CHAPTER THIRTY
ADAM
The moment Adam stepped foot into the dining hall he knew something was off. The air was thick and stale and Snow White was between the two devils that sought out to kill her. Adam still struggled to come up with a plan to get her out of here. He could only hope that his little friend in the mountains would be enough to convince his brethren to actually help him; that is of course if he isn't mad at him for leaving him in the middle of the night. He would take his chances. He merely stood at the entrance and watched as they mockingly gushed over Snow White and she seemed to shrink between them and in that hideous dress.
"You look lovely in the Franca dress, Snow White." The Queen spoke to her. Her head snapped to attention as she spoke too.
"O-Oh, thank you." She threw on a quick smile but Adam could tell that she was clearly not comfortable there and wanted to be anywhere else but there.
"It would appear as though Florian here has ruined the surprise." She frowned. Surprise? What surprise? Would she dare actually tell Snow White what her plans truly were? That the whole motherly tone was just an act? "He was supposed to give you the dress after dinner so you could wear it on the picnic tomorrow."
"I simply couldn't wait." Florian gushed. No wonder the dress was hideous; he himself already had terrible fashion sense as it was. Snow White could wear anything and still be beautiful. Adam had already seen her dressed in rags and in the scullery maid's attire, she still shines beautifully. "I was simply too excited to keep it from her!"
"Well, the whole country will be hearing about it tomorrow." She waved it off. "The whole country will know what tomorrow?" Adam finally spoke up as he kept his gaze level with the Queen.
"Ah, Prince Adam." Her voice purred like a cat but slithered like a snake as she gestured to the seat on her left. "Join us! I have news!"
Without another word but with a steady line of eye contact Adam walked his way around the table to where he sat at the left side of the Queen and across from Snow White. As he took his seat he noticed that Snow White simply refused to look at him as if it was almost unbearable to have him sit there. The detailed lace over the table cloths was suddenly very interesting. He turned his gaze from the Queen to Snow White and tried to get her attention. Something was deeply troubling her for her to avoid his gaze so vehemently as she was. It pricked a pain in his chest and he did not like that. He hated it when she wouldn't look at him, as if she were ashamed of something or had a secret to hide.
The Queen clapped her hands and the servants brought out trays that held their dinner. Adam relaxed his gaze momentarily for the servants to come and set his plate before him. As soon as they pulled the cover off of the dish, Adam internally groaned. Apples and quails. Snow White could not take her eyes away from the dead roasted bird and frowned deeply and Adam noticed that she had even little fruits and vegetables on her plate that would keep her stomach hungry.
"Everybody eat up." The Queen smiled as she stuck her fork into the quail.
"The news?" Adam pushed without touching his food. He had eaten far too much quail and apples in his life and he was beyond sick of it. He did not care that it was the Queen's favorite or that it was a delicacy.
"Patience, nephew." She dismissed and cut into her food rather aggressively, but also teasingly as if to draw the suspension out longer. Adam did not like this at all. The hair on the back of his neck had begun to stand on end.
For the sake of keeping up with appearances Adam picked away at the food. He would not get any answers out of the Queen until she had had her fill and deemed the meal finished. As he picked at his food his eyes were drawn to Snow White as she carefully picked the apples, onions, carrots, and potatoes from the quail and ate that and refused to touch the bird. He loved that loyal and stubborn side within her, it was so precious and so innocent.
As he ate he kept his head down but let his eyes linger on Snow White. Even in the hideous dress she was still beautiful and graceful. He continued to study her face when he watched her glance down at her lap and shifted. Adam's eyes instantly went to Florian who was still eating but keeping his eyes on Adam and had his left hand under the table. The fire burned within Adam instantly. His grip on his fork and knife tightened and he could already feel the knife bending to his heated and growing anger. Despite the warning but calm face that Adam had, Florian only further challenged him by continuing whatever it is he was doing. Adam felt as though he were boiling in his seat.
"Is your meal all right, Snow White?" The Queen spoke up and pointed to Snow White's plate. "I see you've not touched your quail."
"I don't eat meat, your Majesty." She bowed her head in shame and embarrassment. "My stomach does not digest meat very well, especially game birds."
