Chapter Thirty-seven
GRIMHILDE
After dismissing Frederick her heart argued with her mind to go and bring him back, but her mind kept her on her throne. So long as she remained there she would not be tempted to go and bring him back. Hours passed and the sun finally went down and a servant dared to enter its head into her throne room.
"Y-Your H-highness." He stammered at the door. He hid halfway behind it as though it would shield him from her.
"What is it?" She was terribly tired and did not want to put up with anything at the moment.
"I-I have come to tell you that Prince Florian has returned a-and that Knight Frederick has left the castle." He fidgeted at the door.
"Good." She pushed herself to a stand. "Tell Prince Florian to meet me, he'll know where."
"Yes, your highness." He disappeared behind the door and she rolled her eyes at the cowering fool before she too left the throne room.
She continued down her halls and passageways that would take her to her lair in the dungeons. She felt numb from sitting in that chair for so long, or perhaps she was numb for finally giving him up. Whatever the reason was she was numb, and she felt as though the rest of this process would be much easier.
The cauldron was still simmering and she could feel the storm building overhead. Yes, this long ongoing project could finally be complete and there would be one more thing that she could be free from. He walked over to her grimoire and studied over the recipe again.
After letting the recipe simmer, raise the heat and add these ingredients:
The hair of someone handsome
3 Sprigs of rosemary for remembrance
2 tablespoons of chopped and ground holly for spirit calling
A pinch of cypress, for longevity
And the sprinkling of shredded yarrow root to make him a relative
Stir these with a wooden spoon until the spoon has burned into the mixture. Toss in the remaining handle of the wooden spoon so that it will make the bones.
As lightning dances in the sky over this spell, add three drops of the Blood of a Witch and drop the Pure Heart of a Lover into the cauldron.
Once lightning has struck the cauldron leave the lid on and the spell will erupt when it has been completed; if done correctly.
"Erupt?" She raised her eyebrow at that little detail in the recipe. "How odd."
Footsteps coming down the stairs made her turn and she was relieved to see Florian. It meant that something was finally going her way. His clothes were terribly filthy and he had a terrible smell about him. He looked odd, to say the lease, or perhaps uneasy. Very odd indeed. He held the box tucked under his arm and the bloody dagger in his hand.
"Ah, Florian." She threw on a smile. "I see you brought it." She pointed to the box and his eyes widened a bit.
He handed the box and dagger over to her and avoided her eye contact, like a child who has done something wrong. Perhaps he was feeling guilty for killing the girl; into that she cared since she got what she wanted. The box had a good weight to it, still fresh and healthy, hearty even.
"Did you enjoy yourself?" She decided to dismiss it. The poor fool was all talk and didn't seem to have much action behind him. If this was actually his first kill then it wasn't too surprising if he were actually shaken up over it.
He threw on a smile and a quick mask of confidence, but she could see that he was nervous. "Oh, y-yes, of course."
"Good." She smiled and turned back to the cauldron. "I cannot express to you how good it is to know that I have finally been ridden of that wretched girl. And I owe thee a great thanks, Prince Florian of Franca; though it would be sad news to know that your little fiancé is gone."
"Not really." The darkness of jealous anger returned to his face. "She hardly likes me, nor I her. There would have been no future together even if I had decided to let her live."
"Oh, I highly doubt that." She snorted as she placed the box in line with the other ingredients that she would be adding quickly. "If you had let her live and actually taken her to Franca you would have been sorely disappointed."
"Why is that?"
"She would not have been able to produce an heir for you." She shrugged as she lined everything up. "Not that really would have mattered since I'm sure you would have had a mistress or two under you, just in case things in the bedroom got boring."
"Why wouldn't she have been able to give me an heir?" He pressed quietly.
"Oh, I had that taken care of a long time ago." She turned and looked at him with a smirk. "I hired some men to rough her up a bit and ensure that she would never be able to have children."
"You what?" He looked at her wide eyed.
"She was becoming a nuisance in my life as soon as she hit puberty." She explained coolly. "She was gaining the attention of men throughout the castle and even in the town. It was only a matter of time before she started to gain the attention of princes. I couldn't have her gaining popularity over me. So I hired some vagabond miscreants to handle it. They are acclaimed to have been failed doctors on account of tests they've done in the past that have gone horribly wrong. How could I not hire them on spot?"
"What did they do to her?" His voice grew weaker and Grimhilde could not help but glare at that.
