Page 142 of Happily Ever Witch
Snow White selected another knife and turned it this way and that. “Just right.” She decided. Looking calmer, she strolled towards Bluebeard with a spring in her step.
“Hang on… Now the damnbrilligsare involved?” The Mad Hatter had clearly missed some planning sessions.
“I can control them.” The Queen of Clubs sniffed. “You’re being ridiculously quarrelsome.”
“No, ‘ridiculous’ is you blocking all the Bad magic in the castle!”
“Are we back to that, now?” She demanded. “You should be glad that I blocked Bad energy. It will be easier for you to sniff out Goodness to eat.”
“I know you’re not going to pretend you did it as a favor tome.”
Bluebeard began to seriously panic. No one was stopping Snow White. No one was even paying attention to her, like they already knew what was about to happen.
The Queen of Clubs tried a different tactic with her husband. “You always do this. You put everything you’re annoyed about into one pot, so all the small arguments become onebigargument. We can never discuss one thing at a time.”
Snow White stopped to admire the eviscerated mice on the buffet, a dreamy look on her angelic face. She daintily popped a still-wriggling mouse tail into her mouth, sucking it down like a strand of spaghetti.
“You’re blocking Bad magic.” The Mad Hatter repeated slowly, like maybe the Queen of Clubs didn’t understand his point. “We didn’t ‘discuss’ that, at all. You just did ityourway.”
“Because all the ways belong to me! The queen is the only piece on the board who matters.”
The Mad Hatter crossed his arms over his chest. “Really?” He deadpanned.
The Queen of Clubs blew out a breath, as if realizing she’d gone too far. “You know I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. I’m just under a lot of stress.”
He grunted, more exasperated than offended.
Bluebeard continued to struggle, trying to get free of the Mad Hatter’s spell. No matter what he did, he couldn’t move. Not even an inch.
“Bad magic will be back this afternoon.” The Queen of Clubs promised. “I timed it to the eighth square. Everything is right on schedule.”
Marrok frowned, clearly trying to understand what the eighth square meant.
The Queen of Clubs didn’t bother to explain it. “Think of this like a big chess game, Hatty.”
“I don’t know how to play chess.”
“What difference doesthatmake? Until the eighth square, we’re both Good enough to cast spells without Bad magic. Your pocket watch works without it. Bluebeard’s spell on the wolf will stay in place without it. …But without Bad magic, Trevelyan is screwed. All heisis Bad. He won’t be able to strike at us.”
“The witch has more Good magic than either of us, though.”
“You think I’m afraid of her? Esmeralda’s not a queen. She’s a pawn and I can keep a pawn controlled. I have magic sensors on every gate and all the doorknob sentries alerted, just in case she tries to come here. Not that shewill. She knows she’s overmatched.”
Marrok glanced towards the window, like he already expected to see the witch down there, headed their way.
“I researched Esmeralda’s so-called ‘fairest magic in the land.’” The Queen of Club continued scathingly. “Even the other witches know she’s useless! The Cauldron Society barely even acknowledges her as a member.”
“Who the hell is the Cauldron Society?”
“The international federation of accredited witches. Grimhilde is their president. They’re very elite!”
The Mad Hatter groaned like that answer was the stupidest thing he’d ever heard.
The Queen of Clubs stomped a foot. “Why do you never support me?”
He pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to calm down. “I’m supporting you. When have I not supported you? I’m even making breakfast. But I’m not going to tell you an idea is smart when it’s crazy.” He pointed to his temple. “And whenIsay an idea is crazy, it’sreally fucking crazy!”
Snow White stopped directly in front of Bluebeard. Her grin was nothing but emptiness and horror. “I don’t like you, anymore.” She told him sweetly.
