Chapter Twenty-Two

ADAM

He ran a hand through his hair and heaved a sigh. His head ached as he tried to process all of this and he felt terribly exhausted. The lack of sleep had finally caught up with him and although the bloodlust was gone, he needed to get some sleep before he passed out or committed a murder, or both. His next question was where should he nap? If he went upstairs to the West wing he could go to his private room, but be entirely uncomfortable because of the mirrors, or he could walk into and to his private house and sleep there but deal with the possibility of missing out on the picnic.

As he stood debating on where to go, Frederick walked into the throne room. "You look like a walking dead man, Prince Adam." He put his hands on his hips and looked Adam up and down. "You should have tried to sleep. You didn't have to keep watch all night."

"You'll have to forgive me," He glared and held his head as the ache turned into a pounding. "I'm not used to being around others at night, and I don't exactly trust the darkness of night either. The shadows within the darkness have a way of being dangerous. . . Especially at night. What are you even doing in here anyways? I thought you were escorting Snow White while she had to give the fool a tour."

"That seems to be a rather problematic predicament that makes me very curious, but since we don't have a lot of time, I'll have to ask about that another day." Frederick raised his eyebrow. "And for your information she asked me to escort her to her room so that she could freshen up for the picnic outing the Queen has planned for this afternoon. Which speaking of which, you better get ready for a picnic."

His brows furrowed and the headache simply would not let up. "I thought that the picnic is in a few hours?"

Frederick smirked. "Time flies when you're busy, Prince Adam."

"Stop that." Adam growled and the embers of the blood lust flaked back up. "Do. Not. Call. Me. Prince."

"For the sake of formalities and the sake of keeping appearances I shall refer to you as 'prince' until Florian is gone." Frederick spoke with finality. His look of determination was enough of a challenge to Adam, and Adam was up for the challenge for his lack of sleep.

Adam knew better than to really engage in a fight, which was what he was most in the mood for, simply because it would cause a scene and it would get messy; not to mention he did not want to actually harm Frederick. He grunted in frustration and raked his hand through his hair. All of his hair stood on end and he found it a tad difficult to actually keep the toxicity of his poison levels in check.

"If you're lucky you might just be able to sleep in the carriage." Frederick suggested with a shrug. "You at least need to change your suit coat before we leave."

"I shall not." He growled and crossed his arms. His hands gripped the bend of his elbow tightly to keep him from acting out. He only hoped he could actually sleep on the way there.

"So you're childish when you're sleepy." Frederick snorted with a smirk. "Such a royal characteristic of you."

He glowered. "I assume you had a reason for coming and talking to me?"

"Just to tell you to get ready and inform you that we would be leaving in an hour." He had a knowing smirk on his face. "Make sure you're out front by then."

He turned on his heel and left the throne room. Adam could only glare at the back of his head, but he could not actually stay angry with Frederick. Frederick, even in his youth, was honest, blunt, and overly reliable, his character was outstanding and Adam was aware that Frederick was his only potential ally.

As much as he wanted to sleep there would have been no point in trying to squeeze a nap in if he was going to have to be awake soon after. He would, much to his chagrin, have to stay the day and or night after the picnic. He rubbed his face, hoping it would rub the sleep away, but it only made it worse. With a grimace for feeling extra fatigued now he pushed himself forward and made his way to the front gates. Hopefully there would be a tree with enough shade he could rest under before they departed.

He walked down the long halls and he hardly noticed the bustling servants as they made arrangements for Prince Florian's stay as well as packing and preparing overly extravagant picnic, Queen Grimhilde's doing no doubt. He made it all the way to the foyer until the voice of his every growing least favorite person spoke.

"That is a lovely dress on you, Snow White." Florian gushed as he walked much too closely to Adam's liking. He was overly friendly and had the gall to say her name so casually as if they were long life friends. Whether Florian actually realized that Snow White was the scullery maid or not, Adam could not forgive him for calling the fair Snow White a creature. "That yellow is absolutely lovely!"

"Thank you Prince Florian." She bubbled with laughter.

Adam turned his gaze upon Snow White as she walked. She wore a soft yellow dress with puffed quarter sleeves and a skirt of delicate organza that was the color of morning light, just when the sunrise's beams touched the earth and a white shawl of the most detailed lace it could have been made by spiders. Her shoes were a soft brown that had ribbons wrapped around her tiny ankles. She had a ribbon as red as garnet tying back her curls and he found that he secretly loved the deeper colors on her, the red in her hair drew his attention to her red lips. Those red lips were upturned in a polite smile as she spoke with Florian, polite but not comfortable.

