“Try one hundred and twenty.”
“How is that possible? I mean, I saw her, and she didn’t look a day over thirty!”
“It’s the power of the tale. This particular fairy tale was set in motion a hundred years ago, in preparation for you.” Jared turned and stepped closer to Mina. “Think back—didn’t she seem familiar?”
“She did seem familiar, but where have I seen her before? I wouldn’t know anyone one hundred and twenty years old.”
“Come on, Mina. You have to figure this out for yourself. I can’t solve all of the tales for you. Think hard.”
Mina tried. A picture of a smiling Claire flashed into her mind, and then Claire’s face after the accident seared itself into her brain. She was no longer smiling, but somber, and then Mina knew where she had seen the woman before. “Mrs. Brimwell, the wife of Larry Brimwell, the founder of the company.” Mina remembered the unsmiling blonde woman from the mural.
“Very good. Anyone else?” Jared smiled encouragingly.
“Well, B.J. looks like the young boy, but there are some slight differences.”
“That’s because he’s not the boy from the mural. He is Brimwell, Jr. Claire’s great-grandson, although he doesn’t know it.”
“How can that be possible? How come the boy aged but Claire didn’t?”
“Because the tale didn’t need both of them to live forever, just one. The makings for the Hansel and Gretel tale were all there, so fate used what it had. It helps that Claire is part Fae and won’t age as long as she continues to bring boys and girls through the factory. The power of the tale keeps her young. She literally feeds off the energy of the youth, especially boys. I told you earlier that Fae feed off human energy and feelings.”
“But what happens now?”
“Well, you saved Hansel from being fed to the man-eater by interrupting the tour. Brimwell Jr. won’t allow any more tours for fear of a lawsuit. You, Mina, outsmarted the story’s old woman, or witch, and completed the tale.”
“But doesn’t the story end with the old woman getting pushed into the oven and burned alive?” Mina shivered at the thought. “I can’t do that.”
“You don’t have to. As long as you fulfill certain requirements of the tales, the Story will be satisfied. The heroine saved the boy and defeated the witch. The power of that tale has ended. Now the enchantment that kept Claire young will fade away, and she will age and die. When she dies, the tale will be complete.”
“Oh.” Mina was saddened. Her actions would now cause Claire to die.
“Relax, Mina, she had lived a very long and youthful life. It’s time for her to join her son and husband.”
“I feel horrible, like I’ve done something wrong.” Mina clutched her stomach and sat down on the edge of the roof. It was worse than she’d imagined. She didn’t have the stomach to do the task put before her.
“So do you see why you can’t run anymore, Mina? Your mother can no longer protect you. You’ve already completed two of the Grimm tales. Hansel and Gretel and another, lesser tale when you found the Grimoire.”
“The Bull and the Stag,” Mina murmured. “But that didn’t involve anyone dying.” She shook her head. “Jared, I think I feel sick. You should leave.”
Jared reached down and helped her back up. He kept one hand on her arm and led her to the fire escape steps.
By the time she’d maneuvered the steps to her window, Mina was so exhausted she didn’t even confront Jared on how he knew where she lived. She had begun to accept that there were numerous things about Jared she would never understand, and she was too tired to care.
She stepped off the last stair and was about to crawl through the window when she felt her knees go weak. Jared reached out to steady her. Mina’s legs were numb, and as she moved away, pinpricks of blood rushed through her lower limbs.
Jared called out to Mina when she’d safely made it over the sill. “You should keep the Grimoire close to you at all times.”
She bobbed her head in answer, never once looking him in the eyes.
“Be careful. I don’t know if you realize it, but you’re already in another fairy tale.”
Mina’s head snapped up to look at him, eyes wide. “What? Is it that obvious?”
Jared shook his head and muttered the word “hopeless” under his breath. He pointed to her jackets. “There is a reason you can’t go out of the house without wearing red hoods and you keep meeting up with Grey Tail.”
Mina let out a puff of air she didn’t know she was holding. “I know, Red Riding Hood.”
“I suspect your clothes will return to normal after you complete this tale. That is, if you live through your final encounter with the wolf.”
Jared was serious. He was trying to warn her, protect her, and prepare her. She was nearly ready to ask for forgiveness and for his help once more.