The Hunt for Snow (9 page)

When the doors opened, I stepped out and hurried to my first class. If I could get through today, I’d visit Maleficent tonight and see if we could get to work on opening the portal. I stepped into a typical hotel conference room and found a seat at the back of the room, even though there were very few chairs filled. If Naomi came in and decided to start something, I’d be located in the perfect area to lure her away from the rest of the people in the room. The least I could do was try to reduce casualties until I could figure out a way to take her down.

I set my briefcase down, adjusted the shoulder holster to prevent the Sig from digging into my waist, and looked around the room. There was a projector present, presumably for slides, and a long table filled with nametags of people I didn’t recognize. I leaned down to get my agenda out, and opened it to skim through the rest of the day’s activities. I had another class to get to fifteen minutes after this one ended. After that, the day was pretty much open for me. There was another social hour this evening, this time in the bar. Perhaps I could catch Maleficent down there and talk to her about my plans.

My thoughts drifted for a while as the room began to fill up. At noon on the dot, the presentation began, and I tried as hard as I could to get through it without drifting off. Last night’s Olympics were beginning to catch up with me. I caught maybe three or four words the presenters said, but wasn’t interested enough to keep paying attention.

Max’s dilemma presented a unique challenge. Naomi had him under thrall for years now. I’d seen him fight off the compulsion temporarily multiple times so I had a feeling he would be able to beat her at her own game if he wanted to. So why didn’t he? Whatever Naomi had of his was precious enough to keep him in willing bondage.

I racked my brain trying to think of what it could be, but I’d never seen anything that Max cherished. The few times I had seen him, he was either fighting off the urge to kill me or he was *ahem* otherwise occupied. I felt a blush creep up my cheeks at that thought, and heard the presenters thank everyone for attending.

A quick glance at my watch revealed that an entire hour had passed. Daydreams were good for boring classes, I decided, and now understood my students a little better. Multiple times I’d caught them with glazed outlooks on their faces. I cringed as I thought what the look on my face must have been during this class.

I hit the door before anyone else even made it out of their seat and hurried to make the next class. As I rounded the corner, I ran into a very strong, very male chest. I put my hands up to stop my momentum and I raised my head only to see a green gaze tinged with red flame.

“Max,” I said in surprise.

He put his hands around my arms to keep me from toppling over. “Snow,” he said, his voice gruff. “You’re looking delicious this morning.”

My breath caught in my throat. “So are you,” I murmured.

His grip tightened painfully, and I winced. We were beginning to attract stares from people milling about in the hallway. He leaned down and whispered in my ear, “You need to stay away from me. I can smell the blood singing in your veins. I want to spill it.”

My heart thudded painfully in my chest as he released me. I gave him one long look, seeing only a smidge of the Max I knew last night, nodded as I stepped around him and walked away as fast as I could. I could feel him staring at me until I rounded the next corner and sagged against the wall, both heartbroken and relieved. This was familiar. This deadly dance between him and me. I had no doubt that one day the compulsion would be too strong for him to give advance warning. It was almost better than the horrible doubt I’d experienced as soon as I left his room this morning, hoping against hope we’d be able to somehow make us work. I patted the gun at my waist, straightened and clicked down the hallway to my next class.

* * * *

After class I headed back up to the room to slip on a pair of jeans and a blouse for the social hour. Cyndi texted me earlier and let me know my suitcase, packed with all my familiar things, and Maleficent’s gift, were next to my bed. I let myself in, and paused at the entrance when I heard the sound of someone inside the room. Cyndi and Belle were downstairs still, so who would be inside? I slid the door stop at the bottom of the door to keep it ajar just in case I needed to get the hell out.

I walked around the corner as if I hadn’t heard a thing, drawing my Sig and holding it at arm’s length. Once I rounded the corner, I cocked the hammer. Robin was lying in my bed reading a copy of Cyndi’s old
Cosmo
magazine. I lowered the weapon, clicked the cocker back on and stared at him. “Breaking into hotel rooms now, Robin?”

He grinned at me and lowered the magazine. “Always. You can put your gun away, dearie. If you wanted to kill me, you would have done it years ago.”

