Griffin |1

STORY OF A GIRL (ABSOLUTELY)

PROLOGUE
THE DARK CAVERN WALLS LIGHT UP WITH THE GLOW OF A LITTLE BLUE ORB. SHRIEKS OF
LAUGHTER FILLED THE COLD AIR AS THE SMELL OF CHEESE FILLED THE OCCUPANTS CELLS. A CREAK
GREW LOUDER AND LOUDER AS THE CHILL IN THE AIR MADE THE BLUE-EYED GIRL SHIVER, EVEN
THOUGH SHE WAS SUFFOCATING FROM THE HUMANITY. THE FOOTSTEPS STOPPED OUTSIDE THE SIX BY
EIGHT FOOT CELL.

RAPUNZEL SAT WITH HER BACK AGAINST THE COLD WOODEN BARS. SHE SNIFFED THE AIR AS
THE AROMA OF CHEESE FILLED HER LUNGS. CREAKING FOOTSTEPS GREW CLOSER AS SHE FELT HER
CHEST HEAVING FROM NERVOUSNESS. SHE BACKED HERSELF UP TO THE EDGE OF THE CELL AS THE
SMELL OF CHEDDAR CHEESE GREW CLOSER. BREATHING QUICKER THAN BEFORE, SHE HEARD A SHRIEK
FILL THE FEET THAT SEPARATED HER FROM THE OTHER OCCUPANTS.

WALKING TOWARDS THE DOOR OF THE RUN DOWN PRISON, HIS FOOTSTEPS ECHOED ACROSS
THE PAVEMENT. HE HEARD THE SOUND OF THE CACKLING AS THE PRISONERS SMELT THE CHEDDAR
CHEESE. HE KNEW HOW TO GET TO HER CELL BY HEART. ESCAPING THEIR HOLD WAS THE HARD PART.

HER BREATHING FILLED HIS EARS, ALREADY BREAKING HIS HEART.

THUNDER RUNG OUTSIDE AS THE CAVERN WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING. THE PRISONERS
SHRIEKED IN ASPIRATION AS RAPUNZEL HEARD HIM GETTING CLOSER. OUT OF ALL HER TIME IN THE
CELL, SHE HAD NEVER BEEN AS FRIGHTENED AS SHE WAS THEN. ALL OTHER SOUNDS FADED AS HIS
FOOTSTEPS GREW. THE CHEESE SMELL INVADED HER MIND AS SHE TRIED TO THINK ABOUT OTHER
TIMES. HER DAUGHTERS PIERCING SCREAM AS THE GUARDS PULLED HER GRASPING ARMS AWAY FROM
HER NECK, FILLED HER MIND.

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HE HEARD HER SCREAM AS HE RAN THE REST OF THE WAY TO HER CELL BARS. HER BACK FACED
TOWARDS HIM AS SHE SHOOK. THE SACK OF CHEESE SCATTERED ALL OVER THE CHECKERED RED
FLOOR, AS HE SPLIT THE WOOD INTO SPLINTERS PULLING THE DOORS OPEN.

OH MY GOD SHE SAID.

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CHAPTER 1
The frozen air changes around Eviannas raven black hair, as she jogs down the open
corridor. The tiles below her feet made a pattern on the floor. She didnt notice it but tiles were
each red, black, and white a symbol of another kingdom. Normally the inquisitive girl would
have noticed this very odd coloring but today was the day she would find out her past. She hoped
to find out all the secrets that everyone at the orphanage was hiding from her. Being late to the
meeting was the worst possible thing she could do though, which in a minute would most likely
happen. The door by her side opens as she is pulled into the darkness, with the sound of a piano
playing from the side of the room.
You are late Miss Clark. We will not accept tardiness at the Academy. I am sure your
advisor has told you this fact the figure said as she turned the light on. The older woman had an
eerie looking face with scars all over it. When she first looked at her Evianna thought she was
probably at least in her fifties but the woman was only thirty-two years old. The scars covered
her whole face and were in the shape of an X. She was claimed.
Im sorry Ms., it wont happen again. She looked around to the headmistress trying to
find the trace of the piano playing that she heard. Evianna looked into the headmistresss eyes
and saw blue but also a streak of red in them. She wanted nothing more to be back in her room
and away from that woman.
No it will not happen again or you will be on the street. You will be out of here if you are
going to ruin the great name of my dear Academy. The headmistress looked at Evianna seeing
the vacant expression in her eyes that reminded her of the boy. Her childhood filled her mind for
a brief moment, a memory she had suppressed for most of her adult life. She saw the tree in her
parents old yard and the boy in it who fell out of the tree. She remembered that it was her 15 th
year and she stayed in the hospital with the boy. He died and she lost everything. She snapped
out of the memory as she heard Evianna.

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The piano playing continued as Evianna ignored the headmistress, humming along with
the song remembering it somehow.
Now girl you hear me right now. You do not ignore me; I am the headmistress of this
Academy. When I say something to you, you listen. When I say jump you say, The headmistress
said marching around the little room.
How high. She flinched at the sound of the horrible sound of the clich.
Very good. Now today is supposed to be the day that you find out everything about your
past but there are some major complications with that plan. The headmistress looked genuinely
upset about having to tell Evi the truth. The plan was for every student in the academy to find
out about their past but this plan was because there was no information. This was a problem for
the academy because they knew everything about everyone in the kingdoms except for a select
few.
Evi looked at the woman. The piano music filled the room as she got dazed by the
aggression of the piano playing. There was a loud thumping of each key as it was hit. She looked
over at the headmistress wondering how she could not hear the music. Was the woman just
ignoring it or was it just going on in her head? She finally realized what the headmistress had
told her. What complications?
Your parents do not exist in our systems. It looks like you were never even born
Evianna. You have no records at all. She knew she would have to lie to the girl she could never
tell her the truth about why she was not in the system.
How is that even possible? You have everyones records. That was my whole point of
coming to the academy. The music stopped playing but she heard the breathing of another
person. She heard a yawn as the headmistress stood unnoticing.
We have everyones records besides yours dear. This has been the first time in the
history of our land that we did not have a students file. Even if your parents died we would have
had the records. It looks like someone is trying to hide you from your past. She lied looking

