“After I saw how awfully familiar she made herself with my Lord Everleigh,” The redhead snickered, “I knew I had to do something to stop her from coming to the ball without embarrassing herself. It was entirely too easy.”

“Lady Denna!” Her friend whispered, “Aren’t you scared of getting caught?”

“With what consequence? Pay a few gold to get the dress cleaned and fixed up? Small price to pay for her to be kicked down a step,” She snorted, “My brother snuck into her room earlier in the day anyway. I’m sure he’s taken care of it.”

“Don’t think you may have taken it too far?”

“After Lord Wade and I are married, I don’t care how many mistresses he entertains,” She scoffed, “But she is not the right woman for him. I am.”

“I still wouldn’t brag.”

“Brag about what?” The door opened as the countess stepped into the dressing room.

“Countess Everleigh!” Denna stood and curtsied, “Good evening. How kind of you to grace us with your presence.”

The other dozens of women in the room mimicked her. The countess wore a slim dress with black details that matched her sheer veil. She urged them to rise as she stepped further into the small dressing room.

“I believe I heard something about bragging?”

“I’m only talking about the marriage contract my father has been working on, of course,” She dramatically fanned herself, “We haven’t heard back from you yet. I have high hopes you will accept. Though, my father is open to negotiation.”

“My brother is against it completely,” She said coldly, “He would rather marry Miss Charlotte.”

“Speaking of the infamous lady,” Denna chuckled, “Where is she? Isn’t the ball supposed to begin soon?”

“Miss Charlotte has been kidnapped,” The countess spoke softly, “I wanted to warn you all to be on alert.”

She grabbed her face to stop the sip of water from coming out of her nose, “Kidnapped?”

“If she can be kidnapped and held for ransom, it is likely that any of you could be as well. I’ve spoken to your families. If they don’t feel comfortable with you attending the ball, then they will take you home,” Wanda bowed her head, “There is no need to worry, though. You should be perfectly safe now that we know there’s an issue. Our guards are scouring the perimeter of the mainland and will provide everyone an escort home.”

“By the gods,” One of the women whispered, “Kidnapped?”

“We are no longer allowing anyone without an invitation into the building,” The guard at the countess’s side stomped his foot, “Once you ladies are ready to join the ball, I will escort you. If you see anything suspicious tonight, do not hesitate to alert a guard.”

“With that said,” The countess bowed her head, “I look forward to seeing all your lovely dresses twirling about. Enjoy yourselves.”

“Denna,” Her friend leaned into whisper in her ear, “Did…?”

“I did not!” She hissed in a light whisper, “I only wanted her clothes to be destroyed.”

As Wanda left the room, she tapped a finger to her chin. Wade told her that Denna might have had something to do with Charlie’s situation. She didn’t think so, as mentioning she had been kidnapped made the nervous woman look ill. When the countess descended the stairs to the main floor, Bryza whistled to get her attention.

“Did you find her?”

“No, I haven’t,” She shook her head, “Though, I heard of a woman fitting her description purchasing shoes not too long ago.”

“A woman buying shoes?” Wanda snorted, “That’s the best you found?”

“An unaccompanied woman buying shoes with heels high enough to break an ankle? Calling them… stripper heels?”

“That… may be a more reliable lead then,” She sighed, “Where is she now?”

“When I went to find where the woman may have gone, she disappeared again. I came back shortly after,” The elf scratched at a hoop in her ear, “My scouts are looking outside of town. So far, I haven’t heard anything about any suspicious group leaving Vlaminer with her in their midst. She’s still around here and wasn’t seen in distress. Perhaps she will return.”

“Sister!”

Wanda turned to see her brother Walton run towards her, “What is it?”

“I have tried to tell this group that they cannot enter without invitation, but –” He panted, “They asked for the person in charge and would not accept my authority.”

