Banished: Book 1 of The Grimm Laws (18 page)

He stood, and she thought he would leave, but instead, he looked around. “Wow! This place is amazing. Your aunt must be an antique collector or something. Look at all of these books.” He walked over to the bookshelf. “They look old.” He ran a finger over the wooden shelf. “And dusty.” He pulled out a book and read the title. “
From Straw to Gold the Rumpelstiltskin Way
.” He laughed. “Okay.” He replaced the book and pulled out another title. “This one’s in another language.” He wrinkled his nose. “It looks like Latin.” He made a face and put the book back on the shelf. He walked over to the intricate wooden model depicting an elaborate gingerbread house, complete with a young boy and girl. He leaned over, studying it. “The detail is incredible.”

“Hansel and Gretel,” Elle said dryly.

He gave her a dubious look. “Like the fairytale Hansel and Gretel?”

“My aunt loves fairy tales,” she explained.

He looked at the picture hanging on the wall. Elle sat there, watching him studying that stupid picture like it held some great secret. “This is amazing.”

Irritation pricked at her, and suddenly she didn’t want him here, in her aunt’s space. “You can leave now! You’ve done enough!” He just kept standing there, looking at the picture. “You don’t have to worry about me messing up your precious band because I’m through.” Her throat felt dry and scratchy. “I said I’m through!” she repeated. She blew out a breath. “Are you deaf?”

He turned, and there was a funny look on his face.

“Elle, have you seen this picture?” His voice had an unnatural edge to it.

“Yeah, I’ve seen it. It’s of a mother and a daughter. What of it? Haven’t you ever seen a picture of a mother and daughter before?”

He motioned. “Come ‘ere and look.”

She gritted her teeth. The last thing she wanted to do right now was to look at some silly picture, but he was acting so … strange. “Okay,” she huffed. “Fine.” She walked up and stood beside him, shoving her hands into her pockets. “What?”

“Look.”

She rolled her eyes. “Okay, I’m looking.” And then she looked. Her heart started hammering in her chest, and she felt dizzy.

“Do you see?” he asked, excitement brimming in his voice.

“Yes,” she croaked. “I see.” Fresh tears welled in her eyes. It was her … or someone that looked exactly like her. The mother and daughter were wearing blue gowns. They were resting on a red velvet settee with ornately carved wooden trim. Heavy drapes lined with gold fringe adorned the nearby window. The mother’s hair was braided around her head, and she wore a delicate gold necklace with a locket on the end that rested between her breasts. The daughter had a blue ribbon in her hair, and she was leaning so that she was resting in her mother’s lap. The mother was caressing the daughter’s hair. It was an intimate scene, and they looked happy. The mother looked … well, she looked just as Elle imagined that her mother might look—had her mother been here. A burning anger welled in her breast. She felt angry that she’d never known her mother as did the girl in the picture. Most of all, she felt angry with herself because she couldn’t remember anything. These people had to be related to her. The familial resemblance was so strong that she felt as if she were looking at herself.

“It’s you,” Rush whispered, his eyes wide.

“That’s impossible,” she countered stiffly. “Look at the furniture and the décor. These people lived in a different time.”

“Yeah, but the face. I know her.” His voice was tinged with awe, and he leaned in to get a closer look. He pointed at the girl. “Look at the graceful curve of her neck and how her jaw is set just so. The same slender nose and how it turns up ever so slightly on the end. Those expressive eyes.” He turned to her. “It’s you. I know it is. I know you, Elle.”

The words were spoken with such certainty that they circled around her like a protective embrace, and for one small moment, she felt whole. “Rush, I … ” The words died on her tongue as she looked up at him. Why did he have to be so wretchedly handsome with those chiseled features and black, wavy hair? There was an intensity about him that stirred every inch of her body. Her eyes went to his firm lips, and she thought about how they would feel pressed against hers. Her lips parted involuntarily.

“Eyes the color of the sky. And that hair,” he murmured. “The stuff of my dreams.”

Her breath caught, and she became aware of his warm breath on her face. He took a step closer and looked into her eyes. “Don’t you feel it?” His voice was husky and low. “This spark between us.” He gave her a knowing look, and she thought how his eyes looked like fathomless pools of deep blue. “This fire.” He caressed her jaw, sending a tingle rushing down her spine. Just when she thought she would go crazy with desire, he took her in his arms. She looked up at him, expecting him to kiss her, but he just stood there, looking down at her. There was a tortured expression on his face. “If only you knew how much I want you,” he said fiercely.

She wanted him too. She wanted him to kiss her over and over until she went mad. She wanted him to kiss her until her need for him subsided. “What’re you waiting for?” she said, surprised at her own boldness.

