“Very good,” said Lucinda, laughing. “Sisters. You heard Gothel. Take care of this simpleton while I wipe Mrs. Tiddlebottom’s memory.”
Gothel and the odd sisters locked the cellar door, hiding away all their secrets from prying eyes while they got up to their skullduggery. Rapunzel was still in an enchanted sleep and wouldn’t wake until the odd sisters chose to wake her. Mrs. Tiddlebottom was spirited out of the cellar and up to her room after they altered her memory. Then the foul witches quickly hid all Rapunzel’s things. They ripped down her birthday banner and haphazardly packed up all her belongings, stuffing them into the cellar along with everything else they didn’t want Mrs. Tiddlebottom to happen upon.
Lucinda performed a remarkable memory charm that caused Mrs. Tiddlebottom to forget everything that had happened after the soldiers came to take the flower. She wouldn’t remember Gothel’s leaving, bringing the baby Rapunzel home, or having employed Mrs. Pickle, who had the misfortune of setting foot in such a wicked and demented household. The poor dear’s body was still lying on the cellar floor, locked away with the rest of the horrors lurking down there.
Rapunzel became just another possession. An implement to bring Gothel’s sisters back from the dead. A way to stay young forever. She wasn’t even a person in Gothel’s mind. Gothel only saw the flower.
The witches were looking forward to a long afternoon without interruption so they could devise their plans and go over what they should do differently the next time they performed the spell, but suddenly and with great surprise, Mrs. Tiddlebottom wandered into the parlor, looking quite disheveled and worse for wear. She was confused at finding Gothel and the odd sisters stuffing birthday cake into their mouths at an alarming rate.
“Oh, hello, Mrs. Tiddlebottom! What are you doing out of bed?” asked Gothel, annoyed but pretending to be concerned about the poor woman.
“Oh, Mrs.
Tiddlebottom, this is a magnificent cake!” squealed Ruby, spitting cake as she spoke.
“Oh, yes, you should try it!” said Lucinda, biting the head off a marzipan kitten.
“Lady Gothel, may I speak with you in the kitchen?” asked Mrs. Tiddlebottom, befuddled and horrified by the entire scene.
“Yes, of course, Mrs. T.”
Gothel followed the bemused Mrs. Tiddlebottom into the kitchen. She could see she was confused and probably a little featherheaded. “I’m surprised you’re awake, Mrs. T! You were quite woozy after your fall. I think you should go back to bed.”
“My fall, lady?”
“Oh dear, you don’t remember! You fell down the cellar stairs. I was so worried about you. I still am! Now, please, let’s go back upstairs.”
“The cellar, lady? I never go into the cellar.”
“I know, Mrs. T. I was just as surprised as you are. I think you were looking for me.”
“What are your sisters doing here? And why are you dressed that like?” asked Mrs. Tiddlebottom.
“Oh, I’m so sorry, Mrs. T. I hadn’t the opportunity to tell you I made peace with my sisters and asked them over for my birthday.”
“Your birthday? Oh, Lady Gothel, I didn’t know, or I would have baked you a cake!”
“Not to worry, Mrs. T. You’ve not been well. As you can see, Mr. Butterpants made me a lovely cake. You can bake one for me next time!”
“I feel so strange, lady. Maybe I should go back to bed?”
“Yes, Mrs. T. I think that might be for the best. You’ve had a very trying day.”
“Have I, lady?”
“Well, with being so unwell, I mean.”
“Yes.”
“I will bring up some tea in a little while, and a slice of Mr. Butterpants’s cake?”
“Yes please.”
Mrs. Tiddlebottom followed Gothel back to the parlor on her way up to her room and stopped abruptly. She stared into the parlor, dazed. Transfixed. She seemed to be looking for something. She didn’t even notice the odd sisters hovering over the cake, devouring it like wild beasts.
“What is it, Mrs. Tiddlebottom?” asked Gothel.
“I’m not sure. Something doesn’t feel right, like something is missing.”