by R. L. Weeks
‘This is for you, too,’ Lori said and handed Belle a box. Inside it was a dagger, around half a meter long. The handle was gold and blade silver. She handed her a scabbard to strap around her leg, to hold it in.
‘Thank you,’ was all Belle could manage. It was all seeming too real now.
‘James’s powers will show themselves soon I believe,’ Lori said.
‘I’m sure,’ Belle said and left the room.
Lori walked over to the mirror. ‘Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Who is the fairest of them all?’
The mirror warped into a face. ‘Snow White is the fairest in all the land, your Majesty.’
Lori screamed with frustration and walked into her room, where she pulled on her black top, red trousers, and riding boots, and stormed out of the house. She wore her hair in a braid and it bounced on her back as she jumped on a horse and rode it back to the castle. Lori knew that James’ powers would only come in if he was in danger, or someone he loved was. She realized after he kept trying and nothing happened that he just needed the right motivation.
***
‘Red,’ James said and hugged her. Her hair was a dark brown, but still lighter than Snow’s. She wore studded black boots, black trousers, with a bright red top. The most unique thing about her was her eyes. Coated with black lashes, slightly tinted red, were bright violet eyes that shone in the moonlight. Besides her was a wolf, staring at Snow and James hungrily.
‘I’m Snow,’ Snow said and looked down at the wolf nervously.
‘Red,’ Red replied and shook Snow’s hand firmly. Snow noticed that Red looked, well, cool. She had the whole “I’m a badass, and I don’t care what people think” look about her, and Snow kind of envied the fact that Red seemed to pull it off better than she did.
‘To what do I owe the pleasure of this late-night visit, James,’ she asked, cooing his name. Snow held her breath for a second and gritted her teeth.
James placed his hand on her arm and smiled the most charming smile. ‘Do I need an excuse to see one of my favorite girls?’
Snow coughed loudly. ‘Can we get down to businesses. We have important things to discuss.’
‘Of course,’ James said and held back a grin. ‘You know how we were talking about Stilt and Edward? Well, Snow would like for you to join us with our plan. She’s going to explain it all to you now.’
Red invited James and Snow into her tiny shack and Snow revealed every detail of their plan with Red until Red was on their side. They would all approach Lori, explaining their ‘motives’ after James had spoken to her first. They were all now making their moves in the game, not knowing who would end up winning.
CURSES
Stilt looked down at the hole in the garden he had recently dug and sighed. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he used his powers to lift the coffin into the air and lowered it into the hole. He threw a rose on top of it and filled the hole with dirt. He put the gravestone he had made into the ground and knelt in front of it. ‘I promise you, darling, I will avenge you. I will bring up our daughter, and I will make things right.’ His voice broke at the end and he stood up. Rage pulsated through him as the memory of Lori holding his wife’s heart floated unwantedly through his mind. ‘I’ll kill her.’
He felt a hand thump down on his shoulder and squeeze. ‘Beautiful send-off,’ Edward said.
Stilt didn’t look up. ‘I will not rest until Lori suffers as much as I have!’
Edward nodded, looking down at the headstone. ‘I know.’
Stilt sniffed and looked away from the grave. ‘We should leave for Northmanni.’
Edward felt the shell pulsate in his pocket. ‘Great…’
‘What?’ asked Stilt.
Edward huffed. ‘A message from Ursula.’
He showed Stilt the shell. On it, in ink, read I need that prince. Now. Throw him into the lake. He will be saved. That’s all you need to know.
Stilt raised an eyebrow. ‘Will he trust you?’
‘I’ve done trade deals with him in the past.’
Stilt grinned. ‘Well, what are we waiting for?’
***
Lori placed the apple into the cauldron. Green smoke hovered above the cauldron. She placed the apple sneakily into the kitchen. It sat on the apples in a basket that would be used to make a crumble pudding for the wedding. Since becoming engaged, Lori had gained access to every part of the castle, to Snow’s annoyance.
