Queen Of Snow: A Snow Queen Retelling (Fairytales Reimagined 01), page 11
Aria gasped. “My mirror!”
He stepped away, allowing her to stand protectively in front of it. “How did you get it?”
“I hired someone to get it from your hiding place,” he said with a shrug. “But what’s important is that it’s here. And moments away from being completed.” He handed the last shard to Aria, and she took it.
He raised his hands and took another step back. The extra distance eased her sudden tension. “You said I would be the one to help restore the happy endings…” she reminded him. “How could that be if I’m leaving to another world?”
“And what world is that?” he asked, more amused than curious.
“Well, the United Kingdom, of course. A place where everyone lives in peace.”
The old man laughed, and she frowned. “The point is…” she cut him off, annoyed. “I’m not staying. So, you’re gonna need to find someone else to clean up your mess.”
“The choice is certainly yours.”
“And I’ve already decided,” she said firmly. “There is nothing for me here.”
The man nodded. “Then go ahead,” he said, motioning toward the mirror. “Put in the last piece.”
Aria gulped, beads of sweat suddenly forming on her forehead. “I will. As soon as Jack comes back.”
“He’s not coming back.”
His words sent an icy chill down her spine, and she peered into his strangely calm eyes. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying…” He motioned to the mirror again. “Complete the mirror and see for yourself.”
Aria turned around and pushed the shard into the empty space in the center, then hovered her finger over the gaps, filling them with ice. Once the last shard was fused, the outer frame of the mirror began to glow a bright light, and Aria stepped back, covering her eyes from the blinding glare.
“Open your eyes,” the old man said, and she did. Though the golden frame was still glowing, it had dimmed slightly. She shifted her attention to the mirror. It was still cracked, merged only by her ice particles. Her reflection was slightly distorted, but she could still see her blue eyes and blonde hair as it cascaded over her injured shoulder.
“You know something else that’s special about this mirror?” he asked, coming to stand behind her. When she looked at his reflection, he had white hair. “If you just ask… it will show you.”
Aria’s stomach twisted as she thought about what he wanted her to ask. “Mirror…” Her voice shook. “Show me Jack.”
Her reflection vanished and Jack’s face appeared behind a set of iron bars, and she gasped. Two guards stood to the side, and she recognized their uniform. They were The Queen’s men.
The vision faded and the mirror returned to her reflection. “No!” She grabbed onto the outer frame with her eyes wide in panic. “Mirror. Show me Jack again!” When nothing happened, she demanded a third time.
“Shocking, isn’t it?” the old man said, and she turned to face him with the darkest glare she could muster.
“Why?” she asked through gritted teeth. “Why did you give him up to The Queen? The bounty on my head was worth a lot more than him.”
He took a seat on the bed then looked up to meet her eyes. “Why I did it is not important. The real question is… what are you going to do?”
Aria clenched her fists. “You know if I go through that cracked mirror, I will be stuck for seven years.”
“It appears you have an important choice to make.” He stood and took in a deep breath. “Will you run away and save yourself? Or will you finally face The Queen and save Jack?”
Jack
Jack woke up on a moldy old bed. A steady dripping in the distance echoed and the mildew aroma burned his nostrils. His head thumped and he sat up with a groan. Before he could take in his surroundings, an iron door swung open at the end of the dark hall with a squeal, and the sound of footsteps descended a set of stone steps to the side.
“Oh good. You’re awake.”
Jack shot up to his feet and sucked in the damp air through his teeth at the sight of a tall woman with fiery red hair appearing before him. A set of iron bars separated them, and even though the cell had only a little light peeking in through the cracks in the walls, Jack could not mistake the woman. Her long dress was made of fine silks, and a blue shawl draped over her broad shoulders. No one in this land looked so rich and powerful, and the pebble-sized jewels that adorned her fingers gleamed at him. Jack set his jaw and gave her an angry scowl.
The Queen.
