Forget Me Not

A knife zoomed past missing my head by a centimeter before it stuck in the splintering oak. Cursing, I drew an arrow from the quiver. With shaky, sweaty fingers, I struggled to remember the correct stance. Were my feet spaced properly? I had no effing clue. The arrow slipped landing in a pile of dead leaves.

I should’ve paid attention during archery class instead of imagining Wolf—shirtless, sweaty and kissing me. I drew the bow back and released, only to watch it tumble to the ground. Awesome.

Archery 1. Norah 0.

A low growl echoed through the forest shaking the earth as the beast advanced. There were no arrows left so my fight or flight kicked in. Bracing a foot on the base of the tree, I pushed off and sprinted forward. The thick, smoggy air suffocated me as the wind lashed the trees against one another like drumsticks.

Weakness consumed me and I faltered, committing the worst crime in a battle, I got distracted. Slipping on a twisted root, my back hit the grimy leaves. Droplets of water dripped onto my forehead, except it wasn’t raining.

Yellow, chipped fangs oozed with salvia. The beast’s silver fur reminded me of the abominable snowman. My knuckles whitened as I gripped the soil. The bow in my hand was the only weapon I had left. My adrenaline spiked and I stabbed the tip of the bow into his cheek. The beast shifted enough for me to roll to the left and run like hell.

Low tree limbs scratched across my ankles and roots jutted up from the forest floor giving me very little time to react. Why hadn’t Dad taught me archery in addition to sword fighting? As a guy who grew up with fairytale freaks, he should have prepared me better.

Where did that leave me? In a freaking forest chased by a ridiculously fast Big Foot-Yeti beast.

The beast grabbed the back of my shirt and I toppled to the wet ground. A scream tore through from my lungs and echoed in the woods. Fight Norah! Flailing my arms and legs, I kicked free scrambling across the leaves. Digging deep within my soul, I tried to summon some sort of magic. Nothing.

With a heinous cackle, the beast clutched my foot and hauled me back. Pain roared through my body as I tried to latch onto something—anything—to save myself. Muddy dirt embedded under my nails as I clawed forward. The beast flipped me onto my back and let out a chilling howl.

In an instant, the scene faded and the room returned to its former glory—a poorly lit gymnasium smelling of sweat and dirty socks.

Fail. Professor Bennett scribbled on the clipboard and shoved it under his armpit. Using the floor for support, I leapt up. The cuts and scrapes that once decorated my hands were nothing more than an unwelcomed simulation.

Let’s be realistic, what are the odds that I’ll be battling a beast? Slim to none. Not to mention, bows are a weapon of the past. Using my yoga pants as a rag, I wiped my sweaty palms on them. I say we cut our losses and you pass me. It’s the honorable thing to do.

Setting the clipboard on the bleachers, he shook his head and groaned. The sound echoed around us. That’s the problem, Norah, you don’t believe. Beasts and dragons exist in our world. You’re nowhere near where you should be. To be frank, you’ve been distracted. Distractions will cost you a life.

Distracted? Of course, I was distracted. Five months ago I was thrust into a world of reincarnated fairytales characters. Not to mention learning the truth about my family. My dad, Jonathan Grimm, was a descendant of the Grimm Brothers—one of the strongest lineages of authors. And my mother, Natalia Petrovich, was a princess who hadn’t surfaced since she abandoned me almost seventeen years ago.

When my parents defied the laws set forth by the fairytale council and had me, I was born a hybrid. Which meant the council couldn’t control me because my story hadn’t been written. Hybrids challenged everything the council stood for, and because they weren’t controllable, they had the option of doing whatever—or whoever—they wanted, thus threatening happily ever after.

Not only was I a hybrid, I was the first one born in one hundred years. This wasn’t good when you lived in a world thriving on fairytale perfection.

Five months had come and gone and I had finally gotten the hang of this new reality.

At least, I thought so.

If I had a sword, he would’ve been toast, plus I have magic. I could have blasted his yeti ass. I cracked my neck, wishing fairytale chiropractors existed. What I wouldn’t give for an adjustment, especially after getting my butt handed to me by a fake beast.

