She smiled back. “You’re very welcome. They’ll help you.”
“Help me?”
“To remember.” She winked. “To remember the man you once were. To remember the man you still are. Somewhere deep inside of you there’s a man that would move heaven and earth for the woman he loves. A man that would risk a kingdom for a single kiss. A man that’s worthy of that wonderful girl upstairs.”
“Okay.” This conversation was getting nuttier by the minute. “Goodbye, Adele. Thanks for the … chat.” Sarcasm dripped from his words, and he wondered if Adele had sense enough to even notice.
“Anytime, my boy. Anytime.”
He turned and walked out of the shop before she could say anything else. He was to the car before he realized something. She’d not called him Rush. She’d called him Rushton. That’s the same name that Elle called him a few weeks ago. Weird. He repeated the name a few times to see if it rang a bell. It didn’t. Maybe Elle was as crazy as her aunt. Now that was something he could believe.
Chapter Seventeen
Griselda
One tear of a swan, the venom of a serpent, and the saliva of a black toad. Griselda rubbed her gnarly hands together and leaned forward and muttered the ancient incantation that was long forgotten by most mortals. The stale air stirred around her, and she could feel the energy building. Her heart leapt in anticipation when the graphite stone started glowing—faintly at first until it turned an iridescent blue. Then the stone took on a translucent quality like smooth, polished silver. It was like looking into a pool of clear water. She stared back at her own hideous reflection—the sagging flesh, sunken eyes, rotten teeth, stooped shoulders—and even she couldn’t stop the shudder that slithered down her spine. She was a monstrous hag—one of the most loathsome creatures that ever walked the earth. Penniless and forced to subsist on whatever meager income she could scrape together. A slow burn started within her breast and continued until it permeated every cell of her body. It was a fury that she knew well—a fury that had kept her alive despite her miserable existence. Merek had done this to her. There was a time when her beauty was known throughout the land. The flame-haired maiden with the milky skin and pristine features. Her beauty had been her prize—her weapon, and she’d used it to snare an untold number of gallant knights, princes, and even a king. That is until Merek cursed her. She snarled. How she hated her older brother. He’d taken everything from her, and she was determined to make him pay. Merek and his self-righteous goodness. Merek and his precious Grimm Laws, always trying to restore the balance of goodness.
Their origin was of the stars. They were dual creatures made of something that wasn’t quite heaven and not quite earth. Their aging was slow compared to mortals—in the time a mortal aged a year, they aged only a day. Merek considered himself a guardian of mankind, and so had her brother Caleb. Together, they had crafted The Grimm Laws, those sacred laws that were supposed to bring justice and order to the land. At first, Griselda had been amused at Merek’s interest in the paltry lives of mortals. To her, mortals were playthings to be used for enjoyment and then discarded. Everything changed when Merek cursed her. She’d tried to fight back, and might’ve won had Caleb not jumped to Merek’s defense. In a display of utter stupidity, Caleb died trying to defend Merek. All of Caleb’s power was transferred to Merek, making him stronger than she ever thought possible. But Merek’s power couldn’t last forever. His foolish fancy with mortals would be his downfall. In fact, Merek’s downfall had already begun, and he didn’t even have sense enough to realize it. She laughed at the thought. Did he really think he could outsmart her? When she’d learned of his foolish plan to go to a new world, she’d set her plan in motion. She’d sent her own ambassador to the new world. Her strength was growing daily, and it would only be a matter of time before she too, could go to the other realm. For now, however, she could only catch a glimpse by peering into the looking stone. She clasped her claw-like hands around the stone that was now glowing white and looked into it. Her mouth twisted into a sneer when she saw Adele, standing in a room, talking to Wisteria. Wisteria had been her pupil—a puppet she could mold like clay. It irked her to think that Wisteria was temporarily out of her reach. Indignation raged in her bones as she looked and saw Cinderella, Rushton, Rapunzel, and Jack. She watched Adele spray Wisteria and command her to help with the band. She saw Adele talking to Rushton, trying to help him remember. Then she saw her give him the box of chocolate. She clawed the table, tearing deep, jagged marks into the wood.
