Chapter Fifteen
A few hours had passed before Snow White eventually made her way downstairs. It was still early morning, but lunch was still a few hours away. As Snow White walked downstairs, she found Adam deep in thought in the small kitchen. His head was in his hand as he skimmed over the books in his lap.
"What is wrong with me?" He continued to think. "She is literally in the house. I have every opportunity and chance to kill her now. The job could be over and done with at this very moment. All I'd have to do is put my hand over her face and she would melt away . . ."
Though the thought was easy, it was obvious, there was an irritating sensation in his chest that caused an aching feeling that was almost as toxic as his poison. Killing her would be so easy, yet he also found it so difficult to do. He was so conflicted with himself that he had barely heard her come down the creaky stairs. His head snapped up to the stairs and an embarrassed Snow White stood at the foot of the stairs rubbing her eyes.
He cleared his throat as he looked at her. "You're awake."
"I'm sorry for falling asleep. . ." her hands rested in front of her and she dropped her gaze. "That was most impolite and rude of me and -"
"You are perfectly fine." He cut her off. He did not want to hear her apologize for simply being an emotional human being. "All that matters is that you have rested up and should be ready for your lessons."
"Still -"
"Don't apologize again." He held his hand up and gestured to the seat beside him. "Come, sit. Let's see what you know."
"Not much. . ." She laughed nervously as she walked over and sat at the edge of the seat.
"You said you could write your name, yes?" He passed over a quill and paper to her. "Would you please write it for me?"
"Yes," she nodded as she took the quill and paper. She ever so slowly and carefully scrawled her name on the paper. The ink was written thinly and the name was written in a pretty and curly script. When she finished dotting her 'i' and crossing her 't' she smiled shyly and slid the paper back over to him.
"It is really pretty." He complimented as he read her clean handwriting. "I'm very impressed."
"I can't write many things," she twisted her fingers in her lap. "But writing my name was one of the few things that my father taught me before he passed.
"He did a good job of it." He set the paper aside and slid a new paper over to her. "I have written a few words here," he tapped the paper. "It is not to intimidate you or to scare you, I just want to see if you can read it. "
There were five simple words: Adam, Book, Cat, Dog, Forest.
He watched as she stared at the words, her lips curled in her mouth, her brow was furrowed, and her cheeks were slightly puffed out.
"C-cat," She stammered slightly and pointed to the word cat on the page. "I recognize this one."
"Is that the only one?" He asked politely.
"I'm sorry. . ." She twisted her fingers and looked down at her lap. "Cat is the only one that I recognize."
"Can you tell me how you read it?" He urged.
"C-A-T." She enunciated each letter as she pointed to them.
"So you go by the letters." He took the mental note and pointed to 'dog'. "Can you try this one?"
"D-" She started and her mouth began to move with the letters. "O -G. . .Dog. . ." She blinked as she realized what the word was. "Dog?"
"Yes, the word is dog." He used his hand to hide his smile. "This one." He pointed to 'book'.
"B" She started with the sound of the letter 'b' then furrowed her brow as she looked at 'oo'. "O-K. . .Bok?"
"Oo," he corrected her gently and made another mental note.
"Bo-ok." Another smile once she realized the word. "Book."
"You seem to know your alphabet and sound really well," He bent over and picked up a small phonics book for her. "Which is really good because it will be a little easier than I anticipated. Can you write your alphabet?"
"Um. . . Not really." She sounded distracted. "Aaaaa. . ." She mumbled slightly.
"Well, that shouldn't be a problem," he dug through his stack of books and picked up the pamphlet that had the alphabet in it. "I have a few writing exercises for you."
"A-Dddd," She murmured softly.
"I also have a small present for you." He cleared his throat and picked up the journal he had chosen for her. "I brought you a journal so you could practice - "
"A-m." She continued. Adam turned and saw that she was pointing to the first word on the page he had originally handed her. "Adam."
