Saturday, December 17

 

“You look nervous.”

 

Jade looked at herself in the mirror again, and her eyes met Jack’s as he came up behind her. “Hopefully only you notice,” she said, smoothing back one shining silver strand of hair. “Do you really think he’ll show up?”

 

“If he’s in the Cove, it will be odd if he doesn’t,” Jack said. He laid a hand on her shoulder and she leaned into his arm, loving the cool warmth of his love, like an autumn sun glowing through early morning fog. “Unless he’s pretending to be ill, or something.”

 

“And we’re sure he’s in the Cove?” Another strand of her hair was escaping her elaborate braid, a sign that she was distracted. She smoothed it back with an impatient hand.

 

“Ember is,” Jack said, squeezing her shoulder gently. “He won’t spoil the day, Jade. I promise you.”

 

“I hope now.”

 

But there was nothing she could do now. The wards had come down, and although they were being rebuilt, if Caliban was going to do anything tonight, there was little that she and Jack could do.

 

Well, that wasn’t exactly true. Between herself, Jack, Old Man Winter, Ember, and the Librarian, they could probably take care of Caliban. But it would require all the energy the Ball would raise, and that would mean they’d have to do something else to power the wards on Christmas Eve.

 

Taking a deep breath, Jade raised her chin and placed her coronet on top of the piled braids. “Let’s do this,” she said, getting up.

 

“That’s the spirit,” Jack said, as she turned to him. “Besides, this will be fun.”

 

<><>

 

“Is everyone ready?” Molly looked around at all the eager faces. Everyone looked amazing, which given how much they all loved to play was a miracle. Gideon and his father had matching dark grey suits with green vests and bow ties, and Kiaya had traded in the purple streaks in her hair for green, to match her green flapper dress. Corrine was in dark blue, with a fur stole wrapped around her shoulders, and Nathan’s vest matched her dress, although his suit was a light grey wool that looked very stylish on him, especially with the trilby on his head.

 

Lily had a dress in purple that reminded Molly how much her niece was growing up – she looked more like a teenager than a child now, and her long hair had been twisted up into a sophisticated chignon. There were purple snowflake earrings in her ears, and a matching snowflake necklace glittered around her neck.

 

Kaylee had similar earrings and a necklace in pink, but in typical Kaylee style, her dress was short and she had pink leggings that were covered in snowflakes as well. There was pink glitter in her hair, and as Molly looked over, she realized that Jack was covered in it as well. The hound looked dapper in his pink and purple bow tie, an homage to both his favorite girls.

 

Schrodinger had picked out a new vest and bow tie for this year, rather than going for his normal black tie. His vest was dark blue, with silver and white snowflakes all over it, and the bow tie matched. In addition, the middle of the bow tie was a shining silver snowflake. He had found the outfit in a catalog and had begged until Molly had bought it for him. She had to admit he looked amazing in it.

 

Drew had decided to go classic: a black tuxedo with black bow tie, and Molly thought he looked like an old Hollywood movie star at a premiere. He made her feel glamorous just standing next to him.

 

Her own dress was reminiscent of a Hollywood starlet’s, now that she thought about it. It was a classical evening gown in a dark golden satin that clung to every curve and slunk its way down to the floor. Her shoulders were bare, and earlier in the day, her hairdresser had added dark golden lowlights to her hair, then twisted it into an elegant updo. Her mother had donated topaz drops for her ears and throat, and Drew’s grandmother Phoebe had sent her a golden wrap imbued with summer warmth. She felt like a princess.

 

“Yes!” Lily said, shifting from foot to foot eagerly. “Let’s find the next window, before Pavel gets here with the sleigh!”

 

As the children looked for the number 17 on the castle, Kiaya leaned over and murmured to Molly, “How is Pavel going to find a sleigh big enough for all of us?”

 

“He’s got help,” Molly murmured back. “But I wanted to surprise the children.”

 

Kiaya looked at her, and Molly winked.

 

“Here it is!” Lily shouted. “Over the gate!”

 

She pressed her finger to the golden 17 that floated above the carved gate, and the gates opened, showing them the interior, not of the castle, but of the ballroom that the Snow Queen held her ball in every year. Molly wasn’t surprised.

 

Snowflakes danced in the air, and the ancient oak trees that had replaced the icy pillars were wrapped in lights. On one end of the room, on a slightly raised dais, was the familiar string quartet that the Snow Queen engage to provide the music every year. There were buffet tables full of food, and tables scattered around the edge of the room, waiting for the guests that were even now on their way.

 

A tall butler in black turned to them, winked, and said, “You’re in for a surprise when you get here, children.” And then the gates closed.

 

“That’s it?” Lily said, dismayed. They all turned to Molly with questions in their eyes.

 

“Not exactly,” Molly said. “I have it on very good authority that there’s a surprise waiting for you at the ball itself.”