"Such a shame, really." Prince Florian keeping eye contact with Adam leaned closed and his hand seemed to have found what it was looking for. The fork in Adam's hand began to bend as well.
"Oh, I must agree." The Queen went back to cutting her own bird and popped a piece of the bird breast into her mouth. "I just love the breasts of birds."
"Yes, white meat is always good." There was a dangerous challenging fire in Florian's face and Adam was very quickly ready to erupt. "I must say that I am more of a dark meat and legs sort of person myself. The meat there is just so juicy."
Adam broke his eye contact with Florian and looked at Snow White. She still refused to look at Adam and looked very uncomfortable as her face burned deep red in embarrassment. She kept her eyes on her plate and Adam kept his gaze on her. He wasn't sure what Florian was doing, but it was definitely causing her discomfort. All she had to do was say something, even if she just looked at him and told him with her eyes, he would do something.
"Indeed." The Queen raised one eyebrow as she cast a glance at Prince Florian, but said nothing before returning to her meal.
They all ate in silence and Adam was waiting for the motion, the notion, or the word to do something about Florian; but nothing ever came. Florian already angered him, now that Snow White was being stubborn it bothered him deeply, but what was worse was that he felt as though she were keeping tight lipped because of the promise they'd made earlier in the day. . . Oh how he wished he had never made that promise.
Once the Queen had had her fill, she delicately dabbed the cloth napkin to her mouth before setting it down to signify that she was done eating. It was only then that Prince Florian removed his hand and propped his chin in his hand as he leaned over to his right. However, his hand found Snow White's and he grasped it tightly. Adam's teeth clenched tightly together.
"Since we've all seemed to have eaten our fill, I will now give my announcement." The Queen took a quick sip from her goblet before setting it down on the table and looked at both Adam and Frederick. Snow white still would not look at him, it was driving him mad and only adding fuel to the growing fire. "I have decided to allow the engagement between Snow White and Florian to commence."
Time stopped, the fire went cold, and a prickling numbness stabbed his heart. Adam stared at the Queen to make sure he had heard her correctly. The old hag merely cocked her thin eyebrow at him and hid her smirk behind her goblet as she took a victorious sip. The old hag was playing down and dirty now and Adam could feel his heart drumming.
What should he do?
What could he do?
Then realization hit him. Snow White had mentioned earlier in the library that she would marry Florian if she was told to by the Queen. Had she been trying to tell him something? She wasn't this distraught earlier today, so she could have, could she? He believed that the old hag would and could make anyone do anything she wanted, whether it was by seduction or torture, she would always have her way.
But what is she agreeing with?
What if this was her choice?
Adam tore his gaze from the Queen and slowly turned to Snow White. It was at this moment that Snow White made herself look at Adam. He was finally able to see those doe brown eyes, those sweet loving eyes that were only ever full of kindness and light, those eyes had been tarnished by the devils on either side of her and there was nothing but fear there. She was scared to move, scared to speak, she couldn't even tell him with her eye what she wanted; that drove him mad. He could only stare at her, waiting for her to tell him something, anything.
Do you want this?
His eyes flicked to Florian, but she made no motion.
Do you want out of this?
His eyes glanced at the Queen, but she made no motion.
Do you want me to save you?
He asked, but she made no motion.
How can I help?
He tried to ask another way, but she made no motion.
What can I do to fix this?
He pleaded and he could feel himself slipping, but she made no motion.
Just tell me!
He begged, but she made no motion.
I promise I'll find some way to fix this, just tell me!
But she sat there trembling as a leaf, eyes locked with his, but remaining silent. He could tell that she did not want this, that she wanted anything else but this, but she would not give any hint otherwise. He could feel his heart burning, freezing, squeezing, prickling, aching. He could not reveal anything though, if he were to slip and break now the Queen would know and the game would be up, Florian would know and make a scene, Snow White would know and she would never look at him the same way. . .
As much as she wanted to say no to both the Queen and to Prince Florian, the only way she would make it out of this situation would be if Adam spoke up.
"Since when?" He asked, his voice was raw, it felt unfamiliar and feral to him, still staring at Snow White.
Just tell me. . .
"I approved of it this afternoon." The Queen answered airily. "However Prince Florian could not wait and told her before dinner."
