ROTG: A Frozen Point in Time

Chapter 1

POV: Aiden Black

Our orders are simple: Find the girl, wait 'till she's alone, and kidnap her. Only problem? She's never alone...like...ever. Her parents are, from what I've seen, extremely overprotective. Take the other day for instance: She was up and riding her horse around 5 in the morning, had to join her sisters for breakfast, then begged her parents to let her go to a nearby city. They only relented when she told them her friend was coming, another teenager with a horse though he was a guy. They returned a few hours later and for the rest of the day she was stuck inside for her private home school lessons. I guess being rich isn't all it's cracked up to be.

I watch from a shadow near the dark wood front door as two of the maids begin transporting groceries from the chef's black Mercedes into the large, top notch kitchen. Since the chef had made a run for groceries just 5 days ago; there must be a special occasion going on. An amused expression creeps slowly onto my face when the red-headed girl runs out of her house; narrowly avoiding a collision with the maids, followed my her triplet sisters. The mischievous grins on their faces give away the fact that they have devilish intentions. "Leave me alone ya wee devils!" She shouts behind her, black riding boots thumping down the large driveway. Suddenly diving behind a large bush I watch her hold her breath, sighing with relief when her squealing sisters continue down the lane. She begins to inch backwards, and my grin widens with every step she takes closer to me.

"Aiden you need to get out of there, there's a whole lot more people approaching."

"But the subject--"

"Now." Sighing I retreat further into the safety of the shadows, and not a moment too soon, for after I had retreated the squeal of brakes echoed from the driveway. Company had arrived.

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POV: Snow White

I had been unbuckled and was rummaging through my overnight bag when the limo driver suddenly slammed on the brakes. Let's just say that y head is still pounding and the fact that I've been tackled by three triplet girls doesn't help. " 'ey get off mah friend! I want 'er alive fer the sleepover tonight!" As soon as their weight was lifted off Merida's arms appeared around me nearly squeezing me to death.

"Oi I need to breathe!!" I protest, gasping for air once her grip is removed. Laughing I saw Solara being faced with the same predicament, though she got free faster than I did after a threatening remark involving a frying pan. Baby Tooth's face was priceless as Merida approached her; giving her the biggest hug she's probably ever had. Merida was lucky that Baby Tooth had changed to human form before she left the car , or she might've broken the small fairy's wing again.

"I missed you all so much!" Merida exclaims.

"No, really? I couldn't tell." I reply sarcastically, earning a punch in the arm from Solara. "I mean...we missed you too."

"Thanks for inviting us over." Solara states, gently tugging Baby Tooth, who was still suffering from the aftershock of the hug, along as we start up the driveway.

"Sorry about my sisters, I swear they act like wee bear cubs half the time."

"Well...they're cute so that makes up for it!" Baby Tooth spoke up and Merida laughed, approaching the front porch and throwing open the door. As I walk in I stand there gaping at the size of their entryway.

"You want a tour?" Merida asks, and we all nod speechlessly. She allows us to spend a minute in awe, admiring the large chandelier that appears to have candles in it, the old wooden side tables and benches, the dark stone floor, and the DunBroch family crest hanging on the far wall. The high beamed ceilings and wooden walls gave it a castle-like feel. But the next room we enter, the kitchen, is exactly opposite with large steel appliances and cupboards stocked to the brim with food. I sneak a bright red apple from a bowl on the granite counter, enjoying the sweet, crisp taste as Merida leads us past the busy cook and into her large dining hall holding a long wooden table with benches on either end, lamps hanging from the walls, and a woven tapestry that looks to have been recently restored. When Merida saw my curious gaze she explained, "This is the tapestry I found in the old DunBroch castle. Once my parents found out about it they purchased the property and moved the tapestry, along with a few other decorations, over here. They're working on restoring the castle but work is dangerous. Yesterday one of the towers collapsed and narrowly missed killing a worker."