Chapter Twenty-six

ADAM

It was the longest night that Adam had to endure and for the first time ever, he found himself missing the Anti-Realm. After bringing Snow White and Florian back to the castle the rest of the day's festivities were postponed until tomorrow since the villagers had to clean up the mess that Florian had made with his bear ride. It put the Queen in the most foul mood Adam had yet to see her in here in the Apfel Realm.

She had full blown up at him and scolded him like a child for disrupting the day's events, putting her people in danger, and being absent for so long. Adam was so surprised at her actions, though he relished watching Florian shrink back like the child he acted as, he was surprised that she showed that she cared about Apfel. He was very sure that it was a part of her act as her role as the Queen but she had so much passion behind it all that it was too good to be; real for Adam at least. Although she was different here in this Realm he could see that not much was different. She still had vampiric moments, she still had the same foul temper, and she was still devious in her planning. As much as he knew today's events with the fool riding the bear and causing a ruckus were not part of her plans, he could tell that she secretly wished that they were and that she was more than likely angry because Snow White returned mostly unscathed and still breathing.

She already warned him that she sent a letter to his father in recording the day's events and although she promised that she would momentarily avoid war with Franca, Florian needed to behave better as he was here to represent his country and his father and was doing a poor job of it. Adam would have been lying had he denied the fact he found Florian's loss of color in his complexion amusing. He nearly fainted and had to be assisted up the steps by Frederick; Adam had already made a mental note to get the man something extra special for having to put up with Florian like he was.

Franca's puffy messenger went and coddled Florian upon seeing his dirty face to which Florian whined and went into dramatic detail of how Adam unfairly and unjustly punched him in the face. Much to everyone's surprise, including Adam, was how Snow White had scolded Florian, though not entirely in defending Adam, about the bear and how it put so many people in danger including themselves. She even scolded him for the way he whined about his injuries after he allegedly endured worse from a dragon.

Adam was proud of her for that, but found himself struggling to catch her gaze, her attention or anything from her. She actually refrained from looking at Adam or speaking to him after their moment on the horse before arriving. Though it cut Adam to his core he could not blame her. She had spoken to him so sincerely and due to convenient circumstances Adam had avoided, though not completely rejected, responding to her words at that moment. Adam was overly conflicted upon the position that he was in on top of the irritating feeling of being cowardice that seemed to constantly mock him whenever he thought of approaching Snow White.

Not finding sleep easily Adam sat up in his bed and looked out the window at the moon. It was the first time he had seen the moon in the Apfel Realm. He had never realized that the moon could be beautiful. In the Anti-Realm it always had some sort of storm, and although it was constant night there the moon was a terrible presence there. It had a way of mocking him, reminding him that there would never be a new day, that nothing he did mattered because he belonged in a place of darkness because he was a villain. Despite its mocking face it was still beautiful, just like the Evil Queen.

The moon in Apfel was almost motherly, kind even, as it provided the brightest light on a clear night as if to provide peace and guidance to those awake and lost this evening. It had a soft glow to it that seemed to only want to provide a light in the darkness to help guide those lost to a safe haven. As Adam looked at this moon he could not help but think of Snow White. She was as innocently pale as the moon with that same kindness and warm glow to her that just drew people to her. Adam loved that quality of her but also wished to hide that quality as well. She drew too many of the wrong people to her, himself included, and he wanted nothing more than to protect her.

Adam was both awake and lost, lost in his thoughts and his ever changing and swirling emotions. Being here in Apfel caused both anxiety and excitement. He could see Snow White, but he had to deal with all of the problems of teaching her and protecting her that also involved him seeing the Evil Queen. He could see the sun and the promises of new days that came with them, but it hurt in such a terrible mocking way because as much as he wanted a change there was little he could do to change his physical ailments which simply guaranteed he would never get a Happy Ending. He frowned at that thought. He hated that thought, loathed it entirely. He had come too far to simply give up on his mission, to give up on himself. He'd be damned if he allowed himself to stay in this sorry pathetic cowardice act.

He threw the blankets from himself and stood up as quietly as he could. He glanced around the room and saw that the mirrors he had draped spare sheets over were still covered. It provided him little peace, which was why he was struggling to sleep as well as being overwhelmed with never ending thoughts. The thought of going to sleep knowing there would be a possibility of being watched was just too unnerving. He wanted to get back to the Anti-Realm, or even just to his quiet spot in the village. He stepped over to the small wardrobe and opened up the cabinet doors. He had very little in there and was relieved to see that his messenger bag was still there. He pulled the bag from the wardrobe, opened the flap from the messenger bag, and pulled out a deep brown encrusted in gold leather book.

He opened the book and flipped through the pages. He needed to find a portal spell to at least create between the castle and his house in the village. There were all kinds of spells that he came across as he flipped through the book: how to turn someone into a toad instead of a frog, he debated on trying this one on Florian; a reversal spell to change someone or something from one thing to another, Adam paused on this page and wondered if maybe he could somehow use it on himself; then there was a transfer spell where so long as someone held hands to touched something they could transfer powers or gain new sin like a tree's bar or a rock's rough skin. Despite Adam finding quite a few spells that amused him or caught his attention, there was no portal spell to be found. He snapped the book with a huff and a chuckle came from the large vanity mirror.