"One man was skilled with a knife while the other was skilled in brutality, Prince Florian." She spoke ever so slowly so she would not have to elaborate further. "They did a procedure in which she would not be able to have any children in the future. Need I go further?"
His eyes were wide and he paled greatly as he shook his head at her. He looked as though he were going to be sick. She rolled her eyes and turned back to her grimoire. Night was drawing near and she did not have the time to deal with his antics.
"Go be useful and fill that bucket with water." She pointed behind her to the corner. "There's a stream if you go further down below that you can fill it up with."
He quietly moved behind her and disappeared down into the darker depths of the dungeons. She added wood to the fire below the cauldron and removed the lid so that she could start adding ingredients.
Thunder rolled overhead and she could not help but smile in her excitement. She was finally going to create this stupid body for the Mirror. She was finally going to be free of him.
She picked up the vial of hairs that she had gathered from Frederick's brush and hesitated a moment as she looked at it. She was adding traces of him to this recipe, would it alter it much? She didn't have time to think about that, however, because the cauldron had begun to bubble. The hair fell in easily and left no trace of scent in the air.
She continued to add the remaining ingredients - 3 Sprigs of rosemary for remembrance, 2 tablespoons of chopped and ground holly for spirit calling, A pinch of cypress, for longevity, and the sprinkling of shredded yarrow root to make him a relative – the recipe now left a forest and woodsy smell. Her thoughts immediately went to Frederick and she hoped that this body did not look like him. Thunder boomed and lightning crackled in the sky to remind her what she was doing.
She refused to allow her thoughts to linger and picked up the wooden spoon and began to stir. It resisted at first, but soon spiraled clockwise before engulfing the spoon into its mixture. She felt as though the spoon had been turning far too easily and when she pulled the spoon out it had all been eaten away save the handle in her hand. She tossed it in and watched the mixture eat it. The mixture began to glow a vibrant green and pulsated a strange light as the ingredients combined became activated.
She watched it bubble and brew before she turned to the table for the dagger and box. She opened the box and was so happy to see the bloody organ sitting there waiting to be added to this evil concoction. She picked up the dagger and a pungent smell lingered there. She studied it for a moment and could only see the dried blood on it and nothing else. Perhaps it was something that Snow White had eaten, or perhaps hadn't eaten that made her blood smell terrible. Regardless, the recipe needed to be finished, even if it did smell of pigs.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Florian standing there, gaping horrifically at the glowing light from the cauldron. She wanted to laugh at his shock. His gaze went from the cauldron to her and his eyes widened and his mouth fell open as she waved the dagger at him with a smirk and carried the heart in her left hand. It was still warm and squishy and smelled just as terrible as the dagger. Was that normal? She had never made it this far in the recipe before something terrible happened or the spell became a complete bust. She could not afford another slip.
She returned to the cauldron and raised her left hand high. She sliced her forearm and counted the drops that fell in and watched the mixture swallow it hungrily. The storm above her crackled and caused her hair to stand on end.
Yes, this is it!
She dropped the heart into the mixture and watched it go from glowing green to black. Her smile fell as she could not remember reading if it were to change colors once the heart had been added. She could not shake the foreboding feeling that something was wrong. Before anything else could be done, however, the lightning struck down into the cauldron and over illuminated the room to the point she would have gone blind had she stared for much longer. She had been knocked back and held her hands over her face. A blazing heat consumed the room for a mere few moments before leaving the room and leaving sparkling white in the mixture. It was energized and the mixture was licking the sides of the cauldron, trying to escape. She quickly scrambled for the lid of the cauldron and slammed it over the growing spell and heard a scream as it sealed itself shut. She staggered back and watched the spell continue to grow and she realized the fire had not been put out.
"The water!" She demanded from the trembling Florian. He stood in the doorway, knees knocking, lips quivering, and eyes nearly bulging as if he had never seen magic casted before. She darted to the idiotic prince, snatched the bucket from him and dumped the water onto the fire. The fire hissed as if died and another scream came from the cauldron. All she could do was stare at the pot in anticipation for the spell to 'erupt', as the recipe had called for.
She waited.
Nothing happened.
She waited.
Nothing happened.
She waited.
Still, nothing happened. She wasn't sure how long she was supposed to wait, but nothing had happened. How much time was supposed to pass? Surely not this long. Surely something would happen, she couldn't have failed again. . .She slowly approached the cauldron, wanting to lift the lid to see what was happening within it when the walls shook with a loud crack and boom.
"What have you done!" The Mirror boomed in a voice that challenged the storm above them. Florian fell to the floor and in a puddle of urine.
