by Hahn, Chanda
Jared watched Mina’s face closely when he coaxed the tree limb to grow and change shape. He was pleased with himself when she didn’t run away in fright. He surprised himself when he used his power in front of her. Deep down he wanted to tell her what he was, to show her, but he wasn’t allowed to. But by using his gifts in front of her, he could bend the rules and give her clues. Jared blushed when her face lit up with wonder and delight. She looked him in the eyes, really looked at him as if peering into his soul, and seeing him for the first time.
Jared swallowed nervously and felt a sudden thundering in his ears and realized it was his heart beating frantically. He wanted her to see him for who he was and not be frightened. This was the first time he wanted a human to like him, usually he just annoyed them to pieces.
Her face filled with joy and Mina began to laugh. Jared smiled with her and laughed at her laughter. Her smile faded when she recognized the shape he was molding the branch into. It was a weapon. He could see the hint of doubt that began to appear on her face, followed by uncertainty towards him. She didn’t quite trust him. And she shouldn’t.
The beautiful moment passed as soon as Mina saw the shape of a wooden sword begin to form and she realized her mistake. She was miles from the nearest house, no one knew where she was and she was with a strange boy, who had powers and had just morphed a tree into a sword. Jared never told her exactly whose side he was on, and once the wooden blade came into view, she snapped out of her reverie and took a step back away from him.
Jared saw her fear and handed her the sword.
“What’s this for?” she asked already knowing the answer.
“It’s a weapon, dummy.”
“It looks more like a stick than a weapon,” she tried to make a joke but it felt stuck on her lips.
“Ha ha very funny.” Jared took off his shoes and stepped toward the water’s edge and motioned for Mina to do the same.
“Not happening,” Mina felt her blood turn cold just looking at the water.
“It’s either shoes or clothes,” he threatened. Mina jumped out of her shoes so fast; she stubbed her big toe on a tree root and had to waddle out to the lake bed like a wounded duck.
“Ouch, ouch, ouch!” she mumbled, shifting from foot to foot. When she reached the water’s edge, she turned and stared at him, rolling her eyes impatiently. Jared motioned for her to step deeper into the water.
Jared gave no warning and rushed Mina quickly. He stabbed at her with the sword and she jumped backward barely missing being gutted by the enchanted blade. He turned again and swept his foot out and caught her behind the knee and she fell backward into the water. Cold liquid burned her lungs as she inhaled the water. Mina flailed her arms and got on her knees and crawled to the edge and began coughing. She now knew why he wanted to practice in the water. If he had done the leg sweep on land, she would have hit the ground hard.
When she caught her breath, they started again. He taught her blocks, stabs, and even a few basic flipping moves. Obviously most of the time he was flipping her into the water, and she came up looking like a drowned duck. Finally Jared, let Mina use a hip throw and throw him into the lake. Mina screamed and ran around in circles with her hands in the air, chanting her name and doing a victory dance.
Jared grinned and waded out of the water and over to their shoes. Carefully he looked for dead and fallen tree limbs and made a fire, using a lighter. Mina felt a little disappointed that he couldn’t call up fire on the spot with magic. But she forgot all about her disappointment when the heat from the fire began to warm her soaked clothes and take the chill off. All Mina cared about was getting warm.
Jared sat next to her and began what would be a very enlightening lesson. “Now there are various Fae tale creatures that you will most definitely come across. You’ve already met one of the wolves.”
“Don’t you mean fairy tale people not creatures? What I saw was a man not a wolf,” Mina scoffed.
“Don’t let your eyes fool you. You only see what’s on this plane, not the next,” he warned.
“You mean there’s more than one?” she asked.
Jarred rolled his eyes at her question. “Of course, there is more than one plane. For instance there is the physical plane and spiritual plane. Where the physical and spiritual planes meet and the veil between the two is thinner, weaker and constantly moving exists the Fae plane. Which is where the Story itself resides and all of the Fae Tales originate. The two planes almost never converge, but when they do the merging of the spiritual and physical creates apexes or gates for the Fae to cross over. Over the years hundreds of Fae have crossed over and have run amok among the human world.”
“Do you mean like fairies and witches?” Mina asked.
“Your world drew them like moths to flame, and the Grimm Brother’s realized this. Somehow the brothers found a gate to the Fae plane and confronted the ruling Fae, or as some call them Fates and demanded that the Fae return to their own plane. Now all Fae love games more than anything and they take great pleasure in toying with humans like chess pieces. The older ones love to feed off human emotions and energy. It’s addicting to them, like the purest drug.
So they weren’t about to return to their own world easily. But the Fae also love stories. So a challenge was issued to the brothers: if they could complete a list of quests based on their favorite stories, then the Fae would be drawn back to their own world and the gate closed forever. If they didn’t, then the gate would stay open.
The brothers discussed at length what to do, for the quests were numerous. They couldn't possibly achieve all of them in their lifetime. So they agreed, on the condition that if they couldn't finish the quests then the next of their bloodline would be given a chance.”