"Sounds like someone can't sleep." It was the Mirror's voice. "What could you possibly be doing awake here, boy?"

"What the hell do you want?" Adam hissed and turned his attention to the mirror. The mirror itself was still covered, which gave Adam little peace of mind, but he could still keep the Mirror from over prying in his private business.

"Ah, respectful as usual." The Mirror chuckled in its droning voice. "At least you still have manners, perhaps Snow White is a good influence on you after all."

Adam said nothing but there was a spike of heat and instant thirst for blood. He hated that Mirror. He absolutely hated that Mirror.

"Oooh, did I strike a nerve?" The Mirror was far too amused. "Well get over it, if you want to survive this and you want the girl to survive too you'll put your foolish pride behind you and listen."

"Since when the hell have you ever wanted to help me?" Adam growled, his hands balled into fists. He could feel his toxicity levels growing.

"I'm aware that you have broken several mirrors and have even thrown my main Mirror out a third story window down the mountain, boy." The Mirror droned. "Unlike the Queen, I am aware of much more things that are to happen in the future due to her immature and selfish mistakes. You are the key that has been changing the story; it's been entertaining to watch progress."

"So what is in this for you?" Adam crossed his arms. "You would never help me unless there were something in it for you. Not that you would actually help me."

"At least now you're aware that I'm here to more or less cut a deal with you." The Mirror chuckled. "In case you haven't noticed, which you more than likely haven't because of how suspicious you've been of me, I have been turning the Queen's gaze as far from you and your ongoing affair with Snow White."

"There is no affair." His words were cold, but they poked that growing jealous fire within him.

"Oh, that's right, there is no affair going on because you can't touch her. My mistake." Though Adam couldn't see the face of the Mirror, he knew the damn mask was smirking at him. "Not that I would understand that or anything since I'm a floating head."

"Are you trying to say that I owe you?" Adam snarled. "After the hell I went through for the first few accidents then all the years of punishment of shoving you off the cliff, I don't owe you shit!"

"I never realized that that mouth of yours gets filthy when you get temperamental." Another overly amused chuckle. "Weren't you the one telling Florian to keep his mouth shut because foul words didn't make a gentleman?"

All the heat and fire froze and prickled down his spine. "You heard?"

"Please, that pompous fool is so vain he keeps a compact mirror in his breast pocket." The Mirror rolled its eyes. "How else do you think the Queen knew exactly what happened and knew exactly what didn't happen in the field with the bear? Those hunters that went down there to 'rescue' you all had no idea of the situation."

"You snitch -"

"Before you start with the uncreative insults and out-lashing words, do keep in mind that if I had a physical body, I would be in your court in all of this." The Mirror grew more exasperated and bored as the conversation continued. "If you continue to hold your petty grudge against me this is going to be an even longer process to go through with and it could very well damage your story."

"How do you expect me to trust you?" Adam raised his voice. "Anything you reveal of the future changes because something gets revealed and something gets altered! You've already told the old hag that I am not a traitor, that I do kill Snow White, and that she gets her Happy Ending! How the hell do you expect me to believe you?"

"Are you really going to be this fickle?" He huffed. "You are truly a foolish boy, boy. But you are not as foolish as that rotten prince. Do be careful and keep an eye on him. He's too much of a coin that is easily flipped and will be whatever side lands up. Even though the little fool is pretentious and beyond being a nuisance, remember that it is better to keep your enemies closer than your friends. It's easier to stab them before they stab you in the back that way."

"That's the only reason why I have allowed myself to stay in the castle this evening." Adam crossed his arms.

"Keeping them close and staying in the enemy's camp are totally two different things, boy." The Mirror's voice grew agitated. "Quit interrupting me, boy, I want to sleep as much as you do; and from what I've heard today you need more sleep than the dead."

Adam did his best to refrain from making any smart comments. He knew what was good for himself and letting the Mirror speak would be best. As much as he hated to admit it, he was exhausted and really did need sleep.

"I know you have grudges. I know why you have the grudges. I can't say I'm very apologetic to some of the reasoning behind the grudges, whereas there are other times that I do feel apologetic." The Mirror spoke in a considerably soft voice. "What hasn't killed you made you stronger and will make you the strongest prince -"

The heat was quickly building in him again. "I am not a prince."

"Just shut up." The Mirror raised his voice. "I'm far from any mood to entertain your stubbornness this evening. It is far past midnight and it is not the time! Watch who you befriend, boy, and whatever you do, do not give into the temptation of your growing desires. I tell you this because depending on how strong your will is, it will affect us all in both this Realm and the Anti-Realm."

"Still just a ploy to save your own face, is it?"

"Do you think I like being trapped in this mirror boy?" The Mirror roared to life. "Seeing every corner of the world through my one way windows, forever trapped behind glass to have colossal power and having very little opportunities to use it? The moment my windows get destroyed, so do I."

Suddenly the elder Frederick's words began to ring in his ear. All those warnings about the Mirror being the one to put all the temptations and ideas in the Queen's head.

"You've done everything up to now to get a body?" Adam assumed as he put the jumbled pieces together.