Adam froze as he realized she was trying to read his name. He hadn't skipped it entirely on purpose, but he just assumed that 'cat' and 'dog' would be easier words since those were animals and they roam everywhere in Apfel. A hammer slammed against his ribs as she continued to stare at his name and practice saying it.
"Adam." She repeated. "Is this your name, Adam?" Those soft brown eyes looked up at him and he could feel heat rising in him.
"Yes, that is my name." He took a deep breath.
"I like it." She smiled and ran her fingers over the name. "It looks really pretty."
"That is the first time I've heard that." He snorted.
"I like the 'A'," She beamed up at him. "'A' asin apple. I just like the way it sounds."
"Well." He coughed to clear his throat and tried to get rid of the heat that was rising inside of him. He slid the books over and her hands immediately went to the red book. "Thank you. These are for you."
"This is such a pretty color," she awed over the book. "It is as red as an apple!"
"I figured you would like that one." He felt relieved that she finally stopped saying her name. "It is something so you can practice writing in."
"Thank you." She clutched the journal to her. "I love it."
"Well, shall we get started?" He handed her a quill.
"Yes." She took the quill and he showed her the alphabet and the writing lessons began.
Learning to read goes along with learning how to write. With each word learned, there is a spelling that goes along with it. With each new spelling and new word, the world of vocabulary and diction can open up the door to knowledge that makes anyone powerful. Reading is what gave Adam his only freedom all those days, all those nights he was jammed and stuffed into a dungeon cell. He could only hope that it would give her a new strength to get her out of Apfel.
They went over writing the different letters of the alphabet, the sounds of the alphabet, and over the different short and long vowels along with some of the suffix sounds. An hour passed much too quickly for both of them, and whenever their stomachs started growling, they were surprised by how much time had passed. Snow White pulled out the tarts and Adam boiled the water for the tea.
"There was so much. . ." Snow White sighed as she looked at all of the papers on the table. "I just hope that I can remember everything."
"You don't have to get it all at once." He tried to reassure her. "Take it slow and practice often. The more you practice the more you'll learn."
"It is really intimidating," she admitted as she carefully held the tea cup. "But I really want to learn."
"So long as you're willing to learn, I'll do my best to make it easy." He promised. "If you even remotely try to say that you want to quit, it shall immediately become difficult."
"I wouldn't waste your time like that." She pouted slightly. "I would not be here if I were going to quit so soon."
"That's good." He nodded in approval. Not knowing what to say, things just fell into a soft silence. Adam still had so many things on his mind and he could not get rid of the feeling of confliction that warred inside of him. He glanced up and watched as she carefully sipped her tea and daintily ate her apple tart. She was already skin and bone with barely any meat on her, more than likely because of the way the old hag rationed her food. The raggedy maid's attire that she wore was baggy, and though she wore an apron to her, he could see how it just did not fit her properly. With how tiny she was killing her would be so easy; yet the more that he looked at her the more he did not want to kill her. Killing her would be so easy, yet keeping her alive just seemed to be so difficult.
She was sipping her tea when her brown eyes suddenly looked to him over the rim of the cup.
"Is something the matter?" She cooed and set her cup down.
"No." He shook his head and forced himself to blink. "What time did you say you needed to be back at the castle."
"Oh my goodness!" Her hand flew to her cheeks. "I completely forgot! Today is laundry day! If I'm not back everyone will -"
"I'll walk you there." He stood as she did. Before she could politely argue, he already had his cloak and hers and waited at the doors with her. She had her books in her hand and carefully set them into her basket that she brought. They exited the house and Adam shut the door tight behind him, not bothering to lock it behind him since he would return relatively quickly. Apfel was also a much safer place than the Anti-Realm that even if someone tried to break into his house, he would just kill them as easily as he had killed the henchmen.
As they walked through the streets they walked in yet another silence, well not entirely silent since Snow White was humming. As they walked in the sun, Show White almost seemed to glow, as if the sun was giving her a new sort of energy. Although Adam enjoyed the sunlight's warmth, he found that his energy was slowly depleting.
