2Pack Fantasy Collection #2
----
Grimm
#1
Jane's Entrance
by
Kristie Lynn Higgins
----
Grimm - Jane's Entrance
Text Copyright © 2005 by Kristie Lynn Higgins
Cover Art Copyright © 2008
by Kristie Lynn Higgins
Smashwords Edition
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
----
Also by Kristie Lynn Higgins
Beauty of the Beast #1 The Mystic Rose
Unexplained Unexpected: Vampires a.k.a The Florida House Mission One
Shunned #1 the Metal Veil and the Weeping Sword Named Tear
Behemoth
Road Rage
Zombieland #1
SHADES OF GRAY SERIES
STARTING POINT QUADRILOGY
1- Noir, City Shrouded by Darkness
2- From Moscow, With Love
3- Cerberus Versus Pandora
4- Sisters
ZOMBIE TWILIGHT QUADRILOGY
5- Night of the Twilight- the Chimera Strain
6- Dawn of the Twilight- Outbreak
7- Day of the Twilight- Patient Zero
8- Land of the Twilight- Closing of Days
More listed in the back of the book.
www.KristieLynnHiggins.com
----
Chapter One
Through the Rabbit Hole?
“What could Steve want?” Jane wondered, nearing the college on a mountain bike. Pine scented the crisp air. “I hope this isn’t like the ninth grade where he proved himself to some kids. Proved himself at my expense.” She shook of the deep rooted stigma and glanced back at her backpack. “Well at least it won’t be a complete waste. I can return this book to the library.”
Jane neared the all but deserted parking lot where Steve parked his Mustang. He stood beside the red car with a dark haired beauty’s arms wrapped around his waist.
“Who’s with him?” Jealous, Jane wondered, “A girlfriend?” She stopped her bike two parking spaces from his. “Listen to me. As if we’ve been friends since that night in the ninth grade. We might have been childhood buddies, but he hates me now. Hates Plain Jane.” She looked to the woman with him, who in turn winked at her. Jane reddened unsure if the mysterious woman flirted with her or mocked her. Jane got off the bike and pushed down the kick stand. “Steve.”
“Jane!” The college quarterback lifted his arms in counterfeit welcome. “I’m so glad you came.” He wore his letterman. “I didn’t think you would.”
“Yeah, pathetic me,” Jane muttered and asked, “So what’s so important we had to meet at the Witching Hour?”
“There’s something I need to make amends for.”
“Oh, great,” Jane thought. “Don’t tell me they’re engaged, and he wants to make his past right so that he can go forward with his future. Please, don’t tell me he’s going to ask forgiveness so he’ll look good.” She frowned. “If he does, I’m going home.” Jane stepped closer and asked, “Make amends? Make amends for what?”
Steve laughed. “Make amends to myself of course.” He glared at her. “Make amends for ever being your friend. Plain Jane. With your ordinary brown hair and eyes.”
“An ugly duckling,” the dark haired woman commented with an exotic accent.
“Right.” He chuckled. “You must still love me, right? Why else would you come out here in the middle of the night? I mean I haven’t talked to you in what seven years? Yet here you come running at the slightest hint I want you.”
Even after all this time, his words cut at her. She didn’t know what to say, but, “Isn’t this a waste.” Jane walked back to the bike. “Bye Steve. Don’t call me again.”
“Wait. Wait. Don’t go, I have to introduced my friend, Nancy. You see, she’s very special.”
Jane bowed her head, ashamed of who she was. “Like I said Steve, bye.”
“Plain one, you will want to see this,” Nancy said. “After many years I have finally reached your world and had the good fortune to find this dimwitted man.”
“What?!” Steve blurted as he turned to the dark haired beauty.
Nancy stepped away from him and transformed. Her skin became blue-green and the tips of her ears grew to a point. “Like I said you are a dimwitted man and easily manipulated.” Her eyes turned golden-yellow. “I guess you are like any male.” And her canines grew to fangs. “Driven by the lower brain.”
Jane turned and saw the transformed creature. In the calm night air, Nancy’s hair stood as if a breeze blew it. She chanted something in a foreign tongue, and a black hole appeared in the parking space between them. At first, the opening was the size of a basketball then it grew, engulfing the area between the white lines. The vortex roared with the sound of wind, drawing things into its clutches.
Afraid, Jane backed away. “What are you?”
“I am a Nymph Enchantress, and I want to live in your world. All I have to do is trade a betrayer for my entry.” She pointed to the quarterback with a slender finger. “And he is that toll.”
“What?!” Steve shouted.
The vortex pulled in Jane’s bike.
“Hey! You’re punking me right?” Steve shouted. “You said you wanted to have some fun. That you wanted to see me be mean to some girl that liked me. I did that, so what’s this?!”
Nancy smiled. “Males. They are so easily manipulated. What’s the saying, can’t live with them . . .” She bared her fangs and grabbed his arm. “But you can always eat them!”
Steve screamed like a little girl.
Nancy shook her head. “Such a fine specimen of manliness you are. This world won’t miss you.” With great strength, she threw him into the vortex.
He grabbed the edge and held on. “Help me! Jane help me!”
Without thinking, Jane ran to him, dove to the ground, and grabbed his arm. “I got you!”
“What are you doing?” Nancy screamed. “No, don’t help him. My time is almost up. He has to go in.” The force of the vortex grabbed at the dark haired woman. “No! I don’t want to go back. Not to that world!” The vortex pulled Nancy in as Jane held on to Steve.
“I got you!” Jane pulled him onto the parking lot. “Hang on!”
A hand came out of the vortex and grabbed hold of Jane’s backpack, pulling her in. She held on to Steve. With her free hand, Jane undid the velcro of the single strap, letting the backpack fall into the swirling mass of blackness, but Nancy grabbed her leg. Jane looked to Steve. “Don’t let go!”
Steve cried, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Everything will be okay. Just pull me out.”
Steve put his other hand to hers. “I’m sorry.” He pried her fingers from his hand. “I’m sorry.”