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    AaBack's Grimm: A Dark Fantasy Fairy Tale #5 A Wounded Hand And A Wounded Heart: The Beauty Thief, The Deplorable Twins, And One Who Whispers
    AaBack's Grimm: A Dark Fantasy Fairy Tale #5 A Wounded Hand And A Wounded Heart: The Beauty Thief, The Deplorable Twins, And One Who Whispers
    AaBack's Grimm: A Dark Fantasy Fairy Tale #5 A Wounded Hand And A Wounded Heart: The Beauty Thief, The Deplorable Twins, And One Who Whispers
    Ebook153 pages3 hours

    AaBack's Grimm: A Dark Fantasy Fairy Tale #5 A Wounded Hand And A Wounded Heart: The Beauty Thief, The Deplorable Twins, And One Who Whispers

    By Kristie Lynn Higgins

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    About this ebook

    Type: novella and the word count is about 40,600 words
    The fairy tales you know with a wicked twist. Enter a deadly world that could use a little hope and love.

    Someone Jane trusted is trying to get her killed by revealing her secret.

    AaBack's Grimm Dark Fantasy Action Adventure Fairy Tale Series:
    #1 Tale Of Two Worlds: The Wizard, The Battle Mage, And The Werewolf
    #2 Friends Reunited: The Janus Beast, The Rose Beauty, And The Cursed Duckling
    #3 Dragon Scorned: The Towering Mountain Citadel, The Sword Of Cross-Worlds, And The Maximus-curse
    #4 The Battle In The Hedge Labyrinth’s Dead Garden: The True Beauty, Raisin Sweet-Tooth, And The Jinx-query
    #5 A Wounded Hand And A Wounded Heart: The Beauty Thief, The Deplorable Twins, And One Who Whispers

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKristie Lynn
    Release dateJun 18, 2018
    ISBN9780463916728
    AaBack's Grimm: A Dark Fantasy Fairy Tale #5 A Wounded Hand And A Wounded Heart: The Beauty Thief, The Deplorable Twins, And One Who Whispers
    Author

    Kristie Lynn Higgins

    You can also check out my author page on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/author/kristielynnhiggins

    Read more from Kristie Lynn Higgins

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      Book preview

      AaBack's Grimm - Kristie Lynn Higgins

      AaBack's Grimm: A Dark Fantasy Fairy Tale

      #5

      A Wounded Hand And A Wounded Heart:

      The Beauty Thief, The Deplorable Twins, And One Who Whispers

      Kristie Lynn Higgins

      Text Copyright © 2018 by Kristie Lynn Higgins

      Cover Art Copyright © 2018

      Smashwords Ebook Edition

      The Fairy Wood painting created by Henry Meynell Rheam

      The Children’s Story Book painting created by Sophie Gengembre Anderson

      www.KristieLynnHiggins.com

      No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Start One Of These Series

      by Kristie Lynn Higgins

      www.KristieLynnHiggins.com

      Chapter One

      Give Me Your Hand Or I Will Come And Seize It Myself!

      Jane had met Bella in town and helped make introductions to Sun Beast so that Bella could talk about a trade agreement. Bella was like all the people Jane had left behind on Earth. Bella couldn’t remember Jane, but Jane still managed to assist Bella and thought everything would turn out all right. Too bad for Jane that her thoughts were wrong that time. Bella began stealing things even cut Jane’s hand and accused her of being a yeahmun in front of some of the guards and servants. Moon Beast had Jane and Bella thrown into the dungeon.

      The next morning…

      Jane managed to fall asleep on the chair she was sitting on in her cell and woke when she heard voices. Sun Beast was there, and he was speaking with Bella in what seemed to be whispers. At first, Jane couldn’t tell if he spoke to Bella or to Mirror-mirror Bella. The female elf glanced at her as Jane stood from the chair and walked up to the front bars of her cell.

      …and then Jane threatened my life. And that is what happened, Mirror-mirror Bella told him as if it was the scariest thing she ever experienced.

      You’re still here, Jane spoke, surprised the one who had caused so much trouble the night before still occupied the body of Bella. Jane glanced at Sun Beast, and then she said, I thought Bella would be here since it is morning.

      Mirror-mirror Bella said nothing to her.

      Are you going to let us out? Jane questioned Sun Beast still exhausted from not sleeping well in the wooden chair. The cell itself was also very cold and damp.

      Do you want me to release the two of you? Sun Beast questioned as if he wanted to make sure that is what she meant.

      How else are the three of us going to sit down and talk about what happen last night? Jane replied.

      Sun Beast looked at Mirror-mirror Bella, and then he answered, I will bring one of you out. He then asked as if he was conducting a test, Who should it be? I want the two of you to convince me.

      A game? Jane griped. Have you been in one of these cells? It’s not very pleasant. You should bring both of us out of here before one of us catches a cold or something worse. She wrapped her arms around herself and muttered, It’s like ice is forming under this floor.

      We do have a trade agreement to work out, Mirror-mirror Bella spoke, working her own side of the argument. She moved her hand through the bars, touched his sleeve covered arm, and added, We might be able to work out a few other things.

      He glanced at her hand, and then Sun Beast turned to Jane and questioned, What are you offering for your release?

      Offering..? Jane muttered. My innocence should be enough. She glanced at Mirror-mirror Bella, and then she asked him, Are you still angry with me about what we said while we were in your study? I was right before. You don’t know a thing about true beauty. Are you looking for an apology? You do know you started all of that… that… mess!

      I have already forgotten about that incident, he told her.

      Please, let us both out then, Jane spoke a little more at ease that he wasn’t upset with her or with what she had said, or at least, what he thought she had said. Jane shivered as she spoke, It’s cold and damp in here. I think it’s gotten colder since last night.

