In the dragon’s arms
«It sounds like the emperor has claws on his feet,» Flora said by ear.
«Just be glad you weren’t mauled before he got here,» the mask in her hands snickered. She loved to sneer.
«I should throw you out!»
«Just try it!» The mask’s twisted holder instantly stuck to her hands.
«You’re so clingy!»
«I want to be the mask of the Empress herself.»
«You’ll be disappointed! I’m definitely not going to be an empress.»
«I still have the right to fight for my place in the sun,» said the mask insolently. «Maybe one day my luck will shine.»
Instead of luck, something like dawn shone through the door. Had the sun really fallen into the fairies’ residence? The glow was so bright that Flora squeezed her eyes shut, and when she opened them, she noticed that the hodgepodge of fairy wings that had obscured her view of the hall had disappeared. The fairies had scattered in different directions.
That’s good! Otherwise we had to stare at winged backs instead of a fascinating sight. Flora expected to see a fairy handsome man and was disappointed. Instead, a glittering beast strode into the hall.
It was a dragon!
But what kind of dragon was it? Its skin shines like the sun! Is it golden? Where is the emperor? Is it behind the dragon’s back? Or is he not here yet and the dragon came here by mistake? Either way, he saved Flora. A mob of angry fairies could have torn her apart, and an elf wouldn’t have helped.
The dragon roared, and the fairies suddenly became frightened. They all scattered hastily to the wall niches and corners. A few fairies even flew into the chandelier.
The dragon stepped on the marble floor, leaving scratches on the tiles. The scratches were immediately smoothed out, but the fairies’ fear of the dragon did not go away. They had done something that he could not forgive.
Flora belatedly realized she was alone in the center of the hall. Again her inability to fly had failed her. Too bad fairies had wings and she didn’t. Otherwise she would have flown away frightened now too.
Apparently, the dragon had mistaken her for prey, because it reached out a paw toward her. For a moment, Flora felt like a toy. The elf thoughtfully fluttered away.
The dragon’s touch was like some kind of ritual before a sacrifice. The huge paw could have crushed Flora, but hesitated. It was as if the dragon recognized her.
What eyes it had! Real aquamarines! No, they’re sapphires! How quickly they change color! Flora stared into them like a kaleidoscope.
«You’re the first dragon I’ve ever seen in my life,» she whispered.
It was naive to think that a dragon could understand her. It could hardly speak human language, but fairies, judging by their behavior, understood dragon language perfectly.
The dragon picked Flora up, spun her around a bit, and then set her back down. It resembled a strange dance. It made her dizzy, but Flora liked the sensation of flying.
The fairies were jealous at the height, but did not dare to approach. It would only take a dragon protector to scare off a whole pack of fairies. Flora was content to meet a dragon, if he didn’t eat her at the end, of course. You could expect anything from dragons, after all. Flora had heard somewhere that innocent girls were sacrificed to them. Dragons are notorious lovers of earthly beauties. But what was a dragon doing at a fairy masquerade?
«Did you come here by mistake?»
The dragon understood her and shook its horned head negatively.
The mask in Flora’s hand suddenly laughed. What did she find so funny?
The fairies weren’t laughing, but were whispering excitedly. They clearly didn’t like what was happening. Flora thought for a moment that she was dancing around the hall with a beau in a golden dragon mask. It must have been the magical mirrors set up in a circle that sent her such visions. The feeling of the dance was very real. Flora covered her eyes for a moment and almost touched the face in the scaly golden mask. Too bad there wasn’t really any cavalier nearby, there was only the monster. The dragon delicately placed a paw on Flora’s arm, as if asking her to sit in a flying palanquin.
«Do you want to carry me away from here?» Flora was frightened at first. Dragons were known to kidnap innocent girls and carry them away to their lair. It wasn’t hard to imagine a dragon cave full of human bones and gold coins.