"At one point in time yes." The Mirror answered far too honestly. "Why else do you think the Queen was able to successfully create you? You were designed after everything I desired and what would be desired by others. Your body was to be mine. The Queen had collected enough souls, enough blood, and had used all of that hatred to create you; you were perfect until you spoke and had your own thoughts and soul."

Adam felt nauseous. Hearing that made his tongue shrivel up and bile build up in his throat. His hand went to his mouth to keep him from vomiting. "The toxicity?" Adam looked to the covered Mirror. "What was the point of that?"

"to be untouchable, but desired." The Mirror answered simply. "Hair as black as ravens, eyes darker than the darkest darkness, pale skin as white as bone that caused death as it was born from death. Yes you were to be my vessel. Then you had a brain to think with and a heart that pumped blood and a soul that has kept you moving. You never would listen to me, so I could never control you. The Queen could, for whatever reason, get you to do her bidding; a mother's affections I suppose."

"Do. Not. Call. That hag, my mother." Adam put his hands over his ears.

The Mirror chuckled, "You were born of her hatred and the betrayed heart of her only lover."

Adam shook his head and shut his eyes shut. "Shut up."

The Mirror continued almost laughing at Adam, "You will never be able to deny that she is your mother."

His heart hammered in his ears. "Shut up!"

"You can try, but I witnessed your birth."

He was getting louder and he glared at the vanity. "Shut up!"

"Despite the amount of times I've tried, you would never betray her." The Mirror grew louder.

"Shut up!" Adam looked around the room and he needed something to shut the Mirror up.

"No matter how many times that woman beat you, whipped you, burned you, enhanced those poisons in your skin you have been forever loyal to her. And you always will be." The Mirror's chuckle grew louder, faster. "You will never betray her and you will kill -"

"I said shut up!" Adam grabbed the nearest chair, and like a Roman discus champion threw the chair at the vanity. It instantly shattered. The Mirror's voice was no longer there. It was finally quiet. There was only broken glass left.

He hadn't realized how heavy his breathing was, his chest heaved as he panted. He fell to his knees and allowed his bare hands to touch the cold floor. The cold soothed the fire. He had not realized he was sweating, it had intensified his heat and his toxicity levels. He wanted nothing more than to strip and lie on the floor. He started to unbutton his shirt when a knock came at the door.

Brows furrowed in confusion he pushed himself up to a wobbly stand, but that bob of curls poked her head in the door before he could answer it.

"Adam?" She cooed in a whisper. "Are you still awake?"

"Snow White -" His knees gave out from under him and he fell to the floor.

"Oh my goodness!" She carefully closed the door behind her and rushed over to Adam. "Adam are you all right? You're sweating and -"

"Please." He held his hand up to stop her as he forced himself to sit up. His other hand was hiding his face, he couldn't bear to have her see him like this. He wanted her to leave the room so she wouldn't breathe in the fumes. "Please, don't -"

"What happened?" She stood before him, hovering above him. "There is quite a mess here. Did you -"

"Yes." He held his hand tighter to his eyes. "Yes, I did that."

"You broke the mirror?" Adam couldn't tell if she was surprised or confused. "Why?"

"Don't like mirrors." Adam's voice didn't feel like his own. His throat was dry and he wanted to hide.

"Ah, I see." She sounded as if that answered everything. "I understand. I don't like the mirrors either. I don't break them though, I just try to hide them. . ."

Adam slowly moved his hand and stole a glance at Snow White. She was in a simple faded white cotton nightgown that reached her ankles. She was staring at the shattered glass on the floor with such a faded and scarred look, as if she herself wished she would have shattered a mirror instead of suffering dealing with one.

"It's past midnight, what are you doing here?" His voice cracked and was barely a whisper. She turned her face to his and those doe brown eyes were full of that same warm compassion as the moon.

"I came to check on you." She crouched down to his level and held eye contact. "You said you weren't sleeping well, so I thought that if I made you your own pillow that you would be able to sleep." He glanced behind her and saw a dark blue patchwork feather pillow. "Had I known that it was the mirrors I would have done something sooner."

"I-I'll be fine. " He finally managed to get his breathing under control. "You shouldn't be here. It's not proper for a princess to be in a man's room."

"You're burning up." She completely disregarded his comment. She instead proceeded to pull out a folded handkerchief, one of his, and gently dabbed at his brow. He was momentarily mesmerized by her actions, but he remembered that he was sweating, which meant his toxins were in the air, which meant she was in danger. He went to grab her wrist, but saw that his hands were not gloved. He retracted his hand and turned his face from her.

"Please stop." He was practically begging her to stop. "You really shouldn't -"

"It's a skin condition, isn't it?" She sat back on her heels and held the handkerchief much too tightly in her hands. "That's why you don't like to be touched. Or is it that you don't like it when I specifically touch you?"

"What?" He could only blink at her. She was far too observant for her own good. "How did you -?"

"You always, always, always, wear gloves." She looked so sad despite the smile she had on her face. "You always wear several layers of clothes, even on hot days to the point you must be boiling. You rarely accept my touch unless it is on your elbow or a part of your body that is heavily layered. You never touch water or wet things unless it is to help me hand wet clothes. I simply assumed it was a skin condition."