 

That perked them up, and she added, “Now, get your coats! I hear Pavel’s sleigh!”

 

That’s not his sleigh bells, Jack said, his ears perking up.  Those are…

 

“Old Man Winter!” Kaylee shrieked in joy, running out the door with her coat in her hand, despite her father’s attempt to grab her. At least she had her shoes on still, Molly realized, as Jack and Schrodinger hurried out after her.

 

The rest of them dressed quickly and joined her outside, where Old Man Winter’s massive sledge had just pulled up to the bookstore. Molly locked the door behind her, and then let Drew help her into the sledge. Kaylee (her jacket finally on), stood next to Old Man Winter, with Gideon on his other side, each of them holding a rein. Since the reindeer that pulled the sledge were guided by the Old Man’s voice alone, there was no harm in it.

 

“Everyone in and warm?” Old Man Winter said. When he received an assent, he said, “Then let’s go!”

 

Traveling by the sledge had turned into one of Molly’s favorite ways to get around the Cove in the winter. The reindeer didn’t really worry about other vehicles, or roads – they just went, and the world passed them by. It was soothing, especially since she was nestled in Drew’s arms, with Schrodinger on her lap.

 

And then they were at the clearing where the Snow Queen’s Ball was held every year. There was a line of cars, but the sledge simply went around them, bringing them directly to the front door. There were perks to being friends with the people throwing the party.

 

“Look at that!” Lily said, as they walked down the path to the main ballroom. “It’s him!”

 

It was. The same butler that had been in the hall in the Advent calendar was waiting for them at the door, and as they approached, he bowed and handed each of them a bag with the words, “From the Snow Queen and Jack. Enjoy the ball!”

 

“This is new,” Molly said, accepting her bag. “They’ve never given out favors before.” She peeked in the bag. “I wonder what it is.”

 

The butler winked at her. “You’ll see when you go in!”

 

Molly had no time to respond, as the children ran ahead of them, and she had to catch up. And then, as she stepped into the ballroom, she understood.

 

They weren’t the first ones there, but it was hard to tell who was who.

 

“Look, Molly! We got masks! It’s a masked ball!” Lily said, holding up the stylized snowflake mask from her bag. “How cool!”

 

Not all the masks were snowflakes. Some were feathered, some beaded – all were different. She slipped hers on (golden feathers and beads – how had the Snow Queen known?), and looked over at Drew. His was dark green, and looked a little like pictures of the Green Man that she’d seen in books.

 

Jade and Jack were up on their thrones, wearing matching masks of ice-encrusted leaves, and nearby, lounging on her customary throne of pillows, was Ember.

 

“Gideon, look! Ember! Come on, you have to meet her!” Kaylee grabbed Gideon’s hand and nearly dragged him over to the ice dragon, who was watching the festivities with an amused look.

 

“Oh, this might not be good,” Kiaya said, hurrying after them. “Gideon’s not really big on dragons.”

 

“He’s not?” Molly said, following her. “Why not?”

 

“He’s worried that they might cause destruction. It’s kind of weird.”

 

Ember, however, had already put the young man to ease by the time they got over there. She wore no mask, but there was a collar of snowflakes around her neck, and she invited them to join her on her pillows.

 

Kiaya, her fears assuaged, took the time to look around the room. “This is amazing,” she said. “And it happens every year?”

 

“Yes,” Molly said, and nudged her. “Want to meet the Snow Queen?”

 

“Want to? Yes. Feel I should? I don’t know.”

 

Molly chuckled and took her hand, dragging her over to the thrones. “Jade, Jack, this is Kiaya, and her husband, Zeke,” she said, since Zeke and Drew had joined them. “Gideon is their son.”

 

Jade got up and, to Kiaya’s surprise, came down and gave her a warm hug. “It is good to meet you!” she said. “Thank you for letting your son help us!”

 

“It’s my pleasure,” Kiaya stammered out. “Your Majesty.”

 

Jade laughed. “Please, don’t. It’s just Jade to my friends, and any friend of Molly’s is a friend of mine.” She then embraced Molly. “You look amazing.”

 

“So do you, as always,” Molly said. She leaned in and murmured, “Do you think he’s here?”

 

“I don’t know,” Jade whispered back. “I hope if he is, he doesn’t disrupt anything.”

 

<><>

 

“But you have to go!”

 

Monk’s face was crestfallen as he looked at Caliban.

 

“I’m not a member of the Cove, though,” Caliban said, shifting uncomfortably. “I’m not really sure I’m welcome.”

 

“Everyone is welcome,” Monk said. “Even travelers. Please, Percy, please. You should come.”

 

“I don’t have anything to wear,” Caliban hedged. “I’m just a simple traveler.”