Becoming a dragon’s victim is scary, but falling into the claws of evil fairies is no better. Flora chose the dragon. She stepped into its paw and immediately found herself clutched in its golden claws.
The dragon flew out of the fairy palace and carried her high above the kraken’s tentacles stretching out of the water. Now they would grab the flying dragon. Flora squawked, but the dragon roared again, and the kraken pointed its tentacles at the palace, scaled its walls, and crawled limbs through the windows. The fairies shrieked in outrage, as if a beehive had broken out.
«He’s going to crush them along with the palace!» Flora turned around in the dragon’s claws and noticed that the kraken’s tentacles were blocking all the fairies’ exits.
«It serves them right!» The mask said. «Boorish! Too bad they’re immortal and will still survive.»
The dragon flew over the bridges spanning the sea.
«Ah, it is the rainbow of the sea!» The mask enthusiastically named the bridges. «How wonderful it is to travel on a sea rainbow!»
Flora did not interrupt her. They were not traveling over the bridges, but flying over the bridges in the claws of a dragon. The mask was enjoying the walk. Flora liked flying in the sky herself. The stars were so close! The night wind blew in her face. Or maybe it wasn’t the wind, but the oscillation of the air masses under the dragon’s wings.
It was a pity she couldn’t see the emperor the fairies had been waiting for. But the situation was tense. If the dragon didn’t carry her away, the fairies would just tear her apart.
Instead of dragging her to a lair full of coins and bones, the dragon gently placed her on the tower of her father’s castle.
«Thank you!» Flora said.
Did the dragon understand her? He hovered above the castle for another minute.
«Oh, how beautiful it is!» Flora said with a gasp as the dragon flew away. The glow faded in the distance over the sea bridges.
«He saved me! Can you imagine? Everyone is afraid of dragons and warns against dealing with them. But the dragon saved me!»
«From what was it?» The mask in her hands squinted hypocritically. «Was it from a wonderful night’s ball? We could have danced till morning. I would have flirted with your suitors for you.»
«What do you mean? They were all evil fairies! They didn’t have enough suitors of their own. They nearly tore me apart! Didn’t you see?»
«You should have asked me to turn you into a fairy, or one of them, or a fairy queen. That would have scared them. I can make you look like anything for a while.»
«Do I have to ask you to do that? You wouldn’t drink the life out of me for giving me a disguise for an hour, would you?»
«It is not your whole life, it is just a drop.»
«You are rascal! You are vampire!»
«I need something to eat, too,» the mask even took offense.
If the mask fell asleep, it became motionless.
Flora closed her eyes dreamily and remembered the flight. The dragon had carried her over the sea and the bridges. The starry heavens were as close as the canopy of a bed. In flight on the dragon it seems that the sky is a canopy over a sleeping world.
Flora has become a dreamer. Flying is so romantic. Except the dragon isn’t Prince Charming, but he’s a loyal protector. He didn’t eat her at the end of the journey. Flora’s heart raced as she thought she saw the golden glow of the sea again.
«I think I’ve fallen in love with a dragon,» she whispered.
«Yes, is it really?» The stranger emerged from the darkness.
Flora shuddered. Where had he come from? Was he hiding on the parapet of the tower? Why hadn’t she noticed him at once? And why was he wearing a golden mask? Is he in a hurry to the masquerade, too? One end of the sea bridge suddenly came to rest against the tower. It’s as if it was made for a stranger.
«Since when do you feel sympathy for the dragon, young lady?»
«Ever since the dragon saved me,» Flora stammered. The stranger was being insolent, and it embarrassed her.
«It was I who saved you,» he said suddenly.
«It was not you, but the dragon!»
«Is it really?»
«That’s right! The dragon saved me.»
«And if the dragon belongs to me. What do you owe me for riding it?»
«Who are you? Are you a friend of my brother?»
