Chapter 7

The coffee shop bustled with students from all walks of destinies. Midmorning light shined in through the long windows, illuminating the chiseled tile floor. Most people didn't notice the peculiar designs in the floor, but they merged together to display the legendary stories of Ever After.

Raven glanced at the one with the glowing apple. The hands that held the apple were withered and old, and the person they belonged to was mysteriously cloaked. A beautiful girl, radiating with beauty and grace, accepted the apple with a smile. Raven sighed. Everyone knew what happened after Snow White took the apple.

The people that walked by Raven glared at her and whispered to one another once out of her sight. They didn't know that she could hear them. It was one of her mother's most powerful weapons, the power to eavesdrop without arousing anyone's suspicion. That was how she could weed out those who were plotting against her and have them publically executed. Raven shuddered at the thought of what her mother forced her to see. She still had nightmares of heads on stakes, their blank eyes staring into nothingness. That was, until the crows came….

Apple skipped over and sat across Raven at the round table. "I am so happy you came with me for my morning café latte! Are you sure I can't get you anything?"

Raven shook her dark lavender hair. "No thanks, I usually meet Maddie for tea at her dad's shop."

Apple took a sip of her café latte, perfectly as always, the foam never even touching her royal red lipstick. Apple smiled. "We can go there if you want! I haven't visited in what seems like ages. And a Queen must make sure to visit her friends regularly. I do want to set a good example, you know."

Raven tried to smile back. "No, it's alright. Maybe another time. What is your next class?"

Apple pushed back her platinum blonde curls behind her shoulders and pressed a perfectly manicured finger to her chin. "That would be Kingdom Management. My favorite!"

Raven sighed. Headmaster Grimm still condoned her following Apple around her in class, under the impression that she was reconsidering her destiny and amusing the thought of claiming her rightful title- as the next Evil Queen. She couldn't think of something that she would like to do less. Her destiny was up to her to choose, not Headmaster Grimm, not her mother (The Greatest Evil Ever Known), or even Apple. Raven knew that it would break Apple's heart when this charade caught up to her, but it was for the best. If she didn't keep and eye on Apple, Lizzie would succeed in murdering her. She couldn't let that happen.

Apple began to talk about what was being taught in Kingdom Management and how she would incorporate it into her kingdom when she was crowned Queen, of course that would be after Raven took her role as the Evil Queen and poisoned her. Raven rolled her eyes at the last part and stared out of the window, wishing to be anywhere but here. Students walked past, and she couldn't help but notice how happy they were. It was as if most of them embraced their destiny and wouldn't dare venture from it. Was it because it was really what they wanted, or out of fear of what might happen to their story if they rebelled? She couldn't lie, she was somewhat scared that she would go "poof" if she did not follow her story, but maybe there was another way around it. Deep down inside, she hoped that Duchess would choose to take her destiny as the next Evil Queen. It would benefit both of them. At least that was what she had been telling herself this entire time. Was she being selfish by trying to push Duchess towards becoming the Evil Queen? Was she just trying to escape her destiny so she could pick her own path? No, she heard what Headmaster Grimm had said. Another time that the eavesdropping gift had come in handy. He had planned on training her in dark magic and villainy anyway, which was why she was in General Villainy class. So what was there to feel bad about?

Nevertheless, she had a nagging feeling inside of her. Students and villagers strolled by, completely oblivious to the moral struggle inside of her. Maybe she should take the book back….

A shadow came over her as she stared out of the window. "Why, hello fair maidens"

That voice. It was him.

Raven turned to see Daring Charming standing near Apple, looking intensely at Raven with his cold blue eyes. "Hello Apple, my dear. Oh, …and hello Raven. What a wonderful surprise to see the two of you together. Again."

Daring cleared his throat. "And Raven, you know my brother, Dexter?"

Raven's heart skipped a beat. Dexter Charming. He was Daring's younger, yet more intelligent and caring brother. He was everything one could hope for in a prince.

Raven's cheeks burned. "Um, yeah. Hey Dexter!" Raven awkwardly wasn't able to find the words that she had rehearsed in her head a thousand times.

"Mind if we join you?" Daring asked. Then he laughed. "Of course you don't mind! I am quite charming, you know."

Apple giggled and scooted over. Dexter looked at Raven, and she smiled nervously and moved over to allow him to sit next to her. Her arm touched his, and it tingled and resided through the rest of her body. Dexter looked over at Raven and smiled. It melted her heart. "So, it's been so long since we talked." He began.

She laughed. "Too long."

"Let's see, History of Folklore?"

Raven smiled. "Yeah, last semester. We sat next to each other."

He scooted closer to her. "Seems like forever."

Her heart pounded out of her chest. "Yeah, …forever."

He cleared his throat and took off his glasses, cleaning them with his shirt. "Can I say something crazy?"

Raven held her breath. "Sure." What could he have to say to her? Could this be it? Could he ask her out?

Dexter put his glasses back on and focused his deep blue eyes on her's. She felt as she was the only one in the coffee shop.

"Would you like to, I don't know, maybe go out sometime?" His voice shook at the end.

Her breath caught in her throat. Could this really be happening?

"Yes!" she said, perhaps a little too loud. The entire coffee shop had stopped and looked at her. Her heart was beating so fast, and she felt the happiest she had in such a long time. And everything had happened so fast! He had just strolled over with his brother and sat next to her and asked her! It was that easy, why hadn't she done this sooner? So easy…. Well, now that she thought about it, a little too easy. Why now? It wasn't like him. Did Daring have something to do with this? Daring….

She glanced across the table. Daring and Apple were gone!

Was Dexter a distraction? Whether he was intentionally did this or not, she could not let this happen again! Purple waves of magic began to engulf her like flames.

"WHERE ARE THEY?!" She slammed her fist against the table. Dexter and everyone in the coffee shop hit the floor, trying to find cover, anywhere that they could find protection.

A purple force field expanded the length of the shop, shattering every window and glass in the store. When she stood straight, evaluating the damage, all she could hear were screams and see people running out of the store. At this time, she didn't care.

When she found Daring, she would show him what she was capable of.

Evil Queen style.