AaBack’s Grimm: Dark Fantasy Fairy Tale #7 A Trip To Some Place Familiar, A Confused Dragon, And Sugar Bees

By Kristie Lynn Higgins

Novella about 32,700 words
In book 7, Erosa and Moon Beast have done something very cruel to Jane and now they must face what they have done.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kristie Lynn
• Release date: May 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005148003

Kristie Lynn Higgins

You can also check out my author page on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/author/kristielynnhiggins

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AaBack’s Grimm

Dark Fantasy Fairy Tale #7

A Trip To Some Place Familiar, A Confused Dragon, And Sugar Bees

© 2021

Kristie Lynn Higgins

050321

www.KristieLynnHiggins.com

Text Copyright © 2021 by Kristie Lynn Higgins

Cover Art Copyright © 2021

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by Kristie Lynn Higgins

www.KristieLynnHiggins.com

Chapter One

The Stranger… The Intruder… Eliminated…

Moments earlier near the Hedge Labyrinth Gate…

Near the gate of the Hedge Labyrinth, Moon Beast enacted his cruel plan.  He wanted to be rid of Jane.  He wanted no more to do with her.  Moon Beast wanted to prove that she meant nothing to him, so he insisted, Stranger, I do not know your name, nor do I care to know your name.  Begone…  No one wants you here.

Jane was already angry and desperate.  She thought at first he was only being cruel, but what if he didn’t remember her?  What if what she feared would be the ending of this story, once she rid the realm of the Maximus-curse, had already come true?  Jane went over and grabbed him by the elbow as she frantically demanded, Say my name.  She stared into his feline green eyes as she spoke to him, You have to know me.  There’s no reason you shouldn’t know me.

Stranger, you test my patience, Moon Beast yelled as he wrenched his arm from her grasp.  He had her nearly where he wanted her.  She only had to completely believe that he no longer knew her, and then he would prove to the old sorceress that Jane meant nothing to him.

She found it hard to breathe as panic set in and nearly toppled her to the ground.  Her world was collapsing upon itself.  The world she had fallen in love with, including all its horrors and wondrous things.  Jane wouldn’t let go of it.  She would hang on tight and never let go.  But Moon Beast was so insistent that he didn’t know her.  He had to know her, he had to remember her name.  Jane thought about her life before coming to Grimm… a life of loneliness…  Despair had not grabbed hold of her while she was on Earth for she always had hope and faith, but she feared all that would change.  She tasted what it was to be remembered.  She couldn’t go back to the way it was.  She couldn’t be the forgotten once again.  Jane thought of her other friend.  Erosa wouldn’t have forgotten her.  She turned and rushed for the garden as if Death itself chased her.  Erosa wouldn’t be cruel to her.  She would say her name when she asked her for it.  Erosa would say her name and then she would know that he was only playing some cruel joke on her.  Jane ran faster and faster till her lungs were nearly exploding from overuse.  She was nearly to the garden.

Moon Beast wasn’t that far behind.  He didn’t want the sorceress to ruin his plans.  He had a point to prove no matter the cost to the woman.  Moon Beast would finally be rid of her.

Erosa! Jane screamed near tears upon entering the garden.  Only minutes before had she been in a fight with her friend, but now she needed her, she needed her so desperately, and Jane screamed all the more, Erosa, say my name!

What is going on? the sorceress questioned still angry with her.  All Erosa could think of was their fight and what it was all about.  Jane admitted she loved Moon Beast and Sun Beast.  She loved the Beasts as Erosa loved the Beasts.  Erosa was never allowed to hold her prince in the manner she desired.  She had to keep her feelings to herself, but Jane…  Jane freely admitted her feelings and unlike her, Jane could act on her love.  Erosa was so infuriated with her.

Just say my name, Jane pleaded as she stood in front of her.  She had forgotten about their argument as a more dire situation had sprung up.  Jane needed her friend.  One word and her world would be right again.  One simple word with four letters in it would ease her hysteria.  She just needed to hear it said aloud.

