Gretel Read online

  Gretel

  Submissively Ever After Series

  by Kim Faulks

  Warning: this story is filled with dark, graphic and sexual fictional situations and should be read by ages 18 and up.

  Text copyright © Kim Faulks 2015

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the author.

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  Table of Contents

  Copyright Page

  Foreword

  Dedication

  Chapter One | Gretel

  Chapter Two | Gretel

  Chapter Three | Gretel

  Chapter Four | Gretel

  Chapter Five | Gretel

  Chapter Six | Hansel

  Chapter Seven | Gretel

  Chapter Eight | Gretel

  Chapter Nine | Hansel

  Chapter Ten | Hansel

  Chapter Eleven | Hansel

  Chapter Twelve | Gretel

  Chapter Thirteen | Gretel

  Chapter Fourteen | Gretel

  Chapter Fifteen | Gretel

  Chapter Sixteen | Gretel

  Chapter Seventeen | Gretel

  Keep reading for a taste of Beast | Book 1 of The Submissively Ever After Series

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  Foreword

  You might find this gothic tale strays a little from the usual paranormal romance. Although I wanted the focus to be on Gretel and her wolf I also wanted to touch on the mindset of Hansel as well. I wanted to give you the darkness and depravity you’ve come to expect (and love I hope) even if I broke a few writing rules along the way.

  So you’ll find a little horror amongst dark passions, with an insight into just how cruel a brother can be. And how, in the darkest moments, you can find peace, even if you need to spill a little blood to get there.

  Happy hunting.

  Kim, xx

  Dedication

  Gretel is dedicated to one of my closest friends. Kristy, words can’t express how grateful I am to have you in my life. This one’s for you.

  Twinsie’s forever.

  Chapter One

  Gretel

  “What are you smiling at?”

  Mother’s icy tone chilled the air. I felt her gaze skim past me to Maybelle as the smirk died on my lips. I fingered the frayed edge of the doily in front of me, tracing the thread from top to bottom.

  From of the corner of my eye, our servant curtsied. The smile we shared evaporated from her lips. “Nothing, ma’am. Enjoy chef’s special apricot pastries.”

  Maybelle pushed the platter toward me, then turned away. I inhaled the delicious scent and my belly moaned in response. I grabbed the delicate silver tongs perched on the edge of the platter. Before I could pick up the pastry on top, the sound of a scraping chair tore through the room. The edge of the pastry crumbled as I clipped the edge, earning me a sharp glare from my mother. She whisked the dish away and offered it to my brother, Hansel.

  “Here you go my darling. You like these don’t you?”

  Her tone was sweeter than the pastries in her hands. I dropped into my chair and placed the tongs on my empty plate. Mother giggled, dragging the glazed morsels from the tray to my brother’s plate by the tips of her fingers, then sucked her fingers delicately.

  Her behavior struck me as odd. Mother was acting like a child, laughing and giggling, running her hands over Hansel’s bony chest. She tickled the three small hairs that sprouted from his open neckline and bent to kiss his lips.

  A dark secret lingered in the air, one that made my belly churn and my heart race.

  Hansel’s chin jutted high as he yanked his gaze toward me. Those eyes glinted, burning like fire. A power that had never been there before flickered in his gaze. I couldn’t tear my eyes away.

  My brother’s lips curled at the edges, the smile far from brotherly. In that instant, I registered the difference. His skin shone just as it had the day before and there was no hint of depth in his voice, but the change was unmistakable. Gone was the boy I’d shared my life with, and in his place was now a man.

  I shifted attention to my mother, who pouted in front of him. I caught the sweep of her hand along his small shoulders. She was acting strange, touching more than normal. The air of possessiveness blunted my hunger.

  A deep sound sliced the tension as my father cleared his throat. I turned my gaze toward the doorway. Father strode into the dining room. He slowed long enough to give me a wink, then ruffled Hansel’s hair as he passed.

  He glanced across the table and dipped his head. “Good morning, my love.”