"Are you hot?" Snow White asked softly as she peered up at him.
"What?"
"I beg your pardon, but you look a little flushed." She pulled a small and white handkerchief from her basket and gently dabbed his cheek.
"I-I'm fine!" he quickly snatched the handkerchief from her hand and held it to his face before the poison from his skin could seep through and touch her. "It is a little warm out."
"Well, you are wearing quite a few layers in the spring. . ." She frowned slightly. "Is it the fashion of things from where you come from?"
"What?"
"You come from where Queen Grimhilde once reigned, yes?" She raised a thin eyebrow at her. "She often tends to wear long sleeves and high collars. I just wondered if it was the fashion."
"In an odd manner of speaking," He grimaced. "It is, but not for the reasons that you think."
"It is not cold there?"
"Only in winter." He chuckled politely. He had to recall his memories as well as what Frederick told him. "But the clothes mask things that we don't particularly want to be seen. . ."
"Masking things, huh?" She hummed. "That would explain a few things. . . Do you have a lot of scars?"
"What?" he stopped and looked down at her. She stopped with him and looked away shyly.
"I'm sorry." Those brown eyes looked up pleadingly at him. "I didn't mean any offense, I just thought that well. . . You do wear gloves and high collars, I just assumed that you had scars just like my Step Mother."
"You've seen her scars?" He whispered and almost took a step back. Over the years with playing with Dark Magic and playing with things she was not supposed to, she had to sell parts of herself, made the wrong deals, and did whatever she thought was necessary to acquire her magic powers. Queen Grimhilde wore the long robes and the high collared dresses mostly for the regal fashion, but also to hide her scars that would never disappear no matter how much maiden's blood she drank. Although it was not obvious now in her youth, in her old age as an old hag her veins were black, her blood vessels almost always looked bruised, and her wrinkles would never tighten up again. Her scars from Dark Magic haunted her throughout her entire life.
"Only once." She nodded and clenched her basket tightly in her hands. "It was when I was young, when my father was still around. She - I - We were supposed to bond, have a special night where it was just the two of us. A sleepover she had said. . . Well, I slept in her room, just like I was supposed to, and I was in her bed waiting for her while she put on her evening lotions and potions. She had these very faint scars from her wrists, all the way up her arms. I had asked her about them and - and - and well, she threw me out of her room and we could never be friends after that."
"She has always been rather . . .nasty." He took a step closer to her and carefully touched her elbow. "I've known her all my life and she is not the most pleasant of people for even me to be around. She is not one who particularly likes to be close to anyone."
"Do you think I could ever fix things between us?" She looked down at her hands, as if she actually did something to her.
"I don't think that you ever did anything to her." He gently placed his hand on her shoulder. "I believe that she will need to make that first step if anything is ever going to change between you two."
"You're probably right." She nodded with a huff. "I just wish I could do something."
"Who knows," He removed his hand from her shoulder and held his elbow out to her. "Maybe things will change sooner than we think."
"I sure do hope so." She naturally slid her hand into his arm.
They continued to walk to the castle, and in an odd fashion, Adam escorted her through the front gates and not the back pathway that would lead them to the dungeons. If the Queen were able to watch him as much as she actually threatened she would more than likely be livid. He has had multiple opportunities throughout the day to kill her in quiet ways that would go unnoticed, and he didn't. Although he managed a smile on his face for Snow White's sake, he knew he was in a world of trouble. He looked down at Snow White, listened to her soft and happy little hum, and despite knowing that he would be punished for his actions, he could not help but feel as though it were worth it. The swelling in his chest, the constant heat that surged through his arm with her little hand resting there, and the odd peace that he felt when being around her told him that it would all be all right; somehow.
