In the shadow of the volcanic mountain range is the land of doom. Nothing grows in the land of doom but thorns and weeds. There was nothing in the land of doom but a single castle that was raised up on a scraggly mountain.

  With a horrid screech, a red, scarred wyvern flew over the volcano mountain range and into the land of doom. It carried a leather clad parcel in its claws. It flew to the castle and into the wide shattered window where the wyvern landed in the tattered remains of a throne room.

  The wyvern pulled his wings above his head and his shape changed. Shrinking before the wings, now a blood red cloak, descended. Revealing a fair skinned man. His face was pointed with high cheekbones and sharp nose. He had midnight black hair that was straight all the way down to his shoulders and his eyes were sharp and green.

  He was decorated in fine silks and the most elegant of clothes. He swept his cloak out of the way and picked up the giant parcel.

  “At last, my sister’s most prized possession.” He said, walking it to an empty wall behind the toppled thrones. He leaned the parcel against the wall and yanked down an old tapestry that hung there. He pulled the leather off the parcel and revealed a golden ornate mirror. IT seemed completely ordinary but he knew the true power of the mirror.

  “I bet you don’t recognize this.” The man said as he turned to a huntsman chained to the wall.

  “It’s the former Queen’s mirror. A gift from her wedding day.” The huntsman said. “What is this? Who are you? What do you want?!”

  “A wedding gift, yes.” The man said. He flicked his coat to the side as he turned. “How silly of me, I must have forgotten to introduce myself. I am Lord Malice, the queen was my sister. Who, as you have so graciously informed me, is dead!” The huntsman flinched against the man’s rage.

  “I don’t understand. Why am I here?” The Huntsman asked. “I’ve told you all I know. The Queen disappeared, no one saw her leave and no one has ever found her since.”

  “So you say. But I get the feeling you might be lying to me.” Lord Malice said, giggling and turning back to the mirror. “Let’s see what really happened.”

  “Slave in the magic mirror, come from the farthest space! Through wind and darkness I summon thee! Come!” Lord Malice demanded and the glass of the mirror burst into flames. The Huntsman’s eyes widened as a face appeared in the glass. “Let me see your face.”

  “A new face.” The pale mask in the mirror said, looking upon Lord Malice’s face. “What wouldst thou know?”

  “Tell me what happened to my sister, Queen Grimhilde.” Lord Malice demanded.

  “Consumed by jealousy and hate. It was her step-daughter that sealed her fate.” The mirror said. “She went to poison Snow White. From atop the mountain in the night. The Queen was struck to her death. Now she rests, nevermore to draw a breath.”

  “Snow White?” Lord Malice asked. Vaguely remembering the name. “SHow her to me.” The mirror’s surface changed, the smoke swirled and the vision appeared. A young woman, around the age of nineteen. With skin white as snow, lips red as the rose, and hair black as night. Her hair had grown to her waist and she had a healthy glow to her cheeks. She was planning a list with a fair faced young man.

  “And the pretty boy next to her?” Lord Malice sneered.

  “Prince Florian, her true love.” The mirror answered. “It was his kiss that broke the queen’s spell. Now wedding bells sound, for the two beloved.”

  “So, my poor sister lies dead and forgotten in some shallow grave while she and her prince celebrate?” Lord Malice ground his teeth together. Seizing the throne and throwing it across the room. Shattering vases unfortunate enough to be in the way. “That ungrateful little wretch!”

  “The princess is innocent, she’s never willingly hurt a soul.” The huntsman said, pulling against his chains. “Leave her be!”

  “Tell that to my sister’s corpse!” Lord Malice yelled. His rage suddenly subsided and he turned back to the mirror. “Tell me what happened. From the moment that my sister’s plot began to when she met her end. I want to see every detail. Spare nothing.”

  The mirror did what it was asked. Showing the moment the mirror told her Snow White was fairest of them all to the true love’s first kiss that woke her from her sleeping death.

  “Surely you see now,” The huntsman asked. Begged. “Surely now you see how the queen’s demise was solely due to that mirror!”

  “Silence!” Lord Malice demanded. “I see what led to my sister’s demise. And it wasn’t the mirror.” The huntsman shook his head in disbelief and horror as the man advanced toward him.

