The Stepsister Scheme

and Stacia. A smell like burning meat wafted from her body, and Danielle wrinkled her nose.
    Rose wore a simple gray gown, but the ragged hem was burned away. Flecks of orange danced along the bottom edge as she moved. Her feet were charred, looking more like burned firewood than anything human. Danielle remembered what Talia had said, how Snow’s dwarves had tortured Rose before they killed her.
    “Get back, Princess.” Talia threw one of the Duchess’ knives. It passed right through Rose’s chest.
    “I’m dead, remember?” Rose said, sounding annoyed. “You can’t hurt me. Of course, you can’t stop me either.” She strode toward Danielle, one hand stretching toward her stomach.
    Danielle crawled away. Talia moved to stand between her and the ghost, though there was nothing she could do to protect Danielle.
    “ I can stop you.” On the far side of the room, Snow limped up the staircase, followed by the flaming dwarf. A wash of heat preceded the dwarf’s attack as he flew across the room toward Rose.
    The ghost clapped her hands. When she drew them apart, a shadowy oval hovered between her palms. An ebony frame inlaid with gold circled a dark mirror. As the dwarf charged, his flaming reflection grew larger. But the reflection was dimmer. The flames flickered like a lantern whose wick had run dry. As the dwarf sprang, Rose reached through the mirror. Her fingers clamped around the dwarf’s neck, and with no apparent effort, drew him into the mirror. The mirror dissolved into smoke, taking the dwarf with it.
    “That makes six of your seven dwarves.” Rose strode around the edge of the room, leaving ashen prints that dissolved into smoke. “You’ve done quite well, considering your lack of training. A mother could be proud. But I’ve faced your demons before. Did you really believe I wouldn’t have prepared for them?”
    Danielle and Talia exchanged glances. Without a word, they moved to stand on either side of Snow.
    “The dwarves can’t touch her without crossing into the realm of the dead,” Snow whispered. “Without Stacia, she’s weaker, but—”
    “What will you do with the last dwarf?” asked Rose. “Your embodiment of magic. Will you send her forth to fight me, or shall I rip her from you? I’ll be sure to put her power to good use.” She smiled. “As for you, Princess Danielle, it’s a shame your son is still so weak. If you’d given me and my darklings more time, I might have been able to spare you. Instead, I’m left with no choice but to take your body until he’s ready.”
    Snow stiffened. “Don’t believe her. She can’t take an unwilling host.”
    Rose shook her head, an expression of mock-sadness on her shadowed face. “Not without your help, Daughter. When Stacia died, I thought I’d have to settle for Charlotte. But we’ve already seen that I can turn your dwarves to my use. That last dwarf, magic incarnate, should be more than strong enough to drive your friend from her own body.” She smiled at Danielle. “If you’re fortunate, the tattered remnants of your spirit might still live on in your body once I’m finished with it.”
    Danielle and Talia both looked at Snow. “Is that true?” Danielle whispered. “Can she possess me like she did Stacia?”
    “Technically... yes.” Snow’s hand shook as she pointed at Rose. “Destroy her.”
    The room seemed to tilt and wobble. The air around Snow rippled, and a young girl surged from Snow’s body. The final dwarf had the pale, round face of a child. Long black hair draped down her back like a cape. She could have been a younger incarnation of Snow.
    The girl’s bare feet slapped against the floor as she ran toward Rose. Plates and goblets shattered on the table as she passed. The flames in the chandelier flashed through every color of the rainbow while bits of crystal tore free and shot through the air to explode against the walls. One of the chairs began to smolder, while another sprouted leaves.
    A sudden mania ran through Danielle’s blood, bubbling up in her chest until she had to fight to keep from giggling or screaming. The room seemed to shift, as if the child was a vortex sucking her in.
    Snow caught her arm. “I told you magic was the most dangerous of the dwarves.” She raised her chin. “I promise I won’t let my mother hurt you.”
    Danielle nodded. “I know.”
    The flames detached from the chandelier and rushed toward Rose, tearing through her spectral form. She stumbled back with