A Tale of Atonement by Carmen Erickson EPUB & PDF – eBook Details Online
- Status: Available for Free Download
- Author: Carmen Erickson
- Language: English
- Genre: Fairy Tales
- Format: PDF / EPUB
- Size: 2 MB
- Price: Free
Rumpelstiltskin’s fingers curled around the handle of his teacup, a
fissure forming in the delicate porcelain from the pressure. A growl
spread under his breath as he shifted. No matter what angle he took, what
pants he wore, or how many pillows he stacked on the chair, he couldn’t sit
comfortably with a tail.
An actual tail.
He glared down as the long, ropey thing swished back and forth with a
mind of its own. It was ringed like a tiger’s tail, but without the majesty and
grace. Out in public, he wound the tail inside his pants to hide it. When he
wasn’t wearing pants, the base faintly glowed from the residual magic
required to adhere the miserable appendage. Made him feel like a freaking
firefly.
“I’m not an animal or an insect!”
Rump zinged the teacup across the room. It exploded against his cottage
wall, the individual pieces tinkling as they shattered on the floor. Early
morning light reflected off the cream-colored shards.
He glanced heavenward and mouthed an apology to his wife. While
Bernie would’ve been disappointed in his reaction, she also would’ve given
him grace for his lack of sleep. Mostly, she’d agree with him
wholeheartedly that the punishment, courtesy of the Fairy Tale Council, was
ludicrous.
But he was dealing with Godmother, after all, and the vindictive crone
controlled the Fairy Tale Council. She clearly only wanted to punish Rump
for choosing a new story for Cinderella, Godmother’s favorite, and for
shining a spotlight on her biases. He’d messed with the bull, so he got the
horns.
The Fate sisters were no better than Godmother. They’d piled on during
the hearing and accused Rump of attempting a coup, demanding his powers
be stripped. At least the Brothers Grimm stood up for him.
Rump paced the length of the living room. His blood pressure inched up
every time the tail bounced with his steps. It brushed against his leg with an
odd combination of tickle and grating. He stopped walking and
concentrated on his breathing. Shallow and haggard breaths puffed out his
lungs and past a constricted throat. Anger consumed him, depositing in
every nook and cranny.
If Bernie was here, she’d calm him. Soothe him with her loving voice,
wisdom, and generous spirit—tell him everything would work itself out.
But she wasn’t here.
Thanks to Godmother and the Fates.
Because it wasn’t worth their while to grant his wish and rewrite her
destiny. They let the cancer ravage every inch of his wife until she died a
slow, painful death. Because the system was rigged. Biased. Broken.
Godmother and the Fates had never apologized for refusing to save his
beloved Bernie’s life. They’d never even conceded that endings could be
changed. Never admitted that they bent rules—rules that were malleable for
some, strong as steel for others. He suspected the sanctimonious ancient
hags weren’t always this way. Greed and power whispered loudly.
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