A/N-

This is the sequel to Bittersweet Ending. For those of you who haven't read Bittersweet Ending, I would suggest reading that before you read this or else some parts in this story might not make sense.

The story, just like Bittersweet, takes place in the 7th book somewhere between when Briar Rose died and before they entered the Book of Everafters. This means that they don't know who the Master is, or anything about the Book of Everafters.

Rated T for some violence.

Disclaimer - As much as I wish it were true, I do not own the Sisters Grimm. It all belongs to Micheal Buckley and he's not sharing. :)

Some of the characters may be OOC at times, but I'll try my best. Hope you like it!

~September 20, 1863~

The candle flickered, illuminating the figure of a man bent over a desk, pen in hand. The wavering flame caused the shadows to dance and twirl along the walls of the small room.

The man froze, his pen inches away from the paper, terror tightening his muscles. Had he just heard something? He strained his ears, desperately trying to hear something over the thunder that rumbled warningly overhead.

There, voices. He carefully peeked out of the small window above his desk, gripping his pen in a white-knuckled hand. At first all he could see was the cobblestone street outside, flanked on both sides by thin, two story brick buildings and covered in shadows that could hide an army of monsters, and then he saw the group of men. He relaxed slightly, watching as the men hurried down the street, eager to get home before the rain fell, their drunken laughter easily penetrating the thin walls of his home.

He watched as they looked towards his house, poking each other and pointing to the direction of his home. They shouted obscene words in his direction and one even spat in his yard, to the raucous laughter of his companions.

But why wouldn't they do that? He was Jakob Grimm after all. Protector of the monsters.

Jakob leaned back in his seat, trying to ignore the shadows the danced in his peripheral vision, taking on the shapes of monsters with long, reaching hands.

Those men were clueless if they thought the Everafters who used to walk those streets were monsters.

Subconsciously, Jakob's hand reached up, his fingers brushing the amulet that hung around his neck.

No, there were much worse things out there.

Jakob closed his eyes and tried to calm his rapidly beating heart. He was acting like a child who was afraid of his own shadow. But he had plenty of reason to be afraid of shadows.

He opened his eyes and stared at his hand, shaking more from terror than from old age. It hadn't escaped him how he seemed to age slower than those around him. His bones ached less, only a few winkles etched his face and his hair only had a few strands of grey in it. At first he had thought it was a side effect from spending so much time around magic, but in his last letter Wilhelm had been complaining about his old age and how his aching bones were keeping him from the doing the things that needed to be done.

So, maybe it was something else. Jakob stared at the amulet around his neck. In the morning it was a pleasant rose red, but now, in the quickly dimming light, it looked as dark as blood.

Jakob shook his head and forced his pen to paper, focusing on the task at hand.

I am delighted to hear that the Everafters are adjusting to the land well, though it does not surprise me that Charming has immediately taken command. That man always had to be the center of attention.

The soft scratch of pen on paper soon soothed his frayed nerves and all thoughts of monsters and shadows fled to the back of his mind.

I am also glad to hear that the Book of Everafters has worked out. Maybe now the Everafters will not be so upset about the barrier.

Jakob paused as thoughts of the barrier flashed through his mind. He had to admit, the barrier idea was brilliant but, out of all the witches, had Wilhelm really had to make a deal with Baba Yaga?

He shivered, thinking back to the last time he had seen the Hag of the Hills.

She had sneered at him, her teeth crooked and yellow, her gray hair sticking out everywhere, but her eyes had been the things that had disturbed him the most. Yes, they were crazed but, underneath all the craziness, they were filled with a deep, ancient intelligence that had filled him with fear.

"You and that brother of yours seem to enjoy messing with things that don't belong to your kind." She had whispered, abruptly stopping her threats of eating him alive. "Magical things. You especially seem to love experimenting with magic. Beware, magic can be a curse." Her lips cracked into a wicked grin. "And it will destroy you and everything you love."

A sharp crack of thunder jolted Jakob out of his memory and left him gasping in shock.

His hand tightened into a fist and his mouth set into a thin line of determination. Magic was not going to destroy everything he loved, not if he could help it.

Truthfully, I had feared that the book wouldn't work.

A straight lie but he didn't want to explain everything to his little brother, at least not yet.

Jakob's eyes traveled to the book that rested on the small table beside the door. Even from across the room he could feel the magic rolling off of it, and the amulet seemed to jerk, as if it knew what lay between the pages of that book.

A woman's familiar face flashed inside his head. Wisps of dirty blonde hair that had escaped her tight bow fell around her face. Her trousers and rough shirt were out of place among the dresses women seemed to favor, not to mention the array of weapons that hung from her belt. Her bright hazel eyes regarded him with a nonchalant look that barely concealed the longing underneath.

"Whatever needs to be done." She had whispered.

He had known that the Book of Everafters would work perfectly.

I fear I won't be able to visit any time soon. Things have gotten . . . difficult.

