The effect was in fact...magical. The simple corset placed inconspicuously under the pale yellow dress, combined with the new hairstyle, had changed Snow from an attractive teenager to a stunningly curvy woman. All she needed was some of Cindy’s makeup and she would have passed for 25...a very beautiful 25.
“Wow.” She breathed, completely entranced at this new version of herself.
“Yes indeed. You truly are the fairest.” The shopkeeper agreed quietly.
“Is it supposed to be this tight though? It’s a little hard to breathe.” Snow asked, never taking her eyes from her image in the mirror. If Leo could see her now...instantly she blushed at the thought.
The lady laughed gently. “That is the price we pay for beauty, and the reason most gentlemen carry smelling salts. You’ll get used to it, everyone does.” She paused and regarded Snow closely for a moment.
“It really is very beautiful on you. I’ll tell you what; if you tell no one what I have done, as I can’t afford to do this for everyone, I will let you keep the dress and corset free of charge.”
“Really? I couldn’t!” Snow managed to gasp out.
“No, I insist. You look so beautiful in this dress, it was made for you. You must have it!” The shopkeeper objected quickly.
“I don’t know, I should pay you something.” Snow breathed.
“Not a thing. But listen, you must go now, I have an important customer coming.” The shopkeeper said walking Snow quickly and efficiently out the door.
Before she knew it, Snow found herself standing outside the vendor’s door facing the street. She took a few steps before pausing; trying to breathe wearing a corset must be an acquired talent because Snow felt wasn’t doing a terribly good job. Instead of getting easier as she had expected, it felt like the corset was actually getting tighter. Which was impossible; wasn’t it? Of course it was, this just took some adjustment time, Snow thought as she began to make her way very slowly and carefully down the street, pasting an overly bright and cheerful smile on her pale, pale face.
An elderly woman paused as Snow stumbled by, a look of extreme concern on her face.
“Are you alright dear?” She asked, laying a caring hand on the young girls shoulder.
“I am very well Madame.” Snow wheezed out. “Thank you, yourself?” Hoping the elderly lady didn’t feel inclined to engage in a lengthy conversation; Snow leaned against the building, hoping her smile was still in place.
The woman frowned unconvinced, but moved on down the street thankfully.
As Snow staggered down to the corner, she was aware of several pairs of eyes fixed attentively on her; this only confirmed what she had seen in the mirror. Smiling at the thought, she did her very best to ignore the growing pain from the cursed corset, which seemed to be digging itself deep into her ribs. In fact, Snow began to wonder if this might not be too great a price to pay for beauty, imagine women gasping for air and enduring rib crushing pain, just in order to appear more beautiful. Turning the corner she scanned the bazaar area for Cindy and Mercury but didn’t see them anywhere.
She felt her forehead, it was damp and clammy, she struggled for her next breath. Unable to expand her lungs, every cell in her body screamed for oxygen. Frantically she pawed at her corset as her vision began to dim; within seconds she hit the ground.
People started screaming for help. A lady in a purple coat began pulling at the corset lacings, trying in vain to loosen them. A big burly man, after apologising to Snow’s nearly unconscious form tried his hand as well; but no matter what force used, the lacings would not loosen, in fact if it were possible, they seemed to tighten up even more. She struggled to keep her eyes open; people started screaming for help again and Snow began to feel very light...and very far away.
Her eyelids began to flutter and a remarkable feeling of peace settled in; and just like that, Mercury’s flecked eyes bore down on her. Pushing people out of his way he reached down and neatly ripped her yellow satin gown in half; turning her over like a rag doll he used his razor sharp teeth and began gnawing at the lacings of the corset. Using his immense strength he pulled at the bones surrounding them.
People still stopped to cry for help, but now they were crying for help subduing what they perceived as a werewolf attack. It was almost unheard of for a werewolf to demonstrate his preternatural abilities in public; it understandably frightened them. Lonstas might be working towards equality but it wasn’t here yet. A mob quickly assembled flinging racial slurs and it took everything Cindy had to keep them back while Mercury worked away at the corset.
