Twice Upon A Time (Unfinished Fairy Tales #2)(22)

The Ugly Stepsister.

“How did you get my book?” I rub my eyes, but both book and goblin are still there. You’d think that waking up in a strange world is bizarre enough, but apparently, this craziness knows no end.

“Wrong. This is our book, not yours. It’s the property of Barthelius, our king.”

I don’t understand. He seems to read my thoughts, for he clicks his fingers again and the book flips open. There is a small whirring noise as the book flips itself to the last page, where the prince and the ugly stepsister get married.

“That’s you,” the goblin says. “Yes, don’t look at me like I’m mad. That girl standing on the altar is you. Didn’t you find yourself married when you re-entered Athelia?”

What Edward had told me that night comes roaring back to me now. I came into this world because I ripped a book. Can it be . . .? No, it’s impossible, but with a goblin bouncing in the air and my book flipping its pages on its own, nothing seems impossible at the moment.

“Katherine Wilson,” the goblin says. “We must get you back to the human world. You shouldn’t be here.”

I can’t believe my ears. All this time, I’ve been waiting to find a chance to get back, and this goblin that can perform magic is offering to help me? “You know my real name,” I say slowly. “You know that I don’t belong here!” Then something clicks in my head. “You are the goblin that Edward was asking me about. You’re the one responsible for bringing me into Athelia when I was in high school! You’re . . . you’re . . .”

“Krev. The one and only.”

There is no mention of a goblin in The Ugly Stepsister. Nevertheless, his name sounds familiar.

“Now, girlie, listen up. You’ve already made a mess of Athelia’s history, so in order not to let you wreak any more havoc, we need to get you back.”

Not even Beethoven’s 9th Symphony Orchestra can sound sweeter to my ears.

“You can help me get home? Right now?”

“Remember how you came into this world?”

The book, still floating in the air, gives me an idea. “Before I came to this world . . . the book appeared in Jason’s room, and I was drawn to it.” I look up, hope soaring in my chest. “So, you can get me back by traveling through this book?”

“It was powerful magic that brought you here.” He blows out his cheeks and shakes his head. “Don’t know if the spell Barthelius gave me will work, but let’s give it a try.”

Krev tells me to leave the bed and stand by the window. My heart pounding with excitement, I do what he tells me. But then I remember Edward, who is still sleeping in the changing room. “Wait,” I say, and reach for a pen and paper. No matter what, I owe him an explanation before I go. Quickly, I scribble a message that I will be going home.

“Girlie!” Krev bellows. “Make haste. The spell won’t last long!”

He starts to chant some incomprehensible words, and the book begins to glow. A current surrounds me, a magnetic force pulls me toward the book, and my feet leave the ground.

There’s a thud in the room, but I don’t look back. I’m finally going back to Portland. No more of this bizarre princess roleplaying. A twinge of guilt and sorrow pricks me when I think of Edward.

Goodbye. I’m sorry that I’m leaving you without saying goodbye to you in person, but I’m just an ordinary girl from the States. Whatever past we had will have to remain in the past. Find another bride. There must be plenty of girls eager to replace me.

A sturdy arm encircles my waist, pulling me back to the ground. I struggle and twist as hard as I can, but Edward’s grip is like a bar of iron around me.

“Let me go!” I snarl. “Get your hands off me!”

He loosens his hold, but his arms remain around me. Horrified, I watch the book shrivel up into a tiny cloud the size of my palm. I leap up and make a wild grab at it, but it vanishes.

“Wait!” I sob. “Don’t abandon me! Krev, where are you? I need you to take me back home!”

The goblin reappears where the book has disappeared, a flash of regret on his face.

“Sorry, girlie,” Krev says, “You’ll have to wait till next time.”

“What do you mean, next time? Can’t you cast your spell again?”

“Borg’s magic is too strong for my spell to work. I have to go back to the king and figure out how we can bring you back another time. Don’t panic, okay? We’ll get you out of here soon enough.”

“But I have to get home . . .”

He doesn’t listen to me. The goblin just gives me a wave and disappears in a puff of smoke.

I can’t let him leave like that. I open the window and rush out in my bare feet. There’s nothing outside, only the moon and stars against the huge black canopy of night sky.

I can’t freaking believe it. I was so close to leaving this place! And Krev didn’t even tell me when he’ll come back. Frustrated, I feel like throwing myself off the balcony, but there’s no energy left in my body. I sink down against the balustrade, unable to keep the tears from flowing.

Edward crouches in front of me.

“Kat?” He tries to wipe my tears away with his thumb. “Kat, calm down. Tell me what happened.”

I shove him away and give him the nastiest glare I can manage. “Stay away from me,” I hiss. “If you didn’t just interfere, I would have been able to go home! You’ve ruined my chance to get back to my own world!”