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over at the girl. Her pocket buzzed with the vibration of her message. He was messaging her. The
headmistress turned toward the clock. Well Miss Clark you best get going. Its time for bed.
What about my, Evi started as she was interrupted.
Go to bed, I have nothing else to tell you. She shooed the girl out and closed the door
behind her.
Evi walked out of the headmistresss office confused more than ever. She waited so long
to finally find out about her family and now she may never find out. While walking back to her
room, she saw a door open as a hand stuck out grabbing hers. She followed the figure into a dark
room, as they turned on a light revealing the piano from before.
Youre the piano player. Why didnt she hear you play?
The young man grinned showing a set of pure white baby teeth. He had never lost them
and never had adult ones grow in. Mother has learned to ignore her sons petty need for
attention from her. He walked around the room closing every single window and motioned for
her to sit down on his piano bench. Now be quiet and listen we may be finding out some very
important information from Mommy dearest. He grabbed Eviannas hand in his dragging her
over to the wall. There on the wall were a many small holes each the size of a human ear. Place
your ear on one of these holes he said letting her go.
Letting her curiosity show, she trusted the stranger and put her ear over the hole. She
could hear every single thing going on in the next room. The headmistress started to pace
around the office room, whispering into her message sender.
No she has no clue, even though you messaged me when she was in hereYeah how
ironic. No I really dont think this is funny. She cannot find out she is one of them. He
already knows he found the journalHe has been looking for his father for years James Oh
just shut up Ill figure it out! She yelled the last part not realizing she did.
The young man pulled Evianna from the wall walking over to the seat at the piano. He
started to play a little bit of the song from before, hitting notes that were wrong every ten

Griffin |6
seconds. His hands moved quicker as the sound radiated through the room, little green music
waves floating through the air around him and Evianna. She watched mesmerized as the waves
it the walls making little streak marks. His laughter, which let out little blue waves that filled the
spaces between the green. Evianna had never met anyone that could do magic before and was
amazed to see someone do it before her own eyes.
Youuhh how are you doing that? Her eyes opened wide as she saw the picture that
he had made on the wall with the sound waves. The picture was a portrait of her face with
greens and blues.
He looked over at Evianna and winked. There were many different skills that I have
learned I have over the years. Thats what happens when you are locked in a room away from the
world. He seemed happy to say that he was locked within a room.
So shes your mother, I thought that she wasnt allowed to have children. Doesnt she
have some kind of internal problem? Evi sat down admiring the beautiful green grand piano in
front of her.
She made herself that way after her illegitimate bastard child was born. My father
deserted her and she basically ended her baby making from that point on. He smirked,
standing up letting Evianna sit down on the bench instead. He stood over her taking her hands
in his to play some notes on the piano. You dont remember me do you? He touched her cheek
softly. I remember when we were seven and I saw you on the playground for the first time. He
sat down by her on the bench playing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. Each note sounded
beautiful even with each movement of his fingers. Evianna watched his fingers move from key to
key. I asked you your name and you told me Evianna. He took her hands in his again and got
her to play some of the notes to the song very slow. Memories of their childhood filled his mind.
She was the girl he had his first crush on but at the age of ten she was moved to another
orphanage and he never saw her again.

Griffin |7
And you said your name was Maximus, named after the great Maximus conqueror of
the second regime of elves. She smiled with the memory flowing into her head, it was one of the
only ones that she actually had from her past. How did you recognize me? I mean its been over
six years.
He touched his hand to her nose. On the tip of it was a scar in the shape of a star. The
scar started to change colors as he touched it. Evianna could almost feel the hot iron that was in
the shape of as star touch the tip again. A burning sensation filled her stomach as tears came to
her eyes from just the memory of the feeling of it on her nose. I punched the leader of that
learning to write sonnets class in the face for torturing you like that. I will always remember that
little mark and what happened to cause it. He cheeks turned red with the memory of him
kissing her on the lips in the middle of their class. The teacher had told them to show a love of
something at the camp. She meant in a sonnet and an object but he loved the girl from an
orphanage.
The sound of light tapping came from the other room; Evianna looked over seeming to
remember where they were and what had just happened. That boy seemed to take her mind off
of everything important and she needed to focus.
So the headmistress is your mother but whos your father? She looked at him as his
eyes turned almost black while he was looking at her. His fingers moved on the piano keys like
he did not even know they were there. He seemed to always play it when he wanted to show an
emotion. Red waves came out of the piano and mixed with the splotches already on the wall
behind Evianna. When Evianna turned around she gasped at the image behind her, it was an
image of the headmistress at a younger age.
He sung his story like he was a jester in a kings court My deardear mommy had me at
the age of fifteen because a friend of hers impregnated her. Now dear old mommy will not tell
me the lowlifes name. So I never met dear old dad and my motherwell my mother could not

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care less. He danced around the room laughing and swaying to the sound of his little tune. His
mood changed drastically from the aggravation to giddiness in a few minutes.
So you dont know you father? Evianna asked.
Never met my father but it seems like you have more problems than me. You records
dont even exist, to my mothers utter astonishment or maybe not. He winked. His mother
never talked about his father unless she was talking about him on the phone to James. He had
no clue who this James character was but he held something over his mothers head.
She seemed unfazed by the information he revealed. Yeah its like I never really existed.
Well in some ways that might become true. There are ways to find out your past
Evianna. I have been waiting for someone to come along that would help me out of Claekerth

Academy. This place is my hell, he said grabbing her hand.