Flora squinted. Looking at the stranger was difficult. His mask shone too brightly. It was like the sun in the night! The mask was humbly silent in his presence and pretended to be inanimate. So there was something wrong with this stranger. Usually, the magic mask is very talkative. Even at the ball, she wanted to be flirtatious with someone even though her mistress might be torn apart. And some guy scares her.
«I am the dragon master,» he introduced himself and kissed Flora’s hand. His kiss burned her skin like fire.
Dancing with the wizard
«Why don’t you take off your mask?» Flora blew on her burned hand. «Or do you have dragon scales on your face?»
The stranger seemed offended, deciding she thought he was ugly. What did he expect, hiding under a mask? It was the night of the fairy masquerade. He’s probably going to the masquerade, too. Maybe he’s an elf.
As soon as he took off the mask, Flora gasped in admiration. A more beautiful face she had never seen in her life. Surely the stranger must be an elf.
«I am Flora, the only daughter of the local Marquis de Rione, the owner of this castle,» she immediately introduced herself. Such wording added to her importance, for her father was the only marquis in this pear. Majorate was not observed here, so she could have called herself a marquise, but for some reason she did not dare. A stranger might think she was already married. She didn’t want that. Perhaps she should have mentioned that she had no fiancé yet. She was drawn to the stranger like a magnet. She wanted him to feel something romantic for her.
«I’m Edwin,» the elf said reluctantly.
«You are just Edwin! And have you got the titles? What are you?»
«I am the dragon master. That’s enough to respect me.»
That’s right! A dragon can only be owned by a very noble man, or rather a very noble elf.
«Where do you live? Do you have your own castle?»
«Yes, I do.»
«Are your estates large?»
«They are larger than this manor.»
«Then what are you doing here?»
«I flew to the fairy masquerade and my dragon noticed you needed help. The fairies attacked you.»
«Did they mistake me for someone else?»
«Fairies don’t usually make mistakes.»
«But in my case, they did.»
«Are you sure?»
«I am!»
Edwin’s skin and golden hair glowed by itself. She guessed all elves glow in the dark like stars. Flora liked Edwin so much that she instantly forgave him for burning her hand. He must have picked up dragon manners from his time with the dragon.
«Why is the way to the fairy masquerade through the Earth Garden?» Flora wondered. «Is my ancestral castle enchanted?»
«I don’t think so. The portal to the fairies’ residence opens in a new place every time. Someone must have practiced magic in this castle if the portal was found in your garden this time.»
«It wasn’t me!» Flora hastily hid behind her back her mask. It laughed at her mistress.
«Then perhaps a witch has taken up residence in your towers.»
Flora didn’t like that assumption. Maybe Edwin was joking. Sometimes he seemed to speak in riddles. He was difficult to talk to, but you could drown in his eyes.
Flora was extremely disappointed when he said:
«I have to go.»
«But why is it?»
«I must return to the fairies’ residence to restore order. The fairies can’t keep harassing random guests.»
«Do you think those beasts will listen to you?»
«They’ll have to,» Edwin’s eyes glittered coldly.
«And who are you for the fairies to listen to? Are you a local steward?»
«It is something like that.»
«You’d better stay here. It’s safe.»
«I wouldn’t say that,» Edwin sniffed the clear air above the towers. «There’s an aura of black magic over the castle.»
Again he alludes to the witch in the locked towers. This is too much! Flora was angry, but she still didn’t want to let Edwin go. It felt like if he left, the sun would set.
«Will you pay us a visit? Come to dinner tomorrow.»
«You’re inviting me?» Edwin looked surprised, as if she’d said something stupid.
«Of course I am.»
«What if the dragon comes with me?»
«I don’t suppose it would want to join a human dinner?»
«What if he did?»
«His face wouldn’t even fit through the door,» laughed Flora.
«Suppose he can shrink in size when he needs to, and he can even sit at the table with you.»
«I don’t think he’d like salads, pies, and baked apples. And I don’t think dragons drink wine.»
Edwin laughed.