You are acting crazy, Erosa told her, then noticed how distraught she was, and asked, Are you still under this hangry madness?

Jane wasn’t sure how to explain what was going on at that very moment.  If Erosa didn’t remember her, how could she explain?  She was fearful to find out if her friend did remember her.  She also needed Erosa to understand her terror and apprehensions… that she couldn’t go back to the way things were, but her words were not reaching Erosa.  Jane spoke to another out of desperation, Curse…  I need her hands.  Jane commanded as if her life… her happy existence depended on it, I need to be able to hold her hands.

Erosa’s anger had turned to irritated curiosity as Jane seemed so frantic over something.  She started to question what she was doing, but then the most amazing thing happened.  Two of her tentacle-vines became arms… arms during the day.  Normally, all of her tentacle-vines would disappear as her arms reformed, but only two of them disappeared this time.  Erosa lifted her arms and examined them as if she hadn’t seen them in years.  She wanted to question Jane about this wondrous power she had over the curse but before she could, Jane grabbed ahold of her hands.  Jane seized her hands and this time, Erosa understood her frenzy.  Her friend grabbed her out of desperation and fear.  Her friend needed her and needed her to save her from some horrible unknown fate.

It took everything within Jane not to collapse to the ground in an emotional mess as she pleaded with her friend, Erosa, I need to hear you say my name.  Please… say my name.

Your name? Erosa repeated, understanding Jane was afraid of something.  Compassion replaced her irritation, and Erosa started to say, Your name is…  She turned to the entrance of the garden as another entered, Moon Beast, why have you returned?

He had somehow lost his way once again through the Hedge Labyrinth.  It was almost as if it wanted him to be delayed, but Moon Beast wouldn’t give up on his malicious hunt.  He pointed at Jane and declared, To remove this intruder from my lands.  This stranger cannot be allowed to stay.

Erosa had no idea what he was talking about and repeated, Stranger..?

Her friend still hadn’t spoken her name even though she had begged her to do so.  Jane feared the worse.  She squeezed her hands so she would look at her as she continued pleading, Erosa, please say my name.  I don’t know what sort of game Moon Beast is playing, but it’s very cruel.  Please, say my name so that I know I’m not alone again.  I have to know that you know me.

She peered at her friend but still, Erosa refused or didn’t know her name.  Jane was heart-sick.  She had gained so much coming to Grimm.  Would she lose as much as she gained?  Jane didn’t think she could take that.

Sorceress, Moon Beast started as he pressed his plan.  He needed Erosa to join him if he was to prove once and for all that Jane was no one to him.  He urged his sorceress to join him as he spoke, Do not give in to these intruder’s words.  She is a stranger to us.  Someone who has come in here and disrupted the way things were.

The way things were, Erosa repeated as she thought of her own love for him and Jane’s love for him.  Erosa no longer heard Jane’s pleas as cries for help but as schemes to win Moon Beast for herself.  Jane wanted Moon Beast, she wanted to take what should be hers.  Erosa had to stop her, so she said, mimicking his words, She has come in and disrupted the way things were.

Jane couldn’t stand what she thought was happening.  They had to remember her.  She couldn’t become faceless again.  She begged as she felt like she was vanishing right before their eyes, Erosa… please don’t forget me.  Don’t forget me too.

Moon Beast could only see the back of Jane’s head.  Her face was toward his sorceress and so he couldn’t see what his plan was doing to her.  He said, See, stranger.  No one knows you here.  Leave my estate and never come back, Moon Beast ordered the woman as if that was his only goal.  He just needed her to leave the Hedge Labyrinth and the grounds of his castle-estate.

Jane’s heart was breaking.  Erosa looked at her as if…  Didn’t she recognize her?  Had Erosa forgotten her as Moon Beast claimed he had forgotten her?  Jane couldn’t bear the agonizing reality.  Her whole body shook as she asked one last desperate time, "Who am I to you, Erosa?  Who am I to