I slide the gun back into my holster, and noted with relief that my other suitcase was lying right where Cyndi said it would be. “Talk while I get dressed.”

Surprise flicked over his face. “Are we at that point in our relationship now? Well, as long as you’re wearing pretty underwear, I suppose.”

I couldn’t help my laugh. I grabbed a pair of jeans and a soft cotton blouse, shook them at him and said, “I’ll be in the bathroom, ass. Now spill.”

“A woman like you is pure torture, Snow. Very well.”

I rushed into the bathroom, thankful it was blocked off from his viewing area, and kept the door ajar so I could hear him talk.

“Well done last night, by the way. The conference is all atwitter with your display of cajones.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled. “Not that I had a choice.”

“I disagree. There is always a choice. Anyhow, the obvious next step for you if you mean to reclaim your kingdom, and I do hope that you do mean to do so, is for you to open a portal. There are only a few of us who can do so, but if we think that, then Naomi knows it as well, and she will be watching your every move.”

I slid out of my skirt, almost groaning out loud with relief, and pulled on the jeans. “I already know all this, Robin. You know me better than that. Spill why you’re really here.”

“Can’t a man tell a story these days?” He sighed dramatically. “Fine. I spoke to Maleficent this morning. You have less than two days to get that portal open, so we thought it would be best to try tonight, just in case she fails.”

I paused fluffing my hair in the mirror. “Fails?”

“You’ve been gone too long. The magic of the Enchanted Forest has suffered under Naomi’s rule. Maleficent is one of the most powerful sorceresses around, but even her magic is no longer foolproof. Naomi is sucking the magic from the land.”

I straightened my blouse and stepped out of the bathroom and around the corner to see him still lying in the same place. His eyebrows rose appreciatively. “More your style,” he said. “The skirt was weird. I assume that was Cyndi’s doing?”

I nodded. “I made her bring my clothes back.”

“That’s my girl,” he said as he swung his legs around the side of the bed and sat up. He rummaged through one of his pockets and pulled out a sheet of rumpled parchment. “Be here tonight at nine. I will be there, and I plan on bringing some of the dwarves with me to watch out for anyone who would try to stop Maleficent from opening the portal.”

“The dwarves?” I felt a sense of surprise, especially if Grumpy was involved.

“Yes,” he said with patience. “Even though you frustrate the hell out of people, you’re still a far better choice than Naomi.”

I blinked. “Wow. That’s a warm and fuzzy vote of confidence.”

Robin rolled his eyes in impatience. “Don’t fish for compliments from me. Take the bloody map and make sure you’re there tonight.”

I took it from him and opened it. The location was several miles away in a heavy thicket of forest. We’d have to take a cab and hike about half a mile before we made it. Cyndi and Belle were going to be thrilled. I pocketed the map. “I’d planned on talking to her about it tonight at the social, but it seems she’s way ahead of me.”

Robin chuckled. “Maleficent is way ahead of everyone. You have dangerous friends.” He strode in my direction and kissed the top of my head. “I admire that. Just take care not to piss her off. Maleficent is not an enemy you want following you around.”

“Got it,” I said. “I’ll see you tonight.”

As he opened the door to walk out, I shouted, “Wear something sexy!”

His bark of laughter on his way out warmed my heart. “I’ll show up naked!”

He’d give the bulk of the female population a heart attack if he did that. And, Belle…I didn’t even want to think about her reaction. The door was almost shut when I yelled out, “Ummm…no!”

We looked like the fairytale version of
Charlie’s Angels
. I wore flexible black leggings and a black tunic top. My shoulder holster was in full view, and I had a thigh holster strapped high on my leg. There was a large hunting knife in my boot and two canisters of pepper spray tucked into secret bra compartments. I’d have to wear a jacket to make it out of the hotel, but I felt secure in what I was carrying tonight. My short hair was pulled back using an elastic and a black ribbon tied haphazardly on the side of my head, and I wasn’t wearing a lick of jewelry.