Do you want this . . . ?
"I've been smitten as a kitten since I first laid eyes on her and I simply must have her." Adam heard a pop from her hand and he was at his wits end of control. His promise to her and her being present was the only thing keeping him in his seat. He continued to stare her down.
Do you want out of this?
Though she was keeping a very strong poker face, he saw the water brimming in her eyes as she looked down and away from Adam to hide the pain on her face.
Do not hide from me! Do you want me to save you?
"I highly doubt that." Adam's voice was low and he had to grab the table. He needed something to hold to ensure that this wasn't a nightmare; he hated that it wasn't.
Tell me.
"Do you have something against Snow White's betrothal to Prince Florian?" The Queen mused and studied Adam carefully. He chose to ignore the Queen's prying glances. She was too aware of everything. She was on top of the hill, she had the advantage while he was in the valley, but he didn't care. He would take the arrows, the stones, the swords, he would take it all if he could just get her out here and save her.
How can I help?
He could see that she, Snow White, was trying to carry the entire kingdom of Apfel on her shoulders and do the right things, but he could also see how it was crushing her. He could see that she was losing hope, that she felt hopeless, that she needed help. She finally sat up, straight and tall in her seat, and finally cast a fading glance at Adam.
I promise I'll find some way to fix this, just tell me!
He was ready. Her doe brown eyes glanced at him, but still said nothing.
"Yes, yes I do." He growled.
Tell me!
"And what is that?" The Queen mused and they all turned to him expectantly to hear what he had to say. Finally those doe brown eyes, waiting expectantly to hear his response, finally looked at him. It was the faintest sliver of light, but the warmth came back to them and as the water threatened to roll over the dam.
Save me, please. . .
It was just the faintest whisper, but he heard it.
I will. I promise.
The fires of his anger rekindled and there was a drive, a passion, that made him want to help her. He would help her. All the anger that would have tipped him over to do something irrational now had a goal, a purpose, and was redirected into putting all of his efforts into something better than mass destruction.
With nothing left to say to the Queen, he stood up and stormed out of the room. The mountains were far and getting to the Dwarves would not necessarily be difficult but it surely was not going to be easy. Although he wanted to tell Snow White of his plans it would only put her in even more danger, he needed to get to the mountain as soon as possible. He was so set on his missions that he had not heard Frederick racing up behind him trying to catch up with him.
"Prince Adam!" He called after Adam after they had exited the castle.
He stopped and turned to wait for Frederick. He could not wait long, he needed to leave.
"What is it?" He asked, lost in thought. He had no idea what he would say to the Dwarves. They were
"'What is it'?" Frederick blanched. "What the hell was that?"
"What was what?" Adam tried going over a few different ways in which he could ask for them to hide Snow White away for a while.
"At dinner!" Frederick snapped and grabbed him by the suit collar. "What the hell were you thinking? How could you now speak up? I thought you cared for her! How dare you let her be stuck in there with the wolves!"
"I know where I'm going to take her." Adam pried Frederick's hands off of him.
"What?" He blinked in confusion.
"I know where I'm taking her; Snow White." He continued his thought. "I know of people in the woods. . . One of them likes me so they might take her in if I ask . . ."
"People in the woods?" Frederick repeated. "What sorts of people? Prince Adam, if you want Snow White to be safe you cannot simply ask anyone to just take care of her!"
"She needs saving!" Adam snapped. "She doesn't need to be taken care of by anyone but me!"
As soon as the words left his mouth his face burned.
"Well it's nice you're a little romantic." Frederick snorted. "But we have a bit of a bigger issue here. Snow White is officially engaged to the prince of Franca! How do you plan on getting her out of here now?"
"I'll take her to my people in the morning." Adam answered calmly.
"You can't be serious." He scoffed.
"If I leave now, get their permission, I can be back by dawn to take her away from here." Adam most expressed his thoughts out loud and had not actually thought them through in great details, but there was so little time.
"What am I supposed to tell people here?" Frederick asked, his anger dissipating.
"Tell them I went to my house in the village." He gave a shrug. "But if you can, I need you to tell Snow White that I am not abandoning her."
"Good job showing that at dinner."
