Snow's Lament (14 page)

“You said
should
.” I studied her profile and again noticed how thin she was. Either Maleficent had the metabolism of a squirrel or something was eating away at her.

“Yes. Should, because it’s no longer just us.” A frown marred her features. “Rumple is now involved. I don’t trust him.”

I blew out a breath. “No one trusts him. But what choice do we have?”

She shrugged. “None. The magic on the charm looks steady. If he’s going to betray us, it will most likely be in another way.”

I fingered the two stones in my pocket. They sat there, no discernible signs of magic, cool and inert. “You think the glamour will wear off early?”

Maleficent sighed. “I can’t tell. The spell seems strong. I wouldn’t think so. But something…” she paused, “something isn’t right. He never just
helps
.”

She stood abruptly. “It’s not in his nature.”

I stood with her, wiping the dampness off my pants. “I agree.” Although, something inside me registered doubt. I wondered if this had something to do with making up with Cyndi. Since she was no longer bound by his contract, Rumple was no longer entitled to have her. And Cyndi wasn’t the kind of person who could be bought. She had to be wooed.

Rumple didn’t seem much like a wooer. I mulled this thought over as I walked over to where Cyndi and Belle stood. Robin leaned against a tree close to them, his eyes hungry on Belle. Even staring at her right now was a dangerous proposition. I knew that angry, mutinous expression, and it didn’t bode well for the object of her anger. My footsteps slowed. Which could be me, if she thought I was doing the two-humped whale with Robin.

Hopefully, it was Robin.

I blew out a breath and continued toward her. We had to get going. I stopped in front of them and immediately blurted out, “There’s no way in hell I’m sleeping with Robin. He’s not my type and I love you too much. Sometimes he smells, and I much prefer raging psychopaths to gentlemen.”

Cyndi snorted with laughter. A slow grin broke out over Belle’s face and she pulled me against her. “I know, idiot,” she whispered in my ear. “I’m just pissed at Robin. He always has to do shit that riles me up.”

I hugged her back with a fierce intensity. “He’s a man. I think it’s embedded in their DNA.”

She released me and studied me. Her perceptive gaze did not miss the sunken hollows underneath my eyes or the redness on my face. “Are you ready?”

I nodded. “Let’s get this over with.”

Maleficent drew her staff and leaned against it as she detailed the plans. Robin and I would be the only ones to enter the castle. We were the most trained in subterfuge and battle, and I had the best relationship with Giles. I hoped if anyone could convince him to act as a double agent, it was me. He’d already done us one huge solid before, and I hoped his goodwill toward us still held up. I would find Giles, convince him to join our side, and provide him with the magic dampening stone so he could override Naomi’s will.

When Maleficent addressed Rumple’s role, Cyndi’s face fell. “Why him?”

Maleficent’s gaze missed nothing. “Because we need him. It’s our only choice.”

“There’s always another choice.” Her lips thinned as she voiced the thought we all had. “He will betray us.”

“Most likely,” Maleficent said grimly.

Robin took his time sauntering over to us. “You and me, together again, eh, darling?” He winked at me.

“Perhaps we can keep you from almost dying this time.” I wasn’t looking forward to a repeat of what had happened last time.

He winced in mock embarrassment. “On my tombstone you, can write, Robin Hood: the man who died for love. Or sex. Or whatever.”

Maleficent couldn’t hide her grin. “Some angry husband is going to stab you in the back one day and push your bloody body into the river.”

Robin laughed with merriment. “Saves you the cost of a tombstone then, eh?”

“You’re terrible,” I said, but laughed anyway. “Try not to get stabbed, shot, or electrocuted, and I’ll do the same. Deal?”

“Sounds fair to me.” Robin pulled the pack of arrows off his back to check his supply. I knew I had a full clip in my Sig and two more hidden in various parts of my body. My hair was still pinned up with the hairsticks doubling as knives, plus I still had the blinding powder. Maleficent looked ready to go in her feathery war robes, which sounded really girly, but was bad ass in person. She looked like Goddess Morrigan standing there with her amethyst tipped staff. Belle looked a little worse for wear, but who was I kidding? She didn’t need any weapons because she
was
a weapon, just by virtue of her birth. Plus, she was smart as hell, so I knew even if she didn’t have the proper training to control her powers, she’d figure something out if I got into a tight spot.