His eyes went wide, and he let out a soft chuckle. “I could do that,” he said, “but … ” His expression was a mixture of longing and something else, and he seemed to be waging an inner battle. Then she could tell from the tightening of his jaw that he’d reached a decision. “I can’t,” he uttered. “No more sneaking around. I won’t be a stand-in for Edward. I’m done being used.”

The comment stung. “I’m not trying to use you,” she countered, her face going hot.

He gave her a calculated look.

“I’m not,” she said defensively.

“Okay.” A ghost of a smile flittered on his lips, and he began tracing his finger along her collarbone, sending a million tingles shooting over her. “Then answer me this—do you love me?”

The comment took her off guard. She tensed. “What?”

“It’s a simple question. Do you love me?” he asked again. His voice was light but his expression serious.

There it was, the thing they couldn’t get past. He wanted every part of her. He wanted her heart, body, and soul, and she couldn’t give it to him. No matter what she said or did, it was never enough for him. She let out a breath. “I don’t know,” she admitted.

He searched her face, and she could see the disappointment settling into his eyes. He let go of her and stepped back.

She felt the absence of him immediately. A part of her wanted to tell him what he wanted to hear. A large part of her wanted to throw her arms around him and demand that he kiss her, but where would that leave them? She couldn’t tell him that she loved him, and she couldn’t promise not to see Edward. As strong as her attraction was to Rush, she also felt something for Edward. And besides, she had to find out who she was before she made that kind of commitment to someone else.

He started walking toward the door.

“Rush,” she called after him. He turned. “I’m sorry.” A tear rolled down her cheek.

He gave her a sad smile. “Yeah, me too.”

“
G
iving up so easily
?”

“I’m sorry, but what?” Rush stopped mid stride and looked down at Adele who was standing behind the bakery case. She’d caught him trying to escape. He was heading down the stairs with the intention of waiting for his mom in the car. He couldn’t handle making small talk with Jack and Rae, and mostly, he needed to be alone.

She offered him a fleeting smile. “Elle, are you giving up on her so quickly? I never pegged you as a quitter.” Adele reached for a bakery box and began filling it with items.

The hair bristled on his neck. “Were you eavesdropping on our conversation?”

She laughed. “From all the way down here? Not hardly, dear.”

Who did this woman think she was, making assumptions about him? “You don’t know anything about me,” he said curtly.

“I know you better than you think.”

What did that even mean? Elle was right, her aunt was a touch loony.

“
Loony
is a relative term,” Adele said.

Had she read his mind? No, that was ridiculous. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Elle, is a big girl, I suppose she’ll make her own decision.” He shook his head, as if it mattered what this woman thought. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going out to wait in the car.” He continued on down the stairs. When he reached the bottom, she motioned.

“Come.”

He briefly thought about ignoring the request, but she had, after all, agreed to let them practice in her shop. The least he could do was to comply with her request. He walked over and stood in front of the bakery case and waited to hear what she had to say.

“Elle has been through a lot. What good are we without the sum of our memories—the sum of our experiences? What if all that you’d ever known was suddenly ripped away, and you had nothing?”

He thought about this for a minute. “I see your point,” he admitted, “but you have to understand that my problems with Elle started long before her accident.”

“You’ve got that right,” Adele mumbled.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” He leaned in closer in an attempt to hear her.

“Oh, nothing, I have a bad habit of talking to myself. Anyway, as I was saying … ” She looked him in the eye. “The reward goes to he who is the most diligent.”

“Okay,” he said, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. He didn’t have a clue what she was talking about, but then again, she probably didn’t either.

She laughed. “You’ll have to forgive me, Rushton, I’m not used to all of this straight talk that you young people go in for these days.” She scratched her head and looked thoughtful. “Okay, if I must spell it out for you, I must. Elle is not the same person that she was before the accident. Any man with eyes in his head can see that. If you turn away from her and let your pride get the best of you, then you’re letting Edward win. Not that Edward is a bad person, mind you. I just want you to understand the ramifications that your choices will have. You’re practically throwing her into his arms. Is that what you want?”

He wanted to punch something, but he clenched his fists instead. “I’ve tried everything I know how to do!” His voice was rising, but he didn’t care. He didn’t need this woman to lecture him about Elle. “Elle has had plenty of chances to choose me.”

“So you’re saying that Edward is the better man? Is that what you’re saying?”

He let out a sarcastic laugh. “Sure, all right. That’s what I’m saying. Edward is the better man. Edward is the golden boy. He gets everything, including the girl. Kudos to Edward.” He swore under his breath and slapped the palm of his hand down hard on the top of the bakery case. “I’m done with this.”