"If I would have spoken out against the marriage I would have had to explain too much and would have put her in more danger." As well as revealing too many truths that were against the secret rules of the Anti-Realm. "Since you and I both know that Florian and the Queen are working together, they are just trying to bait me to see how I will respond."
"Be that as it may." Frederick fisted Adam's suit collar again and stared him in the eyes. Bottle green eyes having a fire in them as he looked at Adam. "The way you just walked out of there was nothing of a prince or a gentleman. The way you walked out made it look like you were a man who had just admitted defeat."
"I never admit defeat." Adam responded coolly and Frederick's grip loosened and his eyes widened at his response. "Whether Snow White knows it or not, she asked me to help. I'm helping her in the only way that I can to ensure she stays safe."
"You really couldn't just make this easy on anyone, could you?" Frederick sighed, released him and ran his hand through his hair. "What do you need me to do?"
"I need you to protect Snow White, keep her away from Florian." Adam's hands balled into fists at the mention of his name. "That fool touched her, he did something to her. Keep her away from him for her own safety and so I don't kill him. . ."
"Oh, you don't plan on killing him?" Frederick crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at him.
"I can't." He winced. "I want to, but I can't."
"Why can't you?"
"I promised her that I wouldn't hurt him. . ." He grimaced at the sound of his own words. Oh how he had gone weak. . . yet he somehow felt stronger.
"Good luck with that." Frederick turned his nose up. "But I promise to keep her safe until you get her out of here."
"Thank you." He nodded and felt relieved that he had at least one ally on the inside. As he looked at the young Frederick that stood before him, he simply could not wrap his head around the devotion he had for the Evil Queen. This man stood by her side and has seen all of the terrible things she has done, and yet he is risking everything to save her from the monster she was trying to become. It was that woman that he loved that caused him to end up in the Anti-Realm; he was too good for her. Adam could only hope that at the end of all of this that Frederick could get his own Happy Ending and not end up in the Anti-Realm.
"What should I say to Snow White?" Frederick asked and looked around them. "She won't take it very well that you just up and left. . ."
"Give me a minute. . ." He pulled his quill and journal from his inside breast pocket. He hadn't written in the damn thing in a while so it would be perfect for him to write a quick note to Snow White. He flipped the book open and found the cleanest pages to write on.
My dearest, Snow White,
Forgive me absence at this present time, but I shall and will not abandon you to the fate of marrying a fool, regardless that he is a prince. I cannot tell you everything right now, but I will once I have gotten everything in order. You are in danger and should not be in the castle.
I promise that I will save you. I will see you with the rising sun.
Sincerely,
Adam.
He folded the note over and handed it over to Frederick, who unabashedly took it and read it.
"Really?" He looked up at Adam. "This is what you want to tell her?"
"That is for her, not you!" Adam snapped his book closed and tucked it into his breast pocket.
"You can't even do a little 'x' and 'o', or a heart?" Frederick continued. "This is so ambiguous."
"Frederick!"
"All right." He rolled his eyes and folded the note over in his pocket and tucked it away in his own breast pocket. "What should I do if something happens and you don't come back?"
"I will be back."
"But say you shouldn't?"
Adam had to pause on this. He had never actually thought about what would happen to Snow White or even Frederick should something happen to him. Would this Realm stop working because he failed his mission? His hand went to his chin.
"I will be back." He repeated with a shake of his head. "Don't you dare start doubting me now. Just keep her safe until I come back."
"As you wish." Frederick sighed. "Then I'll let you go now."
Frederick turned on his heel and reentered the castle while Adam began his long journey up to the mountain.
FREDERICK
Frederick just had to come to terms with the fact that royals were a royal pain in the ass. Between Grimhilde and Florian, and now Adam there was no rest for the loyal knight and hunter. A sigh escaped him as he walked down the halls to Snow White's room. He had no idea how he was going to explain any of this to her. He had hope that Adam would have taken a little bit more time to explain things to her, but that mountain is one long trip, especially on foot and without a horse.
