(This page is dedicated to the
stories of Snow in Waddington Willows written by Sherry Marshall)
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Snow in WW: Chapter 190 –
“Party’s Over”
Well, the party was now
‘officially’ over. Without words, Liz helped Lily to her feet and
to the kitchen to get cleaned up. The girl then quickly bolted for the
back door. Liz sighed, and headed back in to clean up the dropped
champagne and broken glass now lying on the floor.
“Where’s Lily?”
Liz looked up at Mai, arms folded and practically tapping her foot for an
answer. Liz paused, not liking the looks of this, “Why do you want to
know?”
Mai hissed in frustration at the woman’s indignation and raised her tone,
“Because I’m security around here and I need to make sure that folks don’t go
and do something stupid...which I might add, your daughters…both of them…are
real prone to doing! So where is she?!”
“I don’t know,” she tutted quickly and went back to her cleaning.
Mai’s arms unfolded in alarm, “What do you mean you don’t know?”
Again, Liz stopped and looked up at the woman, “Just that…I don’t know! She
went out the back door…probably to get some air. She’s very upset!”
Mai was enraged, “SHE is upset?! Boy lets all feel for the woman…oh
right, that’s where all this started right…the wrong person getting more than a
feel? Hell, ain’t that Lily's M.O. You gotta feel for poor
Thomas…all celibate and in love...while Lily shags almost every man but…”
At Liz's glare Mai continued. ”Look, I know that ‘thing’ is your
daughter, but so is the real victim here...wouldn't you say?” Mai glanced at
the door “So maybe she’s at the surgery suffering from dehydration?
Sobbing the
Liz had quite enough. With a piercing shriek, she instinctively grabbed a
large shard of broken glass and came at Mai in a rage. Quickly,
Restrained, Liz still screamed at the woman, “You shut your filthy mouth, you
village WHORE!!”
Mai barely flinched, actually she chuckled, “I think you’ve got the wrong
person on that accusation, ‘mommy dearest’…but speaking of the village
whore, I best go look for what trouble she's causing now. You don’t leave
that girl alone…not THAT one.”
Mai then headed through the kitchen and out the back door.
“C’mon Snow, please! I
really want to talk to you…please?” Mike could hear her crying up in the
loft inside the barn. She’d locked the door and he now spoke to her
through the crack between the two large barn doors. “I need to explain
about that night…about that whole time period…I was going to tell you…explain
everything. I was going to tell you tonight. I know you probably
don’t believe that.” He rested his head against the door, “Snow?”
What was he doing, he thought to himself? What was he going to
say? Was he going to make a thousand excuses as to what happened
that night? Was he going to tell her he was out of his mind and thought
Lily was really her for all those weeks before Snow returned? And he
expected her to believe it? So what do you call that…temporary
insanity?…Sounds like a bad criminal defense. “Criminal”…now that
was fitting. That’s how Mike felt now...like a criminal…for what he’d
done to Snow. He barely remembered some of the things that happened while
she was gone…and the affair with Lily was one of them. How convenient, as some
would say. Even if it was true, and he really thought it to be Snow that
night…who would believe it? Why should he expect Snow to believe such a
lame story…true or not. She deserved better. She didn’t deserve
this…his pining away, whining to her through a bolted barn door. With
this, he left.
A few seconds later the door opened, and a soft voice called out, “Mike?”
She ran. Lily was frantic
and ran as fast as she could into the woods. She couldn’t think…she
didn’t want to. Blinded by her tears, she headed to Ophelia’s lair.
She had nowhere else to turn. She didn’t know if her sister would ever
speak to her again. She didn’t even want to fathom the look that was
probably on Thomas’ face throughout the whole ordeal. She surely didn’t
want to face Mike, knowing his anger over the issue. The “issue”?
Now THAT was an understatement, she thought. She cried harder…her wails heard
only by the trees and animals. She just wanted to return home. But
even that would be a constant reminder, as she was known as “Snow” there.
Would her mother even forgive her, she thought? Would she want her to be
the heir to the throne and marry Prince Phillip Raymond? She shook off
the horror as she collapsed at the waterfall, exhausted. She practically
crawled to the masked opening of the cavern. She slapped her hands
against the rock wall,
“Ophelia! It’s Lily. Please open…I need your help! Please…”
Snow in WW: Chapter 191 – “Pay the piper HOW
much?”
Mike didn’t sleep a wink. He rocked in the
rocker all night, dazed, as the horrifying events of the previous night played
over and over in his mind. He looked over at the bed…even in the
late hour, it didn’t look inviting. He frowned at the ‘defiled’ object
that once held such beautiful memories of he and his beloved Princess.
He’d worried about her so. Every hour, he would creep over to the barn
and check on her…finding her sound asleep in the loft each time, a wet
handkerchief clutched in her hand. Each hour, Mike would return to his
trusted rocker in tears over the pain he’d caused that angelic creature he
hoped he could still honestly call his ‘wife’.
She awoke to the crow of the rooster, saddened to
be awakened from her dreams…dreams that were void of last nights’ events.
Snow sat up in the loft, rubbing her arm where the imprint of the prickly hay
had made a visible imprint on her skin. ‘Why?’ It was the only word
that her mind would repeat. Why any of it…her absence those so many
months, Lily’s sudden refusal of Thomas…and of course the affair itself?
She remembered Mike’s desperate attempt to speak to her the night before.
He left so quickly…perhaps it was best. What would she say?
She’d never been in a situation such as this…that was obvious. She heard
him tell her Mum that he and Lily had thought Snow dead and that it was a
mistake. So how could she really hold that against him? She really
couldn’t. But what about Lily? She knew that Lily’s heart truly
belonged to Thomas…at least she thought it did. Could he have refused
her? Certainly not. So what now? She surely did not
feel like speaking to anyone. What she really wanted was…yes of
course. ‘Why not?’ she thought. It could get her mind off
things. Dawn had not yet stirred but just a few of the villagers.
But still, she was able to slip into the woods unnoticed. She heard the
men and Mai talking the night before regarding the disappearance of her sister,
and so Snow assumed Mai had searched for her in the woods during the night,
being that she is the only one allowed. Of course then it occurred to her
that’s the most likely place Lily would be. She preferred to not see her
at this moment, but she did want to see Ophelia. Guess she’d have to
wait. She could use some time to herself in the woods to think.
Unwilling to face the stares of the faces in the
Willows, Mike sought refuge in the woods alone. He did feel guilty
for leaving the others high and dry as far as breakfast was concerned, but he
knew they would manage somehow. He thought perhaps a quiet spot to
think…maybe a brook babbling in the background might calm his
nerves. Then he saw a figure coming towards him through the trees…a
female. Snow! He thought. His face fell when he realized.
“What are you doing here?” Lily inquired of him, half nervously, averting
her eyes to and fro trying to look casual.
Mike looked straight at her…he tried to not be obvious regarding his apparent
despair, “I might ask you the same question. From what I hear, they’ve
been pretty frantic looking for you back in the village. You just
disappeared without telling anyone where you were going. You know that
won’t set well with Mai.”
The annoyance suddenly shone in Lily’s eyes as they rolled to the back of her
head, “I don’t give a rip about what Mai thinks. She’s got it out for me
anyway.”
Clearing his throat, Mike said pointedly, “Well, I don’t things will be any
better now.”
Lily looked down, as she twiddled with the ruffle of her blouse, “I’m returning
to the kingdom as soon as possible. I would assume Mum will be coming
with me.”
Mike nodded with no surprise in his tone, “I figured as much. What about
Thomas?”
“What about him?" Lily asked, still not looking up. "He’s
furious. I know he doesn’t want to talk to me…probably not ever.
It’s best that I go…especially considering everything.”
Again Mike nodded silently and then added, “Will you even say goodbye to Snow?”
Lily let out a sarcastic chuckle and this time looked at him, “I doubt Snow
even wants to acknowledge me as her sister much less see me ever again.”
“Lily, you’re wrong…you know Snow better than that.”
Lily nodded, “Yes, and I know that of all people, she will never leave you, no
matter what…not even for this.”