“So the good witch is working her magic, is she? Well, we’ll see about that!” She hurled the stone across the room where it crashed against the wall. She flung open the door of her hovel and stepped out into the cold night air. She threw back her hood and let out a screeching howl that echoed through the trees. She raised her hands in the air and twirled. Blackness gathered around her and up she lifted, transforming into a massive dragon. Sleek scales the color of darkness. Teeth razor sharp. Fire hot enough to melt metal. She spread her wings, loving the raw power she wielded. Every life she consumed would make her stronger. Every gallant knight she snuffed off the earth would feed her fury, eventually making her unstoppable. She opened her mouth and breathed out fire. Since she couldn’t yet destroy Merek, an unsuspecting village would have to suffice. She looked upward into the midnight sky. Tonight, vengeance would be hers. Fear would rage strong in the hearts of the bravest of men, for tonight, she would fly.
* * *
Rush took off his shirt and tossed it in the corner. Even though he knew better, he walked over to the window and looked through the blinds at Elle’s roof. He halfway expected—hoped to see her out there, but she wasn’t. Her window was dark. No surprise as it was after midnight. She was probably asleep, just as he should be, but his mind was too cluttered to allow him any rest. He plopped down on the bed and closed his eyes. He kept thinking about how it felt to hold Elle in his arms. She’d wanted him to kiss her. Heck, she’d practically asked him to. And he should’ve done it. He was tired of trying to fight the attraction between them. If only he could get her to admit what he already knew—that they belonged together. He scowled thinking of Edward. It was always Edward. How could she think a guy like Edward could make her happy? Sure he was passably handsome and the quarterback, but there was no substance. On the surface he was a do-gooder, but he didn’t even have the guts to stand up for one of his team members. Last summer, that fateful day in the locker room when he’d gotten kicked off the football team, Rush had defended a smaller player that was being picked on by some bullies. Edward had been walking by at the time. Being the captain of the football team and the stand-up guy he supposedly was, Rush assumed that Edward would jump in and help, but he’d walked away, leaving Rush to face the bullies alone. For all Rush knew, it could’ve been Edward who planted the marijuana in his bag. Putting that sordid mess aside, the simple truth was that if Edward had truly made Elle happy then she wouldn’t have come knocking on his door in the first place. His mind went to the picture, hanging in the study. Why did Adele have a picture of Elle, dressed in ancient clothing? Standing in front of it, he could’ve sworn it was her, but thinking about it now, he assumed it must be a relative. But the girl looked exactly like her. And then there was the strange conversation he’d had with Adele, urging him to fight for Elle. What had she said? That he was the type of guy that would risk a kingdom for a single kiss? He chuckled. While he didn’t know anything about a kingdom that certainly sounded like something he would do.
He tried to pinpoint what it was that was bothering him. It was obvious that Adele was crazy. What did he care what a crazy woman said or did? He stopped. Bingo. He was starting to think that Adele did know what she was talking about, and that maybe she wasn’t so crazy after all. And then there was that weird connection that he had with the girl in the picture. It was like she was calling to him. He’d experienced déjà vu, like he could remember her wearing a gown and living in a castle … or something like that. At fi
rst, he assumed it was due to his relationship with Elle. Admittedly, that was part of it, but there was more. He sat up in bed. The chocolate. He’d been so frustrated with Elle that he’d forgotten all about it. He’d thrown the box down on his desk without giving it a second glance. He got up, retrieved it, and then sat back down on the bed. He opened the box. What was it that Adele had said? The chocolate would help him remember. It was an impressive assortment of chocolates, and they all looked very expensive. He shrugged. At the very least, it would taste good. He plopped a truffle into his mouth, savoring the smooth richness of the white chocolate. When it was gone, he put another into his mouth. He waited a minute to see if anything happened. Nothing. He laughed at his own foolishness and then placed the box on the floor beside his bed. He lay back down on the bed, welcoming the relaxing sensation that was sweeping over him. The last thing he remembered was how heavy his eyelids felt when he closed his eyes.
