Love Spell: Book 2 of The Grimm Laws (33 page)

Regret tinged his features as he reached for her hand. “I’m not blind anymore.”

She offered him a tiny smile, placing her other hand over his. “Neither am I.” A feeling of relief settled over her, but it was quickly extinguished in the next second when Adele opened her wretched mouth.

“This is all well and good, but the two of you will never have a true reconciliation until the entire truth comes out. One must clean out the wound before throwing a band-aid over it.”

Wisteria wanted to take those wormy curls of Adele’s and wrap them around her neck. Now was certainly not the time to open old wounds. “You know, if I were you, old bag, I’d stop interfering. My powers are returning, and when they do—”

Adele’s laugh cut her off short. “
Old bag
? My, my, the bite has returned with a vengeance.” Her eyes narrowed. “Save it, Wisteria. I’m not the enemy here. In fact, I am the only one who can help you, dear.” She peered over her glasses. “Tell him the rest. Tell him the real reason you sent Rushton with the company of men.”

Wariness crept into Alexander’s voice. “What is she talking about?”

She blew out a breath and withdrew her hand from Alexander’s. “Okay, I did have another reason for sending Rushton with your men.” She cringed at the next part, knowing that this was not going to sit well with Alexander. There was no way to tiptoe around it. She decided to plunge in and get it over with. “Griselda was the dragon that attacked. I orchestrated the entire thing, so that I could remove Rushton from Cinderella’s grasp. The intent was to force Cinderella to get engaged to Edward.”

“And to seal the deal by having the engagement written into The Grimm Laws,” Adele added.

Wisteria’s heart sank when she saw the look of disgust that twisted over Alexander’s face. He looked at her like she was a monster. “How could you? Griselda killed an entire company of men!” he roared. “Those men had wives and children who depended on them!”

“I didn’t realize that Griselda was going to kill all of those men. And I certainly never imagined that she would end up with the bloodstone. My only desire was to protect Rushton from Cinderella.” She swallowed hard as the weight of her actions settled like a block of concrete on her chest. “I made critical mistakes.” The horror of it all overtook her as she put a shaky hand to her mouth. “I will forever have to live with the terrible knowledge of what I did.”

Alexander leaned forward and pressed his fingers into the bridge of his nose.

Wisteria turned to Adele. “Are you happy now?” she spat.

“You must clean the wound before it can heal.”

“No, you’re wrong. Some wounds are too deep to heal.” She hugged her arms, tears forming in her eyes. “I guess Alexander and I are a lost cause.” She let out a humorless laugh. “I suppose it was always too good to be true. There’s no such thing as soul mates. We’ve been living in a dream world this entire time.”

At that, Alexander sat up and looked at her. “No, you’re wrong. I love you.” He reached for her arm, but she yanked it away.

“Don’t,” she said.

“Don’t what? Love you?” He caught her arm and held it so that she couldn’t pull away. “We are not a lost cause, Wisteria. I’ll be the first to admit that we’ve made our share of mistakes.”

“We are tarnished individuals, Alexander.” Tears gathered in her eyes. “Don’t you get it? No matter what we do here in this realm, we can never undo the past.”

“We are already changing the past. It is our love for each other that will save us in the end.”

Despite her best efforts to crowd it out, a tendril of hope sprouted inside her.

His eyes pled with hers, and in that moment, she saw again the young prince that she’d fallen in love with all of those years ago. “Please don’t shut me out this time,” he continued. “The only way we can get through this is if we are united.”

Silence settled between them, each of them lost in their own thoughts. The only other sound in the room was the crackling fire.

Finally, Adele spoke. “When Griselda gained possession of the bloodstone, she, in essence, gained portions of your powers. She is using the bloodstone to speed up the clock.”

“What does that mean?” Alexander said.

“I didn’t know exactly what it meant … at first. But Merek has since sent out spies to gather information.”

Wisteria arched an eyebrow. “I wasn’t aware that Merek utilized spies.”

Adele flashed a smile. “I know you do not think highly of Merek because you have always been envious of his close relationship with Alexander.”