Belle, on the other hand, looked like a tech nerd. She, too, wore black leggings, but she topped it off with high, black leather lace-up boots and a long black Yoda T-shirt. Her chestnut hair was tied up in a messy bun on the top of her head, and the black spectacles perched on her nose gave her an owlish appearance. I tried not to giggle, but couldn’t quite stop myself.

Cyndi looked like a sexy cat burglar. Tight black jeans with a black bodysuit tucked in and black tennis shoes completed her ensemble. Her blonde hair was also tied up with a ribbon, but whereas mine looked messy, Cyndi’s looked strategically placed—like Rizzo from
Grease
. Robin was going to get a kick out of this.

I handed them both a canister of pepper spray and a small Swiss Army tool. This was the most self-defense gear I’d ever been able to get them to carry, but I thought any added layer of protection would be good for what we were heading into tonight. Not that I knew exactly what we were heading into, just that it had the potential to go to hell in a handbasket, and fast.

We had plans to scale down the balcony wall and make our way down without being seen by anyone. Walking through the lobby wearing these clothes was bound to attract attention. Considering we were only on the second floor, we were in good shape to climb down without too much danger of breaking our pretty ivory necks.

“Ready, ladies?” I chirped.

Belle grinned. “Dunno, I kind of feel like greasepaint would complete my badass look. We don’t have any of that, do we?”

“We’re not commandos, we’re displaced princesses. Greasepaint might scare the natives,” I joked.

“Displaced princesses,” Cyndi murmured. “I like the sound of that. Although, I’m nobody’s princess. Just an orphan.”

Belle snagged Cyndi around the neck and pulled her in for a hug. “Me too. Not an orphan, but I don’t have two nickels to clink together back home. Snow is just being polite, I think. But I plan to take advantage of it and move into the castle so we can continue to capitalize on her good heart.”

“Good idea,” Cyndi said, her eyes twinkling. “But I am
not
cleaning your house.” She shuddered.

I laughed and pulled out the length of rope I had hidden in the side panel of my suitcase. “Duly noted,” I said as I strode outside to the balcony and began tying a double knot securely against the railings. They were wrought iron and appeared to be sturdy, but I stepped over to the outside of the railings and tested its strength by grabbing hold of the rope and pulling as hard as I could with my body weight. Not even a groan. Perfect.

We grabbed our jackets, shrugged them on, and I threw the rope over the side, satisfied to see the length of it fall only a foot above the ground. We were in perfect shape to get out of here as quick as possible, without attracting the notice of anyone else, as long as no one did a one and a half gainer off the balcony. I took a deep breath. “Any volunteers to go first?”

Belle shrugged and slipped on a pair of rough leather gloves. I blinked. Forgot about that. My hands were going to be seriously rope burned by the time I made it down. Noticing my look, she grinned and slipped two more pair of gloves out of her pocket and tossed them to us. “Rookies.”

There was a reason she had the highest IQ. “Thanks, Belle. Now get your skinny ass down the rope so we can get a move on.”

Belle complied, her Pilates-strengthened legs gripping the rope with ease. Within seconds she was down, jumping off gracefully. I motioned to Cyndi next. “Ready?”

She swallowed with a loud
click
. “Nope.” Cyndi slid her gloves on, grabbed the rope, stepped over the side and…stopped.

I waited for a good minute and watched her. Cyndi’s eyes were screwed closed, and she’d broken out into a cold sweat.

“It’s less than fifty feet. The odds of you breaking anything if you fall are like sixty/forty.”

Cyndi paled. “Seriously, Snow. You are the worst motivational speaker ever.”

Okay, so maybe that wasn’t the right thing to say. I tried another tactic. “If we’re late, Naomi wins. Think about that. Then move your ass.”

She grimaced, took one leg off the balcony and began to descend. At a snail’s pace, and cursing the entire way down, but she was still moving. After an excruciating amount of time, Cyndi jumped off the rope, not quite as graceful as Belle, and stumbled to the ground like a drunk rhino. I covered my laugh with my hand.