Things had noticeably calmed down after dinner and no one seemed to have a comment or a joke to make about Adam's leaving, though even he had to admit that it was awkward and even a little dramatic. However, after watching him at dinner when he was using his entire being in holding himself back from lunging across the table to kill Florian, maybe it wasn't that awkward at all. Frederick had no idea that someone's will could be that strong. Had it been Frederick and he had seen a man, even though he be a prince, feeling up the woman he loved he would not have had that much self-control . . .
He stood in front of Snow White's door and debated on what to say. What could he say? This wasn't something he could exactly explain easily, especially since she more than likely had very little to no idea about the plans and attempts to kill her. He took a deep breath and knocked softly. He heard a soft sniffle and the slapping of bare feet on the stone floors as she approached.
"Oh, Frederick." She blinked away her disappointment. "Good evening."
"Evening, Princess." He smirked down at her. He couldn't help it, it was so cute and sad that she had really hoped that Adam would have been the one to be here instead of him. "I'm sorry to disappoint you."
"N-No." She shook her head. "No, it's not like that – "
"You were just hoping for someone else." He smiled softly at her and plucked the note from his pocket.
"Someone who isn't the prince of Franca. . ." He handed the note to her.
"What's this?" She took it with a furrowed brow.
"It's from Prince Adam." He spoke in a hushed tone. He watched as her face flushed slightly. Her brow furrowed deeper as she opened the letter and read the note. She looked both confused and frightened at the same time.
"What does he mean by this?" She held the note out and looked at Frederick before reading it over again.
"I knew he wasn't clear enough. . ." He huffed and cleared his throat. "Princes Snow White, there are some things that have come to my attention and for your benefit and safety we're –"
"Is this because my step mother wants to kill me?" She asked bluntly and she looked so tired. So tired of being hated by her step mother, so tired of being punished for things she never did, so tired of running to live after having so many people have tried to kill her.
"You know?" Frederick dead panned and could only blink at her.
"I overheard Adam and the Queen talking in the library. . ." She grabbed her arm and sniffled as tears threatened to fall. "Apparently she and Prince Florian are working together to get rid of me. . . My engagement is just sealing my fate."
"When did you hear this?" His brow furrowed as he watched her. She was so far from being her normal self it was as though the little girl who has been suffering for these last few years finally surfaced. She was still a pretty little thing, but behind that smile she knew that this was all a farce that her step mother would never love her and would continue to get rid of her. Despite wanting to be a good daughter and do everything she was told and put up with everything to get in the good graces of the Queen, she was so tired, so hurt, and she looked so done with her life in this world.
"Right before lunch." She looked down at the note, her curls falling around her face so he could not read it. "I brought lunch in and they were talking . . ."
"You know that he would never –" He started, then stopped. He had no idea what he was going to say. He hardly knew Adam. Yes, he had been assigned to watch over him when he first arrived, and he knew of his great powers, however, there were still plenty of things that he had no clue of.
"Part of me knows." She admitted as she looked up at him. He had never noticed how exhausted she looked, how bone thin she was, how strong she was. . . "But another part of me also believes that he still would. . ." Her tiny hand gripped the note so tightly that it crinkled in her hand.
"He wouldn't –" Frederick started, but she cut him off.
"Even if he did, Frederick." She forced such a sad smile on her face. "I think I would let him. . . He has always been honest with me with everything he has told me. He's never once betrayed my trust, he's always been there for me, he's . . . he's . . . he's just too perfect."
"Perfect is stretching it pretty far there, princess." Frederick forced a laugh. "No one is perfect."
"He is." She shook her head in disagreement. "He's a little scary, and he's suffered just as much as I have, if not more, a-and I know he's done bad things, terrible things . . . but he has a really really good heart."
She looked him in the eyes. "I know he's done terrible things, but he is so kind, Frederick. He's always made me feel safe, he's always attended to me, helped me, he's . . . shown me what love and how to be loved can be."
Frederick's eyes widened at that comment.
"I know I will never receive a mother's love from the Queen, nor will I receive a husband's love from Florian; especially if and when he discovers that I cannot have children." She stood taller as she spoke. "But, had I never met Adam I don't think I would have ever known what a true form of love would have been."
A more honest smile appeared on her face as she beamed up at Frederick.
