Last Time

"I'll always be with you. Take that as a hint, if you will, and remember this: even a spider can get trapped in its own webs at times. Be careful about what you tell people, truth or lies!"

I smile at the phone, the old saying, undoubtedly, wasn't supposed to have its own meaning placed after it. Mei's English phrases and proverbs have always needed help, so I'm glad my last real moment with her is the way it's been all along.

"I will, I promise," I grin. Brody comes through the door again just as the shoes are near traveling light. His face pales and I give him a sad smile. "I'm sorry to say this may be our last goodbye."

Quicker than I've ever seen him move, Brody clears the room in time to kiss me goodbye. "I love you, Mina, remember that if you never see me again."

"I love you too, Brody," I reply with a quick kiss to his lips. The second I step back, the shoes go throw me into the past with a pop. My only thought in the midst of my short travels is this: do I really mean what I said to him or was it to make that final moment perfect?

Mina's POV

This time I'm prepared for the chill that comes with traveling to the past. The second I feel my heels plant on the moist grass, I start blowing on my hands, trying to get some warmth in them. My teeth clatter to the point that I barely hear the rustle of footsteps. I look up and swallow a lump in my throat. Giants. Great. Freaking fantastic.

"Um, hi," I say, waving awkwardly. The giants reply to my greeting by beating their clubs against their crested shields—crests! Oh my god Teague must've sent them after me. The beating gradually gets louder until it reaches a deafening decibel. I barely register one of them yelling "I got her!" before ducking under a large hand. I make to run, but my heels get stuck to the hem of my dress, sending me into a fight for my balance. The giant takes advantage in my moment of vulnerability not-so-elegantly snatches me into his hands.

"What do you want," I ask, a growl laced through my words.

"Now I see why the prince asked for this one," a giant with sunspots splattered across his nose chuckles. "We're been waiting for you for hours, ma'am. The younger ones here got a bit antsy and wanted to scare you. Peelof, let her down."

The giant carrying me, Peelof, sets me not-so-genteelly on the floor. I shoot him a dirty look and send him a dirty look. I turn to the more polite giant to ask my question, "why are you waiting for me?"

"Captain Plaith said to escort you to the palace," he answers. "If you wouldn't mind, Miss, we should start towards the coach."

"I prefer Louie Vuitton, actually," I mumble to myself humorously.

"What was that?" One of the less courteous giants boom.

"Nothing, nothing," I chuckle nervously, "Just clearing my throat."

We walk for a good quarter mile until we reach a coach drawn by four horse-sized mice. I can just feel my mother's urge to throw a shoe at them from all the way across space and time. If there's one thing my mother hates, it's rodents.

"Get in," the sassy giant from earlier says, opening the door to the coach and shoving me in it. I land against the purple velvety cushion upside down. My back lays flat against the seat and my feet against the backing.

"At least he opened the door like a gentleman," I grumble, pushing my feet against the carriage's walls to initiate a roll. I get to my feet the second the animal-powered vehicle sets into motion and I'm back to falling onto the seat again. Just my luck. I sure hope out-of-place hair and light bruises are in this season.

I right myself for the second time in the past sixty seconds and draw the curtains. The sun is starting to set. I wonder if Teague's betrothal has passed yet. And unfamiliar sensation washes over me and my stomach clinches at the thought. Was that…anxiety? Over Teague's relationship status? I ignore the feeling and continue to stare out of the window with my focus on the swaying of the car. Despite the situation I'm in-you know, prepping to be the Pat Sajak of "Wheel of Fae Fiancés" and a contestant of the "game" with the most powerful person on the plane—I'm surprisingly relaxed. It's probably the rocking motion.

There's a sudden stop and my eyes snap open. I run my hands across my face. I can't believe I just fell asleep. I look out the window. We're at the castle. Or at least nearing it. We're above the entrance I used to get in here the day I ruined everything. The view of the lake and the mountains are the same as they will be in a few generations, despite the destruction caused—or rather the destruction I'm going to prevent. My attention flickers to something bright passing by my window. Was that a…unicorn?

