Fable (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale 3)

“Jared, I’m running out of time. Do you think the Stiltskin figured out I’m reneging on my deal? How long before he comes to collect me?”

“I don’t know, but he won’t get you without a fight. That you can count on.”

“So you’ve decided to help me save Charlie?”

“No, I told you. You have to forget him and worry about yourself. I was hoping the Godmothers would help you find a way to break the deal you made with the Stiltskin.” He reached for her hand and grabbed it, holding it firmly. His hand felt warm and strong, and sent shivers up her arm. “Mina, I’m doing things for you that I’ve never done for any other Grimm in history, and I don’t know why. It worries me, the choices I keep making, and Ever’s right. Maybe I am getting too involved, too close.”

Her body went cold at his words, and she ripped her hand out of his. “What do you mean, you’re getting too involved?”

He shrugged. “Look at us. The more I think about it, the more I realize I made a mistake.”

“You’re my Grimoire, for goodness’ sakes. You are supposed to help me finish the quests! I realize that you’re at odds with your family on this, but are you backing out now because of Ever? I realize that you have obligations and you can’t always tell me what’s going on, but I thought we’d gotten past that.”

“What you’re doing is committing suicide. You’ll be unprotected in a land of Fae. Who knows where you’ll appear there? It’s too dangerous. I won’t let you go there, even for Charlie.”

She stood there in the cold night air. “I’ll find a way to save him, Jared. Maybe Ever will help me.”

Jared snorted. “Yeah, right. As if she can find her way back home. She can’t even find her way to the nearest mall half the time.”

“Well, the Godmothers said I would have to wait until I complete more quests and grow stronger, or use her seam ripper.”

“You’re saying Ever has a seam ripper.”

“Yes,” Mina said slowly.

“When did you see Ever cross over? Think carefully, Mina.”

She was taken aback at the change in subject. “Last year she approached me when the Reaper had stolen the Grimoire and I didn’t know where you were. She used this tube thing, and drew a circle and disappeared.” Mina indicated with her fingers the size of the tube.

Jared was distracted and began to walk toward the parking lot. “It’s a seam ripper, and only a few of them exist. It cuts right through both planes to create a temporary gate, but they are dangerous. Only the strongest of Fae are able to travel back and forth at will, and they become weakened almost to the point of death. Which is why a wizard developed the seam rippers to create gates for the Royals and the ruling Fates. Wherever a gate has been ripped open, it is weakened for a certain amount of time—that’s how the lesser Fae get over here. But these…these are gifts given to a handful of people, and she was not one of them.”

He motioned for her to get on the bike. He started the motorcycle, and they were once again off into the night. Mina had no clue where Jared was taking her and was only slightly surprised when he pulled up to a small rundown motel. Jared flew off the bike, and stormed over to room number eight and pounded on the door. A few seconds later, Ever opened the door, wearing a cute gray dress, and smiled brightly at Jared…until she saw his expression. Then she cast an accusing look at Mina. Behind her, Mina could make out a sparsely decorated hotel room with a few books and a backpack on the bed.

Jared motioned with one finger for her to follow, and he walked briskly into Ever’s room. Mina followed, keeping her head down as she entered the pixie’s private domain. She felt terrible that the girl was sleeping in a motel. That was, until she closed the door and the glamour lifted. What once was a room with a single dirty bed with a broken lamp turned into a very large apartment filled with every plant imaginable. There were wide windows that gave the room a greenhouse effect. The dining room table and furniture were white, but the artwork and statues that decorated the home were filled with pixies.

Ever’s face was pale, her eyes wide with worry, but she was still spunky enough to throw Mina a perturbed look before following her into the living room.

It was obvious from the way Jared didn’t bother to look around the room that he had been there before.

“How could you, Ever?” Jared asked, his voice like ice.

“How could I what?” she snapped back.

“Why would you lie to me?”

“Do you know what he is talking about, Gimp, ’cause I sure don’t?”

Mina was uncomfortable under Ever’s scrutiny. She shrugged.

“This isn’t about her, Ever. This is between you and me,” Jared shot out.

She stood up, her eyes blazing. Her hair started to blow about her shoulders.

“No, it’s not. It’s always about her! There is no you and me—you’ve seen to that. Ever since she showed up, you don’t care about me anymore.”

“That’s not true. It’s complicated, and more so now that you can’t be trusted. What deal did you make with the Fates? What deal did you make with my mother?”