Grimm's

A/N: Okay, so this is basically a story set in modern times in a somewhat fantasy-alternate world, about a private boarding school called Grimm's Academy. There are lots of rich kids (most of whom you should recognize from various Grimm's fairytales) who go there, but this story focuses on the main character that's been cursed by an evil fairy and… oh, you'll find out. Enjoy! And thank the Grimm brothers for their awesome stories!

It was dark by the time I got out of Mortimer's grocery, so I hurried over to where I had parked my bike, untying the cashier apron that I had been wearing for the past five hours. Pushing back the kickstand, I slung my leg over the seat and took off, pedaling for home.

Home; my mouth watered at the prospect of whatever my dad would be cooking. I used to love to just sit and watch him in the kitchen when I had been younger, and things hadn't been as bad. Things were easy then; my mom had a good job, my sisters and me were still young, we were happy. Then my mom lost her job, and things had gotten… difficult. That's when I got the job at Mortimer's, in downtown Bremen.

Bremen after dark was a pretty rough town, but I knew which streets to avoid. In almost no time, I was zigzagging past the parked cars of our alleyway, making out the familiar rectangle of light from our back door. I gave an involuntary sigh as I laid my bike against the worn brick exterior and pounded up the wooden steps. As I entered the kitchen, I was overcome with the thick, heady smell of garlic and the steam from various boiling pots on our cluttered stove. My dad smiled over at me, and Kiki peeked from around his legs with a timid laugh.

My dad's smile always made me feel warm with hope, as if he knew that one day things were going to get better for us. I gave him a quick kiss before setting my apron on the too-small table that was squeezed in amongst the counters, backpacks, papers, and books.

"Where's mom?" I asked him, slightly weary, as I sat in a worn-out chair.

"Late," he replied, stirring some tomato paste.

"Again? Man, those community college classes must be grueling." I remarked, attempting to make sense of the mess on the table. Kiki rushed over, dragging her worn-out stuffed rabbit behind her.

"Mama said she'd teach me how to paint tomorrow!" she cried, hugging the chair. I giggled at her, picking up her toy rabbit and dancing it in front of her face. She gave a chuckle before taking it away from me.

"Yeah, painting… I'm sure that'll help with the mess in here," Laila rolled her eyes as she entered, her nose stuck in a book.

"Hey, it'll be fun Laila. When's the last time you had any fun?" I retorted.

"Yeah Laila, when's ta last time you had fun?" Kiki narrowed her eyes at her older sister. Laila just re-adjusted her glasses.

Laila believed she was the most mature of anybody in our family… and she's probably right. She's the only middle-aged thirteen-year-old that I know of. Kiki, on the other hand, had just barely turned six and completely acts her age. I'm the oldest, almost seventeen already, and have the burden of helping support our bedraggled family. Mom works as a waitress during the day, and takes some college classes on the side in the hopes of getting a better job one day. Dad's a teacher, and takes care of the house in the absence of the other females.

"I'm here, I'm finally here!" Mom called from the front door. I saw her enter the kitchen and drop all her bags, running towards dad and throwing herself on him in a hug.

"Eww…!" Kiki squealed as they kissed. Mom threw her a haggard smile, and a small warning bell went off in my head. Why is she so worried looking?

"How was your day, my lovely sweetheart?" dad asked her as he set her back down on her feet, her oval locket glinting in the dim kitchen light. Her smile faded, as she glanced over at my younger sisters.

"Laila, could you take Kiki and get her washed up for dinner?" mom asked.

"But, mom," Laila started to protest.

"Laila- please?" mom asked again, a pleading tone to her voice. Laila gave a sigh, but picked up Kiki and left the room. I watched my sisters leave before turning back to my parents. The look on my mom's face made me want to be the middle child who had to leave the room, if only to be spared whatever news she had for us.

"Honey, what is it?" my dad asked worriedly as he pulled a chair over for my mom. She sat down, looking dazed.

"There was… there was a lady at work. I was serving her lunch, and, I guess I was chatting on about something that was bothering me, but… she told me that she could help us." She explained.