«Are you so sure?»
Flora blinked her eyelashes. His laughter sounded like the tinkling of bells. The laughter of elves must mesmerize people and rob them of their considerations. She was willing to promise Edwin anything.
«How many dragons do you know personally?» Edwin asked her with a laugh.
«Only one so far, it is yours.»
«And not very close. You’ve only ridden it once. But I controlled it.»
«Would it have thrown me off otherwise?»
«It could have been worse.»
Edwin’s eyes glittered so dangerously that Flora backed away from him, her back against the parapet. There was nowhere else to retreat.
«What could be worse than falling off a dragon’s back and being smashed to bits?»
«It is being eaten by a dragon,» Edwin said helpfully.
«Your dragon eats people?»
«Sometimes he burns them,» was the streamlined answer.
«If you bring him to our feast and he manages to squeeze through the door, he should be offered a meat menu. I’ll keep that in mind.»
«What if the dragon decides to snack on the guests?»
«My father often has strange guests, so I don’t mind, as long as he doesn’t touch any of my family.»
«How easily you bargained with the dragon,» Edwin laughed again.
What did he find so funny about such horrifying topics? Flora felt uneasy.
«If you can persuade your dragon to eat the witch who lurks in my father’s castle, I’m welcome. I don’t feel sorry for witches,» Flora joked.
«And if the witch is you?»
«I’m definitely not a witch!»
«Can you prove it?»
«Witches are old, scary and fly at night on broomsticks.»
«Some witches are young and attractive,» Edwin said with the confidence of a connoisseur.
«But everyone flies on broomsticks.»
«So if you fly, you’ll think you’re a witch?» Edwin suddenly switched to «you,» as if he were an old friend, and put his arm around Flora’s waist.
«I won’t fly, because I don’t have wings like a fairy. Nor can I fly with brooms like a witch.»
«But you can dance with me. Maybe something will come out of it.»
«I don’t think a dance will make a flight,» Flora put her hand in Edwin’s confidently. He danced a circle with her across the roof and then suddenly pulled her away from the hard surface. Flora thought he was only helping her to jump up in the dance, but as time passed, she felt no ground beneath her feet. Edwin continued to lead her in the dance already through the air. They danced over the parapet of the roof, then over the garden. In another moment, they would rise into the starry sky.
«You’re an elf! That’s why you’re flying!» Flora tried to feel for the wings behind his back, but only touched his cloak.
«I’m only proving to you that you’re a witch, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to fly at night over the castle.»
«That’s cheating! You flew me!»
«Only witches can communicate with spirits who take them on night flights.»
Flora didn’t know what to say. Edwin had stumped her. He reluctantly returned her to the roof and muttered.
«You’re a witch after all, if you’ve managed to charm me.»
Only a witch could charm an elf, Flora suggested.
«I didn’t mean it,» she squeaked, but Edwin suddenly decided to give her a gift – a rose from the flames. The flower came out of nowhere and burned in his hand. The petals, the stem, and even the thorns of the rose were made of fire.
«Take it!»
«I’ll burn myself,» Flora was frightened, but Edwin put the fiery rose into her hand, and surprisingly, she was not burned.
But Edwin himself disappeared as if he had never been there.
A real witch
«Flora de Rione!» The mask suddenly called her by name.
«How did you know my full name?» Flora glanced warily at the mask, which was squirming and making funny faces in her hands. The holder grew hot.
«Oh, put that disgusting thing away!» The mask wailed. Its thin voice resembled a ringing sound. It seemed that it wasn’t the mask screaming, but the vase shattered and the shards fell to the floor.
«What do you mean?»
«It is this one!»
«Is it a flower?» Flora was astonished. Why didn’t the mask like flowers?
The mask blinked its empty eye sockets in agreement.
«And hurry up!»
«But it’s not disgusting! It’s a rose!»
«It’s fire! I’ll burn myself on it!»