"And that's the reason he's fighting so hard to keep you safe, Princess." Frederick placed his hand on her head and gently patted the curls. "I know he messed up really badly this evening at dinner. I'm actually more mad at him for not speaking up than anything. . ."
"It wasn't his place." She shook her head in disagreement. "It would have reflected bad on his reputation."
"He said nothing because he did not want to put you in any more danger, Princess." Frederick said sternly. "He is not concerned with what his reputation looks like. He is concerned with your safety. Which is why tomorrow I need you to be up and ready for when he comes for you."
"You think he'll really come?" She asked timidly.
"I know he will." He smiled reassuringly. "He's promised both you and I that he will. Prince Adam does not go back on his promises, of that we can both be rest assured on."
"Thank you, Frederick." She took a deep breath and looked as though she were able to return to her usual self. "I needed this. . ." She tapped the note in her hand. "I needed this so much. I was very seriously beginning to lose hope."
"You should probably go and get some rest, princess." Frederick took a step back. "The sun comes up early when you're expecting it."
"Good night, Frederick." She smiled and could see hope bubbling up within her as she closed the door.
"Good night." He smiled as he walked a few paces from the door and decided to set up his post right outside her door. Adam would keep his promise to return and Frederick would keep his promise to keep Snow White safe; even if Grimhilde herself came down the hall he would protect her.
QUEEN GRIMHILDE
After dinner and Adam had stormed off and Snow White had gone to her own room, both Florian and the Evil Queen went to the dungeons. The cauldron bubbled and boiled nicely though the stench of decay would not leave the room. Florian sat on the steps as far away from the cauldron as possible sharpening the dagger while Grimhilde loomed over her grimoire studying the spells and incantations she would need to say to continue the recipe.
Due to the rain and having to deal with the cleanup of yesterday's fiasco it gave them plenty of time to discuss their plans and create a pretty plot to get rid of Snow White. Grimhilde knew that Snow White would be surprised, though she did not anticipate her being so disappointed. She half expected her to be jumping around, squealing and being giddy, and perhaps had she met Florian first she would have. Since Adam's arrival he has drawn quiet attention to himself, though he has tried to go unnoticed, and has turned her entire kingdom upside down on her. Snow White has high interests in him that Florian was merely a second thought; the way in which he spoke of her future actually made her believe that she had a terrible life; but what is worse is that since Adam's arrival Frederick has been turned against her and she's had to put up with the prince of Franca as his replacement. She glanced over at the temperamental fool who slid his hand down the blade and nearly sliced his hand open.
"If you're testing for sharpness that is not the most efficient way, Prince Florian." She called over her shoulder, rolling her eyes.
"Nonsense." He snorted. "If it cuts me then it will go through Snow White's pretty little chest no problem."
"Please refrain from drawing your blood with it." She turned and looked down at him. "For the creation of the body everything must be absolutely pure. If your blood touches the blade before it touches Snow White then it will entirely ruin this process because of your contamination!"
"No need to shout." He rolled his eyes and slipped the blade into its sheath. "So I can just kill her once we've left the people, yes?"
"No." Her nostrils flared and her hands within her robes tightened so that the nails dug into her skin.
"But I thought we –"
"Once we draw her away from the crowds to have our royal picnic without the peasants near us," She explained slowly. "Then you shall take her into the woods where no lurking or prying eyes can witness the deed that needs to be done. You really wouldn't want to tarnish the name of Franca, would you?"
"Of course I wouldn't!" He snapped childishly and stood with his arms crossed. "If I were to embarrass my father or to even be caught in the act of killing her and were to start a war, my father would have my head!"
"Yes." She resisted any dejecting comments she could make of him in how he was already an embarrassment to not only his father but Franca as well. "Why don't you go on to bed? You'll need your rest for tomorrow."
"And what of you?" He leaned his head back as he looked up at her.
"I am just going to do a little bit of reading before I leave as well, Prince Florian." She smiled curtly. "I will be ready for things come morning."
"If you insist." He smiled boyishly before taking the stairs two at a time as he left the dungeons.
Grimhilde rolled her eyes as she turned back to her grimoire and studied over the recipe.
"I'm very surprised by your ability to get along with the Prince of Franca. . ." The Mirror comments from his place on the wall. He's been uncharacteristically quiet for the last two days.
