Fable (Unfortunate Fairy Tales)

by Chanda Hahn

  Teague wasn’t amused. “You should be beheaded for trespassing. I still could have you killed, but instead I thought it would be fitting to try to be nice. The least you can do is not insult your host,” His words were soft-spoken, befitting his royal status, but every word dripped with his wrath.

  She could feel the full force of his ire, and her hands shook with trepidation. She picked up the dress, stockings, and slippers, and ducked behind the screen. By the time she was getting into the dress, she was no longer scared but furious. How dare he play with her like she was a pawn in a game. Does he not know that even a pawn can take down the queen? Thought after thought plagued Mina, and she was slowly building up enough anger that she could feel her body trembling, but this time it was with power. There was a full-length mirror behind the screen, and she could see herself in it. Her hair, a wet tangled mess, fell over one shoulder. Her skin looked pale, and her eyes burned with anger. The dress was frilly, stupid frilly and too long, and rubbed against her bandaged leg. The slippers were impractical, with silk on the soles. She was dressed up like a doll, and she felt like she was ten years old. It was then that she realized this wasn’t to help her but to make her feel demoralized, weak. And she wasn’t that. Never that.

  “Oh, for heaven’s sake. This dress and shoes have got to go,” she grumbled as she tried to brush out her hair. The power that had gathered around her flowed to her almost excitedly and answered her deepest desire. The dress shimmered and glowed, the long skirts shrinking away to become formfitting pants in a soft tan color. The top of the gown became a long-sleeved shirt of the palest white, and a brown belt appeared around her hips. She was doing it again, unconsciously controlling Fae magic. The slippers grew longer and ran up her calves until she was wearing knee-high boots. Even her hair had dried and was plaited in a braid over her shoulder.

  She smiled at her reflection and whispered, Thank you, to the unseen magic. She really needed to work at becoming more attuned to calling it, and feeling when it was near. Feeling confident, Mina walked around the screen, only to find Teague confused and speechless.

  “Wha…how? I didn’t give you those clothes.”

  “Yes, you did. I just changed them to suit my needs,” Mina quipped.

  “But how?” He stared at her in disbelief, and then his expression changed to one of joy. And not the happy joy, either. He turned, and she could see him become even more excited. “I knew you were the right one. I just knew.” He held out his arm and waited for her to join him. “Come, I think there is someone you are dying to meet.”

  Mina didn’t need any more prompting but hurried after Teague, afraid that he would change his mind and decide to not take her to Charlie.

  He didn’t. They walked through three different-colored corridors, a sky blue, a golden yellow, and a soft lavender, before they entered what appeared to be the north wing of the palace. The hall was a dismal gray, the colors on the tapestries faded and drab, and even the rugs looked neglected, as if this was the wing that life had forgotten. In a palace of sun and moon and light, this wing reeked of darkness and death.

  Teague came to a set of black double doors with a dead tree burned into the wood grain. Teague raised his right hand over a round metal sphere, and Mina knew it was another magical seal. A bright buzzing glow, a pop, and the sound of a lever clicking unlocked the seal. The doors opened inward, and they entered the room.

  It was dark, with a pale hint of the moons’ glow coming in through the glass ceiling. It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust. The room was as big as her high school auditorium; the walls were lined with tall pillars of white marble. In the middle of the room on a golden pedestal illuminated by the moon was a book. She didn’t need any explanation to know that this was the Fae’s book.

  It was large and old, and there was a resonant hum that seemed to be coming from the book, or maybe it was her imagination. As soon as she stepped into the room, the large double doors shut behind her, and a huge crossbeam slid into place, locking it. A faint purple glow appeared around the doors, and Mina knew that Teague had magically as well as physically sealed them in the room.

  Teague went right up to the Fae book and placed his hand on it lovingly. He closed his eyes, and his hair began to blow around the room. It looked like he had just become stronger from touching the book. There was a large stone fireplace at one end of the room, with two wooden throne-like chairs on the other. Another fountain trickled soothingly by a wall of large glass windows. It looked like the room at one time had been a ballroom.