As if she knew his eyes were on her, those doe brown eyes turned and looked at him. She was a vision of the early morning sun on a beautiful spring day. She smiled brightly and honestly at him as she quickened her pace to him and away from Florian. The blood lust dissipated, the fatigue was replaced by a second wind, and the smile on his face was honest and true as he met her halfway. The lack of sleep had gotten to him more than he had realized because he had let one too many walls down that he normally would have felt comfortable with. But she was coming to him, there were less things to worry about when she was around; even if Florian was close behind and approaching.

"There you are!" She beamed up at him. "I was wondering where you had gotten off to. I went back to the throne room, but I didn't see you. . ."

"You must have missed me when I made my way here." He smiled down at her.

"Oh." She blinked as she looked up into his face. "Adam, are you all right?"

"I'm fine." He felt warm and his heart ached instead of his head now.

"Are you sure?" Worry creased her forehead and she took a step closer to him. "You have dark circles under your eyes."

"Just a rough night." He glanced away and saw that Florian was standing too close to them. He made no remark of his presence and kept his attention solely on Snow White.

"Are you having problems sleeping?" She rushed and grabbed the cuff of his sleeve. "If you are, I have a wonderful tea that could help. I also have a soft pillow you could borrow if you need it -"

"My dear Snow White," He spoke softly to her and made sure that he looked into her eyes as he spoke to her. "I promise that I am fine. I will admit that I am a little tired, but I am fine."

Those doe brown eyes searched his black ones as if needing another confirmation that he was being honest. He did not remove his gaze from her. Although she did not seem particularly happy with his fatigued state, she finally released her breath and relaxed but she didn't remove her hand from the cuff of his sleeve. "I believe you." She didn't break eye contact with him. "I just wanted to help. . ."

"I know."

"If there is anything that I can do to help -" Florian cut in with an overly anxious grin. "Please, Adam, just let me know."

Despite the fact that Snow White was in his presence, Florian was an impending force to any sort of peace he would have. Even though the Queen had told him to behave, and only for Snow White's sake would he, he was overtly aware that Florian was going to make this day even more difficult than it already was. Snow White smiled at him as she looked back at him, "How kind of you, Prince Florian."

"But of course." He smiled at her. "Anything for a fellow royal. I must say that I am looking forward to this picnic, I do believe that it will be a lovely day out. And I know that that hat will look simply splendid on you, Snow White."

Adam felt his eye twitch as Florian continued to act so informal with Snow White, but instead of glaring at him where Snow White could see he looked down at her delicate hands and saw that she had two hats in her hands. He had been too distracted by her red lips before to notice them. She had a wide brimmed woven wicker hat with a red ribbon laced through it to keep it on her head. The other hat that she had was a deep blue wide brimmed hat with a matching red band.

"Two hats?" He looked from her hands to her eyes.

"O-o-oh." She cleared her throat as she flushed a soft pink. "I-I brought you this one. . . I know you don't really have hats with you s-so I made this one for you. I know you get hot easily in the sun so. . ." She looked down and he could see her ears turning a deeper pink. She stuck out her hand and handed him his hat.

"Thank you." He took it from her ever so carefully, as if it were made of glass and not the soft suede he held in his gloved hands. To prove to her that he really lied about it, he immediately placed it on his head. It was a wide brimmed flat top that was slightly snug, but fitted him nonetheless. "This is the best present I have ever received."

It was really the only present he had ever received, but still the best one that he has ever owned. She looked up at him with wishful and hopeful eyes when Florian cleared his throat. They both turned and looked at him and much to Adam's pleasure he could see that Florian did not like to be ignored; Adam could only smirk in response.

"We shouldn't keep the Queen waiting." Florian plastered a quick smile on his face. "From what I hear she has quite the temper."

"And from whom do you hear this?" Snow White turned and looked at him. There was a crease in her brow and she looked rather hurt from her evil stepmother.

"Well, everyone, really." He gave a shrug. "Between my messenger and a few villagers, I've heard quite a few things. I'm sure that Adam here can attest to it since he is her nephew."

"Gossip is not a good characteristic to have, Prince Florian." She frowned. "Rumors and gossip are not kind things to spread, no matter how true they may be. . ." She hugged herself and looked very disappointed with Florian.

"Forgive me, Snow White." He bent to one knee. "I was merely jesting, joking, to lighten the atmosphere, even to get a laugh out of you."