Once the rope stopped its wild dance, I grabbed ahold of it and descended down like a ninja. This was one of my best stunts. So much time spent in yoga and aikido gave me serious upper body strength and balance. I was like a cat in the trees. Now, running…that was a completely different story. When I was about five feet away, I took out my knife, cut the rope and allowed myself to fall to the ground. I landed on my feet and took stock of our surroundings. So far, it looked like no one had seen our crazy escape attempt.

If no one looked out their windows for a while, no one would see the rope dangling down from our balcony either. Yes, it might have seemed a harebrained way to get out, but the more discreet we were, and the less notice we attracted would be best. None of us wanted to tip Naomi off to where we were going.

We took off on foot and down the dim street. Robin had set us up with a taxi at the Italian restaurant we’d eaten at the other day. The plan was for the driver to drop us off at the local park a few miles away from the hotel, and we’d hike the rest of the way in. So far, so good.

“I am so glad I’m wearing comfortable shoes,” huffed Cyndi as she struggled to keep up with our brisk pace.

“It was a good thing you decided against wearing your stiletto boots,” I said dryly.

“If anyone got too close to me while I was wearing those I could give them quite the surprise,” Cyndi said.

“I’m sure the pepper spray will be just as effective,” I said. Belle kept up the pace, but stayed silent for the majority of the walk.

As we got closer to the restaurant, I nudged her. “Everything all right?”

“Perfect,” she said and gave me a genuine smile. “I’m just so excited about going home. Nervous, too.” She wrung her hands. “Very nervous.”

I was terrified, but learned a long time ago not to show my fear openly. “It will be just like you remember it. I’m nervous, too, but for different reasons. If we make it back, that’s all good and well, but what am I going to do about Naomi once I get there?”

I had a hundred different ideas, all sure to end in my fiery, violent death scene. There had to be a way to get my palace back without violence. Of course, I wasn’t opposed to violence, and I definitely wasn’t opposed to violence against Naomi, but my people had seen enough death and destruction in her reign. If I had to resort to bloodshed, I would, but I’d do my best to get it back without undue carnage.

Thus lay my dilemma. Right now I was just worried about getting back to the Enchanted Forest and resetting that stupid clock because right now Naomi had me in an unbreakable choke hold. Who was I to break my father’s own law? Even though the circumstances were far beyond my control, I’d lose the respect of my people if I cheated to take the crown.

The cab was waiting for us as we walked up to the restaurant, so I slid in first. Much to my surprise and especially Cyndi’s (given away by her loud gasp as she got in the cab), our creepy original cab driver was back in the saddle tonight and giving us all a leering smile as the door slammed shut behind Belle.

The hair on the back of my neck stood up. What were the odds we’d get the same cabbie twice, especially when someone else called to reserve it for us? We stared at each other through the rearview mirror. Something flashed in his gaze, but before I could decipher it, he looked away and accelerated the car. “What are you lovely ladies up to tonight?” he asked in that smoker’s drawl.

“Scavenger hunt,” I said right away, not giving Belle or Cyndi the chance to respond.

“What’s the prize?” he asked.

Something seriously weird was up with this dude. “World peace,” I said shortly and took notice of his shoulders stiffening against the driver’s seat. I was going to give this guy about another minute before I stopped the cab and bailed us all out.

“So what’s your story?” I was curious to know about this guy. A nagging sense of familiarity came to me, but I still couldn’t place him.

“Not much of a story,” he said and fell silent.

“Have we met before?” I pressed him.

He cackled uncomfortably. “I’d never forget a face as pretty as yours.”

Belle’s head popped up at that moment and a strange look came over her face. I watched her as she sent out a tendril of will through the back seat speakers by her feet. The magic scrambled through the speakers and went only God knows where, but Belle seemed satisfied so I relaxed as much as I could.

I leaned over. “What did you do?” I whispered in her ear.

“Scrambled signals to make sure we weren’t overheard by anyone. I don’t trust this guy,” she whispered back.

I nodded and sat back, watching the scenery flash by the cab windows. There was a knot in my stomach, tight and uncomfortable. The sooner we got this over with, the better. The cab fell into an awkward silence, and after what seemed like an excruciating time period, he slowed down the cab in front of a copse of trees.

“Weird place for a scavenger hunt,” he remarked in a friendly tone.

