Ashes to Ashes

by M. J. Padgett

  “I love you, Saskia. I made the right choice.”

  I knew he once loved another, and his words made me feel special and cared for even more. I stole a glance at my son, and a realization hit me. I wanted Hans to have siblings, little brothers and sisters who he could share his life and adventures with.

  “Ulrich?”

  “Hmm?” he hummed, still lingering close to my lips.

  “I think... I... I believe I’d like to have more children.”

  I forced my eyes to open, pushing the confusing memory from my mind. My heart ached, realizing I had found love again after Ely’s disappearance. It was not a memory I was prepared to tackle, not that I was prepared for any of them, but the memory of Ulrich burned in a way I had not expected. My fighting did not matter. There was one last vision my mind insisted I see.

  “Did Hans escape?” My lady-in-waiting caught me by my wrist and pulled me into the small hallway near the rear exit.

  “Yes, he’s crossed the border to Schwarzwald. He knows where to go,” I whispered.

  “You must run yourself, quickly!” Gelda pushed me out the rear of the castle with a bundle of supplies. “Run and do not look back!”

  “I can’t go! Not without my family! Where is my husband? Where is Corrina? Genevieve, my mother, and aunt, where are they?”

  “Stop wasting time and just go!” she shouted, urging me as thick smoke entered the hall.

  My fragile mind couldn’t comprehend what had taken over my aunt, but Cinderella had lost her mind entirely. She burned everything in sight, setting the castle ablaze with every step she took. Once the only person who supported me, she turned in an instant. Everything I’d ever known was burning around me, and I had no idea why.

  “Gelda, what is happening?” I yelled. “Why is she—”

  “You will pay for defying me, Gelda!” My aunt’s voice sent a chill down my spine. Her sweet and calm presence was morphed into an evil shell of a woman with a blackened heart. She raised her arms and flames erupted behind her, scorching more of our home.

  It was such a lovely evening at the start, quiet time with family, but it soon morphed into a scene straight from Hell. One minute I was sharing dessert with my sister, the next Auntie Cinderella stood and started screaming like a lunatic that it was time we all paid for our treachery. She began igniting things with her hands and acting like a possessed woman.

  “Auntie Cinderella, what is wrong with you? Just tell me what it is, and I will do all I can to make it right! If you are ill, let me help you!” I noticed my sister standing just behind her. “Corrina, what’s going on here? Are you okay?”

  “I’ll be wonderful once you’re out of the picture. Then Ulrich will be mine, and I’ll finally be the apple of Daddy’s eye.” Corrina stepped aside, and I saw Genevieve lying on the ground unconscious.

  “Oh dear, about that, I hate to do this to you my dear Corrina, but I can’t chance you lusting for the throne in years to come,” Cinderella said, turning to face my sister.

  “The throne? What... where is my father? What have you done, Auntie?” It was becoming more evident, but I refused to believe my sweet aunt would turn into a bloodthirsty monster to secure a place on the throne.

  “Oh, he’s just fine on his little hunting excursion, but your mother and aunt, well, I’m afraid I’ve had to dispose of them. Agustus will be my husband now as it should have been all along.”

  “You promised I could have Ulrich if I helped you!” Corrina cried, clutching Cinderella’s coat sleeve entirely uncaring about our mother and Genevieve’s.

  “I lied, just as you did to your dear sister, but don’t fear. Ulrich won’t rest until he finds his sweet Saskia, but he will fail. He will perish in this fire, just like the rest of this pathetic family!”

  “No!” I screamed, desperate to save yet another husband from death.

  “You can’t kill him! You promised him to me!” Corrina screamed, beginning a tantrum. Even now, with Ulrich’s life on the line, all she could think about was herself. However, her petulant behavior distracted Cinderella, so I lunged at her.

  I was too slow. With a flick of Cinderella’s wrist, my sister was transformed into a monster. She screamed in agony until she growled, then Genevieve rose from the ground and did the same.

  I felt the pain hit me, a white-hot fire that melted my skin until I was no longer human. I started to run, clumsy on my new legs. Just behind me, Gelda fought with my aunt. I saw a halo of light surround her, bright with the faintest sparkle like glitter. It grew brighter until I could no longer see, then an explosion of light blinded me entirely.

