9

Queen of Mean

Bella stared at the strange woman who stood in the entrance to the castle. She had black hair cascading down her back, and the ends were bright red. Red lipstick stained the woman’s mouth—one that smiled at Bella. But the smile wasn’t real. Bella could see it in her eyes. They were black and without a trace of feeling.

At that moment Bella took in the guards surrounding the woman, swords drawn. In the middle of the circle, Queen Katherine stood next to her with a furious expression.