Mike sighed and looked past her out into the trees, “I hope you’re right,
Lily. I can’t lose her.”
Again she shied her eyes to the ground, her tone adopting an apologetic feel,
“Mike look…since I’m leaving, I need to clear up a few things. I know how
tormented you have been ever since Snow fell from that mountain’s edge…I know
it';s been sheer hell for you. I also know that night…” she paused to
take a deep breath, “I know that you thought I was Snow. I know that you
believed I was Snow quite a bit the last few months…I realize that now.
And I’m sorry about what happened. That night…I don’t know what was going
through my head…I had just been talking with Thomas, and he and I were…well,
that was the night Rebecca was born and we were…interrupted, so to speak.
And I was fighting with myself about leaving because I really didn’t want to.”
Lily then walked over to a cluster of trees and began fumbling with the leaves
growing out of one of the trunks. “I went to your cabin because I wanted
to be alone and I knew you’d be at the hut for a while. I had no
intention of staying. I had a terrible headache…and my mind was all
cluttered with my own conflicts. That’s when I saw the wine…and what can
I say. I was longing for someone I knew I couldn’t have and before I knew
it I’d downed both bottles. I have no excuse.” She then turned to
Mike, “When you came in, I’d just had the most lovely dream…I didn’t want it to
end, so I didn’t let it. It seems as though we both were with someone
else that night. Of course, getting all of them to believe it is another
story.”
Mike nodded and ashamedly looked off into the distance.
Lily then approached him, “But I want you to know that I never meant to hurt
you or keep anything from you. I just couldn’t say anything until I was
sure.”
At this, Mike looked at her confused, “What are you talking about?”
Lily again shied her eyes downward, “I came back because I sensed something was
wrong with my sister…and indeed there was. But I never sensed she was
dead.”
Mike took a step back, “B-but there’s no way you could have known one way or
the other?”
Lily nodded, still not looking at him, “Yes…I’ve sensed Snow since I can
remember…I just never knew what it was till she found me. So when I came
back, I knew she was alive…somewhere. That’s why I was determined to find
her somehow.”
Mike shook his head in disbelief, “You KNEW Snow was alive? And you never
said anything!?”
Lily now looked at him, hearing the rising anger in his tone, “I couldn’t…I
didn’t know what condition she was in, or where she was. She could have
been in another world for all I know…she could’ve been in the A-Willows or
something.”
Mike’s jaw dropped and he rubbed his face with his hands, “It doesn’t matter
Lily! Here we all were…here I was…grieving, believing that you were
her…and all along you could have told us she was alive?! Put our minds at
ease?! Then we could’ve even searched for her!”
“Mike, you know there’s no way to find her in Ophelia’s lair.”
“I don’t care!” Mike whirled around to her, anger shown prominently in
his eyes, “None of this would have happened if you’d have told us…told
SOMEONE…told ME!”
“Mike, don’t be angry…please understand…”
Mike then turned away from her and waved her off with his hands. He’d had
enough of the discussion and was now eager to get away by himself, “You’d
better get back to the village, Lily.”
“Mike please…”
“Goodbye, Lily.”
He was already around the corner of the woods trail before Lily could say
another word.
Mike had no idea how much time had passed since
he’d been sitting there on the bank. Could be minutes…could be
hours. Suddenly, a rush of air over his head startled him.
“Oh geez…Ophelia, you scared me.”
The winged white horse landed softly near him and then kneeled into a resting
position.
“It’s OK…I know you didn’t mean to.”
She nudged at his neck. He smiled and patted her on her on the
head. “I’m glad you’re here. I don’t know if Snow’s told you…but
she told me about you. At least, I just wanted you to know.”
The horse whinnied and stirred somewhat.
“But it’s Ok…I won’t tell your secret, I promise. It’s not mine to
tell.” He looked over at her face, and she seemed to be at peace with his
promise.
“You wouldn’t believe what’s happened.” Mike continued. “Actually
you probably would. Lily stayed with you last night, didn’t she?”
The horse reared its head up and down in agreement.
“Oh God, Ophelia…it’s such a mess…everything!” Mike buried his face in
his hands.
“What have I done! Somehow I must have known…must have been able to stop
it…somehow.”
He lifted his head to now reveal the tears beginning to stream down his face.
“It’s all a blur really…all of it. They would tell me I would do
things…after Snow fell from that mountain. It’s like I only remember half
of my entire existence then. Everything’s fuzzy. I remember the
grief…all too well do I remember that. But then Thomas and Mai would tell
me that I would do things…act like I thought Snow was alive. And part of
me remembers that too…that I wanted to believe it so badly. It was like a
dream to me. I do remember the Christmas present I made her. I do
remember feeling happy sometimes…it was all like I was dreaming. Then
when I was awake I was grieving…going to that mountain’s edge for hours on
end…just looking, wondering where she was, what she was doing…was she watching
from above?”
Roughly, he wiped the tears from his face with the back of his hand, “And I
remember when Lily came back. God Ophelia…she knew! She knew all along! I
know I can’t blame her for what I did…but still. It wouldn’t have
happened if she’d have just told someone…anyone. I was so dazed over it
all…I barely remember anything those months…but I remember the night Lily came
back. It was New Year’s Eve…the night before what would have been Snow
and mine’s second wedding anniversary. And Thomas had just ingrained it
into my head that believing that Snow was alive was a lie. And then
suddenly, it was like I awoke from the dream. It was devastating. I
couldn’t handle it…I didn’t want to…I didn’t want to go on without her. I
went to that mountain like I had so many times before…but this time was
different. I had a purpose…a dark one. That’s when Lily yanked me
back. I looked up into her face…it was Snow’s face. That’s what I
thought. God, I thought I’d already fallen off the edge and gone to
heaven to be with her. From there on, it was like the dream again…only it
was easier to live the dream then…Lily looked so much like Snow. I
believed what I wanted to believe. If I’d only known”
Mike shook his head and stood. Irritated, he walked to the brush and
stared at nothing. “That night…I was so tired from cooking…it still seems
like a dream to me…much like the past nine months. I just wanted to get
back to her…my Princess. It was like I fully expected her to be there…I
was in that dream again…and there she was, sound asleep in front of the
fire. She was in her bathrobe…as she always was right after her
bath.”
He crammed his hands through his hair in frustration, “God listen to me…I’m
still talking like it was Snow there that night.”
He paused, and again stared out at nothing. “She was so peaceful…I hated
to wake her. So I gently kissed her and I was going to put her to bed so
she wouldn’t have a terrible neck cramp the next morning from sleeping on the
floor. She kissed me back…I guessed then that she was half awake.
It was so tender. I carried her to the bed. I just wanted her to be
comfortable…but the kissing went on longer. And then…”
He punched his fist at a tree trunk, “How did I get so mixed up?”
He then rested his head against the tree, tears streaming down his
cheeks. “It was her…God, I thought it was her. It was Snow I was
with that night. Why didn’t I see the truth? Why was I so
blinded…blinded to something that important?”
He sat hard onto the ground, staring at a patch of dandelions, “Now I feel like
I’ve wronged them both. I know it’s both of our faults but…” He said
soflty…barely audible. “It wasn’t until the next morning I saw the empty
bottles of wine on the floor and Lily’s gypsy scarf near the fire. I
realized then what I’d done. She was drunk…and I took advantage…I never
even knew it.” He shook his head. “Why? What kind of bastard
am I?”
Quietly behind a nearby tree, a figure stood quietly crying in unison to Mike’s
tale. “You’re not,” she whispered ever so softly.
Mike’s words of anger still rang in Lily’s
ears. Eager to get packed, leave the Willows for good and return home,
Lily quickened her pace toward the village. Her hopes of grabbing her
things and leaving unnoticed were dashed as she stopped dead in her tracks at
the obstacle in her path. There stood Mai glaring at her…walkie talkie in
one hand and her other hand on her hip.
“Damn it’s still breathing...and walking in completely the wrong
direction...back into our lives. Can't you take a hint?”
Lily hissed a frustrated sigh, “Well you needn’t worry about that now…I’m just
going to get my things and get the hell out of this village.”
