Jenny lips formed a petulant pout, somehow managing to look alluring. Perhaps it the way the light illuminated the outline of her nubile body through the sheer nightgown she’d attired herself in. Or perhaps it was the manner in which she stood, hands behind her, most likely clasped in a submissive pose.
Seated in the leather armchair in the study, a thick manuscript upon his lap, Jacob regarded his sister with a warm smile, unable to be cross with her interruption. It was, after all, growing late and in fairness, she’d been very well behaved for a large portion of the evening, something that must have taxed her to no end.
"Of course not, darling."
Combing slender fingers through his blonde locks, he gazed thoughtfully at her, enjoying the twilight’s silence. The house felt empty with their father and mother gone for the weekend, something that suited his desires perfectly. Hers too, obviously, judging by the look in her bright blue eyes.
"A story it is, then, but only if you promise to behave. As best you can, of course." He added as she let forth an overly dramatic sigh.
"If I must, Jacob. I want to hear the rest of the tale of the Devil and his Ballerina…"
"Perhaps, another time."
"But…!" She began, biting off her words at his sharp look.
"What did I tell you about your behavior, young lady?" He asked, his matching blue eyes boring into hers.
"I’m sorry." The line was delivered meekly, with not a trace of sarcasm, luckily for her. Had she not been sincere he’d have seen to it that she regretted her outburst.
"That’s better, Jenny. Now, come sit before me if you’d like, and I’ll spin you a new tale, one that you’ve not heard before, at least not in this incarnation. He motioned to a plain wooden chair that sat lonely and unwanted in a corner, waiting until she’d dragged it carefully before him and taken a seat, her thighs pressed together modestly and her hands folded demurely in her lap. Only then, did she meet his gaze with an expectant look, her lips twisting into an enigmatic smile.
"Better, brother dear?" she asked, her girlish voice sultry.
"Much better, Jenny." He took a moment to refill his brandy upon the side table upon his left, taking a healthy sip from it before clearing his throat, and beginning his tale.
"Not so long ago, in a land far, far away, there lived a beautiful princess named Ermillina, whose skin was as pure as the first snowfall of winter. Her hair was the color of the night sky, and her lips were apple red and everybody in the kingdom loved her. Or rather, almost everyone. Her step-mother…"
Jenny made a face before quickly interrupting her brother’s tale. "Why is it that the step-mother is always so wicked? Perhaps, just once, you could tell a tale about a sweet and loving stepmother, Jacob. Make her really sexy too? Maybe she and her step-daughter could be having a torrid affair behind closed doors! That would be wonderfully scandalous! And…."
Jenny ended her tirade abruptly, noting the frown upon her brother’s face, her lips curving sheepishly downward in answer.
"Would you prefer to go to bed without a tale tonight, Jennifer Grimm?" Jacob threatened, one eyebrow sternly raised.
She shook her head, staring at the small hands carefully folded in her lap, and made not a peep in reply.
"Now, as I was saying before I was so rudely interupted… Her step-mother, who was a particularly wicked woman, as well as being Queen of the kingdom, was a very vain woman. So much so, that it stuck in her craw that little Lina, or Snow White as she was sometimes affectionately called, was quickly growing into a creature of great beauty. Much like yourself, dear sister."
A blush colored Jenny’s cheeks, and she graced her brother with a shy smile, her eyes shining with pure delight at the compliment.
"As you might have heard, or perhaps you haven’t, the Queen had in her possession a magic mirror, an object of great power that she kept hidden away in the uppermost room of the tower in which she kept her apartments. No one else was egress, nor did anyone else hold a key to the iron bound door that guarded her prized artifact. And, do you know how she employed this rare and costly item, Jenny?"
"No, I don’t, Jacob. I am sure that you will reveal all to me in good time." He had to strain to hear her words, so soft was her reply, unsure if her answer was sincere or otherwise.
"Careful, Jenny. If I even think you’re mocking me, I’ll send you off to bed immediately.
"I was not!" She protested, her eyes full of worry under her wrinkled brow. "I was making reference to your impeccable story telling skills!"
"Good girl. Now, where was I? Oh, yes…"
Taking a deep breath, Jacob resumed his tale, examining his sister carefully. His gaze roamed unabashedly over her partly hidden thighs and her slender figure, noting how, in the soft light of the study, the sheer fabric left just enough to the imagination as to be intriguing, rather then lurid.
"Her magic mirror, the source of all her power. With is, she could spy upon anyone within her kingdom, be they lord or vassal. That, however, wasn’t the most fantastical of its abilities for within its perfect reflecting surface, a Djinn had been trapped…."
"I thought Djinns could only be trapped in bottles, Jacob." Jenny interjected, her smile disarming enough to deflect his ire at another interruption.
"Usually, but not always, my dear. How it had been trapped, I know not, but trapped it was, and it had been geased to, once per day, answer any question put into rhyme. At first, she had used it to out fox those who opposed her or for advice on the best strategy for winning the loyalty of those who sat upon the fence, but once she’d grown secure in her power, her questions took on different nature."
Jacob paused, lifting his glass to his lips and sipping at the rich tasty brandy, his eyes closing just for a moment of enjoyment, his sigh almost silent. When he’d opened them again, he was forced to raise an eyebrow, noting that Jenny’s nightgown had risen teasingly, perhaps several inches, piquing his curiosity as to whether she’d chosen to wear the delicate lace panties she usually favored or, perhaps, had chosen to go without. She lifted her face to him, just long enough to give him an impish smile, possibly guessing his thoughts, before dropping them again, focusing once more upon her own hands, then upon his face, listening eagerly to his each and every utterance.