  “So here it is, Mina. The book. I know about the Stiltskin’s backhanded deal with you to steal this book for your brother. But let me just tell you, stealing the book for him won’t complete the quest.”

  Mina barely listened to Teague’s monologue as she scanned the room. There in the corner she saw it. A golden cage.

  “Charlie!” she screamed, and ran to the prison. Charlie was cuddled up in the blankets just like in her dream, and he awoke to the sound of her voice. He flung off the blanket and reached his hands through the bars toward his sister.

  “Oh, Charlie, sweetie. I’m so sorry I didn’t protect you. I’ll get you out of here, I promise.” Mina’s hands touched his face, his head, and then his arms, checking to see if he was hurt.

  Charlie’s fingers dug deeply into Mina’s arms, and silent tears trickled down his cheeks. He pressed his little face against the bars to try to get as close to her as he could. Fresh tears poured down Mina’s face, but she ignored them.

  Mina stood up and went to the lock on the cage. It looked to be a mixture of a combination lock and a magical seal.

  “Unlock it…NOW.” Her voice left little room for argument.

  “I can’t. You haven’t finished your tale. You must defeat the Stiltskin to win back your brother.”

  “But I already have. I trapped the copper Stiltskin in the Grimoire. What more do you want?” she cried out, refusing to let go of her brother.

  Teague walked over to a hidden door in the wall and opened it. On the other side was Temple Stiltskin, and he looked furious. His boots clicked ominously as he walked into the middle of the room and glared at Mina.

  “You said you had nothing to do with Reid’s disappearance!” Temple roared, his hands flexing ominously by his sides. “You lied.”

  “Not on purpose. He attacked me, and I had to defend myself. I’m not even sure why he was there. I was already on a quest with you,” Mina said, trying to explain.

  Temple froze and turned to stare at Teague. “Did you send my youngest brother to fight a Grimm after I had already promised I would steal the boy for you? Why? I made the bargain—I said I would put together the quest for you. Why in all our worlds would you do something so underhanded?”

  It was obvious that even Temple was operating in an unhappy work environment. Something was falling apart between them, and it wasn’t the most beneficial relationship.

  Teague walked away from his beloved book and raised his hands in the air. “He was tired of being the youngest, the weakest. He wanted fame and glory, and came to me. He offered his services to me, and since our Grimm wasn’t in any hurry to try to save her brother, I thought I would give her a warning.”

  Temple raised his hands and let out a truly broken-hearted cry.

  Teague looked bored and began to tap his fingers together in impatience. “So Mina, here he is—your tale. Defeat him, and I will give you back what you have lost. Lose, and the curse will most definitely pass to him.”

  “NO! You can’t do that!” she spat at him, and stood up to face the Stiltskin, then had a moment’s hesitation.

  “Temple, now remember, it wasn’t I who killed your brother, but the girl. That is at least a parting gift I can give you.” Teague smiled wanly.

  Temple’s eyes were red from crying, but he turned to Mina with fury burning brightly in his eyes. “I will kill you for my brother!” He flung open his jacket and pulled forth a small vial. He opened it up and dropped
a small golden fang into the palm of his hand. He whispered something in the Fae language, and the fang grew longer and longer till it couldn’t be contained in his palm anymore. The tip of the fang reared its head, and a reptilian hood appeared around it. Mina could see two blood-red eyes staring at her as the fang morphed and continued to grow into a large golden cobra.

  “One of my pets would like to say hello,” Temple bragged.

  She sucked in her breath in fright and looked around the room for a weapon. Anything with which to fight off the cobra. The snake slithered along the ground, now as tall as a full-grown human and intent on making her its next victim. Teague had moved over to a large chair by the book and sat down in it, watching the forthcoming battle with interest. His fingers drummed along the armrest as if he was becoming impatient.

  Mina ran away from the middle of the room, and grabbed a large vase and threw it at the snake. It saw the attack and quickly moved out of the way of the vessel, which crashed and splintered along the marble floor. She ran toward the fireplace and grabbed the long fire poker, and spun around just as the cobra lunged at her.