* * *
Rushton paused and held up his hand for Edward to halt.
“Is that it?”
Rushton placed a finger to his lips and nodded. As silently as they could, they padded their way through the tall grass and towards the thatched hut in the distance. They’d stolen out of the castle at dawn, using a secret passageway that Rushton didn’t know existed. Thankfully, Edward knew the layout of the castle inside out. A guard had recognized them as they approached the outer gate, so Edward gave him four silver pieces in exchange for his silence.
Rushton wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. They’d been walking through the forest all morning. The sun was still rising in the sky, so Rushton guessed it wasn’t quite midday, but it was getting close. His stomach rumbled, reminding him that he’d eaten only a crust of bread and some figs for the morning meal. He pushed the thoughts of hunger aside and tried to focus instead on the task at hand. It was imperative that Edward find a new distraction other than Cinderella. Ever since the tournament, he’d talked of little else. The sight of Cinderella in Edward’s arms at the victory tournament was nearly more than he could bear. To make matters worse, Edward had even suggested that perhaps it was unnecessary for them to visit the Sorceress Griselda because he’d already found Cinderella. “Nay, thou canst be swayed so easily by the first pretty maiden that crosses your path,” Rushton had told him. That’s when he decided that a trip to visit Griselda was vital.
When they approached the hut, Rushton looked back at Edward. “Let me do the talking, I prithee. We want to come out of this alive.”
Edward nodded, his face ashen.
* * *
Griselda sat by the boiling cauldron, listening to the exchange that was taking place between Rushton and Edward, just outside her door. With the help of one of her spells, her hearing had gotten keener with old age. A wicked smile spread over her face as she rubbed her withered hands together. Oh the trials and tribulations of young love! She smirked. She’d made Wisteria pay handsomely for this favor. Yes, indeed, and she wasn’t through with her yet.
A loud knock vibrated the door, and she placed a hood over her head before answering, “Enter.” The lads had to bend down to keep their heads from touching the top of the doorframe. Griselda saw the Prince first. His golden hair picked up the flecks of light of her small fire. And then there was Wisteria’s handsome son with the dark hair and high cheekbones. How like his mother he was with those brooding eyes and firm jaw. She smiled, revealing sunken gums with no teeth. Their suspicious eyes darted around the hut like scared mice.
The dark-haired one cleared his throat. “My name is Rushton, and this is ...”
She waved a hand in the air. “No need to introduce yourself to me. I know who ye are and why ye are here. Just give me the coins.” She held out her gnarly hand.
Rushton took a step back. “Not so fast. If you know why we’re here, then tell us his fortune, and we’ll give the coins to thee.” Edward stepped behind Rushton.
Her loud cackle vibrated through the room, and she gave him an appraising look. “Smart lad. Hmm, let’s see … ” She lifted a finger to her jaw and feigned thinking. She stared down into the cauldron. “Thou comest here in search of love.” A sickly green smoke started rising from the liquid. “Thy past is thorny. Ah, thy heart was once broken by a crafty, wily maiden.”
Edward gasped when the face of a young maiden appeared in the smoke.
Griselda giggled. “A maiden of bewitching beauty, no doubt, but alas … she was unworthy of thee.” She waved her arm through the smoke, and the face disappeared. “Thy parents sent her away.” She made a tsking sound with her tongue. “But a broken heart mends, and you seek another love.” She paused. “Ah, what is this?” Her claw-like nails tapped the cauldron. “A warning. King Aalexander is losing his grip on the kingdom. Outside forces threaten his peace, yea, the safety of the kingdom. He has forged an alliance with King Felipe. You are to marry the Princess Helsin.” The princess’s man-face sprang forth out of the smoke. Griselda let out a fiendish laugh. “No wonder ye risked beheading in order to seek my help. Alliances are not easily broken. In order for the King to change his mind about the Prince’s arranged marriage …” she turned and eyed Edward, “… the Prince must find true love.”