Magic is tricky, Norah. Using it comes with consequences. The bell rang. The doors to the gym rattled open as other students entered and headed straight to the locker rooms. If you want to be worthy of this world, you’ll need to master the bow.

His shoes squeaked against the linoleum as he walked toward his desk. A headache formed behind my eyes as I followed him. Nothing was good enough for Bennett.

I’m better than ninety percent of the student body and you’re still failing me. Why? It’s unfair to hold me to some crazy standard I’ll never meet.

Stopping fast, he turned to face me. The intensity in his eyes made me take a step back. The students here were born in this world. You were not. There’s no telling where you will end up when you leave. Mythical creatures lurk everywhere, Norah. The creatures you thought existed only in nightmares are real. I’m only trying to better your chances of survival.

I stepped back, swallowing hard. Bennett was the only teacher who cared and I owed it to him to focus and try. Really try. Winging it hadn’t worked.

How am I supposed to learn if you can’t help? In order to pass, Bennett couldn’t assist me anymore. Wolf wasn’t an archer. The Big Bad Wolf was strictly that. A fighter. Preferably with his hands. Chills spread along the back of my neck.

There is only one person I trust.

Not a prince. I told him.

No. he chuckled low. Quite the opposite.

A pirate? I bounced on my heels. Pirates were hot.

Bennett laughed. I’ll introduce you tomorrow. Don’t stress, Norah. I know you’ll rise to the challenge, you always do.

Unspoken words lingered within his unwavering faith in me. He held me to a higher standard of teaching and it pissed me off. I’d much rather be making out with Wolf than fighting for an unknown war.

Scribbling on a neon yellow notepad, Bennett ripped the sheet off and handed it over. The tardy slip was for Professor Peach’s etiquette class. At least she wouldn’t give me detention for being late. Peach had it out for me. It sucked.

Use it wisely. Bennett winked.

Excuse me, Coach Bennett? A small, nasally voice chirped.

Bennett turned his attention to the dwarf lingering to our side. The dwarf was one of Donny’s brothers or cousins—one of the seven dwarves to be exact—I couldn’t remember which. They all had D names so it was hard to keep them straight.

The dwarf lowered his head as I passed. An action many of them did when I was near. As I headed toward the locker room I made a mental note to ask Donny. While shy, dwarves were loyal friends, as well as loyal followers.

The flowery rose perfume enveloped my senses as I stepped out of the shower. My stomach turned with nausea almost immediately. A thin line of glitter dusted the floor, creating a path to the lockers. Without looking, I knew who the giggles belonged to. Claire. A.K.A my least favorite pixie of all time. Platinum blonde hair was pulled into a tight sock bun on top of her small elfin face.

Claire cocked her head to the side. The wicked smirk reminded me of the Cheshire cat. I thought I smelled something sour.

Must be your Persian whore perfume. I ran a towel through my damp hair. Beside Claire was her pixie partner in crime, Carrie. They were walking replicas of each other.

Persian? Carrie batted her fake eyelashes, a blank look overtaking her pinched face. Claire fluttered forward, swinging her stick-like hips as if she pranced down a catwalk when in reality she had the figure of a thirteen-year-old boy.

Her deep-set jade gaze narrowed, nostrils flaring. Make your jokes, Norah. The day you get kicked off your pedestal will be the best day of my life.

Your life must really suck then. I leaned against the locker.

She ignored me and tapped her little foot. Laugh it up now. Danielle will be back and order will be restored.

You’re about as threatening as a Cabbage Patch Doll. I blew off the useless threat. She sounded like a cheesy movie.

The locker room door opened. You have ten seconds or I write you up. Bennett’s voice filled the empty space.

Be right there, Claire sang, never taking her eyes off me. You may have the school fooled, but we see you for who you truly are. A mistake. All mistakes can be rectified.

Claire knocked my shoulder as they fluttered toward the exit.

