wouldn’t have been able to get as close as I am now, thanks to you Marlene.” Callisto stopped pacing to thank Marlene.
Marlene was frozen in place; she took in a deep breath she couldn’t believe what she was hearing, “But the potion. I thought you said the power was bound.”
“The potion was created before the power lock. The spell is old and was hidden away from the turn coat who locked away the powers. Humans can’t say spells, but they can create potions and elixirs. Each witch has a Grimoire, but if I were to get my hands of the most feared witch in the world, I would be able to find this defector and make them undo their damage.” Callisto turned to Lord Adam who looked afraid.
“I don’t know about any Grimoires, but the potion I found it, with a note next to it that’s how I knew what it was for.” Lord Adam was afraid of Callisto and told her everything he knew and everything he shouldn’t have with two small words. “There’s more.”
Callisto’s eyes lit up in amazement. “Explain.”
“The bottle, refills itself, as long as the bottle is intact the potion will exist.” The Lord explained, while Marlene closed her eyes in disbelief.
‘Idiot.’ She thought to herself.
Meanwhile Lady Elise ran into Lady Hannah, the potion wore off and she no longer was impersonating Lady Hannah. Elise began to taunt Hannah telling her things about David that only Hannah knows. The conversation turned extremely personal and Lady Elise told Hannah what happened.
“You’re dear Prince isn’t as noble as you think he is, we were just together a little while ago. If you don’t believe me then how I would I know about that scar he has…” Lady Elise began to play with Lady Hannah’s mind.
“You lie!” She shouted.
“I’m a liar? He took me upstairs into your secret bedroom in the palace; I put a large passion mark on his neck.” Lady Elise laughed as she made her way back to Lord Adam. She found him trapped with Callisto and Marlene watching her as she entered the room.
“What’s going on here?”
“Elise run!” Lord Adam shouted.
Callisto walked over to Lady Elise and snatched her purse away from her and took the potion for herself.
“Hey! How dare you!” Lady Elise shouted.
Lady Hannah marched down to find the Prince who was getting dressed, “You’re back.” He said with a large smile on his face.
“What did you do?” Lady Hannah was upset and fighting back tears.
Confused, Prince David didn’t know what to say or to do, “What do you mean?”
Lady Hannah walked up to the Prince and opened his shirt; above his collar bone was a passion mark that Lady Elise said she put there.
“How could you?” Lady Hannah put her hand over her mouth.
Prince David only stood in the middle of the room confused, as far as he was concerned she was the one who had been with him a few moments ago and not Lady Elise. Neither one of them knew about the potion Elise took to make herself look like Hannah.
Once Callisto had what she wanted she released Lord Adam and Lady Elise, “I should let you know, there’s one other out there like me. If any of you decide to come forward with your information, my friend will see to it that none of you make it to see the light of the next day. Am I clear?” Everyone nodded in agreement.
“What did I do?” Lady Elise said in shock.
Marlene and Adam explained to Elise Callisto’s plan to make it into the Power Elite. “You helped her, how do you figure into this?” Elise demanded to know from Marlene.
“She told me she would help me and I believed her.” Marlene felt guilty about what was going on, but deep down inside, she knew that to Callisto she was a loose end.
‘She’ll have to send me back home since she can’t kill me.’ Marlene thought, but then she had another disturbing thought. ‘She doesn’t need magic to kill me.’
Lady Hannah decided to play out the night and to deal with her problems tomorrow. The Prince caught up with Marlene and grabbed her by the arm and pulled her to the side.
“What’s going on?” The Prince asked.
Marlene felt bad for thinking of lying to him, mostly because of how he reminded her of Vince, but also because he was a good guy and complete ignorant of the entire situation. Marlene knew that if she lied to him she would be a part of the conspiracy and that she would be putting him at risk because he would be unaware of Callisto and her plans.
“I’m sorry. I’m very sorry. I thought she was helping me, but Callisto, she…” Marlene stopped in mid-sentence. “Where’s Elise and Hannah?”