She attempted to push past Mai, who grabbed her arm, “Not so fast there,
missy. You have some people to answer to before you cowardly run away
from your problems.” She then gave Lily a cold eye, “You give gypsies a bad
name…at least they don’t hurt everyone under the sun before they move on.
Oh but that’s right…you aren’t a gypsy anymore according to you…you’re a
‘princess’.” Mai made the quotes motion with her fingers. “So tell
me ‘princess’…isn't there a frog somewhere waiting for you? Not for you
to kiss to turn it into a prince...but they eat pond scum don't they?”
Lily was furious and once again tried to push past Mai, “Outta my way!”
Mai wasn’t letting go…instead she smiled, “What’s your hurry? I’m sure
he’ll wait…keep the bed warm for ya. So who’s the lucky bloke this time?
Or should I say…unlucky!”
Lily tried to yank her arm free, “Shut up! I can’t deal with YOU right
now!”
Mai threw Lily’s arm back at her with disgust, "Oh for Christ’s sake grow
up!! If your gonna play big girls games - you gotta face the consequences…like
all the rest of us. But Hey! Lily thought she knew better, despite
endless warnings. So you just had to do it your way...your slutty little
way…and everyone found out. News flash...you blew it!! If ya can't
deal with people knowing what you did...hey, ya shouldn't have done it.
Face it! No, but you choose to run away, your usual style. But at
least don't insult us by expecting sympathy for doing what you did! Cause
you won’t get any here! So I suppose the best thing for you to do
IS in fact run away…it’s what you do best, isn’t it? I hope your fiancée
Prince fellow back home doesn’t mind ‘sloppy seconds’…cause that’s what he’s
getting!”
Enraged, Lily slapped Mai hard across the face. She then could see it in
Mai’s burning eyes, that perhaps that was a mistake.
Snow in WW: Chapter 192 – “In a Pig’s Sty...”
Definitely a mistake thought Mai,
as she in turn slapped Lily so hard, she almost lost her balance as she wobbled
backwards, and then cradled her cheek tenderly in her hand.
“Don’t dish out what you can’t handle, sweetheart!” Mai scoffed as she grinned
at Lily’s pained reaction to her almost effortless slap.
Suddenly Lily screamed, enraged, and came at Mai. Mai braced herself, but
Lily threw herself on top of the woman and they both went splashing into a nearby
mud puddle. Mai was trying to get a hold on Lily while Lily clawed at
Mai’s face with her nails. Mai then clocked her in the jaw to get her off
her. She didn’t strike Lily that hard…the woman had a ‘glass jaw’,
thought Mai. She turned to see a mud-covered Lily grab a large branch and
come at her. Still on the ground, Mai was able to knock Lily’s legs out
from under her with a swift kick, causing Lily to crash against a tree and into
a bush. Right away, Mai could feel the scratches Lily impaled in her face
quickly begin to heal. Lily rose slowly, her nose now beginning to bleed
from hitting the tree head on, and there were scratches on her face, arms and
legs from the brush she fell into. Mai stood to her feet, preparing
for whatever else this little wench decided to dish out. Lily tried
to stand, her legs imbalanced, then fell back to the ground. She clasped
her forehead…it stung from where the prickly brush had pierced it.
“What are you doing?!?!?”
The screeching voice was painfully familiar to Mai as she heard Liz’s shriek.
“How dare you attack my baby!”
Immediately, she ran to Lily. She saw the muddy Lily’s bloody nose and
scratched face and limbs and was outraged. She turned and spat venom at
Mai, “What gives you the right to attack Lily! This isn’t your
business! At least she can get a man! You can’t even keep your own
husband interested in you!”
Mai bristled an icy fire retort to Liz, "The man she got...in case you
forgot... was Snow's husband...you know, your other daughter? Must make a
mother proud...keeping it in the family an all. And what she did IS my
business...as it hurt Snow...or doesn't that matter to you?"
"Don't even talk about Snow like all your actions are solely geared toward
defending her!" Liz hissed, as she pressed her handkerchief against
Lily's bloodied nose. "You tossed Snow away like a piece of garbage.
I know my daughters' business...both of them. And I don't need the likes
of you to tell me what's what!" She softened her tone considerably
as she turned back to Lily, "Keep your head elevated dear...it will stop
the bleeding."
Mai looked at them both with disgust as they rose from the ground, then offered
a sarcastic quip, "Careful…she might drown in her own blood."
Liz snapped to look at her as Mai continued, leaning in closer to Liz,
"And as for the other crap your spouting, I'll treat it, you, and your
slag of a daughter with the contempt it deserves."
Liz glared at her...an almost insane rage in her eyes. "You've wronged my
daughters for the last time, Mai," she said in an eerily quiet tone.
"What the hell happened here?" The far-from-tender moment was
interrupted by the arrival of the remainder of security, Dinger and
Duncan. Their first vision was a hard-to-miss Lily, covered head to toe
in mud and bloody scratches, with her nose in the air…a blood-stained
handkerchief covering half of her face. She was limping, assisted by her
Mum, heading away from Mai.
At the arrival of the two gentlemen, Liz now pointed her and Lily towards the
men in a huff, “Look at what she did to Lily! She attacked my little
girl! She’s a monster!”
“OK…calm down Liz. We need to get the whole story.” Dinger stopped her
with a wave of his hand and a slow, quiet tone. “Now…what happened.”
Liz began quickly, “Well, I should think it would be obvious. Mai….”
Again, Dinger waved his hand, interrupting Liz, “LILY needs to tell the story I
believe…and Mai. First, who started it?”
Lily’s response was to point vigorously in Mai’s direction. Mai rolled
her eyes as she folded her arms.
Dinger continued with skepticism, “Did Mai actually hit you Lily?”
Lily nodded then let her handkerchief down to speak, “She hit me in the
face…hard! And she kicked me!”
Dinger nodded slowly, still anxious to hear Mai’s side, but continued with
Lily, “Did you hit her back?”
Lily shook her ‘no’ emphatically, “No! I was on the ground the whole time from
where she threw me down.”
Mai interjected, “I don’t believe this shit!”
“OK…OK.”
“You need to lock her up
Mai said sarcastically, “Yeah, Lily is SUCH an innocent!”
Liz turned to Dinger, ranting, “Dinger, I insist that Mai be locked up!
Look at her…she doesn’t have a mark on her! It’s so obvious who initiated
this…and Lily didn’t do a thing!”
“All right…just a minute.” Dinger then turned to Mai. “I need to
hear every side first…and it’s Mai’s turn. Mai, what happened just now
with you and Lily?”
Snow in WW: Chapter 193 – “Straight Talk”
Snow spent the better part of the
day mulling over the words she overheard Mike say to Ophelia. He was a
man tormented, tortured even. Although she was against eavesdropping, she
was glad she’d overheard his words. But now what? She
wanted to know more…more about what happened while she was gone. Funny,
she thought to herself. She thought it was funny how incredibly peaceful
she felt. She didn’t feel upset, or angry or even hurt…in fact, she felt
relieved. For there was another incident running her thoughts…something
that happened for what seemed like forever ago now. She and Mike…they
were paralleled in so many ways now. How could she get him to see
that? It was already after supper, and as she entered the village, she no
longer worried about the looks of the villagers…only one thing mattered to her
now. But she did see one person that she knew she should talk to…no
matter how difficult it was for her. Perhaps in her current state of
mind…it would be easier. He was leaving the jail. With courage, she
took a deep breath and headed straight for Ritch.
“Hey there.”
Ritch was surprised to see Snow after the previous night’s events…but more than
that, he was surprised that she was approaching him of all people. He had
sensed her unease ever since the incident with Kahlua. “Hi Snow.”
He then added in a more meaningful way than just casual, “How are you doing?”
“I’m OK. How are you?”
Her tone was more of a casual one. She masked her unease well. He
smiled and motioned to the jail, “Just comin’ back from visiting Mai.”
Snow looked bewildered, glancing to the jail and back to Ritch, “In the jail?”
“Yeah, didn’t ya hear? Mai got locked up for fighting with Lily.”