How am I supposed to help you?
I want to find my father just as much as you want to learn your past. We have to go on
an adventure. He dropped her hand going to a window. We have to find the oldest living
people in the land. I heard my mother talking about it to this James fellow she was just talking
to. The overheard conversation happened over five months before. His mother was again trying
to hide it from everyone else in the academy. He heard his mother reading a message wrote by
someone who had the same problem as Evianna.

There has happened to be one set of young people in our land that did not seem to have
a past. Our records were incomplete one time in showing two peoples pasts. I was one of those
two who had no past. We, my friend Rapunzel and I, had a problem on our hands. We had no
past written in the books. It was like we did not exist at all. Our problem became obvious when
the headmistress pulled us both into her office for our individual meetings. We had no past,
which would eventually cause us to have no future either. On the day of our fifteenth birthdays,
we would start to fade out of existence and will never have existed at all. We searched around

Griffin |9
the academy for an answer, anything that would help us solve this problem or there would be
eventually be in the story of this land. We came across a very old man named Albestar who
reminded us of the character Merlin. He told us of the knowledge journey and how looking for
the facts of our existence would fill the ever growing hole in the story. Albestar told us we would
have to find the oldest people that still exist to help us search and then would have to find a
writer.
We believed him and started out on our voyage. But apparently we were not supposed to
know why we were originally written out of the book. We were being followed for months by a
little man dressed in a gold cloak. For months we never even saw him or had a clue about him.
As we slowly found out the information we learned little pieces of our past. For instance:
My father was a very vain man that an evil witch had fun with, and Rapunzels parents only
cared for the beauty of a flower and eventually lost her because of it. Nothing was easy as we hit
our year point. Being gone from the Academy for that long started to put a toll on our lives. I
became very sick from fatigue and Rapunzel lost a ton of weight. Her hair grew longer and
longer as she lost over thirty pounds. Her skin slowly grew paler and she lost the glow she was
once admired for.
The year became two and then three, as we slowly lost what little identity we had left.
Our stories were fading out of the book and if we didnt eventually find all the information we
would all be gone from existence. Rapunzel then started to become paranoid thinking someone
was following us. She would stop in the middle of the path through the forest and turn around
shouting Whos There! I knew that she was slowly going insane. The girl I fell in love with was
not around anymore but I couldnt give up on her.
His mother knew that someone else now had that same curse. If the fact that if this
happened to get out to anyone in the kingdoms, her whole academy may fall. There would be no
reason for the knowledge center if there were people not even in it. She knew that she would

G r i f f i n | 10
have to hide the information. What she didnt know is that her son overheard the whole
conversation and has been listening in for many years.
Fear was the color of yellow for Maximus and that was the color that he was filling the
wall up with right at moment while Evianna was watching. They both knew deep down that the
story must be true and they only had one choice. If the headmistress did not want anyone
looking for the information they would have to do it themselves. The information had to be
something worth hiding for her to be so afraid of others finding it.

G r i f f i n | 11
Chapter 2
They learned that they would have to travel throughout each of the kingdoms in the book
of tales. Bridges joined each of the kingdoms and stories together. On each bridge there was
supposed to be someone from the story that the bridge was connected from. This was the literal
bridge or way to get into the stories from other stories. None of the students in the academy
were supposed to know about the world outside. They were all besides Evianna put into the
academy when they were very young. Most were children of fairy tale and fantasy characters but
were lied to for years because of the secrets that the academy leaders were trying to hide from
them. The academy was the only part of the big book of tales and they did not try to have
anything to do with the fantasy tales.
Evianna and Maximus were the only ones that knew about anything of the outside world.
Evianna lived in it for 15 years of her life and Maxs mother did not do a very good job of hiding
him from it.
The voyage started in the kingdom of Snow. Snow White was the ruler of a kingdom in
the southern part of the continent. The academy was to the left of it in its own little separate area
of the stories. When they looked to their right they saw a tall tower in the distance.
That cant be, can it. Oh my god its the tower. Its Rapunzels tower from the original
tale, Evianna said as she jumped up and down. She had heard so many stories of the fairy tale
princesses watched so many of the movies and now she was witnessing it before her own eyes.
Well theres enough proof to show that her story has lasted on. Oh my god this is so amazing
Max.
Yeah it would figure that you would freak out over a tower. Its not like shes even in it.
They continued to walk up towards it. There looks like theres a little door right there Evi. Lets
see if it works. They walked over to the tower. Max pulled on the doors handle and got it to
budge open after pulling on it for a while. There was a set of very old stairs on the other side of
the tower. Well I guess this is the way to the top lets find out whats up there.

G r i f f i n | 12
They climbed each of the stairs slowly as some broke under their feet. When they
reached the top of the tower they saw plenty of hair. Oh my god its her hair. I better pick it all
up and keep it forever as a memory of this moment with you. Do you want me to save it for your
collection Evi? Max said in his best impression of Evi.
I do not sound like that. Lets see if we can find anything of use for what we are doing,
She said as she pulled him throughout the tower.
Just a bunch of hair, there doesnt look like there is anything else at all. Man Rapunzel
sheds a lot, yuck! Max walked towards the window seeing an object under it. Well this may
help us Evi.
What is it? She said grabbing the piece of paper out of his hands.
A map of all of the oldest and wisest people in the kingdoms. It looks like we may have
found a great piece of information in this tower. The map was ripped on the left side of it like it
was out of a book. It showed every kingdom or story, with every single one of the wisest people.
Yeah it looks like the closest one is in Snow Whites kingdom, but look at who it is, Evi
said handing Max the map.
Oh gosh thats awesome the Evil Queen, as in Snow Whites step mother right? Wow!
Well have to go to the prison. This adventure may actually have become interesting Evi.
Yeah lets get out of here and start. Itll probably take us days to get there. She looked
around the tower one last time. She bent over to the floor and got some hair and hid it in the
pockets of her pants not wanting to prove Maximus right.
They started to walk down the stairs and then out of the tower. Traveling over the land
they saw just fields of flowers. Flowers as far as the eye could see. There was nothing that could
show that they were even getting closer to Snow Whites kingdom. Anyone traveling between the
lands could tell that this land for the academy was made on purpose. The reason was unknown
to mostly everyone in the kingdom. They walked on for over five hours and it was five hours of