He nodded and dragged his hand down the back of his neck. "That's one way of putting it."

"Does it hurt?" She tilted her head in such a curious way.

"Rarely." He sighed. "I've gotten used to it over the years."

"It's that bad?" Her eyes widened.

"For you. . ." He chewed on the inside of his cheek. "And for others."

"Is it contagious?" Her brow furrowed in such a cute way.

"Not exactly. . ." He had never realized how hard it was to explain to her that he was literally a walking ticking poison time bomb.

"Is it leprosies?" Her eyes grew wide. Adam was actually impressed she knew of that one. "I hear people saying that is what some of the merchants from the deserts have and that's why they don't like to buy from them."

"No, I don't have leprosies." He chuckled, feeling rather embarrassed. "I have something that only one other person before me has had. And he died. . ."

"D-Died?" He heard the rise in her voice and he instantly regretted saying that. "It's that bad?"

"To everyone else but me." He just fell rather defeated and let his shoulders slump. He looked down at his bare hands and hated to see them. He had calmed down and so had his sweating, but he was still worried about his toxicity level.

"Is that why you have such a sweet smell?" She blushed as she asked the question and Adam felt heat return to his face as he looked at her.

He raised an eyebrow at her, "'Sweet smell'?"

"You have the faintest smell of apple spice." Her cheeks grew pinker. "Like ground cinnamon and cooked apples right before you put it in the pie."

"You think I smell like an apple pie?" He couldn't help but laugh. It was so cute of her, despite how deadly of a sign that was.

"Y-Yes." She suddenly pulled the dark blue patchwork pillow in front of her and clutched it tightly as her ears turned red.

"I don't mind smelling like that." He had been told that though it was a sweet smell there was also yeast to it as though he were a walking apple cider or beer. "It's not the worst thing I've been told that I smell like."

"Adam. . ." Her voice was small and her tiny hands trembled slightly as she still clutched his sweat covered handkerchief and the patchwork pillow.

"Yes?"

"Will you let me touch your hand?" She stared at his hands and Adam had quickly balled them up into fists.

"I really don't think that's a good idea." He shook his head at her. "I've caused enough trouble tonight. I don't need to accidentally hurt you too."

She hugged the pillow tighter, "Will you hold it out for me to see it then?"

His brow furrowed again, "Why?"

"Well, I've never seen your hands before, and well." She pursed her lips. "I don't know if I'll get the chance to see them again without your gloves on."

"They're just hands." He couldn't fathom why she wanted to see them. "But if you truly want to see them . . ." He slowly with trembling hands un-balled his fists, relaxed his fingers, and carefully held his hands out to her. She scooted closer to properly examine them. Her doe brown eyes were scrutinizing them, as if trying to commit them to memory. He wasn't sure why she was obsessed with his hands, but he allowed her to look at them and slowly turned them over so she could see them in their full naked ungloved-ness.

He was taking his hands back when she suddenly latched onto the right one and held it firmly between her tiny ones. He instantly tried to jerk it away from her, but she jerked it back. He felt the heat of panic spike again and tried to remove his hand from her, but she simply would not let go. "Snow White, you mustn't!"

"But why?" She sounded so exasperated and held his hand still. "I don't see how this is supposed to be bad for me!"

Though he hated to deny her of her requests, he did not want to put her in danger. He still tried to slip his hand from her, but she kept firm. Adam held his breath. He did not smell the terrible scent of burning flesh, nor did he hear her shrieking back in pain. She continued to hold his hand and examine it. His heart pounded and he fought the urge of taking his hand back. He had no idea how to feel. She was holding his hand, examining it, touching his bare skin.

"They're much softer than what I thought they would be. . ." She murmured and traced her tiny fingers in the lines of the palms of his hand. The new sensation sent a shiver down his spine. This was his first physical touch. "You do so much with them, and they're so big! I just expected them to be rougher or something . . ."

Adam dared not move, dared not speak, dared not even breathe for the fear that should he do anything he would scald her, harm her, kill her. He just watched as she continued to examine his hand then proceed to do the boldest thing only the foolish do. She lined her wrist up with his and proceeded to touch her palm to his, then with her other hand curled his longer fingers over her bare hand, caging it in his hand. Her hands were so small, or perhaps his were so large, that her fingers stopped at the top of the palm where his fingers joined the rest of his hand. His fingers curled over her entire hand. His hand had a growing warmth that crept up his arm and made his heart hammer.

"Wow." She murmured, truly amazed. "I don't know what I was expecting, I've seen your hands with gloves and already knew how big they were. . .But this is incredible."

"How are you doing this?" He asked in honest pure wonder. No one. Absolutely no one has ever been able to do this. To touch his bare skin without burning or melting or crying out in pain.

"I think I might have suffered from your skin condition once before. . ." She smiled warmly as she uncurled his hand from hers and carefully placed his hand on his knee. His hand felt cold. "I was little, and it wasn't long after my step mother had moved into the castle. I went through her things and broke a bottle of something when she wasn't in the room. I tried to clean it up without telling anyone and whatever it was really hurt my hands. It was from my hands to elbows, and my knees to my toes."