"I did not find it amusing." She looked away from him and stepped closer to Adam but did not reach out to him.

"I sincerely apologize, Snow White." Florian continued rather dramatically. "Can you forgive me?"

She looked to Adam, those doe brown eyes asking him what she should do. He knew that she would never truly be able to forgive herself if she didn't forgive Florian. She was far too ready to forgive the Queen, even after all the literal hell the old hag has put her through, she wouldn't be able to forgive herself if she could forgive the most evil woman in all of Apfel and not Florian. As much as he wanted to tell her no for his own sake, he gave her a reassuring nod that she should. She flushed with a happy smile before turning back to Florian.

"I suppose I can forgive you." She placed her hat on her head and tied the red ribbon under her chin; that only drew Adam to those red lips even more.

"Oh thank you, Snow White!" He beamed and stood up with his arms out held to her.

"However," She stood straighter as she looked at Florian. "I must ask that you not speak ill of my mother, no matter if it is serious or in a joking matter. It is not proper and it is certainly not kind."

"As you wish," Florian took off his hat and dropped to one knee. He took her hand and placed a kiss on it. She said nothing and even had a small blush creep on her face as Florian's lips were pressed to her second knuckle. The smile that was on Adam's face fell and although he was not surprised by Florian's actions, he was much more surprised by Snow White's. She was always friendly, she had no problem making physical contact with others so casually even, but Adam could not help but be aware that Florian was going to be a challenging fool. Adam was not aware of the customs in Franca, but at this particular moment he loathed them; especially since he could ever so casually touch her skin and not have to worry about toxicity.

Adam's hands balled into fists and he wanted nothing more than to snatch Snow White away and just take her as far away from Florian as possible. His heart ached and his headache was soon returning. He grit his teeth as he took in the entire demonstration of this Franca physical display of affection knowing that full well he could never do something without killing her.

"I thank you, Snow White." Florian smiled at Snow White and held his arm out to her. "Shall we go?"

"Yes, we shall." She nodded her head with a small smile and she shyly took his elbow. They walked past Adam and did not so much as cast him a glance as they proceeded to the carriages.

Something within Adam spiked worse than his usual bloodlust. Whatever hate he already felt for Florian had made him loathe him entirely. As if the fool was not irritating enough as it was, Florian had an obnoxious way of showing he could touch Snow White. Adam was aware that he could not touch others unless it was necessary to kill, but he was especially aware that unless he somehow lost his natural musk of poison on his skin he would never be able to touch Snow White as affectionately as he kept displaying. Although Adam knew that he would best Florian in almost every act of the role of the gentleman and prince, Florian would best Adam simply by being able to touch Snow White. Adam did not like that. No he did not like that at all.

"Prince Adam?" Frederick called from behind him. He jumped and turned to Frederick. "Are you all right?"

"I-I'm fine." He cleared his throat and readjusted the hat on his head. With the hat properly on his head he turned his face downcast to hide whatever face he was making.

"Are you sure?" Frederick placed a hand on his shoulder and tried to get a better look at him. "You're looking worse than before."

"Just need sleep." He pushed Frederick away and made his way to the carriage.

As Frederick and Adam approached the carriage to join the others, Queen Grimhilde was already within the carriage while Snow White and Florian were in a jubilant conversation. Whatever he was telling her, Florian was able to make her laugh. Her melodious laugh touched his heart as well as pricked it. The aching in his heart worsened while his headache had officially turned into a migraine. He was ever so thankful that he had the hat to cover his face and to provide him with some shade from the bright sun.

Doing his best to ignore the growing familiarity between Florian and Snow White, Adam stepped into the carriage and fell back against the seat. He went in and rested on the left side of the carriage, and as he sat still the lack of sleep had caught up with him and he quickly passed out.


QUEEN GRIMHILDE

After dismissing Adam and telling him that he would behave with Florian, Grimhilde returned to her room. She would change into a few shades lighter from her usual wardrobe so as not to draw too much of the sun's heat to herself; she would most definitely be bringing a parasol to sit under so as to ensure her white complexion will remain as clear as possible.

As she changed from her usual amethyst purple gown, she would change to a lighter one and would replace her black head cap with a gray one. As she changed her mind could not help but wander off to the possible ways of killing Snow White and possibly even that Prince Florian. Although she was aware that killing the prince would start a likely war, it was very tempting. Killing Snow White would almost be too easy. They would be high in the mountains, there would be a possible game, and should she command it she would have Frederick make the move since Adam has proven to be too weak.

