The green smoke wrapped itself around her ankles and then slowly spun up her body and over her head. Melantha continued to chortle with excitement. When her laughter turned to cackles, the smoke began to fade away. Corlan stared in fascinated horror at the hideous woman before him. Short, gray wisps of hair barely covered her balding, aged-spotted scalp. Her back was bent and twisted, her face a series of deep lines and hideous warts. She looked old enough to knock upon her grave.
His limbs began to release as the smoke faded away and his mother ran for the mirror. Corlan flinched, ready for her screams, but then was surprised when her glee continued. Could she not see herself? He stepped over to view her reflection and let out a stunned chuckle when he saw the beautiful woman in the glass. Indeed, Melantha had no idea how truly hideous she had become. She could only see what she wished for more than anything.
A striking woman in her late teens, with fiery hair and smooth skin, stared back at her.
The enchanted mirror would only lie to feed her vanity.
No matter the cost, she could never know what she actually looked like. As quickly as possible, he removed himself from her chambers. Melantha was so enthralled with the beauty in the looking glass that she did not even glance over when he shut the door.
He limped as quickly as he could to the guest wing and into Terrance’s rooms. Thank goodness the castle was asleep or talk of his bloodied, naked chest would be gossip throughout the village. As it was, he only startled the sleeping prince.
“Terrance! Terrance!” he shouted as he entered. “I need help immediately!”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“ARE YOU OUT OF your wits?” asked Terrance as Corlan explained everything. “You want to remove all the castle mirrors within the next couple of hours?”
“Yes! And we must hurry. Get dressed, man!” Corlan said.
Terrance rubbed his face and then chuckled. “My nightclothes are a sight more decent than you are, chap. Perhaps
you
need to get dressed.”
Corlan looked down and laughed. “Touché.” Hobbling toward the door, he said, “I will be back quickly. Meet me in the library and I will see about waking Raven to help as well.”
“Raven?” Terrance grinned. “In that case, you win. I will meet you there in about five minutes.”
“Ha! I see how it is. You will come if a maiden is present.”
“Corlan, one day you will come to understand—it is always about the maidens being present. There is something about them that allows a man to become his best self.”
Corlan shook his head and shut the door.
Terrance got out of bed and let out a whistle of amazement, a bit stunned as he dressed. Snow was gone, left alone in some forest. Corlan had no chance of saving her or protecting her at all. And the witch had become an old hag after eating the heart of a pig. He smirked, enjoying the irony, and then scolded himself for smiling.
He always did find humor at the most inappropriate times. If he did not learn to control that peculiar habit, one day it would be sure to get him into trouble.
Sighing a bit, he pulled on his boots and allowed the heaviness of the situation to hit him as he stomped his feet to fit more comfortably. What a mess they were all in. Hopefully Snow could find a place to remain hidden until they resolved the queen’s betrayal. He worried about her, though, and he could tell Corlan was beside himself with fear for her safety. Though neither of them mentioned it, Terrance knew they were both worried about wolves or other beasts.
Taking an oil lamp, he slipped out of his room and made his way down the darkened corridors to the library. Perhaps there was a chance he could go find Snow himself and guarantee that she was safe. Excitement poured through his limbs at the thought. Yes! It was the perfect solution. Allow
him
to protect her.
He waited until Corlan came back to spring it upon him.
So eager was he to share the news that he did not see Raven slip in until she said, “So, you will now become Snow’s hero and not Corlan?”
Terrance glanced over and smiled, his heart jolting at the sight of her. She looked stunning, her long hair shimmering in the soft glow of the lamps around them. “Hello.” When she did not reply and appeared to be waiting, he thought back on the question she had asked. “Yes. Yes, it will be me who claims the hero part, I imagine. Though,”—he turned to Corlan—“did you not tell her what happened?”
“Corlan explained the spell on the way to the library.” Raven seemed upset as she fidgeted a bit.
“What is wrong?” Terrance asked.
The look she gave him would have soured milk. “Honestly?” she snapped. “You must inquire if something is wrong?”
“I—uh…”
She flipped her long braid over her shoulder. “My sister is alone in a forest, running for her life. My mother has become so darkened by a cursed mirror that she has eaten a pig’s heart, believing it to be Snow’s, and has turned herself into an old woman.”
She threw her hands up and crossed to a tall window. Pointing outside, she continued, “My stepfather is battling for his life and may very well be the first person in this family to die, though the others do not fare much better.” Turning around, she looked at Corlan. “And my dear brother, the one who was left to protect me and Snow, has now been enchanted by the mirror as well and has to overcome every bit of personal battle training he has had
not
to hunt and kill my best friend!”
She walked up to Terrance, her eyes snapping fire. “It is nearly four in the morning. I have not slept well and I awaken to hear we must remove all the mirrors in the castle immediately. And then I come in here to see you eager to become the true hero of the story.” She pushed against his chest. “And you have the gall to ask what is wrong. Honestly? Am I to lose
everything
tonight?”
He quickly captured her hands before she pushed him again. “Raven, enough.”
She tugged against his hold. “Let go of me!”
“No. I will not. Not until you allow your thoughts to calm down.” He tugged on her wrists and brought her in close. “Come here.” He slowly wrapped an arm around her, his other hand still holding both of hers, and then whispered, “I beg your pardon. Forgive me.” When he felt her melt a bit in his arms, he gently released her hands and tucked her fully into his embrace.
“I loathe you,” Raven mumbled into his chest.
“No, you do not.”
“Yes, I do.” She sniffled and then the sobs came. “I have never despised anyone more in my life.”