“Where’s Aria?”
“Aria?” She seemed surprised. “That stinking old man had Aria, too?”
Hearing her mention his grandfather sent a chill down his spine, and Jack grabbed onto the bars. “What did you do to him, you evil queen?”
The Queen raised her perfectly shaped brows and smiled serenely as she looked at Jack like a cat toying with a ball of wool.
“I see I need no introduction. But honestly, darling, I much prefer Your Majesty.”
Fury raged like a storm within Jack as he glowered back at her. The woman flashed a Cheshire Cat grin, her teeth shining white in the darkness. The motion only increased Jack’s anger. Though it didn’t seem like she had gotten to Aria, he was still worried about his grandfather.
“You let me out, or I’ll––”
“You’ll what––throw a tantrum?” The Queen laughed in a high-pitched giggle that sent chills down Jack’s spine. She clearly didn’t see him as a threat. But she should, Jack thought. Once he worked out how to get out of the cell, he was going to… He couldn’t finish the thought. Jack wasn’t strong or powerful. He didn’t even belong in this world. The frustration unhinged his anger, and he growled as he slammed his fist against the iron bars with such ferocity that The Queen’s dropped.
Tiny snowflakes floated down from the damp ceiling and fell at their feet. The Queen’s eyes widened as she looked at them and held out a hand, watching the snowflakes fall and melt onto her skin.
“Interesting,” she said with a hum. She shook her head, as if to come out of a trance, and snapped her fingers. “You look like you could eat a horse. How about we get you cleaned up and we can talk over dinner?”
Jack stared blankly at The Queen as a guard stepped out from behind her with a set of keys jingling in his hands. The iron cell door clicked and swung open, sending a gust of chilly air.
“I look forward to our little chat. I do believe it will be rather illuminating.” The Queen gave him another grin before she picked up her skirts and walked out.
Jack was taken upstairs with a guard on each side. Their boots thudded against the stone floors, and Jack noticed they had been shined so much that he could see his own reflection. Huge tapestries lined the walls, picturing scenes of dragons and mountains. The sun had fully risen now, and its beams flooded the castle through tall windows. Jack squinted as they rounded a corner and he was pushed into a small room. A tin bath sat in the center of the room, filled with steaming water. And a pile of royal attire sat on a wooden stool to the side, and Jack wondered if it had belonged to George.
“We will take you to The Queen when you are dressed. And don’t go thinking about running. We’ll be standing outside the door.” One of the guards nudged Jack on the shoulder before closing the wooden door with a bang.
Dipping into a hot bath never felt so luxurious. Since he arrived in the Chanted Forest, he only had lakes to bathe in. Jack took a bar of soap and scrubbed every inch of his aching body and toweled off absent-mindedly. He was tired. Bone tired. Ever since he fell through the mirror, he couldn’t remember a time he had been able to slow down and relax.
But the relaxation was short-lived. As he dressed in royal attire and tucked his shirt in, a knock on the door made him jump.
“Do not keep The Queen waiting,” one of the guards barked through the door.
Jack combed his hair and rubbed the back of his neck with a sigh. It made sense for him to be thrown in a cell, but dinner with The Queen? To what did he owe this honor? His stomach knotted and he wondered how he could play this situation to his advantage. Could The Queen have been lying about not knowing where Aria was? After all, she wouldn’t give up on such a powerful weapon. And what about his grandfather? Had she any use for him at all? Or did she want to kill him just like Robin did?
He shook the thoughts away as he followed the guards down the hall. Now was not the time to dwell on such upsetting thoughts. He needed to be careful, alert, and on the lookout for every opportunity to get answers.
“My goodness, don’t you scrub up well?” The Queen sat at the head of a long oak table laden with all manner of food. “Please, take a seat and help yourself.”
