A Grimm Legacy (Grimm Tales) (22 page)

Andi tuned back into Wilhelm
’s story just in time to realize she was completely lost.

He watched her with raised eyebrows, and Andi shot in the dark. "How
did
you know?"

Wilhelm chuckled and ran a light finger along the frame of her face from her brow to her chin, tilting his head to look her in the eye. "Someone's mind has been wandering."

A shiver ran down Andi's spine and she struggled to refocus herself. She gave him a half smile. "Sorry, my mind is a little scattered tonight."

"I said we used my mother's magic mirror. It's a close guarded family secret. It can see anywhere, so of course it's the perfect spying tool for the
more
…
delicate negotiations in court,” Wilhelm said.

Andi
’s ears pricked up at the word
s
‘magic mirror.’ That definitely had potential. Elorium’s very own version of GPS. Her mind began to race with possible scenarios for getting Wilhelm to take her to it.

"Wilhelm, there are so many people here. Do you know everyone?" Andi asked.

The prince scanned the room. "Just about. No other handsome men catching your eye, I hope?"

"I actually don't recognize that woman. Do you know her?" Andi titled her chin in
the direction of the woman in the green dress and flowers. Wilhelm sat up straighter for a better look.

"Dame Gothel? I know of her. She
’s an enchantress of limited ability and gets called to the castle on occasion when someone is sick. She has a small gift for healing. Why do you ask?"

"She just reminds me of someone I know." Andi dodg
ed the question best she could.

Dame Gothel's gaze passed over Quinn several times as she continued to dance her way across the ballroom. Andi's worry ratcheted up a notch now that the strange woman
’s interest in her friend was confirmed.

A man in Shakespearean costume, complete with hose, doublet, and absurd-looking breeches passed through her field of vision. He had a dark goatee and mustache, but that didn
’t keep Andi from recognizing him.

"I
’m going to the powder room, but you'd better be ready to dance when I get back," she said breezily to Wilhelm before bolting after the man.

Andi wove her way through one of the arches, catching Quinn's eye as she went. Shouldering people aside, she tried to be quick without drawing attention to herself. She stood in the middle of the crowd and scanned the faces. He was gone.

Jerking her head at the ladies room, Andi ducked inside with Quinn on her heels. While Andi checked all the stalls, Quinn locked the door. They sank down on the couch in the lounge area.

“
I saw Mr. Jackson!” Andi gasped.

"What?
”

A knock sounded on the door. A
ndi shared a glance with Quinn.

"Just a moment," Quinn called.

"I don't think it can wait!" Dylan shouted back in a singsong voice.

Quinn unlocked the door, letting Dylan and Fredrick slip inside.

“Mr. Jackson’s here!” Andi repeated for the boys’ benefit.

“
Where?” Fredrick said, spinning in a circle as if he expected to find him in the woman’s bathroom.

“
He’s dressed like Shakespeare,” Andi explained. “He had on a fake beard and hat, but it was definitely him.”

Andi caught the look that passed among the others.

“I’m not making it up!” she said hotly.

“
We don’t think you are,” Quinn said, placing a hand on her elbow. “But if he’s here, why hasn’t he tried to contact one of us? He helped last time, with the giant.”

“
I don’t know,” Andi said, exasperated at being expected to know someone’s motivations.

"We
’ll have to talk about it later,” Fredrick said. “Did you find out anything?”

"The prince thinks I'm Cynthia.
Apparently, he can't tell a difference,” she said, only sulking a little. “He doesn't know where the passageway is. But guys, there’s a magic mirror here somewhere. If we can find it, maybe it can tell us the way home.” Andi paused and stared at her toes, unsure how to say the next bit. “I don't know why Cynthia left in the first place. Wilhelm adored her."

"It
’s because he’s a manipulative, possessive, control freak," Dylan said, examining a fingernail.

"How would you know?
” Andi fumed quietly. “You haven’t noticed anyone not falling out of their dress all night.”

“
Guys, we don’t have time to get into it right now,” Quinn said. “Dylan?”

"None of the guests really knew who Cynthia was, which keeps with the story. Molly, one of the kitchen maids, remembers seeing her wandering alone in the west wing of the castle during the last feast.
” He perched on the arm of the couch, not meeting Andi’s eyes. "She said it was odd, because it's the royal family’s private quarters."

"Who'll be able to get back there
, then?" Quinn asked.

Andi's stomach gave a roll that could have been nerves or excitement. She was positive she could get Wilhelm to take her, but she wasn't sure if she wanted to ask him or not.

"No sweat, Molly's already offered." Dylan thumbed his lapels and grinned wolfishly at Andi. "Would love to give me a 'private tour.’"

"You
’ve got to be kidding me.” Quinn raised an eyebrow at him.

Dylan put on a wounded face. "I keep telling you, I have a way with the ladies.
”

Andi bristled, pretty sure Dylan was all talk, but spitting mad all the same.

"Fine. I don't have much, just the name of Cynthia's best friend right before she disappeared." Quinn made sure of their undivided attention. "Rapunzel.”

“
The really long hair, locked away in a tower, Rapunzel?” Andi asked.

“
At this point, I think it’s safe to assume that’s the one. I don't know if it connects in any way, but keep it in mind." Quinn glanced at the door. "We'd better go."

Voices bounced around outside and the
door wiggled against the lock.

"Get in the stalls, quick!" Andi shoved both the boys in the same stall, making sure to push Dylan harder than necessary, and banged the door closed as Quinn popped the lock on the bathroom door open and stepped back quickly from the door.