“Shh…” He pressed a kiss upon the top of her head and felt her arms go around his middle.
“I wish you had never come. Ever.” She sobbed harder.
“Why is that?” he asked softly as he left a kiss on her brow.
“Because then I would not be crying right now.”
“Nay. You would still be crying.”
“I would?”
“Yes, you would. Especially with all the circumstances you are facing. But it is easier to blame me, is it not?”
Her shoulders began to shake.
“Raven,” he whispered, his hands trailing upon her back. “Hush. It is all well. You are welcome to shed tears upon any part of my shirt you wish.”
“I want to detest you. Why can I not detest you? It would be so much easier for me if you would stop being wonderful, so halt this nonsense now.” She pulled back and dashed at her tears. Her gaze would not meet his. “Tell me the truth. Tell me how she has won your heart like all the other hearts she has claimed so I can go back to what I know is best. Tell me you are smitten with my sister. ” She stepped away from him. “I was up all night, dreading sleep, because I know that one of these days I will wake up and it will happen. So let us get ourselves over this misery now and allow me to wish you both my felicitations and exceeding hap—happiness.” Her shoulders began to shake again.
“Oh, my word.” Corlan laughed. “And woman say men are the lesser sex. Have they not a brain in those heads of theirs?”
Raven opened her mouth to say something, but Terrance interceded. “No. She has had enough wrestling with her fears at this time. You will not be goading her on.” He nodded toward the door. “Go start removing the mirrors—we will join you shortly.”
Corlan stared at him a moment. “Are you ordering me about in the castle that very well could be mine one day?”
“Just so. Now get, you!” He waved his hand and glanced at Raven. “I have some things I wish to say to your sister, and I do not need prying ears around.”
Corlan took a deep breath. “Be quick about it. We simply cannot stop every time one of these women begins to act like—well, a woman.”
“Again, one day you will truly understand that it is always about the women.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ONCE CORLAN LEFT, RAVEN took a deep breath and glanced at Terrance.
He grinned ruefully and held out a hand. “Do you still despise me?”
She looked at that hand and bit her lip, worrying it. Should she trust him? His gaze met hers and she saw such gentleness in his eyes, tugging at her from within their depths. Cautiously she stepped forward and placed her hand in his.
He walked them to the settee near the largest of the bookshelves and sat down with her. “May I say something?” he asked as their fingers interlocked.
Why did she dread this conversation so much? Why did she have such anticipation for it? It thrilled her, yet terrified her at the same time. “Yes.”
“I have spoken to Snow about you. We were very frank with each other, and she was more than eager to step aside to allow you and me time to decide if we could possibly get along with each other.” He brought her knuckles up and kissed them. “Since then, I have observed the way she watches Corlan and the manner in which he cannot help but gaze at her. They are very much in love.”
“Oh.” Raven met his eyes. “So, now you are turning toward me?”
He chuckled. “It is simply baffling the way your treacherous mind creates these situations within it.” Leaning near her, he said, “Raven, I was turned toward you before I met Snow. And though I feel a pull for her, it is not nearly as much as the interest I feel in you.”
Her heart seemed to stop altogether. “What exactly are you saying?”
“I am saying, my dear, that I would like very much to continue as we are. I would like you not to worry about my intentions toward anyone other than you, for I have none for any woman but you.”
“Truly?” She could not believe her ears. Was there not another princess who had captured him?
“Yes. I would ask that you learned to trust me. I will not harm you.” His eyes trailed over her features. “I know it has been a hard road for you until now, so it shall take some time to see that I am really all that I profess to be. I apprehend this. And that is fine—I need time as well.”
Time was probably a very good thing. “I can understand that.”
“I would like to get to know you more—what I have already found has enticed me greatly. But I want to guarantee that this could work for both of us. I am not here to select a wife—I came to Olivian to find a partner, someone equally willing to love me as well. I do not believe in these old-fashioned practices where men come and bargain for the women they fancy. Nay, the girl I marry will come to me freely because she wishes it as greatly as I do. Because we are equal partners first—in love, in station, in life.”
“Thank you,” Raven whispered. She had never felt her heart so warmed before.
“I see you are amazed at what I have said.” He tugged her hand. “I will wait until you trust these words, until we are both willing to go further.”
Not sure what else to do, but completely overwhelmed by his goodness and patience, Raven leaned forward and surprised herself by kissing him in reply.
***
WHEN SNOW AWOKE THE next day, it was nearly mid-afternoon. She felt the faint warm breeze caress her cheek as her eyes fluttered open to the brightness. Slowly she was brought back to reality as she observed the foliage around her. The birds chirped merrily above her head as the leaves rustled with the breeze, making it sound as if she were near a river. Snow turned upon her back, looking up at those tall branches above her and then squinting as the sun peeked through them while they swayed.
This was not such a bad place. It seemed peaceful and completely the opposite from the horrors it appeared to be in the dark. She stretched and felt her taut muscles protest. She had never run so fast and so far in all her life, and her body most certainly felt the brunt of her escapades from the night before.
Goodness, she was so stiff.
Her stomach growled. Apparently her limbs were not the only thing protesting—she was famished. But to lie here a moment longer would feel so wonderful. She stretched again.
She contemplated rising and finding some summer berries to eat when suddenly a bright spark popped before her eyes. She blinked and then sat up when it darted away.
What was that?
Scanning the area, she found the spark of light again, this time about ten feet from her in a bush. It quickly dashed away and then reappeared right in front of her. Startled, she fell back on her elbows and watched, fascinated, as the little twinkling light came toward her. It flitted around her face for a few moments before zooming upwards, where it flickered high on a branch above her.