“Permanent? Yes, more expensive.” I nodded. “What scent would you like?” she asked.
“My scent, could you add my scent?” I asked.
“Yes, if you are willing to give a drop of your blood?” she asked. I thought about it. I thought about the Princess. She wouldn’t like it, my blood belonged to her, but I thought she would forgive me. I nodded my agreement. “Very well, I can do it for you now. It will only take a few minutes. Will you wait?” I nodded again.
“Why your scent Percy?” Heidi asked.
“Pink and green are Flores colours,” I told her.
Mable walked toward me, and I saw a needle in her hand.
“Your hand, girl,” she commanded, holding her free hand out to me. I complied and thankfully, she swiftly stabbed the pad of my pointer finger before I could try and pull away in fright. Keeping a tight grip on my hand, she walked me to a small pot, and I watched as a few drops of my blood splashed into a clear liquid.
She released my hand, and I brought my finger to my mouth.
“Selene will be disappointed that she wasn’t here,” Heidi teased beside me.
“I know,” I replied and couldn’t help my slight grin. I enjoyed knowing how the Princess craved my blood more than any other.
I wasn’t sure what Mable was doing exactly. She seemed to be making a glue of some sort; I did recognise the Gumcane flower she added to the strange mixture, and I knew it was to act as an adhesive.
“The bracelet,” she said, holding her hand out. I handed her the bracelet, and she untied the string attaching the blank card and dropped the bracelet into the pot, stirring it.
After a few minutes, she used a pair of metal tongs to pull the bracelet from the pot.
“Now, I dry it,” she told me as she walked over to a heater that began blowing a stream of hot air when turned.
“How will you know that it smells like you?” Heidi asked as Mable handed me the bracelet.
“You can pay Cal on your way out,” Mable told us. “You should receive your glamour tomorrow, Heidi. Have a good day.”
“I’ll find out soon,” I told Heidi. “Thank you, Mable,” I said as we left.
“Yes, bye, Mable,” Heidi called.
I couldn’t wait for the guard and Heidi to pay. I was excited to find out if the bracelet held my scent and left the store while they were still at the counter.
“Ma’am!” I called for her as I opened the door. She was before me instantly, her hands on my face.
“Are you okay?” she asked me, her silver eyes brighter than usual.
“Yes,” I told her happily and held up the bracelet. She stepped back, her nostrils flaring. “Does it smell like me?” I asked her.
She ignored the bracelet and took my hand, examining the finger that Mable had pricked.
“What is this?” she growled out, eyes fully bright, molten silver shining angrily at me.
“Mable needed my blood to add the smell,” I explained. She growled louder. Her hold of my hand stopped me from cowering away.
She turned to the guard behind her. “Watch her,” she commanded, pushing past me into the store. I heard a commotion and the muffled sound of Mable shouting. I went to follow into the store, but a rough hand on my shoulder pulled me back.
“My lady, you must wait here,” Rylan said behind me. I turned, recognising his voice.
“What’s happening?” I asked him.
“Our Royal Highness will be collecting or destroying any remaining samples of your blood,” he told me quietly.
“Why?” It was only a couple of drops. What was so important about a few drops?