Page 63 of Snow White

“What?!”

The Beast rears, slamming his hooves against the ice. We don’t have much time. The ice is starting to crack.

“We need to turn him back!” I say.

Belle nods. “Alright, alright. I think I know a spell, but I can’t wield magic.”

“I can do it.”

Belle nods again before letting out a breath. “You’ll want to get in front of him.”

I nod, moving in front of the ice wall where his shadow is. “And then?”

“Close your eyes and ground yourself. Once you are grounded, stretch your projecting arm out and pull the magic inside him in,” Belle instructs.

I nod again and close my eyes. I reach my magic into the ground through my feet. Ice emerges from the ground and crawls up my legs, feeding me power from the earth. It hums through my body, and I extend my hand, allowing the glowing blue magic to jut forward into the Beast. I feel it anchor into something inside him, and I pull. Dark magic flows from him into my arms, turning my veins black. It’s heavy, strong, and potent, but I am able to draw it from him.

“Send it out the other hand and then sayfluch umgekehrt,” Belle informs.

I take a deep breath, pushing the dark magic out of my other hand before whispering, “Fluch… umgekehrt.”

White light surrounds the Beast, and I step back, covering my eyes. The horse whines, the ice shatters, and steam roils. When the air clears, a man is kneeling in the middle of the broken ice, his skin tanned and scarred. His shoulders bulge with heavy muscles, and his shaggy brown hair glints in the light. He looks up at us, and I see a deep scar that crosses his left eye, going from his eyebrow to his lower cheek. I think I hear Belle whimper beside me.

I scream, “Ew! Naked man!”

“It’s alright, Snow.” Belle tilts her head. “It’s nothing impressive.”

Then why did you whimper?!

The man stands straight, and I cover my eyes to avoid looking at the dangly thing between his legs.

“I am free,” he growls, sending an uncomfortable shiver down my spine.

Belle crosses her arms. “Not yet, you aren’t.”

She nods at me, and I seal all the exits with ice. The man locks his eyes on Belle and grabs her by the throat, lifting her from the ground.

“I will kill any who dare take my freedom from me again,” he growls.

I step forward, my body trembling. “Please, sir. We… I just need help.”

His eyes glow red. “Ten years trapped as a beast. No one will take my freedom from me. Never again. Not that bitch. Not you.”

Belle spits into his eyes, and I wince. I love the girl, but I silently reprimand her for egging him on. I watch the muscles of his arm flex, his grip tightening on my friend’s neck. She claws at him, gasping for air.

“So easy to break,” he says. Belle’s face starts to turn blue, her breathing becoming shallow.

“Please let her go! We broke the spell!” I plead, tears filling my eyes.

The man looks between her and me before dropping her to the ground. She gasps for air and coughs, rubbing her neck,

“For that, you have my thanks,” he says.

I move forward, taking the man’s hand. “I need your help, and then you never have to see us again. Please.”

His eyes narrow. “What is it you want?”

I chew my lip, gulping. “Take me to Azura’s castle.”

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