With this, Snow looked down at the ground distracted. Ritch continued
regardless, “Load of sh…er…bull if ya ask me. Everyone knows Mai ain’t no
danger to anyone. But, ya know how it is around here…what Dinger says
goes.”
Snow now looked up and nodded. “I wonder what that was all about? I
guess I’ll have to ask Lily about that later.”
Ritch sighed heavily, “It’s kind of a controversy…one person’s word against
another in this case. I do know that Mai had been out in the woods all
night searching for her. I suppose things are pretty tense all around.”
Again Snow nodded, “Yes, and on that note I suppose Lily would probably
rather not speak with me for a while…I’m sure it will be uncomfortable for
her.”
Braving to breach the subject, Ritch looked at her pointedly, “Have you talked
to Mike at all?”
Snow shook her head silently, “I will soon. But can I ask you
something...about Mike in fact?”
“Shoot.”
“Those months I was gone recovering, I’ve been told that Mike was acting
strangely sometimes. Did you notice anything like that too? I just
want to make sure he is OK.”
“Acting strangely sometimes?” Ritch chuckled, “I’d say more ALL the
time! He was crazy with grief for you Snow…now I know that you know
that! You know how he feels for ya.”
Snow smiled softly and glanced down in thought as Ritch continued, “There were
the days that he was fairly normal…I think he was mainly trying to block any
emotion from his mind really. Then there were the days where he was
really grieving and he would go to the mountain and we wouldn’t see him all
day. Dinger followed him a couple times cause he was afraid he was gonna
jump. He’d been that depressed.”
Snow listened quietly, appreciating Ritch’s frank honesty.
“Those weren’t even the times that scared me. It was the days that he
genuinely acted like he believed you were still alive and in the Willows that
floored me. He even made you a Christmas gift.”
Snow nodded, “I heard about that.”
Ritch shook his head, “Man , we all just thought he’d lost his mind. Then
Lily came.”
He stopped, hoping the subject didn’t hit a sore spot now with Snow. He
continued when he saw her not flinch at her sister’s name, “Mike was beyond
happy at that point…but I swear he thought Lily was you. He called her
Princess all the time…and he just had that look in his eye that he always used
to have when he was with you.”
Snow grinned shyly and looked away. Ritch then smiled, “Oh you thought we
all didn’t see that did ya? That boy is about as indiscreet as a heard of
elephants when it comes to his feelings for you, girl!”
Snow looked back up and smiled. She was relieved again…her affirmation
that Mike indeed thought Lily was her that night was becoming more and more
evident.
Snow sighed in slight relief, “I know Mai had mentioned this too. I sure
would like to talk to her more about it…but I know she’s mad at me.”
Ritch looked at her baffled, "You think she's mad at you? After
everything else that’s been happening…surely you know her better than that.”
“You think she would want to talk? Do you think she’d be up to another
visitor maybe?”
“Hell yeah,” Ritch replied emphatically. “In fact, I think it’d be great
for her just now. She’s been kinda down in the dumps…you know thinking
she ain’t doin’ any good around here. She could do with a good
‘advice-givin’ session…being that she’d be givin’ the advice. You know
her.”
Snow looked into his eyes, now wondering what kind of relationship these two
were developing. After the incident with Kahlua, she couldn’t help but
fear for her friend…even one so tough as Mai.
“Ritch…” she shifted uncomfortably as she averted her eyes to the ground, “I
just wanted to ask you…well, you two seem to be getting close lately…and now
that you two are ‘free’, so to speak…” Snow then looked up at him, “What are
your intentions toward Mai?”
Ritch was taken aback at Snow's frankness, “My intentions?” He suddenly
felt as though Mai's own mother was interrogating him.
Snow continued with effort to find the words, “Meaning, what do you see your
relationship with Mai becoming in the future? You both have hurt
pasts…and…well, you know. Where are you two going here?”
Snow
in WW: Chapter 194 – “Speaking of
Her head still ached, but Lily was nevertheless released from the surgery after
a night of observation. The morning sunlight didn’t do any favors for her
mood in the least. As she was heading back to pack her things and be
consoled by her Mum, a sight befell her midst that caused fire to shine in her
eyes. Yvonne was heading towards the main hut for breakfast. Lily’s
whole body tensed, her hands involuntarily balling into fists. She then
started toward the woman with purpose.
Liz was cheerfully humming some new tune she heard on that incredulous “boom
box” as they call it from last night in the hut. Suddenly the door burst
open. Had Liz been six inches closer, she’d probably have ended up with a
broken nose.
Lily burst into the cabin, “Mum, we have to go.”
Mouth agape and clutching her chest, Liz sighed in relief, “Dear Lord, Lily,
you scared the life out of me!”
Lily paid no heed as she went straight for her dresser, “Mum, we have to
go…NOW!”
Liz watched in confusion as her daughter haphazardly began shoving clothes into
a large duffle bag, “Lily, what is it…go where?”
“Home Mom!”
“Why? For heaven’s sake, what’s the hurry? That Mai creature is
locked up…she won’t come after you again.”
Immediately, Lily pulled out another bag from under the bed and began yanking
her mother’s clothes from the closet and shoving them into it, “Just trust me on
this, Mum…we have to leave NOW!”
Liz shrugged in surrender as she began to gather her things, “All right, all
right…whatever you say, love.”
Snow’s timid entrance to the jail met Mai standing, arms folded, leaning
against the bars…almost as if she was expecting the princess. A trace of
a smile formed on her lips, “Hi stranger.” It wasn’t her intention to be
angry at both of the twins, considering only one of them truly deserved her
wrath.
Snow smiled shyly, as a slight wave of relief washed over her…at least Mai
didn’t demand she be thrown her out on her ear.
“How are you doing?” came Snow’s quiet inquiry.
Not wishing to bring up another possible quarrel, Mai brushed the entire
subject aside with a simple, “Been better…been worse.” Snow nodded.
Mai sighed noisily, “Hey, look I’m really sorry all that crap happened to ya,
you know.”
Again Snow nodded, as she looked at the stone floor. She could work out
in her own mind what ‘crap’ Mai was talking about.
“Dammit!” Mai’s exclamation caught Snow off guard as she watched the woman plop
herself down on the jail cot.
“I knew some kind of shit would happen…I told ‘em. I told Lily to dye
that mop of hers back to blonde…dumb cow wouldn’t listen! Should’ve
just poured a bucket of bleach over the girl’s head. And Mike…he’s a
whole different story.”
Snow listened intently…this was something she wanted to get to the bottom of.
Mai threw her hair aside and hissed in frustration, “Poor bloke. I would
have to say the times he actually thought you were still in the Willows way
outweigh the times he faced the truth, ya know?”
Snow leaned in to her words, “No, I don’t know…tell me.”
Mai watched the girl’s eyes, screaming for an answer…one Mai sure knew full
well. “Mike was out of his mind…that was plain to anybody with half a
brain. Of course he had good days and bad…good meaning ‘sane’…but I’m
afraid those were few and far between.” Mai leaned forward on the edge of
the cot and gave Snow a sympathetic look, “I’m not so sure you weren’t married
to a total lunatic for a while there Snow. I just hope he’s back to
normal now. I mean really…BELIEVE me…he thought Lily was you…probably
since the moment she returned until…well, I guess till he realized what had
happened, I’m not sure.”
Snow looked to the stones on the wall and pondered Mai’s words a moment.
She noticed inscriptions from former inmates, one in particular that haunted
her greatly, the handwriting matching that of her still alive and well
stepmother…still lurking in the woods somewhere now a black crow. Suddenly
her disturbance was interrupted, as Mai’s question struck her, “So…have you
even spoken to him yet?”
Without hesitating, Snow shook her head. She hadn’t spoken to him at
all…eavesdropped, yes, while Mike was talking to Ophelia. She wanted
to…how badly she wanted to talk to him.
“But you want to, don’t you?”
Snow looked at the woman and seriously wondered if Mai could read her
mind. She nodded.
Mai nodded in agreement, “Well, I wouldn’t be hard on him really. He’s
being hard enough on himself…and I really don’t think he needs to be. But
Lily…that’s another story…”
“I’ll worry about Lily later.” Snow replied sternly.