G r i f f i n | 13
walking through only flowers, and then in front of them stood a bridge. It was the bridge to
Snow Whites kingdom.
I cannot walk anymore Evi lets take a little break right next to that bridge up ahead.
Cry me a river, then build a bridge and get over it.
Bridge? Did someone say bridge? On the bridge in front of them stood a green
monstrous little man. His eyes shown orange as he looked over at them grinding his bluish
colored teeth. He was the guard of the bridge and was supposed to be a representation of the
area of the story that they were coming from.
If you are supposed to represent this story what do you represent? Evianna asked
looking at the little man.
I represent the ugliness inside most human beings in your area. There are a lot of people
that have such views of people that are different. Imagine what they would think about a
creature like me he stood looking into the water.
Let me guess youre a bridge troll and we now have to answer a riddle to cross, Max
said shaking his head. All the stupid stories were true.
The little creature looked around from Evi to Max. I am actually a bridge goblin but I
will not take that against you dear children. Both of you youngsters will answer a riddle. If you
answer right you may cross my bridge. He said stepping in front of the bridge.
And if we dont? Evi asked.
Then you may not cross, its that simple. Okay the girl will go first. What is your favorite
color? the goblin asked jumping from board to board on the bridge.
How would you know her favorite color? Max asked at the stupidity of the question.
The goblin began to pace as his patience for this human dissipated. Let her answer my
question you little twit.
Green, my favorite color is green.

G r i f f i n | 14
Correct you may cross my bridge. Okay twit its your turn. What walks on four legs at
dawn, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening? The goblin smiled at the question that
would take a brain to answer.
Max looked from the little green devil in front of him to Evi on the other side of him. He
knew that she would know the answer. His anger got to him as he walked towards the bridge
and the goblin. How the hell am I supposed to know that? Why did she get her favorite color
and I got that question? How could something have a different amount of legs at a different
time?
I like her thats why. Answer human.
Max it really isnt that difficult its just the Riddle of the Sphinx from Oedipus. Evi
stated trying to encourage her friend. Just think about it.
Sure she knows the answer to my riddle too. Like I said before how the hell am I
supposed to know that? Dont trolls usually guard bridges? I never heard of a goblin guarding a
bridge. Did you steal this bridge?
The goblin bared his blue stumps growing from his bleeding gums. He hopped off the
railing of the bridge, grabbing Maximuss collar. You hear me now twit. I was given this bridge
by my second brother, who yes was a troll. The goblin pulled Max closer to the edge of the
water. Id push you in and would not think anything of it. Well if I could anyway.
Why does that matter its just a little stream? Max said firmly pushing on the troll.
Look in the water, horribly dressed son of a never ageing man, The goblin said as he
pushed Max closer.
Max looked into the stream as it changed magically before his eyes. Large fish like
monsters swam around, almost glaring in his wayward direction. The stream grew larger as he
watched, now making him mere feet away from the edge. How do you know of my father beast,
when I dont even know him myself? All the years he asked his mother of his father flashed

G r i f f i n | 15
through his mind. He hoped for one piece of information and it took some bridge goblin to
finally give him it.
I know of your past boy. A mother who made you trying to keep a relationship with a
boy who would never want to grow up. A father who never knew you because of your foolish
mother fleeing. The want for some answers and for a father that is stars away. About right, arent
I? Youve heard the story, you really just have never heard that version have you? The goblin let
go of Max.
Oh my, your fathers Evi was cut off by the talon covered hand covering her mouth.
Dont tell him dear, if he cant find out himself hell never learn. You really are clueless
arent you boy.
Shut up! Shut Up! My mother is a bitch I know. She lets everyone in the academy learn
their pasts besides me and well her too, Max said pointing at Evi. No I never heard any stories.
I do not have the education of the famous fairy tales or fables or as my mother would say, any of
the garbage those imbeciles believe in. I may have been raised right in the academy but it was a
prison, Max held up his arm revealing rough marks all over it. These are from the whips that
she used when I would watch some of the lessons. You may believe I was privileged but it was
always far from that.
The goblin shook his head; he pulled out a picture of his brother holding it close. You
humans are all the same. I dont feel sorry for someone so rotten to the core. Frankly, I really
dont care if you are privileged or not, it matters whats in your heart. Your heart is made of
stone. He went over to the bridge looking into the water. A wrinkle went through the bluish
green stream. His brothers face came into view, whispering, its not your fault brotherIll be
fine. The ripples went through as the vision of the human man covered his brothers face, come
on stupid little troll dance a jig for us. He turned towards Max. Answer my question or you
may not pass. Think with the larger brain that you humans are supposed to have that we
monstrous creatures dont have. He hopped up looking around at his only possession in life.

