Fairest (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale #2)(2)

“What does it matter if we eat a few humans every once in a while? We still pay our tithe to the courts; we still obey and appear when summoned. Who did we tick off to get you knocking at our door?” the largest one, Brown, demanded.

She felt disgusted, sick to her stomach at what she’d just heard. Did they just confess to eating humans? Mina looked around under the bridge at the empty boxes and sleeping bags and realized where they found their food. This whole time, she thought she was leading them on a chase, but instead they were herding her… to their hunting grounds. She swallowed and felt her stomach drop.

“The Story,” Mina answered unsure of what else to say. “The Story sent me after you, or should I say, sent you to me.”

“Story? We don’t want any part of that.” Brown walked closer to Mina. He flexed his shoulders and opened his hands to show her his large black claws. “We just want to conduct our business our way. What say we let you live, and you take that cursed book and never come back.”

“Sorry guys,” Mina answered trying to sound brave while her hands shook with fear. “That’s just not gonna cut it. I can’t let you continue on with what you’re doing. Story or no Story, you have to be stopped.”

The smallest bear leaned forward, saliva dripping from his teeth in anticipation as he sauntered toward her. His voice came out muffled and slurred, his bear mouth unable to form clear precise words, which was proof that the youngest spent more time in human form. “Then we will just have to take care of you ourselves.”

She looked up and all three of them began to charge her. She grabbed the notebook and flung it open, concentrating as three giant, gold bear traps sprouted from the ground. Each of the bears stopped in their tracks and began screaming in pain as, one by one, they were caught in a magical golden trap. The traps surrounded their ankles and anchored them to the ground, immobile.

Mina smiled in relief when it worked, but only for a moment as the closest bear could still reach her with his long powerful paw. She looked up in time to see him swipe for her head. She screamed and opened up the Grimoire. A pure bright light shot out of the book, making the bears shrink back in fear. She held onto the Grimoire in desperation as the book grew hot and the Fae bears continued to fight against the magical traps, while trying to dodge the light pouring from the book. Just like before, a powerful wind picked up, lifting them into the air and pulling them into its pages.

They came closer, and Mina dropped the book to the ground and moved away, scared of getting pulled into the book as well. She hid her eyes from the light and waited until the rushing wind stopped. When all was quiet, she looked around and saw that once again the book was closed. Slowly, she stood, dusted off her dirty and ripped jeans, and picked up the book to check on its contents.

What once was a blank page was now filled with a beautiful illustration--a perfect likeness of her attackers, in their true Fae forms. To the side of the three bears was the silhouette of a young girl that looked like Mina. She flipped to the beginning and saw words scrawled across the index. She had finished another quest and this one without help!

Chapter 2
“Earth to Mina! Yoo-hoo!”

“Hmm?” Mina lifted her head from its perch on the stack of books splayed across her school desk to gape at Nan.

She hadn’t heard a word her best friend had spoken in the last few minutes because she’d been staring out the school window toward the aquatics building. Any minute now he would be walking out of that particular grey building with the rest of his water polo team. She was wishing, -hoping-no praying for a chance to catch a glimpse of him. Every day it was the same: she would wait here, stare out the window, watch him walk by and hope he would turn in her direction and smile at her the way he used to. Well, not every day, just each day she had detention. And because of the narrow-minded, unforgiving Mrs. Porter, she had detention again today.

Nan spoke again.

“I’m sorry. What did you say?” Mina asked lamely, resting her head on her hand. She’d been too exhausted with her Grimm tasks and her hopeless crush on Brody to be an attentive friend lately.

“I don’t understand what has come over you these last few weeks? You’re mentally preoccupied; you’re never home; and you’ve been really secretive. If I didn’t know better, I would think you’re seeing someone. Hey, now that I think about it, you have been avoiding that new kid, Jared, like the plague.” Nan squealed in delight, her golden hair bouncing with each head bob. “It’s him isn’t it?”

Nan looked striking today in her cute skinny jeans, trendy boat shoes, sparkly blue nails, light blue band t-shirt and fedora hat. She was simply the loveliest girl in school and only had detention because of her insane habit of constantly using her phone in class. She slid onto the desk opposite Mina and leaned over, cutting off Mina’s view of outside.

Mina frowned and leaned farther out of her chair. Nan mimicked her movement and leaned with her. When Mina didn’t respond, Nan reached over and playfully tugged on Mina’s brown hair.

“Ouch, Nan!” Mina grumbled and swatted at her friend’s hand.

“Nan, what? Tell me what’s going through that square noggin of yours?”

“My head is not square.”

“No, but you sure are becoming one. You used to be a lot more fun. Tell me, is it Charlie?” Nan crossed her legs and arms trying to hide her worry. Her foot wiggled back and forth nervously.