She had taken two more people’s beauty since then. Snow, however, was no longer the object of Lori’s beauty desires. No, she needed Snow to stay looking beautiful. She needed James to fall helplessly in love with her. So, when Snow takes a bite of the apple and falls into a death-like slumber, James will be forced to use his powers to awaken her. His powers will be active and then she can use him as a weapon.
She watched, with great annoyance, at Red. James seemed comfortable around her, they laughed, they joked. He approached her about Snow, Red, and some other men, joining the plan as they wanted rid of Stilt and Edward too. But, she couldn’t have Red on her side. She would cause a disruption between James and Snow. Snow could always be used as a weapon against James, and Lori needed that. She needed Snow to be her leverage.
***
It was midnight, and James was asleep on the sofa in front of the fire, holding his sword. Belle was in her room, reading. The light from the little oil lamp shone out from under her door. Lori vanished from inside her room and reappeared by Red’s shack. She peered through the window and noticed that no one was inside.
‘What do you want?’ Red said from behind Lori. She turned, and Red was holding a knife. Her pet wolf by her side.
‘Hello, dear.’
Red snarled. ‘Why are you here?’
‘Here,’ Lori said, handing Red a little vial of white potion. ‘I have given the other’s theirs too. It’s a protection potion. It will keep you from physical harm. I need to make sure you all stay safe throughout our plan.’
‘Why didn’t James and Snow come with you?’ she asked, hesitant to take the potion.
Lori pursed her lips. ‘They are if you don’t mind me saying, at the castle, cuddled up by the fire.’
Red smiled. ‘I hoped they would finally get together. I could feel the sparks between them.’
‘Yes. So, take this,’ Lori said, holding the vial out for Red to take. Hesitantly, she took the vial, popped out the cork, and drank it.
‘What no-’ Before she could finish her sentence, Red disappeared into a pile of dust then transformed into a wolf. Lori, with a wave of her hand, took Red’s voice.
‘Good luck telling anyone about this,’ Lori said to the wolf who was looking around sheepishly. Lori turned and cast the death curse on the other wolf that lunged at her. Before it reached Lori’s throat, it whimpered and fell to the ground. Red lunged at Lori, who whacked her against a tree. While Red was unconscious, Lori cast an entrapment spell, keeping Red only able to stay in the shack or the surrounding area by a mile. ‘Time to put my plan into action.’
Tomorrow she was to go to the castle to wed. Tomorrow, Snow would eat the apple. Tomorrow, everything would change.
DEATH
‘Today is the day,’ Snow said, grimly. ‘Today, Lori becomes my stepmother.’
‘She’ll be dead soon,’ James stated and shrugged.
‘She’d better be.’
James sat down and sighed. ‘I went to see Red. She’s gone, Snow. Only a wolf is there. Do you think she just up and left because of the danger?’
Snow shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I can send out spies to try and find out where she is, though.’
‘Please do,’ James replied. ‘She doesn’t seem like the type to just run.’
‘No,’ Snow admitted. ‘Guess not.’
‘She was courageous; she didn’t mind a bit of danger. I’m going to miss her. She made me laugh,’ James said.
Snow smiled in response then looked down at the floor. ‘I could make you laugh if I wanted too!’ Snow said
under her breath.
‘What?’ asked James.
‘Nothing.’ She hated to admit it, but in a way, she was glad Red had left. James had a soft spot for her. Not that she should care, even though she did.
James leaned in closer to Snow. ‘Have you briefed the dwarves? We will be meeting at Lori’s tomorrow. Lori will send the army once she is wed to invade Dolorom. We have weeks, if that, to prepare ourselves.’
‘I have and I know,’ Snow said and smiled sweetly. ‘I’m so sick of every conversation I have of late being about killing or secret meetings. I need to have some fun.’ She picked up some snow, wearing her leather gloves, and made a snowball, then threw it at James’ head. ‘That’s a ten out of ten, there. Right on the nose.’
James shook his head. ‘Nice effort, Princess. But, I’d give that a six out of ten. Maybe a seven for effort.’
‘Oh really?’ Snow said, rolling another snowball. ‘We shall see.’