“Magic” he muttered as he gnawed through the next set of lacings.
“Magic?” Cindy squeaked; holding her hands up against the crowd of frightened shoppers. “He’s not harming her; he’s my friend! Back it up buddy!” She shouted at the crowd, stamping her shiny pink boot. “Yeah, that means you!”
“Magic corset.” Mercury managed as he spit out more lacing and went on to the next line. With each severed lace Snow’s lungs expanded just a little more until finally the werewolf had made it through the entire corset.
“If they breakout the pitch forks I’m ditching the both of you.” Cindy whispered as she blocked a man in a long dark coat from disturbing Mercury, emitting a rather good growl of her own.
Snow, free at last began gasping and filling her deflated lungs, all the while clutching the ripped fabric of her beautiful yellow gown close to her to shield her near nakedness. Her ribs felt as if they had been shattered, and her vision still swam; the pain was so intense. Finally Snow began to breathe somewhat close to normally.
Cindy handed Snow her shiny pink cloak to cover up with just about the same time that Snow opened her eyes, and realised what a crowd they had amassed. Mercury, noticing the crowd as well began to shoo them away, steadfastly ignoring the verbal insults and accusations; since she was obviously alive and the show was over, the crowd obliged and began to dissipate. Cindy knelt beside her friend.
“I didn’t mean it about the ditching you know, I just said it because.”
Blushing a furious crimson, she allowed Cindy to help her in to Cindy’s bright pink sparkly coat. Mercury politely looked away; thankfully he had joined them shopping, if he hadn’t she would be dead. That was a sobering thought. She had almost died. The corset was enchanted, it would have killed her. The real question was: had it been meant for her? There was only one person that she could think of that could possibly want her dead...
“Where did you get the dress and that awful corset?” Cindy asked and grabbed Snow up in to a massive bear hug.
“Let go! I was almost crushed already today!” Snow whispered. She was definitely going to have some very nasty bruises as well as a few bruised, possibly even broken ribs.
Mercury got a very dark look in his brilliant flecked eyes. “Yes, where did you get such a thing? I would really like to talk to whoever laced you up in this cursed corset.”
“Oh no, Merc.” Snow shook her head. “The vendor lady...she was just so nice, she gave me the dress and everything. I don’t think she’s responsible for the enchantment. I don’t even know that it was meant for me; maybe it was an accident.”
“A magical mess up?” Cindy mused.
“Doubtful. But we will see, won’t we.” Mercury still looked dark, formidable and very, very large.
“She gave it to you?” Cindy sounded doubtful as she pointed to the shredded remains of the obviously expensive yellow gown. “Snowy, why would she give it to you?”
“Yeah, I know how strange that sounds, at the time it seemed perfectly reasonable though.”
“Nobody does nothing for free. They always want something. That’s all I know.” Cindy muttered.
“Then let’s go find this nice shopkeeper. I am sure that if she is as nice as you say she is, then she will be very upset knowing that the corset she strapped you in to almost killed you. At the very least we should tell her in case anything else is enchanted in her shop.” Mercury
sounded reasonable, but the look in his eye was anything but, the beast shining through and the girls stepped back involuntarily.
“Okay.” Snow agreed. “I’m sure she will be really upset, and you’re right, there could be more enchanted garments. But you have to promise to be nice and let me and Cindy do the talking.” Snow paused as she tried to stand up, pain shot through her ribs making her wince. “Actually, let Cindy do the talking.”
Mercury took one side, and Cindy took the other and between the two of them Snow was able to stand up.
“It’s just around the corner.”
Leaning heavily on her friends, Snow brought them to the dress shop she had visited. She took a deep breath, and what a wonderful breath that was, and opened the door.
“Good morning!” A high pitched voice trilled. An elderly woman with a tiny pair of bifocals balanced in her tiny nose turned around and beamed at the trio expectantly.
“Hi there.” Cindy greeted pleasantly. “My friend was here about twenty minutes ago, and received a gown and corset from you?”
“No, it was a different lady.” Snow whispered.
