Wicked Ugly Bad (A Kinda Fairytale) (30 page)

Letty
cut him off.  “Because of our children.”

Marrok
blinked.  “Children?”

“Well,
given the
explosiveness
of our encounter, I’m rapidly coming to the
conclusion that you’re my True Love.”  She was absolutely certain of it, in
fact.

“No
shit.”

She
ducked her head.  “Well, if we have a baby,” she cleared her throat, because it
seemed a little forward to bring up a future, right now, “it’ll be fifty
percent wolf.  Don’t you think she should have a more secure life than you
did?  What if something happened to us and my family?  Who would look after
her?”

He
didn’t respond to that, but his hand settled on the curve of her stomach as if
he was already shielding their child.

Scarlett
kept going.  “Baddies need a place, Marrok.  And my grandmother is turning over
the entire Enchanted Forest to me.”

“You
want to invite villains to live
here?
”

“Yes! 
You and I could do this.  I know it.”  Bad folk already hid in the Enchanted
Forrest.  This would just legitimize things.  “We could be a fifth kingdom
that’s a safe haven for
everyone
.  We need to…”

A
pounding on the door interrupted her rapidly developing plan.

“Letty?”
 Esmeralda called.  “Come quick.  Cinderella’s is about to appear on TV and she
seems like one pissed off bridezilla.”

Prince
Avenant’s obsession with the “usurper” remains unchanged.

Forward
progress is doubtful until he can learn to see the truth.

…And until
he stops petitioning for the rest of the group (and me) to be executed for
treason.

Psychiatric
case notes of Dr. Ramona Fae

Avenant
started fixedly at the screen as the perky reporter stood in front of his
former palace.  “Good Lord, they’ve ruined my kingdom.  Where are the stocks? 
What are those God awful flowers doing everywhere?  It’s supposed to be a land
of frozen menace, not a garden party!”

The
Tuesday share circle was gathered around the television in Jana’s family room,
waiting for Cinderella’s announcement.  Scarlett had no idea what her
stepsister intended to say, but she knew it was going to be trouble.  In the
meantime, there was nonstop coverage of the WUB Club breakout on every channel.

Which
was trouble enough.

Their
escape seemed to have inspired villains everywhere.  It was the first time
Baddies had ever openly defied the status quo and come out on top.  All around
the Four Kingdoms, Bad folk were in the streets showing support.  The Tuesday
share circle had their faces and names plastered on signs as people marched
into town squares.  Marrok’s souvenir Wolfball jerseys were worn in
solidarity.  Other people painted their faces Bridge Ogre blue, much to Benji’s
delight.

Even
Scarlett was surprised by the response.  Trolls, witches, ogres, wolves and
every villain in between openly defied authority to cheer for their fellow Bad
folk.  Unrest had been brewing in the Four Kingdoms for a long time, but now it
was bubbling over.

“I’m
here in the Northlands, getting a response about last night’s horrible getaway.” 
The TV reporter’s trying-to-look-grave expression didn’t quite work with her
three pounds of precisely applied makeup.  “Many people here are worried what
deposed Prince Avenant might be planning now that he’s free of the Wicked, Ugly
and Bad Prison and, no doubt, looking for revenge.”

Avenant
couldn’t have been more pleased with that intro.  “You should be worried,
peasants.”

“One
person who isn’t concerned is
current
ruler of the Northlands.”  The
reporter continued, her voice going up and down in TV news cadence.  “Avenant
was overthrown by beloved bookshop owner, freedom fighter, and honorary
princess Belle…”

“Usurping
bitch!
”  Avenant seethed.

“…And
she’s sure the former prince will stay far away from his homeland.  Belle?” 
The reporter thrust her microphone forward.  “Any regrets about crossing an
escaped convict with a known penchant for vengeance?”

“No
regrets, at all.”  The camera panned to a dark haired woman in yellow dress.  She
looked studious and Good and absolutely no threat to anyone.  But she’d kicked
Avenant’s ass during the Northlands’ uprising.  “Avenant was a beast of a man
who deserved to be ousted.”