And Cyndi…she looked like a perky cheerleader—all big boobs and bright blue eyes. But, I couldn’t discount her powers. Mysterious as they were. She would stay behind with everyone else, but something about her was bothering me. I didn’t think her part in this saga was done, and I thought it could have something to do with Rumple. I just couldn’t prove it.

Lucky me. One step behind as always, and we were going in with the bare bones of a plan and some possibly faulty magic. Go team!

The castle loomed ahead in the distance, imposing and oppressive in the moonlight. Although the sun never came out during the day except in small slivers against the clouds, Naomi seemed to never have trouble with the moon, and now that we were inside the town, and the hour was later, moonlight illuminated the wooden buildings and structures of the small village. I could only guess it had to do with the magic coursing through her veins. Feminine magic was tied to the moon, but I knew very little about it.

It was about a mile walk to her castle—
my
castle—so we would reach it within a matter of minutes. It gave us enough time to adjust anything we needed to, not that our plan was overly detailed or anything.

Maleficent gestured us forward and we fell in behind her, silent. It was time to make a stand—hopefully a successful one. There was no more time to worry about what might have been. I had to somehow shut her down and take away her power. While at first I’d been against killing Naomi, the events of the last several days had me reconsidering that idea. Quite often.

A heart-stopping thought occurred to me. Cyndi had broken Rumple’s contract, but I still had the curse Rumple had given me so long ago. With the events surrounding Max, I’d completely forgotten about it. I sped my steps to catch up with Maleficent and reached for her arm.

“The curse,” I murmured under my breath to her, “I still have it.”

She tilted her head to me. “I wondered what happened to it. I never felt the magic, so I assumed you’d either lost it or hadn’t used it yet.”

“Is it still effective?”

A confused look crossed her face. “Why ever wouldn’t it be?”

I reminded her that Cyndi had broken the contract and wondered if the curse would be inert when I tried to use it.

Maleficent grinned. “You have a lot to learn about magic, dear one. Cyndi broke the curse using intellect and cunning. The curse was a pawn in that game. It is still effective.” She chuckled under her breath. “You should have the warm fuzzies. It’s not every day someone escapes free and clear from one of Rumple’s contracts and still gets to take advantage of his magic.”

“I bet he was hoping I’d forget about it.”

Maleficent stared into the distance. “You can bet he was biding his time in order to steal it back.” She stopped suddenly. “You do still have it, correct?”

I nodded. I rarely let loose of the pack around my waist, but opened it anyway to see the buckskin wrapped bottle. I pulled the pack open wider. “Right here.”

She clucked her tongue. “Never let that pack out of your sight, friend.”

I closed it, but rested my hand upon it. “Duly noted.” While Maleficent was only trying to be cautious, I was going to be paranoid from now until I was able to use it. I had this persistent itchy feeling between my shoulder blades that something was going to go horribly wrong.

Silence fell over the party as we inched our way toward the castle. It was almost here—almost time to end this and hopefully get rid of Naomi while we were at it. My thoughts drifted to Max and the hollowness in my chest expanded. I had the slightest hope he was still alive. If it were possible, it was possible in a land filled with magic. I couldn’t imagine he’d be terribly happy with me, though. How do you recover a relationship after a loved one shoots you in the head?

I snorted quietly. Maybe Max wasn’t the only psychopath in this relationship. The hum of murmured voices toward the back had me craning my head. Moonlight illuminated Belle and Robin walking together, their heads close in shared conversation. Based upon the stiffness of their posture, it didn’t seem like it was going too well. But that was par for the course for those two. They would have their day soon enough.

Cyndi walked behind me, her head down, seemingly lost in her thoughts. She’d broken the contract with Rumple, but I wasn’t sure if she was happy about it. I’m sure she was in some ways happy. It’s no one’s dream to be captive to a psycho sorcerer, but there was an undeniable, strange chemistry lurking between them I was concerned about.

I blew out a breath and kept walking. They were adults. As long as they kept their heads on straight, especially for the next few hours, it was none of my business. Whatsoever.