«I don’t burn myself on it. You’re too sensitive for a gold plate,» Flora held the flaming stem in her hand and didn’t even feel the heat.
«You look dead,» the mask squinted at her. «You are senseless, like a corpse.»
«Are you insulting me?»
«I’m just characterizing you. How can a living girl not get burned by fire? Only the dead aren’t afraid of pain.»
«Maybe the rose is enchanted.»
It was given by a wizard who can fly and wields a dragon! Flora’s never had such a friend before. It’s not a friend, it’s a fairy tale! If only he hadn’t forgotten about the dinner invitation. Flora was afraid of losing such an acquaintance. Where else would she meet a magician? A new friend could be useful. If you asked a wizard for a favor, he’d roll mountains.
The mask whimpered and whined, fearing the flames from the rose would disfigure it.
«I’ll melt!» She whimpered.
«It is all right,» Flora stuck the rose into the empty hole in the candelabra.
The mask took a breath of relief. Then suddenly it cried out again in terror. Flora carried it right over the fireplace.
«Ouch, it’s hot!» The mask began to melt right in Flora’s hands, but when she took it to the shade, the melted edges were immediately restored.
«How magical you are!» Flora marveled.
«And you’re magical too!»
«What makes you think so?»
«Fire doesn’t burn you.»
«It doesn’t?» Flora thought it was funny. She put her hand to the fire in the fireplace. Indeed, it doesn’t feel hot. Flora moved her hand lower right up to the tongues of flame. It didn’t feel hot, no burn left on her palm.
«Maybe communing with a wizard conferred magic? By the way, I wonder who lit the fireplace at this late hour. All the servants are asleep.»
«No, it is not all of them,» determined the mask, listening to the silence. Her golden ears perked up. «Someone is wandering the corridor.»
«I don’t see anyone. Maybe it’s my brother back from the village tavern. He drinks there and plays cards all night long.»
«No, it’s not Rafael de Rione,» the mask objected.
«How do you even know my brother’s name? Do you read people’s minds?»
«No, I read the inscriptions on your coats of arms, shields and tapestries.»
Flora only now noticed the commemorative plaques on the walls. There they marked victories in war, weddings, birth dates, and, naturally, birth names. But the letters were so small that you couldn’t read them without a magnifying glass, and the plaques themselves were high up under the arches of the entrances. You’d have to have wings to fly up to them and read them. The plaques were for fashion, not for information.
«You have a dragon’s eyesight,» Flora praised.
«I can also flap my wings and fly to the ceiling,» the mask boasted.
«Don’t show me to Edwin,» the mask squeaked.
«Why is it not? Do you think you’re ugly? Or are you afraid he’ll cast a spell on you? You’re already bewitched.»
The mask remained silent, though Flora shook it this way and that.
«I am not a toy!» Tired of being squeezed, the mask finally declared. «Treat me gently. I am your friend from now on.»
Flora had never had a friend before. After all, there is no one to get acquainted with, and to be friends with peasants does not allow etiquette. But with a magic mask can safely be friends with a marquise, and even the queen. Magic is a rank above earthly titles and privileges.
«There is someone nearby,» the mask warned again. Its whisper sounded like the hiss of melting metal.
This time the mask was right. An old housekeeper named Drusilla was awake. She was sitting on the sill of an open window, stroking her broom lovingly for some reason. The old woman was wearing a pointed hat and a dark dress, the kind of dress one normally wears to a funeral. Where were the cream-colored collars and lace that the housekeeper usually wore?
«See you later!» The housekeeper waved to the stars as if they were her friends and hurried forward down the hall. There was no bunch of keys in her hands, but she somehow managed to open the door at the end of the hallway. Flora didn’t remember there being a door here before. At the end of the hallway, there was usually a dead end. Apparently, the dead end has a sliding panel. Either there’s a hiding place behind it, or some kind of utility room. The smell of herbs wafted from it.