Mai raised her eyes to Snow and grinned slightly at the annoyance in Snow’s
voice. The last think Mai wanted was for that gypsy girl to get off easy
on this. Mai took a deep breath as if to change the subject, “Well, not
to pry…but where are you staying just now? I know it isn’t with
Mike. Always plenty of room in here, ya know.”
Snow giggled at her quip, then quickly glanced at the other inmate in the
darker cell nearby. Snow pushed off a slight shudder at the sight of his
shadow and looked back to Mai, “In the barn loft actually.”
“Cozy enough. Although not as cozy I assume as your own bed…with it’s
previous co-inhabitant.”
Snow shrugged, “Don’t know. Can’t really remember.”
Mai recalled Snow’s mention that she and Mike had not yet had a “proper”
reunion. Something which now made absolute perfect sense given the
circumstances.
It was Snow’s turn to read Mai’s look as Snow sighed, “I know why now.
It’s pretty obvious.”
“What are you going to do from here, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“I don’t mind at all…and I don’t know. Guess I’ll just play it by ear.
“ Snow then took a deep breath, preparing to breech a subject that could
awaken a new fury. “And maybe you’ll allow me to ask the same question…if
YOU don’t mind that is.”
Mai read a boldness in Snow’s eyes that made her highly suspicious, “And what’s
that?”
Snow shied her eyes to the floor and asked casually, “Just wondered what you
were going to do from here yourself?”
“You mean besides get the hell out of here?” Mai chucked.
Snow sighed, wondering just how to get this out, “I see Ritch came to visit you
just before I did…I just ran into him.”
“Yeah…thinks he’s a lawyer or something…AS IF!” Mai laughed, then
looked to Snow, reading her face, she cocked her head to one side, “What is it,
Snow? What is it you’re wanting to say?”
Snow sighed…Mai always could read her like a book. She then looked at
Mai…might as well just come right out and say it now, “OK…what kind of
relationship are you developing with Ritch?”
Mai was taken aback. She blinked a few times and grinned, “Shit
Snow…where’d you go all these months…the land of ‘ball growing’?
Snow wore a blank look…unsure of her meaning. Mai shook it off, “By
relationship, I hope you mean friendship.”
“That’s what I’m asking YOU Mai.”
“And that’s what I am answering. See you can tell by my moving mouth, and
the whole speech thing. Ritch and I are friends...always have been,
always will be. What did someone do, beat you with the ‘romance’
stick? If so, use it in the direction it's needed Snow, your own
life...not mine!”
Snow pondered how much Mai’s words even sounded like Ritch as she answered,
“Touché, Mai. But I can see a lot more than that, Mai. I can see
the way you both flirt…”
“That’s ALL it is…flirting. I do that with everyone…well, almost
everyone.” She smirked sarcastically, “You’re exempt…well, pray you are”
Snow was unfazed by the attempt at humor…this subject was too serious to Snow,
“No, I see more than that, Mai. The way you look at each other, support
each other.”
“Isn’t that what friends are supposed to do, Snow?”
“But it’s different…with you and Ritch, it looks more like a husband and wife
type comfort level….not just friends. I don’t remember you acting that
comfortable with
“Well, as I recall you were comatose in a cabin under a spell for the bulk of
it!”
Snow looked past her sarcasm, “Not all of it.”
Mai hissed in frustration as she rose and walked to the opposite side of the
cell. “Ritch is my friend…probably one of the few if not THE only person
who has stuck by me and been my friend when everyone else would rather have
seen me dead…or worse!”
Snow kept her tone quiet, “Well, I’m really glad about that Mai. But I
just have to mention it in case anyone else in the village forgot about that
night…the gruesome sight from Ritch and Kahlua’s cabin…how we were almost one
woman short in the Willows that night…at Ritch’s hand. It’s like yesterday
to me Mai, even if everyone else forgot.”
Mai whirled around on her heel, “I didn’t forget Snow! I’ll never forget
that! You think I could ever forget her face, if you could call it
that…or the fear in her eyes for so many months when he would enter a room…the
way everyone looked at him, even the way you look at him now! He’s my
friend and it nearly killed me to have folks think of him that way…when he
didn’t do it! There were other forces at work there Snow. And YOU
of ALL people should know about that sort of thing…I know you do!”
Again Snow kept her tone soft, “Are you sure about that Mai?”
Mai lowered her voice to a whisper, more meaningful than any harsh voice could
be, “I’ll bet my life on it.”
The jail door suddenly burst open as Ritch hastily bound into the jail followed
by Tom, the jail watchman for the day. Ritch’s eyes met Mai’s for a split
second before they moved to Snow, “Snow have you seen Lily…or your mother for
that matter?”
Taken aback, Snow frowned, “Isn’t my sister still in the surgery for observation?”
Tom shook his head, “No, she was just released. Thing is…we just found
Yvonne. She’s unconscious…pretty bruised up. We need to ask Lily a
few questions. Conveniently, she’s disappeared…so has your mother.”
Daring NOT to look in Mai’s direction, Snow gasped in horror, “You don’t think
my sister did this?”
Snow in WW: Chapter 195 – “The Short Goodbye”
The search was on for Lily and
Liz. It was still unknown for certain that Lily was the one who had
attacked Yvonne, but she was wanted for questioning on the matter.
However, Karen wouldn’t allow any questioning of the only witness until at
least morning. She feared Yvonne’s jaw to be way too swollen for the
woman to talk.
As Snow rushed out of the jail to search for her family, two figures had just
slipped into the woods unnoticed. Liz looked back regretfully as she
spotted her beloved daughter bolt out of the jail…desperation on her
face. “I won’t even get to say good-bye,” she whispered as she followed
behind Lily homeward bound, a tear streaming down her cheek.
Snow’s head swam with
confusion. She couldn’t imagine her sister doing anything like this…but
then again, lately Lily had surprised her with even better than
this. She felt Dinger’s eyes watching her to see if she would try
and slip out to search for the women on her own…which was exactly her
intentions, as she knew where they were headed. She knew she had to
beat the men to the mine…if they would even bother to go after Lily thinking
she was headed home for good. Snow didn’t want to take the chance.
Casually, Snow slipped into the chapel looking purposefully sullen and
forlorn. She knelt at the altar to pray, just in case anybody were to
check on her through the window. She could hear the mens’ voices getting
fainter. She looked outside…the coast was clear. She had no
time to get any of her things. If she was going to bolt…the time was
right now.
She was weary and out of
breath…but she made it to the mine. Max welcomed her at the door with
slobbery kisses…but Ben wasn’t in the general vicinity. Perhaps she’d
meet him on the way down, she thought. She took the elevator
instead of the mine cart ride, as fun as the cart ride was. She just
wasn’t in the mood for fun right at the moment. The eerily well kempt room
that they had uncovered last year looked the same…as did the
mirror. “Mama! Lily!” She stood at the mirror and cried
out into the glass. “Mama, can you hear me? I didn’t even get to
tell you good-bye! Hello? Is anyone there?” She was startled
by the outstretched hand that reached from the glass and took her hand.
Her mother stepped back through the mirror and into the room. She smiled
at her fair-skinned daughter, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten
you…and I didn’t want to leave without saying good-bye. But it was such a
desperate situation.”
“So…Lily…?”
Liz nodded, “Yes. But please don’t think badly of your sister…and I know that
is a bold thing to ask. She had trusted Yvonne with that dirty little
secret…one she was deathly ashamed of, I can assure you. She broke down
and told me all about it.” Liz led Snow over to two chairs in the room
and they sat as she took Snow’s hand, “She was having a hard time getting over
her feelings for Thomas…feelings she thought were gone till she came back to
the Willows. She went to Mike’s to read a book and get away from
everyone...including her roommate. And she had some wine…too much
so. She knows it’s no excuse…believe me, she knows that. She can’t
even bring herself to face you. But she wants you to know that it wasn’t
Mike’s fault. She said Mike was…”
Snow interrupted as she patted her mother’s hand, “I know about Mike.”
Liz smiled, “He’s fine now, you know…now that you’re back…I know he is.