Nice talk. Let’s do it again soon. I waved as the door slammed behind them. Once bitches always bitches. And to think I liked Tinkerbell when she was Peter Pan’s sassy little pixie. I exhaled and ran my hands through my damp hair.

All mistakes can be rectified.

The words were like poison. My entire existence was a mistake. A thought I tried to ignore for some time now. How could I be a mistake when I’d changed so much? The hierarchy of the school was destroyed. Royals didn’t rule the school. There was peace between rankings. Villains, Heroes, Sidekicks, Dwarves—integration was our new reality. A reality most royals disagreed with. Any change was toxic to their existence.

Claire’s lingering threats were the least of my problems these days. The nightmares I had almost a year ago had resurfaced. They began on the eve of my seventeenth birthday and lasted seven nights. One minute I was blowing out the candles on a yummy chocolate ganache cake from the grocery store, the next Dad told us we were leaving for Germany.

When the dreams began they were small flickers of visions, like pieces of a puzzle that didn’t make sense. Each dream surrounded a girl—one I’d assumed was me. Now, I wasn’t so sure. We looked alike, sure, but there were plenty of differences between us. Her hair was lighter, skin tanner with a crescent moon shaped scar on her chin.

In every dream, she ran from someone and she always died. The death was the same—tied to a stake with kindling at her feet. The fire traveled from the ground to her. Too many nights I woke up screaming, fearing the one dying was me.

The nightmares resumed three days ago but not in the same manner. The girl and I were present at the same time. No longer was I watching her life, but living it. Tears smeared down her cheeks as we stood in a barren field. The moon was full, a thin line of clouds drifted across the sky. The edges of her crimson ball gown were torn; the sleeves ripped off and burnt. Frizzy curls hugged her face.

He’s here. Her face deadpan. She flickered in and out like a bad radio frequency.

Who? Fog rolled along our feet. Her movements were listless and precise.

The hero. She held out her wrist. Embedded into her skin was a birthmark. The squiggly lines replicated an infinity symbol. The same mark decorated the flesh behind my ear. The symbol marked us as hybrids. Dad said hybrids were meant to live forever, even beyond death.

Find him.

If I wasn’t living in a world consumed with magic and fantasy, I’d count the dreams as a wild imagination due to binge watching Supernatural on Netflix. Unfortunately, the world wasn’t black and white. I existed in a land of gray.

And in this reality, everything had meaning.

Grande Mocha latte? Beth tugged the lever on the new espresso machine. Her smooth, chocolate brown hair was drawn back with a pale yellow ribbon. Beneath the navy apron was a soft gold dress with white polka dots and matching stilettos.

Yes, please, I said. A rose designed ring was a garnish on her finger. The earrings dangling from her ears matched. New earrings?

The tips of her fingers grazed the flower. They’re a belated birthday gift from Adam.

One of the most functional couples in the school, Beth explained their courtship back when I first arrived. While not epic soulmates like Romeo and Juliet, they had an unwavering respect for the other. Sometimes I questioned Beth’s loyalty to the system. She’d settled for Adam.

Epic love like Romeo and Juliet’s weren’t for everyone. Not that I condoned dying for love. There were plenty of ways to handle forbidden love besides death. Shakespeare was a literary genius, so who was I to judge. At the end of the day, they could’ve found a way to fight. Dying was for the weak.

Beth placed the tall to-go cup on the counter. Did you pass?

Negative. The warm liquid was an explosion of chocolaty caffeine goodness in my mouth. I hugged the cup to my chest as joy filled me—joy called caffeine. This makes it better. A good cup of coffee could solve almost any problems.

You have a visitor. She nodded behind us.

Warmth pebbled along the back of my neck, tightening the skin. Leaning against the pillar, with a single red rose in his hand, was the only person able to turn my terrible morning around.

Gray jeans hung low on his hips; suspenders clipped to the belt loop and fell on his thick, muscular thighs. The sleeves of his black V-neck rolled up to show off his cut, tight biceps and even more impressive, triceps. Loose dark curls fell along his strong, square jaw. The rest of his hair was tied back. The silver wolf ring on his index finger glistened.