"What you have asked!" She yelled back at him.
"You stupid witch!" He roared and the ground shook. "Do you even know what you have done?"
"I followed your instructions!"
"the heart!" He roared, his usual green mask changing a fiery orangish red. "The heart was not correct! It wasn't the Pure Heart of a Lover!"
"What?" She turned and looked at Florian who sat in horror as he looked at her. "You!" She launched herself at him and he tried to scramble away. "What did you do!" She shrieked as she tackled him to the ground.
"J'ai fait ce que tu lui as demandé!" He held his shaking hands over his face. "I did as you asked!"
"LIES!" The Mirror growled from behind. "THE BOY LIES!"
"What did you do?" She had him pinned down by straddling him and held him down by the collar of his shirt. "What did you do!" She shook him and the prince began to cry.
"I-I-I-I—I-I-." He stammered like a fool and began to cry uncontrollably. Nostrils flaring and fury rising she raised her hand and slapped him, her nails scratching him. He cried out in pain.
"Stop your hysterics and tell me what you have done!" She demanded and continued to shake him, but he only continued to cry and ramble in Francan.
"The heart was not the heart of Snow White." The Mirror answered his voice as deep as the angry thunder above.
"What?" She looked over her shoulder, her grip on Prince Florian was firm.
"The heart was not the heart of Snow White." The Mirror repeated. "It was the heart of a wild sow."
"You gave me the heart of a pig!" She screeched as she turned all her anger against him. She did not hold back and hit and scratched him as much as her temper would allow. A wail of anger, anguish, and utter frustration escaped her. She sounded like a wild animal herself. "How dare you!" She shrieked and her hands wrapped around his neck.
He gasped for air and swatted at the ground like a fish out of water. Yes, this look of panic, this look of fear, this look of desperation of wanting life that screamed in his eyes was what she loved to see. Just as she was about to add more pressure to finish the job as his punishment for this betrayal when she heard a boom from the cauldron and black foam seeped out from under the lid. She released Florian momentarily and stood; even the Mirror was quiet.
Finally released Prince Florian took his chance to slither away and run out of the dungeons. Grimhilde had a half a mind to use dark magic against him, using the shadows to take him away and cause terrible nightmares or even simply allow them to eat him; however, the sudden eruption from the cauldron was indeed a more pressing matter. More and more foam bubbled and seeped from the cauldron.
"Mirror." Grimhilde called. "What is happening?"
"I have no idea, My Queen." The Mirror studied the cauldron. "The spell should have been a failure. This should not be happening."
Her blood went cold and she held her breath as she waited and watched for something to happen. For once in her life she was afraid of what she had done and questioned if she should have done it or not. A terrible stink wafted in the air then suddenly turned sickeningly sweet. Even the shadows around her quaked in fear as this ominous spell continued to conjure itself into existence. The bubbles grew large and frothy and shook the ground to the point of causing an earthquake before suddenly stopping and going quiet and deathly still. She almost stepped forward when the lid of the cauldron shot off, nearly missing her and taking her crown off her head, and a green light shined ominously from the cauldron. She and the Mirror waited and watched. The light disappeared and a form began to rise. It started off as just a simple mass, but as it rose and the black-ish green spell matter began to slide off a man took shape and form. It rose until the Queen could see his feet and he with one long leg and one long step stepped out of the cauldron and looked to the Queen.
The spell matter was still sliding off him and before her stood an exact replica of Adam. His hair was just as black, his physique was the same broad shoulder, narrow hips, and long legs with finely detailed muscles from head to toe, he even had the same ghostly white complexion! The only difference was his eyes. His eyes were Frederick's eyes. That enchanting bottle green eyes that had a terrible way of luring her in and wanting to change. The Adam replica stood in full naked glory staring at the Queen, rather expectantly.
"What is this?" She asked aloud, hoping the Mirror would provide her an answer. When the Mirror did not speak and seemed to be just as silent as she, she took a step towards her creation and walked in a circle around it. His green eyes followed her but remained standing still.
"What are you?" She had a hand on her hip and the other on her chin as she fully examined him. He could pass for a human. She stood in front of him, waiting expectantly in front of it. He opened his mouth to speak and the terrible shrill of a squealing escaped his mouth. Her hands flew to her ears and she turned to the Mirror.
"What is the meaning of this?" The green-eyed Adam finally closed his mouth. "I thought you said this spell was a failure!"