"Here it goes. Must have been stuck.”

An elderly woman used her cane to propel open the door, followed closely by what appeared to be her nurse. Andi flashed them a nervous smile as they tottered past before the door swung closed and she headed back to
her prince.

“Now if you'll excuse me, I have an adorable maid to win over."

Dylan was stuck in a bathroom stall with Fredrick for several awkward minutes before Quinn provided a distraction to get them out, of the girl's bathroom unseen.

He tried to speed past as soon as they were free, but Fredrick grabbed his arm.

"What?" Dylan snapped when he couldn't shake Fredrick off immediately.

"Lay off a bit.
”

"He
’s been all over her the whole night!” Dylan spat. He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I don't trust him. There’s something a little too slick about him.”

"I don't trust him either. Keep an eye on them, just consider toning it down,
” Fredrick said.

Dylan caught sight of Quinn exiting the ladies room,
headed in their direction.

"Consider it,
” Fredrick repeated as Quinn approach. He turned on his heel, letting his long legs take him swiftly back to the ballroom.

"What was that about?" Quinn asked
, staring after Fredrick with a wistful glance. The look wasn't lost on Dylan, but he didn't comment on it. They were going to have to work that out themselves.

"Guy talk.
” Dylan ran a hand lightly over his tux front. “Now if you'll excuse me, I have an adorable maid to win over."

"Dylan." Quinn caught his hand with hers and pulled him to a stop. "Are you comfortable with this? Because if you
aren't we'll find another way."

Instead of answering, Dylan spun her hand in his, brought it to his
lips and gave it a sloppy kiss.

"Sometimes you've just gotta take one for the team." He rolled his eyes up to hers, sparkling with the joke, his face still hovering over her hand.

He didn’t sidetrack Quinn.

"Dylan?" she insisted.

He dropped her hand and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "You are far more intuitive than is good for you. Really, are you going to make me say this?"

"Yep."

"It’s not like I haven’t used my—talent—to talk people into stuff before. You know, I talked myself out of a night in jail once,” he recalled.

"Seriously? What did you do?"

"Long story involving a prank with some lobster traps,” Dylan said, smiling at the memory. “It runs in the family. You should have seen my grandfather persuade people to do things. Although he didn’t use his abilities for such nefarious deeds, as he put it.”

Remembering his grandfather was like a wonderful ache he got from pushing his body to its physical limit, but it was still painful.

"The…devious individuals I usually end up manipulating one way or the other deserve it. Molly is—she’s different."

“
The kitchen maid?” Quinn clarified.

Dylan nodded and stuffed his hands deep in his pockets
.
“But we have
got
to get out of here, and this is our best chance. Andi can’t be left with that overbearing jerk another minute.”

He took off down the corridor, sure he could feel Quinn
’s eyes boring into back.

Dodging countless guests, each decked out in more finery than the last, Dylan wove his way toward the kitchens. He ducked inside the stainless steel double doors and, trying to stay out of the way of th
e mad rush, searched for Molly.

He found her carefully icing a tray of cakes about to leave the kitchens. Slightly plump with apple cheeks, she had tendrils of dark brown hair escaping from her cap and clinging to her neck. She was focused on her work and biting her bottom l
ip as she kept her hand steady.

"Molly! Pssst, Molly!" Dylan staged whispered, trying not to attract unwanted attenti
on.

A strong pair of fingers clamped onto his ear and he yelped.
A diminutive woman glared up at him from under sleek gray eyebrows. "Mr. Peterson, vat did I tell you about loitering in my kitchen?"

"Kochien, how can you be mad at me when you know it's your streusel that lures me in?
” Dylan asked, trying to grin at her through tears of pain.

She released his ear. "Streusel, yah?" she challenged e
yeing Molly across the kitchen.

The dark haired kitchen maid watched the spectacle with wide eyes while the icing dripped unnoticed onto the counter.

"Well, the streusel…”—he grabbed Kochien’s hand, twirled, and dipped her low as the staff looked on in amazement—"and you, of course."

Something clattered loudly as one of the staff dropped a pot. The cook laughed and the wrinkles around her eyes took over her face as she slapped Dylan's arm.
He stood her up straight.

Still chuckling
, she waved Molly over. "You, here."

Molly scurried over with the pastry bag still in hand. The cook plucked the icing out her grip and tossed it to a dish boy too close to the fray. "Fifteen minute break. Get out of here.
” She turned back to the gaping kitchen staff, "Faule Schweine, back to work!"

Dylan grabbed Molly's hand and bolted
.

"Wait, I need to catch my breath," Molly said, leaning against a wall and panting.

Dylan crossed his arms and leaned next to her. "That was quite a getaway."

"Oh my goodness, I was terrified. For a second I was sure she was going to eat you alive
… and then she laughed. She never laughs. Ever." She looked carefully at his face. "You didn't slip her something, did you?"

"Why do people always jump to that conclusion?" Dylan said with a frown.

"Oh gosh, I've offended you.” She covered her mouth with one hand. “I'm so sorry."

Dylan couldn
’t remember the last time he’d met someone so genuine and naive. She threw him slightly off balance. "Molly, there’s one thing you're going to need to know about me: very few serious things come out of my mouth.”

She looked at him blankly.

Dylan struggled to keep his face serious. "I'm kidding, Molly."

"Oh, I'll remember next time." She nodded as if actually making a mental note.