And neither were “They”. Since the first night he had accompanied them through the forest serving as an unseen form of protection. At first merely out of curiosity, and later an unwelcomed sense of duty had taken its place, so he had continued. Countless threats had been...discouraged.
Now the moon was filling the sky; none of them would be safe. For he would possibly be the biggest threat of all. He didn’t know what to do.
Out of the blue it came to him.
~~*~~
Although most witches, rouge fairies, goblins and the majority of card carrying sorcerers, etc prefer a rather solitary life, there is always some central meeting place. Heavily shrouded with enchantments, they are often missed entirely by those less accustomed to darker, denser magic, humans for example. These locations serve as a venue for potion, herb or spell exchanges as well as means to facilitate information. Consider them a black market for darker, less mainstream magic than one usually finds in Town Bazaars. One such location existed at the edge of the mountain range separating the Rylak Kingdom from Lonstas.
It was at this most secret and strategically placed location that a tall Soldier, bearing the crest of Rylak, and dressed entirely in black armour issued a Bounty Decree, the picture was of a dark haired human child; her name...was Snow White.
~~*~~
The werewolf and the vampire stared at each other silently, each feeling a similar distaste. Their people may be enjoying a time of peace, but that did not necessarily mean that they had any love for one another.
“And why would the well being of these human children be of any concern to me?” the vampire had lazily inquired.
It isn’t, he explained, but he would owe a debt of gratitude to the beautiful vampire, that could be called in at any time, should the proposal be accepted. Debts of gratitude between werewolves and vampires were very rare, and very powerful. This was mostly due to the fact that the two People tended to avoid close association with each other. So this oath would peak the vampire’s interest...a little; and then he stoked the vampire’s ego just a bit further by asking what could possibly stand a chance against a warrior vampire as powerful as himself?
“What indeed.” The vampire had agreed with a wide smile.
Eventually he’d began to lose his patience, for which the vampire regarded him with open amusement.
”Fine.” The vampire had finally decided. “I will do as you ask. For two nights, no more.”
~~*~~
The girls happily skipped over fallen logs on their way to Rapunzel’s tower that evening. The moon blazed full in the evening skies, its magical light illuminating the usually dismal forest extraordinarily. Stars shone and twinkled in the clear black sky alongside that rounded moon, all adding to the natural beauty surrounding them, creating the feeling that the forest was just teeming with life. In fact, the forest was more alive that evening. Much, much more alive than either of the girls realised.
With Cindy happily chattering about the latest tabloid gossip concerning Prince Leonardo, and Snow listening with rapt attention, neither one of the girls noticed the strange yellow eyes that had started to trail them through the forest.
If either of the girls had paid even just a little more attention to their surroundings, they would have noticed the strange silence that had settled over the area as well. Having traversed the forest many times under cover of darkness these past few weeks, the girls had acquired a misplaced sense of security with regards to the dark and mysterious forest. A mistake.
Had they still approached that forest with a certain, very sensible amount of apprehension, they would have sensed that something was very wrong, and that evening might have turned out very different indeed.
“I think I am excited for the season to begin, we actually stand a chance of meeting Prince Leonardo; do you think we will get a chance to dance with him?” Snow asked as she jumped off the next log back on to the path.
They had each created elaborate fantasies about dancing with their famously graceful and heroic prince. This would be Snow’s first ‘season’ in Turin, and Cindy had talked it up enormously, she couldn’t help but feel excited about the prospect of turning one of her favorite fantasies in to a reality.
Perhaps it was the magnificent moon glowing down from the sky, but Snow felt generous enough to want to share her good mood with her friend. “That means I will be needing a few new dresses...and some help picking them out you know.”
Silence. What?
“This would be the part where you jump for joy!” She pointed out, turning around immediately. Cindy had been begging to take Snow shopping for weeks now, a thought that made Snow groan, so the silence that followed her acceptance was completely inexplicable. Cindy was never, never silent when either of her favorite subjects came up, those being Prince Leonardo and fashion.
