Forever (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale 5)

She closed her eyes, and her hand glowed over the lock. A loud click followed, and the first manacle fell from his wrist.

Jared groaned in pain as some of his skin came off with the manacle, but he held out his left hand as she did the same to the second lock. This time, he clenched his teeth as she held the manacle still and carefully pulled it off, mindful of his wounds.

His breathing had quickened from the pain. She bit her lip and studied the raw and bloody wrists. He needed more than just bandages—he needed a hospital. She ran to the basement door and pulled on the handle, only to find a solid brick wall. They were trapped in the mirror. A reflection of the Grimm family basement. A brick room with no windows, and the only way out blocked by a brick wall. It was the perfect cell. Designed to withhold Teague. Of course there wouldn’t be an easy way out.

“Okay, this might hurt.” She spoke soothingly as she placed her hands above his wrists and concentrated on healing his hands. She watched her work with surprised satisfaction—his wrists glowed, and the skin started to heal. When she was done, she frowned. Terrible scars remained on his wrists.

“I don’t understand. I thought it would heal.”

Jared rubbed his wrists. “Nothing can fully heal iron wounds. I’d been bound for a long time. I’m lucky to be alive.” He turned his back on her once again as he sat on the cold stone floor.

“What are you doing?”

She’d freed him. He should be jumping for joy, thanking her, kissing her even. Instead, he sat back down.

He leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes like he was asleep. “I’m sitting,” he answered dryly. “It’s a bit cold, but I’m used to the cold.”

“No, why aren’t you trying to escape? I freed you. You should be thankful.”

He opened his eyes to slits. “Do you see a another door besides the one you tried? And thanks. You want me to say thanks. You came in here to my home—”

“Prison,” she interrupted.

“Prison,” he repeated. “With no clue what you’ve done or who you’re messing with.”

“I know exactly what I’ve done. I’ve come to save you.” Mina ground her teeth.

“I don’t need saving.”

“You don’t mean to stay here.” She gestured to the small room.

“This is where I belong.” He closed his eyes and leaned his head back.

Mina came to sit by him and touched his arm. “No, you don’t, Jared.”

He pulled his arm away from her. “I’m not Jared.

She tried to not let his words hurt her. She steeled her resolve and her voice. “Teague can’t imprison you any longer. I’ve trapped him in seven mirrors. Four of those are destroyed already. All I need to do is destroy the others, and we’ll win. Teague will be destroyed and…” She couldn’t finish.

“I’ll be destroyed as well,” he finished for her. “It’s why I have to stay here.”

“Well, I’m not leaving without you.”

“Fine by me. Enjoy your stay, although I have to say, the meals are few and far between, the beds are non-existent, and the company is horrible.” He flashed his teeth at her, then pulled his knees up and rested his head on his forearms.

“Jared…”

He groaned. “Girl, I swear. Stop calling me that cursed name. I am not this… this person.”

“Mina.”

“Whatever,” he rolled his shoulders and ignored her.

How could she convince him she was here to help? “Okay, well I meant it. I’m not leaving unless you come with me. I’ll use the seam ripper. We have to try to escape. You can’t give up hope.”

“Not going to happen.” He yawned and proceeded to stretch out on the cold floor, his back to her.

Mina sat down and pulled her knees up to her chin for warmth. She could wait him out. She was almost certain of it. She knew Jared could be stubborn, but she was going to have to show him that she was serious.