Chapter Eleven

QUEEN GRIMHILDE

That boy who called himself her experiment had yet to return and her patience was growing thin. She had already mutilated three butlers and sucked another young maid dry since he left in the early afternoon. She paced her small patch of stone in front of the Mirror and tried to think of new ways to dispose of Snow White. Now that she had the walking Apple Poison, all she really needed him for was to create a lifetime supply of poison for her to use in the neighboring countries so that she could slowly take over the entire world and live it a beautiful and youthful life by killing handmaidens. It would be perfect!

The drips from the leak in the ceiling echoed off the walls and rather annoyed her and continued to drain her of her patience. "Where is he?" she hissed and looked over her shoulder at the main entrance from the castle. "He should have been here ages ago. I already have a room prepared and a house in the peasant filled town. He should be back now!"

"Patience, my Queen," the Mirror drolled and graced her with his presence. "He will come in good time. He is doing as you wanted of him and investigating."

"This castle is not that big," she snapped and pointed her finger at him. "He should have been back by now! Where is he?"

"He will be on his way momentarily - "

"Mirror, Mirror," She snapped. "Tell me where Adam is!"

In a swirl of green the Mirror's face disappeared with a groan and showed Queen Grimhilde that Adam was in the library talking to Snow White nonetheless! He was most definitely stiff, as though he didn't know what to do or say. Whatever he said made Snow White cry and she turned to run away. A little smirk rested on her face for only a moment until she watched him reach out for her and kept her at bay.

"What on earth are they doing?" She gripped the mirror. She could see their lips moving, but she could not hear what they were saying. "Mirror, I demand to hear what it is that they are saying."

"Sadly, my Queen" he rolled his soulless sockets as his face took over the face of the mirror. "I can only show you the picture, I cannot provide the volume."

"Useless." She hissed and glared. "Absolutely useless." She released the edges of the Mirror and paced again. "Is that boy a spy? A traitor? How dare he come to me with lies about promises of being from the future!" A screech of anger escaped her and the Mirror merely rolled his eye sockets with a frown.

"Screeching like a banshee is most unbecoming of the most fairest of them all, my Queen." He spoke in a bored tone and sighed heavily.

"Are you insulting me?" She snarled and raised her fist threateningly.

"Of course not, my Queen," he huffed as if the threat held little meaning to it any more. "I am merely reminding you of your position and what the title of the Fairest of them all means."

"If you were a man and not a magic mirror I would have tortured you already." She said most definitely and crossed her arms. "You are the only living thing that dares to challenge me or correct me."

"It is because I am supposed to be your guide and advisor that I do so." He smirked. "That and I am more than likely the only man alive that can stand a chance against you, and that is only because you need me to be your eyes of the happenings in the town."

She glared at the Mirror and only earned his chuckle as a reward from her keeping her tongue as anger ate away at her.

"Now, my Queen," he cleared his throat and became serious again. "You need to trust the boy. He will most definitely provide a better ending for you."

"You have seen it?" her eyes went wide in surprise.

"But of course," he chuckled with a smirk. "Why else would I have let him into your presence and advise you to keep him alive?"

"Very well. . ." her lip twitched. She knew better than to ask him what he knew and what he saw. Anything that he ever told her to be a possible future would immediately change and no longer be a possibility. She did not want to chance her chances of a Happy Ending. "What do you believe that I should do about him then?"

"Let him do as he sees fit." If he had shoulders he would have shrugged. "He knows what the future holds in store for you, for myself, and for the rest of Apfel, perhaps even Snow White. . ."

"What do you mean, perhaps Snow White?" she flinched.

"That is still yet to be determined, my Queen." He sighed again. "Adam, as he so calls himself, is a rather wild card to this story. Everything from here to the end will depend on his actions."

"I do not like wild cards, Mirror, and you know that." She seethed and she resisted the screech that wanted to escape from within her.