Drusilla entered a secret room where a cauldron was sizzling and bundles of black herbs were drying. The mirror on the wall suddenly reflected a young, attractive brunette in a black dress instead of the kind old woman. The pointed black hat suited her well. If not for the lack of wings, the stranger could be mistaken for a black fairy.
Flora cautiously followed Drusilla. The reflection in the mirror winked at her.
«Are you spying, my lady?»
Flora gasped, and the coal-black cat jumped to her feet and glared at her with yellow eyes.
«To me, Blackie!» Drusilla’s voice called. It was suddenly young and sonorous.
Flora peeped through the door of the secret room. The room looked like a kitchen. Bundles of herbs hung around, jars of powders, probably condiments, stood on shelves. Except that the skull between them was definitely not part of the kitchen arsenal. Its eyes flashed red fire. Bats gathered under the ceiling.
«How tiresome is to wear a mask!» Drusilla shook herself off, as if from dust, and suddenly became young and pretty. Flora gasped. Before her stood a lady with a wasp waist, matte skin, and high breasts in a black lace corsage. Her blue-black curls ran down below her waist. They seemed like living snakes.
The metamorphosis was astounding. Only the black cat was already used to her mistress’s transformation. It jumped nimbly on Drusilla’s shoulder and mewed something in her ear, evidently to Flora, for Drusilla stared at the doorway.
«Come in, mistress!» she called. «Don’t stand on the threshold like a stranger.»
Long black nails beckoned Flora inside. The girl entered reluctantly. The door behind her back did not slam shut. Apparently, Drusilla had put the whole castle to sleep.
Oh, my! The old housekeeper Drusilla, who always looked after Flora, was a witch with a black cat on her shoulder.
«Drusilla! So you’re a witch?»
«Shh!» Drusilla put a black fingernail to her lips.
That’s who Edwin meant! There is indeed a real witch in the castle!
«It was a good thing Blackie noticed you,» Drusilla petted the cat. «Otherwise I wouldn’t have shown you the respect you deserve and would have been blacklisted from the Magic Empire.»
«What are you talking about?»
Drusilla suddenly crouched down in front of Flora in a curtsy as if she were a princess.
«You don’t think I’m the queen of witches, do you?» Flora hesitated. And even if Drusilla thinks she is the witch lord, it’s good for her. Since the witch respects her, it means she won’t turn on her. Good! Flora pretended to understand and took it as a sign of respect. The main thing is not to be exposed.
«So you remembered who you are, Mistress?»
«I haven’t forgotten that,» Flora didn’t remember having recurring amnesia recently. Yes, there had been lapses of memory, but who she was, Flora remembered perfectly. She is the only daughter of the honorable Marquis de Rione. There’s no confusing her! Drusilla had certainly mistaken her for someone else. Maybe witchery makes witches misunderstand.
«So that’s how cunning you are!» Drusilla was truly gloating. «You just pretended to be oblivious! You’re a true witch lord!»
«I’d rather be a fairy lord,» said Flora, remembering the winged beauties’ sharp claws and stubborn temper. Then she would have tamed them.
«Don’t they obey you anymore?» Drusilla gasped with genuine indignation. «Oh, they are rebellious! Report them to the Emperor of all evil spirits.»
«I don’t even know him,» Fora faltered again, noticing Drusilla’s indignation. «I don’t want to go to him now,» she corrected quickly.
«It’s true. You did prefer to do everything behind his back. That’s the right thing to do! Men should be led around by the nose. I’ve seduced a couple of sorcerer kings, too.»
«Have you?!»
Drusilla took out a mirror and began to make herself up. Apparently, the mirror in the ornament of bones and thistles was magical, because Drusilla was suddenly transformed into a young enchantress.
«I’m not as beautiful as you are, but with a pinch of magic I can charm a king, a sultan, or even Edwin’s courtiers.»
