The Hunt for Snow Read online

  My heart sped up at something that just occurred to me. Even if Max was lying about trapping Naomi on Earth, we could still try it in order to avoid using the curse Rumpel gave us. If we didn’t use it, Cyndi wouldn’t be trapped with him. I glanced up at Belle who gave me a knowing nod. Of course, she’d already thought of this. She was smarter than maybe all of us put together. Yes, she said it was her destiny…but the funny thing about destiny is that little thing called free will. And if I needed to give free will and destiny a little shove to get them to cooperate, I would.

  I pressed my lips together to keep from saying anything to her. “As soon as she leaves the house, we need to get in there, get the necklace, and get out. Grab your weapons, and get ready to go.” We all stood. I’d lost my Sig somewhere back in the forest, thanks again to Max, but Robin was loaded up with weapons, and I still had the dagger Max had given to me earlier. He chuckled under his breath when I walked over to his cache and started digging through it.

  Everything was laid out on one of the small beds, oiled and ready to go. Arrows, knives, something that looked suspiciously like a garrote and several other nice toys. “Gimme,” I said.

  Robin handed over two more wicked looking knives, a small bow and a quiver of arrows. He also waggled his eyebrows and gestured for me to follow him to the closet. He opened it, and I gasped in delighted pleasure. Guns, guns, guns! Yay!

  “Where did you get these?” I said with awe, staring at everything in wonder.

  He gave a mysterious smile. “I made a stop before I came here.”

  I gave him a curious glance. “You didn’t answer my question all the way.”

  “Here and there in my travels.”

  I snorted. A man of few words. “These are Earth weapons. You’ve been a naughty, naughty boy, haven’t you?”

  How had he been passing over? Or a better question would be who’d been opening the portal for him? From the look on Maleficent’s face, it hadn’t been her. Instead of answering, he deflected. “Where’s your Sig?”

  I pouted. “Somewhere close to the castle grounds.” I still had my backup gun, but I’d given it to Belle earlier, and now I wasn’t sure it was big enough to do the job I needed it to.

  Robin, the gods bless him, pulled out another P226 Sig and a well-used leather holster and handed them to me. “You’ll need to adjust the holster fit, but it should do the job for now.”

  I took them with a grateful smile and shrugged on the shoulder holster. I adjusted the fit until it wrapped around me like a glove and sank the gun into the holster. I didn’t worry about checking it. Robin and I were kindred souls when it came to weapons. We both administered them with all the TLC they needed and deserved so they’d perform admirably when we needed them to.

  Belle started to hand over the backup gun, so I shook my head at her. “Keep it. We might not need it at the house anymore, but when we pass back through we’re heading straight to the castle to settle this once and for all.”

  She nodded, swallowed once, and then tugged the BUG back into her waistband. I tossed an unprepared Cyndi a small knife, thankfully inside of its case because she juggled it like a cartoon character, shrieking with surprise. “Keep that with you at all times. You never know what’s going to happen.”

  “Especially around you,” she muttered.

  I shot her a fierce grin. “Keeps you on your toes.”

  I leaned down and studied the crystal ball with Maleficent who’d remained silent during our teasing. I watched as Naomi walked out of the house and saw the destruction she’d left in her wake. I was pissed about the house, but relieved the necklace was still resting in the wooden box inside my closet.

  “Are you sure you’re up for this?” I asked Maleficent.

  She nodded once. “Anything to get this over with,” she said. “I’m weak, but I’ll be able to open the portal for at least a few minutes. You will need to hurry.”

  I studied her, noting the strain even through her regal beauty. Blue half-moons underneath her eyes stood out against the pale creaminess of her skin, and her mouth was twisted with exhaustion. “One day, I hope you’ll tell me your story,” I said.

  She met my stare, a lifetime of pain swirled inside her gaze. “Tell me yours, and I’ll tell you mine.”

  I laughed then. “Deal.” I squeezed her shoulder. “Thank you, Maleficent. Your help has been invaluable.”

  She waved a hand. “This will get worse before it gets better, and when it does, I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made,” she said and winked at me as she sent the crystal ball away and began the work to open a new portal.