Yes, Adam. Although the Mirror has claimed that he is not a traitor there was something about the entire situation that begged to differ. For a man that was both lethal and dangerous he was overly aware of preserving the innocent. She could not believe that he was supposed to be her creation, she never would have raised him to be that soft nor weak. She took a deep inhale through her nose and her nostrils flared. His only redeeming quality other than his toxic skin was the fact that he permanently get rid of her lackeys Jack and Jo. They had only ever been useful but the one time and were terrible bingers, moochers, and overall bums that threw their weight around using her name carelessly to get away with stealing alcohol from the pubs, raping women in the streets, and killing men whenever they felt like it. She had planned on dismissing them anyways, but he only sped up the process.

"He can kill two simpletons for following him around in the shadows of the alleys, but he could not bring himself to kill Snow White." She huffed and crossed her arms. Although he had not spoken outright about his feelings Queen Grimhilde was aware that he had a growing interest in her that was obviously preventing him from killing her like he was supposed to. "It's disgusting." She turned her nose up at the thought.

"What is disgusting, My Queen?" Frederick asked from the doorway. She turned with a smirk.

She cocked a thin eyebrow at him. "I thought you were giving a tour?"

"I was escorting Snow White while she gave Florian the tour." He casually walked closer to her. "She's in her room primping, and It would appear that you are as well. Going for that light purple?"

"Dark colors draw the sun." She answers snippily as she pulled on the gray head cap. "I don't want to ruin my smooth skin."

"Do you have to wear that?" He pointed to her head cap. "Your hair is too beautiful to be hidden away in that cap."

"Flattery is not enough to keep me from wearing it, Freddie." She chuckled at him. "Is there something that you need?"

"In an odd sort of way, yes." He nodded his head and spoke bluntly with her. He was the only man and living soul in the whole Realm that would even remotely get away with that. She loved and respected that about him, but she would never let him know that because she would show no weakness.

"Well, spit it out." She crossed her arms at him.

"I'm aware that you told Adam to be on his best behavior because of Florian." those green eyes stared down into her own, almost challenging.

"And this is your concern, why?"

"Because if he has to behave so do you." He smirked down at her.

"You do not get to tell me what I will and will not do." She flustered. "I am the queen!"

"Oh, I'm very aware of your title and position in this society, Hilde." His voice dropped an octave and there was a stirring in both her heart and her abdomen. "That does not excuse you from looking out to cause mischief."

"Mischief?" She raised her eyebrow again and this time her lip curled up in a sneer. "What sort of mischief are you already pinning on me?"

"I know you too well, Hilde." He stepped closer and she refused to move. She was a queen, she would not be pushed aside or moved no matter how hard her heart beat in her chest. "I know you're in here scheming."

"How dare you!" She pulled her hand back to slap him, but in the midst of the strike, he caught her wrist.

"I will always dare to protect you." He said as his hand encompassed her entire wrist. "Even if it is from yourself. We are going to have a nice picnic with Prince Florian and Adam and Snow White; even if that means I have to babysit you to keep you from doing anything along the way."

Her wrist burned and tingled from where he held it, and were she not so caught up in his green eyes she would have thrown her other wrist at him; though she knew fully well that he would have caught it and held it in the same position.

"Release me, Frederick." She said coolly. He released her immediately and took a step back. She frowned that he stepped further from him, but refrained from letting that show and chose to stay angry.

"I take it you're going to behave?" He smirked at her.

"So long as you refrain from touching me." She growled. He only chuckled at her before back stepping and exiting the room.

He waved his hand over his head and exited her room. "I'll wait until you finish so that we can walk over to the carriage together."

Her ridiculous heart pounded in her heart and she hated that he had touched her wrist. It wasn't painful, but there was such a tenderness in it that it burned her. Any time he touched her it reminded her what a pulse felt like. She was sure her heart would burst from the way it was currently pounding. She hated that. He was her weakness and she knew it. Despite the many dangerous missions that she had purposely sent him on in hopes of killing him, he always came back to her. She both loved and hated that about him. She had wanted him dead a long time ago so that she would no longer have to hold back from the darkness that called to her, but he always found some way of making it back and keeping her at bay. He had proven that he was far too difficult to kill and she was aware that should it ever do something to it, she would have to kill him with her own hands.

She froze at the thought. She would do it if it meant keeping her beauty and gaining more power; but she did not want to. No matter how dangerous of a mission she sent him on, she always secretly hoped deep within her heart that he would make it back while still wishing that she could simply put him out of his loyal misery to her by removing his existence from her life. He held her back, but kept her safe.

