Snow White finished packing the last of the sentimental items she didn't want to leave without.

A painting her first best friend ever had created before dying of cancer several weeks later.

Her eyes always shone with tears when she glimpsed the painting.

All the essentials—clothing, grooming supplies, etc, could be replaced.

What couldn't be replaced were her assortment of sentimental objects.

One of them was a friendship bracelet with a heart on it. From a girl she dearly cared about before she told the girl who her crush at the time was.

"So," she remembers asking Ileana, "what do you think about Caleb?"

Ileana wrinkled her nose. "He's ugly," she stated flatly, "and weird."

"Oh. That's fine," fourteen-year-old Snow had said airily. She was glad Ileana wasn't attracted to Caleb. She wanted him all to herself. "I think he's cute and sweet."

Two days later, she'd opened her private closet door and found Ileana forcing her lips upon Caleb's unwilling mouth.

Granted, Ileana had tied him up and all, but after that, Snow had disliked both of them. Ileana because she'd proved she was a terrible friend. Caleb because…well, he was a sweet boy, and Ileana had stoked Snow's knowledge she had a thirst for darkness. Reminded her sweet boys weren't really her thing.

She had kept the bracelet to remind herself even the worst kind of friend still had a cherishable side in the beginning. But she was pretty sure Ileana had given her the bracelet anyway so she'd let her guard down. Ileana had clearly wanted to hurt Snow.

If Snow had been queen at the time and Caleb her king, Ileana would have been beheaded.

She turned away from her vanity mirror, snapped her fingers, and arrived in the forest right outside her palace with a songbird on her shoulders.

Prince James was waiting for her with a broad smile. She threw her arms around his neck with the strap of her pack digging into her right arm. She pressed her cheek against his. Nervousness fluttered in her chest, but as she pulled back and gazed into his face, she saw in his eyes that anywhere with him would be her home.

She had to do this anyway. Her fairy advisor had made sure of that.

Clutching his hand, she led him into the stables. The songbird flew off.

As soon as both of them were inside and facing the horses Snow and Mathilda would ride, the stables doors slammed shut and locked.

Snow turned her neck, her eyes widening. "How," she gasped involuntarily.

A menacing figure crept up to them. First made of shadow, it slowly transformed into a three-dimensional shape.

"Snow, my love," purred Reul Ghorm. "My, how you disappoint me." Reul Ghorm was so smug it hurt to look at her.

Dropping her eyes to Reul's feet, Snow asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Regina told me your plan. To run away with the prince, whom you are so in love with," simpered Reul. "You betray me." She spat at Snow's feet.

"Why?" asked Snow dryly. "Because he's King George's son? What did George do to you?"

"That would be none of your business," barked the fairy.

Twisting her lips and managing to lift her gaze—to the ceiling, not Reul's eyes—the princess countered, "Actually, if you hate him so much you don't want me to be with his son, it is my business. Why?"

Reul strode to Snow White and put her arm around her shoulder. "Actually, I've had a change of heart. I need to do what's best for the Kingdom of Rhilopia, even if it embarrasses me. What's best for the princess. I owe it to you, my dear."

Snow hadn't realized her shoulders were tense until they relaxed. She'd misjudged Reul Ghorm. All those thoughts of her betrayal and overstepping her boundaries flew out of Snow's head in a swiveling twist.

Reul Ghorm strode up to Prince James, poised to bless him. "And that is exactly what I intend to do." Smiling brightly, she said, "Welcome to the family," and extended her hand.

His heart leapt into her hand. Princess Snow White gasped. She jumped to Reul Ghorm, but the fairy had already crushed his heart to dust.

Prince James crumpled to the floor.

"No!" Snow sobbed as she knelt beside him. "No, my love!" She felt his cold cheeks. Pulling his head on her lap, she rocked back and forth. Her wrist was trembling and felt numb.

"I know this is hard for you," Reul Ghorm asserted in her kindest voice as she came to place her hand on Snow's shoulder, "but trust me when I say this: I know what's best for you."

Snow shuddered and wiped her hot tears away with the side of her hand. Then something within her tickled. She blinked beautifully and gave Reul Ghorm narrowed eyes before dropping her gaze back to Prince James. Burying her face against his cold cheek, she cried with trembling shoulders. Her true grief ran free, though a part couldn't believe he was really dead. A tiny, crazy part of her thought maybe, just maybe, it was a cruel…dream? Halllucination? Joke?

How could he…be dead? Death was so final?

"I know," she managed to say in a breathless whisper around the lump in her throat as the water leaked from her eyes. "I know…" he's not gone, he can't be gone. "You did what was best. You're so right. I was a fool to fall for him. But I do…I do love him deeply."

"Are you hungry?"

"No thanks. I'd like to be alone with James, if you don't mind."

Reul Ghorm left wordlessly as Mathilda entered the stables.

"What happened?" she gasped when she spotted the prince's body cradled in Snow's arms.

"What do you think?" Princess Snow White inquired bitterly. "Didn't you see that witch leave?" She ground her jaw. Stroked her love's stiff cheek adoringly, her lips twisted downward.

"I'm so sorry, Princess," Mathilda tried.

"Never mind," Princess Snow murmured as she swished her fingers to put a spell on her prince. "Nothing can cure death. I have to make my peace with this. So…I've got a new plan."

"What kind of plan?" Mathilda asked warily.

There was a pain in Snow's stomach that felt like she had swallowed a stone. She could feel the round pressure, almost feel a sharp edge pushing against her stomach.

"You'll see, my darling," Princess Snow answered with a sour expression.

"Your mother is talking of abdicating."

The princess' sweet red lips twisted up. Her dark eyes glittered. "That will make my punishment so much easier." She cackled malevolently.