Jack was starving and he was glad to have something other than stale bread. He silently ate a bit of everything. The sweetness of the berries was almost too rich for his palette. His stomach moaned with delight at the salty pork, and he downed the food with a cup of hot cocoa. Its velvety texture soothed his soul as he swallowed. The Queen did not eat, but merely watched in silence, an eerie smile plastered on her painted face.
“Try the apple pie. It’s quite delightful.”
Jack stopped, suddenly struck by a thought, and dropped his hands.
“It’s poisoned,” he said in horror. The Queen threw her head back and cackled.
“Good grief, why would I poison you?” She stroked her red hair and raised her chalice to her lips.
“Why would you bring me here? What use am I to you?” Jack asked, his blood turning cold. Something felt off, but he couldn’t put his finger on what.
“I have eyes and ears in all of the forest, and it sounds like you’ve been quite a busy bee,” the queen explained after she took a sip of her drink. “I was told that you have been running around with my princess.”
Jack balled his hands and set his jaw, but The Queen continued unaware.
“You evaded my guards, outsmarted an ogre, survived the wrath of Robin Hood, and you befriended a mermaid. Not to mention caused two ships to sink.”
Jack frowned. Why did The Queen make him sound so heroic?
“Tell me, Jack, how long have you known you had powers?”
The question threw him off guard. “What? I don’t have powers,” he said.
The Queen cocked a brow and raised her chalice—an elaborate golden goblet covered in ice crystals. Then she set it down. “I am told you know about the stories––the fairy tales, as I believe you call them. You know about the future.”
Jack shook his head. “It’s not like that. Everything is different.”
“Thanks to the Intruder, I know.” She nodded. “But that only tells me these stories can be rewritten.”
Jack clamped his hands over his knees and stared at her. “Why do you want to do that?”
“Jack, my darling. I want to offer you a role. A very special position here at my court.” The Queen rose to her feet and walked to him.
“What kind of position?”
“An advisor. I need you to tell me about these happy endings.”
She planted a hand on his shoulder, and he stiffened. “Well, I can’t tell for sure. There are a lot of evil queens in the old books.”
The Queen’s smile faded for a moment, but she grinned at him again as she gave his shoulder a squeeze. “Evil. Oh please, you make me sound like I’m a––”
“Cold-blooded murderer,” Jack said acidly as he gripped the table.
“Careful,” The Queen said, eyeing the wood as it turned into a block of ice. “If you want to hurt me, you should know that I have protection. Whoever kills me... dies.”
Jack stared and blinked at her, incredulously.
“Besides, I thought you didn’t mind. Seeing as you’ve chosen to spend all your time with a killer.” The Queen’s expression grew dark. “And soon I’m going to––”
“Don’t hurt Aria,” Jack blurted out. He sounded far too pleading, but just saying her name had his resolve breaking. He cleared his throat. “If you want to find your happy ending, you need to let her go. Not use her.”
The Queen laughed again, prompting Jack to recoil inwardly. “My happy ending? Is that what you think I want? Oh, Jack…”
“What do you want, then?” he asked.
“I want to know how they defeat me, so I can stop them.” Her smile grew even darker. “Well, I guess that would be my happy ending after all, now wouldn't it?”
“And why would I help you do that?”
She crouched down to sit eye-level with him and batted her lashes. “If you agree to be my advisor, I will stop burning down villages. And I’ll leave the ice princess to run around my kingdom in safety.”
“You’ll stop the killing? And leave Aria alone?” Jack asked, his stomach churning. He didn’t like how close The Queen’s face sat away from his own. “What about my grandfather? What did you do to him?”
“The old man is fine,” she assured him. “After all, he kept his end of the deal.”
“What deal?”
The Queen flashed an amused smile. “Why, to hand you over to me, of course. How do you think you ended up here?”
Jack stared at her with eyes unblinking. His grandfather had betrayed him. But why?
“So, what will it be Jack?” The Queen pressed, and Jack turned to meet her eyes.
“You’ll really leave Aria alone?”
