Shadow Dance

By M.E. Sutton

The election is over and Jaycee lost. Or did she? When she is asked to serve as the eighth grade's representative to Student Council, Jaycee realizes she can still change things at Tanner. That is, until Kara points out it also means attending the Homecoming Dance.

Seeking a respite from shopping, Jaycee turns to her favorite video game. The Fall Council has convened early in response to the Dark Blade Crisis. Arriving in Mallory, Lyla learns that attending the Fall Council means going to the ball. And wearing a dress.

At the Council Ball, Lyla meets a mysterious stranger from an Eastern estate. Does he hold answers? An explosion at the Council makes finding those answers crucial. As the clock ticks down to Dark Blade's promised next catastrophe, Lyla and Galen gather the other heroes for aid in their quest to save the assembled nobles.

But can Roger, Starla, and Galen help Jaycee with her biggest challenge: surviving Homecoming?

• Language: English
• Publisher: M.E. Sutton
• Release date: Oct 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311228871

M.E. Sutton

Mary has been making up stories, and creating her own endings for other people's stories, for as long as she can remember. After ten years, she decided that making things up was far more satisfying than writing software manuals, and took the jump into fiction. She writes the HERO'S SWORD middle-grade fantasy series as M.E. Sutton and finds a lot of inspiration in the lives of her own kids. A lifelong mystery fan, she also writes crime fiction, including THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS MYSTERIES, under the pen name Liz Milliron. Her short fiction has been published at Uppagus.com, Mystericale.com, and in LUCKY CHARMS: 12 CRIME TALES (December 2013). Like her LAUREL HIGHLANDS characters, Mary lives in Southwestern PA (but, unfortunately, she doesn't have a dog). She is a member of Sisters in Crime. Visit her on the web at http://marysuttonauthor.com and follow her on Twitter (@mary_sutton73).

Book preview

SHADOW DANCE

Hero’s Sword Vol. 6

by M.E. Sutton

Smashwords edition

Also available in print

Copyright 2015 Mary Sutton

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Other titles by M.E. Sutton:

Power Play

Storm Clouds

Wedding Bliss

Snake in the Grass

Fire Storm

Contents

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

About the Author

Also available

CHAPTER ONE

I hate malls.

On a normal Saturday afternoon, I’d rather be doing anything—playing Hero’s Sword, watching TV, even cleaning my bedroom. But with Stu out of town for a family reunion, there wasn’t anyone to play video games with. And my room was pretty clean. So when Kara had called to ask me to go with her to the mall, I hadn’t had a good reason to say no. I could have pled sickness. But I didn’t want to lie to her.

Besides, Kara said. We can go dress shopping.

That would be dress shopping for the fall Homecoming dance, something Kara insisted I attend. Me, I wasn’t so sure. Okay, yeah. Dressing up and partying sounded cool. And I could hang out with Kara in a non-mall setting. But dances weren’t really my thing. Too social, too visible. Not my normal stand in the back style. However, the minute my mother heard that there was even the possibility that her daughter would attend a dance and wear a dress, she’d pressed money into my hand and urged me to have fun and buy something nice.

So off to the mall it was. I repeat: I hate malls.

The first thing, Kara said, is to decide what you need. Just a dress? Dress and shoes?

Uh yeah, dress and shoes. I looked down the crowded walkway with a definite lack of enthusiasm. Have I told you I hate shopping? Can’t we do this online?

You’ve mentioned it once or twice—a minute—since we got here. And you have to try things on so no, we can’t do this online, Kara said. She was determined to ignore my lack of enthusiasm. We can totally do a dress and shoes. What’s your budget?

I chewed my fingernail. Kara had a lot more money than I did, seeing as her parents were both doctors. Mom gave me a hundred bucks. I waited for the burst of laughter.

But Kara didn’t laugh at me. Good. Come on. She pulled me in the direction of a store that boasted a rainbow of colors, sparkles, and dresses in the front window.

I dragged my feet. You’re going to find me a dress and shoes for a hundred bucks? Isn’t that, um, low budget for you? You sure you want to limit yourself by shopping with me?

Jaycee. Kara spun, hands on her hips. You’ve got to get over the money thing. A hundred dollars is plenty. Let me introduce you to my best friend. Soon to be your best friend: the clearance rack.

