by D A Rice
From the looks of things, it looked as if Grimhilde hadn’t bothered. She glanced over at him now, winking as if she could read his thoughts. He shook his head. The haunting song of Snow’s presence grew and Eason stood, glancing around them. “She’s here.”
Brie stirred beside him, rising slowly as the queen nodded. “Indeed. I was able to put up a sufficient barrier to block her out of your head; however, I am not sure how long it will last.”
“Then we will have to make it count,” Brie said, voice subdued and dripping with annoyance as she stood with her bow clutched in hand. She hadn’t let it go, not even when they’d run for the queen in the tunnels. The princess stepped up to the queen, who shifted her gaze to her daughter as she said in a low voice, “I thought I told you to wake me so that you could rest.”
The queen huffed out a laugh as the mirror chuckled below her. “I told you, my queen.” Will’s voice spoke softly.
“I thought it best we let the boy rest.” The queen nodded to Eason behind her. “It isn’t my strength we will need as much as it is his.”
“Which,” Brie seethed, “is why I told you to wake me up.”
The queen raised an eyebrow but said nothing as the song around them began to grow. Eason rubbed his temple and Grimhilde nodded, looking from him to the forest around them. “It is time. Eason, to the coffin.” She tossed the mirror and Eason scrambled to catch it before it hit the ground. Letting out a sigh of relief when it landed in his hands with a thump, he turned and launched himself at the open coffin.
“Thank you for not dropping me, boy,” Will spoke dryly as Eason nodded and stood in the middle of Snow’s resting place, feet spread wide, eyes narrowed, and Will cupped in his hands before him.
Brie and Grimhilde stood near the edge of the clearing, where the queen had set up her boundary. Brie’s bow was drawn, but aimed toward the forest floor. Snow stood on the other side as if conjured out of the shadows. She had a hand on a stag next to her; her dark eyes narrowed. Eason could see her porcelain skin, glowing in the light of the stars, and it took all the willpower he possessed not to march towards her. He could feel her knocking on the queen’s mental shield, and he could tell how much weaker it was from the last time she’d shielded him. She was right. It wouldn’t last long.
As soon as she was close enough, Grimhilde and Will would do whatever it was they had planned. Eason was to only listen to his instincts, and to the mirror in his hand. Brie still didn’t know about the sacrifice, but Eason had agreed to do whatever he had to, no matter the cost.
He could only hope that Brie wouldn’t hate him afterward.
“Steady boy, it’s about to get worse before it gets better, I’m afraid.” Will spoke quietly below him. Eason nodded, inhaling deep. When his eyes refocused, Grimhilde had stepped forward, hands clasped behind her back.
“Snow! How delightful to see you up and about!”
Snow narrowed her eyes as she smiled, her red lips visible even from where Eason stood. She bowed her head. “Stepmother. This is quite the trap you have planned for me.”
“And yet,” the queen tapped her lips with her finger, “to get what you seek, you must walk through it. How fitting.”
“You put a lot of faith in that boy’s mind,” Snow giggled, her eyes meeting Eason’s. “I almost had him a few times. It won’t take much more pressure.” As she said the words, Eason could feel her presence grow, pushing against the queen’s shield as if it would shatter it with only one more push. His hand came up as he bent forward with the pain of it, a groan escaping him.
Neither the princess nor the queen looked back, but Eason could see Brie flinch, even through his pain. Will spoke below him. “Breathe through it, Eason. It will be over soon.” Eason didn’t respond, minus clutching the mirror in a firmer grip, letting its edges cut into his skin. He focused on that.
Snow was giggling as she spoke to the queen, but Eason didn’t hear the exchange of words. Eason my love, she said in his mind, come to me. We belong together. I will be with you always. As she spoke in his mind she reached out a hand and both royals tensed, then the barrier around them broke into pieces. It was getting harder to push her out, and Eason found himself stepping forward, his mind turning hazy.
A sharp pain in his palm had him gasping as clarity rang through, clearing his brain of Snow’s intoxicating voice. He glanced down as the mirror’s face shimmered back into existence. “That’s better.” Will stated and Eason realized he’d walked halfway around the glass coffin that was now beside him. Eason shook his head and stepped back, shaking.
Snow snarled in front of him, and Eason realized Brie had shot her three times, backing up with each shot. Snow waved her hand, deflecting arrows. Grimhilde backed up with her daughter, both hands raised. Whatever she was doing, it wasn’t on a physical level, for he couldn’t see its effects. Snow stepped forward, face clearly annoyed, her focus solely on him. Eason took in the animals next, maneuvering in a freakishly organized fashion as they tried to take the two women down. He could see bodies littering the forest floor, precisely-aimed arrows protruding from them.
He gulped and took another step back. “How long was I out of it?”
“Just keep fighting her, boy. Nothing else in this moment matters. And when I say to throw me, do it without pause.”