"I don't see why not." She raised an eyebrow at him. "You are the one that provided me with a tool to use."
"Yes." The Mirror agreed. "Though I would recommend you tread more carefully with your trust in that boy. His intentions are not as willing or loyal as you would think. Killing things has apparently been a past hobby of his and he is a little too giddy to get his hands on Snow White. . ."
"And this is any concern of mine?" She crossed her arms and approached him.
"Yes, it should be." He droned. "Though he is willing to kill for you now does not mean he won't turn on you and be the one to kill you later. . . Murder and killing for this sort of masterpiece is something that often times has a bad effect on mortals."
"You say this as if you've learned from experience." Her brow furrowed.
"Though you have been an excellent ruler and master over me since you have conjured me up, My Queen, you are not the first person to have summoned me."
"Is that so?"
"How else do you think that grimoire was made? That it just appeared into existence one day?" The Mirror snapped. "Someone has to have written it, or at least started it while the followers and those who use the book continue its work."
"That is fair to expect, Mirror." She hissed. "What I want to know is what has happened to these previous masters of yours."
"They went mad with power, guilt, and deep bounds of depression." He answered simply. "Killing the innocent has a terrible way of messing with the mind."
"Then why do you require such pure ingredients?"
"Tell me, My Queen." He spoke quickly. "When a baby is born into this world does it automatically know how to kill a person? When to assault someone? Does it know how to lie?"
"No. . ." She answered slowly.
"An infant is one of the purest beings in the world because they are dependent on its parents, its makers to feed it, to clothe it, to keep it safe until it can one day fend for itself, think for itself." The Mirror explained. "For me to have a body of my own that will be of service to you, I must have a pure body of my own that has not been corrupted by you mortals."
"Corrupted indeed." She snorted. "Very well, I understand what you say, but that still does not entirely answer my question."
"Tell me, My Queen." Those eyeless sockets bore holes into her own. "Why is it that you have had everyone else around you, aside from your oath and your own thirst for blood, try to kill Snow White, hm?"
Suddenly her heart hammered in her chest and the nails in her arms dug deeper. She did not reply and looked to him expectantly for an answer.
"Because even though you loathe the life that Snow White had in comparison to you." The Mirror almost seemed to glare at her. "You know that if you killed her you would either be terribly guilty to have gotten rid of your once upon a time innocence, or you will relish in finally having killed your prey for years that you will relish in it and fall into the madness and darkness that you know you will not be able to return from."
His eyeless sockets stared deeply into her own and demanded a response; remanded that she argue; demanded that she deny it.
"Do you deny it?" He asked.
"From this thirst of blood I have come to know and crave." She pointed to the cells of dead bodies of the poor innocent souls who she sucked dry. "I know that there is little, if any, chance for me to return to being normal, to being . . . human."
"If it gives you peace, My Queen." The Mirror offered. "You do possess the slimmest opportunity to regain most of what you've lost, and that is simply because you still have some humanity within you as well as a slow dying conscience."
Her eyes widened at his words and her teeth gritted tightly together in her mouth. She had no idea what to make of his words, if they were even honest anymore if they even held the slimmest amount of truth in them anymore. After Adam's betrayal and the hundreds of times that he told her to trust the boy he outright betrayed her. Instead of killing Snow White to ensure that the Evil Queen has a Happy Ending he has decided to save the wretched girl and ensure that he himself has the Happy Ending.
"We will just have to see about that." She merely responded and turned her back on the Mirror. She returned to grimoire. Though this was to be a body for the Mirror, there was still time to make a few changes if it were necessary. Besides, she needs a puppet who will mindlessly obey her, not a powerful man who will try to overthrow her. Her fingers flipped a few pages over until she found the recipe for the Puppet. Most of the ingredients were the same; the only difference was that the Puppet did not require a spirit, but a body it can equally possess.
"It looks as though my tools will be more useful to me than I thought." She smiled as she prepared a new plan for Florian the Prince of Franca.
Author's Note:
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you're enjoying the story so far!
Please let me know what you think, leave me a review!
Thanks so much for coming along the journey with me, stay tuned for more!
Ko-fi/SarahtheWriter
