“Merlin’s Balls! I’m so dead!” Snow lamented as he glanced over his shoulder to see if he’d managed to lose his pursuers. No such luck. They were right behind him and getting dangerously closer. Snow kicked his horse’s sides to make it go faster. “How did it come to this? How did I become a Wanted Man? I’m too young and handsome to die!”

Snow’s pursuers consisted of five Wizard Knights who were also on horseback. Three of the horses were racing across the ground while two of the winged horses were airborne. The five Wizard Knights had their wands out and shot a barrage of spells Snow’s way - fireballs, lightning bolts, earth lances, and sickle-shaped wind blades.

Snow let out an unmanly squeak, held up his enchanted sword, channeled his magical power, chanted a spell, and conjured a water shield. The spells hit the magic shield and bounced off. Snow was bad at casting offensive magic, but he was quite skilled with defensive magic. “Dammit! I didn’t do it! I didn’t kill her, you assholes!” Snow shouted angrily at the knights.

“You dare to lie to our faces, Prince!” one of the knights shouted back. “We watched you kill her with our own eyes!”

“Your hands are stained with her blood!” another knight cried.

“But that’s…” Snow looked down at his hands that were gripping his horse’s reins in a vice grip. They were in fact covered in blood.

Her blood was dripping down the blade of Snow’s sword. Snow’s eyes widened and his hands began to tremble. “But I didn’t. I wouldn’t. I would never. It must be some kind of trick. A nightmare. This can’t really be happening. This can’t be real. She can’t really be dead. Reginald…he…must have done something to me! He…betrayed me.” Hadn’t the seer Baba Yaga warned Snow that someone he trusted would betray him and that afterwards he’d be hunted like a deer being chased by a pack of hounds? “Baba Yaga was right. I should have listened to him. Now, my life is ruined.”

Dodging spells and trees, Snow galloped hard through the forest. He continued to block spells with his conjured water shield. When Snow abruptly exited the tree line he discovered that he was at the edge of a steep cliff. The thunderous sound of cascading water alerted Snow that there was a waterfall nearby that was feeding the rushing river below.

“Whoa!” Snow pulled back on the reins and his horse skidded to a stop, neighing loudly. More spells headed his way and he threw up another shield to block the attacks. However, the attacks hit Snow’s shield with enough force that he was knocked forward off his horse.

“Oh, shit!” Snow exclaimed as he went flying over the edge of the cliff and began to plummet down through the air. The bottom of the ravine was hundreds of feet below, and Snow’s screaming lasted for a couple of minutes before coming to an abrupt stop.

The Wizard Knights came to a halt at the edge of the cliff and peered over the edge. They kept their fierce gazes on the surface of the river that ran through the ravine below. Minutes ticked by and Snow didn’t emerge from the surface of the rushing water.

“He’s dead,” one of the knights declared smugly.

“Let’s head back and report this good news to King Reginald,” another knight said with a wicked grin.

“Reginald will be pleased with us,” the first knight said with a twinkle in his eye. “I wonder how he’ll reward us.” The Wizard Knights turned their mounts around, and headed back to Apple Castle.

***

Several hours earlier, evening of the previous day…

Prince Snow Flurris was bored. He was currently sitting at the head table that overlooked the dance floor in the castle’s grand ballroom. His mother, Queen Isidora, was seated to his right and King Reginald was seated to his mother’s right. Snow was holding a heavy gold goblet that was inlaid with rubies. He swirled the decadent red wine in the goblet, took a sip, and let out a heavy sigh. He frowned, wondering what the hell was wrong with him. Snow used to love extravagant parties like this one. But now…they all seemed redundant.

Snow had danced with ten beautiful ladies already and he couldn’t even remember any of their names or faces. It was King Reginald’s 45th Birthday Celebration. Although, Reginald didn’t look a day over thirty. Immortality? Snow’s mind whispered suspiciously. But he quickly shook his head to clear it of such treasonous thoughts.

Snow’s friend, Rapunzel Solis, had recently narrowed down the list of people who could be the Leader of the League of Villains. The leader was King Leopold of Rose Kingdom, King Maleficent of Dragon Kingdom, or King Reginald of Apple Kingdom.

Snow cast an askance glance at his mother who was making googily eyes at Reginald. His mother truly loved Reginald. He hoped for his mother’s sake that either King Leopold or King Maleficent was the Leader of the League of Villains. His money was on King Maleficent as being the mysterious Leader. He certainly looked the part with those malevolent horns.

