Cinderella Spell - Laurie Lee Page 0,70

enough for Robert to break the engagement? What if he didn’t? What if Cinderella is as horrible as I think she is, and he marries her anyway? “He can’t, he mustn’t.” She didn’t dare dwell too long on why he mustn’t or why she felt she couldn’t breathe.

Marissa jumped to her feet. Sleep had done her well, her body protested little at the sudden movement. Breakfast and then what would they do for the day?

Nothing. Mrs. Boyde insisted on a day of rest. On the second day without doing anything, as night settled over the inn. Mrs. Boyde stretched with one hand against her back. “I could use more mulled cider.”

Marissa grinned. “Is Captain Standish available?”

“He is not,” Mrs. Boyde gave her a pointed stare.

“Then you can get it.”

“I do not want to leave you on your own.” She shook her head.

Marissa grunted. “This is our second night. There has been no sign of ill will or trouble. I will be fine.”

Mrs. Boyde put her hands on her hips. “You’ll stay here? Not try to run across to the market?”

Marissa chuckled. “It’s dark and I have no desire to climb an unfamiliar fence.” She walked to the window and opened it. The ground was a long way down. “I don’t think anyone will come up this way.” She closed it most of the way.

Mrs. Boyde grabbed her pouch. “I will not be gone long.”

Marissa lay on the bed, one hand resting against her chest, the other on the linen cover spread across a coarse sheet. The hum of crickets broke through the cracked pane of glass. A drunken din washed into the quiet room. Waiting, Marissa stared at the crisscross pattern of beams on the ceiling. A patch of light would dance across them. No heavy brocade curtains to block the light or quiet the noise covered the windows. No fresh scent wafted from beeswax censors. The room smelled like meat pies and human sweat. She wrinkled her nose and shut her eyes.

Noise and smell continued to assault her senses. Now what? She tried to roll to her side, but her body refused to move. Marissa thrust her eyes open. She had fallen asleep, that was all. She blinked. The room was dark. What happened to the lantern? Had Mrs. Boyde returned, and she not notice? Noise from below crept through the broken windows. She glanced down. Her arm remained across her chest. She could see it, could feel the soft woven fabric of the thin blanket covering her lower body. Why couldn’t she move her arm? Her fingers wouldn’t wiggle. Her other arm remained at her side. What was happening? She could barely make out her feet, toes refusing to bend. Anyone who saw her would assume she slept soundly. Peacefully. Wake up, Marissa. She must be sleeping, dreaming. But her eyes were open. She could see the ceiling, the play of light and shadow dancing.

But something more than shadow lingered. Something thicker. Marissa felt her heart pound, yet still her body refused to move. A thin leg tapped the white-washed section between rafters. Hairs rippled as it slid out from a corner, moving bent legs to follow the first, and creeping against the rough edge of a wooden beam. Something crossed toward her side of the bedroom, toward her bed.

It couldn’t remain in the shadows. Pale light skittered across its legs, for a moment illuminating its thick fur-draped body. Marissa strained against the lethargy holding her in place. Breath gasped in her throat, and yet her chest moved little more than the natural breath of sleep would cause it to move.

An eye gleamed at her. It knew she was trapped. Knew, and its slow creep from the darkest corners mocked her fear. An intelligent will laughed at her struggle.

A sliver of silvery cord dropped above her. A breath of air caused it to flutter as it drew closer like a thin finger stretching from the menace grasping the ceiling. She sucked in her breath as the cord touched her arm. Cold spread from the barest touch of the web. Marissa could feel sobs shaking her insides. How could her body remain lax? Betrayal. The creature stretched, release its grip on the ceiling and swung onto the web. With its head toward her, it hovered. Eyes gleamed. Mouth stretched. It wanted a kiss. She could read intent and tried to shake her head. Its legs moved and the creature drew closer. Screams shouted in her mind, but the room