M. J. Padgett - Gilded Lies

Gilded Lies

The Immortal Grimm Brothers Guide to Sociopathic Princesses

Volume Five

M. J. Padgett

Song of The Lost

Beware the painted lips of Red

Whose kiss will surely render dead

For a heart as cold as death doth reign

Deep in forests filled with pain

Hear the cries of suffering souls

From beast to man upon the knoll

She bestowed a curse of miserable life

Upon the hands that toil and strife

Rise against the broken way

Steadfast my love, do not give sway

For evil lurks among the shadows

Be not tempted my darling White rose

You alone hold the key

Our daughter dear, set us free

Align with you, the seven sworn

Who not in death, we still do mourn

From the poison they shall rise

Forever cursed, Canis lupus inside

Break the moon once of blue

The howl we seek is strong and true

Beware the painted lips of Red

Whose kiss will surely render dead

Save the wolf wholl have her head

Our ever beloved Salien bred

Prologue

A CRISP BREEZE TOUSLED ULRICH Salzers hair, taunting him as he gazed upon a gaggle of geese honking near the waters edge. He shifted his attention from the geese to the crinkled sheet of paper in his pocket. He sucked in one last breath of morning air and tugged the sheet from its hiding place.

Ulrich spread the paper on the table, smoothing out the wrinkles as best he could, and reread the story as he did every morning. When he set out on his mission, the prince had known there was little chance he would find his former beloved. If he did, there was even less chance she would remember him. But he did find her, and it was far more difficult to approach her than hed anticipated. He didnt want to rampage into her life, which seemed happy enough, but when her siblings disappeared, Ulrich knew it was time. Larkins siblings fought the urge to call her daily, which was likely difficult for them, but they honored his request to explain the situation to her in person.

He sighed, wondering if he would ever get the nerve to approach her. If today is the day, show me a sign, Lord, Ulrich mumbled.

When he saw Larkin stroll through the park stapling missing person signs on every tree, he could hardly believe what his eyes told him was true. What better sign than the woman herself?

Immediately, Ulrich felt a heaviness in his stomach. How strange it felt to see her in this century, and how awkward. A memory of Saskia flashed in his mind, reminding him he once loved her as well. Even so, SaskiaSierra nowwas reunited with the man she was meant to be with all along, and that made Ulrich happy. He harbored no ill will toward Prince Eliot though he did miss Hans terribly. He had loved the boy as his own for fifteen centuries, after all.

Ulrich knew somehow it would all work out. He loved Saskia enough to let her be happy, to believe the body found in the castle after the Great Fire of Goldene Stadt was his and not his brothers. It allowed the woman peace, let her move on to be with the father of her child without guilt or remorse. Of course, by now, Sierra knew the truth. Ulrich, also known as Joseph Hines, was alive and well, which made him regret keeping the secret.

Thinking of Sierra also made him think of Caspar. The very thought of his lost brother tore at his heart again, making him wish hed been the one to drive a dagger through Cinderellas heart. Ulrich supposed if anyone deserved that honor, it was Sierra. He gained some pleasure knowing she ended Cinderellas reign.

Ulrichs mission was twofold. Find his childhood best friend and help her liberate her people from misery, then seek out the man who murdered his brother and allowed Cinderella to complete her nefarious plans.

His mind wandered as it often did. There was too much crammed inside, too many feelings. Ulrich cleared his hazy mind and focused on the story again. The Four Clever Brothers, indeed. The story the Grimm brothers concocted was wrought with mistakes beginning with the gender of the siblings. Truly, it was one brother and three sisters. Ulrich knew for sure since it was the story of his dearest childhood friends kingdom. The tiny land of Liliental, smooshed between Schwarzwald and Das Unbekannte, the southernmost territory in the Black Forest before it slipped into darkness.

Larkin wouldnt believe a word Ulrich said about the curse, he knew, but he had to try. With her brother and sisters under the care of the Saliens, Ulrich could get her alone and try to reason with her, perhaps trigger a memory that would make the story a little less fantastic. The story... Ulrich refocused and read the blurred lines worn from months of daily reading.

A poor man once approached his four sons, announced that he had nothing left to give them, and they must go out in the world to find their own way. He begged them to learn a trade so that they might get on in the world. And so, the four brothers gathered their meager belongings and set off to learn and work.

After some time traveling together, the four brothers came to a crossroads that led four separate ways. The eldest declared they must part ways, but that they should return in four years and meet in that spot to share what they had learned. So, it was agreed, and the brothers parted.

A while later, a man approached the eldest son and inquired about his journey.

I am off to learn my way in the world, the eldest brother replied.

The man offered to teach him his own trade, the life of a cunning thief. At first, the eldest brother declined, but upon hearing the thief only stole that which was unwanted and unmissed, he agreed. Soon, he became the most cunning thief in all the land.

The second brother was also approached by a man. When the brother explained his journey to the stranger, he offered to teach him stargazing. He declared it was a good trade, and that no man could fool an experienced stargazer. The brother agreed, and soon he became so good at his business, nothing could be hidden from him.