Snow felt a pang of jealousy at all the attention his mother was giving Reginald. Snow knew it was immature of him but he wanted his mother’s attention all for himself. He fondly remembered the time after his biological father, King Evan, had died when he and his mother had spent their days together, keeping each other company. Those days had been peaceful and perfect, in Snow’s opinion. He still couldn’t understand why his mother had seen the need to remarry when they’d had each other.

A wry smile curled his lips at his thoughts. A voice that suspiciously sounded like his friend, Ashe Smoldris, said: ‘Momma’s Boy’. His friends often teased him about his close relationship with his mother. He thought they had a valid point. If only Snow could find a woman who could keep his interest he could finally ‘leave the nest’. But none of the women he’d met at this ball so far had really made an impression on him.

Snow let out a disappointed sigh, drawing Isidora’s curious gaze. “What’s wrong, my son? Aren’t you having fun?”

Snow shrugged. “I don’t really know. I used to enjoy balls…but now I can’t tell them apart. Nothing ever changes. Nothing exciting ever happens. I find them boring now.”

“You should be dancing with one of the lovely ladies here,” Isidora suggested with a sly smile.

“I’ve danced with ten girls already and I can’t even remember their names or faces, Mom,” Snow complained in a whiney tone. “All these girls seem the same to me. I can’t tell them apart. And I wish I could. My friends Ashe Smoldris and Rapunzel Solis have found true love and happiness. I want to fall in love and find happiness too. But…I’ve never fallen in love. I don’t know if I ever will. Maybe my heart is faulty. Maybe I’ll never be able to fall in love with someone, and I’ll end up old and alone!”

Isidora held a hand over her mouth as she giggled over her son’s dramatics. When Snow shot her a glare she gave him an apologetic look. “My marriage to your father, King Evan Flurris, was an arranged one. I married a man I didn’t know. A total stranger. But I got to know him. We became friends, and I fell in love with Evan. I was lucky. Your father was a kind, brave, and gentle man. He was a wonderful husband. He would have been a wonderful father…” She trailed off wistfully. Neither Snow nor Isidora noticed that a vein at Reginald’s temple throbbed in irritation as he listened to what his wife was saying.

“Do you still love him?” Snow asked softly.

“Of course. Even though he’s passed on to the other side I will never stop loving Evan. I miss him so much, but you look so much like him.” Isidora reached out and caressed Snow’s cheek affectionately. “Gazing at your handsome face everyday is my only solace.”

“I’m glad I look like him.” Snow flashed his mother a charming smile filled with dazzling white teeth, and offered Isidora his hand. “Mother, would you do me the honor of this dance?”

Isidora blushed as Snow turned on the charm and nodded. “Of course, my precious son.” She took his hand and Snow led his mother out to the dance floor. The crowd parted obligingly to give them more space. The guests began to murmur excitedly amongst themselves as Snow and Isidora began to dance with such grace and poise that people were spellbound by it. Several people pointed out how much Prince Snow Flurris resembled the late King Evan, and how they made a handsome couple.

Reginald grinded his back molars together as he watched Snow guiding his mother across the dance floor with enough grace to rival a swan. Cocky little bastard. Reginald sneered inwardly. He’d been listening to their entire conversation and was not a happy camper.

So…Isidora has never stopped loving Evan Flurris. She still loves him…even after being married to me. She misses him. How dare she! Reginald’s body began to tremble as his blood boiled with anger. But why should I be surprised? No one loves me. They all hate and despise me. They’re disgusted by me. Nothing has changed since coming to this realm. Even Isidora…I thought she might be different from the others, but she’s just like the rest of them. She’s laughing at me. Making a fool out of me. Isidora must die. This farce must finally come to an end. I tire of it.

Reginald had been gripping the stem of his crystal wine goblet with such force that he accidentally broke it. Glass shards cut into Reginald’s palm, but he could barely feel the pain through his blinding anger. How dare they ignore me? This is my realm. I’m like a god to the people here, and should be treated as such…

A worried servant noticed Reginald’s bleeding hand and began to wring his hands together. “Sire, your hand…”

Reginald looked down at his right hand and forced it to let go of the broken goblet. With a careless wave of his left hand he wandlessly cast a quick healing spell, and vanished the broken wine goblet while he was at it. When Reginald noticed that the servant was still hovering by his side with a concerned expression on his face, he shot the man an impatient glare. “Begone from my presence.” The servant flinched at the growled command and quickly scurried away.

