Her tired and sore feet had carried her across the parking lot and to the parking garage when she realized her dilemma. She had come with Brody to the hospital, but she didn’t have the strength or courage to get a ride home with him. Not after witnessing their magical and awakening kiss. Collapsing on a cement parking bumper, Mina rested her head in her hands.
She pulled out the black leather book and opened it to its newest page. It was a picture of Nan sleeping on the gurney, while Brody, the four band members, Jared, Mina, and Dr. Martin gathered around her outside of a glass hospital. Mina felt her lips pull up into a wry smile. When she counted the heads out loud, she came to seven, plus a prince. She was even more surprised when she turned the page and saw another picture of Brody and Nan kissing, proving that she had completed Sleeping Beauty’s as well.
Her skin started to tingle, and a shiver of power ran up her spine. The smell of gardenias encompassed Mina, a sure sign that a Fae was opening a gate. Mina had a feeling she knew which one was coming over. A flash of light appeared and quickly dissipated. Mina refused to look. The smell of gardenias perforated the area.
“Two birds with one story,” Mina said out loud to no one in particular. “It could have been a disaster, if it weren’t for Diedre’s sacrifice.”
“Yes, it could have been, but sometimes one must sacrifice a pawn.” A woman’s voice spoke out of the darkness.
Mina turned toward the sound, but she was too exhausted to stand or give the Queen a curtsey. Maeve came and stood before Mina and raised her eyebrow at Mina’s lack of respect. Her dress was a beautiful dark blue with gold macramé overlay.
“I see you have kept your part of the bargain and reclaimed the Grimoire once again,” Maeve’s voice had a distinct royal undertone in it.
Mina found herself snorting in disdain. “No thanks to you. In fact, I was half a mind to ignore our bargain and leave the Grimoire in the room to burn. It would have saved us all a whole lot of trouble. Your kind wouldn’t be trapped anymore; I wouldn’t have to finish the stupid quests--”
“Don’t even joke about such things. You have no idea of the power of the Grimoire.” She stepped forward, and her voice rose in pitch but her face stayed impassive.
Fed up, Mina stood to confront the Queen, her anger spilling out in waves. “Don’t play me. I’m not dumb. He’s your son,” Mina yelled.
Maeve stopped moving. Only the tremor in her voice gave her away. “I have no idea what you mean.”
“Jared. He’s your son. And he is somehow bound to the Grimoire. It can’t hurt him or capture him because he is inexplicably linked to it.” Mina began pacing back and forth, her hands waving in the air, and the picture became crystal clear.
Maeve stood frozen, her chin rose high in the air, neither denying the claims nor agreeing.
“I started to piece it together when Ever said Pixies don’t get along with Ogres. If anyone knew Jared it was Ever. It’s when I figured out he had to have royal blood in him. Only the Royals can transform to multiple shapes.”
Mina threw her head back and laughed. “I get it. He’s like a genie in a bottle and that’s his prison. I can only see and talk to him when I’m in possession of the book. It’s why he disappeared the same time the Grimoire did. It’s why you wanted me to get the book back so badly. It had nothing to do with the innocent Fae being trapped inside. The Reapers work for you. They kill the Grimms whenever we come close to finishing the quest. But this one didn’t want to listen to you. You couldn’t control this Reaper. It’s because you wanted your son back safe and sound. But at the expense of what? Nan, Dr. Martin, me, and Diedre?”
The Queen’s face blanched, and she looked pained. Mina thought it was something she’d said until she saw the Queen reach out past her to someone standing behind her. Mina turned to see Jared, unmoving, he was livid. He moved forward, toward his mother. Mina backed up, thinking he would go and take sides with the Queen. Instead, he came and stood directly in front of Mina, as if he were protecting her from his own mother.
“Hello, Mother,” Jared’s voice dripped acid.
“Why, Jared,” she soothed. “You are looking well.” Her hand nervously went to her hair to pat it in place.
He ignored her. “Did Dad tell the Reaper to go after Mina?”
Maeve paled again. “No, that was an accident how he stumbled upon her. You were there; you knocked the tree down to save her from the car.”
“I know that. But was it you or Dad that told the Reaper to kill an innocent girl knowing that I would tell Mina, and she would walk into your trap.” Jared’s fists shook, and Mina could hear his knuckles cracking.
“Don’t you raise your voice to me, young man. It was your insolence that got you banished and put you in your present circumstance. It wasn’t me, but can you blame your father for trying to kill the Grimm and get the book back safely?”
“So, what? I can be trapped in limbo for years on end, waiting for the next Grimm? I’ve had it. I’m tired of being your pawn. I’m tired of you and my brother manipulating Mina for your own enjoyment. It’s sick!”