Old Story I'm Debating on Continuing

Here's a snippet of a story I started writing but couldn't finish cause I couldn't make it go anywhere...

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Hands roughly shake my shoulders, jolting me awake. My heart beats so rapidly my chest burns. My breath turns rapid while my body shakes. I'm unable to move, unable to speak as the intruder continues shaking me.

"Step-mother!" That familiar voice snaps my eyes open. "Queen Melody! Oh, please wake up! It's Snow White!"

My eyes focused on the small figure in front of me. Hair black as ebony, lips red as blood, skin as white as snow. The mirror's words echoed as I gazed at Snow White from my bed. I squeeze my eyes shut and open them once again. She was really standing before me. Her lips pursed together, dark eyes narrowed. She didn't wear bed clothes but peasant clothes under an old cloak.

"You live!" I say happily. I want to laugh and pull her in my arms. The look on her face keeps me from jumping from the bed and doing so.

"I wish this meeting could be happier," she replies sadly, "but you must leave the castle now."

"I don't understand, Princess," I say as I slowly get out of bed. "What's happened?"

"Princess! Your majesty! King Artemy is on his way!" a servant girl, whose name I can never remember, rushes in my bedroom. She looks about my age, maybe a little older. Her hair is tied back in a tight bun. Two strands frame each side of her angular face. Her eyes are the same blue-gray as mine. With the right makeup and jewels, she could be my decoy.

"There's no time!" Snow White says hastily. "Quickly! Put on the Queen's best gown!"

"Yes Princess," The girl crosses to my wardrobe at the right of my bed and rummages through my gowns. As she strips before us, we hear faint footsteps approaching.

"We must go now!" Snow White rips my nightgown off me and wordlessly helps me into a plain black dress. She ties a cloak around me.

"My father is on his way to arrest you," Snow White explains quickly. My heart sinks. My hand clutches my chest; there as no reason for him to do this.

"For what crime?" I demand. Snow White doesn't answer right away but walks past the servant girl to the window by the wardrobe. She pushes it open. I give the servant girl a pitiful look. She gives me a brave, sad smile. A smile I'd seen before, long ago. I embrace the girl and kiss her on the forehead. Then I lead her to the jewelry box inside the wardrobe.

"Pick your favorite jewels," I say to her.

"We must hurry, Melody!" Snow White urges. The footsteps grow louder. they are almost at my door. Snow White and I cannot leave in time! I thrust my hand towards my step-daughter. Black smoke pours from my palm and engulfs her, making her disappear once it clears. I raise my hand above me and let the smoke consume me as well.

The servant girl is careful not to look around the room as my husband and his two best guards barge in my room. The girls knows Snow White and I are still in the room, for she has seen me cast this spell before. To Snow White, I look like a ghost. While she and I can see each other, the other people in the room cannot see the two of us.

"Trust me," I whisper in the servant's ear as I raise my finger up her neck. She blinks but makes no other sign I've taken over her speech. From the corner of my eye, I can see Snow White open her mouth to speak. My eyes bore into hers, and I shake my head. One sound from her, and the spell will be broken. Snow White's mouth snaps shut.

"Melody, my queen," Artemy greets, his grin growing as he speaks. "Such a surprise to see you dressed at this hour!" His graying mustache twitches under his small nose. He stands tall and straight while his two men stand on either side of him, their swords drawn. The king's long, silvery-black hair hangs past his shoulders. It must be late if he didn't bother to tie his hair back.

"It isn't proper for a king to see his queen when she's not at her best," the servant says. Her lips move, but my voice comes out. While my hand is on her shoulder, my lips move. This is so the words are right. After my lips stop moving, the servant smiles sweetly. Artemy's blue eyes watch my impostor then glance towards me.

The moon appears behind Snow White out the window. Moonlight makes the swords and black armor glow strangely. It gives Artemy's eyes an other-worldly glow. I'd once heard he descended from the fey. Seeing him in this light showed me how such stories could come about.

"Why have you come, dear husband?" I ask.

"To place you under arrest," he says, his voice low and pleasant. The sound of his voice could convince anyone to do whatever he wanted.

"Under what grounds?" I demand. My decoy makes a fist.

"Attempted murder, of course," he answers.

"Of who?" My decoy tries to step forward, but I grip her shoulder tighter. I notice the guards slightly raise their swords.

"Snow White," he says, "for it was, in fact, your apple that poisoned her. Your jealousy of her that drove you to commit such a heinous crime."

My body grows cold. I can't describe the shock going through me. Even though I know his words are false, I find myself believing him. Snow White watches me with caution.

"Many nights I heard you ask that mirror who was the fairest of all," he continued. "Oh, the anger that'd arise from you when the answer became Snow White!"

"That's not true!" my decoy shouts.

"If her betrothed hadn't found her lying in that glass coffin..."

