Thank you 42angel..

WARNING!! The Chapter below is dreadful, I don't even think it makes sense. I'm just so tired and I'm going to sleep for days after I've written this. I'm just warning you that I will probably change this a lot when I post it.


Jake turned the handkerchief over again twisting it around his finger until the digit turned a sickly bluish-black. He was sitting on his bed, it was still made. He hadn't slept in two days.

Every time he closed his eyes he would see his brother's face curled up in disgust. Had he looked at Jake like that? When Jake wasn't looking had he made faces and told stories behind his back?

How many times had Will tried to get rid of him? How many times had he caught up with his brother, oblivious to Will's wants.

Jacob felt bruised inside, how could he have been so stupid as to assume that his brother had wanted him around? Suddenly anger took over, he threw the handkerchief violently to the other wall. It went about two feet and then drifted lazily to the floor, it's edges crinkled and yellowish.

"I don't need him." Said Jake to the empty house.

Dust swirled in lazy patterns as the handkerchief settled in a patch of golden sunlight. Why was there so much dust?The house was buried in two inches of the gray powder. Jacob wiped his eyes and looked around. Their were bookshelves by the windows and bed, but they were empty but for a few cobwebs and dead insects. He carefully dusted a shelf of and gently laid his notebook inside.

"He can rot in hell for all I care." Jacob said to to the ceiling, trying stop his eyes from burning.

There was no answer but Jake derived a little comfort from his voice. He would try to stay with Adala, at least for a while, if she didn't mind. He would show her how useful he could be, he would make her try to see that he would not be left again. After all, what must she think, being discarded by his own kin...


Will turned over restlessly, he had slept for what seemed like days, he had passed out eventually, and had tried to hit the apothecary, who came to the tavern trying to find him when he hadn't turned up to collect the medicines.

There was so much rage and desperation, he just collapsed under the weight of his grief. But he had to go back and collect Jacob's things. He almost didn't want to go, he didn't want to face the reality of his brothers death.

But he had to, and with a heavy heart he saddled up his horse and rode out of Stuttgart.

The road was wet, the mud got into his tack and dried in his boots, but he found that he no longer cared. He rode hard and fast. It was hard no to think, he was used to planning in his head. But it came as a shock to realize that he was trying his hardest not to think at all.

It didn't work, he found himself thinking about the very subject he was trying to avoid, Jacob. It felt strange to say the name, it echoed in his mind. Jacob Grimm. Of the Grimms Brothers. Notorious banishers of evil, the slayers of witches and wizards, known throughout the country as extraordinary men with extraordinary talents...

He lived a while in memory, replaying the high points of his life, all of which had Jacob inside. He thought upon death and despair, on his brother and sister and mother. He reached the town with tears in his eyes.

The first person he approached was a young boy, no older than sixteen who pointed him in the direction of Mistress Adala's residence. The boy eyed him curiously.

"Wha' did ya wan' wi' tha old hag?" He asked, his eyes narrowing.

Will threw him a coin and while he was scrambling for it he rode in the direction the boy had indicated. He was not in a talking mood.

It didn't take him long to reach the hut, despite the fact that everyone had known where this Adala lived, she was not liked. Everyone he asked had regarded him with suspicion and barely concealed dislike.

He reached the small building and tied his horse at the fence. He glanced at the door, a plain thing, unlike the colorfully decorated houses that surrounded it. Taking a deep breath and steeling himself he knocked at the door.

It was opened almost immediately by a young woman, a very beautiful young woman.

"I'm here for Jacob's things?"

Adala nodded and opened the door wider. She wasn't enjoying this as much as she had though she would. Wilhelm looked terrible, he was white with exhaustion and there were deep shadows under his eyes. His sister's soul stood behind him with a comforting hand on his shoulder. It was strange that the spirit had not departed from the mortal plane, there was nothing but pain here for her.

She nodded politely to and let Will in, She shut the door in his sister's face, but the soul just wafted through the wood and gave her a nasty look. Adala returned it and turned to look at her visitor.

