Door 160B

Chapter 5

"Hey Hecht," I greeted the old guard that sat outside the gate. The Godmothers were very private people. Most of them retired here in Italy and resided at the edge of this old city just before the cobblestone roads faded away to dirt and farmland. This large, old building wasn't a house or a mansion, no it was a fortress that sat peacefully and embassy like at the hills peak. The Godmothers were the strangest group to belong to. It's members varied from housewives to political feminist. That was it. They always had 2 kinds of women.

It was apparent that Hecht now was looking both me and Cyn over before he let us in. My feet were starting to hurt in my knee high brown leather high heel boots, but Hecht spoke before I could comment.

"Haven't seen you around in awhile. I see the old bitties finally found you 2. I applaud you for your hiding. How's the aunt?" Hecht asked. His southern lit coming out as he talked and turned around to unlock the gate.

"I haven't seen Caro in awhile, and we haven't been hiding!" I bristled at his jab, but Cyn being ever the peacekeeper when my calm demeanor was disturbed stepped in then.

"I'm sure you are aware my brother's been looking for a mate now that he is leading the Brothers," Cyn said coming next to me as she put a hand on my shoulder.

"I have and I meant nothing by it," he responded looking straight into my eyes. I nodded and shook Cyn's hand off, walking through the gates onto the Red Queen's land.

***

I plopped down into my seat next to Cyn which was right across the birthday girl herself. "So Sophia I heard you wanted to speak with," I asked the old Godmother. I decided to choose my words carefully when it came to the old bitty. Both Cyn and I knew we wouldn't get any answers out of her if she felt "disrespected". Of course my brain found a loophole in choosing whatever tone I wanted; though it didn't seem to get by her this time.

"Listen up you little crumpet," the woman wagged her finger at me. Cyn leaned back, trying not to laugh while I pursed my lips, crossed my arms, and slumped in my chair. Though the English woman continued," I, Sophia of the Godmothers, will not be talked to be talked to that way ever. Never in my life have I heard such an adolescent use such language with me," she harrumphed. I looked over at Cyn who always seemed to have a knack for talking with her. Cyn saw my look of exasperation because to be honest I have no idea what I said wrong.

"Mrs. Gardener—"

"Please call me Sophia, Cynthia," I slid further down my chair.

Cyn smiled and worked her charm with the purple haired bitty that I knew was faking her innocence. Damn, I wished she was my grandmother; maybe my mother would have been more tough against pain and people in general.

"Your brother I hear has been looking for a mate now that your father has passed on and he is the Brothers' fearless leader," it wasn't a question it was a statement and now I stood up straight. Cyn and I didn't need to share a look to know we were approaching thin ice.

Cyn stiffened and her face went grimm as she responded," Yes as far as I've heard from him."

"Well in that case," Sophia put down her tea cup," I have a proposal to make."

"If this has to do with Hyatt's mating shouldn't he be here for this?" I asked.

The room went silent, and I flinched, when she took her large oak cane and pounded it against the floor. She stood when she knew everyone's eyes were on her. "Now when I was young, marriages were arranged by the male and female's elders, and their offspring was raised among its own kind until it was time to choose."

She paused and rounded the table to stare down at me. "The elders who chose these matches were us women,"she said raising her fist and shaking it. "That is why, Crumpet, I am able to do so. Cynthia, I happen to like your brother and it would mean great pride to me to have my granddaughter marry into such an established family," she hit the table by me with her cane causing everyone to flinch," because Cynthia since your mother has passed on it is now upon you to make sure your brother has a proper match."

Sophia stared daggers at us until she must of felt we were terrified enough for her to smile. "Now I would like you to meet my granddaughter—"

"Scarlet?!" I screeched, standing up.

"Yes. How do you know my granddaughter?" Sophia asked.

Scarlet further emerged from the crowd. She looked the same as she always had red wavy hair, brown eyes, and her short, curvy exterior. While I had always thought her pretty, her face was now caked with powder. I knew her back when my old self reigned. Back when I still knew Shannon, Eva, Ella, and...maybe I did leave behind more then I thought.

Shannon stepped forward, emerging from the crowd to stand next to Scarlet and said," We knew her in another life."

***

a/n

Sorry this chapter took so long to publish. I wrote it down but it takes me so long to type. Read, enjoy, vote, and comment!

-KAL :)