I am sending over two books. Two very important books and it is crucial that you keep both of them safe.

One is a magical book; you will know it when you touch it. I can not explain how, but that book is tied to the Book of Everafters. If one is damaged, so is the other. If one is destroyed, so is the other. You must keep it hidden, but hidden away from the Book of Everafters and no one, not even your family, is to know of its existence.

The other book is my journal. You should only read it when the other book falls into the wrong hands. It will tell you everything you need to know. But you must not open it unless it isabsolutelynecessary.

Jakob made sure to underline those words. He knew his nosey little brother would be tempted more than once to open the journal.

Please, do not fear for me. I know all this sounds confusing and even I don't understand some of it, but I am a Grimm, and we Grimms tend to dive headfirst into danger.

It's what we do.

He paused again, and stared down at the paper, overwhelmed with a sudden, heart-wrenching grief.

I want you to know that I have enjoyed every one of our crazy, harebrained adventures and, even though I had complained a lot, I really did not mind you forcing me to write everything down while you flirted with every princess within a mile.

I also want you to know that, yes, that purple shirt of yours does make you look like an overgrown plum.

I love you, brother.

Your dearest brother,

Jakob Grimm

Jakob stared down at the letter as thoughts of his brother ran through his mind. Will he ever be able to see Wilhelm again?

He pictured his brother's face as Wilhelm waved goodbye from the ship as it left for America. How many times had Jakob felt that staying here had been a mistake? How many times had he wished that he had said yes and gone with his brother to America?

But what's been done has been done and there was no changing it, no matter how badly he desired a chance to go back and change everything.

Jakob quickly folded the paper in half and shoved it into the envelope. He had to hurry if he didn't want to get drenched by rain. Besides, who knew how long his messenger was going to wait for him?

He stood up, walked over to the small table and picked up the two books, trying to ignore the tingling desire that ran up his arm when he touched the magic book.

Jakob paused, his hand lingering on the doorknob, and looked towards his small bedroom. The door was slightly ajar, so he could only see a bit of the person sleeping in the bed.

A pang of guilt stabbed through him and once again he wondered if what he had done had been right. True he had saved a life, probably only to just destroy it, and yet, who was he to play God? And how will the boy react when he wakes up and finds out what's been done to him?

Jakob took a deep breath and shook his head. There was no point in worrying over his decision now. Worrying won't change anything.

He opened the door and stepped outside, shutting the door behind him. A cold breeze cut through his jacket like a knife, coating his skin in goose bumps. He tucked the books and letter under his arm and stared up at the sky. A thick blanket of dark grey storm clouds churned above his head, threatening to pour rain on him at any second.

Jakob swiftly walked down his porch steps and started to make his way towards the docks. The streets were empty; everyone was holed up inside their homes to avoid the storm. The deserted, shadow covered streets just fueled his fear.

He made sure to stay underneath the comforting glow of the streetlamps, constantly looking over his shoulder, and whenever he came across a dark spot he practically ran until another streetlamp bathed him in a yellow glow.

By the time the docks came into view, he was coated with a fear induced, cold sweat and was gasping for breath. The soft slap of water and low rumbling of thunder mixed with the sound of his heavy breathing as he desperately scanned the dock for his messenger.

Jakob frantically looked around the docks twice before he saw the large raven resting on the end of a pier, the bird's black feathers easily blending in with the dark surroundings.

Relief bursting inside him, Jakob quickly made his way to the bird, stone road changing to wooden platforms under his feet.

The Raven looked up as he came closer and squawked in disapproval. "Took you long enough." The bird's glittery eyes regarded his pale demeanor curiously. "What's wrong? Afraid of a little storm?"

"Oh, no." Jakob smiled grimly. "That's not what I am afraid of." He looked up at the sky and frowned. "Are you sure you can fly all the way to America?"

The Raven squawked and ruffled her feathers irritably. "Of course I can! Though I wish you had hurried up. Flying in rain does not please me."

"I apologize for the inconvenience." Jakob said. "I was not aware of the weather. But I do appreciate your willingness to help me, that is, if you are still willing. I do not want to pressure you into doing something you wish not to do."

The Raven rolled her eyes. "You Grimms always had a way with words. Hand it over."

Jakob smiled, glad that she was still willing to fly to America. He didn't think he could have waited another day.

He handed the giant bird the letter and the magical book. His fingers lingered on the book a moment too long and he forced himself to release it when the Raven looked at him with curiosity.

"You keep strange company for a man who has supposedly separated himself from our kind." The Raven cocked her head, her beady eyes narrowing. "First dragons, and now me. What are you up to, Grimm?"

"Make sure it goes straight to my brother and no one else." Ignoring her question he held his journal out to her. The hairs on the back of his neck rose and a cold chill prickled between his shoulder blades. He spun around and gasped, fear immobilizing him.

Standing in the shadows was a barely perceptible shape of a human, a blotch of shadows darker than the night. Though someone couldn't visibly determine if the person was female or male, Jakob knew it was a man. And Jakob knew who . . . what he was.

