Rules of a Fairytale
Rule Fourteen: Family Trees Are Complicated

We had one uneventful day of walking. After checking the mirror that second morning, I was getting anxious. It said that we were getting close to not only our parents, but the cloak, too. I was more than ready for this quest to be over and to tell my mom what I thought of her leaving us behind a month ago.

Tate stopped suddenly and sniffed the air, his nose scrunching up like he smelled something sour. He put a hand out stop the rest of us, but it wasn’t necessary considering we’d all froze as soon as he’d skidded to a halt. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to see if I could find out what had my twin so agitated.

The smell was sort of bitter, but faintly familiar. With my eyes closed, taking in the scent, I felt my body hum with power. The answer became clear to me in an instant. “It’s magic! Dark magic, I think. It... it feels like it knows me. Does that make sense?”

“Not at all,” Ryder answered.

“Yeah,” my twin replied at the same time. We all turned to look at him and he shifted his weight uncomfortably. “I can feel it too. It’s like the stuff in the air, the magic, is calling to me.”

I tilted my head to the side curiously and focused on it some more. Tate was right. I could feel something inside me start to stir, trying to get me to interact with the free-floating magic. It was tainted with evil but I still wanted to tap into it and use it to my own benefit. Everyone kept saying I was supposed to be powerful so why shouldn’t I have some fun with this black magic?

I froze. My mother had once explained that magic could be good or evil, depending on where it came from. As a descendent of Aurora, she’d been gifted by the fairies, which suppressed any bad magic in her blood from Maleficent’s side of the family. Tate and I were born in the mortal world and we had too much wolf in us so the fairies didn’t see fit to give us any gifts. That never really mattered- until now.

Without really thinking, I pulled out my dagger and sliced across the fleshy pad of my thumb. It stung for just a second, especially when Ryder suddenly grabbed that hand with a weird panicked/annoyed look on his face. He narrowed his eyes at me and looked like he was trying to decide if I was crazy. Crazy probably won out, but I pulled my hand back and sniffed at the red drops that pooled there.

I could smell it. That bitter yet promising scent underscored by the more prominent aroma of wolf and a hint of Sleeping Beauty’s bloodline. That black magic ran through my veins, which explained why Tate and I were so drawn to it.

“This is from Maleficent and her descendants.”

Tate ran his fingers through his dark hair and squatted down on his haunches. “So what does that mean? Your mirror’s pointing this way. Do we still follow it?”

“I don’t see any other choice.”

Brooke edged closer to Ryder and took an arrow out of her quiver. A few days ago she would have clung to one of the boys for dear life at the slightest hint of worry instead of being antsy and drawing her weapon. “Why should we not go through this way? Is there a chance that Maleficent and her descendants aren’t evil? The Evil Queen turned out all right.”

I snorted. “Maleficent’s family is full of petty, jealous people who throw temper tantrums at the slightest thing. We don’t want to run into them.”

Tate started laughing. “You can’t still be mad that Malika said she hates you. We were seven.”

“And she had a fit because I got a present on my birthday. I was puking for three days from whatever curse she cast. Besides, it’s not her I want to avoid. It’s great aunt Malissa. She gets nastier every time we see her. One of these days they’re gonna spell me so I’m as good as dead. I know Malika would have done it already if my wolf wasn’t stronger than her magic.”

Brooke made a T shape with her hands, the standard sign for time-out. “Wait, what? Who are Malika and Malissa? Why do they hate you?”

I let out a breath. “Malika is my cousin, a few years older than we are and Malissa is her mother, my grandma Malinda’s younger sister. They hate that my mother is so well-liked, one of Sleeping Beauty’s bloodline, and that she married a wolf. They hate us just on principal, I guess. You guys might think that Tate and I are crazy, but that’s the totally insane side of the family. Malika and even aunt Malissa fly off the handle at the littlest thing.”

“We’ll just have to be careful. Tasha, you’ll have to lead the way, but get ready to run if things go bad.”