  When I woke, I was in the forest, and I was cold. I startled when I saw two wolves lying beside me. I started to move away slowly in hopes they would not stir. I felt odd, somehow shorter but larger. I took one step and began trembling at the sight of the massive black paw that landed in front of me.

  I glanced around, taking in the scenery. I heard a river, and I ran to it, looking down into its glistening reflection. Staring back at me was the face of a wolf.

  “Sierra wake up! Please, it’s been hours!” Heidi’s pleading voice broke my heart. It was desperate and lonely.

  My eyelids snapped open, and I sat straight, my head throbbing with pain.

  “Sierra!” Heidi shouted, causing more pain. I winced, and she immediately eased me back to the ground. “I’m sorry. Take it easy. Cecily is fine. All is well.”

  I groaned and tried to sit again, thoroughly finished with being flat on my back.

  “I thought you were working on a spell to make that less painful,” I said, my voice raspy and weak.

  “I did. The Salien children were flat out for days. I was sure it would alleviate the pain though. I was wrong. I’m sorry.”

  “Ely? Is he—”

  “Sleeping soundly, still alive. We must hurry. As soon as Cecily wakes, we must get him to the castle.”

  I managed to release myself from her grip to check my sister. She groaned, but she was still out for the count. “She didn’t mean it, Heidi. She was heartbroken, and Ella took advantage of her. She tricked her.”

  “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean. What did Cecily do?”

  “It’s so much to tell, but I know she’s not the same person she was when—”

  “Holy moly,” Cecily moaned from the ground beside us. She rolled onto her side, gripping her head tightly. Felix helped her into a sitting position, his face filled with worry.

  “Cecily?” I asked, wondering if she remembered the same final moments I had.

  Her eyes darted toward me when she heard my voice, regret, and sorrow filling the deep brown. They filled with tears, and her face scrunched into what would soon become the ugliest cry I’d ever seen. But I didn’t want her to cry. I didn’t want her to have regret or feel the pain of remorse for something she didn’t do. Corrina did it, not Cecily.

  “Don’t, it wasn’t you. It was a past version of you, not you,” I said.

  She began to cry anyway, and I held her tightly, comforting my sister and shushing away her doubts. Whatever had happened was in the past, and in the past, it would stay. We had a mission to complete. Ella had tricked everyone, played us all against each other until we’d practically ruined our family for her, but no more.

  The first chance I had, I’d ram a dagger through the woman’s stone-cold heart.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Once Cecily’s tears were dried and her faith restored in our relationship, I took a moment to look around. The guards were gone except for the two who still watched over Ely’s sleeping form.

  “Where is everyone? Where are the trolls? I’d swear I heard fighting...” I trailed, still smelling the pungent odor of troll mixed with blood.

  “We moved you to a safe area, somewhere more protected while the others... cleaned,” Heidi said, debating her words.

  “Oh no, you had to kill them all?” I asked, not quite sure how to feel about it.

  “Unfortunately. It
was kill or be killed, and I couldn’t risk your life or Ely and Cecily’s for theirs,” Felix said with a degree of remorse.

  “You did what you had to. I understand,” I said, trying to stand but failing miserably. My legs were wobbly at best. I gave up and stayed in a seated position while my mind processed everything that had been stuffed into it. I had no idea how much time passed, but it was far less than the three days it took the Saliens to recover.

  “Well, I dare say you picked the absolute worst time to pull that stunt. I’m sorry, I couldn’t wait for you to recover. I had to get on with Ely’s sleeping spell,” Heidi said.

  I reached for my pounding head. “No, it’s... it’s okay. I know you had to hurry. We should probably get him back to the castle though. Before another attack or... whatever else Ella has planned.”

  I tried to stand again. This time Felix helped me to my feet. I stumbled a bit but finally stood on somewhat steady legs.

  “Thanks,” I said, then he was ripped away from me before I could take another breath.

  “Felix!” Cecily screamed, but the guard was gone, just like Henry. My moment of shock was shattered by my sister’s screams. “Felix!”

