On one snowy day, deep in the cold winter, her majesty the Queen was sitting alone, humming to herself while she sharpened her stakes. Every little while she’d glance out the ebony-framed window and sigh, the sparkling snow capturing her attention. Her hand suddenly slipped and the tip of the stake pricked her finger.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqWsuNmKVp
“How I wish I had a daughter as white as snow, hair as black as ebony and lips as red as blood,” said the queen to herself as she wiped the blood off her hand.
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Soon after, the Queen gave birth to a baby girl. The king and queen named her Snow-White, for she was as white as snow, with blood-red lips and ebony-black hair.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8PAdTojwO
The queen fell ill, and her sickness worsened as the hours passed by.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQDpPCyRMa
In her last moments alone with her baby, she held Snow-White close and whispered, “I will always be here, Little Snow-White. I love you.”838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5La09OBe0
News of the queen’s death traveled quickly through out the kingdom.
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About a year later, the king remarried. Queen Vivian was different, with a tall and slender build; her skin paper-white and eyes dark and cold. Her ginger hair fanned her face and fell to her shoulders. Her gowns always swept the floor, choked her neck and played at her wrists. She didn’t like leaving the castle; she much preferred the solitude of her bedroom and company of her magic mirror.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63RAXvtP2a
Queen Vivian often talked to her mirror, asking, “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who in this land is fairest of all?” The mirror would then answer, “You, my lady, are the fairest in the land.” The mirror’s answer made the queen momentarily forget her jealousy towards Snow-White’s beauty and the affectionate way in which the king treated her.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeS1t3i1up5
Sixteen years passed much the same- Snow-White growing older and prettier, and the queen consulting her mirror- but life in the kingdom grew hard and frightful. More people went missing and were killed, and fewer villagers left their homes. Rumors of inhuman creatures haunting the night spread, and many people came to the castle to explain their distress to the king and queen.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl38wtkSOHQ
While the weary king sent guards through out the kingdom, to patrol the borders and reassure the villagers, the queen simply stayed in her room and refused to talk to anyone.
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One day, as Snow-White was roaming through the castle, she came across a secret passageway. It led to a small, dark room, dimly lit with a few candles scattered across the floor and along shelves. A long and wide mirror hung on the wall, reflecting the light of the candles. Snow-White moved closer to the mirror, and the glass looked quite dull to her, not as shiny as the one in her room.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfoeK8J4u5
Slowly, the lights in the mirror started blending together, forming a puddle of orange. Two blue dots appeared, along with pale pink curves. Snow-White rubbed at her eyes, and when she looked back at the mirror, a full face had formed. She took a tentative step backward, peering curiously at the man in the mirror. At least, it looked like a man.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64xxJzbJf1
“Who… What are you?” Snow-White whispered.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1GGFITmVp
“I am a mirror, but as to who I am, I do not know.” The mirror replied. “You are Snow-White, princess of the castle. Am I mistaken?” She shook her head.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3rwMoCw48
“What are you doing in here?”838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiuHj20ds5
“What does it look like I am doing?” Snow-White was taken aback.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmSEidUbuf
“W-well, hanging, I suppose, but-“838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkvVwK0tlv
“Shh,” the mirror interrupted. Anger swelled in Snow-White’s chest, but she stayed quiet. She heard the sound of footsteps, then hangars being pushed to the side.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZeJQQrBOs2
Snow-White ran back out the passage she came in from, not stopping until she was safely inside her room. She had just missed the queen, who moments before walked into the dark room. She stood before the mirror and asked it, “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who in this land is fairest of all?”838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNppiIh90A3
The mirror replied, “My queen, you are as fair as ever, but Snow-White, the girl, is even fairer.” Jealousy flowed through the queen’s veins and she called upon a hunter, with skin as pale as her own.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkre7yeHOym
“Chase the girl into the forest and drain her of her blood. Bring back her heart so that I can eat it.” She commanded him, and off he went to get Snow-White.
