Rapunzel (Faerie Tale Collection) (4 page)

Finally the hair had completely unwound and began to drop about five feet below the window. Then all at once, Rapunzel watched it begin to grow and lengthen until it puddled on the grass at the woman’s feet. Rapunzel could not hold her head up under the new weight. Her eyes were inches from the stone railing as she leaned over the edge and braced herself on the railing. Her hair had always been long, but my goodness! Had anyone ever had hair that reached what looked to be forty feet or so?

It was so heavy, her head began to throb.

But the spell was not done. The new, longer hair began to twist and braid itself into a strong rope. “Ahhh!” More tears erupted as she felt the wrenching mass transform beneath her. She had to clutch the balustrade to keep from toppling over.

Once the rope was formed, the witch shouted, “Put your hair on the hook next to you!”

“What?” She tried to lift her head, but the bulk of the hair was too strong. “Put it on a hook?” Did she hear that right?

“Yes! Next to you. Look to your side. It will take the heaviness away so you can stand up straight.”

Rapunzel slowly craned her neck to first her left side, then her right. The witch was correct. There was indeed a large iron hook protruding from the wall. It was a little above her, about shoulder height, and right where the curved balcony met the tower.

She slowly began to heave up the hair in sections to lie over the barrier and on the balcony floor near her feet. Once she had gathered enough to make it easier to lift, she secured the braided hair on the hook.

“Now throw the rest of the rope down to me,” shouted the witch, “so that I may climb up there.”

Oh, no! What had she done? “No!” Rapunzel snatched the remaining hair and began to drag it up over the balcony, but the witch was faster. With a tug, the whole lot fell back down again, and Lady Vactryne began to climb up.

Frantically, Rapunzel looked around for something to cut the rope with, something to guarantee that the woman could not make it to her. Her movements were limited to just a few feet forward and backward with her hair on the hook, and there was nothing she could make out within her reach. She even attempted to remove one of the tower stones nearest her in a mad try to protect herself, but none were loose.

Then, all at once, she caught sight of the washbasin sitting upon the little dresser just out of her reach. Straining with all her might, and yanking a few hardy strands of hair in the process, she barely managed to stretch and wrap her fingers around the handle of the pitcher. In the next instant, her hand was clutching the pretty jug as she allowed her hair to pull her back to the balcony and peered over at the witch making her way up the rope. She was probably only ten feet from the top.

Without a moment to lose, Rapunzel threw the pitcher. Lady Vactryne shrieked and nearly lost her grip as it hit her face and bounced off to shatter on the ground below.

In a rage, the woman practically flew up the last of the rope and lunged at Rapunzel. The girl was still trapped, her hair anchored by the hook, as the witch beat her forcefully with her hands.

“You will never strike me again. Do you understand, Princess?” She spat in Rapunzel’s face as her words hurled out of her livid lips. “You will remember that I own you now! This is your new life, and I will not tolerate insolence again!”

Rapunzel cowered and attempted to shield herself from the blows of the witch, but it was too much. They were too fast. She muffled her whimpers and prayed the horror would end soon.

Finally, the fury died down. Rapunzel could hear the woman panting from exertion, but Rapunzel remained curled up, sitting in a ball, her hair stretched tight.

Lady Vactryne lifted her to her feet and then removed the rope from the hook. She whipped her around to face the hook and said very quietly, “If you so much as attempt to anger me in such a way again, I will place your neck on that hook.”

Rapunzel swallowed and nodded, her face stinging from the blows. “Forgive me,” she whispered.

THE WITCH LEFT RAPUNZEL, stepped into the circular room, and sighed. “I do not have to be so angry all the time. We can certainly get along, you and I.”

Rapunzel backed closer to the wall and watched the woman walk around the place.

“If you are good, you and I will be good. If you are bad, you and I shall be—” Lady Vactryne looked back and raised a brow. “Very bad. Do you comprehend?”

Rapunzel nodded her head, but still would not speak.

“Very well. As long as we understand each other.” She then walked to the fireplace, and with a snap of her fingers, it roared to life with a fresh log. A kettle hung from the brick just a few inches above the flames. The witch turned and snapped her fingers again. The empty area near the bed poofed into a kitchen cupboard brimming with accessories, food, and a charming little table with two chairs nestled near it.

The room itself seemed to expand to allow for the added items, remaining large and cozy enough for comfort.

“What do you like to do?” asked the witch.

“I beg your pardon?” Rapunzel was confused at the sudden change in the woman’s demeanor.

Lady Vactryne placed a long-fingered hand on her hip. “Do? What is it you like to do? How do you occupy your time?”

“Oh! Um . . .” Rapunzel glanced around the room, not certain why this was a necessary question, but afraid to anger the woman. “I love to ride my horse and explore and enjoy the outdoors.”

The witch snarled. “Inside. What do you prefer to do on rainy days when you cannot explore?”

Rapunzel blinked. She loved riding out on rainy days as well. “Uh, read, I suppose. I love to read. And play simple games, watercolor, sew a bit.” She shrugged. Those were all things her mother wished she would do more, but apart from reading, there were too many other fascinating things to do elsewhere.

“Very well.” The woman nodded. “What do you like to read?”

“Oh, anything. Facts, adventures, history, science.”

“Interesting.” The woman walked toward her and stopped a few paces away. “It is good to see that you have a lively, active mind. It will take you far.”