Heat pricked over Wisteria. She thought about denying it, but considering Adele could read her thoughts, she knew it would do her little good.

Alexander looked surprised and a little pleased at this revelation. “Jealous, huh,” he murmured.

Wisteria smirked. “Don’t believe everything the old bag says.”

Adele chuckled. “Merek is much more capable than you give him credit for being, my dear. And contrary to what you think, he has a high regard for you.”

“Yes, I noticed that the last time he tried to kill me,” Wisteria said dryly.

“Ah, yes, I remember that incident well.” She lifted an eyebrow. “You brought that on yourself. You were being a bit of a menace, dear. Don’t forget that little tidbit.”

The fire suddenly felt too hot as she pulled at the collar of her blouse. “Point taken,” she muttered. She could tell from the vindicated look that Adele was giving her that the old woman relished hearing her admit it.

Amusement twinkled in Adele’s eyes. “Yes, I do appreciate the admission … even though I don’t appreciate being called
old
.”

Alexander looked confused. “What’s she talking about?”

“Oh, never mind, it’s not worth explaining.” Wisteria waved a hand in the air. “Can we get back to Merek?”

“Oh, yes, I’ve gone off topic again. As I was saying, thanks to Merek, I have a pretty good idea of what Griselda is planning to do. You see, everything is building up to Elle’s seventeenth birthday next week.”

Wisteria made a face. “Birthday? What does Elle’s birthday have to do with anything? Are you sure Merek’s source is correct?”

“Well, we can only hope. Otherwise, we’re fighting a losing battle. But it does make sense. Since Elle is the bridge that has made it possible for us to come to this realm, everything hinges on her. She has only caught a glimpse of the first key thus far. She must actually gain possession of the first key before she can progress to the second and third.”

“But there was no time limit,” Alexander countered.

Adele held up a finger. “Ah, there was no time limit … originally. But now that Griselda has the bloodstone, she can manipulate the plan to her liking. Griselda has added her own addendum—an addendum which has the potential to strip not only the two of you of your powers but Merek as well.”

Alexander balked. “That’s impossible! Only Merek has enough power to initiate a plan of such magnitude.”

Wisteria thought for a minute, her mouth growing dry. “No, that’s not true. Only a guardian has the power to initiate a plan.”

“Exactly,” Adele said. “Griselda is Merek’s sister, and like him, she was once endowed with the great responsibility of being a mentor or guardian to the human race.” A shadow crept over her face. “Until she chose a dark path. Before she gained possession of the bloodstone, Merek was able to keep her in check.” She paused. “But now … now I’m afraid that things have changed. Her power is growing daily—as is evidenced by those monstrous shadow crawlers.” She shuddered.

“How do we stop her?” Wisteria couldn’t bear the thought of being stripped of her powers. In her opinion, that was a fate worse than death.

“There’s only one way Griselda can be stopped, and that hinges on Elle. Elle must gain possession of the first key before the clock strikes midnight on her birthday, or all will be lost.” Adele sat back in her chair, eyeing them both.

Wisteria made a face. “Midnight? Why midnight?”

Adele spread her hands. “Those are the terms Griselda has set forth in her addendum. I did not make the rules, dear, but now that they are established, we need to find a way to ensure that Elle gets the first key before the deadline.”

Wisteria scooted to the edge of her seat. “Okay, so how do we make sure that happens?”

Adele tucked a curl behind her ear. “We can’t force Elle to do anything. That part of the plan is still in tact. She must find the key on her own.”

Wisteria wanted to scream! “Great! Once again, everything hinges on the most unreliable person on the planet!” She groaned, raking her hands through her hair. “I should’ve gotten rid of that girl when I had the chance.”

Adele leaned forward, closing the distance between them. Indignation flashed in her eyes. An unseen power whooshed around the room before it gathered around Adele. “For all of your intelligence, you are as blind as a bat in this one regard. Elle is one of the most courageous young girls I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. We have to have faith in her.” She pointed an accusing finger at Wisteria. “And you … it’s high time you put aside this silly vendetta you have against her. Your son can no more deny his love for her anymore than you can deny your love for Alexander. Stop kicking against the pricks, as they say in this realm, and accept the truth! Otherwise, all that you love will turn to ashes. Despite what you think, the events in this realm do have the power to repair the past. Happiness is in your grasp, Wisteria, if only you’ll have the good sense to recognize it and change your ways!”