“Wait.” She held out the box. “These are for you.”

He stood there looking at it.

“Go ahead,” she urged, “take it.”

He made a face. “Chocolate?”

“Yes, chocolate. You make it sound like it’s poison. Most folks would give their eyetooth to get a free box of my chocolates. Here,” she urged, “take them before I change my mind.”

He reached for the box. “Okay, I’ll take them.” He forced a smile. “Thanks.”

She smiled back. “You’re very welcome. They’ll help you.”

“Help me?”

“To remember.” She winked. “To remember the man you once were. To remember the man you still are. Somewhere deep inside of you there’s a man that would move heaven and earth for the woman he loves. A man that would risk a kingdom for a single kiss. A man that’s worthy of that wonderful girl upstairs.”

“Okay.” This conversation was getting nuttier by the minute. “Goodbye, Adele. Thanks for the … chat.” Sarcasm dripped from his words, and he wondered if Adele had sense enough to even notice.

“Anytime, my boy. Anytime.”

He turned and walked out of the shop before she could say anything else. He was to the car before he realized something. She’d not called him Rush. She’d called him Rushton. That’s the same name that Elle called him a few weeks ago. Weird. He repeated the name a few times to see if it rang a bell. It didn’t. Maybe Elle was as crazy as her aunt. Now that was something he could believe.

O
ne tear of a swan
, the venom of a serpent, and the saliva of a black toad. Griselda rubbed her gnarly hands together and leaned forward and muttered the ancient incantation that was long forgotten by most mortals. The stale air stirred around her, and she could feel the energy building. Her heart leapt in anticipation when the graphite stone started glowing—faintly at first until it turned an iridescent blue. Then the stone took on a translucent quality like smooth, polished silver. It was like looking into a pool of clear water. She stared back at her own hideous reflection—the sagging flesh, sunken eyes, rotten teeth, stooped shoulders—and even she couldn’t stop the shudder that slithered down her spine. She was a monstrous hag—one of the most loathsome creatures that ever walked the earth. Penniless and forced to subsist on whatever meager income she could scrape together. A slow burn started within her breast and continued until it permeated every cell of her body. It was a fury that she knew well—a fury that had kept her alive despite her miserable existence. Merek had done this to her. There was a time when her beauty was known throughout the land. The flame-haired maiden with the milky skin and pristine features. Her beauty had been her prize—her weapon, and she’d used it to snare an untold number of gallant knights, princes, and even a king. That is until Merek cursed her. She snarled. How she hated her older brother. He’d taken everything from her, and she was determined to make him pay. Merek and his self-righteous goodness. Merek and his precious Grimm Laws, always trying to restore the balance of goodness.

Their origin was of the stars. They were dual creatures made of something that wasn’t quite heaven and not quite earth. Their aging was slow compared to mortals—in the time a mortal aged a year, they aged only a day. Merek considered himself a guardian of mankind, and so had her brother Caleb. Together, they had crafted The Grimm Laws, those sacred laws that were supposed to bring justice and order to the land. At first, Griselda had been amused at Merek’s interest in the paltry lives of mortals. To her, mortals were playthings to be used for enjoyment and then discarded. Everything changed when Merek cursed her. She’d tried to fight back, and might’ve won had Caleb not jumped to Merek’s defense. In a display of utter stupidity, Caleb died trying to defend Merek. All of Caleb’s power was transferred to Merek, making him stronger than she ever thought possible. But Merek’s power couldn’t last forever. His foolish fancy with mortals would be his downfall. In fact, Merek’s downfall had already begun, and he didn’t even have sense enough to realize it. She laughed at the thought. Did he really think he could outsmart her? When she’d learned of his foolish plan to go to a new world, she’d set her plan in motion. She’d sent her own ambassador to the new world. Her strength was growing daily, and it would only be a matter of time before she too, could go to the other realm. For now, however, she could only catch a glimpse by peering into the looking stone. She clasped her claw-like hands around the stone that was now glowing white and looked into it. Her mouth twisted into a sneer when she saw Adele, standing in a room, talking to Wisteria. Wisteria had been her pupil—a puppet she could mold like clay. It irked her to think that Wisteria was temporarily out of her reach. Indignation raged in her bones as she looked and saw Cinderella, Rushton, Rapunzel, and Jack. She watched Adele spray Wisteria and command her to help with the band. She saw Adele talking to Rushton, trying to help him remember. Then she saw her give him the box of chocolate. She clawed the table, tearing deep, jagged marks into the wood.

