“No, really, Gothel! We just did a very powerful spell to bring our sister back! If we give too much of ourselves away, then we won’t have—”
“Wait? Where did you get that spell?” asked Gothel.
“What do you mean?” asked Lucinda, trying to sound innocent, though thoroughly unconvincing.
“You know exactly what I mean! You got it from one of my mother’s books, didn’t you?”
“Yes, it’s a variation of one of your mother’s spells. I think you might find it very interesting, Gothel. If you would sit down and calm yourself, I will tell you about it. It concerns you, actually. I found it when we were looking for something to help your sisters when we were in the dead woods. Your mother—”
“I can’t believe this! I may not be magical, but I’m not stupid! You didn’t go to the dead woods to help me! You wanted my mother’s magic!”
“Gothel, please calm down! I’m getting the tea! Every conversation is better over tea!” said Ruby, still fumbling in the cupboards for the teacups.
“And cake, don’t forget the cake!” called Martha.
“Yes, cake! Let’s slice the cake,” said Ruby, clapping her hands, clearly very excited about the cake.
“Sisters, please! Stop with the cake!” said Lucinda. Then, patting Gothel’s hand, she said, “Gothel, listen to me. We told you we wanted access to your mother’s books. We never kept that from you. What is this all about?”
“Did you even give me my mother’s blood?” Gothel’s entire face changed. She seemed more like a woman who should be the queen of the dead than the odd sisters had ever expected. A queen without her lands.
“What?” asked Lucinda, taking her hand off Gothel’s like it hurt her to touch it.
“You heard me! Was that actually my mother’s blood you gave me? Jacob warned me you would destroy the dead woods! He told me you would take everything from me!”
“Of course that was your mother’s blood!” said Ruby, becoming hurt and angry.
But Gothel wasn’t listening. “What really happened to the rest of my mother’s blood? Did you take it? What am I thinking? Of course you did! How else would you have the power to bring your sister back?”
“Gothel, that is enough! After everything we have done for you! This is how you treat us?” said Lucinda.
Ruby rushed over to Gothel, her hands trembling. “Gothel, here, take this.” Ruby handed her a cup of tea. “You really need to calm down. You’re starting to upset Lucinda! And look at Martha, she’s ripping her dress!”
“I’m not ripping my dress! You were just ripping yours!” said Martha, her eyes wild.
Gothel saw there was dirt caked under Ruby’s nails when she handed Gothel her tea. “Ruby! What’s that?” She tried to snatch Ruby’s hand, but Ruby pulled it away too quickly.
“What’s what?” asked Ruby, quickly putting her hands inside the pockets of her skirt.
“On your hands! What’s that on your hands?” Gothel demanded.
“Oh! I don’t know.” She shoved her hands deeper into her pockets. “What’s wrong with you, Gothel? You’re acting deranged!” Ruby said, backing away from Gothel. “I think it’s time we cut the cake!”
“Take your hands out of your pockets right now! I want to see them!” said Gothel, raising her voice and advancing on Ruby, causing her to back away again and knock into the kitchen counter.
“No!” screamed Ruby. “I won’t! Stay away from me, Gothel!” Ruby started to panic. “Lucinda, Lucinda, calm her down! Get her away from me!” Ruby ran to the big round window and covered her ears. “Get her away from me! Get her away from me!” She said it again and again, but Gothel didn’t let Ruby’s fit distract her.
“Let me see your hands!” Gothel insisted.
Ruby nervously looked from Gothel to Lucinda to Martha. “Gothel, calm down right now or Lucinda will put you to sleep, I’m warning you!”
“Show me your hands!” screamed Gothel. Her face was contorted with rage, frightening Martha, who was laughing nervously and trying her best to make light of the situation. Lucinda just stared at Gothel with a mixture of horror, resentment, and heartbreak on her face.
“Stop it, Gothel! You’re ruining everything! How are we supposed to have cake and tea with you acting so hysterical?” asked Martha.
Lucinda smiled. “Go ahead, Ruby, show her,” she said in a very serious matter-of-fact tone, causing all the women in the room to stop their theatrics and turn their attention to her. “Don’t be nervous, dear. Gothel can’t hurt you,” she said reassuringly. “After all, Gothel isn’t even a witch.”
Ruby and Martha gasped—and Gothel looked as if she had been smacked in the face. She was hurt by hearing Lucinda say that aloud. She had known it was true. She had known it in her heart, but to hear Lucinda say it like that, with so much malice, made it seem real for the first time.