«Wait! You mentioned that Edwin has courtiers. Is he the ruler of any state? Or do you mean not the Edwin who was going to the fairy masquerade?»
How many young men can still be called Edwin? Flora could not believe that a handsome young warlock could be a king.
Drusilla blinked her eyelashes in amazement, and the cat on her shoulder meowed questioningly. Flora was suddenly surprised to find that she understood cat language. How could this be? Blackie asked:
«What’s the matter with her?» The cat pointed doubtfully with its left paw at Flora.
«You must be joking?» Drusilla marveled at the cat’s tone.
«I…» Flora didn’t know what to lie this time and pressed her hand to her forehead.
«Are you dizzy?» Drusilla asked sympathetically.
«Do you have any potions for headaches?» Flora decided to distract her.
«I have a lot of them, both to cause pain and to relieve it, but you mustn’t take them, or the other that sits inside you may be released, and your body will no longer belong to you. It’s so young, so fresh. Where will you find another like it? The young Marquise was the only noble beauty in this wilderness. And peasant bodies never satisfied you. It’s her spirit rebelling inside you. It makes you dizzy and forget things from time to time. And it is impossible to evict her from your body. Otherwise the body will grow old very quickly. And you’ll have to find a new one.»
Ah, that’s it! Flora listened and gradually became terrified. If Drusilla thought she was talking to some sorceress who had taken over her body, it meant that Flora was under regular magical attacks. That’s why the blackouts and strange dreams. Some evil spirit tried to take over her body, but failed. Let Drusilla think she’s talking to a great sorceress, not the Marquis’ naive daughter Flora.
«This body is fine. I got over the one who squeezed me out of it,» Flora decided to play along with a touch of sneer. «Let’s forget about her! From now on, think of me only as Flora, and don’t mention the other one.»
«The main thing is that this body should last you longer. There must be traces of death and the magic that destroys it. Let me see!»
«Don’t!» Flora wanted only to remove Drusilla’s hand, but the witch shrieked and didn’t stay on her feet. Flora’s touch struck her in the chest with a bolt of lightning.
«Oh, I’m sorry! I can’t believe it’s me!» Flora watched in consternation as Drusilla rose with the help of a broom that flew up to help.
«You’re so strong! You’re the Queen of Evil!»
Flora was surprised herself. Probably, by displacing the magical invader from her body, she had taken away some of her magic powers.
«Don’t tell anyone that I went to the Fairy Masquerade last night,» she warned Drusilla.
«Of course, Mistress,» Drusilla shook off the strange green dust that was everywhere. Sometimes the dust clouds took the shape of moaning or hissing faces.
«I’ve got to go!» Flora hurried away before Drusilla realized and bewitched her. «Good night!»
«When are witches’ nights ever goodnight!» Drusilla snorted, and Blackie wagged her tail happily at Flora. The cat was clearly relieved that her guest was leaving.
«Who did think I was the witch!» Flora wondered as she walked down the corridor. The door behind her had already disappeared. The fire rose glowed in the candelabra like a star. Flora decided it was best not to leave the magical object in front of everyone and took the rose to her bedroom. At least no one would see it there.
«That’s right!» This time the mask supported her. «Traces of magic should be hidden from people.»
«I’m human, too,» Flora muttered.
«Are you sure about that?» The mask’s words were tinged with sarcasm.
«Yes!» Flora looked at herself in the wall mirror. «I’m human!»
Her own reflection suddenly winked at her, and Flora recoiled from the mirror. Better not look in mirrors at night anymore. Flora had heard from someone that evil spirits could appear in mirrors at midnight. Or maybe it was the clever Drusilla who put a spell on all the mirrors in the castle.
«The spirits of the looking-glasses are joking with you,» consoled the mask.
«That’s all! And I thought I was turning into a wicked witch. By the way, do you know who Drusilla has confused me with?»
The mask must have known, but it didn’t say a word, only laughed deafeningly in response. Her laughter rang out over the night castle.
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