It
was a miracle the TV screen survived Avenant’s rage.  “A beast would have
fucking
killed
you
when I had the chance!”

Benji
cringed at his volume.  “Shhh!  You’re going to wake-up Dru.”  He chided, as if
that wouldn’t actually be a
positive
thing.

Drusilla
was still in her mystical coma, sleeping sounding on the wicker sofa.  She’d
stay like that until Scarlett got her to Charming, no matter how loud Avenant
ranted.

“Why
didn’t
you kill Belle?”  Esmeralda asked Avenant archly.  “The girl
doesn’t even have any powers.  Why couldn’t you just freeze her and her stupid
little rebels solid when they came for you?”

Scarlett
glanced at him in surprise.  That was a good point.  Why
hadn’t
he won
the fight?  Even if Baddies weren’t used to winning, with his abilities Avenant
should have at least triumphed over a librarian.

Avenant
jaw ticked.  “It all happened very quickly.”

Esmeralda
smirked at that non-answer.  “Well, I guess you’ll go up there and kill Belle
now
,
right?  Since you’ve had time to
process
your failure.”

“Oh,
I’m going up there.”  His gaze stayed riveted on Belle.  “But death is too quick
for a usurper.”

Esmeralda
snickered.  “That’s what I
thought
you’d say.”  She looked over at
Marrok.  “Isn’t that what you’d thought he’d say?”

“Yep.” 
Marrok gave Avenant a knowing grin.  “Poor bastard.”  He looped an arm around
Scarlett’s shoulders.  “The Good ones are always a pain-in-the-ass.”

“Shut-up,
Wolf.”  Avenant and Letty chorused.

Marrok
chuckled and kissed the top of Scarlett’s head.  “They’re worth all the aggravation,
though.  Believe me.  Having your True Love is worth anything.”

Scarlett
smiled up at him.  The safer he felt with her, the more he relaxed.  The man
was delightfully open about his affection.  It made her feel cherished.  She
cuddled closer to his side, the two of them taking up the floral loveseat.

Avenant
spared Marrok an annoyed glare.  “I’m
not
one of you mindless animals. 
I don’t need a True Love.  And, if I
did
, it wouldn’t be some
proselytizing usurper.”

“If
you say so.”

On
the TV Belle kept talking.  “Avenant is too smart to come back to the
Northlands.  We’re not even seeing the rallies of Bad folk here that are
popping up in the other kingdoms.  He knows he doesn’t have any friends left.”

“I
don’t need any goddamn friends, either!”

“You
have us.”  Benji assured him.

Avenant
glanced over at him and, for once, didn’t make a cutting remark.

Scarlett
was a little bit touched.  Under all the snarking, the Tuesday share circle
really was leaning to bond.  Ramona would be so proud.

“I’m
sure Avenant realizes his best chance of survival is staying far away from
here.”  Despite her confident words, Belle’s brown gaze reflected worry. 
Obviously, the woman knew who she was dealing with.

“I
will never stay away from what’s mine.”  Avenant said quietly.

“Anything
you want to say to the ex-prince?”  The reported prompted as the segment wound
down.  “If he’s watching, what do you want him to hear?”

“I
want to tell him…”  Belle hesitated, trying to find the right words.  “Don’t.” 
She finally decided.

“Don’t?” 
The reporter had clearly been hoping for something juicer.

Belle
nodded and looked into the camera.  “Avenant, just…
don’t.
”

Avenant
stepped closer to the television, all his attention of her face.  “She knows
I’m coming for her.”  He whispered to no one in particular.

Esmeralda
took up a little song.  “Avenant and Belle sittin’ in a tree…”

“By
the time I’m done with her, she’ll be
hanging
from a tree.”  Avenant
scoffed.  “You’re all right.  I should’ve killed her.  I’m
going
to kill
her.”

Somehow
Scarlett doubted that.  The prince of the Northlands was obsessed with the
usurper, but not in the way all the WUB Club doctors and psych-tests thought. 
When he looked at Belle, his cold blue eyes didn’t shine with hatred or a need
for retribution.