The words were more powerful than any brute force could’ve been as they sliced through the room like a sword, cutting Wisteria to the quick. She sat there, stunned into silence, not bothering to wipe away the tears that were streaming down her face.

Adele turned to Alexander. “Our conversation has come to a close. You need to get to the hospital …
quickly
!”

A
fever was burning
in Aalexander, and it was all he could do to sit still upon the throne. The trial was well underway, and they were nearing the crucial point—Cinderella’s testimony. The critical factor that would change everything. The great hall was filled to capacity, and there was a sense of restlessness to the crowd. The majority of the higher-ranking courtiers came out of duty, and after they’d occupied their designated seats, the peasantry was allowed to fill in the remaining spaces. Many of the peasants came to get a glimpse of the inside of the palace. A few others, perhaps, came in support of Cinderella, one of their own. The majority, however, came in search of that gruesome entertainment that the poor in mind craved. For years, there had been whispered rumors that Wisteria was practicing magic; however, none dared to accuse her. Since her “arrest” where she had been confined to the West Wing of the castle, the rumors had ignited into a full-blown fire. Most were here today in the hope that Wisteria would be found guilty. They wanted to see her burn. Aalexander clenched his jaw and glared out at the crowd. No doubt the buzzards were circling, but if he had anything to do with it, they would leave today hungry and unfulfilled. No one was going to hurt Wisteria. No one!

The maid Millicent had been the first to testify. In careful detail, she explained how Cinderella’s demeanor had changed the moment she read Rushton’s letter. “I could sense a sinister spirit hovering over mi’ lady immediately after she read the letter.” She began to fan herself furiously with her hand. “I knew mi’ lady was headed for disaster, but there was little I could do to save her,” she wailed, tears flowing down her cheeks.

The whole display was sickening and effective. Aalexander doubted the maid had shed a single sincere tear. She’d obviously been coached by Loreena and her calculating cohort Seraphina. But the council had lapped up every word like greedy dogs, gorging themselves on their own vomit.

Next, the captain of the guard testified. He told how distraught Cinderella was on that night when she was caught with Rushton. “The poor princess was terrified,” he said. “Having seen the princess at various other times, it is my firm belief that she was under the influence of a spell that night. Her face was flush and her demeanor heightened to frenzy. There was a peculiar look in her eyes.” He shivered. “A look that has haunted me ever since. ‘Twas the look of a tortured soul.”

Seraphina then told how deeply in love Cinderella was with Edward. “He is the light of her life,” she said with glowing eyes that seemed to look through the palace walls and straight up into the heavens. “She loved Prince Edward from the moment she saw him. Rushton meant nothing to her. I can assure you that my daughter never would have agreed to meet that black-hearted knave on her own accord. She was most assuredly under the influence of a spell.” Seraphina had narrowed her eyes and pointed accusingly at Wisteria. “A spell that was conjured by that woman.” The crowd had roared at this, and the council members began talking furiously amongst themselves.

The biggest surprise came when the chemist was summoned to give his testimony about the vial of potion that was found on Rushton. He walked into the throne hall with stooped shoulders and a shuffled gait. There were dark circles under his eyes like he’d not slept in days. When the judges asked him to hand over the vial in question, his tongue seemed to get lost somewhere inside his scrawny throat as his eyes darted around the hall like a frightened mouse.

“Hand over the vial and then give us thine expert opinion,” Aalexander commanded, his voice coated with impatience. “Is the potion a love spell?”

The chemist swallowed. “Your majesty, I regret to inform thee.” He hesitated.

Aalexander leaned forward, a furrow appearing between his brows. “I demand that you speak!”

“I no longer have possession of the vial.”

A murmur went through the crowd.

“What say you?” Aalexander said, eyeing him.

“I am uncertain how it happened, but I no longer have the vial,” the chemist repeated. His face was as pale as the marble floor, and he looked like he might faint at any moment.