  Mother dropped like a weight into the chair, her cold gaze firmly fixed on the plate in front of her. “Morning.”

  I watched the exchange, hovering on the outside like a stranger. Her love had always been hot and cold. I had yet to feel the warmth.

  “Hansel, did you sleep well, my son?”

  My brother’s cheeks flushed red as he glanced across the table, meeting mother’s eyes before nodding. I felt the burn from my side of the wide dining table.

  “Ah, pastries. I see our cook has been whipping up a treat for you, Gretel.” He eased into the seat at the head of the table, then craned his neck to see around the flowers in the center, eyeing my empty plate. “Are you not hungry? Too many strawberries from the garden I expect.”

  I scowled and shook my head, finding a stray seed between my teeth. He glanced to the plates piled high in front of my mother and brother and slowly nodded. His brown eyes weren’t quite as bright as he glanced to me. No words were needed. “Well, maybe we can grab a few to go. You’re still set for our walk today?”

  Something inside my chest leapt to life. “I have my new boots on, Daddy. I thought we’d head past the big boulder.”

  One eyebrow rose, but I caught the laughter in his voice. “You’re going to wear me out. I’m exhausted just thinking about walking so far. We might need cook to pack us a lunch along with the rest of those apricot pastries.”

  “I’ll be coming, too,” my brother growled, before glancing to our father. “If that’s okay with you, sir?”

  I couldn’t deny the swell of pride in my father’s chest, still the words slipped free of my lips. “You’ve never wanted to come before. You don’t like the forest.”

  Her gaze cut deep as my mother snapped. “If he wants to go, then he can go. You don’t get to decide who does what in this house.”

  She can’t hurt me. She can’t hurt me.

  I kept repeating the mantra in my head as I fiddled with my napkin.

  “Sophie. The child meant nothing by her remark.” Father’s soothing tone didn’t dampen the fire.

  She turned her hostile eyes on him. “Why are you always defending her?”

  He tried to reach for her hand. She jerked away from his touch, leaving him to grasp her napkin instead. “Because you seem to be always attacking her. She’s only thirteen, my love, and needing time with her father. Regardless, we’d love to have you accompany us, Hansel. Good, sturdy boots are what you’ll need, son. Your sister seems to be intent on providing exhaustion.”

  The conversation stilled with the scrape of a chair. Mother’s heavy steps rebounded, moving like thunder behind my seat. I glanced up at the last moment, catching the hatred in her eyes, before she was gone. The skirt of her yellow dress swept around the doorframe, then disappeared. She should’ve worn black, to match her scowl.

  I rose from the table, setting the butterflies in my belly in a flutter. “Plea
se excuse me. I’ll go and help cook gather food and water for our trip.”

  I didn’t need to see the sadness in his eyes. Inside I was already amongst the pines, following the woodpeckers from tree to tree.

  ***

  I raced ahead, cutting through the long grass on the edge of the forest to dip into the dark underbrush. Father’s laughter chased me as I gathered my skirt to keep it from catching on broken twigs and branches. I waited for them to catch up, dancing around the butt of a fallen pine.

  Their heavy steps sent the birds racing for the sky as they approached. I fell in place beside my father, then lagged behind as his long strides swallowed the forest floor.

  “I’d like to learn more about your work.” Hansel’s steps quickened, knocking into the back of my leg.

  I flung out my hands as my leg buckled. I hit the ground. Thorns pierced the heel of my hand.

  “You okay, sweetheart?” My father’s first grasp pulled me from the sticks and leaves.

  I nodded and swiped my skirt as I stood, shooting my brother a glare. “I’m fine.”

  “I thought you were used to this forest?” Hansel taunted. “You should be a little more careful, Gretel.”

  I wanted to slap that smirk from his face. Why was he here? He’d never wanted to come before. My knee burned. I didn’t have to lift my skirt to know the graze was there. For just a second I wanted to be a kid again, finding hidden pockets of butterflies in the occasional shafts of sunlight that broke through the trees.