He was very handsome, perhaps more than his brother, but she skimmed over that thought guiltily, Jacob could be dealt with later.

"I was looking for Adala Gah?" He said, his voice shaking slightly.

"You found her."

He looked rather surprised, "But the boy said you were a-a..."

"Hag, yes I know."

He looked disconcerted, but continued to glance around the room nervously.

Adala realized she was staring and blushed angrily, she was a witch, there was no room in her heart for pity. But he looked so miserable...

She slapped herself mentally and turned away from him.

"His things are over there." She said pointing to a shelf across the room.

Will walked over and stared at them, it was Jacobs pistol, a useless object, not good for anything except show. And his dagger and change of clothes, even his saddle was there. And there was a small clay pot on the shelf. It had been glazed with intricate patterns.

Will stared at it until his eyes hurt. This...this was Jacob.

"I'm afraid the horse got stolen." Adala said grinding herbs in the corner.

"Right..." Will said. "Mistress, why do you have these things? Surely you are not the funerary services?"

""I'm a friend of Jacob's."

"He never mentioned you. And we only came to this village a week ago." There was something strange about this woman, she seemed familiar somehow, but she wasn't looking at him. She was working with a fearful intensity, almost as if she was angry at something.

There was a pause. "I was with him when he died." She said.

"He didn't die alone?" Will asked, It was something he had been worrying about, he had left Jacob when his brother had told him he didn't want to die alone.

"No." She had stopped working and was leaning against the table, staring at the wall. He was surprised she was so emotional. Surely Jacob would have told him about her. She was beautiful and apparently cared for him very much.

He fingered Jacob's saddle. His money was still inside. "Do you want this?" he asked showing her the bag of coins.

She spun around to face him, her eyes bright with anger. "I don't need your charity." She hissed at him, and suddenly she wasn't so pretty, her eyes were crinkled and her face was lined. Her back was bent and she looked, old, and tired.

Will flinched back from her, bumping into a barrel that fell and rolled sloping water all over the floor.

Adala made no move toward it but glared at Will. Her face was serene once more.

"Jacob cared for you Will, and you dare come here, compensating his death with money?"

"I didn't mean-"

"Just get out."

He obeyed, slamming the door behind him.

Adala was angry, and she didn't know why but she had the strange urge to hit Wilhelm. Her bond with Jacob was showing through. The kiss was becoming unraveled, already she could feel her bones beginning to creak.

She realized with a start that she had stayed away too long.

Summoning the last ounce of magic she had left she retained her image but she needed to hurry back to Jacob.

Her horse was already saddled in the back and she mounted with a grunt of pain. Old bones in a young body, they weren't a good combination.

She rode faster than the wind trying desperately to hold on to her image. Jacob would be waiting. Her heart leaped within her as she thought of his face. The binding kiss was working too fast. She shook his image out of her mind.

Lotte drifted lazily next to her, laughing at Adala.

"I never realized, but you actually have a soul." She said.

"Shut up!" Adala screamed at her, her control slipping.

Lotte smiled cheekily but sobered when Adala began to cry.

"You're twisted, but it's not too late to change, What was done to you was inexcusable but you cannot blame everything on innocents."

Adala stopped the horse, her face changing rapidly to grow older. Lotte sighed and fed her soul magic until she was young again.

"What do I do?" Adala whispered, her hands clutching her face.

"Help them, break the vow."

"I cannot do that."

"Please, I'm begging you. They don't deserve this. It's sick. You're not even enjoying the game anymore. You have ruined your life as well as theirs."

It was raining again, shining silver drops clung to Adala's fiery hair and mixed with tears. "I love Jacob, It's part of the kiss. I will lose him if I tell him."

"If you truly love him, then tell him, I know him too well. And he will not leave you. I think once he knows you he will love you as well."

Adala stared at her. Jacob was a part of her now. And she had to protect him. She should tell him...

"No!" She screamed, her face red.

She kicked her horse into a gallop and rode away. Lotte's ghost didn't go after her, but watched her disappear sadly.


Once again I am sorry for the absolutely mind-numbingly bad writing but what else can I say...