"Knees and toes?" He questioned.

"I was on my hands and knees trying to clean it up." She ran her hand through her hair and tucked her hair behind her ear. "I remember that the cloth burned or melted and that I fell asleep, I probably fainted from the smell. And when I woke up I had bandages up my arms and legs. I wasn't allowed to leave my room for almost a month!"

"I cannot believe it. '' As if he were not already confused enough as it was, now that bubble of hope was trying to swell inside of him again. He looked down at his hands then to hers. He studied her tiny hands, making sure he didn't see any fresh burns or marks on her tiny hard working hands. His hand went to his forehead to prop it up and he looked at her, trying to see if she were hiding some sort of pain or discomfort; but there was none.

"A-Adam." She cleared her throat and looked him in the eye. "I know this is very forward of me, but would you like to come down to my room?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"It's almost one in the morning and you are beyond sleep deprived." She stated rather rushed. "When I came upstairs to check up on you, I heard yelling and a crash and walked in to see your mirror shattered and you in a pile on the floor. I don't think you sleeping here is going to be much of an option for the evening."

He raised a brow at her in disbelief, "And your room would be better?"

"I don't have mirrors in my room and I have only a small window that allows both the moon and the sun in." She smiled so sweetly at him. It both calmed him and warmed him. "I'll more than likely be awake before you anyways since I still get up and do my chores -"

"Snow White." He slowly took one of her hands and gave it a squeeze. "As much as I would like that, I can't." It killed him to say those words. "It would not look good for you if for some reason we were caught in your room. I refuse to be a bad reflection on you. I will not sully your title, even if I am tired."

"You can't sleep in this room." She argued and squeezed his hand back. "I won't ask you to come to my room, but I do ask that you come to one of the guest rooms."

"I can move to a guest room." He nodded at that and could feel the exhaustion growing the longer he sat there.

"Then let's go." She hopped up and pulled him up with her. "Let's go while the moon is still high and you can get as much sleep as possible. I'll even make sure that no one wakes you in the morning so you can be fully rested!"

Pulling him by his hand, she led him from his towering room in the West wing all the way down a series of halls that forked off right before going to the East wing. She led him down a different path where the servants' quarters were. Although she had said it was a guest room, she was leading him to the servants' quarters, not that he minded. Now that the world was opening up in so many different ways for him he would let her drag him wherever she wanted so long as she never let go of his hand.

She suddenly slowed to a stop then replaced her hand with his pillow. They stood between two wooden doors that were only six feet apart from each other.

"This one on the right is my room." She whispered quickly. "I had to clean that room the other day, but there are not any bed sheets on it. I at least need to get you a blanket so you don't catch a chill. Just wait here for a moment."

Not giving him much of a choice she disappeared into her room, but left the door cracked. Respecting her privacy and almost guarding it on the off chance that someone should come, he turned his back to her door and looked to the door to the room he would be borrowing for the evening. Just as she promised she wasn't gone for long and had a large blanket, much to his surprise, bundled up in her arms. She quickly moved past him, opened the door, and went in first. She went to the bed and flicked out the down feather comforter she had over the mattress covered mattress.

"Luckily I put down a mattress cover." She smoothed out the blanket then folded back the top, as if to invite Adam into the bed. "Everything is clean, I promise. I cleaned it this morning."

Adam quietly padded his way over and set his new pillow on the bed. It looked more comfortable than any cloud, even if everything were patchwork. He smiled and a yawn followed after as he was finally able to relax, "Thank you, Snow White."

"You're welcome." Her own yawn escaped her and she smiled at him with watery eyes. "Goodnight, Adam. Sweet dreams."

She tiptoed her way out of the room and softly closed the door behind her, making sure that it clicked without actually letting the door make the click noise. Once Adam was sure she was gone and he heard her own door close, he flopped ungracefully onto the bed, pulled the sheets and the pillow to him and felt as though he had been involved in the most gentle embrace that smelled ever so intoxicatingly relaxing. Fresh lavender from the fields, daisies blowing in the wind, sunshine's kiss on fresh linen and the softest brush of apple blossoms. Adam could not help but feel as though the sheets smelled like Snow White. Finally in a secluded room with no mirrors, no windows, and actual silence all around him Adam was able to finally relax and allowed sleep to take him.


QUEEN GRIMHILDE

The night was still young, early even, and Grimhilde paced the floors of her room. Her hair was down and fell down to her waist and she brushed it as she paced. She could not figure out why the day's events went the way they went, though she could not entirely complain, and why they couldn't have gone better. She could not have foreseen that that foolish prince Florian would have ridden a bear throughout the town, least of all could she had seen him whisking Snow White off into the woods; she only wished he would have had some horrible accident that would have killed them both or at least just Snow White. She frowned and glared at her reflection in the mirror. She had the day planned out to the perfect moments. After shopping they were going to go see the florists, she was going to order some for the castle's centerpieces and special arrangements for graves, then they were going to go on that lovely picnic in the field where she hoped the Shadows had actually precured a bear to possess so she could send Snow White to go get her fresh flowers and be mauled by a bear.