As she hurriedly followed him across the open floor, an odd group blocked the entrance to the ballroom. A lion man in just s suit coat and cummerbund, a green goblin in a ball gown, a raven-haired woman in a sparkling dress, and a girl made completely of water all argued with the guards at the door. Wanda stood in front of them and took in the sight. Most of the creatures she had never seen before.

“You are going to let us in!” The lion roared.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve barred entry from anyone who—”

“I don’t care about your stupid dance,” Puddles held up a hand, “Where’s Charlie?”

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“Charlie?” She blinked.

“Miss Charlotte,” The baron coughed, “Brother says she goes by Charlie.”

“Miss Charlotte? She’s got to hate that,” Piper laughed, “Besides, we have an invitation. Some sleazy family invited Seamstress here.”

She motioned down to the goblin.

“The Lady Denna of house Astra, to be exact,” Gabby curtsied, “She is wearing my dress and wanted to introduce me to the countess.”

The tiny green woman played with her hair as the Wanda stared at her. The fae were notoriously hard to find, yet Denna invited one to her ball.

“I told her I would be bringing more guests,” The goblin motioned to the others.

“Lady Denna is not in charge. I am the countess throwing this party. I did not invite you, so –”

“I don’t hate doing this but I didn’t want to cause a scene,” Puddles groaned, “You’ve left me no choice.”

The goddess held her hand up and forced her will into the air. She saw the wide eyes around her as her imposing aura exploded over the room. Most sucked in what breath they could as droplets of moisture congregated around Puddles. If these stupid mortals won’t let her do what she wants, then she would just make them do it anyway. She shielded those she arrived with because they treated her respectfully. The others were forced to kneel.

“Introduce me,” She huffed and crossed her arms.

“Countess Everleigh,” Davon adjusted his tie, “This is Puddles, the goddess of the Healing Oasis. She’s a descendant of Ocean, goddess of all water.”

Puddles released the spell, and the entire building took a breath.

“Now Charlie, Miss Charlotte, or whatever she’s going by now told me she was going to be at this stupid ball. Where is she?”

Wanda wheezed as she ordered her brother, “Go get Wade. Meet us in the drawing room.”

He bowed at the waist before he sped off. She caught her breath before getting back to her knees and dusting herself off.

“Please, follow me. I haven’t heard of any god making an appearance for something so trivial as a ball. I was unprepared for a goddess to join us today.”

“What did you think I was?” Puddles scoffed, “Some common elemental?”

“Of course not, your eminence.”

“Good! I drowned the last person to ask that.”

“As you should at that insult,” She cleared her throat, “Dame Bryza, please make sure that we are not disturbed.”

The countess led the odd group through the mostly empty ballroom to a door pass the grand staircase. It opened to a waiting room with the outer wall of all windows. Sunlight danced off of the beautiful flower garden just outside. Wanda motioned to the couch as everyone entered.

“Please excuse my men. We are on high alert today,” She cleared her throat, “We have reason to believe that Miss Charlotte has been kidnapped.”

“Again?” Davon groaned, “I bought these clothes just for this ball and she’s not even here.”

“That’s impossible. I can feel her location ping—” Puddles’s empty eyes looked towards the main house, “On the highest floor closet to us. It hasn’t moved in hours.”

“She was last seen in my youngest brother’s room. I sent someone to fetch him. He knows her better than anyone else here.”

“How long has Charlie been here?” Piper pulled a cigarette from between her breasts and held it towards Gabby for a light, “We’ve been waiting around a couple of months now.”

“She was near death when they first arrived.”

“They?” The lion asked.

“Wade, my youngest brother, brought her here,” Wanda pointed to the staff and waved them away to get something to drink, “She spent nearly a month in a delirious state while healers worked on her.”

“That sounds like Charlie,” Puddles groaned, “How long has she been awake?”

“About two weeks now.”

“We were near the northeastern border by then,” Piper took a long drag on her cigarette before handing it to Gabby, “So, we were still out of range until we returned today.”