  Heidi ran into the forest, Cecily close behind. Panic rose in my chest, but I managed to suppress it and gather my resolve.

  “Stay here with him!” I shouted at the guards who watched Ely. It was clear they weren’t going anywhere. They stood on either side of him, swords drawn and prepared to cut down anything that so much as flittered near their prince.

  I ran toward the sound of my sister’s voice. There was a scuffling in the distance, not too far off the trail, but far enough that getting there was difficult. I shifted so I could navigate the terrain more efficiently. Once I broke through the tangle of underbrush, I caught sight of Felix. He was fighting off a troll, doing everything in his power to keep it away from Heidi and Cecily, who must have forgotten trolls feared wolves since she was still in human form.

  I lurched ahead, putting myself between my sister and the ugly beast. The troll was too distracted by Felix to notice the wolf growling at it. It was much larger than the others I’d seen, and it fought much harder. I couldn’t determine whether Felix had been bitten or scratched, but if we didn’t do something, it would surely kill him.

  I jumped forward, landing squarely beside Felix, but it was the wrong thing to do. Felix didn’t realize I was there, and my sudden approach distracted him for a split-second. In that second, the troll grabbed him up and bit his shoulder. Before he could take a chunk from my friend, I latched onto his oozing leg and shook my head as hard as I could. The troll released Felix, who fell to the ground in agony.

  Once Felix was free, I repositioned myself between him and the monster. It turned and ran, snapping tree limbs as it went. It was easily nine feet, maybe ten feet tall, where the others were closer to seven or eight. Its hulking shoulders were broader than the others, and it carried itself on two legs instead of four. My observation was cut short by Heidi’s frustrated yells.

  “It’s still not working! Why isn’t my healing working?!” Heidi shrieked.

  I shifted and knelt beside Felix, opposite Heidi and Cecily. Felix’s shoulder wound poured blood, and the surrounding skin was already blackened. While Heidi continued to attempt her spells, I observed the injury further.

  “It looks... like venom dripping from the wound. Look, it’s killing the skin more each second.” Heidi ignored me and tried again. I wondered briefly if the key was stopping the spread immediately, but out in the forest without medical supplies, that meant using a sword to lop off his arm. I doubted he would agree to such things, but I was prepared to offer, anyway.

  Before I did, Felix took Heidi’s hand. “Heidi, it’s done. I’m done.”

  “No,” Cecily cried. “No, no, no! It’s not supposed to be like this. You’re supposed to stay with me.”

  “I’m so sorry, darling. I’m so, so sorry,” he whispered, his forehead dripping sweat. He was in pain, but I doubted Heidi could do a thing about that either.

  “No, I won’t let you die! No one is supposed to die! I’ll use the sleeping spell like we did with Ely, or I’ll freeze you like Henry.”

  “No, Heidi! Don’t you dare. You’re already weak. Ella could still be out here, maybe more trolls. If you use your magic to protect me, you won’t have the energy to walk home let alone defend yourself.”

  She stared down at him with a bitter look on her face—angry at him.

  “Heidi, you know I’m right. Protecting them is more important than saving me,” he stated firmly.

  “Felix... please, please try,” she begged. “You can try to overcome the venom, can’t you?”

  “Everyone dies, love. Eventually, everyone... everyone must...” He coughed, thick, white sputum spewing from his mouth. The infection was spreading fast, invading his pulmonary system already.

  “Felix,” my sister sobbed. She gripped his hand tightly, all while I watched unable to fix it for her as I always had. It made me furious, the idea that I’d spent my entire life fixing everything, even silly things that made no difference in the long run, but this one thing that meant more to her than anything—it was broken, and I couldn’t fix it. Or can I?

  I walked away for a moment, back to where I’d bitten the troll. If Carlos Ortega was right and troll blood was the cure for a troll bite... but the blood was gone. I looked around, searching everywhere, but there was not a drop to be found. I licked my lips, praying there was some drop of it I could smear onto his wound, but there was nothing. Perhaps I had not bitten the troll as hard as I thought I had? I sighed. It didn’t matter why there was no blood, only that there wasn’t and the troll was long gone. I returned to my sister’s side as Felix did all he could to make her feel better

  “Don’t cry for me, love. I’ll go the way I wanted to,” he said, but his voice grew more strained with each word.

