Read Online A Farewell to Charms by Lindsey Leavitt - Free Book Online Page A

the trees were dense—I could run into something there, but we were too far now. The inner gardens were just a few yards away, and once I reached those, the pathway would be smooth and obstacle-free. My only chance of making something happen was here on the old bridge. Maybe the pond…No, I couldn’t just flop into a pond. What if it wasn’t deep enough?
    I would have to trip. Really trip, face-plant trip, so I would definitely get hurt. Unlike athletic feats, tripping was something I could do. Unfortunately, I would be the one hurt, not Vanna. Even after the rouge wore off and I was back to Desi, that injury would stay.
    I knew this gig was going to cause me physical harm. But there wasn’t any other option. I would lose much more then my dignity and health if that film crew documented my attempt at gymnastics. I had just a few more steps on the bridge. I had to do a fall. Now.
    I faked an unconvincing stumble, but when I did, my heel really did catch on a stone, sending my weight sideways. My knee slammed into the low stone wall before I catapulted over the bridge and into the lily pond, which, it turned out, was shallow enough that the pond floor knocked the wind out of me. I pushed some sludge out of my eyes and looked up at an ashen-faced Janin. My knee and ankle were already throbbing.
    Mission…accomplished. I guess.
    * * *
    A flurry of nurses hoisted me onto a stretcher and into the palace. My tour of the beautiful building was minimal, since all I saw was ceiling. I was brought into Vanna’s lavender-and-gray room, where attendants helped bathe me and dress me in a silk kimono, before a doctor analyzed my injuries. I had a large contusion on my knee and a small ankle sprain. As far as intentional wounds go, I’d done pretty well—I’d be laid up at least until next week, and I would probably be gone before that. I was propped up onto pillows, given almond cookies and green tea, and left to rest.
    Why hadn’t I thought of injuring myself before? When I was Floressa Chase, I had to roller skate around a yacht—one slip could have bought me days of R & R. And if I stocked up on some fake blood, every sub job would be a breeze.
    There was a quick rap on the door.
    “Uh, you may enter!” I called.
    A young woman, maybe in her early twenties, hurried in, wheeling a cart filled with all sorts of cleaning supplies. Even in her frumpy maid uniform, she was ethereal—lean frame, glowing skin, and brown almond-shaped eyes. So this was Vanna’s friend Sora. I thought maid meant something like maiden or lady-in-waiting, but nope. Maid meant maid.
    “You alone?” she asked.
    I nodded.
    She grabbed my knee and squeezed.
    I yowled in pain. Who did this girl think she was?
    She flopped down next to me on the bed. “Just making sure you weren’t faking.”
    “No, I’m not faking. That really hurt!”
    “I can’t believe you hurt your knee. This will put your training back weeks.”
    I leaned back on the pillow, the pain still hot in my leg. “It was an accident.”
    “Rule number four fifty-three. Accidents can kill.”
    I tried to keep the annoyance off my face. No duh, accidents kill. What was rule number four thirty-two? Brush your teeth?
    Her expression turned thoughtful. “Since your stunt training is canceled, we’ll have to shift our focus to mental strengthening exercises. And security systems. You’ve been falling behind there. And for how much you’re paying me, I want you to be fully prepared.” She stood, and in one fluid motion, ripped off her dress. The garment fell to the floor. Underneath, Sora had on a black Lycra catsuit, complete with zippers and mini computer doohickeys and wires. She looked like she was about to rob an art museum. She kicked the dress into a corner. “Of all my covers, this maid job has been the worst. I really wish you’d let me go for gardener instead. I like those sun hats.”
    I didn’t answer, just stared at Sora in her sleek outfit. Security systems? Her