Crisanta Knight: Midnight Law

CHAPTER 1-2

“And he wonders why he’s still single,” Javier said.

We laughed to Gordon’s chagrin before filing out of the now-empty chamber into the connecting hall of Gallant Castle. Navy and black marble flooring amplified every footstep. Diamond-shaped shards of crystal decorated the walls in a glistening pattern like choreographed stars. Sporadic skylights allowed natural light to flow between chandeliers.

It was as grand a castle as any I had been in. Only instead of servants and courtiers bustling down the halls, we passed commons who eyed us darkly and/or warily as they crossed the corridors to keep distance between us.

For the last few months Gallant Castle had served as home and home base to many commons from the rebellion. Their forces had executed a coup and seized this castle in the spring, killing Gallant’s rulers King Mason and Queen Livry, and holding many courtiers hostage. As part of our peace talks, the rebels let all captives go under the condition that our realm’s higher-ups let this castle remain a commons base and all rebels inside stay untouched for the duration of our peace talks.

It must have burned the Godmother Supreme to allow this, but we could not exactly hold peace talks in a building where hostages were being kept on another floor. And the rebels insisted that we meet somewhere that they did not feel vulnerable. Ergo, it had to be done.

The concession was a big win that allowed us to move forward. It also led to a pair of other necessary triumphs. The rebels agreed that there would be no further attacks while our negotiations were underway. Our higher-ups, in turn, committed to not hunting rebels in the meantime either. I felt it was a good sign that both sides had compromised on these points. We would have to come to a more permanent solution for Gallant later, but for now the populace of this kingdom was not locked in fear, and going into the city for dinner was safe enough.

I tried smiling politely at a common woman carrying a large sack as she passed, but she only glared back.

“Hey, SJ,” Divya said, suddenly appearing next to me. “Where did you learn to whistle like that?”

While Marie was petite, Divya Patel was tiny. She was also several years younger than the rest of us, the youngest at the peace talks, and agile as a cat. Her enormous dark eyes looked at me with wonder as she hurried to keep up with my gait. Her long ponytail swung erratically behind her unlike my braid, which swished with subtlety.

“Jason taught Blue, Crisa, and me how to whistle years ago. It is not very ladylike, but I had to do something to get everyone to stop bickering. Please do not tell Jason or Crisa or especially Blue that I did that. I will never hear the end of it.”

“SJ Kaplan.”

I turned, as did the rest of my group. Lena Lenore strutted toward us, her black suede pumps clicking with supremacy against the marble floor. The rebels she passed either scurried for cover or simply froze, trying to avoid eye contact.

I stepped forward, posture straight in spite of the weight of my two book bags. “Yes?”

She stopped in front of me. “Can your little friends spare you for the evening? I assume none of your typical princess activities outside these walls are life or death.”

I bristled. Feeling uncharacteristically bold, I lifted my chin—grateful that my five-foot-ten frame kept the Godmother Supreme from towering over me like she did so many others. “With respect, Godmother Supreme, I would urge you not to belittle my friends and me. These peace talks are about growth, equality, and showing one another respect. We have been working together for weeks now, and it hardly supports the diplomatic spirit of what we are trying to do here if you patronize us.”

There was a pause. I held my ground despite the part of me that wanted to apologize for being so blunt. My confidence was not sourced from inherent boldness like Blue’s and Crisa’s was. Mine was practiced, patient, and only vocalized when I felt I could back it up properly.

The Godmother Supreme nodded slowly, face impassive. “That is fair. And for the sake of that ‘diplomatic spirit,’ please bid your friends adieu. I would like you to join the Godmothers and me for dinner.”

I blinked. “For what reason?”

“As I said, diplomacy,” she responded. “I was impressed with your proposal and would like to speak with you about it.”

“You’ve already read it?” Divya blurted.

“I am a fast reader, dear,” the Godmother Supreme said. Then she looked me up and down. “And I read people even better. Now what do you say?”

I glanced at Pietro, who had become a sort of older brother to me these last few weeks. I had a flock of younger brothers but no older siblings to turn to for advice. He had provided that when asked and I was grateful. Pietro gave a shrug and I took his expression to mean “Why not?” I pivoted back to the Godmother Supreme with that exact response. “Why not?”

“Very good.” She took off her impressive ring. It transformed into an off-white Fairy Godmother magic wand. With a wave, red sparks consumed my massive book bags, shrinking them to the size of doll accessories.

“To lighten your load,” she explained. “It is hard for anyone to look respectable when schlepping around heavy baggage. They will return to normal size at the stroke of midnight.” She slipped her re-transformed ring back on her finger. “Now come. Debbie and Daisy are waiting for us on the second floor.” She turned and began striding away before I could ask anything more.