Lightning flashed, a silvery streak that sliced through the dark sky. The flash lit up the dock like it was daylight, and the man disappeared.

The lightning diminished, plunging the dock into darkness again. Over the answering thunder, Jakob heard the Raven shriek in fright. He spun around just as the bird took to the air, frantically flapping her wings. His journal, which had been in both her claws and his hand, fell into the dark water with a plop.

Completely oblivious, Jakob turned and ran; fear giving him a speed he never knew he had as the storm clouds above seemed to decide to skip the sprinkle and pour rain onto him. He raced down the street, slipping on the now wet road, running faster whenever he left the safety of the streetlamps' light and was forced to run into darkness.

A half choked sound of fear escaped from his mouth just as his foot caught on a stone. Jakob sprawled onto the hard cobblestone road, the rocks painfully scraping his palms and knees. He quickly scrambled to his feet and half limped, half ran under a streetlight.

He leaned back against the pole, gasping for breath as his eyes frantically scanned the shadows for any sign of movement. His heart leaped in fear when he saw two eyes, somehow darker than the air around him, staring at him from the edge of the light.

"Give it to me." A voice as cold as ice hissed.

Jakob shook his head, his whole body shaking in fear. "No."

"GIVE IT!" A patch of shadow suddenly lunged forward, eyes and mouth just holes in the darkness.

Jakob screamed and pushed away from the streetlamp, racing down the street towards his home. He knew no matter how loud he screamed, no one would come out and help. They would just look out their windows to see him running from some invisible monster and think that he'd finally lost the little sense he had left.

A furious, inhuman scream echoed behind him as he ran up his steps and burst into his home. He slammed the door behind him and leaned against it, his heart pounding loudly inside his chest.

This was it. There was no denying that. He had gotten himself into this mess and there was no way he was going to get out of it.

Jakob could feel it coming, a coldness covered his skin as it got closer, and then his eyes landed on the open bedroom door.

No! Panic filled him and Jakob lunged across the room, closing the door just as the shadows in his house grew darker.

Jakob backed up, standing as close to the candle as he could.

"Nowhere to run now."

The voice echoed around the room, oddly faint.

"It's consuming you, isn't it?" Jakob whispered, his heart pounding in his chest. "The curse."

"Yess." The word came out sounding like the sigh of a dying man.

"If you don't get it tonight, it'll be too late." Jakob's hand flew up to his throat and he grasped the amulet, power flooding through him. "Well, you're not getting it. Not while I'm alive."

"Ahh, but you won't be alive for long."

Jakob took a step back. "But you forget about the amulet's power." He tired to put confidence in his voice but it came out covered in fear. "You're cursed and as long as I'm wearing it, it won't let you anywhere near me."

A soft chuckle echoed around the room, sending shivers down the man's spine.

"But I don't have to touch you to kill you. I don't even have to come near you."

Before Jakob could say anything, a streak of shadow shot out from the dark like a bullet, hitting him square in the chest and knocking him against the desk.

Jakob let out a gasp of surprise and fell to the floor, clutching at his chest. An unbearably cold feeling had settled inside of his chest, it felt like his insides were made out of ice.

"What did you do?' Jakob gasped and scanned the shadows that waited behind the measly ring of light the candle provided until he saw him, a much darker shape crouched amidst the shadows.

"Tell me, Jakob." Cruel amusement filled the voice and Jakob could feel the smirk on the monster's face. "How can you live if you can't breathe?"

Suddenly the cold feeling in his chest wrapped around his lungs, squeezing them in an icy grip that squashed out all the air. Jakob gasped but no air would come in. His eyes widened in panic and pain as the crushing feeling in his chest intensified.

"You'll . . . never. . . find . . . the others." He painfully gasped.

Another chuckle filled the air and the dark shape moved, as if cocking its head at him. "I wouldn't be so sure about that. Thanks to you, I have an eternity to look for them."

Jakob collapsed on the floor, tears leaking out of his eyes, his hands clutching at empty air. It felt like a Jabberwocky was sitting on his chest, squashing his bones and forcing the air out of his lungs.

Wilhelm. His mouth moved but no sound came out. His brother's face flashed before his eyes and he prayed that his little brother was safe. A hazy darkness shrouded his vision and he felt his body go weak. His brother's face was replaced by the blonde woman's and Jakob felt a sorrow, greater than the pain that crushed his chest, fill him, a sorrow for words not said. Another face flashed in his vision, this one much younger than the rest and guilt replaced the sorrow.

I'm sorry Jakob mouthed and then the life seeped out of his eyes, leaving them blank and staring.

A cold laughter filled the air as the candle's flame burned out, plunging the room in shadows.

A/N- Just a little warning, it might take me about a week to update new chapters. I really want this story to be good, so I'm trying to take my time writing the chapters.

Please review! Helpful criticism is accepted, hateful words are not. =D