“It sounds too easy.” Mina commented.
“It was of course, but the ruling Fates were crafty. Because what the brothers didn't know was that the quests would start over from the beginning if the Grimm chosen couldn't complete them.”
“But that's not fair! I shouldn’t have to be shouldered with the responsibility of their unfinished business. My family wouldn't be cursed if they were able to finish where the others left off. The gate could have been closed long ago and I would still have my father! I HATE this. I hate the Fae!” Mina let out a frustrated growl.
Jared's eyes darkened at her words and she looked at him and then pinched her lips closed in remorse. She still wasn't sure whose side Jared was on.
“Yes the Fae are crafty, they don't want the gates closed. It means their playground would be off limits and they couldn’t toy with the humans. So the Fae continually try to impede the Grimm’s progress. They learned to hide their essence between planes and appear human, normal, but if you were able to see onto the next plane you would see them for what they really are.”
“You mean I would see that Grey Tail isn’t human.”
Jared nodded. “Grey Tail is very much a Fae wolf and like all wolves, physical and Fae, they do run in packs.”
Mina shivered and rubbed her hands together over the fire. The thought of facing others like Grey Tail scared her. Swallowing, she tried to regain focus on what Jared was saying. The clue to beating the curse lay somewhere with him, she knew it. “So what about the Story; you, my mother, everyone keeps referring to the Story as if it’s a living breathing thing.”
“It wasn’t at first, but it is now,” Jared sighed and looked frustrated.
“I don’t understand?”
“Well, when the ruling Fates set forth the quests for Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, they kept a record of the tales on the Fae plane as their way to keep an eye on the brothers' progress. I told you the Fae love stories and they loved to read the completed tales the brothers finished. But anything that resides within the Fae plane for long periods of time, eventually gains power. And it did, it became self-aware, a Fae in its own right, known as the Story. It liked the attention it was receiving from the Fae, so the Story began to interfere on its own and set up the tales f
or the Grimm descendants as a way to gain more power.”
“It doesn’t sound real, this sounds made up.” Mina bit the inside of her cheek.
“Believe me, I know how unbelievable it is. Over the years the Story grew on its own. It became obsessed with recreating the Fae tales, even forcing the occupants to participate so it can grow more powerful.”
“And the ruling Fates don't care?”
“Hardly, the Fates became bored after the Grimm brothers passed on and cared little about their descendants, because no one was entertaining enough for them. But maybe if someone came close to breaking what you call the Grimm curse they would peak their head out of the throne room and look, but not likely.
“Did my father know all of this?” she asked.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because he didn’t ask for help.”
“And I did? When did I ask for help?
“In the alley, you called and you got me.”
“And you are?”
“Not important.” Jared turned his back on her.
Mina sighed knowing that if she didn't change the subject quick she would lose the flow of information she was receiving from Jared. “Then what is the Grimoire?”
Jared exhaled, he was getting anxious. He knew it was time to fill Mina in on everything. She wouldn’t have much of a chance at survival if he left her in the dark. He wanted to give her a fighting chance, something that her father and uncle didn’t have. He knew he needed to learn patience when explaining things to her. It was all very hard to swallow, but she seemed to be taking the news well.
“It was a token bestowed upon the brothers by a sprite. She didn't agree with the Fae running amok in the human world, so instead of impeding the brothers like so many other Fae, she became their ally. She stole the Story when it was new in power and split it, in an attempt to limit its power. She essentially made its doppelganger and gave it to the Grimm brothers as a guidebook. Only when you split a powerful object, the lines of good versus evil aren't separated equally, and there are always side effects.”
“Let me get this straight. So you are saying that the Grimoire is the like the Good Witch of the East, here on the human plane. Here to help me, and guide me. While the Story is the same Wicked Witch of the West, only more powerful and evil and essentially wants to kill me?”
“More or less, that about sums it up.”
“Yikes, I'm doomed!”
“I wouldn't say it wants to kill you. It wants you to complete the tales. Remember the more you complete, the stronger it becomes, I just don't think it wants you to complete all of them.”
“How do you know so much? Are you in league with the Story?” Mina meant it as a joke; but when Jared didn’t answer, she became worried. Maybe she had gotten too close to the truth. If only she knew.
After a few moments, Jared seemed to recover from the slight and had changed the subject. He got to his feet and changed the wooden sword into a small knife and began explaining different ways to hold the knife and how to use the forearm to block downward thrusts. He ran her through some exercises and then made her attack him.
“I can’t,” Mina whined.
“Yes you can.” Jared called to her.
“No, I don’t think I can anymore, I’m cold, tired and don’t want to hurt you.”
“Mina you have to, your life depends on it.” Jared was getting angry. Was this really the best Grimm candidate? Couldn't someone stronger have been chosen, if she was tired already? He was being punished.
“I told you I can’t.”
“Do it for your brother. Do it for Charlie!” He yelled. “Do it for your father!”
