The Hunt for Snow (10 page)

He stiffened. “Don’t do it, Snow. For the love of God, don’t.”

My fingers itched and my muscles tensed to run. “Step out of my way, and I won’t. If you don’t get out my way, I will. Shooting someone is not how you say you care.”

“I can’t let you open the portal.” His voice broke. “I can’t.”

My posture relaxed. “Why are you so hell-bent on staying with Naomi? What is it that she has that makes you put up with this?”

He shook his head, a stiff gesture. “I will not voice this. It is my secret alone to bear.” His hands quivered on the bow. “I beg of you, do not do this. I will be forced to kill you.”

I snorted. “You obviously haven’t been keeping up with me. You’ve tried to kill me a few times now and haven’t succeeded.”

Max lowered the bow. “And obviously you don’t know when someone is taking it easy on you.”

I felt myself flush with anger and embarrassment. Then I let it go. I couldn’t do anything about our situation without either walking away or at least one of us getting killed or maimed. “It appears we are at an impasse. I’m going to the portal. There’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

“Of course there is.” He chuckled. “We are two of the most dysfunctional people I know. I don’t want to shoot you; you don’t want to shoot me. You’re angry at the world, and I’m under a magical enchantment to kill you. Could dating get any more complicated than this?”

In answer, I pulled the gun from my shoulder holster and shot him in the kneecap. As I hauled ass around him, I felt a tug of remorse. “Call me when you get out of the hospital,” I shouted. “We can share a milkshake.”

I ran as fast as I could away from him, and in my hurry to get away and the noise of my descent through the woods, I missed the sound of the arrow flying through the air. Excruciating pain ripped through my shoulder and sent me hurtling to the forest floor. I lay there for a few seconds, surprised, pissed off and hurting like I was in childbirth. “You sonofabitch! You shot me!” I screeched.

The sound of pained masculine laughter carried to me. “You started it. By the way, I hate milkshakes, you feisty bitch.”

I snorted with laughter and immediately regretted it. My shoulder was trashed. Thank God it was the left one and not my shooting arm. I took a few deep breaths, groaned in pain and slowly stood back up, my right hand pressed against the wound to staunch the bleeding. Ripping the arrow out would only worsen things, and right now, I had but a few precious minutes to get to the clearing. I cleared my mind of everything but the goal, tried to delegate the pain to the back of my mind, and slowly picked up my pace as I hurtled through the woods trying to beat Naomi to the portal.

A flash of light jerked me out of my pained daze. I stumbled into the clearing just as the portal to the Enchanted Forest opened. Cyndi, Robin and Belle stared at me for a long second with their mouths wide open. The two dwarves standing next to Robin looked impassive. I’m sure they’d seen worse than a bedraggled princess in their lifetime.

Robin came to his senses and ran over to help me stand up straight. He hissed in his breath as soon as he saw the arrow protruding from my shoulder.

“Bloody hell, Snow. I gave you one simple task and you get
shot
?”

I whimpered. “You should see the other guy,” I rasped.

“Max,” he clipped out shortly. “Did that sonofabitch do this to you?”

Belle and Cyndi rushed to my side. I offered a weak smile. “I shot him first.”

“Good,” Robin said with fierce loyalty. “Did you kill him?”

“Just maimed.” I held onto his arm and winced as I tweaked the wound.

Maleficent stood next to the portal, a wonderful sight. Blue and purple light poured out into the night, the portal itself a maelstrom of color and pictures. This was my chance to win. To get back home and to take my kingdom back. Right now all I needed to do was step through and I would be halfway there. The clock would reset and Naomi would have to resort back to subterfuge and deceit to get to me. Now that she’d lost the support of the people completely, I wasn’t sure she’d be so sneaky anymore. This would be a war. And one that I hoped to win. I shook my arm free of Robin, gasping in pain, and began to shuffle over to the portal, motioning for my friends to join me. I was intent on just stepping in for a few minutes, staking my claim and stepping back out.

A wicked voice rang out through the clearing. I wanted to scream in frustration. “Going somewhere?” Naomi asked from behind me.

I kept doing the zombie shuffle, holding my hand against my shoulder, and ignored her. I had no time to engage in trite dialogue with a killer. It was now or never.

Maleficent’s face darkened as she looked out over my shoulder. I shambled faster.