QUEEN GRIMHILDE
Although she desperately wanted to install mirrors throughout the house that she had ever so carefully selected for Adam, the Mirror told her that it would not be wise to invade all of his privacy. He barely had any in the castle to begin with, and if she dug in too deeply he would not cooperate with her. Choosing to listen to the Mirror, who has yet to steer her wrong, rather than her gut and intuition that made her impatient and impulsive she did not put up any mirrors in the house. However, she also did not remove any mirrors that were already there. Since the original inhabitant was a young female that had already served her purpose in providing fresh blood for her infinite youth, she assumed that there would be some mirrors, whether a small compact or handheld mirror or a medium sized half mirror. The only mirror that she could tap into was a mirror that was shoved in a drawer under old rags that hid the world in darkness and muffled any sound that could possibly be heard.
Much to her disdain she only caught sight of them through her mirrors on their way back to the castle. She noticed that Snow White was in perfect condition. No scratches, no scars, no bruises, just healthy pale white skin that was still flushed with life and youth.
"That cursed boy." She hissed and her nails scratched the walls and left indents. "He is wasting my time."
"Your time is not being wasted, My Queen." The Mirror argued as his green masked face appeared.
"I fail to see how this boy will be of any use to me!" She snapped and flung her arm out. "He has already been with her, alone with her mind you, and he has still yet to inflict any harm to her."
"Do you yourself not like to wait for the right moment, My Queen?" He sighed. "All things come to those who wait."
"I am aware of that, Mirror." She lashed out again. "But he has not proven himself worthy of my time!"
"You also do not know what I know." He growled.
"You also refuse to give me any information regarding any of this!"
"Because as soon as I tell you it will no longer be true to happen."
A ghastly and beastly roar that was far from feminine or sexy escaped her and caused her to convulse in erratic actions. She threw things around the room, broke jars and beakers, and a slew of curses in Apfel and Black Magic escaped her.
"Pitching a fit like a child is most unbecoming of you, My Queen." He rolled his eyes at her. "I understand that you're thirsty and having to suppress your powers, but please, try to have a little decorum."
"What would you know?" She growled and threw an acid filled beaker on the wall next to the Mirror. "You're just a Mirror! You may be all knowing, or pretend to be so, but you do not get to tell me how to act. You're not my mother. You're not my father. You're not even one of my dead husbands!"
"Of course, I'm not any of those people." He rolled his eyes. "If you would have had any of those people, save the deceased husbands, you would not have had need for me and would not be here where you stand."
She stood, her hands in fists shaking at her sides, her green eyes blazing, the green fires in the torches burning brighter and stronger. Her nostrils flared and it was almost as if all the air was sucked out of the room.
"Are you about to pitch another fit?" The Mirror sneered. "Please, feel free to disgust me with such irrelevant and unladylike behavior. Please feel free to prove my point as to why I cannot tell you anything that would benefit your future."
She opened her mouth, ready to scream and rage, when a bell from overhead rang out. Her head snapped to the bells and she only rolled her eyes. Her presence was needed in the Throne room.
"It would appear as though you are being summoned, My Queen." The Mirror snickered. "Please, go see what it is and tell me what plan you decide to go with. I will be most amused to see what you decide to do."
In one of those rare instances, Queen Grimhilde wanted nothing more than to break the Mirror into a thousand pieces. However, if she broke that mirror she would lose all of her magical powers, abilities, and knowledge. Despite her temper, there were some things that were more important for her future than for her temporary present wants. Having her magical powers for the rest of her life was definitely one of those things she would disregard her temper for.
Without another word she left her dungeons and her lair and ascended the stairs that would lead her to the world of fools that were at her beck and call. As she walked she steadied her footsteps, arranged her sleeves and cloak to flow behind her, and reset the crown on her head. An image of dark ethereal beauty she waltzed down the halls before arriving at her throne room. She always liked the way that sounded in her throne room, her castle - there was just something she enjoyed about this Realm belonging to her.
An obnoxious trumpet sounded in the announcement of her arrival. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes and her face twisted into a regal smile worthy of the queen who was the fairest of them all. She ascended the stairs to her chair and took her seat in the center of the room. Her back was straight against the back of the chair, her arms outstretched and rounded the lengths of the armrests, and her feet crossed at the ankles as her skirts draped themselves elegantly around her chair.