"Betrothed?" the servant repeats.

"And now you're under arrest," Artemy says, "for your crimes, you'll dance to death in hot iron shoes!"

"You can't!" My servant and I protest together, almost making me reappear.

"Take her away," Artemy turns his back to us and waves his hand dismissively.

"It's not true!" the servant says. "I love Snow White! i love you! You know none of this is true, Artemy!" As the guards grab each arm and take the girl away, he turns; he seems to look in my eyes.

"Try as you may," he says coldly, "you will never be Amelia. Amelia was kind and made me a very happy man in our short marriage. You've been misery, cruelty. The only reason I married you was Snow White was too young for royal duties. There was never love between us. There never will be for as long as I live."

As he speaks, the pain in my chest grows. My hands are on my chest as I sink to my knees. I feel tears falling down my face. Snow White is at my side. She pulls my arm until I stand. Artemy walks away, his echoing footsteps fading until they disappear.

"We must go," Snow White's voice is low and hollow. I wonder if she believed her father's words as well. If she does, she makes no sign of it.

Though he's gone, Snow White and I are careful not to make any noise as we walk to the window. Artemy always had secret guards. Snow White beckons me to the window, and I follow. I look down; no horses waited for us on the ground. It would be a very high fall.

"It's the only way," Snow White whispers. her face is pale as she looks down.

"Snow White," I say; she looks in my eyes. They're as ethereal as her father's. Hopefully, that was the only thing she inherited from that man.

"Trust me," I offer my hand. She swallows hard, then nods. The princess takes my hand. Vibrations pass from my body to hers, and I see her relax. Her body spasms and loosens a bag strapped to her back. I didn't notice it before. Together, we step on the window's ledge and jump.

Our cloaks billow behind us as we float. We're like feathers letting the gentle breeze carry us to the soft grass below. Snow White's grip on my hand tightens. I fear she'll break it. The girl is much stronger than she realizes. Her grip is so tight, I can feel her pulse.

We keep walking when our feet touch the dirt so we don't trip upon landing. Snow White stumbles, but she regains her balance quickly. She lets go of my hand and walks in front of me at a quicker pace, her bag swaying from side to side as she steps. We remain silent as we distance ourselves from the castle. Every few steps, Snow White looks back to make sure we're not being followed. She avoids any paths that lead to the city in case the guards are already aware of my escape.

The sky is a mix of gray, pink, purple and green. A streak of blood-orange runs through the colors like a river through a thick jungle. Dawn. The most beautiful time of day.

A black horse stands at the edge of the forest, tied to a tree. It neighs and shakes its mane at the sight of us approaching. Its mane flows like it has its own breeze. Its saddled, stomping its front hoof the closer we approach.

Snow White unties the horse and leads it to me. it makes a noise and backs away when I reach to pet it. My eyes sting as I hold back tears. I hold my breath so I don't cry from the animal's reaction. Curse my mother's forceful teaching!

"It believes I'm evil too," I say. The pain in my heart grows. Snow White gives me a pitiful look. She pets the horse's muzzle. Her lips move like she's whispering to the beast. She lets go, and it approaches me warily. I reach my hand out a second time. Its fur feels coarse and oily.

"Thank you," I whisper, half-crying.

"Her name is Sophia," Snow White explains.

"Sophia," I repeat.

"Rest in daylight," Snow White instructs, "Travel only by night. Don't take the roads through the Emerald Sea. Stay away. Sophia won't need guiding. She knows the forest like it's her second home. When you emerge from the forest, you'll be safe. Sophia will come back to me. Take this."

Snow White takes off her bag and gives it to me. It feels so heavy and rough. I wonder how such a small girl can carry such a heavy bag as far as she does. I open it and gasp. Inside are five large, perfectly round apples.

"Snow White," I sigh.

"These apples healed me," she says, "and now, I'm giving them to you. One apple will cure every ailment."

"I don't know what to say," I reply.

"Then say nothing," she smiles. "You're the only mother I've ever known. I hate you must leave now, but I would rather see you alive than dead."

"Thank you!" I whisper, pulling her into a tearful embrace. At first, she doesn't  move. Then her arms go around me. She squeezes with all the strength she has left. When we let go, I give her one of the apples.

"I don't understand," she says.

"You need your strength for the journey back to the castle." I tell her. "Your father will become suspicious if you turn up missing." She nods then takes a bite.

"The servant girl," I say, "what was her name?" Snow White closes her eyes for a moment then raises her head and opens her eyes. Her sad look tells me she doesn't know.

"Go now," I tell Snow White, "Watch over that girl." She finishes the apple. Then she throws the core on the ground and runs back to the castle. She looks back one last time. I climb Sophia's back, swinging one leg over. I'm not used to sitting like a man. I tug the reins and Sophia trots into the Emerald Sea. Within a few steps, I slump forward, falling asleep on the creature.