Chapter Nine

Like a mouse trapped in the maze that he had memorized, Adam began to track his way to the underground tunnels that would eventually lead him to the dungeons of the castle. He noticed with each turn and step he took he was getting farther and farther from the sun. From alleyway to alleyway, he eventually took enough turns to make it to the drain exit of the dungeon. Unlike the Anti-World that was nothing but darkness and hid everything that he did not wish to see, because Apfel had light in it he could see all of the things the Evil Queen did as they ever so casually left from the drain.

Scraps of hair, chips of bones and teeth, remains from intestines and organs and other forms of sewage leaked out from the drains of the castle and emptied their way to the sewers. Regardless of the presence of light showing him where he was, Adam knew where he was simply by the stench and the sounds of muffled screams from within the walls. The Evil Queen used to tell him that she would sometimes entrap or encase bodies of those she tortured into the walls so they would scream and set a reminder to those who disobeyed her.

Taking a deep breath he slipped through the bars and made his way through the sewer tunnels that connected with the dungeon tunnels. Torches lighted by green flames lined the walls as he reached closer to the dungeons. For whatever reason she had decided to use her magic to identify her flames and turn them green. It was helpful here since the other torches were the normal fire orange, however, he wondered how many poor curious souls were stupid enough to walk the paths of these dungeons. . . He reached the main threshold of the dungeons, heard water slipping down the system as well as her cackling. He stayed in the shadows as he watched the Evil Queen, Queen Grimhilde raise her bloody hands and tossed the limp body into a cell. He did not move as he watched her wipe her mouth clean from the blood that dripped down her chin and the few wrinkles that were there magically disappeared and left the skin smooth and flawless. Like a snake shedding her skin, she was all smooth and young looking all over. He waited until she turned her attention to the mirror before he dared step out into the dungeon.

He stealthily stepped into the dungeon, being careful to only step on the certain bricks that he knew were sturdy. Thankfully this dungeon was an exact replica of the Anti-World Dungeon. He knew where all the loose bricks were and which ones would alert her of his presence. That was the last thing he wanted to do after her feeding. Although she was always in a much better mood after her feeding she still was tempted to drink a little more if she had not quite had her fill. Thanks to his poisonous makeup she would not be able to drink much from him if she ever turned on him, however, she could still drink from him and it was the worst form of torture she ever caused him.

He never once believed in things such as vampires, then again in a magical world where everything is possible he should know better. Although she was a witch and not a vampire, she most definitely had vampire tendencies. That was all thanks to her giant book of spells, her grimoire. That grotesque book had all sorts of spells, poisons, potions, and answers to her never ending lust for youth. As he approached the cell that she threw the body in, he half dared to look at it. Judging by the skirts and criss cross apron, it had to have been a maid. The body lay limp, but not entirely lifeless, but her body was partially blue.

Adam found it odd that she had not sucked the body dry, like she normally does as an old hag, then it hit him; she is still experimenting because she doesn't know of the limitations and boundaries yet. It was possibly the best thing he had discovered yet. If she was not entirely in deep with the black magic, there was a chance to burn that book before she added her own entries to it. He shook his head and decided to think on that later and instead inched his way closer to her, but remained silent and in the shadows.

"Mirror, Mirror on the wall," She crooned as she caressed the mirror. "Who is the fairest of them all?"

The green face appeared with a sneering smirk on his face.

"It is you, of course, my Queen." She smiled pleased by this and held up her own hand mirror and admired her own beauty. "However, my Queen, if you continue down this path of Dark Magic, it could end your fairness and beauty sooner than you would like."

"Posh now," she set the mirror down on the vanity beside the mirror. "How could Dark Magic possibly ruin my fairness?"

"You drink the life blood of pure fair maidens," he sighed. "Although it helps you regain your own youth and purity, it corrupts your humanity and your mind."

"Nonsense," she laughed as though the Mirror did not know of what he spoke of. "I will do absolutely everything and anything that I need to do to remain young and beautiful."

"And that is what will remove you from your position as Fairest of Them All."

"You cannot be serious." Her face went from amusement to anger far too quickly.

"Deathly serious, my Queen." He spoke in an ominous voice. "Should you pursue this path of Dark Magic, you shall lost the title and position of being the Fairest of Them All."

"Is it because there are plenty of maidens around in Apfel?" She did not seem to comprehend what the Mirror had already explained.

"No, my Queen."

"Then what is it?"

For the entirety that he knew the Evil Queen he had never known her to be so irrational and incomprehensible. She was always plotting something and did not care what the result was so long as it inflicted harm or achieved her goal. This was the first time that Adam had ever seen the Mirror warning the Queen against doing evil.

"Is your humanity worth the cost of your youth?"

"Absolutely!" She threw her arms down as though she were a child.

"Then no matter what word of caution I give you, you shall not listen," he sighed and closed his eyes tightly. "Then enjoy being the Fairest of Them All while you can."

