Snow White Queen [NaNoWriMo 2018]

Chapter Twenty-Nine

"Good, good... keep your focus on- there you go."

Lilia was once again in Amantha's hut. Over the past few weeks, she'd been improving her abilities. By this point she'd learned how to cast spells from spellbooks. The spellbook she'd gotten from Amantha was rudimentary, but it had a good selection of spells. In addition to her assignments from Amantha, which at this point were fairly simple and passive, she'd started learning a handful of defensive spells.

The spell she was working on at the current moment was for levitation. She'd started with a feather and had moved on to a pen. Lilia muttered the incantation under her breath, focusing on the pen and visualizing it floating. The pen quivered on the table, rising a few centimeters and falling back. Lilia didn't give up; she simply whispered the incantation again, and this time the pen rose a few inches and held steady for several seconds until Lilia let it go.

Amantha smiled approvingly. "Very good. Practice that this week; I'll test you on it when I see you again."

~~~

Lilia sat in her room, her spellbook open before her. She'd drawn her curtains against the setting sun and locked her doors to keep away unwanted attention.

The spellbook wasn't specific on what exactly the spell did; it only said, A painful fate for anyone who crosses the caster.

A makeshift doll laid on the bed in front of her. She had sewn it hurriedly, so it wasn't in the best condition, but that didn't matter. It wouldn't be intact for much longer. This spell was intended to be used on a person, but for practice, the doll should be sufficient.

Lilia took a deep breath and read over the spell again. She looked up from the spellbook, focused on the doll, and started saying the incantation.

Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the doll started to splinter. The hands and feet tore from the limbs, then the limbs from the torso. She kept going, repeating the incantation over and over again. The head started to tear from the body, hanging limply by a few threads. The torso split down the middle.

By the time she was finished, the doll was completely dismembered. The parts lay side by side, a gruesome puzzle waiting to be put together again.

Lilia sat back and caught her breath, horrified at what she had just done.

This was only a doll. To think that this was to be used on a person...

What an awful way to die.

~~~

Lilia stayed up late that night, splitting her time between studying her spells and trying to figure out how to get the people to stop trying to kill her. When she had finally gone to bed, she was out as soon as her head hit the pillow. Likely, she wouldn't wake till late morning, at least.

~~~

The third assassin slipped through the halls of the castle. Two had failed before; perhaps he was being arrogant in assuming that he would be the one to succeed. Then again, he was more competent and prepared than his predecessors.

Lilia would die tonight - he was sure of it.

The bedroom door was locked. No surprise. After two attempts on her life, she'd be much more conscious about securing herself during the night. Having prepared for this particular obstacle, the assassin simply picked the lock and silently pushed the door open.

The imposter queen was sleeping peacefully, her back to the door. The assassin drew his weapon and advanced, careful not to make any noise.

~~~