Snow was alarmed to realise that she was quite alone on the path. Cindy had disappeared quietly in to the night, it was then that Snow became aware of the complete silence surrounding her. No crickets, no twigs snapping, nothing to be heard; even Snow knew that a forest is never completely silent.
This could only be the work of an enchantment.
Looking around with apprehension, she also realised that the moon wasn’t shining nearly as bright as it had mere moments ago, in fact the entire area seemed rather hazy now. She immediately began to breathe shallowly, resisting the urge to scream for her friend and take in more of the enchanted air then necessary. Allowing herself only the bare minimum breath, Snow scanned the area slowly. The haze seemed only to extend a few feet in diameter, so she stepped off the path and out of the enchanted haze. Although her first hand knowledge of dealing with enchantments was positively nil, she did remember a few key points from her Magic Safety class in grade school. Now she would see if the tutor her father had paid so handsomely had been worth her salt. Carefully scrutinising the surrounding area, she made out a small clearing to her left.
She stopped just short of the clearing and peered through the bushes, hoping to take a breath. Finally allowing herself to fill her lungs with much needed oxygen, she took a moment to study the scene before her.
Cindy was apparently asleep at the opposite edge of the clearing, neatly tied up both at her hands and her feet. A tall, thin witch with long, tangled silver hair, bits of twigs and forest debris embedded deep within the tangles, stood over her small friend. The witch was wearing a long, flowing dark green gown, slowly she knelt down and began to build a fire. Snow was careful not to make a sound, but even so the witch turned her ageless face towards the bushes concealing Snow, revealing her beautiful yet strangely mad, yellow eyes.
“I see you are familiar with enchantments Miss White. I had hoped to make this easy for myself.” The yellow eyed witch snickered in her deep and raspy voice.
Crap on a cracker! Snow thought, stealing one of Cindy’s favorite expressions. The witch knew who she was! How? No one did! Nothing good could come from this! But leaving Cindy in the clutches of an obviously evil, and quite possibly mad witch was not an option, so she remained silent. How on earth would she get Cindy back from a witch? She had no skill with magic, and she wasn’t a good fighter, in fact she possessed no weapon to begin with. She began to creep around the clearing towards Cindy’s sleeping form, being careful to stay hidden within the cover of the bushes.
She had no plan.
The witch threw something in to the newly started fire and it instantly became brightly coloured flames, emitting a strangely pungent, dense smoke. These new flames burned brightly, reds, blues and green flames dancing in the night. Snow continued to crawl around the bushes to her sleeping friend, keeping low to the ground and tried not to inhale the enchanted smoke. The witch began to laugh madly to herself, holding her sides and swaying slightly. Murky tears of laughter made their way down her sharply angled face, and just when Snow had almost reached her friend, the witch stopped laughing.
“Do you think I would make it that easy for
you Miss White? Do you have any idea what they are offering for you? Your little friend is just for my own amusement, a free gift for all of my hard work. But you, you I can trade for prestige, power and riches! No Miss White, I am afraid you are coming with me.”
Suddenly the witch appeared right in front of Snow, her mad yellow eyes mere inches from Snow’s own large dark ones. She felt a growing sleepiness in her limbs as the pungently aromatic smoke from the fire made its way across the clearing, and began to fill her lungs. Damn. She tried not to breathe, but the damage was done. Fighting to keep her eyes open, Snow vowed to enroll in an after school Magical Defence course, should she miraculously live through this.
Deftly the witch tied Snow’s hands and feet before tossing her next to Cindy by the fire.
It was at that moment precisely that Snow lost all hope.
~~*~~
“Will someone explain to me why humans are such a pain?” A bored, yet melodic voice floated out from the dense forest. And just like that a bored looking, although stunningly beautiful Manuel stepped out from the trees.