"I did." The Mirror grimaced as he too studied the green-eyed Adam. "I still think it is a failure for that terrible sound to come out of it. You should scrap it now and start again."
"I don't have that time nor the resources!" She put her hand to her head and the other on her hip as a headache began to grow. "It would take me several months to prepare a second one! I wouldn't even know where to get the Pure Heart of a Lover now that Snow White has completely vanished."
"Be that as it may, creating a silent puppet over a squealing pig minion would be much better." He glared at the green-eyed Adam in the room. "I don't know how it will even be useful to you now. I don't even know what it is even capable of. This is something that should never have been created, not even by accident. You should destroy it."
"Now, now, Mirror." The Queen tutted as a plan began to form. "I know this is not the body that you wanted – "
"If it were just a body it would be fine." The Mirror argued. "It is the face that is an abomination that makes it so detestable!"
"Still." The Queen held her hand up and it silenced the Mirror. "If this is a minion nonetheless, why not use it to gather ingredients and start again? Why destroy it when it could be useful?"
"You sound as though you have gone mad, My Queen." The Mirror's mouth formed a hard line as he looked down upon the Queen.
"I've been dabbling in the Dark Arts long enough to have gone mad." She rolled her eyes and dismissed the comment. "I shall at least test it out for his capabilities and if he proves himself unworthy, then I shall destroy him."
"You think he will be capable of gathering ingredients?" The Mirror scoffed.
"In time, yes." She smiled. "However, there is a prince who has greatly betrayed me that needs to learn a great lesson. He needs to be made an example of."
"Are you sure that is truly wise, My Queen?" The Mirror frowned deeply and caused wrinkles in his brow. "You would risk a war with Franca to simply test out a failed creation?"
"Well, why not?" She laughed already loving the idea of it. "If it's along the roadside and it is a person who is not known to any man, why can't the Prince of Franca be killed on the roadside by bandits? Surely that's justifiable enough to prevent war?"
She turned back to the green-eyed Adam and looked at him thoughtfully. "Now my Grünes Versagen, what shall I call you?"
He stared down at her blankly, not even looking curiously at her. He just blinked as he waited for her to either say or do something.
"Versagen is almost too harsh, though you are considered a failure." She murmured as she studied him. "And Grünes is too obvious. . . Though I suppose it's better than nothing. I shall call you Grünes."
He blinked not seeming not to have registered that she had just bestowed a name upon him, though his eyes were very focused on her. Her lip twitched wanting to frown, but it was too soon for that.
"Come, Grünes, we need to get you some clothes." She turned to the Mirror.
"You're really going through with this, My Queen?" The Mirror looked hesitant.
"Yes, yes I shall. Since I no longer have allies, making them will work just fine." She smirked with a nod. "Who knows, if this goes so well, I might have to make another for myself in addition to your body." She made a gesture with her head to have Grünes follow her and very surprisingly he obediently followed. This was going to prove very useful if he was a mindless tool.
"As you wish, My Queen." He sighed as he watched her leave. "I just hope you don't live to regret it. . ."
"Why, Mirror." She stopped and glanced over her shoulder. "You make it sound as though I regret the decisions I make."
"Not outwardly, My Queen, but I do know that inwardly you do; much more than you care to admit." He rolled his eye sockets. "Just remember, everything you do, every choice you make will ultimately affect your Happy Ending."
She allowed those words to brush her crown, it was far too little too late for her to truly worry about things like that. At one point in time the Mirror had promised to ensure her Happy Ending, just as Adam and even Frederick had; yet they all turned against her. She could not rely on them. She must take control of her own fate.
She took Grünes all the way to her room where she had him change into an old uniform of Frederick's that she had held onto and was pleasantly surprised that it fit him. It was all black, black boots, black trousers, black shirt, black coat – if Adam had ever worn this he truly would have lived up to his title as the Black Prince. It was rather shaking how similar Grünes and Adam were, the only difference truly being the eye color. She would have to use that to her advantage.
"Now, Grünes." The Queen smiled as she spoke to him. "Since you need to prove your worth to me, I have decided the perfect task for you."
He stood at attention and looked ready to burst through the window.
"You see, Grünes, I was betrayed by the Prince of Franca." She almost started laughing at how rich this situation was. "His name is Florian. And I do believe that the coward is going to try to escape me." She turned to the window and had Grünes follow her. They stood expectantly at the window and she nearly laughed as she watched Florian ride off on his horse.