“But how is that possible?” Edward stepped forward out of the shadows.
The fire caught, sending flames shooting up around the cauldron, reflecting against Griselda. For a moment, her face transformed into a monster with fathomless black holes for a mouth and eyes. Rushton and Edward gasped at the sight, but in the blink of an eye, she regained her former image. “Why, Edward. ‘Tis simple, you will rescue your damsel in distress at the market place by the time the sun sets a day after a fort night. She will be thy true love.”
Edward looked doubtful. “How will I recognize her?” He motioned. “Canst thou conjure her in the smoke as thou didst the others?”
Griselda laughed. “We must leave something to the imagination, my Prince. She will be the only damsel that needs rescuing, and she will have a flower in her hair.” She paused and looked as if she might say more, but instead she shook her head and waved her hand in a dismissal. “That is all. You may go.”
Edward offered a low bow while Rushton emptied the coins from the pouch Edward had given him. “We thank thee for thy services,” Rushton said, motioning for Edward to start walking towards the door. “I trust that is enough compensation for thy trouble?”
“It will suffice,” she muttered, counting the coins. “Yes, indeed,” she repeated, thinking of the heap of coins Wisteria had already given her. Fools, they were. All fools. And so easily manipulated. Knowing that Merek had a vested interest in these two gave her a particular delight. Now she had only to sit back and watch as their pitiful lives unraveled at the seams.
Chapter Eighteen
Turning Over a New Leaf
As soon as the words left her mouth, Elle realized she’d made a serious mistake. The cheerleaders were looking at her like she had two heads, and Lynessa looked pleased. Not good. Not good at all.
Lynessa cocked her head, giving Elle a speculative look. “So you’re saying that we should do a triple-jump combination at the end of the routine, and then you want Brooke, Mindy, and Ashley to do an around-the-world?”
Elle looked at Rae, who had gone pale. Why did everyone keep second-guessing her? “Well, you have to admit, it would be a spectacular finish. We could at least try it and see what we think.”
Lynessa snorted. “Is this coming from the same captain that refused to do the ‘around-the-world-jump’ in our last competition because … let’s see if I can remember the exact phrase—‘a complicated move like that is light years beyond the ability of this squad. The way you cows are moving, you’ll be lucky if you can pull off a spread eagle, much less an around-the-world.’”
Elle’s heart began to pound. “I said that?” She looked at Rae who nodded slowly. Wow! Had she really been so horrible before the accident? No wonder all of these girls had it in for her.
Rae stepped
forward. “In Elle’s defense, our around-the-world’s were looking pitiful. Elle was just trying to choreograph a routine that would help us win.”
Lynessa began tapping her long fingernails on her arms. “Well, unfortunately, it didn’t help us win, did it Elle? We lost.”
They had? She couldn’t remember. Elle shook her head. It was time she took control of this squad. “Regardless of what I said or did in the past, I think we can do it.” She eyed the girls, pleading with them to give it a try—pleading with them to give her a chance.
“We can try it,” Rae urged.
Brook’s eyes went wide, and she tossed her long hair. “That’s easy for you to say, you’re not the one doing it.”
“Let’s just try it. What can it hurt?” This came from Ashley, the most agile jumper in the group.
“Fine.” Lynessa gave Elle a snarky smile. “It’s your funeral, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Good.” Elle clasped her hands together, ignoring Lynessa’s sarcastic remark. “Let’s take it from the triple combination. Five six ready go.” They made it through the first sequence without incident with Elle urging them on mentally, and then it happened. Mindy went up for the around-the-world and came down wrong on her ankle. She doubled over in pain.
Everyone gathered around her. “It’s my ankle, I’ve twisted it,” she moaned.
“I’ll get her some ice,” one of the girls said.
“I’ll go too,” another offered. They trotted off towards the field house.
Lynessa spun around and got up into Elle’s face. “This is all your fault!”
“My fault? It was an accident.” She looked down at Mindy, who was crying softly. “I’m so sorry.”
Banished: Book 1 of The Grimm Laws Page 19