I felt the heat of Naomi’s magic at my back. I wasn’t going to make it. I was injured, in excruciating pain and slow as a grandma telling a story for the hundredth time. I met Maleficent’s eyes and saw her mouth tighten in a grim line of concentration. She lifted her hand as I felt myself swept up into powerful arms. I screamed in pain.

Robin lowered his head and muttered in my ear, “Christ. So sorry, Snow. Forgive me.”

A shot of purple magic hit me in the shoulder as I felt myself flying through the air and into the portal.

I landed ass over teakettle on the other side. Soft, wispy grass cushioned my landing. I lay there for a few moments, trying to catch my breath, and noticed I was no longer in teeth-numbing pain. I sat up, looked down, and with great relief saw that the arrow was gone. I pulled my shirt away from my collarbone and saw an angry red, puckered scar where the arrow had gone through. It still hurt, but I no longer felt like I was dying. I wouldn’t be wearing strapless anything for a while, but at least I was alive.

The portal still burned behind me, but I couldn’t see anything through it. My heart twisted with worry about Belle and Cyndi. I knew they could take care of themselves, but I still worried. Naomi wasn’t one to toy with. I stood up, dusted my leggings off and studied my surroundings. White-capped mountains stood out stark against the dark gray sky. To the left in the distance stood the castle I’d left so long ago. I felt a burning in my chest as I thought about all the years I’d lost.

All I needed to do was reach the village at the bottom of it. Once I stepped inside of the borders, the magic of the land would recognize me and reset the clock. That was the convenient thing about magic and the laws of the Enchanted Forest. They were set into the very soul of the forest, so that if one person broke the law, the castle would be notified. It was sort of an all-in-one built-in lie detector and police force. Maybe the land already accepted me back because I was standing here, but I’d feel better if another living soul saw me back here to reclaim my crown.

I began to run, enjoying the fresh crisp outside air. The village wasn’t that far, maybe half a mile. In a few minutes I’d be there. The sooner the better. I was ready to get back on Earth and make sure my friends were okay. We could work everything else out later, once we got back to the conference. We’d have to get back to the Enchanted Forest later on, but I knew I wasn’t leaving without the things I’d gathered. They were all at the house, and I’d make sure we returned for them. Plus I had several loose ends to tie up with as far as the job and PI agency.

A few minutes later, I stopped at the edge of the village, out of breath and weak from blood loss. My shoulder ached, but I was thankful to Maleficent for at least patching me up a little bit. It took a powerful sorceress to divert her attention from one task to take care of another. The village looked much the same as it had before I left. I wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing. I took a deep breath and stepped over the border.

A loud chiming bell rang inside my head and a powerful burst of magic flew over my skin. I’d done it. The land recognized me. People began to pour out of their homes and shops, their mouths agape.

“Princess Snow,” one said as they walked slowly up to me.

I nodded and held my hand out. She grasped it and fell upon her knees. “You’ve come home. Praise the gods. You’re home.”

I helped her up. “Just for a moment. I have to get back across and help my friends.”

At her look of disappointment I squeezed her arm. “I promise.” I said with feeling. “I will be back.” The oppressive air around us began to lift, and a hint of brilliant blue sky peeked through the horizon.

“She’s breaking the curse!” someone screamed. And it made me sad. They wouldn’t understand me leaving again.

The crowd gathered around me, silent, but tense with anticipation. I stood on one of the decrepit stone fountains and raised my voice so everyone could hear me. “I am here only for a little while,” I said. At the grumbles of the crowd, I raised my hand. “Your friends and loved ones are on Earth right now. You know this. But, Naomi is there, too. And as the regent of this land, it is my sworn duty to protect my subjects. Going back to Earth is required of me. My friends are there. My family is there, and more of my people are there. I am not sure how long it will take, but as future queen of this land, I swear to you I will make this right.”

“Why did you even bother to come home then, if you can’t stay?” a voice rang out through the crowd.

I raised a hand for silence as the grumbles began. “Naomi tried to get me on a technicality. If I’d stayed away any longer, she would have had this land by ancient rights.”

Whispers began then and dozens of frightened faces stared at me. “We’ve missed you, Princess.” A timid woman spoke.