I stowed my miniaturized bags in the pocket of my maroon velvet dress and looked at my friends. “Wish me luck.”

“You don’t need it,” Gordon said encouragingly.

I was not sure that was true, but I waved to my friends and swiftly followed the Godmother Supreme. Walking in her wake allowed me to fully appreciate how people moved out of her way. I had no doubt that the woman could part the sea if she wished.

As we made for the stairwell, the rebel leaders from the peace talks were descending. “Elias,” I said, nodding to the woman at the head of the pack.

“SJ,” she said plainly.

On the second floor, Debbie and Daisy waited at an open balcony, looking out at the Gallant citadel as the city lights began to twinkle in the twilight.

“The three of us part from here every evening,” the Godmother Supreme explained. “It’s far easier to magically teleport with open space above us.”

“SJ, do you like stir-fry?” Debbie asked.

Fairy Godmothers knew most of the same spells, but each woman took to certain kinds of magic more than others, developing specialties. Debbie’s gifts were weather manipulation and fashion design. Her ensembles always blended the magic concentrations perfectly. Today’s knee-length gown featured a dizzying display of gray tornadoes spinning across her skirt and bodice.

“I have never had it,” I replied, forcing myself to maintain eye contact and not be distracted by her dress. “But I am fine with anything.”

“Then let’s go to the Red Steeple for dinner,” Debbie suggested.

“Ooh, love that idea,” Daisy, a petite blonde, said with her squeaky voice.

The Godmother Supreme turned to me. “Prepare yourself. Traveling in this manner can be a bit disorienting if you are not used to it. Crisanta certainly took some time to adapt.”

The Godmothers drew their wands. Daisy’s also took the clandestine form of a ring when not in use. Debbie’s wand hid in the form of a sparkly hairpin like Crisa’s did.

My best friend had a wand because of her godmother Emma; rest in peace. The woman had been Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother and upon leaving the Fairy Godmother Agency, she had given her wand to Crisa. The wand could not cast spells like those of active duty Godmothers. However, Crisa’s wand was enchanted to morph into any weapon she willed it into. Additionally, only Crisa could control it because a Godmother’s wand solely responded to her unique magic. Emma had given Crisa a spark of her power back then so my best friend could operate the wand.

The three women waved their wands and our foursome became consumed in a rush of raspberry colored magic. I felt my body disintegrating before each atom was hurled around on a roller coaster ride. After a flash, I found us standing outside a restaurant decorated with glowing red lanterns.

I clutched my stomach and grimaced. The Godmother Supreme had undersold magical transportation disorientation. I took a deep breath and steadied myself. I had never so much as burped in public, I was not about to vomit here. Noticing that the Godmothers were waiting for me to compose myself, I forced my body to stand straight and smile agreeably.

“No need to delay on my account. Please lead the way.”

Debbie shot me a concerned look, but I held my smile despite the churning in my stomach. Thankfully, as I climbed the steps leading to the restaurant, I began to feel normal again. To my surprise, the smell of caramelizing onions and sizzling beef in the air helped considerably.

The restaurant bustled with activity. People crowded just inside the door, waiting for a table. Staff zipped back and forth with steaming plates. The host was picking up a stack of menus when we approached.

“Four please. Something in the back,” Debbie said.

“It’ll be a thirty-minute wait,” said the host without looking up.

The Godmother Supreme stepped forward. “Four please. Something in the back.”

“I told you—” The man looked up. His eyebrows nearly touched his hairline in shock and chagrin. “Fairy Godmother Supreme! Of course. Right away. Carrie!” He snapped his fingers and a waitress appeared by his side. He passed her four menus and she motioned for us to follow. Once we were seated at a table with tall chairs near the rear of the restaurant, hidden by red velvet curtains with golden tassels, the waitress attempted to distribute the menus, but the Godmother Supreme held up a hand.

“Those won’t be necessary. For drinks, we’ll all have water. For entrees, Debbie will have the number four, Daisy and I will have the number seven, and the princess will have the number nine.” She alluded to each of us as she spoke.

The waitress was gone before I could open my mouth. I pursed my lips. I was an agreeable person, but I had never cared for being steamrolled. It was a condition I was regrettably prone to over the years. Such was the price for being an introverted child in the past and having so many vocal, strong-willed friends in the present. I did not want to add Lena Lenore to the list of people who made me feel that way.

“How can you be certain about what each of us wants to eat?” I asked the woman, meeting her eyes from across the table.

The Godmother Supreme looked at me with amusement. “The ladies and I have eaten here on a few occasions, so I know what they like. As for you, I can make an educated guess.”

I raised my eyebrows slightly. “Can you now?”

“Yes. Like most people I deal with, dear, you are easy to read.”