 

“That’s easy enough,” Mrs. Hoskins said from her chair in the corner, where she was knitting. Her everyday clothing had been exchanged for an elegant dress of cranberry red, which brought out the pink of her cheeks. “You’re about the same size as my son, and he’s left a few suits. Please come with us, Percy. We’d feel terrible if you were here alone while we were out at a party. That’s not right at Christmas.”

 

And how could he argue with that? So he had acquiesced, and was now standing in the ballroom, dressed in a soft wool suit that was oddly comfortable, a snowflake mask on his face, looking around at the swirling mass of humanity. Monk stood next to him, a solid reassuring presence.

 

“Do you dance?” Monk asked him.

 

“I know how,” Caliban said. “I’m not sure anyone will want to dance with me, though.” He looked around, marveling at the masks. It was the perfect way for him to feel more comfortable, and he blessed Jade for thinking of it.

 

She was gorgeous as she sat on her throne, with Jack at her side. Caliban looked up at her, not worrying that she would recognize him, although he made himself a silent promise not to go near her. He found himself not wanting to disrupt the party.

 

That could have been you up there,  his father’s voice whispered in his mind, as he watched Jack lean over and murmur something in Jade’s ear. Whatever it had been made her laugh, a light-hearted peal of sound that rivaled the musicians in the corner. But you screwed it up. Now you have nothing.

 

But that wasn’t true either. He looked up as Monk came back, carrying two plates of food from the buffet, and handed one to him. When he had been Caliban, he’d had all sorts of hangers-on, and toadies, and no one he could really trust.

 

Now, as Percy, he had actual friends. He and Monk had forged the beginning of a friendship over games of chess at night in the boarding house, and Mrs. Hoskins was more of a mother than his mother had ever been. As Percy, Caliban realized he was actually enjoying life.

 

So it that it, then? he thought, letting chilled apple cider slide down his throat. He’d refused the champagne, not wanting to lose his grip on himself by getting even a little drunk. Have I really given up being Caliban?

 

Do I have to decide now, though?

 

“Percy?”

 

He looked up, realizing that he hadn’t heard his name being called at first. Mrs. Hoskins was looking at him.

 

“I’m so sorry,” he said. “I was a little overwhelmed.”

 

She smiled at him. “That’s understandable,” she said. “I asked if you would like to dance. I love to waltz, but the Captain’s leg doesn’t always like it.”

 

“I would be honored,” Caliban said, getting up and leading her out onto the dance floor.

 

One dance turned into several – Mrs. Hoskins was an accomplished dancer, and Caliban found himself enjoying both the exercise, and her running commentary on the people around her. And then others came up, and he found that he couldn’t refuse.

 

And then, suddenly, it was the last dance. Caliban returned to his table, and watched as every woman took off a single shoe and put it in the center of the dance floor.

 

“You all know the tradition,” Jade said, adding her crystalline slipper to the pile. “Gentlemen, come and choose a lady’s shoe. When you find her, you can take your mask off. I hope you all enjoyed this change!”

 

Caliban ended up with a dark green slipper, and he eventually found the young woman who had the other shoe. To his amusement, she had streaks of green in her hair. “Hello,” he said, as he removed his mask. “My name is Percy.”

 

“Kiaya,” she said, accepting his hand as she removed her mask as well. “And I’m new to the Cove, so I’m sorry that I don’t know you.”

 

“I’m new as well,” he said, leading her out on to the floor. “So don’t feel bad.”

 

As they danced, Caliban found her easy to talk to. They discussed writing, and he admitted that he was an avid reader, but not much of a writer, and the fun of the Advent season, especially in the Cove. He found he was rather disappointed when the dance ended.

 

“Thank you,” he said, bowing over her hand. “I enjoyed this.”

 

Kiaya dimpled. “I did too! If you want to talk books again, I’m usually at CrossWinds Books, writing. I’d love to continue our conversation.”

 

“I would like that too,” Caliban said, and realized he meant it.

 

“Mom! Look what Dad got!” Her son rushed up, interrupting them, and as she turned to him, Caliban gracefully faded into the crowd.

 

<><>

 

“What?” Kiaya asked, turning to Gideon.

 

“He danced with the Snow Queen! And she gave him a star! For a tree!” Gideon was so excited he could barely get the words out, and she looked in awe at the glistening silver star in Zeke’s hands.

 

“Wow,” she said. “That’s beautiful.”

 

“It’s MAGIC,” Gideon said, his eyes wide. “Isn’t that COOL?”

 

“It is,” Kiaya agreed, and then looked around for Percy, to show him. But he had gone, swallowed up by the people around them.

 

“Who did you dance with?” Gideon asked, reclaiming her attention.

 

“A traveler,” she said. “His name was Percy, and this was his first time in the Cove. It was neat.”

 

>Activity: Have your own masked ball! Make a mask, and dress up, and put on music!