Since Naomi’s magic permeated the land, there was little noise. No woodland creatures rustling through the forest floors, few birds hooting their songs throughout the night. The silence was stifling and oppressive. The enraged shriek of crows would occasionally break through, and I wondered momentarily if they were Maleficent’s creatures keeping sentry or if Naomi was spying on us. Since Maleficent didn’t look worried, I elected to believe they belonged to her instead of my former stepmother.

Our footsteps were quiet and steady, Maleficent’s robes slithering through the fallen leaves the only sound. We were coming upon the castle, looming and ominous in the light of the full moon. I held up a hand to stop everyone and stared up at the massive structure. I’d grown up here, I knew it like the back of my hand, but Naomi had taken up residence here for the last ten years. The odds of her changing things inside were high and I needed to keep that in mind once I got inside. I’d been here once before, but Naomi had caught me. I’d have to be extremely careful once I made my way in.

I tugged the glamour charm out of my shirt and held it tightly in my right hand. It warmed against my skin and sent a creepy tingle through my soul. Rumple’s magic was powerful…and uncomfortable.

Everyone gathered around me, silent and sure in their roles. I studied each of them, my friends and confidantes. “Everyone ready?”

Robin adjusted his bow and offered a cocky grin. “Born ready, love.”

“Idiot,” Belle murmured under her breath.

“Pessimist,” Robin shot back in a cheery whisper.

Cyndi rolled her eyes. “I just need to sit here?” Her mouth pouted prettily. “Once again, you fail to utilize my skills properly.”

My brows knit together in question. “Can you use a knife or a gun?”

She pursed her lips. “No.”

“Mmkay. Can you fire a bow? Produce fire with your mind?”

“Point taken.” She glared at me. “Ass.”

I raised both hands in surrender. “I don’t doubt your mysterious woo-woo power, which I still don’t understand, but right now, we can’t go in guns blazing. We go in stealthy and then, once the shit inevitably hits the fan, let the guns blaze. Right now, we need your eyes and ears.” My face softened. I hadn’t meant to hurt her feelings. “Once we get through this, you and I will sit and talk about this power. I can see it being beneficial for us in the future. It was beneficial when it came to Max.” I smiled then and her face softened. “But let’s just hope my dying doesn’t come true, okay?”

“It’s never a party until Snow’s covered in blood!” Robin’s teeth gleamed in the moonlight with his wolfish smile.

I ignored him. “This is not the first time we’ve been here, but this time the stakes are higher.” I straightened to my full, diminutive height. “I plan to walk right through the front door.”

“Solid plan,” Maleficent deadpanned.

I ignored that. “Robin will find an alternate way to get into the castle. Since we infiltrated last time, she’s bound to have upped her security, but if anyone can find a way in, it’s Robin of Locksley.”

“That’s what she said,” Robin quipped.

Maleficent covered her grin with a pale, thin hand, and I shook my head in disgust, but couldn’t quite manage to hide my smile.

“You’re disgusting,” Cyndi said with amusement.

“I try.” He bowed low. “As much as I love spending time with you lovely ladies, are we ready to get this show on the road?”

I nodded, slid the pack holding the curse from my waist, and handed it to Maleficent. In the other hand, I held the charm at eye level and whispered, “
Abscondo
.”

Several things happened. I felt an overwhelming urge to hurl. My bones expanded and a splitting headache roared through my skill. I fell to my knees, the sensations unwanted and overwhelming. The semi-rational part of my brain left wondered if magic was normally this painful or if Rumple had saved something extra for me. I stifled the screams threatening to pour from my throat and fell sideways onto the ground, settling for grunts. My knees curled into my chest as I breathed through the pain, all with the silent promise to pay that handsome bastard back—in spades.

After what felt like an eternity, the pain receded and I was able to stretch my legs out. I still felt like I was dying, but it no longer felt like my intestines were trying to strangle me. Maleficent knelt beside me, her lips thin and her expression grave. “Are you all right?”

I nodded, not trusting my voice.

“I’ll pay him back for that,” she murmured and offered a hand to help me stand up.

“So, it’s not always like this?” I grunted out as I slowly came to my feet with her assistance.

She shook her head. “Most magic is neither painful, nor harsh. It’s…” she shook her head as she searched for the word, “extraordinary.”