“Did you shock me?!” Eason asked, as the pressure in his mind began to build again. He focused on Will, it was the only thing he could do, and the mirror was the only thing that mattered right now.
Will, for his part, sighed. “I’m a magic mirror, boy. Of course I shocked you.”
Eason furrowed his brow, before he saw Will smile at his own pun. Eason rolled his eyes, a smile touching his own lips. “Well-played.”
“Just helping you stay distracted, boy.”
Brie backed up to a side of the coffin, the last of her arrows shooting into the eye of a crow that was diving for her, when everything froze. The queen’s eyes opened as Snow halted in front of them, inches from the coffin base, a surprised look on her face. She laughed. “But this spell requires a sacrifice!”
Grimhilde nodded. “So it would seem.”
“But you are not nearly strong enough now, Stepmother. What will you do?” Snow’s cruel gaze snapped to Brie, who held back her look of surprise. Snow caught it anyway and giggled. “She didn’t tell you! Just like dear old dad. Will it be you, then, I wonder?” She glanced at Eason next. “We all know it can’t be him.”
“If that’s what it takes.” Brie growled low but the queen reached out a hand, placing it on her arm without breaking away from Snow’s challenging gaze. Grimhilde said nothing as Snow twitched from where she stood, as if stuck to the forest floor.
“This binding spell won’t work for long…” Snow glared at the queen, who only smiled.
“Oh, I know dear.” She turned away from her stepdaughter, holding out a hand.
“Throw me now, Eason. As hard as you can onto the coffin.” Will said, his voice confident.
“But you’ll shatter!” Eason whispered back in a panic.
“Don’t think, boy, just do what I say!” The mirror all but yelled back. Eason closed his eyes, pushing back the voice in his head as Snow opened her mouth to sing, her eyes wide in a panic. The first note got out just as Eason threw the mirror down and he froze, but the action was already done.
The queen grunted, power shooting out from her extended hand. The mirror exploded in a spray of glass, white light pouring out in all directions in a light so bright, everyone had to shield their eyes. When Eason opened his eyes again, he was on the ground with an arm over his head, but his mind was peaceful for the first time in months. When he glanced over the coffin, Snow had collapsed inside, a glittering mist hovering around the coffin as the lid slowly closed shut with a bang. Brie collapsed to her knees just outside the shimmering mist’s barrier, tears streaking down her face. The queen stood beside her, face solemn as a hand extended to her daughter’s shoulder in comfort.
&
nbsp; The mirror that was Will was gone.
Chapter 22
Eason stood on the palace steps, watching as Cylentra recovered from the blow Snow had dealt it. He could feel the pain in his heart from Will’s loss, and he knew that Brie needed space, so he stood alone. She hadn’t reacted much when her mother had explained why Eason had to be the one to throw the mirror, why Will had needed to be the one they sacrificed. She only nodded numbly, staying silent for the journey back to the city.
Once they’d entered, they’d found people wandering about as if lost, many confused as to what had happened. Many more had figured it out on their own and were devastated by the losses. The dwarves had moved into action, getting people busy. Brie had helped, beginning with seeing to the injured.
Fallon had found them quickly, stating he’d already organized what was left of his guards. They’d seen them on the wall upon entering, but Eason could see the fatigue beneath the guard’s eyes, as well as the slight limp from where the princess struck him. They’d fought like hell, and they’d lost. Behind Fallon’s steady gaze, Eason could tell he’d taken it hard. There was a mutual respect as they nodded at each other before going their separate ways. It was the guard’s only apology, and it was all Eason needed.
Brie was amongst the people still, helping the dwarves recover as much of the city as they could. The queen had gone inside instantly, stating she’d be back, and Eason had lost himself to the noise of the city. He inhaled the freedom his mind had, hating how much it cost. If he could exchange it for the devastation he’d brought these people, he knew he would in a heartbeat.
He’d helped Brie for awhile, but she’d eventually waved him away, telling him to get some rest. He suspected she’d needed the distance from him, and he understood why. She’d lost so much. Snow had given her her father, only to take him away again, and Will…
Eason’s eyes closed again as the pain washed over him, and the guilt. If he hadn’t come here; if Snow hadn’t called him, would they have lost so much? He didn’t know. All the queen had told him was that this new spell would last because of Will’s magic. His very presence was the barrier that held Snow in sleep now, and he’d protect Cylentra with what was left of his life. She’d said he wasn’t a conscious being anymore, more of a force of nature. She’d smiled as she stated, “perfect for him.”
Eason found his way to his room and collapsed on the bed, an arm covering his face. He still didn’t know how he’d get home, but at the moment, he didn’t care. Home was a distant planet to him after all that had happened. Could he even leave Brie? Would she want him to? He’d caused her so much pain. His eyes clenched shut as he let the tears fall, the palms of his hands attempting to stop the flow and failing.