His honey eyes raked over my body. Red tinged the edge of his irises as I stopped in front of him. There was an intensity behind his stare that made me weak in the knees. As he set the coffee cup on the small table, he looped his fingers in my belt, yanking me flush against him.

That’d better be for me and not your admirers. I nodded toward the rose. His eyebrow rose and a lazy grin splayed over his full lips. Lips I wanted to lose myself in.

W.W.A is at capacity these days. Wolf Worshippers Anonymous was something he made up and I was dead set on harassing him about it forever.

Wolf dragged us to one of the small nooks in front of a door. A breath caught in my throat as he pulled us together. His thick fingers trailed along my jaw. Tipping it upward, he nipped my bottom lip with his teeth. I bit back a moan and dove into his kiss. They were greedy and warm, heating my body from head to toe.

I loved kissing him. His strong touch was better than any high in the world. Taking a handful of his silky smooth hair, I sighed and sank into him. Being with Wolf filled me with life, setting every part of my body on fire.

He sucked in a jagged breath as his forehead pressed against mine. We should cool down before I throw you on the table.

That’d be hot. I winked. A low growl rumbled his throat as he kissed me again. He was right. Cool down. Untangling from each other, I rested against his chest, listening to the smooth inhale of air. The rest of the world faded till it was the two of us. I lived for these small quiet moments.

How was the exam? The softness in his voice was relaxing as his hand trailed down my spine.

I traced the pocket on his shirt. Sucktastic. Bennett is setting up with a tutor for me, so we’ll see how that goes.

Someone volunteered to help you? Poor chap.

Hey! I nudged his arm. You loved teaching me. When I failed dance, Wolf stepped in and revealed a softer side. Dancing Wolf was sexy. He totally gave the Magic Mike dudes a run for their money.

Hell yeah, dancing is sexy. You with a bow? That’s dangerous.

Dangerously sexy. I corrected him.

A high shrill echoed around us. I broke away and tore through the hall. A crowd formed in the center of the Hero wing. A small figure dangled from a rope coming down from the ceiling. My heart stopped at the sight of Donny hanging by his feet as a group of boys taunted him.

Oh hell no.

Last time a group formed in the hall, Wolf’s cousin Koyte was escorted out of the school by the council. Koyte tore free from the guards and ran to me with a warning. You’re next. For months, I’d pushed the message out of my mind. I liked how simple my life was since Danielle left. Wolf and I were together drama free. I wasn’t an idiot. The happy ending I’d created for myself was a ticking time bomb.

Coins fell from Donny’s pockets as he spun in slow circles and bounced along the stone floor. One of the boys crouched down and pocketed the money. A burly guy with dreads down to his mid back said something to him. Words I couldn’t hear through the chatter of students. Letting go of Wolf’s hand, I pushed through the throng of people and made a beeline to the big dude. I didn’t care that he was three times my size. No one messed with my dwarf.

Get him down. Now. There was no need to raise my voice, the tone did enough. Five boys dropped what they stole from Donny—his backpack, wallet, pens, textbooks and read beanie.

That’s not up to you. The big burly dude looked bored.

I crossed my arms. Excuse me? Who the hell is it up to? I had zero tolerance for bullying.

Me.

The leader of the group came from behind Burly Dude. His spine straightened as his pale eyes met mine. Chills consumed me as a strange feeling settled in my stomach. All of a sudden I was ice cold.

Messy blonde hair was artfully tossed to one side, showing off his smooth heart-shaped jaw. The olive green Henley sweater and chestnut colored pants hugged his lean body. Hanging off his back was a bow. No arrows. Just a bow.

A princess to save the day? How romantic. A sly grin toyed with the edge of his mouth as the tension eased from his taut shoulders. Whatever weirdness I’d felt earlier slipped away. He had a lot of nerve. I hated when people assumed I was a princess.

Warmth traveled across the back of my neck. You heard her. Wolf’s eyes were dark and heated. Cut him down or I’ll slit your throat.

