Page 160 of Heir of the Beast

We are already here?!

The door opens and Mort and Leenie are there.

“We have to go.” Mort smiles. “I’m sure everything will work out. It’s nearly dawn.”

I walk out and I feel like I am moving in slow motion. Sounds and details are barely being registered in my mind. I watch as Pierce walks toward me in his long wool coat flapping in the wind.

I can see the other girls being ushered onto a very fairy-tale style ship. Its golden and white wood gives it an enchanting elegance. I am in no mood to appreciate it.

I do not want to get on that.

When Pierce walks up to me, he reminds me of Chris Harrison from ~The Bachelor~, telling me this will be the last rose given out.

Pierce looks down at me. “How are you doing, kid?”

I say nothing, feeling my emotions too close to the top.

He glances at his watch then out toward the direction of the castle, as if Apollo will be showing up any minute. I can’t look.

“You know, the other girls really did an amazing job at taking down Irena’s evil forces. I believe April and Ivy were on their last lifeline.”

He continues as he stares out into the distance, “I didn’t think they could do it, but they did.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because”—he pauses—“if Apollo by some chance does not show, the scales are still borderline to where we will not lose Fairy Godmother Inc.”

I look up at him. “That’s wonderful news,” I whisper, meaning it. “Do you think Apollo is not coming then?” I can feel little bits of my world falling away.

Pierce’s blond hair blows in the wind as he stands quietly. “He only has ten minutes left before I must get you in the ship.”

“Ten minutes,” I breathe. “That’s not long enough! He’s not going to make it, Pierce!”

Pierce’s face is that of stone as he gazes toward the castle. “I wish I had an answer for you. You did your best. That’s all you can do.”

“Pierce!” I scream, feeling like this is becoming too real. “It’s not good enough. Will you let me go to him? He is not himself.”

“I know he is not, which makes this extremely unfair. These are not my rules. Once the ship leaves, that’s it.

“I worried this would happen and tried to buy you more time, but I got denied by the council,” he admits.

“No,” I say.

Little pieces of me are crumbling away. Gone with the wind.

I am the girl at the end of ~The Bachelor~ who does not get the ring.

“I’m not leaving without him, Pierce,” I tell him, pleading with my eyes. Can’t he see how I’m hurting?! He must do something!

Pierce does not say anything and looks in the direction of the castle. “Unfortunately, that’s impossible.”

I glance to the ship and see the girls in tears, hugging each other.

This is not happening.

“It’s time, I’m afraid.”

“No!” I scream. I turn to look back to the towering castle in the far distance. “Apollo! Damn you!” I wipe the hot tears streaming down my face. “Apollo!”

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