"Do you see him, Grünes?" She pointed at his disappearing figure. Grünes nodded his head in response. "Good." She slid her hands into her robes. "Now I need you to bring me his heart in place of the one he did not bring to me."
He nodded his head again and he dissolved into a spiraling blackish green portal before completely disappearing. She turned back to the window and wondered what sort of prospects her little Grünes would bring her. He may not have turned out to have been a failure after all if he succeeds in this.
FLORIAN
"Got to get out." He panted as he ran down the long dark halls. "Gotta get out. Gotta get out of here, fast!"
He ran and he ran and he ran. He needed to get out of this castle, this country! He had never been beaten so terribly before and he knew that devil witch woman would have his head if she got a hold of him again. He wasn't sure where he was running too. He needed to go grab his things and his horse. He'd send the servants out just as fast, or even later if she needed them to slow her down. He ran so frantically he didn't hear Frederick's whistling until he collided with Frederick. The air which he had just recently received had been knocked out of him again. He looked up and Frederick was glaring down at him.
"Don't hurt me!" He held his hands over his face for some sort of shield and just waited for him to strike him.
"What the - ?" Frederick huffed exasperatedly at him. "Prince Florian, what are you doing here?"
"I'm trying to leave!" He shouted as he sprung back up to his feet. "That Queen is crazy! She's going to kill me!"
"Ah, she finally scared you?" Frederick scoffed with an eyeroll. "You must have done something stupid if she's coming after you."
"You have no idea!" Florian's eyes burned and tears fell down his face. He didn't even bother to wipe them, he in fact appreciated them. They gave him a sense of feeling, that he was still alive.
"Oh, I'm very aware of what happens when you decide to play in the Queen's court." Frederick crossed his arms and glared down at him. "You deserve death after killing the princess!"
"But I didn't!" He sobbed uncontrollably, all the anxiety and fear catching up to him. His voice even hitched an octave. "I didn't, I didn't, I didn't! That's why she's gonna kill me!"
"What do you mean?" Frederick growled. "You brought her heart back, didn't you?"
"It was a pig heart!" He sobbed. "I didn't kill Snow White! Adam nearly killed me to get to her first and when I woke up I had to get a pig's heart or she was going to kill me then!"
"Adam got her?" There was relief and surprise in Frederick's voice, and if Florian wasn't such an emotional basket case he would have been cross with him for siding with Adam and his dirty blood rather than a pureblood from Franca!
"Off into the Dark Forest with both of them!" He snapped. "And now my heart's what's in danger!"
"Oh, get a hold of yourself, you sorry excuse for a man." Frederick turned his nose up in disgust at him. "You don't act like a man nor a prince. You're the sorriest thing in life as an excuse for a man I think I've ever seen!"
"How dare you!" His tears stopped and soon his temperature rose with his temper. "You worthless -!"
"Watch what you say, leech." Frederick held him by the scruff of his shirt. "Your next set of words will decide whether or not I help you leave or help her find you."
"You'll help me?"
"I have every right and mind to just release you to her so you can suffer your fate properly." He growled. "But I am better than that and I will help both you and your staff leave."
Florian could not believe his ears. He knew very full and well that he had made an ass of himself to literally everyone in this entire castle; specially to Snow White and Frederick. He had no right for a second chance, but he also wasn't going to rebuttal it either.
"You are to listen and listen well, Prince of Fools, for if you don't the Queen will hunt you down and kill you like the coward you are." Frederick hissed in a whisper and Florian bit his tongue to fight down any insults or arguments. He nodded his head to show he was listening. "You are to take your horse and whatever money you have in your purse and leave immediately. Should you linger any longer there is no telling what trouble you'll get into; and other than giving you this advice and helping your servants I have no intentions of saving you. You're not worth it."
Florian could only glare up at him because he knew that if he argued he was as good as dead; as if he wasn't already. However, he couldn't resist the urge to ask the question that was begging to be asked.
"Why are you helping me?" He asked in all seriousness.
"Do not think it is because I have a kind heart." Frederick glared and there was a certain heat in his glare that burned Florian to his core in fear. "I am only saving you for the sake of this country and because you did not succeed in killing Snow White. You do not deserve to be saved, but the fact is that you failed to kill Snow White; even if it was due to Adam's interference, you still didn't kill her."
"I won't argue with you about that." Florian huffed. "she wasn't worth it anyways – "
Frederick shoved him down so hard that he had to gasp for air once he hit the ground. Wheezing and catching his breath he could only look up at Frederick. All this time he had seen Adam as the threat, but as Frederick loomed over him with such an ominous presence that made him fear that his skull was about to be stomped in he realized just how dangerous the Knight of the Evil Queen was.