I gave him a tight smile. “No one ever accused us of being normal.” I motioned for Belle to slide out and followed behind her. Cyndi, still silent, slid out and stood beside us. The cabbie rolled down the window, and I pushed a twenty at him. “Keep the change.”

He reached over for the money, his fingers grasping mine tightly. He grinned, and I felt my heart stop. Red light, exactly like Max’s, flashed in his eyes as he pulled me closer to him. “Naomi will be extremely pleased to know where you are tonight.”

He pushed me away from him, and as I stumbled in order to keep my balance, the cab squealed away into the night.

“Screw me purple!” I shouted into the night and turned to Cyndi and Belle. “We need to run. Now.”

We hauled ass through the man-made trail in the woods, both of my friends close behind me. “I knew something was up with that dude,” Belle said. “He won’t be able to contact Naomi through any of the devices in his vehicle.”

I breathed a sigh of relief as I jumped over a log. “Thank the gods. At least we bought a little more time.”

I figured we had close to twenty or thirty minutes before Naomi caught wind of where we were. Surely that was enough time to get us to Maleficent and open the portal. I was starting to feel pretty good about things when a lone figure stepped out ahead of us.

“Fuck,” I snarled as all of us came to an abrupt halt. Max stood in front of us dressed in the traditional clothing of the Enchanted Forest. Long leather breeches encased his powerful legs. He wore soft leather boots laced up to the knee, and a sapphire blue supple shirt that flowed around him. He looked handsome as sin.

And just as deadly.

Belle touched my shoulder. I turned to her and whispered, “Go to Maleficent. I’ll be right behind you.” A brief nod and a meaningful glance at Cyndi, and both of them took off in opposite directions. Max’s gaze flicked to them briefly, but he made no move to follow.

A glint of moonlight reflected off the arrow notched on the wooden bow he was pointing at me. I raised my hands up in the air, itching to draw the gun from my waistband, and studied him. “Max.” I nodded.

He stepped closer to me, but not close enough for me to touch. Plenty close enough for him to fire off an arrow with incredible accuracy. “Snow. Fancy meeting you here.”

“How’d you find me?” I took one hesitant step backward.

“I’d be able to find you anywhere,” he said in all seriousness. “Especially now.”

I tensed. “Now?” I asked, a horrible thought forming in my mind.

“You bear my mark,” Max said, his bow unwavering.

“Mark?” Listen to me, so eloquent and wordy. I didn’t recall seeing anything on my skin after our night together. A sense of sick regret stole over me.

“It’s underneath your skin, seen only to me, Snow. I will always know where you are.”

So…Max had given me the equivalent of a magical STD. Awesome. I slowly lowered my hands and took a step closer to him, my mind spinning with thoughts. “Is this Naomi’s doing?”

A look of regret flashed over his face, gone as quickly as it surfaced. “Aye,” he said, the one word hosting a world of sorrow. I closed my eyes, rebelling against the tears forming there. As long as Max was under the compulsion of Naomi, he’d be able to find me anywhere at any time. I’d just literally screwed myself by screwing Max. Of all the ways to lose my virginity. I couldn’t be normal and get a drunken fumble in the backseat of a car. I had to fall in love with a man being controlled by an evil sorceress. Way to go, Snow. Maybe I could put this in my scrapbook next to my Top Ten list of what not to do when searching for a boyfriend.

I went for broke. “So how do I get the mark off?”

Max grinned, slowly. “It will fade. Eventually. As long as we stay away from each other. But you and I both know we can’t do that.”

The position of the moon told me we’d burned just a few moments chatting. I had very little time to make it to Maleficent and Robin. It was now or never.

I was going to have to either shoot him or stab him.

My mind ran through the inventory strapped onto my body. I had a gun strapped to my thigh and one on my shoulder. There was a knife in my boot and two canisters of pepper spray in my bra. Reaching into my bra would slow me down, and so would reaching into my boot. I could easily draw the weapon from my shoulder or thigh, but it depended on how much I wanted to hurt him. I stared at Max, calculating how fast he was going to move and the odds that I’d kill him once I fired off a shot.