  “And I will avenge my sister, Snow White will die.” Lord Malice grinned crookedly. “But before her, I should make sure no one will be around to help her.” Lord Malice’s eyes glowed and a beam of light shot from them and hit the huntsman square in his chest. The huntsman cried out and slumped over. With that taken care of, Lord Malice seized his cloak and changed into a wyvern. Flying off to his next sordid task.

  Snow White sneezed and then shivered.

  “Getting a chill?” Florian asked, bringing a cloak and draping it over her shoulders.

  “No, at least I don’t think so.” Snow White said and drew the cloak over herself. “I just got a strange feeling.”

  “Must be all the wedding preparations.” Florian said, he put the back of his hand against her forehead. “You are a bit flushed.” Snow White took his hand and kissed it gently.

  “It’s a glow, I’m excited for our wedding.” Snow White insisted. “But you might be right, perhaps I do need a break.”

  “I do know of a project that might be just perfect.” Florian said, pulling his betrothed into a hug. “Seven invites that haven’t found their recipients?” Snow White lit up.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “OH! The dwarves! I’d almost forgotten!” She pushed back and turned around in a frantic hurry. “Their invites! I didn’t finish them!”

  “Now’s the perfect time,” Florian said, taking her hands and leading her toward a quiet study. “We can have some tea brought up and some music played.”

  “That sounds lovely, but I think I might have a better idea.” She said, Stopping him from leading her. “What if we took the day to ride out and invite them personally?”

  “Through the mountains?” Florian asked, thinking it over. “It’s a long way, we might not make it before nightfall.”

  “We could stay at the cottage. I’m sure they’ve long finished their home in the mountains by now.” Snow White said. “Please?”

  “Well.. all right.” Florian sighed in defeat. “You know I can’t say no to you.” Snow White laughed lightly.

  “I’ll have something packed for us to eat on the way.” Snow White said.

  “I guess I’ll get our horses ready. Carriage?” Florian asked.

  “It’d be faster for us to go on horseback.” Snow White said. “We haven’t gone riding together in a while.”

  “As you wish.” Florian said with a dramatic bow, leaving Snow White laughing.

  They packed their bundle for an overnight trip and were on their way after an hour. Riding through the kingdom and up into the jeweled mountains.

  “You know, I’d never seen so much of my kingdom before our rides.” Snow White said, reaching out to feel tree leaves as she passed them.

  “Really?” Florian asked as he kept pace with her. “I’d been all over these mountains before I was thirteen.”

  “I never left the castle walls, well. Until..” Snow White held the reins tighter. Florian leaned over and took her hand.

  “Well, the world’s open for you now.” He said. “There isn’t a single place you can’t go.” Snow White smiled and gave his hand a squeeze.

  “You think it’s silly to go all this way to invite my old friends to the wedding?” Snow White asked.

  “Absolutely not.” Florian said. “It’s been a while since we’ve seen them. It’ll be nice to visit.”

  “I’d meant to visit sooner.” Snow White sighed. Petting her steed. “Life just got so busy so fast.”

  “It doesn’t matter, they’ll be just as happy to see you now as ever.” Florian said.

  “I should have thought of bringing a gift.” Snow White said, “maybe it isn’t too late.” Florian looked around the meadow they were in, not sure what he was expecting to see.

  “These flowers are beautiful, I bet the dwarves would love a bouquet of them.” Snow White pointed at the wild flowers around. “May we stop so I can pick them?”

  “Sure, why not?” Florian shrugged with a grin. He dismounted and took Snow White’s Reins and helped her down. Snow White gave Florian a kiss and went off to the field to find the best flowers to make into a bouquet. Florian took the horses to a little place where they could drink from a gentle river. While letting the horses rest he looked back toward his princess. She took every blossom and inspected it thoroughly before expertly plucking it and arranging it with the others in the handful she had already. The sight was serene. Perfect. Florian took a long breath and sighed blissfully. Resting on his horse as he watched.

  He heard a sound that interrupted the picture of bliss. A sound of wings that was getting closer and louder rapidly. He looked up just as a dark shadow zipped overhead.