Is this supposed to be threatening? He asked, circling toward Donny. Burly Dude never left his side, like a bodyguard. The Princess and the Wolf bit isn’t intimidating.

It’ll be intimidating as fuck when your blood is on the floor. Wolf took a step forward. The sculpted muscles of his back were visible through his thin, fitted shirt. I shivered. It had been awhile since Wolf had lived up to his reputation.

Using my peripherals, I scanned the rope—it draped over the beam, across the ceiling and latched onto the base of the drinking fountain. Hooked on the guy’s waist was a small blade. Not super long, but it would do. As fast as I could, I reached for the blade, spun and sliced the rope. Landing headfirst on the stone floor, Donny yelped. Man, I felt like a pirate. A bad ass chick pirate.

Don’t mess with my friends. I stood tall.

His smile widened. So non-friends aren’t off limits then?

You’re unreal. I scoffed. Wolf knelt down and untied Donny’s hands.

Déjà vu was all-consuming as he closed the space between us to take his knife back. An unrecognizable image flickered through my memory. My heart pounded as a strange fiery sensation roared through the birthmark behind my ear.

The crowd dispersed as Professor le Fay entered the hall. For them, the excitement had ended. For me, it was only the beginning.

His lips grazed the back of my hand. Till we meet again, my lady.

The moment our hands parted the chills dissolved. In a flash, he and his gang of hood rats were gone, leaving me rattled.

Who the fuck was that? Wolf and I stared down the hallway.

No clue.

The guy peered back and winked before disappearing into the crowd. A thin layer of sweat coated my palms and a lump grew in my throat. Shaking it off, I turned to Donny. Dark, curly hair peaked out from beneath a red beanie. His thin, silver glasses slumped down the bridge of his nose.

You okay, Big D? I asked.

I’ve had better days. He pushed his glasses back into place.

Who’s the ass? Wolf asked. The bell rang, warning us we had minutes to get to class.

Jaxson Forester from Nottingham. Donny groaned and rose to his feet, wiping off his pants. Standing, he barely reached my waist. The school burnt down and students were split between Camelot, Sommeil and here.

Wait, Nottingham like Robin Hood’s Nottingham? Awesome. As if my day hadn’t sucked enough by failing Bennett’s simulation, now Robin Hood and his Merry Men were torturing dwarves.

Who else would start a riot in the middle of the day? Donny pouted. Stole my snack money.

Robin Hood was my least favorite character. Dad rarely read it. Instead, he said Robin Hood was a lousy thief and not worth wasting our time on.

Nottingham is twice the size of this castle. Wolf’s head tilted to the side, his brows pinched together. A castle that massive doesn’t burn to the ground out of nowhere. Wolf turned to Donny. When did this happen?

Three days ago, I think.

The same time the dreams began. I had to believe it wasn’t a coincidence. Donny peered down the hall and leaned in closer. The smell of ash and wood filled my senses.

Everyone was conveniently on a trip that day. Donny frowned. It’s suspicious.

You think it was an inside job? I asked.

Donny tucked his hands in his pockets and shrugged. Dwarves had theories, but never admitted to conspiracies in fear the council would punish them for accusations. At least that’s what Donny said. There were many times Donny opened up to me. He was a vast source of knowledge.

Donny!

Kate rushed up to us, her hair yanked in a messy bun. The crimson cardigan she wore fell off her shoulder; she tugged it back up and stopped in front of us. Pink stained her pale cheeks.

What happened? Kate looked to me frantically.

Robin Hood and his Merry Men happened. Saying the words felt silly. If you told me a year ago I’d be referring to fairy tale characters as real people I would’ve said you were bat shit crazy. This is what my life had become. Standing in the hallway with Goldilocks, The Big Bad Wolf and one of the Seven Dwarves was normal now. I seriously needed a reality show.

Another bell rang.

I have to get to class. Thank you again, Norah. Donny bowed his head and waved before running off to class.

For someone who claims to hate fairytales, you know them well. Wolf pulled me into him, his fingers dug into my hip.

Research. I kissed the