The Poisoned Princess: A Snow White Retelling (The Skazka Fairy Tales)
The Poisoned Princess: Chapter 26

DIMITRI

Morning comes before I’m ready for it. Holding Ivanka after yet another bad dream made it difficult for me to fall asleep—especially knowing what the morning will bring. Seeing the way her dreams are affecting her, I’m even more reluctant to leave.

Pavel has packed us food, and we finish filling bags with essential supplies. One of the best things to have come from the human realm are these backpacks. Longer journeys are much easier now.

“We’ll be waiting,” Igor says, which is his way of saying, “Be careful.” I give him a firm nod. He quickly turns and walks back into the cottage. He never likes seeing me off.

Ivanka stands to the side, and I walk over to stand right in front of her. She doesn’t look up right away, and I reach for her hands.

“There’s something I need to tell you,” I say, holding her hands in mine. My throat closes up merely thinking of the words I need to say. “It’s important, and I don’t know what you’ll think, but—”

“Then tell me when you return,” she interrupts, her lips curling up into a smile.

“What?”

“Tell me when you return.”

“Why?”

“Because I said so? I also have something to tell you.” She grins. I lean over, stealing a kiss before she can get shy about it. My own lips spread in a smile.

“Oh, ny i tak!” The hollers come from beside us, and I turn to see Maxim making kissing faces, while the others laugh. “Who would’ve ever thought, our own grumpy pants, with a smile on his face.”

“You really don’t know how to shut up, do you?” Arseniy grabs his brother in a headlock, pulling him away from us. But it’s no use because the rest of them are coming out to see us off as well. I guess this is it for now.

She gives my hands a firm squeeze and then moves out of the way as the men come forward to hug me and Arseniy. They all know how important this trip is, but I think they can also tell how much I don’t want to go.

“You know, I’d go for you if I could,” Kostya says when I reach him last.

“Just do your part,” I reply, giving him a firm hug before I glance over at Ivanka. She hasn’t moved. I walk back over to her and gather her in my arms. She doesn’t hesitate to wrap around me, and for just a moment, I hold her. Before I pull back, I drop a quick kiss to the top of her head.

Then I’m moving away, because if I stay any longer, I won’t be able to leave.

IVANKA

Once Dimitri and Arseniy leave, I go inside to feed Kroshka and devise a plan. I overheard Igor saying that they’re going to forage in the morning. I just need to make sure I can talk Pavel into going with them, since he’s usually the one who doesn’t go.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I say to Kroshka as I hand her another leaf. “It’s our best bet.” Especially if the queen is on her way. It’s my turn to plan.

“Aren’t you going with them?” I ask the next morning. The men are getting ready to leave, but it’s Kostya who says he’s staying, not Pavel. The cook is already on his way to the forest.

“No, I’m staying here.”

“But I know you really enjoy foraging. You shouldn’t miss out.”

“I can’t leave you here alone,” Kostya says. That man has all the patience in the world, patience I currently do not possess.

“I’m not alone. Sokolko is here. He’ll watch over me. And didn’t you say you wanted to check some of the nearby caverns to see if you can replace any other forgotten artifacts like that glass coffin you discovered before I got here?” I say, trying to remember the conversation I’d overheard a few weeks back. When he doesn’t budge, I move on to my next tactic. “Please, Kostya.” I lower my voice. “I’d like to take a long bath if possible, and it would be nice to have the place to myself while doing it.” His eyes fill with understanding, and he nods.

“We’ll be close by. Send Sokolko to us if you need anything. He’ll be able to replace us.”

I try not to celebrate out loud, but I give Kostya a quick smile.

“You’re the best.”

The last of the men finally leaves. I think they’re a little excited to wander through the woods. Despite saying they’re only businessman—something I no longer believe—they’re really nature people at heart. I can see it. I might’ve figured out who they are, but that’s not really important at the moment. Maybe one day I’ll be able to voice out loud my suspicions, but today won’t be that day.