She pushed me to the back corner of the store. Taking a look at me, she started pulling dresses off the rack and shoving them into my hands. Blues, purples, dark greens, dark reds. No neon and no pastels. Not with your coloring.

You haven’t even asked my size. The dresses were starting to weigh down my arms.

No need. You’re a two.

How can you be sure?

I’m a pro at this. Trust me. C’mon. Dressing room.

We went into an oversized changing room. Under Kara’s supervision, I started trying on dresses. The first two, she rejected almost the second I put them on. Given any thought to Student Council? she asked as I tugged on dress number three.

What’s to think about? I lost. I faced the mirror. Ugh, the skirt on this reminds me of the ballerina costume I had to wear when I was five.

You took ballet?

What can I say? My grandmother insisted. Worst ballerina ever. I didn’t need my homecoming dress reminding me of that episode.

Next. She held out her hand as I took off the offending dress. You lost the special election for president. But Trina won, which means the eighth grade representative position is open. She handed me a red dress.

I guess so. I put on the dress and looked in the mirror. Close, but not quite. I like this color, but the dress is too…

Old, Kara said. It’s a sheath dress. Good for someone who’s eighteen, but not you. What do you think about eighth grade rep?

Why are you nagging me?

Because. It’s what I do. What do you think?

I don’t know. I handed over the red dress. The next one was purple with sparkles on it. Too many sparkles in my opinion, but I tried it anyway. I guess if I could run for president, I could be class rep. Not this one. Too sparkly. Next. I took off the dress.

I agree, sparkles are not you. Here. She handed over another red dress. I’m glad to hear that. Because I nominated you and I think Nate Fletcher seconded the nomination. She hung the dress with the others. I couldn’t see her face, but I was sure she was grinning. A smug grin, too.

What? I stared at her, dress temporarily forgotten. Have you lost your mind? Of course she had. What a stupid question. You didn’t ask me first? What if I said no?

I was going to talk you into it. Voting sheets went home yesterday, so we’ll find out Monday. She turned and pointed at the dress. Are you going to put that on? She was grinning. I knew it.

Voting sheets? I didn’t see a voting sheet. I didn’t even see a nomination sheet. I tugged the dress over my head, heat in my cheeks. Kara had stepped over the line. But Nate had seconded? When had that happened?

We were asked to give nominations in homeroom on Monday. You were probably daydreaming.

Guilty as charged. I never paid attention in homeroom.

The voting sheet was in the Friday news folder. Kara tugged the dress down and smoothed the skirt. I like this one. A lot. I’d get it for myself if it came in a different color.

I’d skipped the Friday news folder. What a time to decide there was nothing of interest now that the election was over. I faced the mirror. Thanks for the heads up. You like it, huh? So did I. The top had nice, wide straps, the neckline wasn’t too deep, and the V had a nice curve. The skirt puffed a bit from the netting underneath, but not too much. The whole thing was a berry red color and it was made of something satiny, with a little bit of silvery sparkle at the hem and neck.

I do. Kara checked the price tag. And it leaves plenty of cash for a nice pair of shoes. I’m thinking silver sandals or low heels.

I spun, watching the skirt flare just a bit. I’ve got some silver earrings. Mom has a necklace I think she’d let me borrow.

Okay, Cinderella. Let’s pay up and get you some shoes. Kara didn’t say anything that sounded like I told you so, but her grin said it all.

Dress in hand, we headed for Shoe Universe. Let me guess. Size six? Kara asked, browsing the aisle.

How can you tell my size?

Girl, I told you. I could do this for a living. Here. She shoved two boxes at me. Try these on.

I sat and slipped on a pair of those nylon socks. Eighth grade rep. You said election sheets went home yesterday?

Yep. People are supposed to turn them in on Monday. Results will be announced at the end of the day.

Any other candidates?

Jason Ashton. She studied my feet. I like those.

Me too. Those were a pair of silver sandals with a low but sturdy heel. I wouldn’t fall over. My feet might get cold, but they’d look good.

And within budget. I’ll give you a pedicure too, red to match the dress. It’ll look fabulous. She handed me the box and I put my Converses