  “Snow White! Watch out!” He yelled as the red wyvern swooped down from the sky toward the princess. Snow White looked up and dropped the flowers and screamed. The wyvern swooped down and snatched Snow White by her arms. Lifting her up into the sky and carrying her off.

  Florian mounted his horse and took off. Leaving the second horse to run off in a panic. Snow White was rendered breathless as the ground dropped farther away from her feet. Wind screamed past her ears and deafened her. She could hardly process the tearing ache in her shoulders.

  Below her she could see her prince in pursuit. Florian kicked his steed a bit harder than he meant. But that thought only grazed the top of his mind as he couldn’t let Snow White or the beast that took her from his sight.

  The wyvern cut through the air and into the jeweled mountains. Weaving between them low and reckless. Florian rode hard and followed just as fast as the wyvern turned to try losing him. While his eyes were kept on the winding wyvern he didn’t see the chasm opening up wide in front of him. His steed did however, skidding to a stop just before tumbling down into it. Florian grabbed at the bridle as the horse bucked and stumbled back with a terrified whinny.

  “Easy, easy…” Florian calmed the steed as he kept an eye on the wyvern winding out of the mountains and back into the open skies. He turned the steed around and ran him a short distance. “You can make that jump.” He said encouragingly. Jerking the reins around and spurring the horse harder than he’d ever done before.

  Leaving the mountain pass, the wyvern was in perfect view. Florian took up his crossbow and loaded a bolt. Trying to keep steady as the horse flew at full gallop. He let the bolt fly and it flew. Piercing the wyvern’s haunch dangerously close to Snow White. The beast let out a scream and Snow White was able to yank her arm out of the injured claw. She wiggled and pulled, freeing herself from the beast’s clutches. Realizing too late the fatal flaw in her plan.

  Snow White let out a scream as she plummeted back toward the ground. The trees of the dark forest opened up and swallowed her whole. She desperately grabbed at anything to slow her fall. The branches bruised her as they caught her and rolled her gently to the ground. Snow White laid on the ground, trying to remember how to breathe. Completely in disbelief that, despite some minor bruises, she was alive.

  The wyvern let out a roar. Snow White’s vision cleared and she sat up. SEeing it barreling toward her.

  “Get away from me!” Snow White shouted, standing and grabbing a weighty stick. She held it in both hands, staring the beast in its bright yellow eyes as it rushed at her. Snow White stood her ground as it came at her. Her heart pounded in her ears and her breath stopped. But still she waited, waiting until the beast’s talons were just upon the ground and he was right before her. At the last possible second, Snow White dove to the side. Landing flat on her stomach.

  The wyvern tried to turn but only grazed the ground and hit the ground hard. Breaking through trees and earth with a tremendous crash. FLorian rode hard with his bow loaded.

  “Snow White! Run!” He yelled before shooting another bolt at the wyvern. Snow White got to her feet and ran into the densest part of the forest. Hoping the trees would keep out the beast.

  The Wyvern took to the skies again dodging the bolts and hunting for Snow White but losing her in the trees. Another bolt passed by the wyvern and he turned with renewed anger. Rushing now for the prince.

  Florian tried to steady his shot, but when he looked up and saw the wyvern coming straight at him, he hesitated in his fear. The second of hesitation was all the wyvern needed. Swooping low and spooking the horse into throwing his rider. Florian’s crossbow clattered away from him and the bolts scattered across the grass.

  Lord Malice appeared in a glow of red, approaching the prince. Florian got to his feet but quickly stumbled back at the sight of Malice.

  “What? Who are you? What do you want?!” He asked. Patting his belt for the dagger he kept. Lord Malice’s eyes glowed red again and with a shriek, a beam flew from them, knocking Prince Florian off his feet. Leaving him in a magically unconscious state.

  “I may have lost Snow White but now she won’t have you to save her.” Lord Malice said, stomping hard on Florian’s chest. An idea came to him and he stepped off the prince and took him up by the hair. “I have just the fate for you.” He dropped the prince back to the ground. The sun was fading fast and soon it would be night.

  Lord Malice looked at the dense forest Snow White had disappeared into. He was worried for a moment that Snow White could meet her death within it. That fleeting worry passed as he looked down at the prince. Her unnatural luck will keep her alive, but luck could only carry her so far.

  And Lord Malice was ready to break her lucky streak.