Forever (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale 5)

Ever just laughed. “You don’t get it, do you? She’s the best chance we have, and she’ll probably have to face him in the end anyway.”

“Find another way,” he said.

“Okay, sheesh,” Ever replied. “But you’re kind of tying my hands. So our other option is that we can bring in Ferah to help us.”

“Anyone except for Ferah,” Mina added.

Ever made a sour face. “Yeah, well, I don’t really want her on my team. I’d rather eat nails than partner up with her, but you do have a point. We’ve only got one shot at this, and I think I have an idea.”

“What do you need us to do?” Nan jumped in. “We can help. I can—”

“No,” Mina interrupted harshly. “I need you to do something else for me.”

Brody’s posture stiffened, and it mirrored Mina’s defensive one. Would he interfere if he knew what she wanted, or would he help?

She sent Ever to gather the things she bought and asked Brody to pick up the sleeping bags from the living room. Nix was so preoccupied with banging around in the kitchen, he couldn’t possibly hear Mina.

Mina pulled Nan closer while they were still within the mirrors.

“You’re my best friend, right?”

“Duh, of course.”

“And you love Charlie, like he was your own brother.” It wasn’t a question. Mina knew the answer. No one doted on Charlie more than her best friend. Nan was the only person who truly got him and his unique personality and language. She’d even punched Savannah White for calling him a name and faced out-of-school suspension.

>Something loud slapped at the window, and Nix backed off.

“Leave them be,” Mina commanded. “We have work to do.”

Chapter 11

When the front door opened, and a red-faced Nan and a smiling Brody tried to sneak in, Ever pounced. She handed Brody a screwdriver.

“I need all of the bathroom mirrors taken down. You.” She pointed to Nan. “Tackle the hall mirror. Nix, bring every other mirror in the house to the kitchen.”

“Why?” Nan asked.

“Why must you ask why? Just trust me.” Ever made a face and rolled her eyes.

Nan started unhooking the hall mirror, and Brody headed to the downstairs bathroom.

Mina went to the upstairs storage room. It had been a while since she’d entered this room. As she flipped on the light, a tremor ran up her arms. She’d been sitting on that very settee with Jared when he almost kissed her. A blush ran up her cheeks at the memory.

The large portrait of her father no longer sat on the easel, but on the floor. Now a new canvas and portrait sat in its place. The subject was a young girl, sitting in the same high back chair that was in the front living room. The girl had a slightly heart-shaped face, dark brown eyes, a hint of rosy cheeks, and long brown hair. Even though the painting stopped just past her shoulders, and only the pencil outline showed the rest, it was obvious that some magic was creating her portrait, and her fear was slowly coming to realization. Yes, that image would one day hang in this house after she passed.

Somehow, the house knew her time was almost up and was painting her death portrait.

Mina yelled in frustration and knocked the canvas from the easel. She picked it up and kicked right through the center of the fabric, tearing it from the staples. She stepped through it, venting her anger on it until nothing was left but a broken frame, and she was spent, sitting on the floor, staring at the mess she had made.

“Sorry, house sprite, or whoever is doing this, but I’m not ready. So no more memorial portraits until after I’m dead, got that? At least wait another eight hours.” She spoke to the air, but she had a feeling that the magic house heard. “Now if you want to help me, you can show me where there are some mirrors.”

Nothing happened.

“Fine, be that way.” Mina began moving pictures and uncovering sheets from piles of boxes.

The curtain by the window moved. It could have been the air vents kicking on, but a sliver of moonlight fell through and pointed across the room to some boxes.

Mina checked that corner. Behind the boxes stood a large square mirror in an antique frame. She used part of the sheet to dust it off and then lifted it up carefully and carried it out. But not before saying a parting thanks.