Slippers And Thieves Special Edition

4. Alec

4

Alec

Minutes later, I step through a long and rectangular space that’s made from concrete. My father waits in the center of the chamber. Like always, Legend is all blond hair, blue eyes, and irresistible charm that’s wrapped in an Armani suit. I’m a younger version of Legend, only in jeans. If I think about it too much, that fact is more than a little creepy.

Legend throws his arms open wide. “Alec!”

“Hey, Legend.”

“Can you see it? This place will soon become the main studio for the Le Charme Lady Extravaganza!”

I knew the L Center would have a hotel, restaurants, and shops. That’s it, though.

“Did you just say studio?” I ask.

“It’s my new plan. Obviously, you’ll have your Glass Slipper Ball here when you’re eighteen.” Legend shoots me a sly grin. “Which is when you’ll find a bride.”

“Maybe.” We have this discussion regularly. Legend and I have agreed to disagree.

“Until then, we’ll hold an annual event right in this studio. each year, we’ll award some young woman the title of Le Charme Lady.”

I frown. “We do that already. I’d hardly call it an event, though. It’s more of a dinner.”

“But that’s what’s changing. We’ll transform that dinner into a massive extravaganza. And it will be held right here, along with a big audience and cameras. So I’ll ask you again. Can you see it?”

I step around in a slow circle. There’s a lot of concrete, open steel beams, and piles of lumber. Previous plans had this space being built out into a series of bowling alleys. I kick a nail across the floor. “Not really.”

“Bah! The new Le Charme Lady Extravaganza will become the greatest event ever. The Oscars? Emmies? They’ll be seen as nothing compared to the Le Charme Lady Extravaganza.”

Tilting my head, I contemplate the new idea. “And this helps us sell jewelry … how?”

“Branding, my son. Branding.”

“Sure.” I try moving the conversation onto more solid ground. “Did you see the pics I sent? Tiffany’s has a new line of silver necklaces. Maybe we should put some money into designing stuff like that. I mean, the Le Charme catalog still includes crowns. We’re in desperate need of some updates.”

“You’re so literal, Alec. Try to see the big picture.” Legend snaps his fingers. “I’ve got it.” He rushes over to a nearby wall. There, my father pulls paper off a tall object. Turns out, it’s a mirror. “I’ll let none other than Charles Le Charme explain things to you directly.”

My eyes widen. Charles Le Charme is my forebear and the original founder of Le Charme Jewelers. Somehow, Charles wrangled himself a home in the Faerie Lands. Essentially, it makes him immortal. “How did Charles get his own magic mirror?”

“It’s not a mirror,” corrects Legend. “This is a portal from the human world directly into Charles’ home in the Faerie Lands. He’s agreed to visit Earth once a year for the Le Charme Lady Extravaganza. The press will go insane!”

A figure appears in the mirror. It’s a man with a high wig and long blue coat. He looks like he could have stepped out of the Versailles court of Louis the Sun King, mostly because he actually did. No doubt about it. This is Charles Le Charme.

Charles steps through mirror. One second, he’s an image. The next, he’s a living guy. He rounds on my father and beams. “Legend!”

“Charles!” They share a long and inexplicable laugh. Legend gestures in my direction. “Explain to my son about our plans.”

“Surely.” Charles points to a short wall of the long and rectangular space. “We’ll build a great stage over there. Imagine a winding staircase that loops down from the rafters. That’s where the contestants will walk down.”

I tilt my head. “So they’re contestants now.”

“Of course!” Charles continues. “On stage left, we’ll have the Queen of Hearts. There will be an empty spotlight on the right—that will be for you. And in the center will stand the Master of Ceremonies. Me.”

Legend nods toward a stretch of floor just before the imaginary stage. “Your mother and I will be on a judges panel. Our table will be down here. We’ll ask questions of each contestant.”

“Are you with me?” asks Charles. “Got the layout?”

“Basically.” What I’m having trouble with is how Charles talks like he’s younger than I am. But that’s living the Faerie Lands for you. It messes with your brain.

“Here’s how the event will actually work,” says Charles. “The contestants will step down the staircase. Behind them, a video will plays of their lives. Once the lady in question reaches the main stage, I’ll say something charming.” He pauses, waiting for a comment.

“Wow,” I say.

“It will be stunning!” cries Legend.

“Once I’m done, your family will ask some questions. That will go on until we’ve met all the contestants. Then, at the end, the ladies will return for one final moment. You.”

“Me.” I hate this idea.

“You!” yells Legend. I’ve never seen my father this worked up.

Charles continues. “Yes, you step onstage and … drumroll! Who will Alec Le Charme ask to be the next Le Charme Lady?”

A foul taste fills my mouth. “I hate this idea. I’m no reward.”

“You’re simply giving out the title,” says Legend. “We have sponsorships lined up for these ladies. I’m talking clothing, toys, energy drinks, you name it. The Le Charme Lady will become a wealthy woman.”

I’ve heard my father’s plans before. Legend builds up new ideas—along with parts of the L Center—and then tears them all down again. But this is the first time Legend has gotten our founder out of retirement. I tap my chin and think things through. There’s one big question here.

“Has the Queen of Hearts agreed?” I ask.

Charles bobs his bows. “I can handle her. We made a bet years ago. I’m winning. That means I get what I want out of her.” Charles turns to Legend. “Which reminds me. What are we doing for Alec’s Glass Slipper Ball?”

I fold my arms over my chest. “I’m not having one.”

Charles pales. “What?”

“That’s what the boy believes,” explains Legend. “We’ve agreed to disagree for now. And years remain before he’s eighteen.”

Charles lowers his voice to a whisper. It’s an odd choice, considering how I’m standing right here and can catch every word. “You’ve got some strength in terms of mind vise spells. Just make it happen.”

Legend stiffens. “This is my son.”

I appreciate my father’s statement, by the way. Gem casters develop specialties. Legend knows how to control other people’s minds. It’s not a pleasant process, either. All the more reason why I’m ticked off that Charles even raises the possibility.

I focus on Charles. “Do you know who I am?”

“A spoiled child?” asks Charles.

“I’m the warden of all caster magic. I develop my own gems and spells. That means I’m no one you can bully.”

Charles fluffs his already-puffy collar. “Whatever you say. Just be ready when we hold the first Le Charme Lady Extravaganza in six weeks.”

Calculations spin through my mind. “That will mean tons of overtime work for construction. Can we really afford it?”

“Just use magic,” says Charles.

I shoot Charles a warning look. “You haven’t been on Earth in a while. The MITRE agency tracks the use of magic in human affairs. We can get in big trouble if we do this with spells. Humans expect fair competition. We pay workers in cash, not cheat with magic. It’s why humans see us as celebrities and not threats. We need to keep it that way.”

“Don’t worry about MITRE,” says Charles. “If you do as Legend and I dictate, then we may give you the option not to marry at your Glass Slipper Ball.”

“That’s not your option to give.”

Legend gasps. “Alec!”

Charles frowns. “I disagree, mon petit chou.”

Sadly enough, Charles may be right. I can’t ignore the fact that no fewer than twelve Le Charme sons have gotten married at their Glass Slipper Balls, including my father.

All of which is why I spend my spare time developing fresh gems and spells. I refuse to be forced into anything. When I marry, it will be because I love someone with all my heart, end of story.