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The words propelled her on

When she finally reached the apartment, she found the hallways eerily quiet Everyone was either down at the festival or getting ready for the ball The shouts that could norirlish laughter

Cinder tucked the crutches beneath her sore aruide her to the door

The apartment seemed e as Adri and Pearl ht be able toeither of them, Cinder hobbled to her sht to start packing in earnest when so, she opened it Pearl was in the hallearing her golden gown, all silk and seeded pearls and a neckline that plunged just how Adri had requested

"Could you have co as soon as the coronation is over"

"Well, I’m sure I could have colared briefly, then stepped back into the hallway and did a half spin, letting the skirt billow around her ankles "What do you think, Cinder? Will the prince notice e to slime her own filthy hands over the dress Instead, she peeled off her work gloves and tucked the you needed?"

"Yes, actually I wanted to ask your opinion" Pearl hitched up her skirt to reveal mismatched shoes on her tiny feet On her left foot was a small velvet boot the color of fresh old sandal tied with sparkling ribbons and tiny heart-shaped charht I would ask if you think he would prefer the gold slippers or the white?"

Cinder pretended to think "The boots make your ankles look fat"

Pearl s makes your ankle look fat You’re just jealous because I have such lovely feet" She sighed in mock sympathy "What a shalad you found at least one body part that’s lovely"

Pearl tossed her hair, a srounding, and Cinder was irritated when the low insult brought her no pleasure

"I’ve been rehearsing my conversation with Prince Kai," said Pearl "Of course, I intend to tell hiht "First, I’ly metal extreusting creature they turned you into And I’ to make sure he also realizes how ainst the door frame "I wish I would have known about this little crush of yours earlier, Pearl You know, before she passed away, I was able to obtain a proht I could have asked the sauess it’s too late for that now Shame"

Pearl’s face flushed "You shouldn’t even say her name," she said, her voice a harsh whisper

Cinder blinked "Peony?"

The anger in Pearl’s eyes grew intense, overtaking the childish taunts "I know you killed her Everyone knows it was your fault"

Cinder gaped at her, unbalanced by the sudden switch froot sick"

"It’s your fault she was at the junkyard That’s where she caught it"

Cinder opened her

"If it wasn’t for you, she would be going to the ball tonight, so don’t try to pretend like you would have done her any favors The best thing you could have done for Peony would have been to leave her alone Thenin Pearl’s eyes "And you try to pretend like you cared about her, like she was your sister, and that’s not fair She was sick and you were… to catch his attention, when you kno she felt about hi herself "I know you don’t believe this, but I really did love Peony I do love her"

Pearl sniffed once, loudly, as if to stop the crying before it could overtake her "You’re right I don’t believe you You’re a liar and a thief, and you don’t care about anyone but yourself" She paused "And I’ to make sure the prince knows it"