***
Lori walked down the aisle wearing a beautiful, long, white lace dress. It dragged along behind her, and so did Snow, who looked grave as she begrudgingly made her way to the arch which was decorated with red and white roses. Everyone in the kingdom was there, waving flags, cheering for their new Queen.
Snow caught James’s eye, and he gave her a sympathetic look. The vows seemed insincere, and Snow swore she saw Lori gag a little as her grandfather kissed her. Finally, when the ceremony was over, Snow walked over to the food table.
‘Tasted already for you,’ said one of the servants who had been spelled. ‘Apple pie.’
‘Thank you,’ Snow said, taking the bowl. ‘James walked over and hugged her tightly.’
‘What was that for?’ Snow asked.
‘You needed it,’ he said. ‘Plus, I like hugging you,’ he admitted. Snow realized he no longer looked confident. If anything, he looked a little shy.
‘I like hugging you too,’ she admitted and took a bite of the apple pie.
He wrapped his arm around her stomach. He went rigid, not knowing how to react. He pulled her closer to him. She pressed against him and dropped the bowl of apple pie. She felt dizzy yet excited. She could smell his scent. This was a hug, nothing more, she tried to think. But, the way he looked at her said a thousand words. Things were no longer sarcastic or cute, it was physical. He brought his lips close to hers. She felt tingly. His beautiful scent consumed her as his lips almost brushed against hers.
Her head flopped back.
The garden and everyone in it started spinning around her until she was limp
‘Someone help!’ James shouted, holding her up.
Lori came running over. ‘Oh my, what happened?’ Lori asked, scooping up the rest of the pie. ‘I will get this checked.’
James felt devastated as he watched Snow being taken away. Later that day he was informed that she was not dead. Yet, she would not wake.
He crept into her chambers and felt his powers surge inside of him.
Clicked footsteps followed him. ‘You need to use your powers to wake her. Only you can. I have tried,’ Lori stated from behind him.
‘Did you do this to her?’ he shouted.
‘No, of course not! Why would I?’ Lori asked. He bit his tongue and walked over to Snow.
‘How can I wake her?’ He asked.
Lori smiled sweetly. ‘You must use your powers to draw whatever evil, spell, curse, or poison that is inside of her, out.’
‘You sure seem to know a lot about this,’ James said suspiciously. Lori didn’t answer, just nodded. James concentrated until his powers showed. Lori clapped with delight as she saw it. Yet, no matter how hard he tried, he could not wake Snow.
SLAIN
Grumpy pushed his food around his plate. ‘Where the bloody hell is she?’
‘Calm down, I’m sure she’s on her way,’ Happy said. ‘Cheer up. You’re always so grumpy.’
‘Well yeah, look at me!’
‘Everyone calm down,’ Sleepy said and yawned.
‘Yes, everyone please calm down,’ Lori said, who appeared by the door. ‘Snow’s taking a nap. She won’t be coming.’
‘How do you know-’ Grumpy started but Lori raised her hand and all the dwarves rose off the ground.
‘I know everything. Snow confided in Henry and he told me everything in exchange for Snow’s protection. He knew your plan would fail, and he was right. Did you really think you could all take me down?’ she cackled.
‘You ruined our lives,’ Sneezy shouted.
Lori rolled her eyes. ‘No, you ruined your lives. If you didn’t plot against me, then this wouldn’t have happened. You only have yourselves to blame.’
‘Wh-what are you going t-to do?’ Happy stammered.
‘This,’ Lori said and flicked her wrists. Their necks twisted. The sound of cracking filled the dungeon. They clutched at their throats, gasping for air. Lori swiftly moved her hand, and broke their necks. The dungeon was filled with floating dead dwarves. She took a deep breath. Slowly, each of them simultaneously, sieved into piles of dust.
She wiped her hands together then exited the dungeon. ‘Now, for the real work to begin.’ She saw the wand on the table and picked it up. ‘Oh. Thank you.’
URSULA
The undercurrent carried her to the shore. She found the rock she sat on every day and looked out onto the beach.