But you have to go to him. I know you haven’t even been together since
you returned to the Willows…and you haven’t even spoken since the party.”
Snow looked to the floor, “I know. I want to talk to him…I have so much
to say.” She looked back up to her mother’s, tears starting to fill her
eyes, “He needs to remember back to what happened with Edward and I…when Ed
used that morphing ring to seduce me last year and I thought he was Mike.
That whole incident has eaten away at me ever since...until now. It’s
like this happened for a reason… I feel like now I can understand what Mike is
going through now…the guilt of it all…and he can understand what happened with
me. We are so paralleled now…he can see that. He MUST see
that! I don’t want him to feel this pain anymore…he has to see how alike
we really are now!”
Liz grasped both of Snow’s hands and squeezed them as she whispered with
passion, “Then show him.”
Snow nodded as her lip quivered and tears streamed down her cheeks.
She opened her hand to see that her mother had placed the morphing in her hand.
She looked to her mum in understanding. They rose to their feet and Liz
hugged her daughter tightly, “This isn’t goodbye…it’s just so long, my love.”
“I love you, “ Snow whimpered softly. Liz pulled back and took her
daughter’s face in her hands and smiled, “And I love you.” She then
kissed her on the cheek. “Now go find your husband.”
After wiping a tear from Snow’s face, Liz returned to the mirror, smiled one
last time and stepped through it, disappearing into the cloudy pane of
glass.
“Hey there! Long time no see!”
Startled, Snow whirled around to see a small smiling face. “Ben! How are
you?” she swooned as she hugged her dwarf friend.
“Whoa!” Ben said through a tight squeeze, “You got some strong arms there
for a princess…or I’m just a big wimp…scratch that…a little wimp!” He
smiled cheekily. “So what’s up?”
“Don’t ask!”
Ben read Snow exasperated expression, “Oh no…trouble in paradise? Even
since the wedding a few weeks ago?”
“Actually it’s been quite far from paradise I’m afraid…but actually, I’m on my
way to fix all that. It’s a long story. But I would love to come
back and share it with you…maybe over some sandwiches and tea?”
“Sure thing…I’ll bring the tea! Bread is kinda scarce here in the mine,
so if you could bring the sandwiches…it sounds like a plan!”
Snow shook his tiny hand, “Done! See you later Ben!” With this, she
cheerfully skipped away and toward her next destination…the lair of her white
winged friend. She had a HUGE favor to ask of Ophelia…
Snow in WW: Chapter 196 – “A
Proper
Mike stared down at the babbling brook without actually seeing or
hearing it. His thoughts had drifted so
far from where he was he didn’t even hear his visitor approach.
“Is this seat taken?”
Startled, he jumped slightly and looked up in the direction of the
voice. The sun was bright, causing the
figure to be but a mere silhouette against the light. He raised his hand to shield his eyes from
the glare of the sun. It was her…his
princess, his angel. Speechless at the
sight of her, he shook his head. She
smiled and sat beside him on the bank.
He watched her intently…her soft and graceful moves, the way her dress
draped about her. As her eyes then met
his, he turned away…the remembrance of the guilt hitting him once again. She grinned in understanding, then pulled the
infamous object from her pocket.
Triumphantly, she presented it in front of him, “We’re even.”
He looked at her first…a soft smile on her face. Then he looked down at the object she held
out to him. His eyes widened as he
slowly took the object from her hand…Margurite’s morphing ring. His mind began playing the related last
years’ events in his mind…Eddy’s betrayal with the ring, Snow’s guilt, the
miscarriage…never knowing who the father really was. Her words now rang in his mind…“we’re
even”…and he looked at her.
Snow sighed, “You see? You have
nothing to be guilty for now. Remember when you used to tell me the same? I thought Eddy was you…just as you thought
Lily was me. We’re even…paralleled in yet
another way, that once again proves just how much we are meant for each other.”
Again he was speechless. It was
strange but true, he thought. He
couldn’t speak…he could only bask in her eyes…every word she spoke bringing joy
and a new hope back into his heart.
She touched his cheek, “I don’t wish to see you going through this pain
anymore. Let’s put all of this behind
us…both of us.”
He put the ring in his pocket and reached for her. Tightly he pulled her in close to him. She pulled back slightly,
“And…I thought you might want this back.” Happily, she pulled another ring from her
pocket…one that held much happier memories.
Mike’s face shown even more joy as he took the gold band, “My wedding
ring! Wherever did you find it?”
She smiled as Mike proudly returned the ring to his finger, “In the
canyon…Ophelia helped me of course.”
He looked at the ring with somewhat of a regret. Snow read his face, “What’s wrong?”
He looked at her sadly, with a look of guilt once again, “You’re my
wife…and I’ve neglected you. Because of
my own selfish guilt, I’ve not been there for you…not been the husband you
deserve. I abandoned you.” He turned his face away as he felt tears
begin to sting his eyes remembering all the times Snow had tried to cuddle up
with him or kiss him and he turned her away with some lame and untrue excuse
just to ease his own conscience. Snow
gently brought his face to look at her again as she smiled at him,
“Then don’t you think it’s about time we had a reunion…a proper one?”
It was a different kind of smile that she wore, one that he remembered
all too well…one that was always coupled with a gleam in her eye. God, how he’d missed that kind of smile from
her.
She inched her face closer to his, her lips teasingly close to his own,
“I’m afraid we’ll be in big trouble when we get back, as I don’t think we’ll be
returning to the village tonight.”
Suddenly breathless, the urge to kiss her was overwhelming, “Well, then
maybe they’ll put us in the same cell.”
He whispered as he brushed her hair back from her face, “So tell me…what
did you have in mind?”
Snow in WW: Chapter 197 – “A Proper
“So where are we headed?”
Mike inquired as Snow took him by the hand, grinning with her secret.
“You’ll see, “ was the only reply she offered.
She led him to the waterfall. The entrance to Ophelia’s cave was
open. Mike’s blissful smile now shown concern. “Oh no. What
could have happened?”
Snow turned to him, a flirtatious smirk on her lips, “Don’t worry.
Nothing’s happened…yet.”
She led him through the entrance and into the cavern. Mike was always
impressed by the beauty of this place. The great stone walls rose high…a
good thirty feet…and glistened with tiny crystalline speckles. The
ceiling far above them dripped with mammoth-sized stone icicles, washed in an
ivory-colored sheen. The sound of the waterfall gave off the gentle echo
of a lullaby. In the main area of the cavern was the part of the
waterfall that flowed inside the cave, almost as magnificent as the one that
flowed on the outside. The water was crystal clear, flowing from a spring
within the earth and tasted as clean as it looked. Surrounding the fresh
pool were large ivory stones much like the dripping icicles in the ceiling, but
smooth to the touch…the falling water making the ivory stones’ shadows to dance
on the glistening walls. On this visit, however, the usual scent of fresh
flowing water was now replaced with the scent of vanilla…vanilla? Mike
was pleasantly surprised at the new scenery now in front of him. Lying on
the floor of the cavern was a large soft comforter made of down feathers and
fur. Surrounding the make-shift bed was a wall of vanilla-scented
candles. The crystalline particles in the stone walls now twinkled like
stars in the candlelight as the couple walked toward the luxurious new
“bedroom”. As Mike took in this new scenery, he turned to look at
Snow. Her beauty was even more breathtaking to him than the cavern
itself, as her fair complexion also flickered in the soft light. He was
speechless…Snow smiled, “Ophelia wanted to do this for us…with everything
that’s happened.”
Mike brushed a strand of her hair aside, “I definitely want to thank
her…later.” Snow blushed at his meaning and bit her lip, still beaming a
proud smile, “I’m going to go and seal the entrance.”
Mike watched her disappear toward the entrance as he continued to look
around. There was a picnic basket near the bed stocked with sandwiches,
fruits and of course a bottle of wine. Mike opened the wine as he got out
the two glasses. He looked in the direction of the entrance, but Snow had
still not returned.
“Darling, are you alright?”
“I’m over here.” Her reply came from the pool where the internal
waterfall made its decent into the cavern. As he walked in that
direction, he found his beloved bathing waist deep in the water, the waterfall
flowing gently onto her neck and washing down her body.