My amazement by the elegant-looking steed is immediately replaced by the other creatures trotting by. Large tigers, Rhino-like creatures, and tamed griffins trot by with a sense of belonging. I count the carriages passing and come up with a total of twelve before my coach starts rolling. Twelve…didn't Teague say he had twelve prospective fiancés?

My heart beats harder the closer we get to the snowcapped mountains. The short-lived serenity I felt a while ago disappears without a trace. Hoards of griffons circle the palace in a uniformed manner. Their formation has an almost scientific exactness to it, like an atom's electrons orbiting its nucleus. The Fates must have been planning this entire thing out since Teague's birth God knows how many years ago. This night will be perfect if they have anything to say about it and that is absolutely nerve-wrecking. If the Teague I know now—wait would it be the Teague I used to know or will know? Oh forget it—would joke that I'm nervous about meeting my future in-laws.

I give an amused snort. It's funny how I'm pondering what the version of the Fae prince that's slaughtered many a Grimm would say about my anxiety rather than how I'm going to impress the pre-prick Prince. Odd how things work out, hu?

The carriage keeps rolling forward, coming to a stop only for my competitors—though I would barely call them that since my main goal isn't for him to like it and put a ring on it—to be announced and escorted out of their stagecoaches. There's a light knocking on the window meant for passenger-driver interaction. I slide the window open to see a young, rather familiar brownie man with a smile on his face.

"Miss, you are to be introduced soon. May I have your name and what kingdom you reside from," he says politely.

Oh. Yeah. That. Am I supposed to give him the truth or lie to him? Mei said be careful about what I say, but what real harm can come from telling them? It's not like any of them have been to my plane yet.

"Wilhelmina," I tell him, "I'm Wilhelmina Grimm from Kennedy."

"Kennedy?" The man furrows his brows in confusion, "I have not heard of that kingdom before."

"I would think so," I say with a knowing smile, "I live in a very…secluded area. No one save for royals can find my family unless we want them to."

The brownie just nods and turns back to steering the coach. I mentally pat myself on the back. I've been getting better at twisting the truth to my convenience. It's true that only royals, those linked to the Story, that is, can find my family and I, and, at this point of time, we're the ones to contact them first, thus making them able to find us. I should really try something in justice when I'm older. I'm good at this whole using-the-truth-to-your-advantage thing.

"Be prepared, Princess Wilhelmina," the man calls back to my quietly as we come to a stop in front of the castle. I smooth my dress and make a last minute attempt to fix my hair. The door opens and I get a taste of what it feels like to be on the red carpet and, FYI, it sucks. A lot.

"ANNOUNCING PRINCESS WHILHELMINA GRIMM OF KENNEDY," a loud voice bellows. A hoard of towns people are lined up on the sides of the pathway to the castle entrance, throwing flower petals, wishing me and the others well, and trying to get bets going on who will win the prince's heart. Some stop to think about my announcement, but most shake it off. I guess geography isn't required here, so if they don't know about it they'll just assume it's really far away.

"Okay, Mina. Dream it, believe it, be it. Don't make a mistake. Be like Beyonce. Be Queen. Be Flawless." I mutter to myself.

With a deep breath, I, to my surprise, step out of my coach with an air of grace to me. I catch a glimpse of myself in the reflection of the marble pillars and smile. My dress swishes beautifully at my feet, letting a peak of my shoes flash by with every step. My hair is surprisingly in place and still looking as beautiful as it was on the other plane. My skin looks as smooth as the marble it's reflecting off of. A smile creeps its way to my face.

I can do this.

Sorry. Twas hella short. I was going to add to it, but I couldn't find a way to continue and feel good about it. My fellow authors will understand (hopefully). Things'll pick up soon, don't you guys worry. Sorry to annoys you, but here's a quick promo:

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Sorry for any and all typos!

-K