“How did you lose possession of the vial?” Aalexander said.

“It was stolen from my laboratory, sire.”

Members of the audience began talking furiously amongst themselves. Aalexander pounded his scepter on the floor, even though he was inwardly relieved. This was good news. Having no physical evidence would make it more difficult for a guilty verdict to be rendered. His eyes connected with Wisteria’s, and he was not the least bit surprised when she gave him a triumphant look. She really was something. Somehow, she’d managed to destroy the vial, even though he’d kept her under lock and key. She was his equal in every way. Aalexander held up his hand to quiet the crowd. “’Tis indeed unfortunate that we no longer have the vial in our possession,” he said gravely. He looked directly at the chemist. “What is thine expert opinion? Was the vial a potion that could be used in conjunction with a love spell?”

The old chemist began to physically shake. “I am sorry to say, sire, that I do not know. I was only beginning to perform the necessary tests when the vial was stolen.”

Aalexander stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I see.” He waved a hand. “You are dismissed.”

The chemist hurried from the room.

Aalexander looked at the council. “We shall no longer dwell on the evidence we do not have but will continue with that which we have.”

The council members looked like they might argue, but when Aalexander gave them a firm look, they clamped their mouths shut and nodded.

Under Merek’s direction, the council had been established to serve as the first judges. They would hear all of the testimonies and would then come up with a verdict. Their verdict would be taken before Merek, who would offer his verdict. In most cases, Merek and the council would come to the same conclusion; however, if a dispute arose, then King Aalexander would make the final decision. For all trials of significance, Aalexander would make the final judgment call. Never in the history of his rule, had Aalexander ruled against the opinion of the council and Merek. He hoped and prayed that he would not have to do so today. As long as things went according to plan, the door could be opened, and this silly trial would be null and void.

Wisteria was glaring at him, and he knew that she was trying to get him to look at her—to lock eyes with him so that she could control him. He could feel the heat of her anger even from across the room, and it took every amount of effort he could summon to ignore her. That he would be so keenly aware of her presence in a crowded room was both astonishing and disconcerting. No wonder Merek was worried. Was Merek right? Was his preoccupation with Wisteria making him weak? She was all he thought about—all he longed for. His eyes went to Loreena, sitting so stiffly with that pinched expression he hated. He could almost see the cold blood running underneath her papery skin. How lifeless she was in comparison to Wisteria. What would happen to her when the door opened? Poor Loreena. He felt a wave of pity for her. Loreena was like a child in many ways. She really believed that executing Wisteria would somehow erase the memory of her from his life. As if the earth could ever forget the sun that gave him light. How naïve she was—his need for Wisteria knew no boundary. Loreena could carve out his heart and lay it on a stone, and his yearning for Wisteria would still live.

He knew now that he should’ve never married Loreena. He’d thought at the time that if he married then it would erase the sting of Wisteria’s betrayal. Maybe he was the naïve one. He knew now that his connection with Wisteria—be it love or hate—was stronger than him, stronger than any of them. And soon they would join forces to open the door that would offer him another chance. A chance to be the man he should’ve been before. He felt a surge of exultation, but it fast turned to fear. What if something went wrong? He glanced at Edward who was the picture of confidence. Every so often, looks kept going back and forth between him and Cinderella. Edward had persuaded Cinderella to testify against Rushton, he was sure of it. A part of him admired the way Edward handled the situation; however, things would not go according to Edward’s plan. Edward was smarter than he gave him credit for, but Aalexander was a few steps ahead of him.

Lynessa’s return to the castle was a surprise. It was no doubt a ploy by Wisteria that was intended to divert Edward from Cinderella. To his credit, Edward had refused Lynessa’s advances. It was possible that he truly loved Cinderella after all. Only time would tell.

Merek had wanted Aalexander to bring Wisteria into the plan prior to the onset of the trial, but Aalexander refused. Even though it would be painful to witness her distress, it would only last for a moment. He wanted her to know that he, Aalexander, would be the one to save her in the end. He wanted to show her that he was still in control—that he could fix things.

He looked at Merek who gave him an imperceptible nod. The end was nearing. It was almost time for Cinderella to take the stand.