Her thin long fingers tightened on her silver hairbrush and she began to grit her teeth. No, the day did not go as planned. Not only did Prince Florian change her plans, but Adam, the boy who swore loyalty to her the queen, went to Snow White's rescue without a second thought in the world. Adam went running after her and saved her and brought her back alive. Frederik had even taken his hunters into the woods to save them, but things had already been taken care of. By the time the Mirror had told her what had happened, she had already been thinking about what sort of punishment to ensue to her loyal traitor, but then the Mirror told her she shouldn't; and she didn't. She now had this wild streak in her, probably her thirst for blood or her ever growing thirst for revenge, where she wanted nothing more to do than to lash out all of her feelings onto something, someone. She wanted blood, she wanted to cause pain, she wanted -

A knock came at the door and Frederick walked in. He stood at the door, hesitating on further entering her chambers. She did not turn to see him, she merely continued to watch him through her mirror as she brushed her hair. "What a surprise." She mused and kept her eyes locked with his own. "What brings you here, Frederick?"

"You let your hair down." He blinked slowly, as if he needed to take it all in for fear of never seeing it again.

"I do take care of it, Frederick." She set her brush down and combed her fingers through it. Her heart picked up a beat.

"It's just been so long since I've seen it down." He noted and ran his hand through his own hair.

She turned to him, still combing her fingers through her hair, and looked him deeply in the eyes. "What brings you here?"

"You did." His awe had been shaded by a guarded look she had come to know far too well in her time in Apfel.

"I don't remember summoning you." She raised an eyebrow, almost teasingly, at him. She could feel the smirk growing on her face, so she quickly looked down pretending she had a not that wasn't there that she needed to see to remove. Once she controlled her face again she looked to Frederick, waiting for his answer.

"You may not have sent someone to retrieve me." He did not move from his spot, and he seemed to be struggling to stay there. He stood so rigidly, waiting for permission before springing. "The bond summoned me."

He stood straighter and she liked the wild look that grew in those bottle green eyes as he continued to look at her. She wore a simple thin strapped low v neck silk indigo nightgown that went to the floor. She had her legs crossed at the knee and the ankles and she carefully picked up the fabric to adjust herself to keep the growing heat from causing her to fidget. "I still don't remember summoning you. . ."

She leaned on the arm chair so that the low v neck line would shift just a hair lower. She watched as his hands balled into fists, but then he did something unexpected. He shut his eyes tightly, fighting the bond, and looked away from her.

"I can't -" He sounded strained. "I just can't Hilde. Not after what happened today."

"I told you that I did not plan that to happen." All playfulness dissipated and a frown returned to her face. She straightened in her seat and took on her role as Queen. "Though I found it amusing, I did not plan for that idiot to ride a bear and disrupt everything. He disrupted my own plans!"

"You can't honestly expect me to believe that." A different fire was in his eyes as he stared her down. "You can't expect me to just believe what you said after what I heard, you summoned those Shadows to plan things for the picnic. . ."

"Oh, so you heard, did you?" She crossed her arms and sent him a challenging look. "Well despite what you think, I didn't cause today's events. I didn't even know that the Russians brought bears! I sent my Shadows to the mountains. Nothing I planned for today happened the way I wanted!"

"I know." His voice was so cold. "Hilde, you can't keep doing this!"

"Doing what, Frederick?" She hissed as she marched over to him.

"Going so far in the depths of the darkness." He looked so pained, it caused pain in her chest. "Hilde, I swore an oath to you that I would be your right hand man, I would be your loyal knight, that I would follow you to the ends of the Earth, to the darkest parts of the world. I meant what I swore, I even made a blood oath with you to ensure my loyalty to you."

He showed her his left hand. It was faint, but there was an 'x' crossed on his ring finger that had a line that went down to his wrist. The finger that had the closest connection to the heart. She had one similar on her own left hand. Her finger tingled as she stared at his and wondered if he felt it.

"I am aware." She clenched her hands tightly in her elbows as she crossed her arms. "Are you trying to tell me that you want to break it?"

"Of course not." His brow furrowed deeply as he frowned at her. "No, Hilde, I just want you to stop what you're doing."

"And what is that?"

"The plotting of Snow White's death, the talking to the Mirror, the sinking into darkness that you do everyday you take someone's life, their blood, or torture them!" He grabbed her arms and held her at arms length. "I am begging you, Hilde, please just stop it. You are the Queen! You don't have to take orders from anyone, you don't have any other threats! You can be happy! You don't have to give into the temptations of that forsaken Mirror!"

"I know I am the Queen." She removed his hands from her arms and took two steps back away from him. Her nostrils flared as she glared at him. "I do not take orders from anyone, including you!"

"I am not ordering you to do anything!" He held his hands out to her. "I am begging you, pleading with you to stop sinking into the darkness. You don't need the power, you don't need to give so much of yourself away, you don't have to give in to -"

"But I do!" She raised her voice and took another step away from him.

"Why?" His voice cracked as he took one step closer to her. "Why do you insist on doing this? You are the most beautiful woman in the world. You are the most majestic queen this world has eve known. You are one of the smartest single queens in all the world and you are wanting to throw it away all for the sake of what? Power? Infinite beauty? Immortality?"

She shut her eyes and shook her head. "No."