At the sound of Manuel’s voice, Cindy and Snow abruptly awoke. Snow looked up sharply in disbelief, mouth agape; it was the rude vampire from a few weeks ago. What was he doing here, and more importantly, was he here as friend or foe? Considering the abruptness of their departure last time they met, Snow wasn’t so sure it was ‘friend’.
“Manuel.” The witch said with considerable dread, shrinking back from the vampire, who merely assumed a casual stance and began inspecting his nails.
“Drina darling, really. Is that any way to greet me? I trust you remember our last meeting, in detail.” A twitch of his perfect eyebrow revealed his mirth.
The witch paled in response. Manuel smiled broadly revealing deadly fangs; his eyes glowed brilliantly in the firelight.
“Now,” Manuel continued. “What could you possibly want with two naughty human children?”
Cindy poked Snow. “I really hate when he does that.” She whispered.
Snow rolled her eyes and shushed her. Manuel, although outwardly bored by this exchange, was practically oozing menace. For one thing, his fangs were still extended, his eyes glittered daringly and every muscle in his elegant body seemed poised for immediate action. Snow shivered, wondering once again whose side he was on. She hoped and prayed it was theirs.
“This one” The witch indicated Snow. “Has a price on her head.”
“Does she indeed. And the other?” He inquired casually.
Cindy clasped Snow’s hand so tightly she thought she might break it. Snow squeezed back tightly in reassurance as she carefully watched the exchange between the two night creatures. The witch had magic and enchantments on her side, but the vampire was a predator; he most likely ate witch for dinner. Somehow that thought didn’t make her feel any better. The witch tossed a disdainful look at Cindy.
“That one is of no importance, you may have her if you wish.” She offered. Manuel simply raised his eyebrows in acknowledgement.
“And then I shall take her. I find myself in a sporting mood this evening, and truthfully quite hungry.” He winked at the witch, who swallowed hard in return.
Quickly she untied Cindy and pushed her towards Manuel, who caught her up in one arm. Apparently satisfied with the deal, he turned as if to leave, but not before giving the writhing Cindy a long, dark look that dried her scream up before it even left her throat. She dangled helplessly under his arm.
He took two elegant steps; stopped and turned around.
“And I think I shall take the other as well.”
The witch backed up slowly, her eyes never leaving Manuel’s bottomless depths. Reaching down she roughly snatched Snow up off the ground and held her close, like a shield against any sudden movement on Manuel’s part.
He smiled his most beautiful smile, his eyes suddenly dancing with glee.
Edging away from the clearing with Snow she countered. “Now Manuel, we agreed that you would take the one and leave me be.”
Manuel looked puzzled. “Is that what we agreed too?” The light from the flames danced across his sculpted marble face.
The witch held Snow close in front of herself, still using her as a human shield. Snow slowly looked from the witch back to Manuel, Cindy dangled from his arm, her face a mask of fear. A tight feeling enveloped her stomach and she could barely breathe, she could feel the witch’s fear of the beautiful vampire...
“You said you would take her.” The witch replied slowly. Manuel made a gesture for her to continue. When the witch didn’t respond, he prompted her with another gesture.
“And then you said that you were in a sporting mood.” The witch finished in a halting whisper laced with dread. “And you were hungry.”
Manuel fairly beamed, and for some reason, a smile that would have appeared beautiful on his perfect face at any other time, seemed monstrous.
“And I am fair Drina, I am.” He whispered back, fangs extended and eyes glowing like embers.
With a sudden motion the witch threw Snow at Manuel, and ran as fast as she could in the opposite direction. Manuel effortlessly caught Snow with the other arm. He let go of both girls so Cindy could untie Snow. While Cindy worked at the knots, the vampire regarded Snow with more than his usual lack of interest.
“You are one creepy vampire. You know that?” Cindy said over her shoulder while she worked.
“Who is it that has placed a price on your head?” He finally asked Snow.
Snow looked away, unwilling to open up about her family issues. Her pain was her own. That, and the fact that she still didn’t know if she could count the fearsome vampire as friend or foe. She stayed silent.
