The Hunt for Snow

Previously published by Liquid Silver Books. Copyright © Published 2016, S.E. Babin. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

Manufactured in the United States of America

This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

Special thanks to Bryan Hubbell for hooking me up with competitive pistol shooter and firearms instructor Bill Hughes, who helped me tremendously as I wrote this novel. I served beside both of these men at the 147th Fighter Wing (now the 147th Reconnaissance Wing) and both are top-notch. Any weapons errors are all mine. More thanks to my husband and immediate family for supporting this dream and all the weird stuff that comes with it. To Maria, thanks for all of your positive encouragement and funny emails. Fairytales sweep us away to a different time and place, and although this one has a little bit of an edge to it, I hope you enjoy the journey of Snow and Max.

I eyed the letter lying on the stone floor next to the front door. I knew where it came from, but I’d hoped they’d forget me this time.
Fat chance
. The antique vellum of the envelope was a stark reminder of what I’d run away from so many years ago…my kingdom, an almost lover, another man who still haunts my dreams. I didn’t want to pick it up. I wanted to stuff it back into the mail slot and hope that someone else came along and took it far away from me.

I didn’t want to face them. The people I left behind to be ruled by a tyrant. The man who showed mercy at the risk of his own peril, and who ignited a fire inside of me so hot I still couldn’t sleep at night. I closed my eyes and was about to leave the letter there when I heard a voice behind me.

“That time again?” The voice was musical and lilting, but the woman behind it had a spine of steel. I nodded and turned.

Belle stood there, a sympathetic look on her face. “Just think, Snow. You’re no longer the wilting violet the Huntsman turned loose all those years ago. You have guns now. And you know how to use them.”

It was true. When the portal to Earth was opened, I came through with nothing but a silk dress on, a necklace my father had given me, bare feet, and a small bag of jewelry just in case I needed funds when I arrived. Now I was a respected cryptozoologist by day—studying things others didn’t believe existed but I knew for sure were out there—and a PI by night. I patted the holster I was wearing and inhaled the relaxing scent of well-oiled leather and gunpowder. It was a comfort. And I’d lived too long without some semblance of comfort.

I did have friends, specifically Belle and Cyndi. And, yes, before you wonder they are
that
Belle and Cyndi, although don’t be expecting any fairytale songs about fuzzy woodland creatures. But I didn’t have a boyfriend or many friends outside of them. I lived a lonely existence. I
needed
to live a lonely existence. The queen was still trying to find me, and I could only count on the goodwill of the Huntsman for so long.

I smiled at Belle. “I do know how to use them. I just wish I could somehow wriggle my way out of this conference.”

Belle leaned down and picked up the envelope. “Sorry, kiddo. It’s once every ten years. And you know everyone is expecting to see you there…the Lost Queen. They want you back.” She opened the flap, pulled the thick parchment open and read aloud.

“Your Royal presence is requested at the hundredth annual League of Underground Fairytale Characters Conference and Formal Ball. Conference dress is business casual. Ball dress is obvious. Remember, Princess Snow, no weapons of any kind will be allowed into the ballroom. Please leave the bows, knives, guns, and lasers at home. And, dear, please refrain from punching anyone. We haven’t forgotten about your coming of age ball.” Belle snorted. “Sounds like Giles still has an excellent memory and his sense of humor.”

I glared at her. “I shot a guest once. Once! You’d think I murdered the queen the way everyone went on and on about it.”

Belle gave me a knowing look. “An accident, my foot. You knew what you were doing when you ‘accidentally’ let loose that arrow and shot Prince Huffensnot in the ass.”

I would never admit that out loud, but I did grin at her. Prince Huffens, a.k.a. Huffensnot, deserved it after he insulted my dress. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. “Still,” I grumbled, “that was twelve years ago!”

Belle chuckled and tossed the invite down onto the hall table. “And as for the prince, I bet he gets reminded of it every time he happens to glance at his hind end in the mirror.”

I grinned even wider. “All that perfect smooth, baby white skin, marred by the arrow of a shunned princess. Buuuurrrrn.”

I gave the envelope a last glance as I turned and followed Belle into the small office I’d built at the back of our house. “I know I need to attend, Belle, but I have a bad feeling about it.”

Belle sat down in one of the comfy leather reclining chairs and adjusted her skirt so it lay primly across her knees. “This is the first one you’ve ever been to. Relax. Earth, according to the Accords, is neutral territory. If one person steps out of line or raises a hand to anyone else, the Accord is violated and that person will have to face the Justice of the Enchanted Forest Court.”

