A Farewell to Charms (21 page)

“Is that really why you were trying to find her?”

“I don’t know.” I was Desi again, back to my gray pea-coat and champagne cocktail dress. “I thought she’d get her magic and all my questions would be answered. Now she’s just another random person with MP who doesn’t know what to do with it.” I paused. “Wait, why did you say Dominick was coming?”

“Because Genevieve is technically your agent now, but of course she couldn’t come. And it’s her job to deliver you. I pulled some strings to get here.”

“Deliver me where?” I asked, already dreading the answer. “The ambassadorship? Is it my turn for that?”

“Your ambassadorship wasn’t scheduled until next March. But that just went out the window.”

“Court of Appeals?”

“No, darling, don’t act dumb.” Meredith patted my hand. “I have to bring you back so Façade can fire you.”

S
ix months ago, I would have argued. Six months ago, I would have cried. Six months ago…I wouldn’t have dreamed of doing all the things I did on this last job. And today as I traveled in Meredith’s bubble, probably for the very last time, I felt a strange sense of peace.

I’d proven that magic could be restored to its rightful owner. I didn’t know what would happen to Caprice now—if the change would even help her—but I’d erased one of Façade’s mistakes. At least for Caprice, I’d made a difference. It was too bad that I couldn’t do the same for more forgotten subs.

Meredith busied herself around the office, periodically wiping at her eyes and smoothing her suit. Finally, she joined me on the couch. “So was it worth it?” she asked.

“Let me see if Façade has a specialized torture chamber, and I’ll get back to you on that.”

“I can’t believe you got as far as you did all by yourself without Façade intervening.”

“I’m just that good.” I shrugged, trying to hide my relief that she didn’t mention Reed. Maybe they would never figure out that he’d been involved, and he could stay at Façade, especially now that there wasn’t much more we could do for our cause.

The bubble landed. Meredith held out her hand. “I will be on the council, but you will be your own spokesperson. This is different than the Court of Appeals.”

“How?”

“It’s not a hearing.” Meredith offered a feeble smile. “It’s a sentencing, and open to all Façade employees. We haven’t had one in decades, so there will probably be a lot of curious onlookers.”

“Swell.”

“I’ll do what I can to make it painless.”

“Do you mean that literally or figuratively?” I asked.

“Er…both.”

I expected to step out in the dungeonlike hall, like the room I’d originally visited during my visit to the Court of Royal Appeals after Level One. And although this space certainly was dark and foreboding, I could tell we weren’t in or near the Façade building anymore. The air was too dank, and there was pressure in my ears like we were underground. Instead of smooth stone walls, there were lines of bones and…

“Skulls?” I gasped. “Meredith, please tell me these are not old subs.”

“This is Paris. We’re in the catacombs.”

“Why are they talking to me in a tomb instead of, I don’t know, a nice office with a city view?”

“Flair for drama. Which reminds me.” Meredith grabbed a lit torch from the wall. “Come on. It’s not far.”

If I really tried to stretch my optimism, I could take it as a good sign that I wasn’t brought to the sanitation room first thing. I scrunched in my shoulders as we walked through the narrow space, careful not to look too closely at the walls. Which, of course, were not walls. They were skeletons. Façade had the intimidation factor down to a science.

The heaviness of the air lessened as we walked up an incline. The relief was short-lived, however, because we finally reached a large open hall. The doorway had crossbones with a sign saying illis qui intrare non effugiet.

“What does that mean?” I whispered.

“Latin,” Meredith said solemnly. “Those who enter do not exit.”

“Oh.”

I knew Façade could do scary, but this place made Kylee’s horror movies look like Disney cartoons. The room was lit by sinister torchlight. A long table stretched across the center of the space, and stone benches were built into the wall like an ancient amphitheater. The seats were full of onlookers, all wearing black masquerade masks. I could pick out Hank from his sneakers, and Ferdinand from the tweed jacket he always wore. Reed’s parents were in the front row, his mom dabbing at her eyes under the mask. I swallowed. Reed was noticeably absent.

“What’s with the masks?” I whispered to Meredith.

“Stupid tradition. Supposed to give the witnesses anonymity, but you can tell who everyone is.”

