The familiar voice jerked Ryder out of his dismal thoughts as his heartbeat picked up rhythm. He jerked his gaze toward the door. Clarissa walked into the room, holding something large and square in her arms that was wrapped with decorative paper and tied with a ribbon.
His heart dropped.Why was she here?He’d asked her to stay at his mother’s house. Why hadn’t she listened?
###
CLARISSA’S CHEERFULsmile also worried him. She couldn’t possibly still be under the spell. True love’s kiss broke it. So what was the reason she appeared as if she didn’t know what was going on?
“Good day Mother, Father.” Her sing-song voice echoed in the room. “What are we celebrating?”
The witch laughed, sounding more like the queen than the old hag. She clapped her hands joyfully. “We are celebrating your return. I heard you were missing earlier today.”
“No, I wasn’t missing.” Clarissa giggled. “But I didn’t want you to know where I was going.” She walked to the witch and stopped. “I bought you a gift, and I wanted it to be a surprise.”
The imposter hitched a breath and placed a hand on her bosom, acting elated. “Indeed, I am surprised, my dear.” She pointed to the wrapped gift in Clarissa’s arms. “What’s that?”
Clarissa’s smile widened as she glanced at the object. “I’m not going to tell you.” She took it to the couch and set it on the cushion. “Mother, you need to open it now...in front of everyone. I want to see your expression.”
“Well, all right. If I must.” The witch stood in front of the couch, looking down at her gift. “I’m most curious to what it could be.”
So was Ryder. He was also curious to why Clarissa was acting this way. He feared the worst—that she was somehow still under that wretched spell. But at least he knew where Cordelia lived and could get her to reverse the spell or remove it completely.
The king moved slowly and stopped beside his daughter, slipping an arm around her shoulders. Clarissa smiled up at her father. Ryder wished he could feel as confident as she appeared.
As he watched the witch slowly unwrap her gift, he kept his hand around the hilt of the sword, prepared for anything.
“Oh, Mother,” Clarissa exclaimed. “You are too slow. Rip the paper quickly.”
The witch chuckled. “My dear, you remind me of when you were younger and eager to open your Christmas and birthday gifts.”
She turned back to the object, and did as her daughter requested. Using both hands, she ripped off the paper covering the front. Confused, Ryder shook his head. What was Clarissa doing with his mother’s favorite mirror?
The moment the witch saw her reflection, she screamed in a high-pitched voice. She jumped back as her hands covered her face.
“Get that thing out of my sight!” she hissed.
Ryder unsheathed his sword, pointing it toward the witch.What is going on?
In pure amazement, before his eyes, the witch’s hands withered. The smooth skin she once had turned leathery and wrinkled. Her once blonde hair grew gray before changing shades once again and becoming a silvery-white color. The curves of her womanly form also changed. She not only lost her height, but her weight altered as well until she became as crooked and bent as her twin sister.
Slowly, she moved her hands away from her face and looked at her hands. Her attention shifted to the mirror again. This time an ugly, old hag stared back from the reflection. She released a pitiful cry and fell to her knees, covering her face once again. “I’m done for!” she screamed.
“It worked,” Clarissa muttered with happiness. She turned and gave her father a hug. “It worked! We’re free from the witch.”
The king continued to stare at the unexplained spectacle before him, shaking his head in denial. “What...just happened?”
“Father,” she stroked his bearded chin, “I finally remembered things about when she kidnapped me, and one of the things I remembered was that she loathed mirrors. She acted as if she’d die if she had to look in a mirror. I took a chance and hoped the reason she didn’t like mirrors was because it would take her powers away.” She touched her bosom. “Something in my heart told me it would work, and I can see it did.”
Ryder slapped his forehead. “That’s right! The witch’s sister told me something about that. Apparently, her mother used to tell her if she didn’t stop being evil, she’d never be able to look at herself in the mirror without feeling guilty.” He chuckled. “I just didn’t think she meant literally.”
“Apparently, so.” Clarissa glanced at the witch briefly, and then moved her gaze to Ryder. “When I remembered about the mirrors, I knew you would be in danger, Ryder. And I had to do something to save the man I love.”
Her announcement in front of her father, no less, shocked Ryder and stole his breath for a moment. His heartbeat hammered with happiness, yet... He glanced at the king. What would her father think now?
The king jumped back and stared with wide eyes at his daughter. “YouloveRyder?” He pointed to Ryder. “This man right here?”
She smiled up at her father and nodded. “Yes. With all of my heart.” She stepped away from the king and moved toward Ryder. Just before reaching him, Ryder held out his arms and she walked into his embrace. “I love you, Ryder.”
“I love you, Rissa.”
