Fable (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale #3)(57)

He didn’t. They walked through three different-colored corridors, a sky blue, a golden yellow, and a soft lavender, before they entered what appeared to be the north wing of the palace. The hall was a dismal gray, the colors on the tapestries faded and drab, and even the rugs looked neglected, as if this was the wing that life had forgotten. In a palace of sun and moon and light, this wing reeked of darkness and death.

Teague came to a set of black double doors with a dead tree burned into the wood grain. Teague raised his right hand over a round metal sphere, and Mina knew it was another magical seal. A bright buzzing glow, a pop, and the sound of a lever clicking unlocked the seal. The doors opened inward, and they entered the room.

It was dark, with a pale hint of the moons’ glow coming in through the glass ceiling. It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust. The room was as big as her high school auditorium; the walls were lined with tall pillars of white marble. In the middle of the room on a golden pedestal illuminated by the moon was a book. She didn’t need any explanation to know that this was the Fae’s book.

It was large and old, and there was a resonant hum that seemed to be coming from the book, or maybe it was her imagination. As soon as she stepped into the room, the large double doors shut behind her, and a huge crossbeam slid into place, locking it. A faint purple glow appeared around the doors, and Mina knew that Teague had magically as well as physically sealed them in the room.

Teague went right up to the Fae book and placed his hand on it lovingly. He closed his eyes, and his hair began to blow around the room. It looked like he had just become stronger from touching the book. There was a large stone fireplace at one end of the room, with two wooden throne-like chairs on the other. Another fountain trickled soothingly by a wall of large glass windows. It looked like the room at one time had been a ballroom.

“So here it is, Mina. The book. I know about the Stiltskin’s backhanded deal with you to steal this book for your brother. But let me just tell you, stealing the book for him won’t complete the quest.”

Mina barely listened to Teague’s monologue as she scanned the room. There in the corner she saw it. A golden cage.

“Charlie!” she screamed, and ran to the prison. Charlie was cuddled up in the blankets just like in her dream, and he awoke to the sound of her voice. He flung off the blanket and reached his hands through the bars toward his sister.

“Oh, Charlie, sweetie. I’m so sorry I didn’t protect you. I’ll get you out of here, I promise.” Mina’s hands touched his face, his head, and then his arms, checking to see if he was hurt.

Charlie’s fingers dug deeply into Mina’s arms, and silent tears trickled down his cheeks. He pressed his little face against the bars to try to get as close to her as he could. Fresh tears poured down Mina’s face, but she ignored them.

Mina stood up and went to the lock on the cage. It looked to be a mixture of a combination lock and a magical seal.

“Unlock it…NOW.” Her voice left little room for argument.

“I can’t. You haven’t finished your tale. You must defeat the Stiltskin to win back your brother.”

“But I already have. I trapped the copper Stiltskin in the Grimoire. What more do you want?” she cried out, refusing to let go of her brother.

Teague walked over to a hidden door in the wall and opened it. On the other side was Temple Stiltskin, and he looked furious. His boots clicked ominously as he walked into the middle of the room and glared at Mina.

“You said you had nothing to do with Reid’s disappearance!” Temple roared, his hands flexing ominously by his sides. “You lied.”

“Not on purpose. He attacked me, and I had to defend myself. I’m not even sure why he was there. I was already on a quest with you,” Mina said, trying to explain.

Temple froze and turned to stare at Teague. “Did you send my youngest brother to fight a Grimm after I had already promised I would steal the boy for you? Why? I made the bargain—I said I would put together the quest for you. Why in all our worlds would you do something so underhanded?”

It was obvious that even Temple was operating in an unhappy work environment. Something was falling apart between them, and it wasn’t the most beneficial relationship.

Teague walked away from his beloved book and raised his hands in the air. “He was tired of being the youngest, the weakest. He wanted fame and glory, and came to me. He offered his services to me, and since our Grimm wasn’t in any hurry to try to save her brother, I thought I would give her a warning.”

Temple raised his hands and let out a truly broken-hearted cry.

Teague looked bored and began to tap his fingers together in impatience. “So Mina, here he is—your tale. Defeat him, and I will give you back what you have lost. Lose, and the curse will most definitely pass to him.”

“NO! You can’t do that!” she spat at him, and stood up to face the Stiltskin, then had a moment’s hesitation.

“Temple, now remember, it wasn’t I who killed your brother, but the girl. That is at least a parting gift I can give you.” Teague smiled wanly.

Temple’s eyes were red from crying, but he turned to Mina with fury burning brightly in his eyes. “I will kill you for my brother!” He flung open his jacket and pulled forth a small vial. He opened it up and dropped a small golden fang into the palm of his hand. He whispered something in the Fae language, and the fang grew longer and longer till it couldn’t be contained in his palm anymore. The tip of the fang reared its head, and a reptilian hood appeared around it. Mina could see two blood-red eyes staring at her as the fang morphed and continued to grow into a large golden cobra.