Once they’re gone, I don’t hesitate. I rush inside, grabbing some bread, butter, and cheese to make myself traveling sandwiches. I don’t have much to my name, but I will take a few provisions and wear my trousers and blouse. I just need to put some distance between me and this place before the queen comes looking for me. Once I take back my throne, I can replace a way to ask for forgiveness for leaving. Even if I can’t keep Dimitri, I’m determined to keep him safe.

A commotion catches my attention outside, as Sokolko barks at something. I step out of the cottage to replace an older woman trying to shoo the dog away. She’s hunched over, a dark robe that has seen better days hangs off her very fragile-looking frame, and her face has so many wrinkles, I can hardly distinguish her features.

“Sokolko!” I call out, coming toward them and grabbing him near his neck to pull him back. He gets away from me, though, and jumps on top of the woman, knocking her to her knees.

“Hey,” I pull the dog away and reach down to help the woman. “I’m so sorry. He’s not usually like that.” She looks to be in her late eighties, at least, and feels fragile under my grip. I have no idea where she came from.

“What are you doing all the way out here?” I ask.

“Oh, pretty child, I’ve been walking for so long. Can I bother you for a piece of bread?”

“Of course,” I say, leading her to one of the logs near the fire. “I’ll be right back.” I turn to the dog, who’s quietly growling at the woman and point a finger at him. “Hush, you. She’s harmless.”

I step inside the house and grab a piece of bread with butter, before heading back out to the woman. Sokolko hasn’t moved a muscle, still sitting and watching the woman. At least, he’s not barking anymore.

“Here you go,” I hand the food over, and she takes it with shaking hands. She really does look like she shouldn’t be hiking through the woods. She takes a bite of the bread, chewing it slowly. It doesn’t take long for her to finish off the slice, and then she gets to her feet.

“I’ll be going now.”

“Wait, are you sure that’s a good idea? Do you know how to replace your way back?”

She gives me a small smile, “Thank you, pretty child, for your kindness. In return, I most humbly ask you to take this from me.”

She pulls an apple from what I assume is a pocket in her cloak. The fruit looks incredibly bright and ripe, and I swear I can smell just how fresh it is. I take it as Sokolko growls again.

“Oh, thank you. Are you sure you’ll be okay?” I ask, as the woman heads toward the forest.

“Yes. Enjoy the apple at your leisure, pretty child. Thank you for the bread.”

And then she walks back into the woods, disappearing into the trees. It’s as if she’s never existed. I can’t even tell if she came from the cave entrance or some other direction.

My gaze shifts to the apple in my hands and I notice how perfect it is. I have never seen one so shiny before. I should probably save it for later; I have to get going.

But even as I move to go inside to grab my things, I look at the apple again. Sokolko jumps up to try to grab it from me, but I shake him off.

“What has gotten into you? I didn’t know you liked apples so much. Is that why you were growling earlier? You probably smelled it.”

I keep the apple out of the dog’s reach as I give him a little pat, and then turn to head into the cottage once more. My eyes roam over the familiar mess in front of the fire, the logs we use for seating. We just did laundry, so clothing hangs on the line, swaying gently in the breeze.

They’re going to be so devastated when they return and I’m not here. I’ve been actively trying to push that thought out of my mind, but I can’t hold it at bay any longer. The older woman showing up reminded me how I stumbled into their life out of nowhere and they took me in. They became my family. Can I really leave them? Should I do this on my own?

I don’t want to put them in danger, but Dimitri’s words echo in my mind, reminding me that it should be their choice. I have had every choice taken from me, can I do that to them as well? That doesn’t seem fair and not the kind of a person I want to be.

A mixture of emotions rushes over me and I glance down at the apple once more. It looks so perfect and shiny, like it’s been polished until it gleams. Now that I’m looking at it, I can’t seem to look away.

“Oh, what’s the use of saving it,” I mumble, bringing it to my lips. It makes a satisfying crunch as I bite into it, sweetness filling my mouth. And then, everything goes black.