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He looked over at Calix, who was riffling through the kitchen drawers and cabinets. I imagine taking an inventory to make sure nothing else was missing.

“Thank you.” She smiled, pulling my attention back to her.

Barrett sat on the edge of the couch and placed his hand on her knee. “What can you tell us?”

I looked from his hand to her, back to his hand and then to Jace, who had also noticed this odd gesture.

She shook her head, clasping the warm cup in her hands like it was her lifeline. I could feel her shaking beside me, but knew she was trying to be strong for all of us. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and gently squeezed her.

She placed her hand on mine. “I was going outside to harvest the vegetable garden when she was standing at the front door. She said her cart had broken down a way back and wanted to know if we could help her. I told her no one else was home and then she offered me some necklaces she was selling. She was so old and frail looking, with wrinkles and a wart.” She shook her head, trying to wrap her head around everything.

I rested my head on hers and cut my eyes at Barrett. He knew what I was thinking.

I’m sure what we were all thinking.

I wanted to go to the castle and wrap my hands around the dark Queen’s throat and kill her. I could almost literally feel my blood boiling I was so angry.

Flashes of Snow laying on the ground… the necklace burned in red around her throat… Jace pounding life back into her chest.

Barrett nodded his head at me- a sign I needed to keep it together.

I had been known to make reckless decisions in my past and I’m sure right now he could sense I was on the verge of making another one.

“I invited her inside to rest because she looked tired and weary. When she learned I was going to harvest the garden, she volunteered to help and said something about it being good for the soul.”

She took a sip of hot tea and cleared her throat.

“After some time, she came outside and the next thing I know, she pulled a necklace out and wrapped it around my throat.” She paused and closed her eyes. “She said ‘Poor Snow, always so trusting’.”

I felt my hand clench by my side and caught Barrett studying me.

She leaned her head into my chest while I gently brushed the hair back with my hand.

She popped her head up. “She said something else.”

She closed her eyes, trying to remember.

“When she was pulling the necklace around my throat, I felt her press her knee into my back to help give her leverage, but she faltered. Her strength faltered for a moment and… and had I been smarter, I would have taken that time to defend myself.” She rubbed her face in frustration.

I grabbed her hand. “It’s not your fault.”

She exhaled. “She cried out for one of her babies. At first, I didn't know what she was talking about, but then I remembered the white witch told me in order to defeat the dark Queen, her children would have to be killed. I think someone killed one of her children and it made her weaker… it was only for a second but she felt it.”

She took another sip of tea and yawned.

I looked at Calix with a sneaking suspicion he had put something in the tea, but he gave nothing away, standing by the table watching her with his light brown arms crossed against his chest.

“She looked at me with a rage in her eyes like nothing I had ever seen before and I swear her eyes flashed a sort of green color and she said, ‘You! You did this!’ And then the light faded away.”

She looked up at me, her eyes slowly glazing over.

“We… we have to… find them… the others…” Her eyes were closed.

“How much did you give her, Calix?” Jace asked, mildly concerned.

“I don’t know. The same amount I give any of you.”

“Calix!” Jace reprimanded. “She’s like half our size!”