"But he is the wild card that you need, my Queen." He repeated. "He will be most beneficial to you. You should not worry, your Highness." The Mirror chuckled. "The boy will be more useful to you than you think. You merely need to allow him to do as he sees fit if this plan is to take proper action."

"For your sake, I hope you're right." She rolled her eyes. "If he does something wrong, it will not only cost him his life, but it will also cost you yours."

"Such bold lines coming from you, my Queen." He chuckled again. "No one likes to have bad luck from mirrors."


ADAM

All life seemed to disappear from the castle as he got closer and closer to the dungeon, and despite how many times he had been there in the Anti-World, it was somehow more unnerving in a world that actually had light. It was somehow more deceptive and unnerving in a world of light. At least in the Anti-World where it was nothing but darkness he could anticipate the evil acts that would jump out of the shadows of alleys.

Just like the sewers and the tunnels below the castle, the lights that neared the dungeons were green. How had the staff not seen this before now? Did anyone actually clean or do maintenance down here? If they did, they were probably the lifeless forms and bodies that were left to decay slowly in the dungeons. Water dripped from the ceiling at a slow repetitive rate and echoed in the tunnels as he ventured further down into the dungeons. His footsteps echoed in an off balanced rhythm to the dripping noises and soon he heard the soft murmurs of Queen Grimhilde and the Mirror discussing things.

"You should not worry, your Highness," the Mirror chuckled darkly. "The boy will be more useful to you than you think. You merely need to allow him to do as he sees fit if this plan is to take proper action."

Adam remained still and in the shadows. It should not have surprised him that even in her youth she questioned his worth and value. In the Anti-Realm she only used him as her errand boy and although she knew of his poisonous capabilities, that still did not seem to be enough for her both in youth and old age. It was odd to see how some people never changed, rather cruel irony for her since the ugly old hag that lies within is scratching to escape that beautiful mask she tries to hide behind. Even in her youth she was ready to kill him once he proved himself no longer useful.

"For your sake, I hope you're right." She rolled her eyes. "If he does something wrong, it will not only cost him his life, but it will also cost you yours."

"Such bold lines coming from you, my Queen." He chuckled again. "No one likes to have bad luck from mirrors."

If there was any one thing that Adam knew more than anything that the curse of bad luck that came from mirrors was the worst; specifically that Mirror. That bastard caused Adam so much pain for weeks it is a miracle that he is still living now. He had learned this terrible mistake because in his early stages of seeing the life of the Anti-World, he had menial tasks of cleaning the Mirror. On one particular stormy night he tripped and caused the Mirror to crack which in turn caused the Mirror to curse him. That Mirror had caused Adam to be stuck through a demon possessed meat factory that the Queen had sent him there for ingredients. He would hate that Mirror forever.

Maybe I should take that Mirror out before I take Snow White out. . .

"It would appear that the boy has returned." The Mirror suddenly had his socketless gaze right at Adam.

"Oh Adam," she feigned an overly happy smile and he made sure to keep his calm mask on so as not to flinch. He would show her no weakness. "You have returned."

"Yes, my Queen." he half bowed politely, and though he kept his gaze steady and in line with the Queen's, he could not help but watch the Mirror. What secrets had that blasted Mirror try to reveal?

"Have you explored enough of the castle?" she tucked her hands into her long sleeves. "Have you found it to your liking?"

"But of course," he looked down at her with an even look. "You designed most of the interior of the castle.

"It is a good thing that you have good taste to notice my work." Her smile had pride, however, there was something in her eyes that he did not like. There was more poison in those apple green eyes than he particularly cared to see. "I have arranged for the room in the West Wing to be prepared for you, my nephew."

His nostrils flared as she tried to claim him as her nephew, but he kept his face mostly blank. "Thank you, that ismost generous of you."

"Yes, I thought you would like that." There was an odd knowing smirk that grew on her face, however, he decided to ignore it. "I have also found the odd accommodations that you requested in the town. IT is on the outskirts of town closest to the mountains."