“I’ve kept a look out here as I’ve strummed up business,” The goblin shrugged before blowing a puffy smoke ring into the air, “I hadn’t heard anything.”

The countess scrunched her nose at the pair but decided not to say anything to them with the temperamental goddess there. If she was fine with it, Wanda must be as well.

“If she’s been kidnapped without the mug, then we will never find her,” Davon ran a hand down his snout, “My mother is going to kill me.”

The door swung open. A frazzled Wade jumped in with an exhausted expression. He looked at each of them and tried to remember the names Charlie told him.

“I’m Wade Everleigh. You must be… Davon,” He shook the lion’s hand, “The archer, correct? Wonderful to meet you.”

“You as well.”

“Hello, handsome.”

“Ah, the lovely Miss Piper, I presume?” He grinned at the compliment and took her hand as he moved to the next woman, “You must be Seamstress Gabby.”

“A pleasure,” She grabbed his finger with her entire hand and shook.

“Lady Charlotte’s outfits have caused quite a stir when she wears them in the town,” He kissed the women’s tiny hands, “I’m a fan of the outfits you’ve made for her.”

“You’re too kind,” The goblin chuckled and threw her green hair over her shoulder.

“Which leaves you,” He knelt and lowered his head in recognition of Puddles, “An honor to meet you, young goddess. I will say my lady told me to expect a young woman of clear waters. But I never imagined a goddess as cute as you.”

“What did you just call me?!” Her ears steamed, “Cute?!”

“Yes,” He leaned back with a puzzled face, “Lady Charlotte said that you liked being called cute?”

“That idiot,” Puddles jerked her head away, “I am not cute! Cute is what you would call an animal. I am a goddess. I am elegant! Regal! Fantastical!”

“My mistake. I’m sure you know how Lady Charlotte likes to play games,” He bowed his head, “I do not see… Jonah? I think that was the raven’s name.”

“Crow,” Piper rolled her eyes, “I’m the raven.”

“Apologies, Miss Piper,” He scanned the room, “Where is Squirt?”

“So, you’re Charlie’s new best friend I’m guessing?” The lion chuckled, “Squirt and Jonah are checking around for her with the last person in our party. If they find her, she’ll be able to find us.”

“I must ask…” Wanda patted the couch next to her to get Wade to sit, “How exactly did you… meet Miss Charlotte?”

“Charlie has a nasty habit of either causing or solving problems,” The goddess crossed her arms and frowned, “Right now, it’s fifty-fifty.”

“I would say more help. She is a mystical woman,” Wade smiled, “I’m honored to meet her friends.”

“Dear brother, you neglected to mention her friends to me,” The countess glared at him, “Or that they would visit us.”

“I did not know, sister.”

“It would be better if she was here to introduce us herself,” Puddles stood and looked around the room, “The Leonie are waiting for me to return again, and I can’t do that until I find her.”

“You’re taking her away?” His face fell.

“Not exactly. We’re helping her with—”

“A quest!” The goddess interrupted the lion as a ball of water formed around his snout, “She’s hired to be somewhere and we’re escorting her.”

He pawed at the water before she dismissed it.

“A goddess of water is escorting her?” Wanda raised an eyebrow.

“It’s a bit of both,” She waved the glance away, “I haven’t left the oasis in centuries. She needs to get past the attunement center and—well, if she hasn’t told you then I won’t either.”

“I know that she has a particularly interesting past,” Wade tried to stress it without bringing up the words, “Her attunements come from a strange land, is what she told me.”

“Awon?” The countess blinked, “I’ve heard of some particularly odd attunements from there.”

Puddles narrowed her eyes at the man, “I would like to discuss more with you, alone.”

“The house is already filling with guests. Lady Charlotte’s friends are properly dressed and will fit in as… well as they can,” He looked to his sister, “I’ll be fine. We’ve waited long enough. Go make your announcements.”

“You are all welcomed guests in my home,” The countess curtsied, “Please, find me when you’re ready and I will introduce you to some of our other guests.”