Chapter 2 | Evelyn

With hair black as charcoal, and eyes the color of red apples Evelyn was certainly one many admired, her lips a naturally stained red as her skin was as white as snow, yet she had the eyes of a villainess, her smile like that of a snake and danger always pulsated from her. 

“It’s good to see you again Alberick.” Whispering his name into his ear the girl had this uncanny way of both setting him on edge and comforting him, he hated it, as much as he tried to loathe her, she was such a pretty mystery he couldn’t help but stare at times.

Today was no exception, although he didn’t stay long, he sighed while he folded his cloak and took a deep breath, getting both his thoughts and his personal items in order. “You look well, at least this cold hasn’t weakened you any.” 

Striding alongside him, Evelyn places her hands behind her back as the further they go into the tower, the more people they see, scholars in cloaks and students in uniform, the moment they get to the tower they tend to have an hour or two to study and then head to rest. 

While walking through the halls Evelyn's shoes gently tap on the ground when the echo gets quieter and they enter the center, a center floor with a large staircase that spirals around leading to each room, the stones were an almost cool blue as lanterns and lights reflected off their polish. 

“Did you have plans for the night?” Her voice like that of silk as Evelyn moves a strand of hair behind her ear and looks to Alberick, whose gaze remains ahead.

“Studying.” His response was quick, and to the point, yet not harsh sounding, as he continued walking with Evelyn. A small smile made its way onto Evelyn's lips as his dismissal of her attention was always a welcome way to start an interaction, she loved a good game after all. 

“Well then, I suppose you’re too busy to tally the new books that arrived late this morning with me, I was asked by the headmistress to put them in the library.” Looking off to the side her eyes lay upon a large set of doors, the Grimmkeeper Library, only those with a key were allowed to go inside any time they wished, and for the students, teachers would occasionally let them in to borrow a book or two, but the library was mostly for the scholars here. 

As to why Evelyn had a key and access to the library was a puzzle in itself, and the thought of new books being delivered was something of a curious manner as it’s been months since they added anything. By the look of her and the smile on her face, Alberick could tell she knew exactly what train of thought he had just gone through.

No more sound reverberated down the hallway as he stopped in front of the doors, his eyes still glued to the end of the hall, yet soon, they rolled, and then closed, as he let out a sigh, it was poisoned bait, he knew this very well………still, it was at least new information to absorb, and he rarely said no to that. “…..Oh fine, let’s be quick about it then……but you’re reviewing the course material with me after. Down to the letter.” 

A shiver follows down Alberick's spine as he looks to the side to see Evelyn’s eyes almost glowing as she licks her lips and places a finger on her lips. “Why, I couldn’t ask for a better time.” 

This is a bad idea……….too late to turn back now, just stick it out. Clearing his throat, he turned to face the doors to the library, and looked to Evelyn, waiting for her to open the door, and glancing around to make sure they weren’t going to be detected by any teachers or mistresses. 

A slight hum followed Evelyn as she took the key chain from her collar and slowly pulled it up and out of her dress, she always hid her valuables under her outerwear as she didn’t ever want what was hers to be taken. 

The key was silver with a blue gem inside it, tapping the back of the key to the door a surge of energy lined the door as it clicked open, the large door slowly cracked open just enough for the two to slide through as it then promptly shut behind them. 

Putting the key back into her dress Evelyn fixed the buttons on her top before gliding on over to a cart, the Library was tall, 3 stories high, and filled with books to the brim, not even all the shelves could hold their knowledge as stacks and piles filled every corner, scrolls and papers decorated the walls and tapestries of history and legends were sprawled out on the ceiling or beside windows. 

“This way Alberick, I don’t want you getting lost now.” While she knew full well that getting lost in a library was unlikely, she lit a lantern nonetheless as it shined red and not blue, while the red light was hazardous and could burn the books, it was locked away within a silver lantern painted gold which none could escape, it was a lantern made of the skin of a rock golem, harvested in the dead of winter their skin could be used to craft items with wondrous and mystical properties, and the golden paint was said to keep it chilled as to never burn one's hand. 

Evelyn dragged the cart over to a table as she began to pile the books onto the wooden oak top, there seemed to be only a few which would probably take a few minutes most, which only created a curious bubble surrounding why she asked for assistance. 

Soon enough, the boy could hold his thoughts in no longer, as they walked, his brow furrowed at the inconsistency between her words and actions, and he had a pretty good idea why, so he passed by her, and put his hands down on the other end of the table, staring her down. “……You hardly need my help for these few books…….so what’s your goal, Evelyn?” 

“You're correct, I don’t need your assistance.” Placing one of the study books used in lectures down in front of Alberick, she smiles. “Read pages 328-334, you’ll thank me later.” 

With that, she put her books into a stack, got herself a quill and some ink, and began marking them in order to add to the library, her posture proper as her handwriting was curled and dainty, a sweet cursive that didn’t match her personality. 