I gave her my best withering glance. “What good does the court do when it’s controlled by Naomi?”

Naomi, the Evil Queen, a.k.a. my evil stepmonster, had been trying to find me for the last ten years. And it wasn’t to catch up over hot tea and crumpets. She was after blood, but I’m afraid I didn’t feel inclined to be sporting about it. Once I’d crossed the portal, I went into hiding, only venturing out when word reached me that Cyndi and Belle were looking for me.

Belle smiled. “Don’t forget that I left a few years after you did. Naomi’s control over the court only extends so far. She thinks she has everyone in line, but there are those within the court who are playing double agents. Do not be afraid.” She tilted down her black thick-framed spectacles. “You will be protected.”

She waved her hand at the weapon collection plastered all over the walls. “Not only do you have friends in high places, you have a weapons fetish.” She stared at one wicked sharp sword, and I felt myself swell with pride as I looked at it. I’d once taken the head of a Yeti with that thing. That head was wrapped in plastic and tucked into one of the many freezers on the back of my property.

Belle shuddered. “I find it frightening you actually know how to use all of these.”

I sobered. “Try running for your life with a hoard of angry villagers on your tail and see what kind of skills you learn as you try to relearn sleeping through the night.”

Belle interrupted. “They were angry because Naomi bespelled them. The people of the Enchanted Forest adore you. And,” she gave me a warning glance, “they want you back home.”

I frowned. “And the Huntsman?” I remembered the look on his face as he stared at me, his wicked blade poised above my jugular. I was pretty sure he was a sociopath. A smoking-hot sociopath, but still…whenever I thought about him, unused things down low tightened, and I broke out into a cold sweat. I didn’t know why he let me go, why he didn’t finish the job. I was grateful, but I had an inkling that if he ever found me again, he wouldn’t be so generous. The punishment he must have endured from Naomi was something I didn’t want to think about.

Belle caught my eye. She was way too smart not to realize I had the major hots for the sexy Huntsman, but after I threatened to shoot her once after a merciless bout of teasing, she’d kept quiet. I’d never shoot her. But I made sure she thought I would.

“The Huntsman is complicated. I don’t know him well.” She looked away and stared at one of my prized bows displayed next to my desk. “There are…rumors that Naomi is holding something from him. Something he wants. He is bound to her service until he can figure out a way to wrest this possession from her.”

I’d never heard those rumors, possibly because my only dealing with the Huntsman was trying to outrun him. “What possession?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.

She shrugged. “No one seems to know. And Max doesn’t want to talk about it.”

“Max?” I raised my eyebrows.

Belle stood up and rolled her eyes. “The Huntsman, you dolt. How can you lust after someone successfully if you don’t know his proper name?”

I eyed the gun at my waist and looked back at her. “I will still shoot you,” I said.

Belle snickered as she left the office. “Who’ll do all the research if you shoot me? I know how much you hate to read!”

Damn it all. She was right. I’d need to think of another way to scare her. Maybe I needed to pick up some matches and stand in the middle of her library with a can of gas. I sighed. Nah, that was
too
crazy.

“You’re an asshole, Belle!” I shouted out as the sound of her heels got farther away.

“Ditto,” she called back sweetly.

Cinderella loved balls. It was one of her only flaws, in my opinion. Instead of sharing in my pity party, Cyndi picked up the vellum envelope, smelled it in an entirely non-creepy way (I’m still not sure how she did it) and waved it at me. “Oh, Snow! How exciting. We get to attend a ball!”

I sat at the kitchen table cleaning my Sig Sauer P226. I loved this gun so much I almost wanted to make out with it. My hands stilled, and I stared up at her. “I don’t understand what’s so exciting about this. We have to wear a dress. Do you know how hard it is to hide an accessible weapon inside a ball gown?”

She cleared her throat. “As I can see right here, the invitation forbids you bringing any kind of weapon into the conference.”

I snorted. “And you know as well as I do, Giles doesn’t expect me to obey that rule.”

She shook her head and sat down beside me at the table, gingerly pushing aside a dirty cloth and gun parts. “Can’t you just relax and have fun? For once? For me?” She batted her eyelashes and smiled at me.