“Sorry, from your associate then. May we speak with her please?” Cindy asked. Mercury stood in the doorway glowering down at the happy old lady, a huge, hulking wolf.
“I’m sorry Sweetheart, there must be some mistake; I work alone, I have no associate. I have just opened up for the day now; you must have received a gown from a different shop. I am so sorry; but do have a look around, I have the best selection in Turin and the “Season” is starting soon you know!” She trilled at them and began folding scarves in a pile, a contented smile on her pleasant face.
Mercury and Cindy looked at Snow in confusion.
“I know this was the place. It was here.” Snow muttered as she looked around. There was no doubt about it, this was where she had encountered the curly haired shopkeeper. This just didn’t add up, unless you factor in magic that is.
Magic always screwed everything up.
Unsure quite what to do, Mercury led the girls back outside. Cindy tossed a brief goodbye and thank you over her shoulder as politeness demanded.
“I smell enchantments, but the woman is not under a spell. She is as she appears, an elderly shop keeper; that is not a glamour.” He announced as soon as the door had closed.
“Do you mean that there are other enchanted garments in the shop?” Cindy asked. “We probably should warn her, most people don’t shop with their own werewolf you know.”
“No, I didn’t smell any fresh enchantments, it was a residual smell. Like something or someone was enchanted and then left. Perhaps simply the corset.” He replied.
“No,” Snow said. “She said she worked alone, and that was not the lady I dealt with.”
Mercury exhaled loudly. “Could this be the work of your stepmother? You said she was a sorceress of some skill.”
Snow felt sick; yes, yes it could definitely be the work of her powerful and insidiously sneaky stepmother. Could the kindly shopkeeper have actually been her beautiful stepmother in disguise? Could Rosalyn of Rylak have come that close to actually killing her? It was the most horrible thought.
“I don’t know.” She answered truthfully. “I suppose it could have; I am sure she wouldn’t draw the line at glamour if she had to.” She paused for a moment. “How did she find me?” She asked in bewilderment. No one even knew who she was.
“Why does she want to kill you Snowy?” Asked Mercury as gently as he could.
“I don’t know.” She replied, holding back her tears. And she didn’t know. She had sensed the change in their relationship years ago, she had never known what caused it, or how to repair it. It hadn’t always been that way, Snow had many fond memories of Rosalyn; Rosalyn sneaking sweets with her, Rosalyn braiding her hair, tending to her when she was sick, but something had happened that had destroyed their relationship gradually until finally Rosalyn had sent Gregor, their huntsman to cut out her heart. Snow had never known why, and though Gregor had fought valiantly against the spell that bade him to slay her, he was unable to give her a reason.
“Then let us hope she thinks the deed is done and has fled Turin.” Mercury announced as he led the girls down the cobblestone streets back to the cottage Snow shared with Uncle Doc and his brothers.
Snow hoped so. But she knew better. Rosalyn of Rylak would ask her mirror. And her mirror never lied.
Chapter 9
Laid up in her bed at home, Snow had ample time to think...unfortunately.
Uncle Doc had taken one look at Snow, and the gang realised that there was no fooling him. They told him the whole story, omitting nothing; well, almost nothing. It would have been rather hard to hide the incident anyway seeing as Mercury had ended up carrying Snow most of the way home.
In horror, he had stared at her as they related the story of the enchanted corset.
Sitting down in a chair by his examination table, he slowly shook his head before looking up at the big angry werewolf. “Mercury, you have my unending respect and friendship for saving the life of my precious Snowy. Without your assistance today...” He trailed off unable to complete the sentence.
Mercury’s beautiful eyes fastened on the Doctor’s blue ones. “That means more than you could know Doc, I pledge to do everything in my power to protect your loved one. This I pledge on the honour of my forbearers.”
Uncle Doc seemed to understand the great significance of this pledge and did indeed look relieved.
“But who would enchant a corset simply to harm a random young girl? That’s the part that doesn’t add up to me. Infusing a garment with enough magic to kill takes much skill, and typically is not employed by amateurs nor left to chance.”
They all looked down; regrettably at the same time which of course indicated that they were hiding something. Or trying to rather; Uncle Doc was no fool. He knew there was a little something more to the story that would fill in all of those gaping holes.