“I wanted to freshen up. I’ve been running through the woods all day,
after all. Care to join me?”
No words could have rung finer in Mike’s ears…the water glistening off Snow’s
body now calling to him. The warmer weather had made the water’s
temperature a soothing coolness…not too cold. Mike set his clothes next
to Snow’s on the ivory rocks surrounding the pool and joined his wife in the
fresh spring. He pulled her close to him and kissed her neck and
shoulders as he tenderly rubbed her back.
She sighed as if in heaven, “It’s been so long since I’ve been in your
arms…since I’ve felt your skin next to mine…felt your breath on my face, on my
neck…since I felt your kisses…your tender and passionate kisses. I have
longed for it so much, my love…I have longed for you so much.”
He melted in her words…her old kingdom English apparent in her poetic and
romantic habit of speaking…especially to her beloved. He looked into her
eyes and ran his hand down her wet hair, “It’s still so hard to believe that
you aren’t a spirit…an angel sent to comfort me. So long had I mourned
your leaving.”
She took his hand and pressed it against her cheek, “I am indeed flesh and
blood…and it is YOUR flesh I long to feel next to mine own.”
Again Mike looked into her eyes…he felt exactly the same way. He had been
without his Princess for so long…an eternity. At one time he thought it would
be…that he would be without her forever. How did he make it?
Looking at her now, he wondered how he could ever live without this angelic
creature before him…one whose very existence seemed to be only to love him with
all of her heart and soul. He wondered what good thing he had done to
deserve such an honor as was her love for him. She said earlier in the
woods that they were “even” as such. The two paralleled events of she and
Edward, and he and Lily…more than pure coincidence he was sure. These two
lovers must have been destined since the beginning of time. True soul
mates…Mike was convinced of this. From two very different worlds and
times, and still they found each other. This magical and mysterious
place called “the Willows” had powers indeed…powers enough to bring these two
spirits together who would have otherwise never known of the other’s
existence. The mere thought of it still baffled him at times.
But now his thoughts drifted back to this very desirable woman in front of
him…his wife…one whose separation from him nearly killed him. She had
been trying since her return to give herself back to him…and he wouldn’t let
her. He let circumstances come between them…his own guilt. Guilt
for something all had said he had nothing to feel guilty of…but he did.
His love for Snow wouldn’t have allowed otherwise. But this was all
behind them now. And she stood now in front of him with love in her
eyes…the only thing between them was the fresh spring water…a life-giving
substance as it were. He had his Princess back…it was like having his
life given back to him. Husband and wife they finally were once
again.
Keeping a gentleman’s restraint as to savor this moment, he smiled at her
sweetly, “How about that wine?”
As they exited the pool, Snow clutched off the rocks two silk royal purple
robes for them to wear and they returned to the down comforter. Mike
poured the two glasses of wine, “A toast…to our bond. May it never again
be severed.”
Snow took a sip and then set her glass down. She reached up and touched
Mike’s cheek with her fingers, “The wine is sweet on my lips…but it’s not you.”
Mike took her hand from his face and kissed it, “I’m right here. I’ll
always be here…I’ll always be yours, Princess.”
Snow leaned in and kissed him and Mike pulled her close. God, how he’d
missed her kisses, he thought…how he’d missed her in his arms…how he’d missed
this. Gently he lowered her down onto the comforter, finally to be
reunited again with his beloved, his soul mate…his wife.
Snow in WW: Chapter 198 – “Freebird”
To the surprise of everyone,
especially Dinger wearing a scowl, Mike and Snow happily strolled out of woods
arm in arm, smiling of course...no, make that beaming.
"Well, well, well...if it isn't the latest escapees." Mai said with a
side glance at Dinger. "You might have earned a night in the brig
for this one, children!"
Mike smiled and looked at Snow, "Well, just as long as they put us in the
same cell."
Dinger folded his arms as he glared at the couple, "Fat chance! Jail
is supposed
to be for punishment, not a bloody honeymoon resort! So, judging by that
dreamy look in your eyes, I'm probably not allowed to ask where you two have
been...but since that's never stopped me before…Where the HELL have you two
been?!"
Mike gave Dinger the ultimate brush-off as he lightly slugged him in the arm
grinning like a madman, "Aw, lighten up Dinger...besides, you know I never
'kiss and tell'!" Mike chuckled and started back to the hut.
Snow let go of his hand as she remained in her place. He looked back at
her. "I'm going to stay here and chat with Mai for a bit...OK?"
Mike cooed, "Of course love," followed by a dreamy smile. As he
started towards the hut, Dinger was fresh on his heels, "You're not
getting off that easy, mate..."
Snow had to chuckle to herself on Dinger's last choice of words.
Mai smirked as she looked at Snow pointedly, "You know, there's no way I
could tell that there was any kind of 'REUNION'..." she stressed the word
heavily “…that could have possibly happened by the looks on your faces...so you
know I'm needing some details here."
Blushing, Snow giggled as she shied her eyes to a butterfly setting upon a rock
on the earth's floor. Mai always knew how to make Snow blush.
Ritch grinned, as he prepared to leave the two to their ‘girl talk’, “Mai, I’ll
see ya at the hut in a few, eh?”
“Sure thing, Champ! Drinks are on you, right?”
Ritch gave her a side glance as he turned toward the hut, “Of course…folks are
always broke once they get outta the pen, right?”
Mai gave him a good shove toward the hut. Ritch didn’t notice the
concerned and suspicious gaze Snow met him with, as she witnessed the exchange
between the two. The gaze, however, did not go unnoticed by Mai.
She brushed it off, ignoring its possible meaning, “So, what’s up? I
can’t imagine why you’re standing here with an ex-con, instead of in there
celebrating with your hubby Prince, girl?”
Snow smiled, “I just wanted to tell you that I’m glad you’ve been completely
exonerated of everything.”
Mai laughed, “Well, I don’t know if I’d go that far…but at least I’m not being
accused of something I didn’t do anymore…not like it matters though.”
Snow looked down ashamedly, her voice quieter, “And I’m sorry that you were
locked up because of MY sister.”
Mai sighed, reading the guilt in Snow’s voice, “Hey…” she raised Snow’s chin to
meet her eyes, “…c’mon, no gloom and doom here. It’s a celebration…for
many reasons, I’m thinking. Am I right?”
Snow nodded and smiled. Mai motioned toward the hut, “Shall we?”
It was like a weight lifted off
of her shoulders, Snow sat thinking as she enjoyed her dinner…occasionally
blushing slightly as Mike sent her unspoken words of love with his friendly
winks.
After dinner, Snow tried her best to avoid Dinger, but he was a man that couldn’t
be shaken easily, “OK Princess…we have some unfinished business here I’m
afraid.”
Mike took her hand and directed a stern tone toward the SAS soldier, “Dinger,
it’s a party…can’t this wait?”
“Afraid not, chef.” He then turned to Snow, “Your mother and your
sister…you know, the bully in the village…have since disappeared. I don’t
suppose you’d know where they went?”
Snow was greatly offended by Dinger calling Lily a ‘bully’. Her usual
timid nature was now overridden by a new forcefulness to protect her family,
“They went home Dinger…home where they belong.” With that, she stepped up
in his face, pulling from Mike’s protective grasp, “And if I were you, I’d
leave them be!”
Dinger grinned at her boldness, “Really? Or what?”
“Or…” Snow stammered, thinking of something…anything. By this time,
the room had hushed somewhat to hear what the usually timid girl would say to
the village’s most intimidating resident.
Snow finally spat at him with defiance, “Or I’ll wait till you go after them
into the mirror, and then I’ll smash it into a million pieces! Then
you’ll be stuck in the medieval ages FOREVER!”
Mike snickered at Dinger’s expense at that one, joined by a few chuckles in the
room. Snow was hardly intimidating, and Dinger couldn’t help but smile as
well, although he tried not to, “Alright, Your Highness…we won’t be going after
anybody through no time portal mirrors…that’s for sure.”
Mike, still chuckling led Snow over to the bar to fetch a cider.
