Wicked Stepmother

The heart and liver of your enemy

The first I knew that she was missing was when Edward came to my tower (something he had never done before).

"Where is she?" he asked

"Who?" I said in confusion clutching Orion.

"Snow White. They say you are jealous for your son and..." he paused. I could see that he did not really believe "them" or I would have been arrested and put to death rather than having this conversation.

"She has not been to see me for a long time" I told him, "I bear her no ill will."

"They say because she is my heir..."

"How long has she been missing?" I asked him, "perhaps she has run off with that huntsman she likes to spend so much time with. Is he also gone?"

"What huntsman?" Edward asked sharply, "Why did you not tell me she was making this unnatural connection?"

"We have never spoken about your daughter, officially I have not even met her" I said coldly, "I assumed that had you wanted my assistance with the care and control of her you would have taken care to have us meet."

"I know she has been coming up to the tower" he told me

"Not of late she hasn't" I said feeling bitter about her choice and having a petty desire for her to be in "trouble" for her association with the huntsman.

Edward went away but I knew he was having me watched. I continued to feed my baby and tend to him but my mind was busy with Snow White- wondering where she was and oddly hoping she was safe and happy...but not too happy without me. The next person to disturb me was the same serving man who I had beaten with a besom.

"My Queen" he said kneeling before me, "Today you will be happy because I bring you the heart and liver of your enemy as proof..." I felt dizzy and I couldn't breathe. I could not answer him nor do anything as he produced a gory package.

"I had no enemy until today." I finally forced out, feeling like a dagger was cutting out my own heart, and oddly quiet in the rage I felt. I could not think what to do. I touched the mess, hoping for something...I don't know what a heart-beat still...not that it could be put back in her body. I wondered whether this numbness meant I was too angry to grieve or too grieved to feel the full anger.

I was right about being spied on, as I picked up the mess two soldiers came out of the wall-hangings (such a predictable place to hide) and seized me. 

"Seize the murderer you fools!" I spat but he slipped away before they responded to me. They looked confused but kept hold of my arms. I still held the bloodied package, letting it mess up my dress. Some of it got on Orion, who I also still held. I let a maid servant take him gently out of my arms as I was dragged downstairs by the guards.

"I have to see Edward" I said urgently.

"She wants to put a spell on our king" on of the guards said to the other.

"The man who killed your princess will get away if you don't go after him you morons!" I spat, heedless of what might happen to me. I raised my voice, trying to instill a sense of urgency in them. One of Edward's inner circle, Sir Florishan came with his sword drawn, hearing there was an observance.

"He's killed Snow White" I said to him in a more pleading voice than I intended, "and these fools..."

"Whose killed her?" he asked urgently. He and I had had several discussions at boring state dinners and he was as close to a friend I had, as anyone in the castle saving Clovis herself.

"The serving man" I said, "I don't know his name."

"He is your creature" the more talkative of the two guards said to me, "enough with these crocodile tears now."

"Please" I said to Florishan, I thrust the bloodied parcel at him, "he brought me her heart and entrails, please have him arrested and killed.

"Why did he...?" he began and then he let the gory contents slide to the floor.

"That is not a human heart" he said definitely, "unless he turned her into a deer before he killed her."

"Oh thank God" I said and fell into a swoon.