“I promise not to touch a wisp of blonde hair on her pretty head,” she said simply, holding her hand over her heart. Jack chewed his lip in thought.
“Okay then.”
The Queen’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You mentioned Robin Hood before. I can tell you how he’s going to defeat King Richard,” he said, and The Queen looked like the cat who got the cream.
“Does this mean you accept my offer?” she asked, her eyes wide and hopeful.
Jack set his jaw and studied her for a moment. If this stopped anyone else from getting hurt, and gave Aria a chance at freedom, how could he not?
“Yes.” He sucked in a deep breath. “I’ll work for you.”
Aria
“Yes.” Aria watched Jack through the mirror. “I'll work for you.”
The vision vanished, and she grabbed onto the brass frame so hard, it turned to ice. “She’s going to use him as a weapon,” she whispered in disbelief. And how had Aria not noticed that Jack had powers?
“That was supposed to have been you,” the old man said from across the room, and Aria swung around with a sharp glare.
“It wasn't supposed to be either of us,” she spoke through gritted teeth. “How could you betray your own grandson?”
“I only did what had to be done––” A blast of ice hit his chest and threw him back. Before he could regain his balance, Aria had him pinned to the wall, ice traveling from her hands onto his body.
“If you kill me, it will alter Jack’s entire childhood,” he warned.
“A life without you in it?” She chuckled despite the anger boiling in her veins. “Now, that doesn’t sound so bad.”
“If I’m not there to raise him when his parents die, then he will be sent to a home away from the manor.” He locked his gray eyes with hers. “Away from the mirror. Which means he would never have come here.”
“You’re a cold-hearted monster,” she hissed.
He frowned. “Oh, you have no idea.”
She looked at him in confusion, then pressed a hand over his chest, sensing the temperature of his heart. Her eyes widened in surprise as she looked up at him again. “Your heart is frozen.”
He cocked his head. “What happened to my heart isn’t relevant right now. What matters now is Jack.”
Aria shook her head, her thoughts spinning. “That’s why you were so cold and distant to Jack growing up. Now it makes sense why he was raised without warmth and love.”
“The love is there,” he said firmly. “It’s just not clouded by emotions.”
Aria looked at his stone-cold expression. Even when he talked about love, he conveyed nothing. No emotion. She shook her head again then turned to look at the mirror for the thousandth time.
Though all she could see was her reflection, her mind was still stuck on the last image she’d seen of Jack. She had so much to apologize for. But most importantly, so much more to own up to.
She clenched her fists and glared at her own reflection. The girl staring back at her had been nothing but a coward. And now the kindest boy she’d ever known was taking her place under the claws of a monster.
“How does this work?” she asked, hating that she still needed the old man’s help. She’d never crossed through the mirror before, and she couldn’t afford to waste any more time. She needed to rescue Jack.
“Just think about where you want to go,” he said. “And hold your breath.”
Aria touched the mirror, and it began to glow as if reflecting a bright star. She sucked in a breath while images of Jack flooded her mind. The glass then turned into a thick, silver liquid, and she held her breath as she stepped inside.
Aria was deep underwater, and her injured shoulder stung as she swam to the surface.
Once she reached the top, she gasped for air. The Queen’s castle towered above her and she realized she was in the castle’s lake.
“Who’s there?” a guard called out from behind her. She whipped around, only to see her reflection on the icy wall. Her blonde hair glistened brightly in the sun, and there was no more hiding the princess.
Before the guard could say another word, she stretched out her hand and threw him back with a blast of ice. He dropped to the ground, unconscious. Her shoulder burned, and she bit back the pain caused by the surge of power that came out of her.
With her shoulder still injured, she swam to the edge with her good arm, then crawled out of the lake. She thought about hiding the guard by pushing him into the lake and let him drown, but then Jack’s disapproving look surfaced from the back of her mind and she rolled her eyes.
“Fine…” she grumbled to the Jack inside her head. “I'll try not to kill anyone.”