The council—all unmasked, dressed in black robes, their hair color faded in the flickering light—sat on one side of the table. There were three chairs on the other side. Dominick was on the right, Lilith on the left, leaving the empty seat for me. Fun. Desi’s doom sandwich.

Meredith took her seat with the council. Hundreds of pairs of eyes watched as I shuffled over to my spot. Dang, why couldn’t my magical skill be invisibility?

Genevieve’s voice bounced against the walls. Against the skulls. Did I mention those yet? “Have a seat, Desi. We won’t draw this out.”

I slumped into the seat, trying my best to not look at Lilith, whose grin was bigger than the skulls behind her.

Dominick stood and spoke, his voice clear and emotionless. “We are here for the sentencing of one Desi Bascomb. Miss Bascomb broke into a secure Façade room and used confidential information gathered both at the agency and through client interactions to try to overturn the agency. The council has decided a trial is not necessary.

She also has already been found guilty of the following acts.”

I got a whiff of lavender perfume when Lilith stood next. Even in a room that reeked of decay, her perfume still made me gag. She rattled a paper and read down the list of offenses. “‘Treason, insubordination, trespassing, espionage, rebellion, and sedition.’ Any one act is punishable. Combined, Desi’s actions are inexcusable.” Lilith paused at the end. “And can I just say that I saw this coming a mile away. We saw similar behavior when Desi came before the Court of Royal Appeals, and I insisted at that time that she was bad news. As far as sentencing goes, it’s a pity the guillotine is no longer an option.” Lilith sighed, like she’d been cheated. “I recommend we do what we should have done to Desi after her Level One performance. Sanitation and magic removal. And perhaps a night spent here in the catacombs for good measure.”

“Lilith,” Meredith scolded, “we’re not here to rehash past trials. Desi’s crimes have been read. It is up to the council to decide on sentencing and you”—she narrowed her eyes—“are not a member of this council.”

Lilith flopped into her chair like she’d been pushed. Dominick robotically sat down as well. The council stood one by one and exited the room. The onlookers remained as we waited, silently, for a good five minutes. I drummed my fingers on the table.

Meredith avoided my gaze as the returning council members walked past. If she’d tried to save me, it didn’t look as if she’d been able to convince anybody.

Genevieve waved a hand in the air. “Enough with the pomp and circumstance. Clearly, Desi’s employment with Façade will be terminated, although she can maintain any previous earnings. She will also be sanitized, effective as soon as this meeting concludes.” Genevieve glanced down at her watch. “Which I suppose is now. Council dismiss—”

“Wait!” I shot out of my chair. “Wait, look, yes, I did all the stuff and, yes, you should punish me, but before, before I’m…” Sanitized. I couldn’t say the word. Oh, my gosh, I was seriously going to be sanitized. My magic would be gone…and…and I wouldn’t remember Façade, or any of the princesses I’d subbed for, or Karl. And only half of what I’d shared with Reed. This was really happening. I didn’t realize how far I had fallen until I was down in the pit, looking up. “Before I leave. You all should know that when Façade sanitizes subs, they KEEP that magic, and that magic is what Façade is run on, not solely organic magic. And they have makeup that can heal injuries! And—”

“Nonsense,” Genevieve said. “Desi, do stop. For your own good, dear.”

“No! You made me an ambassador, and I’m going to say what is wrong here. Façade is limiting itself, limiting the help that you can give,” I opened my arms to the crowd. “That you
all
can give. And not just to royals, but everyone in the world. You have the power to make an impact.”

Two burly guards stepped in from the shadows. One bound my arms, one tried to stick tape on my mouth. Defeated, I collapsed into him, my tears spilling over the guards’ hands as he literally shut my mouth.

I couldn’t gauge the crowd’s reaction because of those stupid masks. The room was quiet, though. Maybe they were thinking about what I had to say, finding truth in my words. Like Reed had.

Reed, who wasn’t here. Reed, who had to leave too early and might not have any idea this was happening. Reed, who might be sanitized too.

Genevieve clapped twice. “There will be a reception in Dorshire Hall. Come by, visit with friends, reminisce about the elements that make Façade so great. Thank you for coming. Council dismissed.” She pounded a gavel on the table, and the guards began to push me toward the exit.