“It’s probably her stepmother, she chased Snowy right out of Rylak a few months ago, and she sounds nuts enough to issue a bounty.” Cindy decided with a nod of her curly head.
Inwardly Snow groaned, unsure if this information offered up by Cindy was going to help them...or get them killed. Who knew if this vampire was in her stepmother’s employ, he certainly was scary enough. Cindy finally finished untying the knot and helped Snow to her feet.
Manuel pondered the information. “Your stepmother, what connection could she have to the Creatures of Darkness in this forest?”
Snow decided to answer him as simply and as honestly as she could. The damage was already done, and apparently he didn’t know who she was, meaning he couldn’t possibly work for Rosalyn, and if he did, how were they to stop him anyway. She took a deep breath, even saying this much bothered her; Snow had always been a private person, especially about the things that cut her the deepest.
“I believe she is a sorceress of great power back home in Rylak. She hates me, although I love her, she wants me dead. I don’t know why.” She shrugged trying to shake off the feelings of betrayal. Many, many feelings of betrayal and confusion.
Manuel sighed deeply. He looked up at the stars as if consulting their position.
“Come along. We have much to do this night.” He said wearily. “Humans are such a pain.”
“We didn’t ask you to take care of us you know.” Cindy huffed indignantly.
“That’s right...you didn’t.” Was all he said with a tight and pointed smile before taking each girl by the arm and fairly dragging them back in to the forest with him.
~~*~~
Perhaps she was named for the abundance of magnificent long, wavy red hair, hair that sprang up and back from her perfect forehead, a stunning contrast with her large navy blue eyes. Falling to the small of her back in shimmering waves, it swayed invitingly with every movement she made. Perhaps it was an old name that had been handed down the generations, or perhaps it was simply an apt nickname, but for whatever the reason, she was known as Red.
Red came from a wealthy, aristocratic family that rumour had, could trace their ancestry back to all the ruling families at one point or another. This put Red directly in contention as a possible bride for Prince Leonardo, or
his younger brother Prince Nickoli. Regardless of who she would eventually marry, it was expected that Red would marry well. Demanded that she marry well, as not only was she rich and aristocratic, she was also a great statuesque beauty.
Red’s parents, the Lord and Lady Adair had been grooming Red for a prestigious place within the Aristocracy since birth. Almost every moment of her life was carefully planned and structured.
Now Red’s grandmother on her father’s side was considered by to be somewhat of an eccentric, having built her home in the outskirts of The Lonesome Forest and all. Everyone had thought her time was up a few weeks ago as she had taken to her bed after a rather nasty fall; but Grandmother Adair was nothing if not resilient, and after a week of Red’s bedside book reading, not to mention the fresh biscuits baked especially for her by her daughter-in-law, and delivered courtesy of Red...she was up and ready to run again.
You see this accident, had served to create a bond between Red and her fun-loving grandmother, whom she affectionately referred to as “Granny”. Grandmother Adair had no use for the Aristocracy and all of the restrictions that were placed on members of this complicated social structure, she had renounced all ties years ago much to the chagrin of her son, who publically denied that she had done any such thing. So in these views she was somewhat ahead of her time as well. Red found all of this enormously refreshing and so twice a week she trudged up to “Granny’s” house with a basket of biscuits.
Granny was the only person who truly understood her.
The girls watched silently in the bushes crouching beside Manuel as Red hugged Granny Adair goodbye, adjusted the hood on her red traveling cloak and began her journey home. More than once Manuel tossed a furious look over his shoulder; apparently the girls weren’t nearly as quiet as he would have liked as they trailed the beautiful red head through the bushes. As soon as Red’s feet hit the main road back to Turin, he turned to them.
“Well don’t just stand there, perhaps you have nothing better to do this evening but I can assure you that I most definitely do. Now hurry, your friend is undoubtedly frantic with worry, having waited this long; how inconsiderate of you.”