As if he was finished speaking, the face in the Mirror disappeared. The Evil Queen stared indignant at the Mirror and looked ready to break the glass into a million pieces. She called in a shaky voice. "Mirror?"

There was no response.

"Mirror." Her nostrils flared as she spoke with more determination.

There was still no response.

"Mirror, I demand that you answer me!" She smacked the wall beside the Mirror and made it shake.

There was still no response.

A high pitched shrill escaped her as she raged and pitched a fit further demanding that the Mirror respond to her. Adam was appalled to see her immaturity being exposed in her rage; not that he enjoyed her rage as an old hag, but he definitely could see more ugliness peeking through the cracks of her mask of youth and beauty.

"What is on the inside is much more important than what is on the outside. . ." He shook his head and felt rather relieved to see her ugliness coming out. "What lies within will most definitely surface."

With another shrill in her temper tantrum she threw a glass vial that broke on the wall just to the left of Adam. He decided that would be his cue to enter.

"Queen Grimhilde." He remained still and watched as her cape and skirts flurred about her.

"Who is it?" her eyes were wide and crazed for a few moments before she blinked, realized who he was, then glared and calmed her nostril flaring. "What is it? What do you want?"

"I have returned, per your request, your highness." He did not bow to her as he stepped into her dungeon. He would not bow to a woman who displayed such an immature temper.

"What news have you brought me?" She raised an eyebrow at his lack of bowing, but turned to her vanity. She gently touched her face, removed her crown, then picked up her hairbrush and began to brush the long, luscious spider black locks.

"None of which I can share with you."

"What?" Those green eyes went wide again as she slapped her brush on the vanity.

"I knew you weren't going to be happy about this." He pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed and merely prepared himself to speak. "My Queen, please remain silent and calm before I begin to explain the situations and what it is that you have done."

"Very well." Another nostril flare, but her eyes went to more of a normal size. "Speak."

He had to choose his words carefully so as not to give away what his position was and what time period he was from to properly explained the contract that she signed; how the histories that the libraries had were removed because they would hinder him on his mission because of how many different versions there were of her story; and how he could only be a henchman of sorts because of the limitations that she signed in her future. Throughout his entire explanation her nostrils flared, her eyes widened, and he saw how her temper grew and shrunk as his story went on. In her way of calming herself she pampered herself, re-spun her hair into her scalp tight bun and placed her crown straight on her head. What surprised him as well as terrified him was her silence when he finished.

"From what you have told me, you are useless to me." She said simply as she stood.

"No, not useless." He glared down at her. "I am just not of use to you in the way that you wish."

"Do you care to explain the difference?" She crossed her arms into her sleeves.

"Although I cannot out rightly prevent you from repeating any of your mistakes," he spoke slowly. "I can be a spy of sorts and help cause a different ending for you."

"And how exactly would you do that?" She raised that long eyebrow.

"I can live both within the town as well as the castle to see who talks, what they talk about, and to see if this Realm is divided or if they are planning a riot to put Snow White on the throne."

Her eyes widened at this and there was a sheer moment of fear in them. He knew how paranoid she was as an old hag, and used that to his advantage. She hated to hear how the servants and plebeians in the Anti-World spoke about her, treated her, and outcast her.

"It appears that you are not as useless as I thought." She mused and walked towards him. "I shall indeed require your services."

"I shall require a few things before I can be of service to you, my Queen." He debated on bowing, but as he spoke to her on an even and equal level he did not.

"And what is it that you require?" Her eyebrow twitched.

"I require clothes that are less finer than these," he gestured to his coat and pants. They were of the most royal colors and of the best quality, all embroidered in gold. "Something that will look like what a farmer would wear."

"Why do you wish to dress as a peasant?" her nose wrinkled in disgust.

"It will be easier to walk in the crowds amongst the people, and it will be a good disguise."

"Very well," she rolled her eyes. "It shall be done. What else?"

"I shall require two places of lodging," he held up two fingers as he spoke. "I shall require one here in the castle, as well as one in the city."

"Why two?" she tapped her fingers on her arm. "I understand why you would need one here since you shall be my henchman, however, I do not understand why you would need one in the city with the peasants?"

"For the sake of keeping up the disguise." He glared at her. "It will also be easier and faster for me to create a halfway point in the city than it is here in the castle."

"And why is that?" She sounded suspicious. "Is there not more magical energy here in the castle?"

"There is, however, there is more of a variety of magic in the city."

"Variety?"

"You see, there is too much Dark Magic here."

She stiffened and her eyes widened. Those green eyes darted to the grimoire that was opened on its easel. "Very well, it shall be done. Do you require anything else?"

"Yes, just one more thing."

"What is it?"

"What does Snow White look like?"


Author's Note:

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you're enjoying it so far!

Please leave me a review and let me know how I'm doing! I would love to hear about who your favorite characters are! Have you ever heard of the Disney Villain Recruiters? Please check them out on Pinterest and let me know what you think! If you've invested into the story this long, hopefully you've been checking them out. ^_^

Thanks so much for coming along the journey with me!

Ko-fi/Sarahthewriter