Lilith grabbed one of their arms. “Wait.” Her smile was all sugar, but her voice was pure venom. “Desi, dear. If I didn’t have such impeccable breeding, I would spit on you right now. You are worthless, meaningless, and crass. Best of luck back in Hicktown. I’ll cherish my memory of this meeting, even if your memory will be gone. Dominick, care to join me at the party?”

Dominick stepped forward, his expression more confused than cruel. “The things you gave up. The glamour, the prestige, the money. It’s tragic—there are a million girls out there who would want what you had, and you threw that away. I don’t understand you at all.”

The rest of the audience shuffled past us as well. Ferdinand tore off his mask, pushed the guard away, and gave me a hug. “You’ll always be a princess to me, Miss Bascomb.”

I nodded, because obviously I couldn’t reply, and the tears went from a trickle to blinding buckets. I would have liked to see Meredith again, but I couldn’t find her in the crowd. I wanted her to know that I forgave her for moving Reed, that I understood she was protecting his family. I wanted to thank her for everything, for being my agent.

For being my friend.

But that wasn’t going to happen. In a few moments I wouldn’t remember her at all. I hardly had the energy to walk out of the room with the guards.

The larger guard gently removed the tape over my mouth and pointed to a wall. “Sit down. Someone will come for you.”

Oh, great. I get to cuddle with the bones while I wait for my imminent doom. But this wall was at least stone. I wondered if they would clean me up before I went home again. The hard-packed dirt floor was not going to do much for the gorgeous dress I was wearing.

And…since Floressa gave me this dress, I wouldn’t remember who I got this dress from. I would go home to that ball, see Kylee, and never be able to tell her that she has magic, because I wouldn’t remember my magic. My former magic. We’d go back to worrying about normal things—like Reed moving, although I wouldn’t remember why. Maybe I could take up a new hobby, spend time with my family, help my mom get ready for this new baby. I just hoped I didn’t suddenly get into wearing makeup. I never wanted to wear makeup again.

I would be fine without Façade. Without Meredith, without my memories, without magic.

Because you can’t miss what you never knew you had.

“Darling, why are you sitting on the ground?”

I looked up. Meredith. “The guards told me to.”

Meredith offered me a hand and pulled me up. “And you listened? Did those buffoons know you’re wearing a Floressa Chase original?”

“I think, at this point, the dress is the least of my worries.”

Meredith wrapped her arms around me. “I want you to know you have been the most difficult, headstrong, reckless, ridiculous client I have ever had.”

“Thank you.”

“No, thank
you
. You’re also the bravest, and you’ve given me the courage to do something I really should have done sooner.”

“What’s that?”

“Quit.”

My jaw dropped. “Meredith, that’s just dumb.”

“I know. Your stupidity must be contagious.”

“But Façade is your life.”

“That’s
my
problem.” Meredith brushed off my dress, avoiding eye contact with me. “I don’t want to work at a place that would fire a girl like you. And I do have a rather handsome prince with whom I can live happily ever after. So there is a silver lining for me. Perhaps I’ll send you an invite to the wedding.”

“Won’t matter. I’m not going to remember you, once my memory is washed.”

Meredith pursed her lips. “True.”

“Can I ask you something that I won’t remember in five minutes? What is your magical emotion?”

Meredith smiled. “I wish I could tell you. Over twenty years with this agency, and I still don’t know. Many of us still don’t know. I was never able to use magic to impact clients like you did. Your ability, your progress, it was all so incredibly rare, Desi.”

“Which is why I can’t bring myself to destroy that.”

Meredith and I turned to see Genevieve standing in the stone doorway. The hall behind her was now empty. She strode into the corridor. “I hate the catacombs. Hate. Let’s change the scenery, shall we?” She flicked her wrist and a bubble appeared. She made a face. “Sorry, only traveling bubbles this close to the hall. But it’ll be a ten second trip.”

We shuffled into the bubble, which barely fit the three of us. I’d assumed Genevieve was taking us straight to the sub-sanitation room, but no. Within seconds we were on top of the roof of the Tour Montparnasse. The air was chilly but fresh, and we had the perfect view of the sun setting just behind the Eiffel Tower.

“Are you dropping me off first?” Meredith asked. “I would like to be there for Desi’s sanitation before I pack up my things.”