UnEnchanted (An Unfortunate Fairy Tale #1)(24)

That’s what Mina had tried to do, open up every book and see if she could find the Grimoire. It looks different according to each person that held it. So it could be disguised as a children’s book, a magazine, a bible, anything.

But maybe it wouldn’t appear to Mina, because she hasn’t proven herself worthy enough. Apparently saving Brody Carmichael’s life didn’t prove herself worthy enough. Mina was about to give up, when something white caught her eye, and she stood up. Bending down she tried to see between the shelves and over the books. There it was again, a flash of white. Following it, Mina crept along, keeping herself low to the ground. There! She caught a glimpse of white feathers. What? The feathers surprised her and she stopped in her tracks confused. Was this some kind of joke? Or maybe it was a part of someone’s elaborate costume.

After a moment lost in thought, Mina hurried to catch up to her prey. The way it moved made her realize this wasn’t human but definitely a bird. The animal made a squawk confirming her suspicions of something aviary and Mina followed it down a corridor. Maybe it was a clue and would lead her to the Grimoire. Mina finally ducked into the same isle and saw that it was a goose and it was heading toward a back emergency exit, the door opened and the bird stepped through it.

Running after the goose, Mina plowed through the emergency exit door and came into a dark back alley. The sun had set and steam rose from the sewer grates creating a sinister look. Mina saw the darkness and the hair rose on her arms in fear. Something was wrong. Turning she tried to catch the door back into the library but it had shut and automatically locked.

Mina strained to get her eyes to focus, but the one light over the door was the only light in the pitch-black alley. There wasn’t any sign or a single stray feather from the stupid white goose. It had disappeared. Another tingling feeling began in Mina’s body and she began to recognize it as a warning sign. She was reacting to the power of the Story. Something or someone was here.





Chapter 8


A low growl made Mina turn with her back to the door. A large man stepped out of a darkened doorway across the alley and came and stood before Mina. He looked primeval, with long black greasy hair, pointed nose and golden eyes that seemed to reflect the light. His chest was bare, only covered by a worn black leather biker vest.

“Give it to me and I’ll let you live.” The man’s voice rumbled deep in his chest more similar to an animal growl than a human.

“Give what to you?” Mina asked.

“The Grimoire.” The man stepped closer but still kept his distance, keeping one foot out of the protective circle cast by the light.

“I don’t know what you are talking about?” she stated. Mina was proud that her voice didn’t crack with the fear she obviously felt.

“Stupid girl. We know the Story has chosen you. Where is it?” He growled again, his lips pulling back from his teeth similar to a wolf.

“I d-don’t have it,” Mina stuttered. The man flexed his fingers and walked into the circle of light, illuminating a very realistic tattoo that covered his whole chest. The tattoo was of an enormous wolf, whose proportions looked odd and stretched as if it was trying to push through his skin. But either way, it made Mina nervous and she stepped backward away from the man and tattoo in fear.

“Then you must die.” The man with the wolf tattoo lunged at Mina and grabbed her upper arms. Mina had tried to run, but he was too fast, inhumanly fast. Screaming for help, she kicked and punched. The man hit her hard in the face and then lifted her as if she was a rag doll and tossed her off of the steps into the alley. Mina’s scream was cut short as she landed in a pile of cardboard boxes, that an employee had fortunately forgotten to break down.

The wolf man sauntered toward Mina, who was paralyzed with fear, and grabbed the front of her hoody in one fist. With a grin that told her he was enjoying this too much, he lifted Mina into the air, her Converse shoes dangling helplessly below her. His grasp on her collar choked her and Mina began to see spots. She dug her nails into the man’s hands hoping to make him loosen his hold. Blood appeared along the cuts made by Mina but it only seemed to make the man more excited at the sight of blood. Darkness began to fill her vision when she saw movement.

A loud crack split the air followed by a howl of pain. Mina was dropped to the ground and she went limp. Opening her eyes, she saw Brody standing over her attacker with a broken 2x4. She tried to tell him to run but couldn’t catch her breath, her throat was on fire. The man was stunned for a minute and then lunged at Brody grabbing his midsection, knocking him to the ground. Brody held his own and fought back because the man was still dazed. After a few unsuccessful lunges and missed punches, Mina’s attacker ran off, swearing at her.

“We will be back, one way or another, we will get it.” The man howled.

Brody was immediately at Mina’s side. “Mina, are you hurt? Are you okay?” He ran his hands gently up and down Mina’s arms searching for broken bones, but his touch sent shivers up them instead.

“I’m fine,” Mina answered, trying to shake off Brody’s warm touch.

Brody grabbed Mina’s face between his hands and searched her face for bruising. She would have a huge bruise on her cheek and her throat looked scraped and raw, but otherwise fine. Guilt washed over him in waves. Why didn’t he notice her absence sooner? Why didn’t he search the parking lot and alley first, he should have known she would duck out to avoid him. And she was attacked while under his care. He felt responsible for her.