Letters to Zell by Camille Griep

Author:Camille Griep [Camille Griep]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 47North
Published: 2015-07-01T07:00:00+00:00

Love,

CeCi

She Sang Songs without End

Important Fucking Correspondence from Snow B. White

Onyx Manor

West Road, Grimmland

Z,

I spend all night in my father’s study. I reread every journal. I cross-fucking-reference dates with maps and satchels of money from more lands than I can count.

I finally get to the point I can’t concentrate anymore, I’m so tired. I look out the window and the goddamned sun is coming up. In my mind, there’s a tiny fear, but I either can’t or maybe won’t let it grow into an actuality.

I consider going to CeCi or Rory, but instead I head straight to Figgy’s. I gave them the time they asked for, and it’s time I had some answers, Fairy Godmother sanctioned or not.

When I get there, Figgy sits me down in that damned calming chair with the canaries. “Bianca,” she says, expansively. “I suppose we owe you an explanation.”

I try to start politely because Rory’s always saying how you can get more flies with honey than vinegar, and blah blah blah. I try to be honest about the information I put together in the study the night before.

“Figs, I know my father’s been gone awhile, longer than even I care to admit. As far as I can tell, he left for the last time just before I woke up. But there were letters for a long time before that. I always knew he was somewhere, even if I wasn’t exactly sure where. So, all I’m asking for is some help narrowing down where he is right now, maybe where he has been over the last couple of years. You know, so I can send him a wedding invitation. See, nothing hard. Nothing scary. Nothing out of control.”

“Oh, but it’s complicated, my dear,” says Figgy.

I wave a tea-toting canary away.

“Complicated how?”

“I was so sure you knew, until Solace came and told me of the real purpose for your ventures Outside.”

There it was, that speck of fear again. But this time, it was black and blooming like ink in water. “Real purpose? I thought your birds were omniscient?”

“I thought you’d gone Outside to find your father, dear.”

I bop myself on the forehead, and the canaries scatter. “Solace must have given him a dedicated portal. Of course. That must be why there’s so much money. But if he’s coming back and forth, why—”

“A dedicated portal?” Figgy asks. And all of a sudden I’m more confused than I was when I came in. “For Cecilia’s classes? Oh, heavens, such frivolity. I thought the classes were simply a ruse for you to track him down.”

A sickening cold spreads up my limbs. “Track him down? And do what? I love my father, Figgy, whatever mistakes he made. I don’t understand . . . If he’s Outside, why didn’t Solace tell me? How long has he been there?”

“I worried you’d get caught up finding him, take too much time, and be trapped.”

“How. Long. Ago. Figgy.”

“He wanted to atone for leaving you in Valborg’s care. He punished himself for a long time, casting about and cutting ties before he decided to exile himself.

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