  Her hand went up reflexively and she swung the poker, knocking the snake’s attack to the side. He had missed—barely. The cobra was angry and coiled himself protectively before he raised his head, which was as large as a Doberman, and swayed back and forth. His large hood opened in an attempt to intimidate her. It worked.

  Her hands shook, and she could feel the handle of the metal poker digging into her skin because of her deathly grip on it. The snake lunged at her again, and she stepped to the side and used the poker to stab furiously at the cobra. She did it—she stabbed the snake, but her aim was off and she missed the head. In retaliation, the snake whipped its tail around and knocked Mina’s only weapon across the floor.

  She watched as the poker skidded to a halt by a column. The snake was fast, faster than she had anticipated, and she didn’t have the help of the Grimoire or Jared. But it didn’t mean that she was completely defenseless. She glanced over at the book sitting behind Teague, and an idea began to form in her head. It was a stupid idea, but stupid ideas worked the best—well, at least for her, anyway.

  Mina turned and began to lead the snake back toward Teague. It followed. She began to run, and it took after her. She jumped up onto the podium, and as soon as she grabbed the book, two large strong hands grabbed her from behind and lifted her bodily into the air. It was Temple. She had temporarily forgotten about the Stiltskin. This fight wasn’t fair—it was two against one.

  Mina screamed as her legs flew into the air and couldn’t find purchase. Temple was stronger than he looked as he began to squeeze her body. She felt like candy, brittle between his arms. She choked and couldn’t catch her breath.

  Teague sat unmoving in his chair, not amused. He didn’t even seem surprised when she’d tried to make a play for the book. His fingers drummed across the armrest impatiently.

  “Help!” she tried to choke out, but the word died on her lips, and he squeezed again. A rattling noise reached her ears, and she felt her whole world freeze. Temple turned her toward the large man-sized snake and held her out like an offering. The snake slithered angrily toward her, blood dripping from its wound. It was twenty feet away, ten feet away, five—when a loud crackle and burst of light appeared.

  Everyone’s head whipped to the large double doors. Bright white light leaked through the cracks of the door as the magic seal was unlocked. There was still a huge crossbeam that physically locked the door, but whoever was on the other side wasn’t letting that stand in the way.

  A crashing boom rocked the room, and the chandeliers began to shake. Vases skittered a few inches off the tables. The crash came again and again, and the beam cracked in the smallest spot. Teague stood up in amazement and stared at the door. Temple refused to put her down, but even the snake had turned at the sound of the new threat.

  Crash! The doors blew off their iron hinges, and everyone had to duck as pieces of wood, metal, and doorframe flew every which way. The dust had barely cleared when Nix ran into the room. He looked deathly pale, and his hair was turning an odd brown shade. His green eyes had faded to an almost gray color, but that wasn’t what surprised her the most—it was who was on his heels.

  One of the largest giants Mina had ever seen lumbered through the broken doors, smashing what was left of them under his feet. He looked like one of the giants who’d been guarding the bridge, but she couldn’t be sure.

  “Mina!” Nix yelled, and ran toward her.

  The snake quickly turned back and rose up again to strike. This time he was closer to her, and Temple grabbed Mina’s forehead and pulled it roughly toward the ceiling, exposing her neck. She swallowed, and felt the snake’s eyes zero in on the soft skin of throat and her Adam’s apple. It hissed, and its jaw opened wide. Maybe she imagined it, but she thought she saw a drip of venom slide off its perfectly gold fang.

  She heard herself let out a little whimper, and she closed her eyes as it lunged forward. Something hard thudded against her, and she felt pain around her throat. She imagined it was the snake wrapping itself around her and biting her.

  A groan was heard behind her, and then she was falling, falling to the ground. She smacked the marble floor and rolled away. Mina opened her eyes to see that it was Nix who was now wrapped up in a battle for life or death with the cobra. He had something in his hand and he tried to use it to stab the snake, but it was knocked from his hand and skittered across the floor to land right in front of Mina.

  It was her knife. Temple was lying on the floor, bleeding, clutching his head where a large cut had appeared, a broken vase lying next to him. The large giant who had barreled through the door was now being flung across the room into the marble wall. Huge web-like cracks spiraled out of the marble in every direction.

