The note vanished, causing my eyes to widen.
“I’ll return in an hour to retrieve her.” He looked down at me. “We’ve already discussed what will happen should you try to flee. I don’t recommend it.”
With that, he released me and stepped backward through the glass to disappear in the throng outside.
“Wait—” I tried to follow him out, but the glass didn’t give and instead smacked me in the forehead. “Ow!” I rubbed
my head, irritated by my inability to leave the shop and offended by it sealing the door on me.
An array of voices erupted around me, all chattering at once.
“Hmm, yes, new clothes are needed. Indeed, indeed.”
“A cloak, too.”
“Don’t forget a wand.”
“Oh! Have you seen the new Academy skirts? I’m thinking black and red, to match the Nacht line.”
“Royal, yes. Let’s look at these notes. Hmm, hmm, more than seven, clearly. Too many courses.”
“Shall we mix it with a touch of light blue? To match her pretty eyes?”
“Oh, is she cerulean? Haven’t seen one of those in centuries.”
“With hints of red, I see.”
“How fascinating.”
I spun around, searching for the source of the feminine tones, but found myself utterly alone in the shop.
“This way, this way,” one of them said.
I felt the nudge against my backside. Then gaped as an invisible something grabbed my shirt to tow me forward. “Why can’t I see you?” I demanded.
Tinkling laughs served as their reply.
Then they began to comment on my appearance, noting the quality of my dark hair, my clear skin, and my tiny waist.
When one of them touched my breasts, I scowled. “Show yourselves.”
More tinkling.
And then they closed me in a ten-by-ten room with a mirror and three walls. No exit.
I tried walking through each barrier but found myself trapped.
Then clothes began to appear on a magical rack behind me.
“Try, try, try!” they all sang in unison.
When they started to unbutton my blouse, I whirled around and batted their figment hands away. “I will undress and dress myself, thank you.”
“Oh, feisty fun,” one of them murmured.
“Yes, yes. She demands privacy. We’ll go.”
“Try them all, love! And pick all your favorites. The note says all expenses are covered.”