  “Roosevelt,” I murmured. “Huh.” That sounded both cryptic…and final.

  The portal opened in the room, a maelstrom of light and sound. I squared my shoulders and grabbed Cyndi’s hand. “Ready?”

  She squeaked. “No. Yes. I guess. Just go.”

  I stepped in, and if I had to tug a little to get her to come in after me I didn’t judge. We stepped through and into the familiar confines of my home. I breathed in the scent of wood and the remains of the cake candle we used to like to burn during our evening wine sessions. I felt my shoulders drop as I stepped into my bedroom. “Cyndi, go raid the kitchen, and bring the things we won’t be able to get back home.”

  “Home,” she murmured. “I like the sound of that.” Robin and Belle stepped through the portal then, still holding hands.

  “You two go into the weapons room. Grab everything you can carry back. There are bags in the kitchen if you need them.” Robin nodded and pulled Belle after him, leaving me the chance to go through my things and find the necklace.

  My room was sparse by nature. I’d left home with little to my name, and the only thing I’d collected over the years was weapons. I tossed the bow and arrow Robin had given me earlier onto my bed and walked toward my closet. Most of my clothes were back at the now defunct hotel, so those were a loss. The sparse few hanging in my closet I rarely wore, so I could leave them as they were. The pretty purple bedspread lay flung across the bed, as if warning me that I was leaving a mess. Which I was. Soon enough I’d have to think about what to do with the house, my job, lots of other things. But for now, I had enough on my plate. I could get the necklace and get the heck out of here so we could take down enemy number one.

  I dug through the bottom of my closet and lifted up a panel disguised in the floor. This was where I’d kept special things to me, other than my weapons. In addition to the silk dress I was wearing on the day I was exiled, I wore the sapphire necklace around my neck, pleased and honored my father had entrusted me with it. I didn’t plan on going anywhere, but the day started off bad and before I even finished my breakfast I was scrambling through my scant belongings for things of value, then running for my life through the woods. I pulled the small wooden box up from the floor, opened it and fingered the jewelry now responsible for causing all the problems. I pushed it aside for the moment and thought about the letter in my bra. I didn’t know who it was from, but I wasn’t sure I’d ever be ready to read the words on its parchment pages. Making a quick decision, I shoved the letter down into the old box and picked up the necklace. I clicked the box shut, and I was starting to make my way out of the closet, I heard a large boom and shouts coming from the kitchen area. I spun around, shoving clothes and hangers out of the way and stood to my full height.

  “Snow!” The voice of Robin boomed through the house. “Get out! Now!” Of course, I didn’t listen to him. I had started to run out of my bedroom when Naomi appeared in the doorway.

  “You didn’t really think I believed you when you told me about this cheap little bauble, did you?” She held the emerald necklace in between her fingers, allowing it to spin, the jewel winking in the low light.

  I clenched my fingers tighter around the sapphire even as I cursed myself for falling right into her trap. “Where are my friends?” I demanded.

  She grinned. “So concerned with all the unimportant details. Just fine for no
w,” she said. “And I promise they will stay that way as long as you hand it over.”

  “Hand what over?” I asked, stalling for time.

  She stepped forward into the room and loomed in my face. “You know exactly what I mean.”

  With a twist of her hand, I heard Belle’s pained scream from out the door. I started to run to her, but Naomi stopped me, the threads of her magic winding around my ankles keeping me rooted to the floor. “Let her go!”

  “Of course. As long as you give me the necklace.” I wanted to wipe that self-satisfied smirk off Naomi’s face. I palmed one of the daggers Robin had given me, then pulled out my Sig with the other hand and fired multiple times. Who gave a damn anymore whether I killed her?

  Except, she’d been expecting it. The bullets stalled in front of her face, encased in a bubble of magic, and fell harmlessly to the floor. “You should know not to try the same thing twice, Snow.”

  “Oh, I do now.” I smiled sweetly and threw the dagger I had palmed at her heart. She feinted just in time for it to plow through her shoulder. Her scream of pain made me smile, and as her magic dropped, I ran out the door, the necklace still clasped tight in my hand.