  Teague had stood up and was laughing hysterically—finally enjoying the battle, it seemed. He looked pleased to have worthy opponents. Mina didn’t give the giant any other thought, but lunged for the glass knife and went to help Nix.

  She was almost there when she saw the snake rear its head back for a strike, and then he bit Nix in the shoulder. She heard him scream! It was the most awful heart-wrenching noise, and then she realized it wasn’t Nix who was screaming—she was!

  Mina leapt onto the snake’s back, and stabbed it over and over and over again. It didn’t matter; on the first strike, the snake began to writhe in pain as it slowly turned to gold. She dropped the shard of glass and quickly pulled Nix out of the snake’s grasp before he was stuck in a golden snake coffin.

  “Nix! Are you okay?” Mina cried out, using her hands to cover up the large nickel-sized holes in his shoulders.

  His skin was drying out, and his eyes looked almost white now. “I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. I’m sorry that I didn’t help save your brother. I’m sorry that I am a poor excuse for a nixie.”

  “You said so yourself that nixies are gentle creatures. I should never have asked you to help me on this quest. And now it’s all my fault that you are dying.”

  “I was always dying. Now I have done something brave before I died. I am happy.” His breathing slowed, and Mina tried to make him comfortable. Her heart was hurting so badly with guilt she was finding it hard to breathe.

  A large roar filled the air, and a table flew past her head. She screamed and covered Nix’s body with hers to protect him, and looked up in alarm. Charlie was wringing the bars of his cage frantically and pointing at the Stiltskin. Temple had finally gotten over his disorientation, because he was opening up his jacket and pulling something else out of his jacket. A golden feather.

  A screech echoed through the room, and the phoenix once again appeared, flying high in the air. Temple spun the feather in a circle around the room, and the phoenix flew the same path, creating a circle of fire that split the room in two, with Charlie on one side of the five-foot-tall flame and Mina on the other.

  It was just like her dream. Mina watched the
phoenix fly out of reach and sit on a tall crossbeam. She couldn’t help but feel sorry for the firebird, and then her heart constricted even more when she realized how little choice Stiltskin’s slaves had in the matter. The firebird and snake didn’t want to be slaves any more than she did. What in the world would a Stiltskin do if he had a Grimm as a slave?

  “Charlie!” Mina called out to him through the smoke and flame. She could barely see him through the wall of fire. She had to defeat the Stiltskin, and then she had to save her brother and find a way back to her own world.

  She grabbed the shard of glass and ran back to the Fae book. Teague had left the book unattended as he fought the giant. Her eyes looked for him in the room, and she realized that Teague as a Royal had morphed into a giant saber-tooth tiger and was slashing the giant across the chest with his large claws. The giant let out a long, painful roar, and she was distracted once again. There she stood in front of the Fae book and she had it in her hands, but she couldn’t pull herself away from the giant’s plight.

  The giant reached out and grabbed the saber-tooth by the back of the neck, and flung it across the room. The cat nimbly landed on his paws and then shape-shifted back into the young handsome Teague, who looked winded and had a smear of blood coming out of his mouth.

  “Very good, brother. I am impressed. You have gotten stronger, but you are not strong enough.”

  Brother? The word made Mina’s knees weak with relief. It couldn’t be—could it? He said he would never come. That he couldn’t come. She couldn’t help herself; she yelled out his name. “Jared!”

  The giant’s head turned to her, his eyes looking very human and every ounce Jared. He had one hand over a deep wound in his side, and he was slowly falling to his knees. She heard him call out her name—“Meehna!”—and then he fell forward onto the marble. But when he finally crashed into the ground, he was completely human and injured.

  Teague danced over to his brother’s body and kicked him in the stomach. Jared curled up into a ball, and then, slowly, ever so slowly, he got back up to his feet. His hair was tousled, his clothes torn, and even in his human form, the injuries translated into large slashes crisscrossed across his chest and face. And even though his brother taunted him, Jared never took his eyes off her.