Night fell and the guests began to depart. They would return on the morrow and Belmardina would make her choice before the crowd.

The duchess approached her daughter before she could leave the ballroom. “Have you picked your husband?”

“What business is it of yours?” She replied with indifference.

“I just wanted to know so I can plan-” The duchess began politely.

“You don’t need to know anything, mother.” Belmardina said, repugnance stitched into her voice.

The duchess nodded, smiled, and took her leave. She had not had a pleasant conversation with her daughter for at least five years. She was not sure why her daughter had turned out the way she had, but she was tired of trying to get the seventeen-year-old to act like a proper young lady. She vowed to herself that Belmardina would leave the castle tomorrow no matter what.

Belmardina retired to her bedroom, her thoughts alight with her mental list of potential husbands. She threw off her elegant chapel veil and gazed at herself in the mirror. She was a pretty young lady soon to be married to a handsome, wealthy man. She could not be more happy.

A knock sounded at the door. Belmardina glanced at it, annoyed. “Come in!” She said bitterly. She didn’t like being interrupted under normal circumstances, but tonight when she had such important things to think about—she could hardly bear it.

With a gust of magical wind, the double doors opened wide and Derek Stylez strode in. For effect, he added sparkles of glitter into the gust so that it looked like he walked with a shower of stars.

Belmardina stood so fast that she knocked over the stool at her mirror. “Derek Stylez!”

“Yes, it’s me. I know it’s against the rules to see you after the castle doors have shut, but I couldn’t resist you.” He walked to her with such confidence that she almost backed away from him.

“Derek, you should leave. If you’re found here, they could send you away. I… I wouldn’t want that, for you see…” her cheeks turned red, “I’ve already chosen you!”

Derek beamed with delight and took her hands in his “That’s more than I could ever hope for. However…” and he looked away, ashamed.

“What is it?” Belmardina nearly shouted. There could be no ‘howevers’ in her plans for happiness with her handsome husband.

“I cannot marry you. Not unless… oh, Belmardina it’s my family. You see, I come from a prestigious family of magic-users and they would prefer me to marry a wizard or witch. I know you’re not either, but if your single ability is impressive enough, they will let us be together.”

Belmardina took a step backward. “But, can’t you just run away with me if you have to? I mean, if my power isn’t to their liking?”

“A life on the run would be no life for either of us. I want us to be happy. Belmardina, my beautiful, noble lady, please show me your power so I know we can be together.” His strong hands still held hers and he pulled her closer.

She blushed so deeply that her head swam. “I will show you!” she blurted out.

He finally let go of her and she clasped her hands above her head. She closed her eyes and pressed her palms together. She felt herself change—a feeling of wind passing through her veins. In an instant the world whirled about her and then suddenly stopped. She stood before Derek in her other form—a vicious fire-breathing dragon not unlike Gholsmart. Except she was two inches high.

Derek stared at the tiny dragon at his feet. Her dress lay about her tiny form and she nervously grabbed a flap of the pink fabric to cover herself (Although a dragon covered in scales could hardly be considered naked. Clearly she did not transform very often).

The necromancer’s eyes did not leave her for a minute—a minute that lasted forever in Belmardina’s mind. “Oh, please say something!” She shouted in her tiny voice, a wisp of flame exiting her throat.

A flame from a full-sized dragon might have been useful, but the little inchworm in front of him was pitiful.

Derek laughed.

“What is it?” She squeaked indignantly.

He kept laughing, then he turned away. He left the room without a word. For the first time in her life, Belmardina felt devastated.