  The portal stood in the living room still active but fading. Feeling like I was straight out of Predator, I screamed at everyone to get to the choppa. Regardless of whether they understood my movie reference, I heard the thunderous sounds of footsteps running to the portal. Naomi’s scream of rage followed me out and I felt rather than saw her next move. Malevolence broiled behind me, and as I turned to see what I was up against, I tripped over something and went sprawling ass over teakettle, the necklace flying out of my hand. I lay for a second, the breath taken right out of me, and cursed mentally. Of all the stupid things to do.

  I scrambled up, ignoring the pain in my hip, and saw my friends standing by the portal all wide-eyed. Robin quickly armed his bow and started firing off rounds as I looked for the necklace, but I couldn’t find it.

  “I can’t see her, Snow,” Robin shouted. The angry red and black cloud of magic rumbled toward us, its darkness seeping through the frame of my house and covering everything in its path.

  “Godsdamn it,” I muttered, searching frantically for the necklace. I dropped to my hands and knees, feeling underneath the couch and my favorite armchair, tears of frustration pricking the backs of my eyes. At last I spied the glint of silver a few feet away, and I scrambled over to it, only to see a pair of leather boots intrude into my vision. I looked up to see Naomi standing above me, holding one of my guns.

  “This doesn’t appear hard to use.” She pulled the hammer back, and my mouth went dry in fear. Of all the things I’d thought I’d die from, it wouldn’t have been my own gun wielded by a spell-slinging sorceress. We both looked at my friends standing there with weapons drawn.

  “Put them away or I’m going to mess Snow’s hair up. Permanently.”

  Robin blew out a frustrated breath and stood there for a moment longer. “Fire, Robin!” I shouted.

  He gave me a sad look, his hand wavering on the bow.

  “Robin of Locksley, this is your last warning.” Naomi’s hand didn’t waver as she pointed the gun at my head. From this range, no matter how bad her skills were, she wouldn’t miss.

  He let out a growl of outrage and slowly set the weapon on the floor. Belle followed, until it was only Cyndi standing there. She didn’t show her dagger, and she looked innocent enough to be unarmed. Good girl.

  With the gun trained on me, Naomi bent down and scooped up the necklace. “That’s better,” she said. She clasped it around her neck and murmured a single word. The jewel began to glow with its own internal power, and I closed my eyes in defeat. We were so close to winning. So very close.

  Instead, I’d underestimated her and led her right to our best chance. While she was preoccupied with her new precious, I inched my fingers down to the satchel at my waist. I still had Rumpel’s curse. I flicked open the heavy padding so I could reach the potion bottle, thankful to Rumpel that he made the damned thing industrial strength because it hadn’t yet broken. I pulled it out and held it at my side waiting for the right moment.

  Naomi wasn’t about to give it to me, though. She looked down at me with disdain, and as I watched a thought flickered across her face. She smiled then, a genuine terrifying smile. “I have a gift for you, Snow White.”

  “No thanks,” I muttered, afraid to move from my prone position.

  “Oh, but I insist,” she said in that sexy, husky voice. “I know you’ve done something to my Huntsman. And once I figure it out I will make you all pay dearly. But for now, I want to show you why he’s so…eager to stay in my service.” She forced me to stand, her nails cutting into my arm as she pushed the gun into my side.

  To this day I have no idea what she did to the portal, but with one twist of her elegant hand, it became sort of a two-way mirror. And through it, I saw my Huntsman before he became Naomi’s. He was gorgeous. Carefree, happy and…very much in love with someone else. My heart sank as I watched the beautiful blonde-tressed woman and him walking hand in hand through the woods. The smile on his face was genuine and loving. Different from anything I’d seen from him.

  I felt my heart rend and tear in two. My friends dropped their eyes, not wanting to see my heartbreak. After a few moments, his head bowed and dipped as he kissed his lover, and they walked into a clearing where there stood a small well-tended cottage. Flowers dotted the landscape and the porch area. Large flower baskets were hung up with care, and gorgeous plants spilled out from the top.

  The sky darkens suddenly, and my stomach turns as I realize what is going to happen. Naomi hurtles from the sky and drops to the ground, kneeling with her staff at her side. When she stands at full height, she looked terrible and beautiful all the same.