She walked over to the Mirror, waved her hand over it, and the face of the Mirror turned into a detailed blueprint of the city and the vacant houses. She pointed to the very one she described, it was literally on the very edge of town, but there were still plenty of paths that would lead to the castle itself. There were also several paths that would lead to the mountains which would essentially lead him to the magic tree that held the Door Between Realms. As he studied the map, he was very aware of the fact she could see almost everything about the city, which meant if she were nosey enough she would follow him to the Door Between Realms if she wanted to. He would need to set up proper portals so she would not know where it was.

"Is this sufficient enough?" she turned her nose up at the simple house.

"Most sufficient," he nodded. "It shall prove most useful, more useful than you may realize."

"So long as it gets rid of Snow White, that is all that matters." A dark look flashed over her face and the old hag peeked through the pretty mask. "How soon shall we be able to conduct the matter of getting rid of Snow White?" Her hands disappeared into those long sleeves again.

"It is still too soon to act." He said easily and avoided the glare that was followed by her angry nostril flare.

"What do you mean that it is too soon to act?" His hands escaped from the sleeves and were in fists at her sides and shook. "How long do you intend to make me wait?"

"I should have enough information by the next full moon - "

"The next full moon is in two days, surely you are aware of this." Her eyes widened and slightly twitched as she crossed her arms. "Can you really kill her in two days?"

"It is too soon to kill her," he sighed. "But in two days I can begin to act and formulate my plan."

"And do you intend to share this plan?" Her long eyebrow arched.

"I cannot, or it shall indubitably fail." He shook his head with full confidence.

"I do not like this constant uncertainty from you, Adam." She hissed. "I expect daily reports from you, and I will have a mirror installed in each of your living spaces."

"Of course, my Queen." He spoke through gritted teeth. He regularly avoided mirrors like the plague because he hated the fact that he was always being watched; it would appear that he still could not escape that even in this Realm.

"You are dismissed, you may go to the West Wing, or wherever it is you wish to lodge for the evening." She flicked her wrist. "Leave me."

He did not hesitate and bowed quickly before escaping the dungeons. Already knowing the way and which room that she referred to, he walked quickly to the West Wing. The staff passed him and looked rather confused as he passed, but said nothing to him as he continued along his way. When he finally reached the big room at the end of the hall, he shut the door behind him and leaned down against the door.

He felt sick. He wanted to throw up. His heart beat fast and he took deep breaths and big swallows to calm his breathing. His gloved hand ran through his hair as he leaned his head back against the door. He already hated the old hag and the Mirror separately, when they were together it was suffocating. As he practiced his breathing he glanced around the room and nearly stopped breathing; it was an exact replica of his room in the Anti-Castle in the West Wing of the Recruit hall. He slowly stood up and looked around the room.

The king-size oak four poster bed sat on the right side of the room with matching nightstands that sat on either side of the bed, trunk that sat at the end of the bed, and dressing cabinet that sat on the left side of the room. Luxurious wood fit for any king. The ceilings were high, the floors were a light color to actually allow light to explore the room, and the windows were grand with a view of the mountain. Other than the fact that this Realm was actually touched by light, the only big difference between this room and the room in the Anti-Castle was the lack of a king-size bathroom. He had not realized that he would be missing such a high tech and futuristic thing such as plumbing and running water, but he was in the old hag's original time, so he only had to put up with it while he was in this Realm. He would most definitely be returning to the Anti-Realm though to sleep and to bathe. It would be too risky here.

He turned his attention back to the mountains and heaved a sigh. It was going to be a long hike to get there. It would not be long now until the sun set, he would need to leave and return to the Anti-Realm quickly. Since he would not be staying the evening in this room, it would be better for him to go ahead and leave so he could see the other house in the town. Taking another glance around the room, he left this room and set out to discover his new lodging in the town.


Author's Note:

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

So I know this is a rather different sort of story, which I'm happy about, but I would love to hear from y'all. Please leave me a review and tell me what you think. ^_^

Thanks for coming along the journey with me!

Ko-fi/SarahtheWriter