G r i f f i n | 16
The stream shrunk as he thought of his brother who was stabbed for not being smart enough for
the human man. His brother told him let the children pass for they may be the only hope that
we have. This is the land of stories children; everything you ever read or heard has more to it
than you know. Stories dont end once the last word is written on the page the little goblin said.
Next youll say nothing is what it seems, or some other sort of bullshit, Max said
sarcastically as Evi flinched.
Mr. Goblin Evi started.
Mortimer, my lady, the goblin said bowing.
Okay, Mortimer if you know his past, do you know mine? Because the whole reason
were out here is for the answers.
The answer to your questions will be revealed to each of you through a series of clues.
Each may lead to your destination. But listen children, the last word of the page is only the
beginning.
Repeating yourself again?
Maximus the arrogant attitude may make you feel cool for the female species, but it
doesnt work on me. You want to know your past just as much as she does, if not more.
Mortimer gets off the bridge not blocking it anymore. You may pass but Max you owe me and
yourself the answer to the riddle. If you ever want to find what you are looking for you need to
open your mind. Good luck to both of you.
They walked on as the all-knowing goblin watched them walk away. The only company
he had in over 47 years and they were leaving him. One he would see again, he knew. Magically
all the water drained out of the stream as his thoughts become reality or somewhere in between.
Summer became fall before his eyes. On owl perched on his shoulder, that had the face of his
brother. Humans never came to the troll-goblin bridge unless they wanted something or
someone. The last he saw killed the last of his kin. He met few humans that he liked and even
less that he trusted. Goblins and trolls as they say are very stupid, not even having enough

G r i f f i n | 17
intelligence to survive ten years. Mortimer was 285 years old, far older than any other Goblin.
He was give brains that far overpassed any of the other creatures in Forever After, especially the
humans.
The smell of cheese filled his nostrils.
Albee, is finally back.

G r i f f i n | 18

CHAPTER 3
Evianna and Maximus continued to walk into Snow Whites kingdom. The scenery in
front of them changed with every step they took as they crossed the border into the young
queens territory. The kingdom itself looked anything but dull. Half the ground covered in
pinecones from trees that no longer existed, and the other half covered in blood red flowers.
Little cottages lined each side of the pathway through the kingdom.
Snow White and her husband Prince Charming (as the kingdom knew, his real name was
actually Chatur Jamattus), lived in a kingdom that used to be covered in apple trees. These apple

trees were all cut down and burned after the reign of Snows evil stepmother. No one in the
kingdom was even allowed to eat apples, for it brought back horrible memories to the poor
young queen.
The kingdom folk did not enjoy the enforcements of their rulers, who only cared for Queen
Snows sanity. After being under the reign of the evil stepmother they figured that having a new
queen would be the better alternative, but they were wrong. Snows vanity had become so much
worse than her own stepmothers. She had twenty different servants that just had the job of
telling her how beautiful she was. Then she had about fifty other servants that did the various
other jobs in her castle, from gardening to the monotonous job of organizing the queens clothes.
They were looking for a change even if that meant having to overthrow their very conceited
monarch.
Evianna and Maximus continued to walk down the long path, past the Hills of Flying Frogs.
Maximus looked over as a frog flew towards the face of a sleeping dwarf. The dwarf opened his
mouth with a powerful snore as the frog fell into his mouth. Well, we can see how the phrase
frog in your throat came about, Maximus said as a pain shot through Eviannas stomach. The

G r i f f i n | 19
sound of the clich died in the air as they saw a huge crowd of men standing right around the
hills.
Woah look at all those guys. Maximus said as they came up to a small castle. You can tell
this isnt Snow Whites castle.
How do you know that? Evianna asked looking at all the men standing in front of them.
Well for one its not big enough, and two she cant be Snow White, shes not pretty enough.
He pointed to the girl at the front of the castle.
She had long blond hair and was very beautiful, but nothing compared to the beauty of Snow
White. Her whole life was all about how she was compared to Snow Whites. Oh Coaline you

are pretty but not as pretty as Princess Snow. Hey gorgeous, I heard youre friends with
Princess Snow, could you get me in to meet her? Coaline grew more and more jealous of Snow
as she grew prettier. Snows voice pierced her eardrums with the melancholy sound of it. Oh,
Snow White sings like a bird. Snow White had black hair, bright blood red lips, and the pale skin
of a ghost. She looked like she had never gone outside a day in her life. Coaline had tan skin
because she had to work every day for her father, the Duke of the kingdom. This was because
her father felt that if she worked she would not only understand the lower class but would also
gain some worthwhile knowledge from not just sitting around. She helped the maids and the
gardeners.
"My father has now died. So,all you wonderful men, and it is time for our competition.
Coaline looked up at all the handsome suitors lining up around the surrounding forest, to
become her future husband. Her father had just died and she was now forced to marry the suitor
who would pick the right burial casket. She could not stand the injustice of such a horrible
request. Other women were allowed to pick their own husbands, why did she have to have her
husband picked by such a stupid competition?

G r i f f i n | 20
Maximus poked the shoulder of the guy in front of him. He was an average sized man, with
long brown hair. He looked to be around the age of 30 and had an overly sized head. Two sizes
too big actually. Whats going on here dude? We have to be getting somewhere soon. The color
in Eviannas hair had started to fade out. A side effect of the curse.
We are all standing in line to be the suitors of Miss Black the man said, smiling as the line
moved up a foot. There are three burial caskets within the castle, one made of Gold, one of
Silver, and one of Lead. She brings one of us in at a time into the castle and we have to guess
which casket has the picture of her.
Max looked at the long line in front of him. He remembered the story from somewhere but
could not remember what it was exactly. Ive heard that story before, wasnt it by that Billy
Shakespeare guy? Isnt it something like About a Lama, Anthony & Ophelia, Romeo and
Calypso, or maybe its The Merchants Winters Dream. He looked at Evianna thinking that one
of those names had to be the play that it was in. He remembered all the classes he had with
those stupid plays in them and he remembered this story line.
No actually its William Shakespeare, she said, emphasizing William. And its the
Merchant of Venice. She grinned, giggling a little at the mix-up. Studying Shakespeare and all
the other stories that she had had seemed to pay off for her.
Max and the other man laughed at and her Miss Know-it all attitude. You do know Evi, that
knowing those plays isnt the most important thing in life. Max slapped her shoulder lightly.
You know, About a Lama sounds like a much better play than the Merchant of Venice. He
looked at the other man and winked, mouthing play along with me. Isnt that about a person
that is turned into a Lama because he is so cruel to one of his workers? And then he has to go on
some road trip with a peasant to become human again?
Evianna shook her head at the men. She hated hearing anything wrong about the stories that
she loved. Knowledge above everything else was the most important to her. Her perfectionist
attitude did not earn her any friends but that never bothered her. She looked at the boys, So all

