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    Alice - A Short Story: The Dancing Princesses, #1
    Alice - A Short Story: The Dancing Princesses, #1
    Alice - A Short Story: The Dancing Princesses, #1
    Ebook69 pages52 minutes

    Alice - A Short Story: The Dancing Princesses, #1

    By R. L. Stedman

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    About this ebook

    Christmas Magic in the Air

    It's Christmas in Berlin. Fatima, refugee and street performer, is invited to play at a mysterious ball – but she needs a special costume to do so. Enter a peculiar store, staffed by a cat and a strangely attractive man.

    But Fatima's not interested in any entanglements. After all, she no longer believes in happy endings...

    Alice is the prequel short story to a new series, The Dancing Princesses.

    ***

    "There was a sign on the door. Going closer, she read: 'Open until Closed'. With a mental shrug, Fatima turned the handle. Somewhere in the dim recesses of the store a bell jangled, and jangled again, when she closed the door behind her against the cold. 

    Inside felt delightfully cozy. Glass lamps, inlaid in rich colors, hung from the ceiling. Two old, cracked leather chairs were set against an overfull bookcase, and more books were piled in the windowsill, pressing against another lamp, the golden lettering on their spines reflecting the light. 

    The place was quiet, save for a fire crackling happily on the hearth. Fatima held out her hands to its warmth. The place smelt of musk and mystery and appeared more a library than a store. Or perhaps it was a bookstore …"

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRL Stedman
    Release dateDec 1, 2018
    ISBN9781540190413
    Alice - A Short Story: The Dancing Princesses, #1

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      Book preview

      Alice - A Short Story - R. L. Stedman

      Alice

      Alice

      A Short Story

      R. L. Stedman

      WaverleyProductions

      Contents

      1. Playing to the Dead

      2. Daily Grind

      3. A Peculiar Store

      4. Band, Orchestra and Solo Violin

      5. Magic

      6. What Happens Next

      Epilogue

      Ghostly Melodies

      1. Chapter One - Riccardo King Sells his Soul

      About This Book

      Welcome to Faery

      Also by R. L. Stedman

      1

      Playing to the Dead

      Clutching her violin under her arm, Fatima emerged from the train station and stood, staring at the brightly lit Platz.

      At the opposite side of the vast square was a Ferris wheel. As it turned, its flashing spokes formed dizzying patterns against the night sky. Lights smothered everything: trees, stores, apartments. And the noise! Everywhere was Christmas music, or the sounds of the carousels or children crying. There was even an ice-rink, filled with couples sliding and turning. Their blades hissed on the ice.

      The music, the lights, and the constant, glittering movement made her feel dizzy. Berlin was a fantastic city, but it was not her home. Still, she was trying to make the best of things.

      Fatima’s breath steamed in the cold air as she searched for a place to play. Usually, she performed at Rosa-Luxemburg station but she needed money, so it seemed sensible to try an area with more foot traffic. And where better than Alexanderplatz, home to the largest Christmas Market in all Germany?

      Also, if she was honest, she could do with a break from ghosts.

      After searching for a time, Fatima found a vacant space beside a wurst stand. She unpacked her violin, left the case open for stray coins and settled her old, battered instrument on her shoulder. At the end of the avenue the flashing Ferris wheel spun; on an LED screen snowflakes whirled. She tuned her violin quickly.

      What is she doing here? a fat man asked his friend. Look at her, playing at the Christmas Market, when she doesn’t even believe in Christmas! His tone was scathing. She should be ashamed of yourself. She’s nothing but a hypocrite.

      His friend nodded solemnly in agreement as Fatima’s fingers slipped on the strings. I am not a hypocrite. I just need money.

      What is it about these people? asked a woman loudly. Don’t they understand we do not want them?"

      Tears pricked Fatima’s eyes. What am I doing here? A question she asked herself daily.

      Nearby a brass band struck up. A crowd gathered, hooting, laughing, clapping to the music. The fat man began to dance. No-one noticed Fatima; no-one was listening to her music. She lowered her violin with a sigh.

      Why aren’t you playing? asked a slim, dark-eyed girl. She had long black hair, and despite the winter chill, her arms were bare.

      What’s the point? Fatima said, gesturing with her bow toward the dancers. They can’t hear me.

      They’re noisy fools. Look at them, prancing about.

      Just as she spoke, the fat man spun a little too fast. He tripped over his partner’s feet and landed heavily on his wide behind. Fatima stifled a laugh.

      Why don’t you go somewhere quiet? the girl asked.

      But then I won’t make any money.

      Of course you will. If your music is good enough. I’m sure it is, you know. You have the look.

      I do? What look is that?

      You long for beauty, said the girl seriously. I can see it in your eyes.

      I long for money, said Fatima.

      Still, she wouldn't make any money here, that was certain. Perhaps the girl was right – she should play somewhere quieter.

      With a sigh, she returned her violin to its case. She would try Rosa-Luxemburg again. At least the ghosts appreciated her.

      When she straightened up, the girl had disappeared. In the place where she had stood, a butterfly flew past, heading toward the bright lights of the carousel. How strange to see a butterfly in winter.

      With a suddenly lighter heart, Fatima picked up her violin and walked to the subway; back to the ghosts.

      Fatima was a competent violinist, but music wasn’t her passion – it was the world of bits and bytes she loved. Back in Syria, in those days when the world had been normal, she’d been a web

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