C
inderella was so
nervous she could hardly breathe. Seraphina and Josselyn were sitting on either side of her. Their presence was a not-so-subtle reminder that they were expecting her to testify that she’d been under the influence of a spell. She clasped her clammy hands in her lap and tried to will herself to remain calm.
It will all be over soon
, she told herself.
Think of Edward! Think of Edward!
Rushton was long gone and would not be hurt by anything she said.

King Aalexander’s voice boomed through the room, crowding out her thoughts for the time being. “Noble members of the court. Honored citizens of the kingdom. We have heard many important testimonies that have helped to shed light on this perplexing trial. We will now hear from the Princess Cinderella. As was the case with all of those that have testified, she will be under the solemn obligation to tell the truth.” He gave her a meaningful look. “The complete and utter truth.”

As Cinderella stood, her gaze met Wisteria’s. Perspiration beaded across her forehead and upper lip.
She knows! She knows I’m going to testify against her. She knows I’m going to lie.
Panic fluttered in Cinderella’s breast. “I cannot do this,” she whispered to Seraphina.

“Do not make eye contact with that witch. She is trying to scare thee. You must stay the course.”

Cinderella started shaking her head back and forth. “Nay, I cannot do this.”

Seraphina dug her fingernails into Cinderella’s arm. “Look at Edward,” she hissed. “Do it now!”

Her eyes met Edward’s, and he gave her a reassuring smile. She remembered the feelings of security that had flooded her the night before. She would be okay. This was only a small moment in time, and then it would be over. Edward’s smile gave her the courage to walk up and take her place on the stand.

A skinny man with a large mustache and watery eyes stepped up to her. His back was curved and his shoulders floppy, reminding her of a writing quill that could be tossed to and fro in the wind without effort. The king motioned for him to begin.

He cleared his throat and spoke in a commanding voice that seemed incongruent with his frail body. “Princess Cinderella, tell us what happened on the day ye received the letter from Squire Rushton.”

“The letter was delivered a short time after the start of the morning meal.”

The man stroked his mustache thoughtfully. “I see. How was the letter delivered?”

Cinderella glanced at Josselyn who was sitting white-lipped with a stricken expression on her face. Josselyn had slipped her the letter during the morning meal, but there was no way she was going to implicate her sister. Josselyn had told her afterwards that she had no idea that Rushton was going to ask her to sneak out and meet him at the chapel. “He told me he was writing to say goodbye,” Josselyn had uttered through tears.

“The porter gave it to me,” she said quickly and then looked down at her hands. Her heart acknowledged the fib with a lurch.

“Did ye receive any other letters that morning?”

“Aye, one from Seraphina, telling me that she would be arriving at the castle in a fortnight.”

“So ye took the letters with thee to thy bedchamber? After ye were finished with the morning meal?”

Cinderella nodded. “Aye, that is correct.”

“Where ye proceeded to open Squire Rushton’s letter.”

“Aye.” Cinderella’s throat felt dry and scratchy.

The mustache man walked over to a table and held up the letter for all to see. A murmur of excitement went through the crowd. He took the letter over to Cinderella and handed it to her.

Myriads of emotions surfaced when she held the parchment in her hand. They’d taken it from her on the night they took Rushton away, and she never thought she’d see it again. She looked down. Rushton’s bold, reckless handwriting evoked a longing that she wasn’t prepared for. Tears threatened to well, but she blinked them back rapidly.

“Would ye please read the letter out loud?”

Her eyes went wide. “What?”

He motioned. “Read it.”

“Nay!” The letter was the only tangible thing she had left of Rushton. It was a personal reminder of their relationship. Too personal to share with these strangers.

The man gave her a quizzical look. His mustache twitched up and down as he spoke. “Princess, need I remind ye that ye are in the great hall of the castle? This is a trial of grave importance. I will ask thee again. Please read the letter. Aloud.”

She looked at Edward, pleading with him to do something. His expression was pained, and she didn’t know if it was due to her discomfort or her refusal to read the letter. He motioned for her to read it. She took a deep breath and began to read.

She gulped and continued in a halting voice.