“But what about the chests from the vault, where are they?”
“We put the gold in the cellar, along with your sisters. You have the only key, Gothel. It’s in your bedside table drawer. Mrs. Tiddlebottom has the keys to the rest of the house, of course.”
“Where are my books?”
“In the sitting room. We’ve made it into a library for you. I promise we’ve arranged everything, while you’ve been sleeping.”
“How long has it been?” asked Gothel, looking at the floral-patterned wallpaper. It was a pleasant deep brown and dusty rose. So different from her old home.
“Just a few days, Gothel. We’ve only been here a few days,” said Lucinda.
“I feel like I’m living in an entirely different world,” Gothel said, looking out the window at the sea of wildflowers and pink blossoming trees.
“You are, my dear, but it’s a beautiful world, isn’t it?”
“I suppose so,” said Gothel. “Lucinda?”
“Yes, dear?”
“How long was I asleep in the dead woods?”
“A very long time, Gothel. More time than I even realized had passed until I heard from Jacob.”
“I need to go down to the cellar. I’m guessing Jacob packed my mother’s blood with the other things from the vault,” Gothel said, trying to get up but feeling faint.
“Let me. You’re still rather weak. What should I look for?” Lucinda asked.
“A glass bottle of blood with a wax-sealed cork. It should be inside a wooden chest.”
“I’ll be right back! I’ll send Mrs. Tiddlebottom up with some tea,” said Lucinda as she fished the key out of the bedside table drawer.
Gothel had woken up in a world she didn’t quite care for. It was a world without magic. Without Jacob.
A world without her sisters.
She had never imagined living in a world without them. She hardly knew what to do next. What was her life without the dead woods, without her sisters? Everything she knew had been destroyed or murdered. Even her beloved Jacob and his army were likely dust, her family home probably destroyed.
All so some ailing queen could have her precious flower.
Gothel was brought out of her musings by the sound of Mrs. Tiddlebottom’s clearing her throat at the threshold of her room.
“Hello, my lady. Your sister asked that I bring up some tea.”
“My sister?” asked Gothel. “Are my sisters here? Where are they?”
“Yes, my lady. Lady Lucinda has gone down to the cellar for something. The ladies Ruby and Martha are in the library,” said Mrs. Tiddlebottom, giving Gothel a sad smile.
“Ah, yes, of course. Thank you.”
“You poor dear. Your sister said you were still a little befogged after such a long illness. Now don’t you worry, I will stuff you with your favorite foods, and hopefully liven your spirits!”
“Thank you, Mrs. Tiddlebottom,” said Gothel, taking the tea.
“Now you drink that all up, Lady Gothel.”
“Please just call me Gothel.”
“And you can just call me Mrs. T,” said Mrs. Tiddlebottom with a smile.