“And, I, you,” I said, and hopped down. “I will return! You have my word. Stay strong for us. It might get worse before the days of sunshine and hope return.” I ran outside of the village border and headed back down to the portal, praying I’d find everyone in one piece when I stepped back through.

Three minutes later I stopped at the edge of the portal. It still burned brightly, but I was nervous about what I’d find when I stepped through. I raked a hand through my hair, shoving my bangs away from my face, and pulled the weapons out from my shoulder and thigh holster. If I was headed back in to danger, I was going guns blazing. I steeled my shoulders, raised my guns, clicked the hammers back, and stepped through.

It took a second for my eyes to adjust to the light. Nothing. Everyone was gone. That was scarier than seeing their bodies scattered around the area. How the hell was the portal still open without Maleficent there to maintain it? A soft voice whispered my name.

I spun around, ready to fire at will, when I looked down and saw her lying in the grass, her hands up, still controlling the portal. I holstered my weapons and leaned down by her side. Raven hair spilled out around her face and blood trickled down one side of her mouth.

I pulled out a handkerchief and touched it to her mouth, frantically looking for other signs of damage. “I’m fine,” she whispered and chuckled at my disbelieving look. “Reach into my robe pocket and pull out the blue glass vial.”

I did as she asked, watching her hands and lips move as she sequestered the portal wherever she put things like that. The light began to dim, until it eventually blinked out, leaving us both alone in the damp dank forest. I pulled out the vial, marveling at how pretty the shimmery blue potion was inside.

“Lift my head,” she murmured, “so I can drink it.” I did as she asked, pained to see her this way. She took the potion down, jerked once and exhaled in relief. I held her neck up and waited until she began to shift on her own.

“That dirty bitch ruined my favorite robe,” she muttered. I laughed out loud at her tone.

“Where is everyone?” I asked, seeing definitive signs of a fight on the ground.

“Cyndi and Belle are together. I saw them take off at Robin’s insistence. Robin is injured, but then so is Naomi.” A small smile pulled at her mouth. “You have fierce warriors on your side, Snow. You’ve grown up well.”

My mind focused on one thing. “Injured? How bad?”

Maleficent sat up and shrugged. “He was walking of his own volition, and gave chase to Naomi once she began to retreat. Have faith he is alive. I know I do.”

“And Max?” I asked, and cringed as I heard the neediness in my tone.

She gave me a knowing smile. “I haven’t seen him. Being under the compulsion of the queen means he is gifted with strong healing powers. Even with a gunshot wound he should be on the mend.”

I breathed out, relieved and saddened at the same time. I’d shot Max. In normal boyfriend/girlfriend land that would normally end with one party showing up on the other’s front porch with a box of their crap and a cold shoulder. In our world, it meant we’d wind up back in bed together before the week was over. Dysfunction was fun, but it often didn’t make for good long-term relationships.

I helped her up and watched as she straightened up to her full glorious height. She scanned the area quickly and motioned for me to move closer to her. As I did, her palm glowed with the magic I’d come to associate with her. She slapped her palm to my shoulder, and I shrieked in pain. A few seconds later it was over, and I could breathe again.

“There,” she said, the strain of magic use showing on her tired face. “Sorry I didn’t patch you up better the first time. I had other things on my mind.”

“No problem. Thanks, Maleficent.”

She waved a hand at me. “No thanks necessary. In return, you can make sure Naomi gets what’s coming to her.”

I stared out into the dark forest looking for any signs of a trap. “Don’t worry. It’s at the top of my list.”

We stood at the entrance to our godforsaken hotel, sweaty, pissed off and bedraggled. I hadn’t had this much adventure since I fled the forest all those years ago. I was exhilarated but terrified, for both myself and my friends. Cyndi and Belle didn’t ask to get involved with this hot mess, and yet they stood beside me—even going so far as to rappel out of an open hotel window. I hoped everyone was okay.

I started to walk inside, but Maleficent stopped me. “You look like a mugging victim.”

I stared down at myself and groaned. I sure did. I looked at her expectantly, and she snorted. With a quick wave of her hand, purple magic flowed over me and I was once again clean and somewhat presentable. She did the same to herself, although it was hard to miss a six-foot woman wearing robes in the middle of a nice hotel. We let ourselves in, got into the elevator (after first checking for assassins and magical traps) and parted ways when Maleficent got off on her floor.