The Prince was confused all night, “They went off somewhere to talk, what’s the big deal with that?”
The Prince and Marlene rushed to find Adam who had also disappeared, while they rushed Marlene explained, “Callisto is a witch, Adam found a potion that can make you look like whomever you want to, with only their hair, Elise used it to make herself look like Hannah, but Hannah doesn’t know that and…” before Marlene could finish talking she ran across a room with a balcony where Adam was standing over the bodies of Elise and Hannah.
“What happened?” Prince David asked.
“I don’t know, I found them this way.” Adam said innocently.
“You found them this way!” Prince David grabbed Adam by the collar and gripped him tight.
Adam dropped the knife that he was holding, it was covered in blood. The Prince began to beat Adam while Marlene called for help
Adam punched David and ran away; the Prince pulled out his phone and called for the guards to arrest Lord Adam for suspicion of murder.
The guards caught Adam who professed his innocence and was thoroughly confused. “Marlene, tell them!” Marlene could hear Adam scream for her, as they took him away. No matter how she tried to convince herself that she was a bystander no theory would stick, she was in it as much as anyone else was.
Marlene knelt over the bodies of Hannah and Elise.
“This doesn’t make any sense.” Marlene said to herself out loud.
The Prince walked up behind her, “What do you mean?”
“Elise was remorseful she didn’t want her cousin dead.” Marlene said.
Another set of footsteps entered into the room, “I know. But the two of them aren’t protected like the three of you are.” David and Marlene turned around to see Adam standing in the doorway.
“Callisto.” Marlene said with hatred in her voice. Marlene and the Prince ran out of the room and into the entertainment room of the palace. A large movie screen was in the front of the room it had every updated electronic concept. Music players, games, and movies all into one place, in front of the screen was a stage for the plays that performed in the palace. While Marlene and David made their way through the large auditorium Callisto arrived on stage.
“Oh don’t be that way Marlene. You wanted something I wanted something, and we all got what we wanted.” She still looked like Adam. “Except you, but you’re Prince of the entire free world, you can get another Hannah. You might as well cut your losses and quit while you’re ahead my dear Prince.” Callisto spoke to the two of them as she impersonated Adam.
“The Prince will tell the Power Elite about you.” Marlene threatened.
“Two things you should know, little Marlene, 1) they already know about me! And 2) He can’t do anything, he can’t tell the public, it’ll cause a worldwide panic to know that there’s immortal witches still among them. This will go as I planned it; they’ll find the fingerprints of the Dallas dunce on the murder weapon and blame him for the deaths of the Ladies.” The potion began to wear off and Callisto eye color, hair, height, and body type began to return as she spoke. “Marlene I’m sending you back to your dimension, so there’s nothing any of you can do. One is in jail, one is home and the other is useless. I will find the Grimore and I will infiltrate the Power Elite.” Callisto grinned and held out her hand, “Time to go home Marlene, you have your story, you’ll be famous!”
Marlene backed away, “I don’t want it.” She was tearful.
The Prince looked at her.
“It’s already done, it was a binding agreement, the manuscript is at the publisher’s already. Let’s go.” Callisto held out her hand.
The Prince grabbed Marlene and ran with her, she felt more like she was being dragged more than running along with him.
The Prince brought her to a hidden room that needed a digital code and his hand print to open, the door opened to reveal a computer room. The Prince opened his phone and called for security, “Have all the guests sent home. Don’t tell them anything. Just tell them the party has been cancelled.” The Prince held himself together, he tried not to show his emotions but Marlene could tell that he was upset. He looked at her and put her hand on a device. “Did you know about Callisto?” he asked her.
“No!” Marlene shouted. The computer trilled.
“Did you plan to have my fiancé murdered?” The Prince asked another question.
“No!” Marlene answered her heart was beating quickly while the computer trilled again.
“Did you help Lady Elise get that potion so she can seduce me?” The Prince waited for an answer but Marlene didn’t want to answer. “Answer me!”
“Yes!” Marlene was crying as she faced him.