G r i f f i n | 21
these men are waiting in this line because they want to marry Miss Black. . .wait, Miss Black?
She looked over at the Dukes daughter, examining her features. Shes the exact opposite of
Snow White isnt she? Blond hair, darker skin, and greenish lips. Thats weird.
She has green lips. . .I didnt even notice. . . that is strange, Max looks over at Coaline
noticing that the line had moved up about ten feet. Well we best be on our way right Evi? Oh
dude which is the fastest way to the Aqoicairx prison? We have to meet with the Evil
Stepmother. He thought about the information that the goblin had given to them earlier on the
bridge. All he knew was the fact that his father was young and was a never aging man. Max
seemed to be losing his voice as he was talking to the man. His voice would cut in and out with
every word he spoke. He figured it was a side effect of the curse and that he was literally fading
away.
Names Shapastian and its actually just a little bit up that rode, Shapastian said as he
pointed to a rode off to the left side. Youll see Snow Whites castle in back of it. He looked at
both Evianna and Max. I would be careful though you two. Snow White wont let anybody in to
see her stepmother.
Why? Evianna asked.
Some say the old woman is holding a secret that our dear queen doesnt want anyone to
know. He motioned for them to get closer. There is an uprising going on against her majesty.
Everyone despises her and her vanity. If she catches you going to see her stepmother, she may
just throw you in with her. He moved ahead towards the small castle, merely three yards from
his destination. The old woman was nothing compared to Snow White, Shapastian whispered.
What could be so bad about Snow White? Max asked as he paced around listening to the
information that was given to them.
She is very in love with herself, actually. Yes, Snow White is probably one of the most fairest
in the land and she knows it very well. There was a reason that she was not made queen when
her father

G r i f f i n | 22
How do you know so much about all of this? Evianna interrupted.
The evil stepmother was. . . lets just say closer to me then dear old Snow White.
Shapastian said, looking down at the ground, pulling at the necklace that had a rock in the shape
of a human heart on it.
What do you mean? Evianna asked, looking at the rock.
She was my mother, before she was Snow Whites, Shapastain flinched as he said mother.
Evianna and Max looked at each other in surprise. Yes, Snow White has a brother, actually
stepbrother, but Im still related to the vain bitch. But Im sorry I cannot say any more to you.
He looked at the castle that was coming closer and closer to his reach. He wanted nothing more
in his life than to have the girl that was the complete opposite of Snow White. Coaline was
everything in a girl that he could think about and he prayed every night to make her his. When
the news came out that her father had died he knew that he would have to compete in the
competition for her heart. Im sure my mother will tell you more.
Max and Evianna continued to walk away as they saw Shapastian watching Coaline bring yet
another suitor into the castle.
Oh and guys the prison isnt going to be guarded from twelve to three oclock in the
morning, Shapastian said as he looked back at them.
What the hell do you mean thats it not going to be guarded for three hours? Max
whispered as he walked back over to Shapastian. Youre telling us that a prison that is holding
one of the most notorious villains in all of the fairy tales is not guarded for three hours? That has
got to beWait, how do you know that?
Ive gone and visited her for the past ten years in that prison. Almost every day. He looked
away with tears in his eyes. My mother may be considered one of the worst villains in all of
history, but I still love her. He looked over to Evianna and Max as he let the tears fall. I hate
Snow White for what she did to my mother and to our family. And I would give anything to have
her get what she deserves. There were five more people in front of him in line. Over 120 people

G r i f f i n | 23
have already lost the competition and he knew that he had to win. His heart started to race as
Evianna and Max looked at him. Please go see her tonight, and give her this. He handed them
a letter that looked to be over twenty pages long. I was going to give it to her, but I think you
need to see her more than me. He frowned slightly. Oh and there will be a distraction for the
guards. If it goes as planned guys they will be gone for hours.
They traveled on as Shapastian stood there waiting for his chance. The path going towards
the castle was made of red, black, and white bricks. Each brick had to be just the right size, three
inches wide and five inches long. If they were off by one centimeter they had to be fixed again,
which happened with about 200 of the bricks. The pattern of the path was almost a checkered
pattern except for the extra color. Everything in the kingdom seemed to be made of one of those
three colors: each flower was red, the leaves where painted black, the houses had to be at least
one of the colors, every single thing was those colors, even the damn grass.
She has her servants paint the grass, oh my God. Shes like the Queen of Hearts. Max said
looking at everything that they passed.
The castle came into view as they both gasped in shock. They had to crane their heads back
to look at the very top of the castle. It stood higher than any other building in all of the
storybook lands, even the Giants houses. The castle was made with black and white bricks and
had red flags with a woman that they assumed was Snow White on each. She looked to be
around 25 and was exactly how they imagined her. Her famous black hair was curled in the
picture, with red flowers dispersed through it, her lips were a piercing red color as bright as the
flag it was on, and her face was pure white, with no blemish to be seen. She was beautiful, that
was the only way to describe it, absolutely beautiful, but in a creepy sort of way.
It looks like her eyes would drill a hole right through our heads. Max said.
She actually looks pretty scary. Her eyes dont have any color at all. They just look like she
has the sclera and the pupil. She actually looks sort of dead. No one can possibly be that white;
she looks like a piece of paper. Evianna said.