"Well… that's great!" my dad remarked. Mom glanced at me before dropping her eyes to the floor.

"I-I didn't like the looks of her… something about her, I don't know… seemed untrustworthy. She said that she could pay off our debts and everything… but that it would come at a price. I refused." Then, my mother gazed up at my father with such a childish, frightful look, that it scared me, "…She was an umber fairy."

Silence filled the kitchen as me and dad processed this information. Fairies were powerful creatures, appearing just as ordinary humans. They could alter their shape, and possessed untold magic. Some- most - were good; these were lucent fairies. Others were ones who searched for any reason to put a curse on somebody; these were the umber fairies.

"Sweetie, why didn't you accept her offer?" my dad asked, sinking to his knees by mom's side. My mother's tear-stricken face cast me a sidelong glance.

"Love, she wanted our daughter; she wanted Vera."

My face paled in shock as this realization hit me. I had been the price, and my mother had refused, knowing that this lady very well could be a powerful fairy.

What had I done? What trouble had I brought onto my family?

And then a crash rang out from the hall, and the sound of someone screaming and running up the stairs followed. My parents rushed out, calling out my sister's names as they flew up the stairs. I attempted to stand, but almost fell over as I reached the hallway, my mind reeling. A metallic smell overcame my senses as I landed on my knees, and I made out a small, crumpled body with curly black hair in front of the stairs. No… Kiki…

A heart-stopping cry from upstairs, then silence, as black dots blinked in front of my vision. I had no time to panic, or feel fear, as the blackness grew. My head hit the floor with a dull thud, but I clung to consciousness for some sick reason.

Then the dark figure descended the stairs, and I turned my eyes up to see a tall, thin lady staring down at me.

"Well, well, well… I still get my prize, despite your mother's pathetic attempt to protect you…"

And then, my eyes closed as she reached a finger down to my forehead. A bright, blinding light burned behind my eyelids, and I must have screamed, for pain flowed through me as my body was bent and sculpted into a new, unfamiliar shape.

I awoke violently, gasping with pain. Another vision, this one so real that, even after realizing it hadn't happened to me, I still glanced around my dark room in fear. Taking a few deep breaths, I tried to calm myself down.

Maia… I need to tell Maia.

Sighing, I cautiously crawled out from under my warm, safe sheets and stood, wrapping a velvet robe around my petite frame. Forgetting my slippers, I quickly made for the door. Opening it, I gazed out into the dark, silent hallway.

I took another deep breath before leaving my room, shutting the door behind me. I rushed down to the end of the hallway where a large, imposing oak door stood. Staring up at it, I gathered my courage and tapped lightly.

"Yes?" a woman's strong alto voice answered, much more quickly than I was prepared for.

"Um, Maia?" I spoke quietly, opening the door, "It's- me." I stepped into the room. My older sister glanced up at me from the desk she was sitting behind. Only a few candles were lit around the room, but I knew that something was worrying her.

"Ah, Charon," she smiled wearily at me, pulling her glasses off of her face and setting them down on the cluttered desktop. "What are you doing up at this hour?" she asked, her gold eyes piercing me.

I could ask you the same thing, big sis. I resisted my urge to scowl, and instead bowed my head to hide the inevitable grimace.

"I had another vision… a very strong one." I confessed. I heard a small clatter, which was probably Maia dropping the pen that had been grasped firmly in her hand. My grimace was replaced by a smirk; my fairy gift at least made me of use here, allowing me a niche, albeit small.

"What… what is it?" Maia's hand was on my shoulder. I nearly jumped; Grimm's headmistress had steps as quiet as a cat.

"I… it was…" I stammered, blood rushing into my face as I danced around the words, "… a great darkness, it overcame me, and…" I sighed, giving up. "I believe that this evil, whatever it may be, is going to come here."

Silence. And then:

"Well, we'll just have to be ready, won't we?" she stated, perfectly composed despite the fear I had evoked. I merely bowed my head lower and nodded.

A/N: end of chapter one. Sorry it was kind have a downer, but I needed to get the story started somewhere. Don't worry, chapter two's on the way, so you should be able to go and read that to get at least somewhat happier. Please review!