The Odd Sisters (Villains 6)

But Snow White knew she probably wouldn’t tell Circe. She didn’t want to burden her with more wild notions about the odd sisters until she was sure.

And besides, she didn’t think she would find anything just yet, not until she visited Gothel’s old library. She wished she had thought of it when they went to check on Mrs. Tiddlebottom before coming back to Morningstar. She supposed she would have to invent a reason to go back there on her own.

Circe found Nanny and the Fairy Godmother sitting down to a pot of tea in the beautiful sunlit morning room. The large glass double doors were open to the garden, which was in full bloom. Nanny looked up from her conversation with her sister when Circe walked in.

“Circe, did you speak to Snow? Has her mother tried contacting her?”

“No, I don’t think she can. I enchanted the house so no one can come in—even through the mirrors. Except for me.” Circe sat down and helped herself to the tea and cakes that sat there, untouched. Both fairies looked distressed, their brows furrowed in exactly the same fashion, and for the first time, Circe noticed the similarities between the sisters. They didn’t look like sisters, really, but they acted like sisters, and they shared some of the same mannerisms. But there was something more. Circe couldn’t explain it. There was a bond between them Circe hadn’t noticed before. A bond surely formed in the wake of Maleficent’s death.

“Did you tell her she should go back to her own kingdom?” asked Nanny as Circe poured tea into the delicate rose-patterned teacups. Circe shook her head. The truth was that Circe had been tempted to, but she just couldn’t bring herself to send Snow back to her old life. Not until Snow was ready. She wanted her to face her possessive mother a stronger woman. And now more than ever she wanted to keep her close, since she knew her mothers’ hatred had originally been directed at Snow before Grimhilde diverted their attentions.

“I knew it was a terrible idea, bringing that girl here,” said Nanny, her hand shaking, spilling her tea all over the tablecloth.

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nbsp; “She isn’t a girl, she’s a grown woman! And what would you have me do? Ship her off to her horrible mother? Doom her to spending her days endlessly consoling her mother for trying to kill her as a child? That is not a life!” Circe could see Nanny was upset, so she reined in her anger. “Nanny, I’m sorry, I couldn’t bring myself to tell Snow her mother threatened us. She would have insisted on leaving right away,” she said, looking at Nanny and realizing she was more than upset. “Nanny, are you all right? When was the last time you slept or ate something? Your hands are shaking.”

Nanny patted Circe’s hand tenderly. Her powdery soft skin felt like thin vellum to Circe. She seemed much more delicate to Circe now, almost fragile, and it made Circe worry to see Nanny so exhausted. She wanted to bundle her up right then and there, tuck her into a cozy bed, and surround her with soft pillows. She was tempted to put a sleeping spell on her, just so the old woman could get some rest. So she could dream and be at peace.

“The last thing I need is to be trapped in the land of dreams with your mothers, Circe. The queen Grimhilde will move heaven and earth to get her daughter back, and if your mothers do manage to bring Maleficent back, you need my help,” said Nanny wearily.

“What do you mean trapped with the odd sisters? Who said anything about sending you there?” The Fairy Godmother was beside herself.

“No, dear. I’m sorry. I forget you can’t read minds. Circe thinks I could do with an enchanted sleep.”

The Fairy Godmother yawned. “Well, I think we all could, what with dragons attacking the castle, and the ghost of Grimhilde threatening us! You know who we have to blame for this, don’t you?” The Fairy Godmother gave Circe an apologetic smile and continued. “I’m sorry to say it, dear, but this is all your mothers’ fault! I daresay they won’t ever be getting out of the dreamscape, not if we can help it!” The Fairy Godmother stood up on wobbly legs and tottered over to Circe, then snatched the enchanted mirror from her hands and muttered apologies. “I’m sorry, my dear. Now, please, if you don’t mind, we should try to find your mothers before they raise everyone they’ve murdered from the dead and turn them against us!”

Circe rolled her eyes. “That’s a bit dramatic, don’t you think? My mothers don’t have the power to raise the dead! Certainly not Ursula. Maleficent, maybe, since she just passed.” Circe doubted her own words but found it hard to entertain anything the Fairy Godmother said, because she was so histrionic and set in antiquated ways.

“They trapped Grimhilde’s soul in one of their magic mirrors! Who knows what other dark powers they possess? Ursula and Maleficent may swoop upon us at any moment!” Circe sighed but said nothing as she glared at the Fairy Godmother. “What? Share your thoughts!” snapped the Fairy Godmother, giving Circe a dirty look, which had until that moment been out of character for her.

“Well, if those women had had fairies to protect them, perhaps they wouldn’t be dead and now at the whim of my mothers!”

The Fairy Godmother looked like she might faint at the prospect. “What in the Fairylands are you suggesting, young lady?”

Circe tried to make her voice sweet. “I’m suggesting we rethink who benefits from fairy magic. Shouldn’t it be our duty to help all those in need?”

“If I recall,” the Fairy Godmother said shrewdly, “you haven’t yet accepted our offer to make you an honorary wish-granting fairy. And if this is the way you intend to conduct yourself in the name of the Fairylands, giving help to the likes of those horrible creatures, then I think I may reconsider the offer!” The Fairy Godmother eyed Circe reproachfully.

Just then, Tulip bounded into the morning room, all smiles. “Well, I don’t know what Oberon will think of that!” she said. The Fairy Godmother flinched at Oberon’s name, remembering his rebukes when he first arrived at Morningstar. Circe snickered, and then smiled at Tulip’s outfit, taking delight in her suspicion that it likely scandalized the Fairy Godmother. And she was right.

“What in the Fairylands are you wearing, young lady?” Fairy Godmother was shaking with disapproval, but Tulip just laughed it off. Circe tried not to laugh, herself.

“Oh, Circe, I am so happy to see you!” The ladies kissed each other on the cheeks, laughing in their joy of reuniting—and at the Fairy Godmother’s reaction, though it made them feel slightly guilty to do so.

“Tulip! Look at you. You’ve become quite the lady since I saw you last!” Tulip looked radiantly happy.

“I wouldn’t say she looks like a lady at all!” the Fairy Godmother huffed. “Wearing trousers! It’s a scandal!” Tulip just laughed again at the Fairy Godmother’s fussing.

“And what would you have me wear while romping with the Tree Lords? Oberon agrees it’s very sensible.”

The Fairy Godmother wrinkled her nose at Tulip. “What does your young prince think of you romping around, as you put it, with the Tree Lords—in trousers, no less! Shouldn’t you be planning a wedding, my dear?”

Tulip gave the Fairy Godmother one of her flashing smiles, which meant she was trying not to become impatient with the meddling old woman. “Well, if you really must know, my dear sweet Popinjay also thinks my outfit is very sensible! And I have no intention of marrying him or anyone. Who has time for wedding planning when I have so much work to do with Oberon, restoring the land after it was devastated in the battle? Seriously, Fairy Godmother, don’t be so old-fashioned.”

Nanny smiled. “Well, don’t let your mother hear you talking like that. I think she’d share my sister’s opinion.”

“I know she would!” snapped the Fairy Godmother.