4 Princes

XII

"As soon as it was light he jumped up, hopped downstairs, and went out of the house. 'Now, then," thought the Princess, 'at last he is gone and I shall be troubled with him no more.' But she was mistaken; for when night came again she heard the same tapping at the door."
(Brothers Grimm: The Frog Prince)

HERA
"THAT EASILY? YOU TRIED to kill her... and then you proposed? You and Adam have a weird sickness," I laughed.

Oh it wasn't that easy for me. I'd think it through. I'd think through and find the easiest man I could to kill.

And then I'd force him to marry me.

And then I'd kill him.

That would send a message to father.

"You two are a lot alike, Hera, you'll like her," Jack responded.

I rolled my eyes. I was a lot like Rook and Jack in the sense that I didn't like very many people. Girls, particularly, usually found a way to piss me off. Not that guys didn't. But a guy I could shove a blade to.

Something called, "manners" kept me from doing the same to women.

I pulled my sword out and pretended to swipe it in front of me. "Rook is on the same page as me. I'm not getting married. You and Adam went soft."

Jack's nose twitched in anger. It commonly did that when I was around him. "I did not go soft. You heard what Rook told us."

I did hear what Rook said. I heard, that the rest of us were punished while he got a scolding. "What do I care about some soldiers being burned on the pier? Why do they care? They're dead?"

Jack rubbed his temples. "That's the respectful thing to do, Hera."

I made a nasty face. "You've definitely gone soft," I muttered. "It's going to take more than a man to crush my dignity. I'd say balls but those are limited to y—"

"I'm going to kill Adam for pairing me with you," Jack shook his head as he played with Hatter's mane.

As much as I didn't think Jack and I would ever be as good of a pair as Jack and Rook— I was glad to finally get some time with him.

I learned new things about him every minute we were on the trail, it seemed. I didn't know he was a such a prick, before. I knew he was mean, but he was getting more rude as the minutes passed.

Hare neighed loudly under me. I reached down to pet his side. "You okay, Hare?"

"Probably mad that you're his rider," Jack laughed.

I huffed out a breath. All I wanted to do was see her again, the maiden in the tower. I had to see her beauty, her hair. I needed to know her name.

"Jack, who do you think is in the tower?" I asked

He looked up. "Hera, I don't know. I don't care. We're going for the witch."

The witch. She gave me a terrible feeling. I didn't have any reason to hate her, but I really did.

We passed by familiar trees and then we were in the clearing once again.

The tower seemed to be even taller, even farther out of my reach. But, the girl had returned. She was sitting in the window, her long red hair draped out the side, spiraling down the tower like a vine.

Jack hopped off of Hatter and I followed suit.

"Wait here," he said.

I followed after him. He groaned but didn't try to tell me to stay again. If there was ever a summary of our relationship, it was right there.