  Max pushes the blonde woman back behind him and steps forward to speak to her. I couldn’t hear what was said, but I saw the fear on Max’s face, and the delight on Naomi’s. He was about to make a choice that would forever tear him apart. When he balks and tries to draw his weapon, Naomi merely smiles and in one small but heartbreaking gesture, lightning falls from the sky and strikes his lover down where she stands. I gasp in shock as she falls, her blonde hair spread out across the ground. I would always remember the horror and anguish written all over his face.

  He falls to his knees beside her, tears streaming openly down his cheeks. I watch as he stands once he realizes she is gone. He turns to Naomi and nods once. She gathers her magic around her and binds him to her as I look on, helpless in horror.

  They converse for a moment more, his face grim and drawn, before she turns away and leaves. He stands there alone, his shoulders slumped and his head bowed. I think this is it, so I look at Naomi who shakes her head and forces me to keep watching. I sigh heavily, having seen enough of this torture until I see the cottage door open.

  My heart thumps heavy as I watch a little girl step out. I’m unable to suppress my cry of horror as I see she has the same long blonde hair of her mother. And the same forest-green eyes of Max. He motions her over and takes her hand as he leaves everything behind him and steps into Naomi’s blood-red magic.

  The only sounds in the room were my choked gasps of horror. I swiped the tears from my cheeks and wrenched my arm out of her grasp. “Your cruelty knows no bounds,” I finally said when I could breathe again.

  She shrugged. “Prophecy foretold of a day like this. I needed him so I took him.”

  “Where is his daughter?”

  Her ruby-red lips parted in a mocking smile. “Safe enough for now. She’s grown into a beautiful young woman.”

  I stiffened, wishing I was stronger and braver. Wishing I could launch myself at her and scratch my nails down her face and tear that perfect beauty apart. If it weren’t for my friends standing there in just as much danger as I was, I would have done it, even at the risk to my own life. She’d destroyed my life, she’d destroyed my villager’s lives, and she’d torn apart a h
appy family all for her own ends. There was nothing she wouldn’t do to further her own power base. And now she had the one thing that could ensure she’d have it all.

  “You have what you need. Leave,” I said, hoping all of us would make it out unscathed.

  She threw back her head and laughed long and hard. “I’ve lived thousands of years, Snow. I am not stupid.” Naomi held up the gun and pointed at me. I watched, helpless and unarmed, as her finger began to depress the trigger.

  The soft noise of something flying through the air caught my attention, and I dived out of the way. A gunshot and scream of pain rang out simultaneously. I waited for the inevitable blinding pain, but felt nothing. I looked around the room and saw Cyndi horrified and covering her mouth with her hands.

  Naomi was on her knees, Robin beside her grimacing in pain. Her long red hair was askew, and her hands covering the gushing wound in her neck. Holy shit. Little Cinderella and Robin were ninjas. I spared a moment to give her a thumbs-up and scrambled to get the gun Naomi had dropped in the chaos. Sensing my attentions, she threw a hand up and sent it skittering out of the way.

  Naomi stood up shakily. “Well,” she said in a shaky voice, “seems Cinderella has some claws.”

  A flickering behind my friends caught my attention, and I noticed with horror the weakening of the portal. Naomi saw it, too, and pushed Cyndi and Belle out of the way in a huge burst of air so none of us could jump through.

  She held up the necklace and admired it. “Looks like I don’t have to do anything at all to you, now.” She flicked a hand at the portal. “Maleficent’s magic weakens. Once that portal is gone, you won’t have a way to return.” She dropped the necklace into her pocket and gave us a wink. “But here. I’ll help it along.”

  With all of our weapons across the room, and Naomi’s magic glowing like a beacon in the night, all we could do was watch in horror as she destroyed the portal in front of us. It winked out like a dead star, leaving behind our destroyed hopes. I still had the potion in my hand, but I’d hesitated too long. We’d given up a huge part of our lives for it, and I was scared to use it because of what would happen to Cinderella. There had to be another way. With a snap of her finger, she opened up the staircase back into her castle, blew us a kiss and disappeared without any further departing words of wisdom.