I rolled my eyes. I’m pretty sure being bossy was just ingrained in Ryder’s royal DNA. I gave him a quick nod, checked my magic mirror, and started towards the source of the dark magic. Tate and I had never been to Maleficent’s lair. The six times we’d ever seen that side of the family had been in a neutral location with lots of other people. Mom didn’t trust our cousins, but she valued family and wouldn’t just cast them aside. I, however, would have been fine never seeing Malika or Malissa again after that first time when she used magic to turn my hair green and made every single one of Tate’s shirts hot pink. You’d think that a ten-year-old would have better things to do than pick on a couple of four-year-olds.

“So what are the odds your cousin and aunt aren’t home?” Ryder asked as he fell into step beside me.

“Not good. They don’t really have lives and the only reason they’d leave home is to cause trouble to some poor innocent.”

“So do we have a plan?”

I kind of liked that he said “we;” it made me feel like we were a team or something. “Just keep on the lookout. If you see crows, goblins, or evil fairies, hide.”

We walked in silence for a while, listening for any danger and keeping a sharp eye on the gloomy forest. My nose tickled from the tainted magic whenever I tried to sniff the air. Acrid smells made tracking hard and it was nearly impossible to pick up a trail through all the decay.

My foot suddenly sank down into something squishy. Looking at the ground, I saw brown encasing my hiking boot and the rotten smell that turned my stomach made me sure the stuff wasn’t mud. Balancing on one foot, I scraped my shoe against the rough roots in the closest tree sticking up along the ground. Each pass only cleaned my shoe a tiny bit and after five swipes, gross brown stuff was still caked on. “I’m just done with today. It’s been one of those days were nothing goes r-”

I froze. The sour smell of magic kicked up. I spun around and a menacing growl escaped my throat. Tate echoed the threat as Malika stepped through a copse of trees.

“I wondered who’d be stupid enough to trespass here. I should’ve known it would be you, Tasha.”

In her early twenties, my cousin was actually really pretty. She had dark auburn hair intricately braided over one shoulder, sharp cheekbones highlighting how thin she was, emerald green, almond-shaped eyes, and pouty red lips. Her long dress was a gorgeous midnight blue with puffy capped sleeves that encased her arms until they billowed out at her wrists. Even with her beautiful looks, there was something cold and wicked about her.

“We’re not looking for trouble, cousin. We just need to pass through.”

Her plump mouth puckered like she’d tasted something sour. “I don’t think so. I know that you’re on a quest for your pathetic parents, and I also know there’s a nice little reward for making sure you don’t get there.”

That was news to me. Family or not, she’d give us no reprieve, and I had to think of something quickly to at the very least stall. I glanced over at Ryder who looked like he was thinking hard, too.

“Why would you care about a reward. I thought you only liked mischief and misery,” Tate grumbled, surprising me.

Malika lifted her dark brows so that they pretty much disappeared into her hairline. “You know, mutt, you are absolutely right. So I’ll let you go if the you can pass my test. Who’s going to be tempted?”

With just a slight nod and a few muttered words, an ancient spinning wheel materialized in front of us. She smirked and took the amulet hanging from her neck into her delicate fingers. It looked like a large marble made of dark green glass with a silver dragon holding it. “That’s Maleficent’s. No one’s going to touch that willingly.”

She cackled. “Oh, honey, it’s not just going to sit there; where’s the fun in that?” She rubbed the amulet and a malicious grin stretched her lips. “Let’s start with you, Tasha. It should be easy considering the person that that makes you feel like a loner the most is standing right next to you.”

The pendant hanging from her neck glowed a bright green and I felt a zap in my head and my whole body jerked. It didn’t hurt, but it was definitely uncomfortable, and a second later an old memory played out like a hologram for everyone to see.

It was probably in second grade during recess. We were all on the playground and I was handing out invitations to my birthday party- a very big girl tea party at one of the local hotels. seven-year-old Brooke ripped it in half and tossed it on the floor with the other girls copying her. “We’re not going to your dumb party. I’m having a party of my own.”

Mini-me was dumbstruck. I remember spending the rest or recess crying in the bathroom and then going home and telling Mom that I didn’t want a party. No one knew the reason. I felt sad for the little girl who cancelled her party and angry at Brooke for being the reason. Suddenly, I understood what Malika’s test was supposed to be.