G r i f f i n | 24
It took them forever to get around the side of the castle and by the time they did it was
already around ten thirty at night. They planned on watching the prison bring the night ahead
and finding out just how right Shapastian really was. Then the next night, if he was right, they
would go into the prison and talk to the evil step mother.
***
When the main clock in town struck midnight a loud siren went off. The sound of this siren
was weird to say the least. It sounded like people were shrilly singing. The sound of it filled the
whole kingdom as everyone in the kingdom woke in their houses to the ear hurting sound. Then
as the sound suddenly stopped from the sky fell little dwarfs each having their own little
parachutes. The dwarfs each started to sing the same chant that the siren sounded like.
Ding Dang, Ding Dang
Oh Queen Snow must be killed.
Down with the Red Queen
Ding Dang, Ding Dang
The Snow Queen will be nothin but red
Out with the Queen, Out with the crazy bitch
Ding Dang, Ding Dang
As they continued to chant the lines over and over again, they each pulled off their red,
black, and white clothes. Under them were clothes colored in other colors and none of them had
the colors they were supposed to. The sound of their chanting carried through the whole
kingdom as all of the hundreds of dwarfs formed a line.
At the prison the guards started to run over to the commotion in front of the castle. Every
guard in the kingdom was there trying to obtain every one of the dwarves. Dwarves jumped on
the backs of the guards screaming For the revolution. The distraction worked and both
Evianna and Max were able to get into the prison.

G r i f f i n | 25
The inside of the prison was decorated just like the rest of the kingdom and had a ton of the
Snow White flags hanging on the walls. As they passed by each flag, the eyes moved like the
young queen was watching every step they took towards her stepmother. Her stepmothers
prison cell was the biggest of them all and seemed to Evianna and Max to be the only one with
any occupant. The cell was around thirty feet by thirty feet, big for a cell for the most notorious
villain. Its bars were in the shapes of the vines on the forest trees that used to be outside the jail.
By the looks of it, the pair seemed to have found out where the apple trees had been placed. The
walls of the cell had markings on them. They looked like claw marks.
When they got to the cell they saw the old woman sitting in a little seat looking at the wall in
back of them, at a flag of Queen Snow. She looked to be in her fifties and was absolutely
beautiful. Her face had some wrinkles and her hair was graying but other than that she was
flawless. She had brown hair like Shapastian and seemed to have the same facial features also.
He was a splitting image of his mother.
Hello children, she said in a low voice sounding almost sad. She sighed and looked at them
instead of the flag. Why have you come to see me? What can I possibly do to help you? Or are
you here to make jarring comments about how wrong I was to treat Snow White the way I did?
She asked looking from Evianna to Max. Everyone that had come to her cell always asked her
about the way she treated the girl except for her own son. Her son would come and visit her at
night. He always brought her little bits of food and also sometimes even brought her favorite
green apples. The green apple was especially rare an occasion because green apples were banned
from the kingdom because of their opposing color. A green apple was what almost killed Snow.
On special occasions he would even bring some of his poems and would read them to her. His
visits made her stay bearable even with all of the past memories of what she did to her daughter.
She thought of how she locked the young queen in the cells at the bottom of the castle. Snow
would not get anything to eat other than small pieces of apples. That was the one kind thing that
the queen ever did for Snow; since the apples were her favorite.

G r i f f i n | 26
We were wondering if you could help us with some information Evianna said walking
closer to the cell. You see we need to find out about our parents and past. We have reason to
believe that if we dont find out our past then we will fade away. She could see that her skin was
turning lighter as the days went by and also hear Maxs voice fade in and out has he spoke. The
signs were all coming to her and she realized that they needed to find out their information
faster or she and Max would be completely written out of the big book of stories. It would be like
they were never part of them to begin with. She pulled Maxs hand to her shaking one. He
squeezed her hand noticing the difference in color also.
You mean to tell me that there are still those of you that have the curse? The evil queen
said looking at Evianna.
Yeah, what do you mean by the curse old. . . I mean maam? Max asked.
Its okay. You can call me old bag. Its not like anybody else says anything better. Well
except for him.
Do you mean your son Shapastian? Evianna said interrupting her.
Yes? Im really not surprised that you know about him. The way that everything has been
going I wouldnt be surprised about anything anymore. She looked at the picture behind them
again. I guess I better tell you my name and the story of the curse. She pointed to the floor for
them to sit; she didnt show any authority, but for some reason they wanted to obey her, like she
casted a spell on them. My name is Evanore and I guess to tell you the story about the curse. I
have to tell you the story of what happened to me.
She looked at Max and Evianna and then pulled on the rock around her neck. The rock was
in the shape of a human heart and was about the size of one also. She started her story from the
beginning.
All good stories start with Once Upon a Time and end with They lived Happily Ever After.
Mine, well it started with a curse. She looked down for a split second. The piercing came
through her body as she touched the heart around her neck. I was cursed by a woman that our

G r i f f i n | 27
society would call a witch, which I know I have been called also. She cursed me to lose my father
and also my mother. The heart around her neck started to beat with the sound of a little thump.
Evianna and Max looked over at it as they heard the little sound. My memories of my past
before that moment were erased. You see children I was in the same predicament that you are in
now.
You mean you were going to be erased from time? Evianna asked looking at Evanore.
Yes child, I was. I created that very map you both must now have to save others from what
almost happened to me. She pointed to the flag outside the cell. That girl out there makes me
wish that I did fade away.
Is it because she locked you in here? Max asked, wanting to know more.
Evanore looked at them both trying to not see herself in Evianna, hoping that the girl would
not become what she was then. The light blue that she saw in Eviannas eyes reminded her of a
man that she wished that she could forget. Ten years locked up in a cell, for trying to kill the
stepdaughter that at one time she loved more than anything.
No, actually its because Snow White stole the man that I was in love with. Evanore finally
felt the weight of the heart around her neck lift.
You were in love with the prince? Evianna and Max asked at the same time really getting
into the story that she was telling them.
No, my huntsman. You see children, I was known as the fairest of this land long before
Snow White was even born. She pulled the necklace off and put it on the floor gently knowing it
would break if she hit it too hard. The necklace rattled on the floor. When her mother gave
birth to Snow White she died, for the child was almost like a poison for her. Red blood started
coming out of the necklace as it moved an inch across the floor towards Evanore. I had already
had Shapastian illegitimately with my huntsman who I nicknamed Huntie. Then I was forced
into the marriage with the king. My father thought it would be best for me. Max and Evianna
watched the necklace almost entranced by the sound of its heartbeat. Blood came seeping out of