Well,
okay, maybe they
did
.

But,
much deeper than that, there was just… longing.

“Lunchtime!” 
Jana called, striding into the room with a platter of food.  “I thought you
kids might be hungry, waiting for Cinderella to show her scrawny face.”

“Sandwiches!” 
Benji’s expression lit up.  “What kind?”

“Fresh
little pig.”  She patted Marrok’s head.  “Specially made for my precious wolf,
because they’re his favorite.”

Marrok
beamed up at her, the fair-haired child of villainy.  “Thank you, Jana.”

“You
should call me ‘grandma,’ dear.  You’re family now.”

“He’s
not your grandson-in-law,
yet
.”  Scarlett reminded them pointedly.  “He
hasn’t even proposed.”

Marrok
selected a sandwich and strove to look innocent.  “I’m waiting for
you
to propose, Red.”

“There’s
no way
I’m
going to be the one to…”  Scarlett stopped her protest short
as Cindy finally appeared on the television.  Not a blonde hair was out of
place and her fake eyelashes fluttered prettily.  She was wearing her most
serious “serious” pink dress.  All the rose-colored lace made her look like a
frosted cupcake.

“She’s
really supposed to be the beautiful sister in your family, huh?”  Marrok
snorted.  “Everyone in the Westlands must be blind.”

“Citizens
of the Four Kingdoms, this is your beloved Princess Cinderella.”  Cindy smiled
sweetly and Scarlett knew the arrogant expression was meant for her.  “I’m sad
to say that the recent uprising of prisoners and Bad folk has forced me to take
drastic measures to protect all the Good citizens of my kingdom.”

“It’s
not
your
kingdom!”  Scarlett shouted.

“The
sickness of insurrection has even infected my dear Charming.”  Cinderella
continued in a sorrowful tone.  “My men caught him conspiring with the enemy
and I’ve had no choice but to lock him up for his own protection.  But, worry
not, Good people. 
I
am in control of the Westlands, now.  And our
wedding will go on as planned.”

“Aw
shit.”  Marrok sighed.  “This just got more complicated.”

“I’m
sure this rebellion is being led by my ugly stepsister Scarlett.”  Cinderella
blinked back phony tears.  “I can’t help but feel partly responsible for her
horrible, horrible actions.”

Just
looking at that deceitful bitch filled Letty with rage.

“Dearest
Scarlett,” Cinderella made an appeal straight to the camera, “I’m asking you to
please turn yourself in before this goes any further.  Don’t make me strike
back against
all
the Bad folk who you’ve led astray.  Don’t make me come
after Drusilla and your crazy-house friends and even your mysterious grandmother.” 
She accompanied the word “mysterious” with an eye roll.  Rumors circulated
about Scarlett’s family, but, for obvious reasons, no one had even filled Cindy
in on Jana’s real occupation.

“You
don’t have to come after me, dearie.”  Jana muttered.  “I’m coming after
you
.”

“Why,
I’ll even have to punish that beautiful wolf of yours, Letty.  If you push me,
I’ll have to see him suitably… punished.”  Cinderella gave a smile gleaming
with all her sexual weirdness.  “Marrok certainly looks like someone who could
be rehabilitated with a
firm
hand.”

“She’s
threatening you.”  Scarlett got to her feet and glanced at Marrok.  “You
specifically
.
”

“I
heard her.”  He didn’t sound worried about it.  “I’m confident you can keep me
safe.”

“But,
how would she know to threaten you
specifically
unless she knows you’re
mine?”  Scarlett’s mind was racing.  “Someone must have told her about us.”

Marrok’s
head tilted in thought.  “Dower.”  He surmised after a moment.  “It couldn’t have
been Dr. White, so it must have been him.  Asshole was bound to get caught.  I
told you to let me kill him.”  He ran a palm through his hair.  “
Shit.
  Dow
knew we were coming here.”

“Oh
man...”  Esmeralda groaned.  “Letty, could Cinderella find your grandmother’s
house?”

“I
knew we shouldn’t have brought that interloper along.”  Avenant put in.  “You
all heard me say it.”