Forever (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale 5)

“How come you’re not evil? I thought nixies become evil after they change, or do you prefer to be called a sprite?”

“You just found out you’re Fae, and now you think you know everything.”

“No, I realize how little I actually know, which is why I’m asking questions—so I can learn. I’m friends with a nixie, and he was scared of turning.”

Taz’s eyes took on a faraway look. “Yes, I faced the same dilemma: lose my connection with water and die or start killing and feeding on others. But I found a way around it. I don’t have to kill and feed on lives; I can feed on fears. I lived quite happily for a while. I even grew close to the Fates. But after I couldn’t save their son, I was banished, and I came through the gate.

“Here on Alcatraz, there was enough fear, and there were enough deaths to sustain me. When the prison closed, I almost gave up and died, but I found the fear of the tourists can sustain me. I don’t go far because of the danger of becoming hungry and hurting someone. So when people need my help, they come to me.”

“I need your help.”

“No,” Taz snapped. She moved away from Mina.

“You don’t even know what I’m going to ask.”

“Yes I do. You want me to help you split the prince again, so you can be with the one called Jared.”

Mina could feel her cheeks heating up.

“Have you not been listening? I was banished because of you!”

“I fail to see how you being banished had anything to do with me.”

Taz turned her cat-like eyes on Mina, and her face took on a look of fury. “The Fates came to me for help, since I had succeeded in suppressing my dark nature. We hoped I could cast the dark, poisoned side of him into an object. They brought me his journal. How was I to know that the journal had once been torn in two, and its twin was on the human plane? That the one I held would mirror the other?”

“You never meant to split them,” Mina said aloud, feeling as if her heart was breaking.

“No, it was an accident. But a terrible one. The Fates let me take the blame for all of it. Prince Teague wasn’t as powerful without his other half, but I, still, had failed in my intent. I don’t plan on failing again, because I won’t try. I especially will not help you. I don’t want to be on the dark prince’s radar.”

“But you’ve helped so many other people… like my mother.”

“And I’ve gained the anger of all the sirens in the world. I’m done with you and your kin. Be thankful that I helped you on the dock. That is the one and only boon you will ever get from me.”

Mina’s hands shook in anger. “Then what am I to do?”

“You could kill him,” she said, as if it were nothing.

“That’s what everyone says,” Mina sighed irritably.

“Then why do you keep doubting yourself?”

“I don’t want to lose him.”

“If you don’t, you will lose so much more.” Taz spoke knowingly.

Mina’s heart broke, and she started to cry. The sea witch came near her and cooed softly. The emotions she’d been holding back for so long poured out easily—her grief, anger, frustration. How dare everyone think that Teague’s life didn’t matter? Killing him now would be like killing off a part of her soul. She just couldn’t do it.

She didn’t know how long she’d been crying, but she knew that Taz had sat next to her and wrapped her arm gently around her. She let Mina cry.

“It’s okay, my little Grimm Siren. It’s okay,” she said softly.

When Mina had cried herself out, she looked up and noticed a small tear in Taz Clara’s eye. The sea witch wiped at it gently and sniffed. “Those were some of the most powerful emotions I’ve fed on in a long time.”

Mina gasped, and Taz shook her head, tried to calm her down. “No, I didn’t pull them from you. I only took what you were willing to give up. With the emotions of a siren and a Grimm, I will not have to feed for a very, very long time.”

“Well, I’m sure that was worth something to you then,” Mina said indignantly. She shouldn’t have fed from her without asking.