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Snow-White’s screams echoed through the forest as she tried running away from the hunter. His red eyes were everywhere she looked, following her every move.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkPZkXjT3u
Suddenly, she tripped and fell to the ground. The hunter danced around her, a big smile on his face. As his teeth neared her neck, his eyes went wide and then he disappeared. Snow-White could still hear his yelling. Once she managed to sit up, she saw an older woman above the hunter, something silver gleaming on his chest.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaAnUtjnxi
The woman looked at Snow-White.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VDj3Vhb59
“Run away, Snow-White!” Cried the woman. “Run!” Scared, Snow-White ran and didn’t look back.
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As dusk turned into day, Snow-White spotted a cottage amongst the trees. She walked over to it and gently knocked on the door. After a few moments of silence, she knocked again. Nobody answered, and so Snow-White peeked through the windows. It didn’t look like anyone was home.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrocD78Vo4
She walked back to the front door and turned the handle. She pushed, and it opened.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSodtBtCo0X
Snow-White walked in slowly, shutting the door behind her. She took a few more steps into the cottage, looking around. There was a small kitchen to her left, a bathroom to her right, and when she moved closer to the open door in the middle of the room, she counted seven beds lined up against the wall. Just the sight of them made Snow-White’s eyelids droop. She fell back onto the beds and went right to sleep.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROr1nVr7YD
When noon rolled around, seven armed men approached the cottage. They set down their weapons, and one by one walked through the door. One of the men walked straight into the bedroom, hoping to take a short nap. But when he saw a girl lying on his bed, he immediately called to the others.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQJNUE339c
“What a beautiful young lady,” said one man.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64p5M3Doxs
“Who is she?” Said another.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuqhHnraxi
“Why is she so pale?” Asked a third.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsIA2yMIZK
“Is she one of those damn bloodsuckers?” Grumbled the fourth man.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgASSnsLY9K
“Her hand is warm-“838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxCNOaZB1n
“And she’s breathing,” answered the twins.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGCWa5GVwK
“Should I wake her?” Asked the man who found Snow-White. All seven men crowded around her. When no one answered, he simply said, “I think I’ll just let her rest.” The men nodded in unison and walked out the bedroom door.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8yE4vQ6Dy
A few hours later, Snow-White woke up. She heard the low murmur of voices and walked into the hall. Her eyes widened when she saw the seven men sitting around a table. They all turned to look at her.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPETLR7uIo
“Good afternoon!” Chimed the twins.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRGaHNT3qn
“I’m Hunter,” said the twin with the short hair, “and this here is my brother, Archer.” He pointed to the man with long hair, who looked exactly like himself. Archer waved.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hgp45o9E0
“My name is Snow-White,” she said. “I’m very sorry about sleeping in your room. I didn’t know anyone lived here, and the door was un-“838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZscjnQlsL
“No need to worry, young lady,” said the man with blonde hair. “We’ve all come to an agreement- you keep our house clean, you’re welcome to stay. That okay?” Snow-White nodded. “Good. Name’s Rusty, by the way. This right here is Colton,” Rusty pointed to a dark-haired man with ice blue eyes. “Next to him, we’ve got Cannon, Brock and Chase.” He turned back to Snow-White. “Now tell me, little lady, what are you doing out in the forest?”
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Back at the castle, queen Vivian was pacing in her room, waiting for the hunter to return. He should be back by now, she thought. She glanced at the mirror. Perhaps the mirror will know… She stood before it and waited impatiently for the man to form.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpph2CIwOuG
“Mirror, mirror on the wall, will my hunter come to call?” she asked it.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iu4aaDJnT
“No, my lady, he shall not, for to the death he was fought,” the mirror answered. The queen’s eyes flashed red in anger.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3l1cUbRoJ
“No more of these foolish games! Where are these hunters whose lives I’ll claim?”838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvti19vwOqp
“Snow-White dwells in a cottage, with seven hunters deep in the forest.” Queen Vivian stormed out of the room.
