Page 119 of Mirror of Malice
“Oh, good, a new one,” Driscoll said. “So glad we’re getting to see the snake for the first time before it eats us.”
The hedge snake opened its mouth and lunged. I held up my sword, readying myself for a fight, but the Huntsman punched out his fist right in the throat of the hedge snake. Branches and twigs snapped, and the leaves scattered, flying away on the breeze.
“Maybe he is on our side after all,” I said, looking at Jillian and Driscoll, who both stared with wide eyes.
The Huntsman continued to tromp through the maze, stomping, punching, and barreling his way through. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Maybe the Huntsman never meant to kill me. Maybe when he came to find me in Mosswood Forest, he was trying to save me from what he perceived as a threat. This whole time I’d thought of him as the enemy, but maybe he was loyal to my father after all and was doing what he could to protect me now.
The crows cawed overhead, diving at the Huntsman as he swatted them away. The dark sky rumbled overhead like it knew something ominous was about to happen.
Driscoll looked down at me. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
“A little late to ask her now,” Jillian said. “We need to hype her up.”
“Oh, right. You got this,” Driscoll said in a monotone voice, pumping his fist in the air weakly.
I groaned. “You guys are not helping right now.”
The Huntsman continued on his way toward the castle, to the green moat surrounding it, smoke rising from it and curling in the air. He sloshed through it, the water sizzling around his legsbut seeming to have no effect. I’d seen more than one animal disintegrate in this moat.
The Huntsman kicked in the tall wooden doors, which were now riddled with holes. The doors creaked as they opened. My breath caught in my throat. I hadn’t seen this room in over two years.
Dust covered the windows above us, and cobwebs spread across the corners. Cracks webbed across the wooden floors, and dirt and grime crusted them. Dim light flickered from the sconces on the wall. This once had been a beautiful room, filled with light and beautiful vases full of flowers and plants. It had breathed life. Now it reeked of death.
Trees, vines, and invasive plants had taken over the room. Moss crept over the walls, everything black and gray and sick.
“I knew you were useless,” a voice said from above, and I stiffened. I looked up to see my stepmother standing on the upper floor above us, looking down her nose with disdain over the broken railing. “I gave you one job,” she said to the Huntsman. “Bring me her heart. And instead, you bring her into my home, heart still beating in that chest.”
The Huntsman let out a growl and gently placed me, Jillian, and Driscoll on the floor, one by one. He stepped in front of us, a slight bend in his knees. He was readying for a fight.
My stepmother just laughed and flicked her wrist.
“Watch out!” I yelled as thick black vines punched up through the floor and wrapped around the Huntsman. He snapped them in half, but more threaded through the floor, until there were so many he couldn’t fight. They constricted around him like the legs of an octopus, tearing off his arms first, then his legs, and finally crushing his neck until he was nothing but mangled wood and plants. I covered my mouth in horror, then glared up at my stepmother.
She walked down the stairs slowly, her black dress trailing behind her, her gray eyes blazing. “You were stupid to come back here.” She flicked her wrist again, and a tree branch dipped down, caressing my back. I jumped from it. “I’d hoped to keep you imprisoned, to make you suffer like you made me suffer all those years ago. But I see now that it’s too much of a risk. While you’re still alive, there’s hope, and that I cannot have.” She smiled as she continued down the stairs, almost to the bottom now. Jillian and Driscoll joined me, standing on either side.
“So, unfortunately for you, now it’s time to die.”
The doors creaked closed behind us, and a stone settled in my stomach like a weight of heavy dread.
Chapter Fifty-Six
“It doesn’t matter if you kill me,” I said. “The mirror is gone.”
She stilled at that, considering my words. “Well, I’ll just have to find another way to ensure no one in Elwen has earth magic. After all, Sorrengard is just full of little gems they’re more than willing to loan us. I’m sure you’ve heard all about the island by now.”
I swallowed. “I know everything. My father told me the truth. Right before he died.”
“So he’s finally gone as well?”
There was a sadness to her voice that surprised me.
She smacked her red lips, that sadness gone in an instant. “It’s for the best. He died knowing I destroyed everything he loved.”
“No, you didn’t.” I stared at her, a challenge in my eyes.
“I’m looking forward to breaking you.” She walked toward me, her gown rustling against the floor. “Piece by piece by piece.”
“And for what?” I gestured around the room. “For this? For magic that’s corrupted and sick? So you can rule over a land of death?”