She shook her head. She could not allow herself to continue to think of these things, the more she thought the weaker she became. She had too much light in her. . . She needed the darkness. She walked to the giant velvet curtains that hung above the entryway to the balcony and closed them tight. The room grew dark even though there were a few lighted candles to provide growing shadows. She stood in the center of the room and held her arms out. "Shadows, come to me."

The shadows in the room morphed and bent and gained faces. They twitched and flicked in the candles shadows, but said nothing.

"Hello my little creatures." She chuckled and looked around the room. "I have a rather big task for you today. I need you and your brethren to go into the Dark Forest and find a bear. I'll be bringing Snow White to the meadows just outside the Dark Forest, she'll probably go looking for flowers or something. See what kind of fun you can have then."

The shadows bobbed back and forth in excitement and shot out of her room off to the Dark Forest where the Shadows ruled. A wide malicious grin spread on her face as she pulled open the curtains again before joining Frederick out in the hall. He stood expectantly and had this accusing look on his face as though he knew she were up to something but had yet to pinpoint what it was.

"Are you ready?" He asked and tried peeking into her room, still trying to see what it was that she was up to.

"I am." She gave him a smile and he narrowed his eyes. She said nothing and merely took his arm for him to escort her out to the carriage.

Nothing was said between them as they made their way to the carriage. Much to her delight, she was the first one there and would claim her seat. Frederick stood just outside and kept scanning the area, looking for whatever she had done.

"I don't know what you've set up, Hilde." He spoke in a low disappointed voice. "But I'm ready for whatever you want to throw at me."

"I don't know what you're talking about." She snickered.

"I felt the darkness from within your room, Hilde." He kept his back to her. "I know you're up to something. . .I'm just really not in the mood to be dealing with that kind of bullshit today."

With a sigh he pushed himself from the carriage and returned somewhere in the castle. She settled into her seat and not long after Prince Florian escorting Snow White quickly arrived. The two giggled and spoke of the interesting things in Franca and Apfel and Queen Grimhilde could only roll her eyes. Florian was an obnoxious flirt and Snow White was so gullible to believe whatever boastings he provided for her. He claimed to have battled a behemoth, slain a dragon, and even countered a giant serpent in some magical lake in Franca. Snow White was eating it up. The Queen could only roll her eyes so much before they would get stuck in the back of her head. If this prince really did as he said he has, there would have been much more news to have reached Apfel and she would not have allowed him into her kingdom. If he had really done what he had said he had, he would have been aware of the darkness that lies within her.

She grew bored quickly of their over giddy conversation and was relieved to see Adam emerge from the castle. Frederick was trailing not too far behind him. Adam looked as though some sort of darkness that was buried within him was ready to burst at the seams. He had dark circles under his eyes, more than likely from lack of sleep, and had a dangerous aura around him. She couldn't quite place why he was like that, but she relished in his terrible mood. Perhaps with this dark streak in him he'd be one step closer to finally killing Snow White.

He climbed into the carriage and fell back against the window once he claimed his window seat. He crossed his arms and legs and fell asleep almost instantly. She sent a glance to Snow White to see that she was looking at Adam, almost upset that he had not cast her glance before stepping into the carriage.

"Come, Snow White." Florian cooed. "Let us join them or else we might get left behind.

"Yes, please do." Queen Grimhilde called out. "Snow White, dear, please come and sit beside me."

She smiled as she watched Snow White's face pucker as if she had swallowed a grape. She could still see the tinges of distrust and fear in her eyes, but she nonetheless nodded her head and entered the carriage. Florian sat across from her and beside Adam. Frederick closed the door and hopped onto the back and with a hard lurch, the carriage took off. As soon as the carriage moved, Florian practically began to bounce in his seat like a schoolboy.

"Oh, I'm so excited to see Apfel!" He bubbled. "I can't wait to try the food, to see the people, to see the countryside! I can't wait to experience the Apfel experience."

Queen Grimhilde had a tight smile as she realized that this was going to be a long ride. Snow White was naïve enough to actually engage him in conversation and kept him talking. He simply would not shut up and had no problem keeping the conversation going. She could not wait until they finally got into town so she and Snow White could make a quick stop to look at fabrics for whatever dress she had planned on making. She especially could not wait to see how the day's events would unfurl.


Author's Note:

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

Thank you so much for coming along the journey with me, stay tuned for more!

Ko-fi/SarahtheWriter