"It was on Ermalina’s 18th birthday that her luck took a turn for the worst. Before that fateful day, whenever the Queen would inquire ‘Mirror Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?’ the Djinn would awake and, in a deep voice, give answer. ‘There is none fairer then you, Mistress. Not in all the land.’" However, this time, for the first time since she’d asked the question, the answer was one that pleased her not, Jenny. This time, the mirror, tasked to answer honestly, replied thusly. ‘One blooms fairer then you, Mistress, only one, yet as is the nature of those whom are touched by time, she shall grow fairer with each passing day, while you will only diminish’.
He paused once more, this time settling his elbows on his knees as to rest his chin with his cupped palms, his eyes boring into his sister’s blue orbs. He sat that way, letting the silence of the room hold sway, noting how she hard she fought not to fidget under his scrutiny. Finally, she broke, blinking, her eyes half hidden by fair lashes, a puzzled frown upon her face.
"I want to hear the rest of the tale, Jacob. Why are you stopping?"
"I found my thoughts, wandering is all. Perhaps…"
He pretended to lose himself in thought, his eyes closing to mere slits, a crease forming between his brows. He wondered if she thought him visionless, or is she suspected he might be watching as she hurriedly rearranged herself so that she was no longer sitting upon her nightgown, nor was it covering quite so much of her legs as before. Still, he was unable to guess as to her choice, or lack, of undergarments. That said, the view was tantalizing and her efforts certainly encouraging.
He caught her eye, his smile appreciative as he watched his sister’s fair cheeks turn pink, her eyes once more focused upon her lap. "As you can imagine, the queen flew into a rage. How dare her step-daughter outshine her! Stamping back and forth before the mirror, she rained cursed down upon Ermalina, upon the Djinn, even upon the gods themselves, which as we both know, is both risky and unwise. And yet, such was her anger, she cared not. All that mattered was that her step-daughter now was the prize of the kingdom. What to do, she thought. And then, a wicked plan began to form. She’d banish her from the kingdom or, even better yet, have her killed!"
Jenny’s gasp of shock made him chuckle. She could be a tender-hearted girl at times, a trait that he absolutely adored, sometimes even taking advantage of it. Before she could express her outrage, he plowed on, not wishing her to become overwrought.
"Have no fear, my heart, for wickedness is not always rewarded. The Queen called upon her Huntsman, a man who’d always been loyal to her. A hard man, and heartless, or so it was said. To him, she gave the task of taking Ermalina into the forest and spilling her blood. And true to his nature, he did just that, or at least that was his intent. That night, he pulled the girl from her bed and gagged her with a strip torn from her bedclothes, ensuring her silence. Then he blindfolded her and bound her hands behind her back with the remains, leaving her frightened and naked as he spirited her away from the castle."
Jacob suppressed a grin, letting the scenario play within his sister’s head. Predictably, at least to his way of thinking, her legs were no longer pressed together, but spread wide enough so that he knew with certainty that she was naked beneath her shift. He watched as her breasts rose and fell enticingly with each breath, noting that her nipples dented the sheer material. He was sure she would try to deny it, but the thought of Snow White being bound and kidnapped at the hands of such a scoundrel was exciting her. Noting that her eyes were closed, he decided to have some fun. Taking up his tale once more, he used the sound of his voice to mask the sound of movement as he vacated the heavy chair.
"She was frightened, of course, but she’d always been a brave girl, the Princess, and held back her tears as he carried her from all she’d ever known, wondering if he meant to hold her for ransom or, even worse, defile her! The thought of murder, thankfully, had no place in her imaginings. And truly, I am sorry to say that her struggles awoke the monster of lust within him, Jenny. What harm, he thought to himself, if he used this fair maiden for his own pleasure before cutting her throat? No one would ever know."
Swiftly, Jacob circled his sister, his hands upon her golden head startling her.
"Jacob!" She gasped, twisting in the chair, her hands reaching for his. Instead, she found her slender wrists in his firm grasp.
"Did you think you’re teasing would go unnoticed, sister dearest? Did you think I would somehow overlook your clumsy attempts at seduction? Now, stay perfectly still. I mean it!" He barked as she continued to fight him, "if you want me to finish your bed time story, you’d best co-operate!"
Finally, her heart beating rapidly against her ribs, her eyes bright with just a hint of defiance, she quieted. Releasing her wrists, he grabbed hold of her upper arms and pulled her to her feet, then proceeded to tear her nightgown from her amidst heated protests.
"Stop it! This cost me a pretty penny, Jacob! All the way from Paris!"
"Too bad. Anyway, it makes you look like a prostitute. Really, you expect me to just sit there and watch while you flaunt your half nakedness at me? Really, Jenny, I think you need to be taught a lesson about being a tease."
She sputtered wordlessly as he tore the gown into strips, using them to bind her wrists and eyes, just like the heroine of his story. Once he’d accomplished that, he pushed her back down onto the chair, enjoying the display of her naked body, even white teeth showing at the sight of the small trickle of lust forming between her wide spread thighs as she whimpered softly.
"Hush, Jenny. No one’s going to hurt you. On my oath and honor." Moving behind her once more, he began to stroke her hair, calming her as he continued on with his tale.
"Perhaps it was her near perfect beauty, or mayhap it was her undaunted spirit.