  I hobbled until the snap of a branch wrenched my gaze to a flash of white against the darkness. I fell farther behind, scanning the blackberry bushes for the movement. I gritted my teeth at the sound of my brother’s voice and kicked a rock at the edge of the stream.

  The water chilled my palm, turning my skin numb, but I scooped the refreshing treat into my mouth and raced to catch up. I was out of breath by the time I caught sight of my father’s leather boot. He leaned against the boulder, his foot propped up on a jutting edge. “Well, we’re here princess, what now?”

  I scanned the small clearing, searching the tangle of thorny brush for the dark berries. “You can rest for a while, Daddy.”

  “I’m not a kid anymore. I’m the man of the house. I want my own jobs. I want my own money.” Hansel kicked the rocks against the boulder.

  I turned from his whiny voice and headed for the thicket fighting a smile as father sighed. “You’re too young, Hansel. Appreciate being a kid for as long as you can, son.”

  I stared at the mess of vines, finding the mass of dark berries. Thorns jutted like sharpened teeth from each branch. I yanked my sleeve lower and reached through. My nail sliced through the flesh of the first blackberry I grasped, squirting juice inside my hand. I grabbed all I could hold and yanked my filled fist through the stiff hedge. Juice ran down my arm. I chased the trail with my tongue.

  “Give me one.” My brother snarled behind me.

  I nodded toward the mass of berries. “Get your own.”

  He lunged, seizing my arm. With a ferocious twist, he jerked me forward until my nose nearly touched his. “If I tell you to do something, you do it.”

  Different person, same venom. All I heard was my mother as the ache bit deep. The berries slipped from my weakened grasp. Tears sprang to my eyes as Hansel shoved me into the thorns.

  The bush snagged my dress as I wind-milled my arms, gaining my balance as the sharp spikes clawed me. I stumbled out of reach, then whirled to face him. “Get away from me. Why are you being so mean?”

  “Because you’re just a sniveling brat.”

  I rubbed my arm and the ache spread like poison. “I’m not a brat. I’m the same age as you!”

  I wrenched my head toward the rocky outcrop, searching for my father. “What’s going on with you and Mother? Why is she acting so strange?”

  Hansel leaped forward, gangly legs eating the ground between us. His heavy breaths scattered my plaits. “It’s none of your business.” He glanced over his shoulder, then turned back and snarled. “You better not say a word to anyone, or Mother will take the whip to you.”

  I felt the weight of his threat. I’d seen her cruel hand once before. I didn’t need to give her another excuse to show her mean streak. Hansel strained to look over his shoulder, but his eyes sparked when he turned toward me again.

  “You’re scared of him, aren’t you? You’re scared of Father.”

  His top lip curled back, white teeth glinted. “No, I’m not. You say a word about this and I’ll—”

  “You’ll what, Hansel?” I jumped at the booming voice, finding father’s narrowed gaze trained on my brother.

  “Nothing, Sir. I... I....” Hansel stuttered, shuffling backwards.

  I wanted to tell him then, spill what I knew, which wasn’t much. But there was something going on, something that made my heart race and sent a chill down my spine. My brother hung his head and Father waited.

  “You know you can talk to me, son. Both of you can if you have any problems. I know I’m away a lot, but if there’s something bothering you, all you have to do is send word and I’ll come home immediately.”

  My chest swelled with pride as Hansel muttered. “Yes, sir.”

  My brother was scared. Scared of what Father would do if he found out the truth. I had to be brave, for both of us. “Daddy. There’s something....”

  My words died at the sneer on my brother’s lips. His eyes sparked with rage, his fists clenched by his side. Fear turned to hatred. We were twins, carried together in the womb, born three minutes apart. Yet, in this moment, we were strangers. I didn’t know this person anymore.

  “Go ahead, sweetheart. Tell me what’s on your mind.” My father’s hand settled lightly on my shoulder. The touch was careful, protective. Nothing like what I witnessed in the dining room. Nothing like what was happening between my brother and my mother.

  What would he do to keep his secret safe? I shook my head and mumbled, “Nothing. It’s nothing.”

