The Stepsister Scheme

the dwarves slowed their pace. Despite everything her stepsister had done, Danielle had no desire to see her tortured to death. If Charlotte did manage to work free, Danielle hoped she would be smart enough to stay hidden until this was over.
    “Much of Snow’s power came from her mother,” Talia added. “She tries not to use the darker spells, but sometimes her magic ventures to the shadows.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what she fears more, having to face her mother again, or becoming her.”

    CHAPTER 14
    The wind rushed them along, pushing Danielle from behind so that every step felt like she was flying downhill, ever on the verge of toppling head over heels. Even Talia looked disconcerted.
    Twice they were attacked by darklings, and both times Snow’s dwarves made short work of their attackers. Danielle tried not to watch. The dwarves were fierce and gleeful in their destruction.
    “There,” said Snow, pointing to an irregularly shaped door at the end of the corridor. Unlike the other doors, this one appeared to be made of stone. There was no handle, and the hinges were mounted on the outside. A square of brass framed a tiny keyhole on the right side of the door.
    “That will take us into the main cavern,” said Talia.
    Snow lowered her voice. “My mother is waiting. She’ll try to destroy us the moment we emerge.”
    Talia knelt by the keyhole. “Hey, glowboy. Stick a finger in this lock so I can see what I’m dealing with.” She peered into the hole as the dwarf of light squatted beside her, forcing Danielle to avert her eyes. “I should be able to get us past this. Looks like a typical fairy mechanism. Six tumblers on both sides. Tricky, but—”
    Snow touched Talia’s shoulder and gestured for her to move aside. The stone dwarf ran her fingers down the door. The screech of stone raised the hairs on Danielle’s neck and arms.
    This dwarf, like the rest, lacked any recognizable facial features. They were like unfinished dolls. Yet the bulge of her chest was clearly female, as was the roundness of her hips. Danielle wondered if that was a deliberate choice on Snow’s part, or simply the nature of the dwarves.
    “Be ready,” Snow said.
    Danielle nodded, trying to remember the things Talia had taught her about swordplay. She forced herself to relax, loosening her grip on her sword. “Small, precise movements,” she whispered.
    Stone fingers slipped into the crack on the side of the door. Rock crumbled, bringing a shower of dust and dirt.
    Danielle tried not to think about the last time they had fought Rose and Stacia. “What will they do when we go through the door?”
    “We may have more darklings to fight,” Talia said. “The darklings don’t seem to have much independence, and they obviously don’t have any qualms about attacking humans. Or Rose may conjure up something new. Sometimes it’s better if you don’t try to guess what’s coming. You’ll prepare yourself for the familiar, and the unexpected will run you through before you realize you guessed wrong.”
    “Thanks. I feel so much better.” She tried to think about Armand and their son. Whatever Stacia and Rose sent against them, she had to survive.
    “Stay close to me,” Talia said. “I’ll do my best to protect you. Look for a way to reach the Duchess’ tower. Hopefully, the dwarves will keep them busy while we sneak in to get your husband.”
    The stone dwarf stepped back and brushed her hands together. Much of the rock had been gouged away from the left side of the door, exposing black hinges. The dwarf dropped to a crouch and surged forward, slamming her shoulder into the door. The sound was deafening. Even Snow winced and covered her ears.
    After two more such assaults, the great door slowly toppled outward. The stone dwarf stepped through the doorway, followed by her companions.
    “Subtlety was never Snow’s strength,” Talia said. Danielle could barely hear her over the ringing in her ears.
    Snow was already hurrying through the doorway, with Talia close behind. Taking a deep breath, Danielle raised her sword and followed, climbing over the fallen door and hopping down onto the metal walkway outside.
    The last time Danielle was here, she had been trapped by Stacia’s curse. With her head bowed in obeisance, she hadn’t fully absorbed the sheer size of the Duchess’ cavern.
    They stood more than halfway up the side of the cavern. From this height, the figures scurrying about at the base of