      Sun Beast repeated his earlier statement, not satisfied with her answer, I will bring one of you out. Who should it be? His expression changed from one who pretended to be concerned about their welfare to one who was obviously going to have fun at another’s cost as he questioned, My Belle or my… He first motioned to Mirror-mirror Bella and then to Jane as he finished, …my ugly duckling.

      His words cut at her as if he had taken his sword to her. Jane took two steps back from the bars as her heart sank. The pierced muscle fell through her chest as if the gravity of cruelty had seized it in its inescapable force and plummeted to the pit of despair. Jane had seen their earlier argument as that… an argument, but maybe Sun Beast had seen it differently and had been hurt and was striking back at her. She accused him, You are still angry with me. You said you had forgotten the whole thing.

      He glared at her with his blue eagle-like eyes that had a hint of viciousness behind them. Sun Beast was not only upset, he seemed he wanted to get back at her for some catastrophe she had brought upon him.

      You should bring me out, Mirror-mirror Bella spoke up, sensing something was going on between the other two. She stated, knowing the reaction she would get from him, I’m not a monster.

      What do you speak of? Sun Beast questioned her.

      Mirror-mirror Bella pointed at the woman and accused, Jane is a yeahmun.

      Sun Beast turned to the female elf and said, You jest, Bella. I see no monster before me.

      I cut her on her palm. Look at the wound and you will see that she has red blood, Mirror-mirror Bella told him.

      Jane’s fear kicked in once again, but Moon Beast didn’t bring it about, no, this time Sun Beast did. She glanced at Mirror-mirror Bella who had it in for her since she met this other person occupying the body of Bella. For some reason, Mirror-mirror Bella wanted to get her killed. Jane tried to think of something to say to save herself, but she couldn’t come up with anything.

      Mirror-mirror Bella said, Seize her hand and look for yourself, and then you will know that a monster is standing before you. A monster who has wiggled its way into your castle and perhaps into your heart. I tell you… She lifted her voice so that the guards could hear and accused again, Jane is a yeahmun!

      Do not be ridiculous, he spoke, and Jane thought he was coming to her defense.

      The one who she had put so much effort into breaking his curse was coming to her rescue. Jane felt more at ease, but then Sun Beast turned and gave her the once-over in a manner that made her think he thought Bella and himself were somehow superior to her.

      He stated with conviction as he turned back to the female elf, Jane has nothing to do with my heart.

      Prove it, Mirror-mirror Bella challenged him as if she was the Red Queen screaming, ‘Off with her head!’.

      Jane turned and looked around at her own cell. There was no escape from it. The only way out was through Sun Beast and his guards. She glanced at Mirror-mirror Bella again. Jane couldn’t understand why one, whom the Maximus-curse didn’t seem to affect, wanted her dead so badly.

      I will prove it, Sun Beast told Mirror-mirror Bella, turned to the other, and demanded, Jane, give me your hand!

      Jane took a few more steps back into her cell as she put her left fist behind her back.

      Jane, give me your hand! Sun Beast repeated. Give me your hand or I will come and seize it myself!

      She shook her head and refused to give in to his demands. She would force him to come into her cell and prove to her… prove… Jane wanted him to prove something to her. She wanted him to prove that he was her friend. She wanted him to prove that he was the princely boy who she was so very fond of.

      Jane, give me your hand! Sun Beast repeated as his rage appeared but only for a moment. Or I will come… The rage left his gaze as he looked around the dirty cell Jane stood in and changed his threat to, Or I will have my guards forcibly do it for you!

      If the guards came into the cell, it would prove nothing, so she had to think fast. Mirror-mirror Bella wanted her out of the picture for some reason, and she was willing to trigger the Maximus-curse to get rid of Jane. She tried to quiet her thundering heart, but no amount of calming breathing could quiet it.

      He questioned her, Are you this monster Bella claims that you are?

      I’m no monster, Jane answered. I have been who I have always been.

      Prove it, Sun Beast spoke. Show me your hand.

      Bella is the one who stole from you last night, Jane spoke, trying to change the subject. I did nothing but try to stop her.

      Sun Beast told her, I believe our guest’s account of what transpired last night, not yours, my ugly duckling.

      Why don’t you believe me? Jane asked.

      I know how you see me. You see me as some ghastly beast.

      I didn’t say that! Jane yelled. You said that. I only meant that you were too conceited to judge anyone’s beauty.

      Sun Beast reached his hand through the bars and said, Prove that I can trust you. Show me your hand.

      Mirror-mirror Bella had her trapped in some sort of game Jane couldn’t figure out. Her life was in jeopardy if she made the wrong move but there were only wrong moves to be made. Sun Beast would eventually send in his guards and force her to reveal her hand to him. She had to be smart about the wrong move, she had to be smart and hope she meant something to the Beast even if it was only something small… something small like an ugly duckling.

      Fine… Jane uttered as she moved back to the bars, stuck her left fist out of the cell, and said, I also want you to prove to me that you trust me. She told Sun Beast, I can only continue to work for you if you trust me, and you don’t act like you trust me right now. He took hold of her fist as Jane said, I will show you my hand but if I do, I will no longer be your Hex Breaker. Now you decide… Which should it be? Will you believe your Beauty or your ugly duckling?

      A snarl appeared on his face as he spoke, You are not enticing me to believe you.

      I am, Jane insisted. You have believed the word of a stranger over my own. What is that saying about our relationship? She realized how it sounded… that what she had said could be taken another way, so Jane added, Our relationship as an employer and employee?

      Sun Beast thought about

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