The scene changed to one from junior high. It was after the second football game and Tate had done great. The hologram hugged the sweaty football player version of my twin and we headed off the meet Mom and Dad at the car. “So the usual post-win celebration? I think dad’s on clean up at home tonight.”

“Oh my gosh, Tate,” Brooke’s voice squealed before the memory version appeared. The me in the memory rolled her eyes. “Great game. Are you going to pizza with us?”

“Uh, yeah,” he replied obediently.

She eyed me. “Players and cheerleaders only.”

I turned and walked away before they could ditch me. Back in the really world, I couldn’t help noticing how sharp the needle on the spinning wheel was.

My memory changed again. Mom and I were at home sitting at the kitchen table while we iced a cake. My chest squeezed seeing her and even Tate let out a whimper. The illusion of my mother used the piping bag to finish creating a frosting rose. “So not the worst way to spend Saturday night, is it?”

I snorted. “No, but I can think of some better ways to spend it.”

I laughed. “No one is stopping you from going out, you know.”

I dipped my finger into the bowl of frosting. “I’m not going to wander around town on my own. That’s probably the worst way to spend a Saturday. That’s just lame. No, it’s fine. Leon and I are going to spend the day at the beach tomorrow. I can handle one night alone while my best friend is out on his date.”

“You’ll be dating soon enough. And when that day comes, your father will have a field day.”

I rolled my eyes. As funny as it was to imagine Dad going Big Bad Wolf on some guy, that wasn’t going to be happening any time soon. “Doubtful. First of all, if I ever find a guy, he’s gonna be the one. But other than that, no boy wants to go out with a girl that spends her time rebuilding computers and playing video games. They all want the head cheerleader. I mean, have you seen the way that Tate goes insane around Brooke Cast?”

“I’d rather he went out with a snobby girl than a clingy girl like that Jessica that wouldn’t leave him alone last month. Though I do hope that one day your bother will find a true mate, someone that treats him like an equal. I’m so lucky to have your dad and not some egotistical prince. I believe that you and Tate will both find someone that loves you the way you deserve.”

I doubted that for myself. “Tate would have to get over the ice queen first.”

Next to me, Brooke winced. Her blue eyes were wide and shining with tears that refused to fall. “Tasha, I am so sorry. I never should have treated you that way.”

My eyes settled on the spinning wheel for just a moment. It only took me a second to notice everyone else’s reactions. Brooke’s eyes widened, but she seemed resigned. Tate grabbed her hand, ready to pull her away from me but I could see the conflict in his eyes as his wolf wouldn’t disobey its Alpha. Ryder put a hand on his sword, but didn’t unsheathe it. Malika looked downright giddy with a grin splitting across her face.

I looked back at Brooke. “I shouldn’t have said those things to my mom. As much as I hated you at times, my parents tried to raise me right. I think before all of this started, I would have done it. I would have cursed you, but I don’t want to do that anymore. I… I think I forgive you.”

Malika screamed. I passed her test. “You are such a disappointment. No matter. Snob, it’s your turn now.”

The holographic illusion flared to life once again with Brooke as its star. She looked about eight with her blonde hair pulled up in pigtails. She sat on a giant bed in a bedroom probably as big as the living room at my house. Everything was white and looked lonely. It wasn’t the kind of place I would want to sleep, no matter how soft the bed looked. “Why can’t I go with you?” Brooke asked.

“Not now, Brooke. You are going to stay here with the nanny. Besides, you have school in the morning. You can’t just go with us to New York.” Her mom stepped out from what I assumed was the bathroom. Mrs. Cast looked like her daughter with the same blonde hair and blue eyes. But Brooke’s mom looked more expensive, if that was possible. She wore a fitted white dress accessorized with pearls around her neck and diamonds dangling from her ears. There wasn’t a hair out of place in her French twist and her makeup was done to perfection.”

“But I want to see grandma. She’s been sick for a while and I know what happens if she doesn’t get better.”

“We won’t be there long, Brooke. I don’t want to discuss this anymore.”