“I didn’t know that this would happen, you have to believe me, I will help you stop this.”
The Prince stared at her, “I believe you, but you have to find Callisto.”
“What?” Marlene cried. “No.”
“You’re weakening her by being here; it takes up a lot of her energy for you to be here. You have to go back home. Because she brought you here you two are linked, as long as that connection exists you’re a risk to me.” The Prince took Marlene’s arm and put a bracelet on her arm.
“Never. Never take this off, now go.”
Marlene left and found Callisto waiting for her in the middle of the garden. Callisto took her hand and teleported Marlene back home the same way she took her. Marlene snatched her hand away and Callisto smirked, “You hate me. That’s fine, because in a short time, I’ll be in charge of this entire realm, if you make me angry enough, I’ll come for yours, so be good and keep out of my way Marlene.”
Marlene looked at the corner of her TV screen and the day and time read that she had been gone for a week. Marlene had no intentions of writing the story, but she couldn’t take the guilt and she knew she couldn’t tell anyone what happened without being carted away by the people in white coats so she wrote. She was depressed and ashamed at what she had done so she wrote the story. When she was finished her sister Nia, printed out the story and read it for herself. When she showed it to Vince, Vince handed it over to a new friend of his who was a literary agent, Freddie who liked the story so much he got started on sending it out to publisher’s right away.
Marlene answered her phone, “Marlene Clarke, this is the best story I’ve ever read. I think you might be the next big author.”
The next few months were a blur to Marlene because everything happened so quickly. The story was sent to a publisher, and Marlene was pushed to make the short story into a novel. Based on what Callisto told her on the history Marlene was able to create her own version and to turn the short story into a novel. The publisher’s changed the title of story from the Tragedy of Elise and Hannah to Eliza the Dimension Traveler. The name of Marlene’s character in the story is Eliza.
A year had gone by and the mania of Eliza had taken off, the story was even in the works to become a movie, out of guilt Marlene only spent what she needed and nothing more. She was one of the top five fiction writers of America she wrote other works but many of her fans called for a sequel to the Eliza Dimension Traveler adventures. Marlene had no intention of writing a sequel. Her literary agent Freddie came to visit her again.
“People are calling for a sequel, you could be as big as those other writers, they want to do a TV show after the movie. You’re as good as gold even if it’s crap they’ll eat it up.”
Marlene shot Freddie a mean look.
“Of course you wouldn’t send it out if it was crap, that’s not what I’m saying, I mean you’re other stories are great. You have the biggest following because you don’t stick to just one genre but you’re spreading your audience too thin. I think you should concentrate more on this audience, the audience who loves Eliza. A story where the political figures and educators are the movie stars? It’s a great path.” Freddie continued to try to convince Marlene to write the other story.
“No! Why would anyone love Eliza? She allowed herself to be tricked, by a witch. Who would want to be like her?” Marlene said with hurt in her voice.
“People like Eliza because she’s an unwilling hero.” A voice rang out in the room. Freddie and Marlene turned to see David standing in the middle of her living room. “I’m glad you didn’t take it off.”
Marlene looked down at her bracelet. “How’d you get in here?” Marlene asked. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh my God, you’re David.” Freddie shouted.
David and Marlene looked at Freddie, “You look just like the way you described him in the book. I thought you were kidding when you said you based the story off of people you’ve met.”
David nodded and shook Freddie’s hand; he didn’t know how right he was about David. “I’m here because I need your help.” David sat down on the sofa holding his copy of Eliza the Dimension Traveler.
“I’ll make it worse.” Marlene walked over to him.
“No, you don’t understand, people like Eliza because towards the end of the book, she wanted to make things right, and you readers know, she’ll make good on that promise because she’s a good person they can identify with. A good person they want to be like. They want to do the right thing. Are you in?”
Freddie started to put the pieces together but began to reject the idea of what was happening. “In what? Marlene, who is this guy?”
Marlene stared at David for a moment she wanted to help even though every urge and impulse was telling her not to.