She did not know what to say. “Thank you.”

Lady Vactryne snapped her fingers, and a small bookcase appeared by Rapunzel’s trunks of clothing. On one shelf sat five books. On another, a basket brimful of yarns and threads and the like, and on another, a brand-new collapsible easel and box of paints.

“Oh!” The witch was providing her with entertainment. Rapunzel rushed to the books and quickly pulled out each one.

“They are books on several different subjects. Magical books.”

“What?”

“Each time you open the book that contains the subject you wish to read about, the words shall be different, and you shall learn and experience something new.”

Rapunzel slowly turned one of the books over. It was a beautiful maroon hardbound with gold leafing. “Are you jesting?” Her heart began to pound in excitement at the possibility.

“No. I never jest. I have given you five books. One on history around the world, one on interesting facts, one on the most modern technology and advances, one on particular memoirs and adventure stories, and one you did not mention, but I assumed you would like—fairy stories. A compilation of every fairy tale ever written.”

“Great heavens!” These were by far the most amazing books she had ever been given.

“Just a moment.” The witch snapped her fingers again. “There. Now, if you ever wish to reread a particular story or fact, you may simply ask the book to show it to you again, and it will.”

Rapunzel smiled for a moment, completely distracted by the prospect of such wondrous things. She placed the book back on the shelf and her mind drifted briefly to her mother, always reading to her before bed. Such happy memories . . . And then her stomach clenched. Her mother was stone! No number of magical gifts could replace that.

She glared at the witch. “Why have you done this to me? To my family? Why I am here? I do not understand your purpose.”

Lady Vactryne smirked. “You do not need to know my purpose, do you? You merely need to understand the rules of your new home so that I do not have to kill you.”

“Better I die than to be here with you!” Rapunzel flung out.

The witch flew at her and grabbed her jaw, her sharp nails digging into the sensitive flesh of Rapunzel’s throat. “Listen here, Princess,” she hissed in a frightening whisper. “Your impudence will serve no one. I suggest you remember that I am allowing you this opportunity and to be grateful that I have fitted you up in a room so nice as this. I did not have to.”

“Why?” Rapunzel gasped. “What do you want me for?”

Lady Vactryne pulled back. Her brown eyes flashed orange for a moment as she searched Rapunzel’s features. “Why would I want you? Why would I punish your family and turn them to stone?” She laughed, a slow smirk making its way upon her lips. “Do you not know the rule for those who steal from a witch?”

Rapunzel shook her head slightly, the nails still digging into her throat.

The witch’s eyes snapped to hers. Raising an eyebrow, she whispered, “Those foolish enough to take from one of such power as I have should know that I then can return any time I wish and take that which is most precious to them. Never, ever steal, my dear girl, or your fate may not be much better.”

So many questions rattled through Rapunzel’s mind, so much confusion and chaos. But mostly came the thought,
Are there really people as cruel as this in the world
?

Rapunzel gasped as the witch let her go and walked to the balcony. She watched the woman whisper some bit of nonsense and then traced her finger over the whole length of the balustrade railing.

“If you so much as attempt to escape from this home I have graciously provided for you, I shall know instantly.” Lady Vactryne turned and looked at her. “And then you will really pay for your disrespect.” She snapped her fingers, and shards of the fallen water pitcher flew from the ground into the air above them and reformed itself into a perfect container once more. It floated easily to the small dresser it had been upon. “As long as you are obedient and do not try to escape, the magic in this room shall remain. Meaning, you will always have food, water, and entertainment. If you choose to break away from my hospitality, the lessons you learn shall be quite harsh. Do not attempt to usurp my authority. Do you understand?”

Rapunzel had no notion what the woman could be planning, but she could not imagine her life in this place forever. She would escape somehow, someway, when the timing was right. “Yes, I realize what you are saying.”

“Good. Then we are in agreement. I shall leave you to get acquainted with your home and new lifestyle. It may take some getting used to, but you will be able to adjust well, I am certain.” Her skirts swished around her ankles as she gave a smirk and then said merely, “Good-bye,” before disappearing in a poof of grayish smoke.

JONATHAN’S HEART CLENCHED AS he left yet another abandoned home of the witch. Where was she? It had been over a week now and there was still no trace of his sweet Rapunzel. The hope he once had of finding her was slowly being replaced with dread. Something he thought would be quite simple to attain, he now understood to be much longer and harder than he could have imagined. Already he had sent word to school and to his father that he was putting off all other activities until his Rapunzel was home safe and her kingdom restored.

His outriders had combed the whole area, looking for any clue they could find to continue on with their search. Rapunzel’s servants, too, were actively interviewing and rewarding anyone who had information on the whereabouts of the witch. But it was all for naught. Nothing seemed to work. Instead, it had been an exhausting, worrisome road. Where was she?

He slowly made his way to his awaiting horse. Just as he was about to climb into the saddle, the bile in his stomach rose as he imagined the worst of his fears for a few moments. Instead, he grasped the leather horn and allowed the wave of nausea to glide over him. His beast did not move a fraction of inch and took his forlorn weight as he rested his cheek upon the smooth seat, weary.

Would he ever see her again? The pain of the thought was too much to bear and he winced. Enough, he scolded himself. It will do you no good to think right now. Just act. Move. Go. Find her.