Not explaining herself as usual, Evelyn didn’t open her mouth again as she quietly worked on the task she was given, all while being carefully watched, almost studied by a sharp pair of emerald eyes.

Nothing aye? Alright then, I’ll find out myself, sooner or later. With a small frown and a focused look, he takes the book in his hands, and slowly opens it, letting the pages roll across his thumb until he reaches number 328, and holds it open with both hands as his eyes begin scanning the words Evelyn intended for him. 

Finding himself on a new chapter that wasn’t assigned yet, it read, Chapter XIV: Mirrors and Curses, it was a strange chapter all about ancient legends and myths. 

Once upon a time in the middle of winter, when the flakes of snow were falling like feathers from the sky, a queen sat at a window sewing, and the frame of the window was made of black ebony. And whilst she was sewing and looking out of the window at the snow, she pricked her finger with the needle, and three drops of blood fell upon the snow. And the red looked pretty upon the white snow, and she thought to herself, "Would that I had a child as white as snow, as red as blood, and as black as the wood of the window frame. 

The story of Snow White, it was a common fairytale that had many descendants, after all it wasn’t uncommon for a fantasy to be repeated over and over again, it was one of the oldest ones in tune with many others. Yet many refused to acknowledge that these so-called tales ever happened, most of them were nonsense. 

Turning the page of introduction Alberick laid his eyes on the pages after, the true exciting part of these books. What studies came from these tales.

The Red Apple: A poisoned apple made by the queen. 

Ingredients: Apple, Sulvan Black Mushroom, Mermaids tear, Frog Scale, Rose Eagles Eye. 

These Ingredients are said to have vanished long ago, but recent research says the Sulvan Black mushroom grows on the corpses of gnomes in the Winter Valley. 

The Rose Eagle is a species of flower that blooms a red gem-like Iris, harvesting the ring of said eye is the only ingredient needed for the apple. 

A mermaid's tear must be traded for a valuable price, while a frog scale can only be harvested from the kin of a dragon halfling. 

Studying the book, it shows and explains what each ingredient is, similar to that of a cookbook yet without the cooking part, as it never fails to not show one how to make such a deadly poison. His eyes glimmer like gems as he quickly takes out a small journal, as well as what looked like a calligraphy pen, but a bit smaller, and began writing down the recipe, the pages of that notebook were filled with similar writings, things he most definitely should not know. 

“First you heat up some water in a cauldron, after it begins to bubble you then add the tear and the scale.” Never looking up from her task Evelyn's voice begins to fill the room, yet it was quiet and calm as she described something not in the book. 

“As the color drains from the scale, you tear off the stem of the mushroom and put the cap into your mixture, then it will turn black, so be careful to never touch it.” Flipping the cover of her book she closes one and grabs yet another as she continues her task, her hair gently caressing the side of her cheek. 

“Lastly, you add the iris of the rose eagle, it should then turn red despite the legend saying it’s green or black, once it cools use the stem to dip the apple, a face will be carved onto it if done correct.” And with that, Evelyn closes her last book and sets them neatly on her cart as she stands up to shelve them. 

Without a word, Alberick taps the pen a final time to punctuate the final sentence of Evelyn’s words, transcribed into writing, the ingredients for a mythical poison, and directions to prepare it, written with the diligence of a top student, as he soon turned the page in his notebook and set it down, picking up the other book once more and turning the page to see what else might be hidden in its pages. 

Scrolling through the book, it spoke of how scholars believed the mirror is what made the queen go mad, while others assumed it was a case of narcissistic tendencies.

 It was always enjoyable to see the conflicting ideas as every book was written by two authors, that was the rule of this world, just like the brothers Grimm every book to exist must always have two, and the book was always better when their opinions varied. 

Before he knew it Alberick had reached the end of the chapter, without a single explanation in the mirror again, it seemed they didn’t talk about it, despite the chapter being named after it, skimming the chapters he could find nothing on the mirror in the entire book except one line. Looking-Glass Looking-Glass on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?

What a peculiar line……..is it some sort of incantation? He cocked his head at the ink on the page in front of him and decided to write it down as a footnote in his earlier notes, before looking over at Evelyn, taking a deep breath as his face returned to a neutral state. “Is there anything else you need my help organizing?” 

“Why? Are you offering?” Evelyn said in her usual seductive yet snarky tone that anyone could recognize anywhere simply by how hushed it sounded. Her eyes looked him up and down, slowly, as she drank in his expressions and overall reactions, they were dull, yet ever so curious. 

“Only if you drop…….whatever it is that you’re doing” His brow furrowed as he looked away and began putting his pen and journal away in his bag, he was no stranger to her antics, and they were always the most awkward and annoying things she could do, at least to him they were. 

Approaching Alberick, Evelyn places her thumb on the side of his cheek as she leans in and whispers. “Tomorrow you’ll have a new teacher, she’s a vile woman, you’ll need to know what you’ve learned tonight.”