Mother Knows Best (Villains 5)

“Yes, my queen’s daughter. How may I serve you?” said Jacob in a voice that sounded remarkably human. Remarkably soothing.

“Sir Jacob. I have some questions I hope you can answer. My mother died before she could instruct us. We have no idea—”

“I understand. You don’t need to go on. Your mother anticipated you would come to me should anything ever happen to her. The first order of business is to put her at rest. She is trapped within the woods, waiting to be released into the mists that are waiting for her. Your ancestors are there, waiting for you to do the ceremony to send her spirit to be among them.”

“They’re here? Waiting?”

“Yes.”

“Are they angry with me for killing Mother?”

“That is not for me to say, little witch. But they have agreed to exchange your mother’s spirit for the knowledge you need to survive and thrive within the dead woods. Continuing the legacy is their priority, not revenge. Your mother spent a lot of time in this world, her life was not cut short. But you do need her knowledge and you need her blood if you’re going to rule here in her place.”

“But she was destroyed in the fire, all of her blood is gone.”

“Not all of it, little witch. That key you have in your pocket opens the vault. Within it you’ll find more than her fortune. There is a chest that contains your mother’s blood, and her spell book with the instructions you will need to take her blood. The chest is behind a secret door that can be opened by pressing the seventh stone from the top. But the blood is only for you, Gothel. Don’t share it with your sisters. That is your mother’s command.”

“It doesn’t matter what my mother commands!”

The specter nodded slightly. “I am bound to you and have to serve you no matter. I can only offer my advice, you are not required to take it.”

“What were you to my mother?”

“That is between me and your mother, little witch,” said the creature with something that resembled a twisted sad smile.

“I’m sorry, Jacob. I shouldn’t have asked you that.”

“Not to worry, little witch. Do you have more questions for me?” said Jacob with the same sneer-like smile. Gothel was starting to understand that was simply what happened when he smiled. His skin was so tightly stretched across his face that it distorted when he smiled or spoke. She found it oddly charming and wondered again what the man had looked like when he was alive.

“Do you know how Mother left the dead woods? To get things we needed for the house, like food, supplies?” she finally asked after realizing she had been staring at him for longer than would be considered polite.

“Those things are delivered by a neighboring village. A family that has worked in the world for us for many generations. They bring the supplies every new moon. If there is something you want, you only need to tell me, and I will be sure they fetch it.”

“So she never left the dead woods?”

“Never. Not that I am aware of, at any rate.”

“And you? How do you leave?”

“Your mother created an invisible portal for

me to come and go as I please. But it only allows me access. No one else may pass through it. What is it that you need?”

“I wanted to take my sisters into the world. To buy furnishings for the house. I want to make it beautiful so they will stay.”

“I will take care of that for you, Gothel. I will take care of it all. Please don’t ever try to leave the dead woods. You’re not meant to go beyond the thicket. That is why I am here. Your place is here.”

Sir Jacob’s eyes rolled back into his head, and he convulsed and started to sputter. “The station riders are far behind, the secret voices I cannot find. The stench of Hades is taunting me, and still those voices I cannot see.”

“What? What are you saying? What’s wrong, Sir Jacob?”

“Gothel! You betrayed me! If it wouldn’t anger our ancestors, I would make this forest rise to destroy you and your precious sisters! But I will not lose my place among my family and be forever doomed to haunt these lands. The satisfaction of seeing you and your sisters dead isn’t worth my eternal damnation.”

“Mother?”

“Yes, my blackhearted child.”

“You gave me no choice! You were going to kill my sisters!”