It changed. A room that looked like an old-school parlor was full of kids from school. Of course, I wasn’t there, but there was no doubt this was one of her infamous parties. “You are so lucky,” Amy Grantham, one of her minions, gushed. “My parents would kill me if I did this. They never leave me with the house to myself to have everyone over. I wish I had as much freedom as you.”

Brooke hummed her agreement into her coke can, but her eyes flashed with something at the mention of her parents.

The real Brooke next to me sniffed as the illusion changed again. She stood in a giant kitchen as big as the one in my mom’s bakery and just as industrial. I think the bakery was more homey than this place. A giant mahogany table for twenty was totally empty while Brooke sat at the island counter alone with a bowl of cereal. “Went skiing,” she read from a paper sitting in front of her bowl. “Text us your plans for winter break. See you for the new year.”

She sighed. “Looks like I’m on my own for Christmas again. Maybe I can just work on my Snow Queen campaign. Yipee.”

“Okay, enough,” she snapped. “I’m done with them leaving me behind. I want them to know what it’s like to be lonely.”

Tate tried to grab her hand but she shook him off. She looked fragile with tears spilling down her cheeks and a mix of hurt and anger radiating from her. “How do I enact the curse?”

Malika smirked. “Brooke, no!” I yelled.

It was too late. Time seemed to pause for a moment and the next thing I knew, she stood over the spinning wheel with her index finger against the needle. A single drop of scarlet blood beaded at the point and her blue eyes widened before closing. Tate caught her before her limp body hit the dirt. “What did you do?” he growled at our cousin. For once, it wasn’t my eyes that glowed gold without the moon.

“I just gave her a choice. She wanted to enact the curse. But she’s not Maleficent’s family so it backfired. Even if I did do something, it was for Tasha since your sister was too weak to do it herself.”

Malika glared at me and I snapped. Brooke might not have been a friend, but she was still an ally on this quest, part of my team. Scratch that. She was part of my pack, and I was a very protective Alpha.

I pounced and Malika sucked in a sharp breath. I could taste the fear and my hunter senses kicked into overdrive. “Wake her up.” My words barely sounded human.

“I-I can’t. You know how this works.”

I growled and she whimpered. “Figure something out, Malika.”

She wiggled until she got her hand between us. A sharp pain zapped my stomach and I pulled away. When she stood up, Malika had the glowing green amulet in her fist. “I wouldn’t try that again, cousin. Magic trumps brute strength.”

Acidic green flames sprouted from the necklace and shot out like an arrow towards my face. I had no chance to move, so I slammed my eyes shut. But nothing happened. Peeking through my long black lashes I saw the flickering green fire blocked like it had hit an invisible wall. Curiosity got the better of me and I reached out to touch it. It didn’t burn, but the magic did make me uncomfortable.

I was surprised when Tate took a stand at my side, mostly because I didn’t think he’d willingly leave Brooke unprotected. He took my hand and I felt a surge of power. Judging by the way his fingers tightened on mine, I’m pretty sure he felt it, too. My twin raised his hand and tried to brush the flames away and they actually responded. Malika screamed as her spell turned against her.

“Stupid dogs!”

She gathered power through her pendant again. This time, Tate was ready before it even became a spark. He lifted his free hand and snuffed it out just as the necklace began to glow. It sat against her hand, a cold marble.

“B-but how?” our cousin mumbled stupidly.

“You’re not the only one here that is descended from Maleficent. You seem to forget that our mom is her granddaughter just like you are.”

Malika huffed like a pouting child. “Fine. Go. The girl already failed my test anyway.”

I was seriously tempted to punch her, but she vanished in a flash of green and black lightning. It wasn’t worth looking for the castle and running into any more trouble so I let it go.

“So what’s next?” Ryder asked. He and Tate knelt beside Brooke’s prone form. She looked pale and I doubted she was really breathing. My brother tenderly wiped the limp blonde hair away from her face.

“First of all, we need to get out of here. I’m really wishing we still had that horse and wagon right now; she’s not going to be easy to move.”

Tate scooped her up in his arms and stood. “I’ve got her.”

He didn’t struggle under her added weight, but it was still better to get to our next stop as quickly as possible. I checked the mirror once to map out a destination and we left Maleficent’s haunted forest.

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