The Bloodiest Rose of All

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

In a chamber far above the kitchens in the northernmost part of the castle the queen paced and shouted at the only object in the room. A great brass mirror i draped with curtains of crimson and polished to shine so brightly it reflected the candlelight.

“How could this happen to me? How could you allow this happen? You promised me that if I banished her she would diminish and no one would remember her name!! Instead I find that not only has her beauty increased with age but so has her reputation! Now she is some kind of a martyr, a symbol for the people! You lied to me!”

She raised her arms above her head as though to strike the mirror but before she did a voice as cold as steel stopped her.

“My queen, I serve only you. I promised you nothing but my servitude and undying devotion. I cannot change the heart of the people but I can help you obtain your deepest desires. What is it that you wish?”

The queen stared at the mirror, desire and longing leaping into her eyes. “I desire love mirror. I desire the thing that has eluded me for years. I have been a pawn in every man’s hands. In the hands of my king I became a contract and in the eyes of my husband I was a replacement for the one he once loved. He only loves one person and I am not that one.”

“And who is that one, my queen?” the mirror asked. If a mirror could sound malicious this one did.

The queen turned and started pacing again. “I must get rid of her. She must leave. She must become an unknown… it is the only way.” The queen sounded as if she was working herself into a panic. Queen Narcissa repeated these words over and over again until the mirror asked once again, “My queen…who is the one you seek to destroy?”

“Snow White.” The queen replied.

The mirror was silent for a long while.

“Well?!” the queen demanded. “You said you live to serve me! Serve me in this and help me rid myself of this girl, this simpering princess that steals everyone’s heart and leaves no love for me!”

The mirror replied carefully. “What you desire I desire but this is one thing that must be carefully handled. I cannot kill her myself nor can you.”

“Why can’t I?” the queen demanded.

“If you do and your kingdom found out, the love you seek would forever elude you and you would become one of the most notorious villains that ever lived. No, no,  you must do this carefully my queen. We must think and plan and be sure that no one ever would find out you had a hand in this.”

“You are right! My mirror tell me, what must I do to rid myself of Snow White once and for all?”

“I believe you must kill her in a remote place. Someplace nobody ever goes, someplace secret.”

“I know of no such place mirror! I am a queen not a commoner I do explore areas outside of my castle!” she replied haughtily.

“Hmmmm…this could be a problem. Do you have anyone in your employ that does know of such places?” the mirror again spoke.

Her eyes clouded over. “I do not know. I cannot think of any such a one. No one should ever know our plan.”

“Then we shall find another means to accomplish your will and I believe and I have just the thing.”

As the mirror spoke the brass in its middle began to move as if it was melting. The queen reached out her hand and thrust it into the churning liquid pulling out a small red vial.

“She must drink all of this if the poison is to work. If she does she will die and all your troubles will be solved. It will not be your fault and no one will ever suspect you of killing your only daughter and the heir to the throne if you do exactly as I say.”

The queen nodded eagerly and the plan was told to her.