"Then what is it?" He took another step closer, his voice sounded strained.

"Another oath. . ." She kept her gaze even with his. "One that is to the Mirror."

"What could it possibly be?" He stood straight and gulped as he looked at her. "What could that forsaken thing possibly want?"

"A body." She said quieter than she meant.

"Whatever for?" He looked so confused. "He's a mirror, it has some of the most dangerous power known to man and it wants a body?"

"I don't know what for," She huffed, "but it was the deal I made when I made the oath with him in the beginning."

"What body is he looking for?"

"He hasn't been very satisfied with the bodies of the men here in Apfel. He wasn't even a fan of the previous king's body, nor my step-father's body." She looked away from him. She couldn't look at him with this subject. "So. . .I have had to design and make one."

"You're making him a body?" His eyes widened and he stayed where he was. "Hilde, you can't be serious."

"I'm deathly serious, Frederick." She pinched the insides of her elbows. "I've been collecting ingredients and pieces that he's required for years."

"You've been collecting ingredients?" He repeated in a horrified whisper. "Hilde, you have to stop." He went to her and held her by her elbows. "You have to stop this, Hilde. If you keep going down this road there will be no coming back!"

"There is no coming back for me, Freddy." She withdrew from him again and stared at the floor. "I've come too far. I haven't been able to get the alchemy values right yet, but I get closer each time I try. I get farther and farther each time."

"Then stop it." He went to her again. "Hilde, you can't keep doing this. It's taking your own light away from you. It is killing me to see you like this."

"If I don't make him a body then he'll kill me, Freddy." She put her hand on his chest to keep him at bay. His hand went to hers and held them tightly over his heart.

"Then you can have mine." He used his other hand to make her look at him. "If it means you can stop, then you can have mine. Use it for whatever -"

"I can't." Her voice cracked and her eyes burned. "You don't get it." She shook her head as she looked up at his beautiful face. "He wanted your body in the beginning, but I . . .I couldn't give you up, Frederick. I couldn't let him have you. . ." She took a deep breath and tried to push him away, but he didn't budge. "So I swore to make him one instead. At first he wanted my first born, but then after making the oath he realized I could not have children, so he wanted me to make him one or find a body that he could possess."

"Hilde." He spoke softly to her. It shook her heart, made it quake within her, but she couldn't bear to look at him. "Hilde, look at me."

It wasn't a demand, but a pleading request. It was so sweet and sincere that she couldn't help but look at him. Those deep bottle green eyes looked into her own lighter green eyes with such emotion that she couldn't place what it was that he was feeling. Fear? Admiration? No, it was something deeper, stronger in them that was something that secretly frightened her.

"Hilde, please, let me help you." He pulled her closer and snaked his arm around her waist, anchoring her there. Her stomach quivered in uncertain anticipation. "Please. I will do anything to help you, to have you stop this so you no longer have to. Please, let me take care of things. I can save you."

Her heart fluttered like a hummingbird. She looked up into those eyes, those confident sweet eyes that promised her the world. She wanted to believe in those eyes, in him, that he could protect her, that he could save her from the nightmare she swore her life to. As much as she wanted, even almost truly believed in him, to really believe in him she couldn't. She had killed too many, drank from half as many, had dirtier hands than even the two hooligans she hired to defile Snow White. No, she was too far into the darkness. As much as she wanted to leave the nightmare she was becoming she didn't want to shackle Frederick anymore than what she already had. He swore his life away to her, he swore fealty to her, he swore everything, every chance at life every opportunity so something different, he swore everything to her. She had tried multiple times to give him a mission that would tempt him into leaving her, and as much as it would have pained her, she always wished he would do something for himself and finally be happy.

She closed her eyes and took a deep inhale. She pushed against him and he slowly released her; though she could tell he didn't want to. "Frederick, I can't." She tore her gaze away from him and took another step back, another step out of his reach. "I- I-"

"Hilde, do you know why I have been here with you for as long as I have?" He stayed in his spot and watched her carefully.

"Please don't." She flinched and closed her eyes. "Please, Frederick, please, I beg you not to say what it is that you are wanting to say."

"If you know." He took two steps closer and closed the distance between them. "Then just let me take care of things. I know you don't believe that I am the strongest man alive or that I am even capable of anything when it comes to magic. I have my own tricks and ways of doing things. I can get you out of this. Please, Hilde."

"Frederick." She shook her head and closed her eyes and had her hands on his chest ready to shove him away. If she looked at those eyes they would make her weak. She couldn't afford to be weak, not at this moment. She couldn't make him clean up her mess of mistakes.

"Hilde, my love, don't tell me no." His voice pleaded with her heart, and if she opened her eyes he would win. She shook her head, refusing to look at him. "Please, Hilde, I love you."

"I can't, Frederick." She pushed him away, hard. "I won't! I can't have you do this! I won't let you!"

"Hilde -" Those green eyes were furious but still pleading with her, fighting with her.

"NO." She pushed him again, closer to the door. "Get out. Get out! Get out! Get out, get out!"

She yelled pushing him closer to the door. He said nothing and let her push him back. She dared to look at them, her eyes burned as she did. She wanted to cry, for the first time in years she wanted to cry. He knew it, he stood firm, just barely. He caught her arm, yanked her forward, and pressed his mouth to hers.