“So where were you two all night last night?” Nigel asked casually, then
winced slightly as Cliona gave him an elbow to the ribs. “What?” he
looked innocently back at her. Mike simply grinned, taking a sip of his
cider rather than offer an explanation.
It was Snow who answered, “We stayed in Ophelia’s lair. We just needed
some time alone. She was kind enough to let us invade her home.”
“There’s a real hardship for her…she’s a horse, right? Probably went and
found a nice crabapple tree to snack on.” Mai said casually…her statement
directed more as an inquiry asking to be verified. Snow met her gaze dead
on. Mai’s eyes were friendly, shining of pure curiosity this time, rather
than any accusation. Snow then smiled gently, “Yes. She probably
did just that.”
It was about
Mike pulled her in close to him, “My goodness, what kind of talk is this from
someone so fair, so innocent? Maybe you shouldn’t hang around Mai so
much.”
At the name, Snow’s thoughts drifted to the exchanges she’d been observing
throughout the night between Mai and Ritch. Brushing off the distressing
thoughts, she curled her lip into a pout and teased, “You’re going to lock me
away from my friends? Then I’ll just have to make sure you’re locked up
with me…to be my slave forever.”
Mike grinned ferociously, “Then it’s settled then…I’ll have the guys start on
that dungeon tower first thing in the morning.”
Snow giggled. Mike sighed as he pulled away, removing his apron, “But
first thing’s first...I have to make a trek outside to the storage room for
some more cider.” He then gave her a meaningful side glance with a wink,
“Care to join me?”
Snow clutched at her chest as if in shock, “Why dear sir, are implying that I
would venture to misbehave with you in the storehouse?” Mike kept his
expectant grin as Snow batted her eyelashes, “Show me the way, Monsieur!”
As the couple approached the
storehouse just behind the hut, they stopped at a strange sight. On the
ground was a clutter of black feathers with some very large white ones mixed
in. Gasping Snow bent down and took one of the white feathers in her
hand, “These are Ophelia’s. Oh Mike! It looks like Margurite’s
crows are after her again!” Again she gasped as she inspected the feather, “Oh
God, Mike...look!” On the feather she held, there was blood. Mike
nodded in understanding as he helped Snow up. She looked back at the hut
and then to Mike. He shook his head, “If we tell the others, you know
they won’t let us go.”
Snow’s voice hinted on crying, “If we wait, it could be too late.”
In the corner of his eye, leaning against a tree Mike saw the spear he bad
using in his training sessions with Prasut. He went to grab it and
then gently took Snow’s arm, “Let’s go. And no matter what happens...stay
close to me.”
Snow in WW: Chapter 199 –
“Take These Broken Wings”
As Mike and Snow neared the
waterfall where Ophelia’s lair was hidden, they heard what sounded to be a
struggle. The sight they now stumbled upon was not a pretty one.
“Snow, get back!” was Mike’s cry, as the couple witnessed their poor horse
friend being attacked from all sides by their most feared archenemies, the
AllDevs. Ophelia was surrounded by the ugly creatures. She
was rearing up on her hind legs, her right wing appeared broken and covered
with blood. She managed to kick one of the monsters in the face with her
back hooves, sending it hurling backwards, but it jumped back up without
flinching and lunged at her again. Mike threw his spear and caught one of
them in the gut, pinning it to a tree just as it was reaching for the horse’s
throat. The spear was sharp and did its job most efficiently, but now it
was embedded deep into the tree as well as the dying creature. Mike
tugged hard, struggling to pull the spear out, as Ophelia continued to kick at
the remaining four AllDev demons…her injuries increasing. Mike
thought it strange that the creatures did not finish Ophelia off right
away. It was almost like they were taunting her, teasing her for their
own pleasure. Surely they weren’t smart enough to drag out the torturing
of the poor horse just to prolong her suffering? What would lead them to
do that? Was this a game to them? In his thoughts, Mike was taken
by surprise, as he turned to see one of the demons leaping towards him.
Finally, he yanked the spear out of the tree, but not fast enough to aim it at
his attacker. Just then, he heard a loud gun shot. Mike leapt out
of the way as the AllDev went hurling into a tree trunk then dropped limp
to the ground, blood oozing from the bullet hole in his brain. Mike
looked up to see Snow a few feet from him…Lily’s smoking pistol in her
hand. Mike breathed a sigh of relief, but with no time for “thank you’s”,
he lunged his spear at Ophelia’s attackers, catching one of them in the
ribs. Enraged, it turned and started straight for him. Snow shot
him, but it barely fazed him. Suddenly, the creature’s head was thrust to
the side, followed by it’s body dropping limp to the woods floor just at Mike’s
feet…a hunting knife plunged straight through it’s skull. Mike and Snow
turned to see Mai now standing in the midst of them, Ritchie at her side.
The AllDev’s now directed their attention to Mai. Their eyes burned at
her with fire…the feeling on her end was of course mutual.
“Run Ophelia!” Snow screamed, as the demon creatures were now distracted
by the newcomers. The horse took off through the woods…although not as
fast as she normally would, her legs now scarred by the sharp claws of the
AllDevs. Like a shot, one of the creatures turned and tore after
her. Mike and Snow followed close behind them, leaving the last AllDev’s
fate to Mai and Ritch. Both of them didn’t even think about grabbing
extra weapons before venturing out after their friends. They were now
left with only what Mai usually had on her person. She casually walked to
the dead creature whose skull still possessed her large hunting knife…neither
she nor the one remaining living AllDev ever took their eyes off each other.
The sound of the blade scraping against the bone pierced the darkness of the
late hour as she pulled the bloody knife from the dead demon. She walked
back to where Ritch stood, pulled her gun out from inside her boot and handed
it to him,
“I won’t be needing this.” Then she smirked as she turned back toward the
remaining creature. She swore she saw a certain glint in the creature’s
eye. Could that possibly be…fear?
The last creature was right on
Ophelia’s tail. Mike threw his spear at it, “Damn!” he missed…his spear
disappearing into the brush. He heard Snow yell out behind him, “Mike,
it’s almost
He knew what that meant...and at this point in time with that creature gaining
on the broken winged horse, it was NOT a good thing. He heard a
gunshot…it missed. Snow aimed again…POW! This time she didn’t
miss. She caught the demon creature right in the rump, as his backside
actually flipped over his head. He continued to tumble as Mike and Snow
ran past him to catch up to Ophelia. As fast as she normally was, her
injuries had made her painfully slow for Mike and Snow to be able to catch up
to her…a thought that again made Mike wonder if these creatures were toying
with Ophelia. ‘That AllDev surely would have been able to catch her long
before now,’ Mike thought. It wasn’t until they reached the horse that
they realized they had been heading toward the mountain’s edge all this
time. The woods look much different at night…that is if you can manage to
see at all in its darkness. Fortunately for them, this night had a full
moon. Now standing at the edge of the rock’s face, Ophelia shown relief
in her eyes as she turned and saw Mike and Snow instead of a hideous creature
set on killing her. Her wing was surely broken, as it hung abnormally and
painfully on her back. The group suddenly heard a noise behind
them. Neither of them had a chance to react as they saw the AllDev
returning with a vengeance at being shot in the arse. The creature now
lunged at Ophelia…her gut reaction then taking over, she instinctively jumped
from the ledge. Snow gasped, hoping that perhaps her wings could still
save her. At this point, Mai and Ritch had caught sight of the band and
the great leap the horse had just taken.
“Stupid animal!” Mai spouted as she watched the creature try to fly, knowing
the thing’s wing had to be broken…at least one of them.
Quickly, Mike grabbed her front leg as she leapt…the horse then falling against
the rock’s wall and out of sight. Snow threw herself atop of Mike
to keep him from sliding over the edge, just as the remaining AllDev went
flying over her head and into the deep chasm below.
“Oh shit!” Mai exclaimed as she expected to see Mike and Snow both go off
the edge from the weight of the mighty horse. She and Ritch then both
came to an abrupt halt at the mountain’s edge. Nothing could
have prepared them for what they saw. Dangling at the end of Mike’s
arm was no horse…but a WOMAN.
Snow looked at her watch and sighed in relief, “Yep…it’s