With a regal air Reginald stood up from his seat at the table, and did his best to at least appear calm, even though he was extremely close to setting the entire ballroom on fire. It’s important to keep up appearances. Reginald thought. How people perceive you is everything.

That’s why Reginald liked apples. Apples would keep their beauty for a long time even when they were already rotting from the inside out. They’d look red, shiny and juicy, but it was a lie. A rotting apple is a lot like me. Beautiful on the outside but rotten to the core.

Reginald sauntered over to the dance floor and made his way over to Isidora and Snow. “Mind if I cut in?” He asked politely.

Snow gave his stepfather a lopsided smile. “Sure thing, old man.” Reginald’s eye twitched. The handsome prince gave his mom a kiss on her cheek. “Have fun, Mom.”

“I will, my sweet,” Isidora said in a lilting tone.

Reginald took Isidora’s hand with his left and placed his right hand on her back. As soon as Isidora placed her left hand on Reginald’s shoulder he started to twirl her across the dance floor in an elegant waltz.

Snow was amused by this display. If he didn’t know better he’d say Reginald was trying to compete with him. A middle-aged man competing with me? Snow scoffed. How utterly pointless.

Although, Snow couldn’t help but admit to himself that Reginald was a good dancer. He possessed poise, grace and exuded confidence. All eyes were soon on King Reginald as he danced with Isidora. The ladies present were especially captivated by the gold suit that Reginald was wearing that hugged his muscular form and that had been decorated with red embroidery. The suit was the exact same color as his wavy, shoulder-length hair. And the suit’s red accents brought out his ruby-red eyes. Those red eyes probably would have appeared ‘demonic’ if not for his long, feminine lashes.

Snow shrugged and decided he might as well find a new dance partner. The prince’s apathetic gaze went to the ladies present, and they visibly preened when they noticed Snow’s sapphire-blue eyes upon them. That’s when Snow noticed that there was a young lady who wasn’t trying to get his attention. How curious. Snow narrowed his eyes at her. She was obviously a princess due to the amount of jewelry she was wearing: silver cross-shaped earrings, a large silver cross hanging around her neck, and several jeweled rings. Her yellow, silk ball gown matched her long blonde hair. The blue stone imbedded into the center of her necklace brought out her sky-blue eyes.

Snow suddenly recognized her. She was the Princess Florinda of…what kingdom? The prince stroked his chin as he struggled to recall what Kingdom Florinda was the princess of. He’d danced with her upon occasion, but the amount of crosses she wore was the only thing that had really made any sort of lasting impression on Snow.

Florinda was walking swiftly over the dance floor with purposeful steps with her eyes on Reginald. There was something about the gleam in her eyes that Snow didn’t like, and he decided to follow her across the dance floor. Snow was glad he did because a second later Florinda was whipping out a dagger she’d concealed in her cleavage, and lunging it at Reginald’s exposed back.

Snow smoothly grabbed Florinda’s wrist and squeezed it until she was forced to drop the dagger. Florinda let out a soft gasp as Snow caught the dagger in midair before quickly tucking it away into a suit jacket pocket. Snow maneuvered Florinda into a dance pose and started to guide her across the dance floor and away from Reginald and his mother.

When Snow deemed that they were finally far enough away from his stepfather and mother, Snow addressed the bloodthirsty princess. “Princess Florinda,” he began in a chiding tone.

Florinda’s blue eyes flashed with barely concealed anger. “Unhand me at once, Prince Snow.”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that, Milady,” Snow said, giving her an apologetic smile. “Not until you promise not to do anything foolish like trying to assassinate the King of Apple Kingdom.”

Florinda sucked in a breath, and decided to change tactics. Her angry expression shifted and she now appeared to be frightened. “I…I was so scared. Thank you for stopping me. I don’t think I could have really gone through with it anyways.”

Snow’s brow furrowed. “Why were you trying to assassinate Reginald?”

“My father ordered me to do it,” Florinda admitted.

The confusion on Snow’s face only deepened. “Your father?”

Florinda rolled her eyes at the clueless prince. “King Solomon Cross of Cross Kingdom. Surely, you remember?”

Snow flushed with embarrassment. He was bad with names and faces. “Oh, yes…of course. Cross Kingdom. Isn’t that where the Inquisitors live?” An uneasy feeling suddenly washed over Snow.

Florinda nodded. “Yes. My father is the Head Inquisitor.” The princess gave Snow a pensive look. “Our two Kingdoms are currently at war. Surely, you know of this, Prince Snow.”