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The men had left Snow-White alone to clean the house while they hunted. She was told to lock the door and not open it for anyone.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ibVTrMULW
As the hours passed by, Snow-White got hungrier and tired. She sat in a chair, having finished her chores, and waited for the men to return. A sudden knock at the door made her jump.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lM2Fa6T4N
“Who is it?” She called.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFC0hBtCGuJ
“Apples, apples for sale!” Snow-White heard from behind the door. Her stomach grumbled. No harm in buying a few apples, is there? She thought to herself, so she unlocked the door and opened it a bit. “Hello, dearie. May I offer you an apple?” asked the old lady, hiding herself within a black cloak.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpGtEJUEJZ
“I’d love one, miss, but I’m afraid I don’t have any money.” Snow-White eyed the apples hungrily.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6WrM9rYri
“No problem at all, dearie. I need to get rid of them anyhow.” The lady took out an apple from the basket, handing it to Snow-White.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQdkl044o5
“Oh, I mustn’t.” She hesitated. The lady blinked.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3jp9ds6nU
“Please, it’ll be my pleasure. I shall share it with you, if you would like.” Snow-White nodded. The lady removed a knife from her cloak, and cut the apple in half. She handed Snow-White the red part of the apple, and then took a bite out of the white half. Snow-White watched the woman, sniffed her piece of apple, and then bit into it. She swallowed, and moments later started choking. She held her hands up to her neck, clawing at it, fire spreading throughout her body. She then fell to the ground, lifeless.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH7lLFT6lg
The old woman cackled and removed her cloak. She wiped at her face, removing her makeup, and revealed herself- Queen Vivian.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywSAtnmDef
“You shall pay for what you have done to my daughter, Vivian.” She whipped around, facing the owner of the voice.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAitW6cUtTL
“And you shall pay for killing off my clan, Clarissa.” Vivian spat, advancing. She could hear the sound of Clarissa’s breaths, and the distant sounds of fighting. Her eyes darkened, glowing red. “Those hunters are killing my newborns! No wonder you’ve gotten to me,” she raged and sprung forward, knocking Clarissa to the floor.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqoCno0T65
“I will kill you and the rest of the vampires lurking in the village,” yelled Clarissa, holding on to her stake while trying to pin Vivian down.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeluJedJsKf
“I wish you luck,” panted Vivian. “They’ve been trained well.” She slashed at Clarissa, cutting deep into her stomach. Blood poured out of the gash, leaving Vivian momentarily distracted. Clarissa took her chance and drove her stake through Vivian’s heart. The two women lay there on the ground, unmoving.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJPJXeKjOG
Chase ran through the forest, the twins following after him. He needed to get to Snow-White. They found her laying on the floor of the cottage, a piece of apple next to her hand. Hunter picked it up and smelled it.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG7EgxHeOx
“Was it poisoned?” Asked Archer, inspecting Snow-White’s hands and face.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1WmLnCOO9
“No,” replied Hunter.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC11i0nJHAX
“Venom?” Chase whispered, kneeling next to Snow-White's body. Hunter looked at him, a sad look in his eyes. “I’ll go get Rusty and the others. Maybe we can put her in a glass coffin…” He walked out of the cottage.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaavC2A23fG
Hours later, they laid Snow-White down in a coffin made of glass, cased in gold, with her name written across it. They carried it to a shady hill close by, surrounded by trees and bushes.
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A few weeks passed by and the hunters carried on in their usual ways, tracking down vampires and killing them off. They saw a prince on their way to the village, but didn’t pay him any attention. He rode on his horse, deeper into the forest. Something bright caught his eye, and so he raced his horse as fast as it could go. He happened across Snow-White’s coffin, where she lay lifeless, her skin paler than paper.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTmdRkfoZ4
The prince was enchanted by her beauty, and sat down on a rock next to the coffin.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzI37nAplR
I wonder if it opens, he thought to himself. He tried pushing on it, but it wouldn’t budge. He didn’t give up. He grabbed the gold lining, pushing in his fingers, and finally lifted the top of the coffin.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKdNOTrRMn
Snow-White’s crimson eyes popped open. The prince jumped back, terrified.838Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyS1h7ig3p
She heard his frantic heartbeat, his blood flowing through his veins. Fangs sprout from her mouth, grazing her lips. She focused her gaze on his throat, and before she could stop herself, she sank her newly sharpened teeth into his inviting neck.
