An odd shiver of apprehension snaked over Cinderella's skin. "Where did it come from?"
"It sort of just rolled in front of me." Pricilla shrugged. She shot a mischievous grin in their direction, and plucked it back from Essie. "It feels almost…alive."
"Rolled in front of you where? " Essie demanded.
"In the castle, silly," she said rolling her eyes. Essie's gaze was a fierce scrutiny and Pricilla huffed. Cinderella thought it a brilliant tactic. "Fine. I found it in a wing that may not be so inhabited," Pricilla hedged.
"Not inhabited?" Cinderella squeaked. She could feel the panic closing her throat.
"Cill, you know we're not supposed to explore that area!"
"Oh, please, Essie, who will know?" Pricilla narrowed her eyes on Essie. "Unless you take it upon yourself to say something, that is."
Oh, no. They verged on the edge of blows-again. "For the sake of heaven, both of you!" Cinderella snapped. "Do you hear yourselves? This constant bickering is…is embarrassing, not to mention annoying." Two gaped expressions turned on Cinderella that had heat flooding her face. Eyes squeezed tight, she place both palms to her cheeks. "Oh…oh, I'm sorry."
Silence filled the air, when finally Essie barked out a sharp laugh and threw her arms about her. "Oh, Cinde. We truly are sisters, now."
Tears burned the back of her throat. Cinderella opened her eyes and caught Pricilla's sheepish grin.
"Oui." Pricilla was concurring? "When one takes comfort in raising one's voice to another, as you have, Cinde, it does appear the relationship has truly evolved." To Cinderella's complete and utter astonishment, Pricilla reached out and hugged her too, poking her in the side with the shiny stick.
"Umph," Cinderella grunted. "Um, Pricilla, your new stick is poking me."
"Oh, je suis désolée, sorry," she said, standing back. "Interesting little thing, is it not?" She swished it through the air creating a soft whistle.
Blooms sprouted in a rainbow of colors. From the tips of the tree limbs, throughout the fields as far as the eye could see. The air fairly choked with the convergence of overbearing sickly fragrances.
That sick feeling of dread Cinderella experienced over her skin spread to a chill down her spine as she circled slowly circle gaping. Essie collapsed in a heap on the stone bench facing Eros, hand covering her open mouth.
Cinderella glanced over at Pricilla.
Her mouth hung open too, but her gaze was stuck on the silver baton in her hand. "What the-"
"Cill!" Essie snapped, coming to her senses. Cinderella could not take it in. Periwinkles, thistles, daisies, goldenrods, orange jewelweed. They sprouted everywhere with no end in sight. Kept sprouting, in fact. "Make it stop, Cill."