Their mouths became one in a fiery passion that demanded, not requested, her attention. He made her weak; she loved that and she hated that. His other hand went to the small of her back to pull her closer. She raised her hands to pound on his chest, but he easily caught them and held her against him. He wouldn't release her, instead he only further kissed her making her melt, her knees going weak, until they were both sinking to the floor. She tried to bite his lips to get him to stop, but he only bit her back and that anticipation in her stomach built up again.

She had to fight the urges though. She would not allow him to make her weak, not like this. She couldn't give into him like this. She freed one of her hands from his hold and pressed it over his mouth to stop him. He opened his eyes and with an angry furrowed brow looked at her, but kissed her hand. Her hand tingled with the kisses and the occasional sucking. Her voice was as weak as her heart as she sat in his embrace, "I demand that you stop."

"You demand that I stop, huh?" He brought her other hand up to his lips and kissed each individual finger. "I refuse." She could only blink at him. "I refuse to allow you to do this on your own. I tried to do it sweetly like you used to like it, but I can see that I can't be that way anymore."

Her brow furrowed and she was able to wiggle out of his lap. "What are you talking about?"

"I can't let you simply do what you want anymore, Hilde." He spoke with such determination that it stirred something within her. "I tried to do it your way, but I can't do that anymore. I'm going to start doing things my way; whether you like it or not."

She couldn't help the glare and disbelief in her voice as she watched him smirk at her. "Are you defying me?"

"No, I am going to protect you like I always should have." He kissed her knuckles, then suddenly scooped her up in his arms. "I'm going to start doing things the way I know that I need to save you from both the Mirror and yourself."

He stood and carried her over to her bed and very ungracefully dropped her onto it. Much to her displeasure he did not join her in the bed, but hovered over her, his arms trapping her on the bed sheets.

"No matter how strong you are, I am not going to let you do this on your own anymore." He smirked down at her. Those green eyes challenged her in a way that only he could get away with. It stirred something within her and even caused heat to come to her face as she glared up at him. "I don't care if you want to punish me, torture me, or even threaten me. I have had it up to here, Grimhilde. I refuse to allow you to go any farther in the darkness. I won't let you do as you please anymore. I will save you, whether you want me to or not."

He quickly planted a soft kiss on her forehead before stepping away from her and leaving her room. She sat up and watched him leave feeling both unsatisfied and excited that he dared to challenge her. Her heart quivered in her chest and for the first time since she was a young girl she felt truly unnerved and looked forward to whatever it was Frederick had planned.


FREDERICK

Frederick stormed away from Grimhilde's room as fast as he could. She almost had him wrapped around her thin fingers again, he almost gave into her again. The throbbing in his pants wasn't helping his thoughts or his situation, but for once he was actually strong enough to resist her. Whether she had meant to or not, she summoned him through their bond and much to his shame he came to her beck and call. As much as he hated to admit it he wouldn't have minded giving into her desires, but he was still cross with her after today's events. He could not simply continue to give her what she wanted, as if she did nothing wrong.

Even if the day's events were not her doing, she still had something planned and he had to make sure that they did not go to the picnic in the mountains. It was the only lead he had and the only thing he could do to start preventing her from sinking further in darkness.

"Well, well, well, look who finally started taking his role as a knight seriously." The Mirror's voice chuckled in the small compact mirror he always carried on him.

"This is all your fault!" He snapped as he stopped and pulled the mirror out of his pocket. "You're the one that started all of this!"

"Only after she asked for my help." He rolled his eyes and sneered at him. "Yes, all of this is my fault, but this time you actually were able to grow a pair and reclaim that strong backbone of yours to actually try to change things."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"The boy is very good at keeping tight lipped about things." He snorted.

"Boy?" He raised his eyebrow in confusion. "You mean Adam?"

"I can't say too much or it will ruin the things to come." The Mirror supplied. "But Adam is the key to everything now. As of this point even I have little knowledge of how the future will turn out."

"What does that even mean?"

"Oh, it means both a lot and not very much." The Mirror chuckled. "All that matters now is the story that everyone once knew is about to seriously change. For the good, for the bad, it is still too soon for me to see how it will all end."

"You're not making any sense you stupid glass!" IT was taking everything within Frederick not to smash the Mirror.

"All in good time, Knight." He chuckled. "All in good time, but for you it looks like you won't have the horrible death you once had."

"Horrible death?" His hands began to tremble.

"So long as you continue to have a strong backbone, you won't have to worry about much, Knight." The Mirror answered even more vaguely. "Just remember, if you want to protect a future you so desperately crave, it will take great strength and great sacrifice."


Author's Note:

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

So, things are getting heated as well as really moving. The story has decided to take me in a few twists and turns around the bend, but I think things are quickly moving from what is a Good Ending to a Happy Ending for some of the characters.

So for those of you who have stuck around this long, thank you so much! I would actually like to consider this my halfway point. All of the important characters have been introduced and some interesting things are about to happen. Please continue to leave me reviews and tell me what you think of the story so far.

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

Ko-fi/ SarahtheWriter.