Experimental alchemist Edward Cinders vows to free his mother and himself from the manipulations of his calculating stepfather. But when an experiment unexpectedly transforms a simple pumpkin into a shimmering crystal carriage, Edward is thrust into a future he can barely comprehend.
He finds himself in a vibrant, if dangerous, world of music, neon lights, and the magnetic presence of Malcolm, a singer known as Prince Charming. As Edward is pulled between centuries, he discovers not only love and belonging in the future world, but also echoes of the same ruthlessness he left behind.
Bonds deepen and secrets unravel, and Edward’s worlds begin to collide in ways neither science nor magic could predict. With enemies closing in, loyalties tested, and the mysterious force behind his journey revealing a will of its own, Edward must decide how much he is willing to risk protecting those he loves, before the fragile thread connecting time, magic, and destiny snaps without warning.
Hours later, still without any success. Edward’s temper and frustration, born of fear for his mother, and of his stepfather finally bubbled over.
“Why does this not bloody work?” He slammed down a fist, his anger erupting, just as two beams of electricity converged. As one, they shot sideways, and Edward dived for cover, shutting his eyes tightly as they struck the pumpkin.
Crouched against his workbench, Edward slowly opened his eyes. There was a pungent smell of ozone. As he rose slowly, he was relieved to see that there appeared to be no damage to his equipment.
He suddenly had a feeling that there was something behind him. Taking a deep breath, Edward turned around slowly, still more than half expecting to see devastation. But as he stared, his breath caught in his throat.
A carriage now filled half of the room. A carriage of crystal, shaped like a pumpkin, with graceful spirals adorning its tops and mimicking wheels. Edward blinked, rubbed his eyes, and finally pinched himself so hard he yelped.
But nothing changed. The large, glittering carriage remained where it was. Finally, with an alchemist’s curiosity, he edged closer. Then, despite his hand trembling, he reached out to touch it.
It was solid, cool to touch, and a single high-pitched sound softly rang out. Edward instantly snatched his hand back. But when nothing else happened, Edward couldn’t resist touching it again.
This time, the carriage door swung open, and Edward peered inside. It looked like any other carriage. A bench seat behind the driver’s side, with a matching one opposite. The carriage was just big enough to seat four.
The soft, high-pitched sound became more musical as it returned, but Edward couldn’t work out where it was coming from, how it was being produced, or, most importantly, what it signified. A glint caught his eye and Edward leaned further into the carriage, still not ready to physically step inside.
He had time to register that the music had changed, the tone now short and sharp as if irritation had replaced the earlier soft, persuasive melody. Before he had chance to move back, there was a strong shove in the center of his back.
He landed awkwardly in the carriage, which instantly began to rock, sending him rolling to the far side of it. As he got onto his hands and knees, the carriage door slammed shut. The musical sound imitated laughter as Edward rose to his feet.
Then it jolted, and he was flung back onto one of the bench seats. He couldn’t see his laboratory outside the carriage. In fact, he couldn’t see anything. When he tried to open the carriage door, a sizzle of electricity made him yelp as he pulled his hand quickly back.
Another jolt, then nothing. No movement, no sound, and, as he reached for the door, no electric shock. He looked through the window. It was still dark beyond the carriage, but not the all-encompassing absence of light as before.
The door opened, as if encouraging him to step out. His eyes were becoming accustomed to the dark, but he froze as he was about to step out. From somewhere he could hear what was vaguely possible to call music, a heavy single beat, and faint words. There were only two he could understand, and they echoed in his head.
“Prince Charming.” Followed by a loud thud. “Prince Charming.” Another loud thud. Then unintelligible words. But Edward suddenly didn’t care.
“Prince Charming,” he echoed. He looked up. He needed to get upstairs. Then he stared at the carriage. The sounds it emitted were changing. They began to follow the beat of the music, but when the sound echoed the words Prince Charming, a gasp of shock broke free.
But even that couldn’t keep him from heading to the old wooden stairs leading up. That heavy beat, and the lure of the words Prince Charming, were too much to resist. Step by step he ascended, whispering in time to the words.