  Heidi scoffed. “Even on your deathbed, all you think of is dying a hero.”

  Felix shook his head slightly and pulled Heidi closer so he could speak quietly. “No, dear friend. Dying in battle is my destiny, but not for the glory. To die for my friends...” he faded, then used the last of his strength to reach for Cecily’s cheek. His hand settled there, his thumb gently caressing her tears away. “To die for you... is my honor and my glory, my beloved princess.”

  “Felix...” Cecily choked.

  “I love you, my darling. It’s okay. Everything will be okay.”

  Cecily covered his hand with hers, leaning into his touch. The lump in my throat gave way to a sob that I tried to hide for my sister’s sake.

  “I love you, Felix,” she whispered.

  “I know, darling. I know.”

  He managed to muster enough strength to roll his head toward me. He slipped a dagger from his waistband and shoved it toward me. “This... use this... in her heart. Make it hurt, Princess.”

  His eyes fluttered closed. Just like that, he was gone.

  “No, Felix! Felix!” Cecily cried, but even as she cried his name over and over, mourning his death, a new life sprang forth in me.

  I, however, was not the only one moved to act. Heidi shed a few tears for her fallen friend, but once his eyes closed and he stopped breathing, the girl I knew, the one I’d come to respect and trust—she turned into a raving lunatic.

  She stood with anger in her eyes I’d never seen before. They flashed, deepening to a near-black shade before igniting with a heat that threatened to burn the forest to the ground. Beneath me, I felt the earth start to move. A small shake at first, but it grew until the trees surrounding us began to sway. She descended the hill and made her way north toward Goldene Stadt, leaving us behind. I looked at my sister, unsure what to do.

  “Go,” she said. “I’m fine, just stop her before she gets herself killed!”

  I shifted and ran after Heidi, feeling the ground crumble beneath me. It was hot, almost too hot to bear under my paws, and with each step, the terrain ch
anged. I heard the guards who were watching over Ely yell, then caught sight of them lifting Ely to move him to higher ground. I knew Heidi would never intentionally harm Ely or anyone on our side for that matter, but the woman cutting a path through the forest was not the Heidi I knew.

  Once I caught up to her, I circled around and stopped in her path, facing her. She shoved me from her way with a flick of her wrist, tossing me like nothing more than a stuffed toy. I fell on my side, whimpered a bit, then scrambled to my feet and returned to her. Again, she tossed me with little effort, never even touching me. There was no stopping her. She’d made up her mind. She was going for Ella, suicide mission or not.

  I had a crisis of conscience watching her. I knew Heidi—the sweet, rational Grimm—was no match for Cinderella. I also knew we could not possibly win a war against her alone, not yet, but getting help was impossible. It would be too late. Heidi would die before I could return with reinforcements. I could help her, but I was terrified. I knew, without doubt, we would lose.

  In the distance, I heard my sister crying over Felix still. Her soft cries fueled the anger in me again, and I remembered Felix’s last words to me. The dagger.

  I ran hard back to where I’d left my sister, slid to a stop beside Felix and snatched the dagger from the ground. Before Cecily could stop me, I pivoted and ran back toward Heidi with the blade in my mouth, praying I didn’t trip and fall right on it. Once I was near enough to Heidi, I slowed my pace and fell in beside her instead of trying to stop her. She paused momentarily to evaluate my presence, unsure if I was there to help or hinder her.

  I clenched the dagger tightly in my jaw and waited, eyes connected to the fire in hers. They were like smoldering coals, and I feared we may have lost her forever. What darkness had taken her to this extreme? Or was there a little of evil in every witch? Every person? Whatever it was, it made no difference. This was the version of Heidi that was bent on destroying Ella, so it was this version of her I would die beside if necessary. This is a suicide mission, Sierra! Stop!

  I growled lowly, forcing my thoughts from my mind. The troll attack was the first of many to come, and I could not go back to the castle without trying to stop Ella from killing everyone I loved.