  My father’s hand dropped away. “Right, then. We best be getting back before your mother has a fit.”

  I wrenched my arm out of Hansel’s reach and bounded in front, cutting though the trees before finding the trail.

  “Not too far, Gretel.”

  I nodded at my father’s warning, but I could feel Hansel behind me, waiting to twist my arm or worse.

  My boots slipped on the dry needles as I raced through the clearing. Remnants of the berries stuck my fingers together as I clenched my fists tight and pumped my arms.

  “Gretel, wait.” Hansel growled. Leaves crunched hard at my heels. His steps outmatched mine, forcing me to sprint. I speared through the thick clump of trees. Branches slapped my face. The sting bought tears to my eyes.

  “I just want to talk. I won’t hurt you!”

  A voice inside screamed. Don’t trust him.

  The trees now looked the same as I pushed ahead. I scanned the soiled ground. The worn path was no longer under my feet.

  “Come back here, you bitch!”

  My heart thrashed inside my ears as I raced along the steep rise. My boots slipped and I slid backward, knocking into my brother. He wrenched my hair, jerking my head backwards.

  “I said stop.” His chest pressed hard against me as he huffed.

  I cowered from the touch, testing his grip on my hair. The strands pulled taut, bringing fresh tears to my eyes. “Let me go, Hansel. Let me go. I promise I won’t tell.”

  Through the blur I caught the shift of his gaze. Something just out of sight growled as my brother whispered. “No you won’t. You won’t say a thing, ever again.”

  His hard shove at my back slammed me forward. My teeth gnashed, sending the shock through my jaw. My feet couldn’t catch up as Hansel punched me again, propelling me over the rise.

  I spied the sheer drop below a second before the ground gave out. I hit the rocky floor, feet first. My knees buckled. Pain tore through my foot and raced along my leg. My screams echoed in the gul
ly as I lunged forward and grabbed my ankle.

  I skirted my boot with my fingers as I followed the incline. I stuttered, as Hansel stared at me. “No. Please, don’t leave me here alone.”

  I blinked and he was gone. Rocks tumbled down the ridge, one tumbled higher to smack into my head. I cried out with the blow and slapped my hand to my head. Grey seeped into the forest. I blinked, trying to clear my sight, as my feeble whimper echoed around me. My heart lurched when at last, Hansel peered over the edge again.

  What is that? He held a dark bundle that kicked and squirmed.

  A distressed cry rang out as Hansel let go. I clawed the hard rocks under my body, screaming as the pain struck my foot like a poisoned lance, but I couldn’t let the helpless creature hit the rocks. Making a final, painful lurch, I opened my arms. The small bundle of fur hit my chest, knocking me off my feet. The back of my head smacked the ground. The bear cub cried and squirmed. I stared into the whites of his eyes, and the splash of white in the middle of its forehead as a thunderous growl cleaved the air.

  A growl that didn’t come from the babe in my arms.

  The cub squirmed harder, answering the call. A mammoth black beast bounded over the ledge. All I saw were teeth as the mama bear snarled. Someone was screaming. The piecing wail sliced through my head. The burn tore along my throat. I closed my mouth, ending the sound. My injured foot dragged as I scurried backward, still clutching the cub.

  A flash of white cut across the black fur that filled my vision. Another animal moved fast, bounding between the massive mother and me. A wolf, white as snow, skidded to a stop beside me. The wolf’s sharp fangs glistened. I stared into blue eyes so icy, they froze the breath in my lungs. The fangs sank into the nape of the little bear’s neck. Snatching him from my arms, the wolf bounded away.

  The ground shuddered as the bear followed the cries of its babe. I listened to the thunder while I wrapped my arms around my middle and held tight. A shudder tore through my body. The ripples spread, casting a shadow over my world. My brother tried hurt me.... No, he tried to kill me.

  Leaves rustled just out of sight. I jerked my head up at the sound and reached out with trembling hand, searching the forest floor around me. My fingers brushed the rock. I clawed the edges, lifted the weight in my palm and pulled my arm backwards.