"Get out of my sight." He hissed and Florian wasted no time in scrambling away. He had never been more terrified in his life, and had it not already been for the terrible swamp smells about him he was sure that Frederick would have realized that Florian had a bit of an accident lying there on the ground. He had to get out of here, he would never return. The people in this country were too terrifying, to intense, too extreme in either kindness or violence. He would keep the peace between Franca and Apfel when he became king, simply because no matter the size of his army so long as the Black Prince Adam and the Evil Queen's Knight Frederick stood at the attention of defending this country, he never would stand a chance.
Panting and sweating worse than the pig he had to gut and soaking wet in the rain, he finally made it to the stables where his horse was waiting to leave. He made sure to pack some apples and oats for the horse for he would run it like mad until they were finally safe out of Apfel's borders.
"Come, boy." He spoke to the horse as he slid the saddle onto its back. "We've got to get out of here!" The horse tiptoed anxiously in his stall and shook his head. It was pouring rain and the storm only seemed to grow worse. Florian hated riding in storms just as much as his horse, but they needed to escape; no, he needed to escape. Even if something were to happen to the horse, he would run all the way back to Franca if he truly needed to.
Setting the saddle in place and slinging the provisions up on the saddle too, Florian hoisted himself up onto the horse before whipping the reins and riding off into the night. The rain pelted him in the face, stabbing needles of pain as he urged the horse to go faster.
"Keep going, boy." He urged as his heart beat in his chest just as hard and fast as the rain on his face. "We gotta get out of here!"
They ran through town and veered on the path that was on the right and would lead him on his long journey to Franca. The thunder rolled over head, the lightning cracked and deafened his ears and ominously lit the sky. He used that light to guide him through the forest path that would take him to the neighboring city. He had to let the horse steer itself because the rain was too blinding on its own and only got worse with the speed of the horse. He would put up with it though, he needed to survive. He needed to make it back to Franca, he needed to warn his father!
A bolt of lightning touched the earth and his loyal stead stood on its hind legs and knocked Florian off. With a shrieking whiny his noble steed left him in the rain and mud.
"Damn horse." He cursed and pushed himself to stand. "Should have made him into glue – "
Lightning lit the sky much quieter now and just three yards in front of him stood the man he hated most; Adam. He wore all black which made him blend into the night's blanket of darkness. He just stood there staring at Florian, studying him almost. That guy was just so infuriating!
"What are you here to settle the score?" He bellowed as his anger returned to him. But he said nothing in return, not even a sarcastic retort. That was odd.
"You got the girl, what else do you want?" he yelled over the storm. "I'm leaving anyway! What more do you want with me?"
He said nothing, and slowly began to approach him. Florian had no idea what to make of this. Adam was much to calm for his liking, it was intimidating to say the least; but mostly creepy like something was off. He just kept coming closer, though, and didn't even flinch as lightning nearly struck him. He just blinked in surprise and kept walking. If the rain hadn't already chilled his bones his blood would have gone cold. With a shaky hand he drew his sword from his hip and pointed it at Adam.
"S-Stop!" He demanded. But he kept approaching until he was at the tip of the sword. Gritting his teeth and feeling more anger at the fact he was just ignoring him now, Florian leaned forward with a lunge to lodge the sword into Adam's chest. It went in almost too smoothly, as if he had just stuck it in a puddle of mud or a stick of warm butter. He didn't bleed either, not when the sword lodged itself into his chest, nor when Florian pulled it out. He just looked down at the sword then back at Florian in such an odd and curious manner.
It was only when the light from more lightning flashed that Florian saw it. His eyes were green. Adam's eyes were black. This wasn't Adam. This was whatever that devil witch Queen was trying to create. Bile built up in his throat and he wanted to vomit. The sword fell from his hands and Florian didn't even have the chance to scream before the creature's arm went through his chest and gripped his heart and everything became silent.
Author's Note:
Thank you for reading! I hope you're enjoying the story so far!
Sooooo, this ended up being a little darker than what I was originally going for, but since this is a villain sort of story, I must say that a little bit of darkness and brutality and cruelty was a little past due.
Now that Florian is gone, is Grünes going to be a threat? Oh yes, yes he is, and he is going to be quite the loyal subject to the Queen. . .
Thanks for coming along the journey with me, stay tuned for more!
Ko-fi/SarahtheWriter
