Fable (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale #3)(34)

“Yeah, I just—”

The troll opened its eyes focused on Mina. They were filled with such hate and anger that she began to tremble. Its gaze was powerful and intense, and she felt rooted to the spot, unable to move. The Baldander squeaked and disappeared off her shoulder to disappear who knows where.

Constance came between them, cutting off the troll’s gaze with her body.

“Mina, it’s okay. Don’t look in his eyes. He can’t hurt you unless you make eye contact. We’re so used to him that we no longer see him, which is why he is disappearing into the wall.”

Mina felt herself begin to regain control of her body and breathe easier. “What is he? Why is he there?”

Mei was the one who answered. “He was sent by the dark prince to destroy our headquarters over twenty years ago, and he’s been frozen there ever since. It happened on an October morning. All but three of the GM headquarters were destroyed. He’s been imprisoned since then.”

“That’s horrible.”

“Would you rather we kill him?” Constance asked. “He can’t do anyone harm there, and he’s alive, which is more than I can say for the hundreds of Fae he killed years ago. Right now, he’s frozen, and slowly he’ll turn to stone.”

“Are there more like him?”

Constance nodded. “The troll in Seattle is almost completely stone. He’s under the Fremont bridge. Just don’t look them in the eye, or you’ll crumble under their hate.”

Mina was able to pull her gaze away and follow the two Fae women back into a small office with round table. She sat in the closest chair and felt as if her feet were encased in stone. She looked around and saw that there was a giant map on the wall covered with glowing dots that she could only assume were Grimms, or persons of interest. Large pictures lined the wall, and she recognized them as her family tree. She saw her Uncle Jack, her father, and others—all strangers, but she could still see a familial resemblance.

Mei saw where Mina was staring and pointed out a blank spot proudly. “Your picture will eventually go here.”

“What is this place?”

“These pictures represent all of the Grimms who have been cursed. It represents our call to action. Our call to help.”

“Why are there so many?”

Mei look disturbed and refused to make eye contact with Mina.

Constance cleared her throat, and her hands fluttered nervously. “These portraits don’t represent the living, Mina. These portraits represent the Grimms who have passed because of the curse.”

“So you’re saying that spot…that blank spot…is for my portrait—when I DIE! You people are disturbing.” Mina shot up from the table and knocked over her chair, getting ready to make a beeline out of the door.

“Stop, Mina. You know more than anyone that you can’t run from your destiny. Yes, many Grimms have come and gone. Most of them didn’t make it past their first quest, mostly because they didn’t have what you had. They didn’t have the Grimoire. Have you not been studying the tales? Has Jared not been explaining things to you?” Constance asked.

“Yes and no,” she replied grudgingly. “Can a Fae ever say anything outright without hiding it behind innuendos and half-truths? Sometimes I’m not even sure I should trust him.”

“You’re absolutely right—you can’t fully trust him. But never mind that for now. The Grimoire came to you. You have an even bigger chance of beating this because you have figured out the Grimoire’s secret. You’re stronger than the rest.”

Mina had to close her eyes and calm her heart and listen to them. She came here for help. She was probably the first mortal to ever step foot in the GM’s headquarters.

“Okay, tell me about the Grimm curse, from your side.”

Constance leaned forward and let her hands rest on the table in front of her. “Well, you already know that the Story prefers males. We believe this is because he thinks they’re the stronger adversary. And the Story tends to choose the next Grimm from the closest living male relative, which is why it went from your grandfather to your uncle to your father. After your father died, the Story would have to pick another male Grimm, so Sara thought it would go after some distant second or third cousin, and that you two would be free from the curse. But you know as well as I that a few weeks after your father’s funeral, your mother found out that she was pregnant.

“Sara was extremely frightened and worried, and told Terry all of her worst fears of it being a boy, and the curse never leaving her family alone. Terry, using magic, was able to determine the sex of her unborn child. When your mother learned that she was carrying the next boy Grimm, she became hysterical, refusing to eat, sleep, and work. Finally, Terry, tired of watching and being unable to help her charge, begged us to intercede, and we did. We did something we promised we never would do. We intervened on an unborn Grimm. We cast a spell to make him invisible to the Story, to make the Story look elsewhere for his next Grimm.”

“That’s why Charlie is the way he is?” Mina gasped, and started to cry in relief. “I knew he was special, I knew he…” she sobbed, and Mei came over and hugged Mina and let her cry out all of her worries and frustrations.

“Yes, it is our fault that Charlie is different. He is harmless and of no interest to the Story, but the Story knew he had been duped. He always came back year after year to see if there had been a change. To see what had happened to his next Grimm. I think that is when he became interested in you, Mina,” Constance said sadly.