G r i f f i n | 28
it faster as if it was punctured by the sound of Evanore talking. They could not stop looking at
the heart. I was then made Snow Whites mother. She was a great girl and I loved her for a time
being up until her seventh birthday.
What happened on her seventh birthday? Evianna asked in a low whisper not wanting to
disturb the sound of the steady heartbeat.
She caught the eye of my lover. Yes, Huntie fell madly in love with my stepdaughter. The
tears came to her eyes as she thought of the look that he gave Snow White that day. Then she
heard him tell the looking-glass that Snow White was the fairest in the land. That no beauty ever
came close to hers and never would. Snows beauty seemed to possess Hunties mind. There
was nothing that Evanore could possibly do to get him to only see her.
With a seven year old? Thats fucking creepy. Sorry for my language maam but thats
messed up, Max said, glaring at the floor. He thought how disgusting can this guy be to fall in
love with someone so young, how that could be even possible.
I wanted to have him killed for even thinking of my daughter in that way, but my jealously
took over my mind. Years later when Snow was around fifteen I reached my limit and decided to
have her killed The heartbeat filled Max and Eviannas ears as Evanore picked it up and hit it
against the wall breaking it into a million little pieces. The sound finally stopped. I told another
one of the huntsmen to bring her out into the woods and to cut her heart out. I was going to feed
it to Huntie. The hearts pieces came together and molded back into the shape of the heart. The
thumping returned as Evanore cried. My jealously made me send the daughter I loved out into
the forest to die, but she never did. And here is the heart of my Huntsman.
What?! Max and Evianna screamed, looking at the heart.
The huntsman. I sent out that day. did not come back with Snows . heart. He came
back with my loves heart, telling me that it was hers She faded out as the tears made her
start to hiccup.

G r i f f i n | 29
The huntsman she sent out that day was also enthralled by the young princess Snows beauty
and decided that he could not kill the poor girl. Instead of bringing the Queen her heart he killed
Huntie and cut out his heart. When she went to find Huntie she realized that he was not in the
castle at all. Later on when searching the kingdom she found his mutilated body in the forest.
She turned the heart to stone and held it around her neck for a punishment for her jealously.
After she calmed herself down she continued with the story taking the heart in her hand.
Rage took over my mind and I killed that huntsman. Something in my mind blamed Snow
White for all of it. So I made it my lifes goal to kill her. Her tears continued to fall as she let the
heart fall. None of my attempts worked and eventually I was thrown into this prison for trying
to kill the daughter that at one time I loved as my own.
So I can kind of understand why you hated her. I mean she stole your man, but why has she
become so vain now? What happened to her? Max said, wanting more than anything to touch
that heart in her hand.
She let the praise go to her head, its really just that simple. If I could go back I would. I
have regretted every decision that I made those many years ago. She pulled out a little painting
of Snow White and her out of her pocket. It was painted about three months before she plotted
to kill Snow White. The little girl was sitting on Evanores shoulders giggling, with a matching
dress like her mother. This is the best memory I have ever had in my life and now she will not
even talk to me. Not that I blame her. The picture magically changed as Max and Evianna
looked at it, to Evanore and Snow White as they were now, smiling at each other. And that
children is my absolute greatest wish. But we cannot always get what we want. My story will end
with me dying in this cell. She put the picture away after she kissed Snow Whites cheek. And
all I really want is to see her one last time.
So you dont hate her at all, do you? Evianna asked so surprised by what she was hearing.
Every story she ever heard of Snow White never gave the evil queens story. She could not help
but feel horrible for Evanore.

G r i f f i n | 30
I could never hate someone that I love as my daughter. I just went mad with jealously.
Evanore said.
Sorry if I sound insensitive, but how can you help us find out about our parents? Max
asked, really wanting to find his parents before he and Evianna faded away.
Well Max and Evianna, I cannot give you both information. I can only give one of you any
help. She looked at both of them smiling for the first time in over 18 years.
They looked at her smiling back. Any piece of information would lead them to more, so any
would be a great help.
Evianna, I know very well who your mother is. But I am not allowed to say. The curse will
sadly not allow that to happen. You have to figure that out on your own. She held the heart
close to her own, hoping that her helping these children would maybe save her soul. Or at least
that it would make her feel a little bit better than she had felt.
What can you tell me then, Evanore? Eviannas curiosity was making her heart hurt a little.
She hoped that the information that Evanore was going to tell her would greatly impact their
search and would not just be something to learn. They needed more help and she knew that
their time was fading faster. Not knowing how much time would be left or if they really had any
time left at all.
I know who your aunt is, She looked at Evianna hoping that this would help her. The heart
fell out of her hand as it stopped beating. They could hear the sound of the guards coming back
from their break. Max and Evianna looked at the small window, scared that they would be
spotted.
Who? Evianna whispered, hoping that the guards would not hear her heavy breathing. Her
hands started to sweat with nerves; she was never good under pressure.
Evianna, She sighed looking at the non-beating heart. I am your aunt.