“So the good witch is working her magic, is she? Well, we’ll see about that!” She hurled the stone across the room where it crashed against the wall. She flung open the door of her hovel and stepped out into the cold night air. She threw back her hood and let out a screeching howl that echoed through the trees. She raised her hands in the air and twirled. Blackness gathered around her and up she lifted, transforming into a massive dragon. Sleek scales the color of darkness. Teeth razor sharp. Fire hot enough to melt metal. She spread her wings, loving the raw power she wielded. Every life she consumed would make her stronger. Every gallant knight she snuffed off the earth would feed her fury, eventually making her unstoppable. She opened her mouth and breathed out fire. Since she couldn’t yet destroy Merek, an unsuspecting village would have to suffice. She looked upward into the midnight sky. Tonight, vengeance would be hers. Fear would rage strong in the hearts of the bravest of men, for tonight, she would fly.

R
ush took
off his shirt and tossed it in the corner. Even though he knew better, he walked over to the window and looked through the blinds at Elle’s roof. He halfway expected—hoped to see her out there, but she wasn’t. Her window was dark. No surprise as it was after midnight. She was probably asleep, just as he should be, but his mind was too cluttered to allow him any rest. He plopped down on the bed and closed his eyes. He kept thinking about how it felt to hold Elle in his arms. She’d wanted him to kiss her. Heck, she’d practically asked him to. And he should’ve done it. He was tired of trying to fight the attraction between them. If only he could get her to admit what he already knew—that they belonged together. He scowled thinking of Edward. It was always Edward. How could she think a guy like Edward could make her happy? Sure he was passably handsome and the quarterback, but there was no substance. On the surface he was a do-gooder, but he didn’t even have the guts to stand up for one of his team members. Last summer, that fateful day in the locker room when he’d gotten kicked off the football team, Rush had defended a smaller player that was being picked on by some bullies. Edward had been walking by at the time. Being the captain of the football team and the stand-up guy he supposedly was, Rush assumed that Edward would jump in and help, but he’d walked away, leaving Rush to face the bullies alone. For all Rush knew, it could’ve been Edward who planted the marijuana in his bag. Putting that sordid mess aside, the simple truth was that if Edward had truly made Elle happy then she wouldn’t have come knocking on his door in the first place. His mind went to the picture, hanging in the study. Why did Adele have a picture of Elle, dressed in ancient clothing? Standing in front of it, he could’ve sworn it was her, but thinking about it now, he assumed it must be a relative. But the girl looked exactly like her. And then there was the strange conversation he’d had with Adele, urging him to fight for Elle. What had she said? That he was the type of guy that would risk a kingdom for a single kiss? He chuckled. While he didn’t know anything about a kingdom that certainly sounded like something he would do.

He tried to pinpoint what it was that was bothering him. It was obvious that Adele was crazy. What did he care what a crazy woman said or did? He stopped. Bingo. He was starting to think that Adele did know what she was talking about, and that maybe she wasn’t so crazy after all. And then there was that weird connection that he had with the girl in the picture. It was like she was calling to him. He’d experienced déjà vu, like he could remember her wearing a gown and living in a castle … or something like that. At first, he assumed it was due to his relationship with Elle. Admittedly, that was part of it, but there was more. He sat up in bed. The chocolate. He’d been so frustrated with Elle that he’d forgotten all about it. He’d thrown the box down on his desk without giving it a second glance. He got up, retrieved it, and then sat back down on the bed. He opened the box. What was it that Adele had said? The chocolate would help him remember. It was an impressive assortment of chocolates, and they all looked very expensive. He shrugged. At the very least, it would taste good. He plopped a truffle into his mouth, savoring the smooth richness of the white chocolate. When it was gone, he put another into his mouth. He waited a minute to see if anything happened. Nothing. He laughed at his own foolishness and then placed the box on the floor beside his bed. He lay back down on the bed, welcoming the relaxing sensation that was sweeping over him. The last thing he remembered was how heavy his eyelids felt when he closed his eyes.

R
ushton paused
and held up his hand for Edward to halt.

“Is that it?”

Rushton placed a finger to his lips and nodded. As silently as they could, they padded their way through the tall grass and towards the thatched hut in the distance. They’d stolen out of the castle at dawn, using a secret passageway that Rushton didn’t know existed. Thankfully, Edward knew the layout of the castle inside out. A guard had recognized them as they approached the outer gate, so Edward gave him four silver pieces in exchange for his silence.