That is what made Mina step back and blink in surprise. How did he know so much about her father? Was this some sort of sick joke? Mina gripped the stupid stick and felt herself go tense in preparation to attack. He was lying to her; he knew more than he was telling.
“What do you know about my father?” Mina yelled angrily. Hot tears burning in her eyes.
“I know that he was full of himself. James didn’t think he needed help and wouldn’t take it when offered. He tried to face the Story on his own terms unprepared and paid the ultimate price for his stubbornness. And you are going to end up just like him if you don’t prepare yourself,” Jared called. He watched her body tense up like a tightly wound spring. He needed her to get angry if she was going to be able to fight off Grey Tale or any other of the wolf pack. She was too soft, too sweet natured to survive long in the tale. “You are weak, pathetic and are going to doom your mother to go into mourning not for one child but two.”
That was the final straw; Mina grabbed her wooden knife and jumped at Jared, trying to push him more than hit him.
Jared pushed her back easily until she stumbled in the sand. “Come on, you can do this, fight me.”
Mina hung her head in shame, her heart was pounding frantically and her chest felt as if it was going to explode outward from pain. She wanted to protect her family, her brother, but that one sentence from Jared had the opposite effect on her. She didn’t want to watch her mother suffer again. She watched her mother suffer the loss of her father, and couldn’t bear the thought of causing her mother to grieve the deaths of her two children. Her mother was right, they should leave. They should try and outrun the Story.
She tossed the enchanted knife as hard as she could into the lake and watched as it created spirals in the water after it disappeared into its dark depths. Mina wiped her eyes with the cuff of her jacket and walked away from Jared toward the road.
“Where are you going?” he asked. She had surprised him with the small scale attack but now she was being unpredictable. He wasn’t expecting her to give up. He was hoping to anger her enough to fight for her life.
“Away, far away.” Mina kept walking toward the main road, it seemed really far and her calves were burning from walking in the sand.
“You can’t escape the Story.” Jared called hoping to spur her back to fighting.
“No, I can’t. But I can run.”
Jared froze at her words; a feeling of dread overcame him. She can’t run, she was the chosen one. Running after her, Jared tried to grab her shoulder and turn her to look at him but she started pushing and hitting him.
“Go away. Don’t touch me!” Mina was crying hard. “You’ve brought me nothing but pain. I hate you.” She turned her face up to him in defiance her brown eyes sparkled with her tears. Jared’s sculpted jaw twitched with hidden anger.
Jared grasped her wrists to keep her from hitting him. He was struck by the raw emotion that rolled off of her in waves. He had hurt her deep. He wasn’t trying to reopen wounds, but he had. Jared swore to himself. She had quit struggling against him because he was too strong and was standing quietly looking out over the water, refusing to make eye contact. The tears were what did him in. When a soft tear fell on his hand he let go of her, as if her tear had burned him. In some ways it had. As soon as he released her wrists, Mina pulled away from him and marched toward the road.
Only a moment, that was all. In the blink of an eye she was gone. What were the chances that a familiar pick-up truck would come down the road? She had hailed an Asian couple in a green truck and hopped in the back.
He stood there stunned, angry at himself, angry at her, angry at the Story. She was going to die and he couldn't do anything to stop her.
Chapter 18
Mina went upstairs and decided to call Brody and apologize for not meeting him after school. But there was no need, because once she reached the top landing there was a beautiful present with a large red bow on top. Mina screamed with delight and Sara opened the door and laughed.
“It arrived a few hours ago. I couldn’t wait for you to see it.” Sara gently touched the bow and fingered a brown paper envelope. “There’s even a card for you Mina.”
Mina ran her fingers over the handle bars of the red fully restored vintage bike. It was the exact year as her other one but with
actual working breaks and a kickstand. She tore open the red card with her name printed in neat script across the front.
Mina,
Please forgive me for running out yesterday. I had a lot of my mind; Mostly you. Ever since you risked your life to save me, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you and I don’t want to.
I want to be more than friends, I want to be the one to rush in and save you time and time again, I want to be your Prince. Please accept this gift and go with me to the Enchanted Dance.
Yours forever,
Brody Carmichael
P.S. Please say you will go.
P.P.S. If you don’t say yes, you can still keep the bike.
P.P.P.S. Say YES!
Attached was also Brody’s phone number. Mina jumped up and down in excitement and showed her mother the note. She rushed inside and grabbed the cordless phone from its hanger by the fridge. Her fingers were shaking so bad, she had to redial the number twice.
When Brody’s deep voice answered the phone, Mina almost lost her nerve and couldn’t speak for a moment. Brody must have sensed it was Mina on the phone. “Mina is that you?”
“Yes, it’s me.” She smacked her head wishing she could have thought of something better to have said.
“I missed you after school. Is everything okay?” She could detect the hint of worry in his voice.
“Yes, it’s fine. I’m sorry, it was um... family business that kept me from meeting you, but don’t worry. I wasn’t in any danger.”