She looked out to the marble floors and her eyes rested on a messenger with puffy clothes looking ridiculous and oddly shaped. There was a feather poking out of his oversized hat. His face was as puffy as his clothes, more than likely because of the ridiculous white puffy collar that seemed to be choking his esophagus.
"Your Majesty," his voice was considerably high pitched, and squeaked as he bowed. "I am Humphrey from the land of Francka and under King Ferdinand, I have been sent here to request an audience with the young princess Snow White for the possible engagement to Prince Florian Ferdinand."
Her well manicured nails dug into the arms of the chair. "Snow White?"
"Yes." He blinked slightly confused. "The princess Show White does dwell here, yes?"
"Yes, she does." She smiled and it took quite a lot of self control to control the twitching of her nose and cheek. "However, at the moment she is in her. . . Lessons. However you can schedule an audience with Snow White in a month."
"Well, the audience is not for me, Your Majesty." He cleared his throat nervously. "It is for Prince Florian Ferdinand. I already traveled two weeks by carriage to arrive here. By the time that I return it will be a rushed time for the Prince to make his audience here."
"Well, that will work out just nicely." She smiled darkly as a plan began to formulate. "We have the annual Apfel spring festival that will be next month. I think it would be the best time for Apfel to represent the princess Snow White, and I would love to get to know the king of Francka. So this is an acceptance to the audience and an invitation to King Ferdinand and Prince Florian Ferdinand to come and stay in Apfel."
"My King will look forward to your invitation, Your Majesty." The messenger Humphrey smiled. "He used to visit the late King of Apfel before his passing quite often."
"Did he now?" Her throat felt tight and it was becoming painful to keep her face composed. "I do not believe that I ever had the chance to meet him."
"Surely not, Your Majesty." He scratched the back of his neck nervously. "At the time of your marriage to the late King of Apfel King Ferdinand lost his wife Queen Isabella during her second child birth to princess Cecila."
"I'm terribly sorry to hear this." Her hand covered her mouth to hide the smile that twitched into place rather inappropriately. "Please send my condolences along with my invitation to King Ferdinand."
"On behalf of my king, I thank you, Your Majesty." He bowed politely again. "With that said, I shall be returning to the kingdom immediately."
"So soon?" She hoped the higher pitch in her voice would mask the relief of finally getting rid of him.
"The sooner that I leave, the sooner that we can prepare." He bowed again before turning on his heel and leaving. She sat and watched him leave and narrowed her eyes.
He was here for too short and simple of a time for this to be a mere request for an audience for a princess that she had done her best to hide from the rest of the world. If the king already knew of her existence, then this possible engagement and marriage could ruin everything she had been planning in killing Snow White; but it could also open doors to a new bloodbath if she played her cards right. She could still get rid of Snow White without, begrudgingly, having to actually kill her, and still be able to hide her tracks of killing the staff members whenever she got thirsty.
Yes, this could very well work in her favor; but it could also be a plot to lure her out and expose her for the real person that she both is and is not.
"Choices, choices, what to choose?" She murmured as she leaned on her right hand and stared out into the throne room. "Perhaps the Mirror will have a suggestion, if not an answer for me. . ."
As she looked out into the empty throne room, she caught the smallest glimpse of Adam stalking off. A smirk slowly grew on her face as her plan began to grow. "Yes, this will be perfect." She stood and made her way to return to her lair. "And I have the perfect key to do so with.
Author's Note:
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you're enjoying it so far!
I know this was a rather slow chapter and that this story is kinda dragging, but I promise it will be getting better soon. I had a bit of writer's block with this and tried focusing a little bit more on the background story "The Firebird Ashe Scatter" for another character Ashe Scatter from my "Another Chance for Disney Villains" which you should totally check out if you haven't already. ^_^
Please let me know what you think of the story so far. I would love to hear your thoughts on this.
Thanks for coming along the journey with me, stay tuned for more!