Rushton wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. They’d been walking through the forest all morning. The sun was still rising in the sky, so Rushton guessed it wasn’t quite midday, but it was getting close. His stomach rumbled, reminding him that he’d eaten only a crust of bread and some figs for the morning meal. He pushed the thoughts of hunger aside and tried to focus instead on the task at hand. It was imperative that Edward find a new distraction other than Cinderella. Ever since the tournament, he’d talked of little else. The sight of Cinderella in Edward’s arms at the victory tournament was nearly more than he could bear. To make matters worse, Edward had even suggested that perhaps it was unnecessary for them to visit the Sorceress Griselda because he’d already found Cinderella. “Nay, thou canst be swayed so easily by the first pretty maiden that crosses your path,” Rushton had told him. That’s when he decided that a trip to visit Griselda was vital.

When they approached the hut, Rushton looked back at Edward. “Let me do the talking, I prithee. We want to come out of this alive.”

Edward nodded, his face ashen.

G
riselda sat
by the boiling cauldron, listening to the exchange that was taking place between Rushton and Edward, just outside her door. With the help of one of her spells, her hearing had gotten keener with old age. A wicked smile spread over her face as she rubbed her withered hands together. Oh the trials and tribulations of young love! She smirked. She’d made Wisteria pay handsomely for this favor. Yes, indeed, and she wasn’t through with her yet.

A loud knock vibrated the door, and she placed a hood over her head before answering, “Enter.” The lads had to bend down to keep their heads from touching the top of the doorframe. Griselda saw the Prince first. His golden hair picked up the flecks of light of her small fire. And then there was Wisteria’s handsome son with the dark hair and high cheekbones. How like his mother he was with those brooding eyes and firm jaw. She smiled, revealing sunken gums with no teeth. Their suspicious eyes darted around the hut like scared mice.

The dark-haired one cleared his throat. “My name is Rushton, and this is ...”

She waved a hand in the air. “No need to introduce yourself to me. I know who ye are and why ye are here. Just give me the coins.” She held out her gnarly hand.

Rushton took a step back. “Not so fast. If you know why we’re here, then tell us his fortune, and we’ll give the coins to thee.” Edward stepped behind Rushton.

Her loud cackle vibrated through the room, and she gave him an appraising look. “Smart lad. Hmm, let’s see … ” She lifted a finger to her jaw and feigned thinking. She stared down into the cauldron. “Thou comest here in search of love.” A sickly green smoke started rising from the liquid. “Thy past is thorny. Ah, thy heart was once broken by a crafty, wily maiden.”

Edward gasped when the face of a young maiden appeared in the smoke.

Griselda giggled. “A maiden of bewitching beauty, no doubt, but alas … she was unworthy of thee.” She waved her arm through the smoke, and the face disappeared. “Thy parents sent her away.” She made a tsking sound with her tongue. “But a broken heart mends, and you seek another love.” She paused. “Ah, what is this?” Her claw-like nails tapped the cauldron. “A warning. King Aalexander is losing his grip on the kingdom. Outside forces threaten his peace, yea, the safety of the kingdom. He has forged an alliance with King Felipe. You are to marry the Princess Helsin.” The princess’s man-face sprang forth out of the smoke. Griselda let out a fiendish laugh. “No wonder ye risked beheading in order to seek my help. Alliances are not easily broken. In order for the King to change his mind about the Prince’s arranged marriage …” she turned and eyed Edward, “… the Prince must find true love.”

“But how is that possible?” Edward stepped forward out of the shadows.

The fire caught, sending flames shooting up around the cauldron, reflecting against Griselda. For a moment, her face transformed into a monster with fathomless black holes for a mouth and eyes. Rushton and Edward gasped at the sight, but in the blink of an eye, she regained her former image. “Why, Edward. ‘Tis simple, you will rescue your damsel in distress at the market place by the time the sun sets a day after a fort night. She will be thy true love.”

Edward looked doubtful. “How will I recognize her?” He motioned. “Canst thou conjure her in the smoke as thou didst the others?”

Griselda laughed. “We must leave something to the imagination, my Prince. She will be the only damsel that needs rescuing, and she will have a flower in her hair.” She paused and looked as if she might say more, but instead she shook her head and waved her hand in a dismissal. “That is all. You may go.”

Edward offered a low bow while Rushton emptied the coins from the pouch Edward had given him. “We thank thee for thy services,” Rushton said, motioning for Edward to start walking towards the door. “I trust that is enough compensation for thy trouble?”

“It will suffice,” she muttered, counting the coins. “Yes, indeed,” she repeated, thinking of the heap of coins Wisteria had already given her. Fools, they were. All fools. And so easily manipulated. Knowing that Merek had a vested interest in these two gave her a particular delight. Now she had only to sit back and watch as their pitiful lives unraveled at the seams.