I shook my head. “I understand the premise of this ball. And I’m not trying to ruin your fun. But this is the first time we’ve been eligible to attend and, if you haven’t forgotten, the word going around is that Naomi is still trying to find me. Why on earth would I show up at a place where I know she’s going to be and make myself defenseless?”

“The Acco—” Cyndi started to say, but I groaned and interrupted her.

“The Accords are written. Saying those will protect me from harm would be like taping money to yourself and walking down the middle of a street at night in a bad neighborhood. Why would you tempt fate like that? Most normal and rational people wouldn’t.”

Cyndi looked to Belle who just stepped into the room. “Would you please reason with her?”

Belle threw her hands up. “In what world have any of us ever been able to reason with her? Snow is as stubborn as the sword in the stone. She won’t budge unless she has a darn good reason. Although…” Belle took off her glasses and cleaned them on the edge of her shirt. “I hear the Huntsman might make an appearance.”

My hands picked up their frantic oiling pace against the smooth metal of the pistol I held. “So?” I said, then cringed when I heard how breathy my voice sounded.

Belle and Cyndi both chuckled. “So,” Cyndi said, “
if
he shows up, you’ll automatically have some protection right there.”

My hands slowed to their normal pace. “Bad logic,” I said and tilted my weapon so I could see better inside of the chamber. “The Huntsman had a momentary lapse in judgment when he let me go. I can guarantee you after answering to Naomi about it, he won’t make that mistake again.”

Cyndi pouted. “You are the least romantic person in the world.” Her eyes got that far-off look I recognized so well. It meant she was either planning her entire wardrobe for the ball or fantasizing about getting me to wear high heels three inches too tall, because, according to her, “they make your legs look miles long!” She forgot to mention the excruciating pain or the fact that I looked like a newborn calf every time I wore them.

“I don’t need romance,” I said. “I have everything I want right here.” I
didn’t
need it, but sometimes I thought about it. My two career choices didn’t exactly lend themselves to meeting eligible bachelors. Cryptozoology was good for meeting Star Trek and Sci-Fi geeks, and while there was nothing wrong with that, I did have to draw the line at being asked to dress like a hobbit and visit Middle-Earth with someone. When you thought about it, that was actually a pretty clever pickup line, but I resented the fact people thought I was short enough to actually pass for a hobbit. On the other hand, being a private investigator usually meant I’d be working a case where I’d find out all kinds of things I didn’t want to know about the person hiring me. That took care of the possibility of dating any of my clients once the job was over. I had trust issues, yes, but I had darn good reasons for my paranoia.

So I stayed content with what I had—friends, work, and wine. Sometimes not necessarily in that order. Cyndi’s knowing look did nothing to dissuade my nerves about this ball. It would be a grave insult not to attend, but I had a bad feeling about it. Seeing the Huntsman again almost made it worth it, but who knew what he would say if he saw me again? His last words were, “Run, Snow. And never return,” as he lifted the knife from my neck and shoved me into the portal.

It was a quick, violent adrenaline rush of a meeting and I would never forget it. I would never forget
him.
I began to put my gun back together with speed. Once I was finished, I snapped the chamber closed and looked at my friends. “I’ll go. But I have conditions.” Belle’s eyes brightened and Cyndi clapped her hands as if I’d just made a happy plate. “No heels.” I glared at Cyndi and noticed her expression fall. “And no hookups.” At that, I looked at Belle and saw her frown.

“Fine,” they both echoed. I gathered everything up and swept out of the room.

On my way out I heard Cyndi whisper, “So, do you think we can drug her or maybe spell her shoes so she can’t get out of them? I’m not above holding her down and supergluing them to her feet.”

I woke up the next morning and the first thing I saw was that damned envelope sitting on my nightstand. I’d have to thank Belle for the constant reminder. It was two days away. I had several things to do to get ready. Finding a dress was way down on my priority list. Finding a dress that could host several weapons was slightly higher.

I rolled out of bed and began my daily stretching routine. I might have been young when I left the Enchanted Forest, but I did learn a few things—against my father’s wishes, of course. One of the stable hands was highly skilled in martial arts. Apparently his parents sent him through the Earth portal at a very young age. When he returned, he was kind of a badass. I had a mad crush on him for many years, but once we got to the age where we could act on it, we realized we were much better off as friends. He taught me what he knew about Aikido, a defensive form of martial arts, and I taught him how to shoot an apple off the head of a pig. I miss him to this day and hoped I’d see him at the ball.