A knock at the door jolted him, and he realized he must have fallen asleep, for it was afternoon when he sat up in bed. He slid forward, rubbing his eyes with a soft, “come in.”
The queen emerged, a book in her hands. She paused when she saw Eason, then sat beside him on his bed, her eyes sad. “I know what a toll this has taken on you. For that, I am sorry.”
Eason shook his head, his arms wrapping around his knees. “I’m fine. I worry about Brie, though.”
The queen waved the thought away. “Brielle will be fine. She is strong.” she glanced at Eason, a wry look in her eyes. “Besides, she really likes you. She does not blame you for Will’s choice.” She held out the book to him and he took it, recognition filling his face.
“This is…”
The queen nodded, “the book of Grimm. It took me some time this morning, but I was able to recover it from your world.”
Only then did Eason see how very tired the queen looked as she sagged over her knees a little, the grey that lined her hair, the wrinkles that had appeared out of nowhere. He nodded.
“It was the only thing I was able to recover. You are the only one who can cross barriers, and now you have the means to.”
“I can go home,” he whispered, brushing a hand over the apple on the cover.
The queen nodded. “Yes.”
The door opened a crack, causing both to look up in surprise. Brie stood there, arms crossed, face resigned as she nodded. “I expected you would have to leave soon.”
The queen rose, pacing to her daughter before resting a hand on Brie’s shoulder. She glanced back at Eason. “I shall leave you to your goodbyes, then. When you are ready, come find me.” With that, she left.
Brie moved into the room, sitting next to Eason with a sigh. She said nothing for a moment, and Eason offered her his palm. She glanced at it with a sad smile, taking it with her own.
“For what it’s worth, I’ll miss him too,” he whispered.
Brie squeezed his hand with her own. “And I will miss you.”
They met each other’s gaze, tears lining their eyes as they studied each other for a moment. Eason took a breath to speak, but Brie pulled him in for a kiss, then let go and stood. She glanced back at him once, opening her mouth as if to speak, but shut it instead, and left. Eason watched her go. He could see how much she was hurting, and he wished he could do more to help. Instead, he pulled the book to his chest and lay back across his bed.
The queen was right, it was time to go home. With a sigh, he stood. Fallon waited outside his door, and with a nod, the guard escorted him to the queen, who would teach him now to transport between worlds.
~
When he stepped out of the book, his only gateway home, it transformed into the Book of Grimm, causing Eason to smile in wonder. He opened the door to find Callie pacing his living room. She was as surprised to see him as he was to see her. He waved awkwardly before she speared him with a hug.
“Where the hell have you been for the last two days?”
“Days?” Eason laughed, his arms falling around her shoulders, book across her back.
She pulled away from him, an odd look in her eyes. “Yeah! I thought you were mad at me!”
Eason shook his head, before sitting on the couch, pulling her beside him. “No, I just…” he glanced at the table where he set the book by default. “I took a trip.”
“A trip.” she repeated, deadpan.
“Yeah, a month-long trip in two days.” He laughed again as Callie narrowed her eyes in concern.
“Right… whatever your taking, let’s hope tea can cure it.” she stood and moved to the kitchen. Eason leaned back in his couch. “Do tell me more.” She rummaged through his cupboards and he closed his eyes with a smirk.
He told the story to her as if it were a fairy tale, his eyes opening again halfway through as he eyed the book in front of him. By the time he was done, Callie was handing him a steaming cup of tea.
“Kind of a crazy book,” he finished, glad he’d had the days off that he’d missed from work. It took him a moment to remember his work schedule, but he found himself grateful for the boss he had. He smiled, taking a sip of the tea.
“The Book of Grimm has been around for centuries, Eason. You are not the first to have encountered it. But for you to travel worlds…”
Eason’s head turned to Callie, who was staring out into space, lost in a story. Time seemed to slow as the thoughts in his head thickened. He shook his head, the cup dropping from his hands.
“The… Book of Grimm… how did… how did you know…?” His head felt heavy as his world came crashing down. The tea… she put something in the tea… but why? He shook his head again, trying to stand, but falling onto the couch again.
Callie set her cup down on the table, her eyes turning to him. There was sadness there. “I should have known that was why she sent me to you. You’re a Grimm. I really wish I hadn’t known that. I really wish you hadn’t told me you were adopted.” She shook her head as darkness began to encroach on Eason’s consciousness.
“Callie… why?” he managed.
As his world went dark, the last thing he heard from her lips was: “I’m sorry, Eason. I truly am.”
To be continued in Rising Dawn.
; Acknowledgements
There are so many people we would like to thank! Once again we couldn’t have perfected this book without a ton of help! To our editor, Jenny, thank you for cleaning up punctuation! To our beta-reader, Yuki, without your input this book wouldn’t have turned out nearly as well as it did!
Last but not least, thank you to our wonderful readers! Without you, this book wouldn’t exist!