The beach that she could never stand on.
In front of the pebbly stretch were glorious fields, rich with corn. Some of them had crops so high that Ariel wondered what it would feel like to get lost in them.
Oh, what an adventure that would be.
‘Ariel,’ her sister’s voice hissed from behind her.
‘Hey Coral,’ Ariel said dreamily as she watched a man and woman holding hands as they walked merrily down the bay, smiling, laughing.
Oh, how would it feel to hold hands with another and walk in the sun? How would it feel to walk? She wondered.
‘Mother told me not to utter a word to you!’
‘A word,’ an eel hissed that slithered its way around her small stomach.
‘But they are watching you,’ her sister said.
‘Watching you,’ the eel repeated. Ariel batted the eel away with her tail and turned. Now taking more notice of her sister.
‘You are not my sister,’ Ariel said. ‘You look just like her. But you have more of a loneliness behind your eyes. The smell of corruption, deceit, and desperation follows you.’
‘I’ll get you one day!’ The Sea Witch cackled and turned back into her plump, ugly self. Her tail, unlike the others, was a mossy green. It felt the same as moss too. Her hair was like black seaweed clinging to a rock. Her eyes, which were barely visible due to the black bags hanging beneath them, were a putrid shade of green. The colour of jealousy. Her fingernails were more like talons and shells were embedded into one side of her face and her stomach. If you had to ask for Ariel's opinion, which you would get whether you wanted it or not; Ursula was a disgusting slime ball with a bad temper and jealous streak.
No matter how desperate Ariel was, and she was pretty desperate. Never, ever would she make a deal with the Sea Witch. Nope. Never.
‘Leave me alone,’ Ariel demanded.
‘You know,’ Ursula said, who was now side by side with her, stroking Ariel's hair longingly. ‘I have always wondered what it would be like to have magical hair. Beautiful red hair, like your mothers. Like yours. Like the others.’
‘My father said not to listen to a word you say,’ Ariel said, poking her finger onto Ursula’s large chest.
‘Your father is a liar! My family line is the legitimate heir to the throne. Your father took it from us,’ she spat.
Ariel laughed. ‘I don’t know that much about it. But, if I had to guess, I’d say that the legitimate heir to the throne would never have allowed someone to take their power from them. That shows weakness and our kind does not need weak leaders. Now go and wallow in your underwater cave, Witch, and stop bothering
me.’
Ursula snarled. She looked at Ariel, who was more vibrant than the others, with envy. She secretly liked the bubbly streak that she pretended to despise and felt sad if anything. Sad that she, the different one, the one with a green tail and black hair, was not befriended by the only other mermaid in the lake who felt like an outsider.
Everyone knew that Ariel wanted to be a human, and they’d say things like It is such a shame that she is so odd. Being a Princess was nothing but an annoyance to Ariel. Even though anyone else in the lake would do anything to be in her position.
Being a princess meant she found it more difficult to sneak off and look at the people as they went about their daily lives. It meant that she was expected to do princess things, like sing, like, all the time.
Ursula swam away with her pet eel and left her alone.
Ariel’s hair had grown back since she cut it to give to a woman, at her mother’s request. It now reached down to the top of her tail. ‘Ariel,’ a small little fish whispered. ‘Your father is waiting for you.’
‘Cullum. How are you?’ She asked with delight. She hadn’t seen her little friend all day. ‘I’ve been watching the people walk past. One woman was dancing as she walked. What a fun thing that must be to do.’
‘S-sounds great, Ariel. But, w-we really should go,’ Cullum stuttered. He was the smallest fish in the lake, by far. The size of one those little crockhoppers. Which were shoes. But Ariel had believed that crockhoppers were to wear on your hands. A dear friend of hers had informed her of that. Her friend was well travelled, so he must be right.
She had only seen humans who lived near the lake wear them on their feet. She giggled to herself, thinking about how odd those people must be, to wear crockhoppers on their feet. She decided that if she were ever to become human, then she would have to set them straight.