“Or was this a random attack. Cindy?” He zeroed in on Cindy. Wasn’t it just like Uncle Doc to know instinctively who the weakest link was.
“Ummmmm...” Cindy fidgeted, she hated being the louse, and she looked around the room trying to avoid his penetrating blue gaze. “We think maybe, you know, her stepmom or someone...we don’t know...” Looking down she began to twirl a curl around her finger.
“Your stepmother. Gads! Snowy, if your stepmother is behind this attack it is a very serious matter. She is a most powerful sorceress, and from all accounts, utterly single minded. How could you have considered keeping that from me? But how did she know you were here in Turin?”
His face turned ashen. “The convention!” This is my fault, dear, precious Snowy, I have placed you in the path of great harm!” His eyes round like saucers behind his small glasses. “The Rylakian physician that congratulated me, he must have recognised you! Did you know him in Rylak?”
Well, damn cause that wasn’t it. Snow wasn’t completely sure how to explain about Manuel, the gypsies and the spell but she knew she had to say something before Uncle Doc flung himself off of a mountain top as penance for endangering her life. There comes a time when only the truth will do, no matter how uncomfortable that makes you feel, and sometimes the truth is plenty uncomfortable.
“The Doctor from Rylak was the leading physician in the kingdom, well known to me and my family as he was...is the foremost physician attending my father. But he did not recognise me; of that I am most certain.” Snow said in a clear voice, stopping to let this information sink in. She certainly had everyone’s attention.
Cindy, who was busy putting two and two together suddenly looked up sharply, with wonder at Snow. “Snowy, who are your parents?” She asked in a very quiet voice.
Uncle Doc and Mercury both turned to Snow as well, Mercury in confusion, Uncle Doc in compassion. He, above all knew just how hard it was for Snow to talk about her past. He would have spared her the pain if he could, but it was her story to tell a
nd only she could tell it. So he simply reached out and held her hand, squeezing gently to let her know he understood.
Barely audible, Snow’s voice finally emerged. “My father is the King of Rylak. My mother died when I was five years old. My stepmother is Rosalyn of Rylak.” She hated the ‘great revelation’.
“So that makes you-” Mercury’s voice came out in a rush. “The Rylakian Heir!”
“A princess!” Cindy finished at exactly the same time. “Oh. My. Goodness. My best friend’s a princess.” Cindy tried the words on. They felt weird. “My best friend’s a Princess! Of course, Snowy’s a Princess...why didn’t you tell me you were a Princess?!!”
Snow swung her eyes towards Cindy, her reaction to this was the funniest thing she had ever seen; she should have expected exactly this scene from her. And she would have, had she ever expected to tell anyone, which she hadn’t. It was a horrible thing, admitting that your stepmother hated you so much that she wanted you dead, and your own father hadn’t even bothered to try and save you.
That wasn’t fair; Roland most likely didn’t even know she was gone, he was that sick. But it still hurt; she swallowed hard against the emotions.
Mercury dropped to one knee in front of her. “Dearest Lady, it has been generations since the noble werewolves have served a Royal family as Protectors. I would be honoured if you would accept my Protection Oath.”
“Oh, I really don’t want this to change anything.” Snow shook her head wide eyed, and struggled to sit up on the examination table; his reaction wasn’t quite so funny...it bordered on annoying. “I am feeling really uncomfortable.”
Mercury immediately wrapped his arms around her and helped her in to a sitting position; but that only hurt more, and when she yelped, Cindy hurriedly stuffed several pillows behind her back and Mercury slowly lowered her back on to them.
“I meant with all of this attention.” She muttered. “It makes me uncomfortable.”
“I would accept his Oath if I were you Snowy. Werewolves are among the most loyal friends and protectors you could ever have.” Uncle Doc advised her.
Uncle Doc was seldom wrong, and it would wound Mercury terribly if she were to refuse his offer. It’s just that he made it sound like she was doing him the favour, not the other way around. She just wanted her friends to act like her friends again; she hated all the pomp.