Needle and Thread

X: Nedra Needles

When all seems to be over for the other world, The Beldam lays on the hard wood floor in defeat. Her severed hand made of sewing needles has failed it's mission to be Coraline back with the key. She felt her strength she build up all those years now snatched away and set free. The Beldam desperately crawls to find her own eyes again that were torn by the claws of the vermin. She sobs out of desperation to see clearly again, crushed by the defeat of that horrible cheating girl. 

"Have you lost something, my dear?" The Beldam froze, if she did had blood it would turn to ice. A chill ran through her exposed spine through her water down gown. That voice belonged to someone she used to know and once loved. Her mother. Nedra Needles.

"Mother?" The Beldam uttered still frozen, unable to move from the fear. 

Nedra looked down at her eldest, waiting her daughter to find her eyes. With a wave of her hand the buttons reappear on Sewlona's face making her see once more.  She could see everything now it was all crystal clear. The Beldam looked up seeing her mother standing before her. In her red wine dress that exposed her ankles, her hair long and waving like seaweed underwater. But there was something in mother's she had never seen them before. There is love in them, just empty hollow eyes inside. 

"I came here for the very last visit before I ascend to heaven." Before her daughter could respond, Nedra continued on.

"I am vastly disappointed in you. You murdered me to have Thimbella to yourself, you captured children to use their vitality and strength, and now were here after your defeat."

The accusations from her mother stung, but made her daughter's blood (she used to have) boil with rage. How dare she scorn her like this? She had done what her mother told to her to do, in order to remain alive in this wretched world. 

"But you told me I had to find human vessels to remain alive here! Don't you remember when first met you?!" The Beldam screeched which made Nedra widen her eyes in surprise. Never has her eldest daughter ever spoke in such a matter. But she was right, she had told her this from their visit. 

"I won't deny I have. It didn't expect for you to capture children. If I had the time to tell you the details." She puts her hand on her forehead as if experiencing a terrible headache. Regretting saying this from the start. Thankfully from the underworld Nedra was able to observe what was happening in the other world her eldest daughter had created in her own image. There was that blue haired that she was called Coraline, and the Cat that used to be her son in law. Unmending Sewlona's and her wrongs in the process. The souls of the three children that were held prisoners were free and now in a better place. 

"I am to blame for that misunderstanding. But I need to know why? Why did you kill me on that night?"

The Beldam remained silent as she sit on the sofa that used to be bright red and the shape of a fat larvae. Now looked as though it had been tarnished along with the rest of the bug furniture she created with magic to show Coraline how vivid that world could. Yes, The Beldam had to hide herself in the living room to not ruin the surprise. 

"I had to...not for Thimbella, not for me, but for yourself." The Beldam admitted, tapping one of buttons eyes. Making sure they still intact.

"Myself? You think I wanted to end my life. No! I needed to protect you and your sister from those ungodly witch hunters. I saw what happened before you came here. They chased you away and how the rest of the story." Nedra said.

"I had to reach out because I didn't want to be alone and rot in this Hell you left me in!" The Beldam rose, glaring at her mother with so much hate. Nedra seemed rather calm, not surprised that her eldest spoke in such a manner. She knew it would happen and accepted. (Not because she was psychic of anything, really.) Just then, a speck of light appeared from above and grew wider. Was it sunlight? Was it possible for a sun to appear in the other world? No, the lights it was from the heavens calling for Nedra to come. The Beldam took a few steps away afraid if touching could kill her. Before Nedra could stand on the spot from the where the light was shone at the center of the living room, she wanted to share news with her daughter. Something important that was nearly forgotten until now. 

"Sewlona, I forgive you and you are still my daughter. Oh, I almost forgot you're sister has given birth to healthy baby girl."

The Beldam consumed those words carefully. Thimbella had a baby, a girl. She was now an aunt! Oh, how much she wanted to she her newborn niece and how beautiful she was... If only she wasn't trapped.

"One of these days you'll see Frimly. I promise you!" Those were the final from her mother, before she ascended up to heaven. From all those years, she has a place to be forever happy. The Beldam was happy that Thimbella is okay, their mother having the chance to ascend...

But still there was a hole in her chest that bothered, she couldn't leave her prison. Not without the Key Coraline and tried to retrieve it back with her disembodied hand. That is until... 

Something moved from the corner of her eye. It was that vermin, that Cat. How much The Beldam hated those creatures with her life. 

"What do you want?" she hissed at it.

"This." The Cat said dropping an object it held in it's mouth. The Beldam picks up to see it was The Key. The Black button key she made for her visitors to come. She looked at it of it's beauty hand made with care and caution. 

"Where did you get this?" For once The Beldam didn't look at the Cat with disgust, but with curiosity. As the Cat spoke that Coraline and her friend Wybie had thrown it in the well, not knowing that lead back to this world.  Once it came The Cat had obtained it or it would have been forever forgotten in the shallow depths. 

"Now you can visit Thimbella as you wish."

"N-no, I can't! If I leave here I'll die."

"You won't, but when you do, disguise yourself. You're magic still remains."

At nightfall, using the rats making sure the other side was clear from anyone wandering. The Beldam left now in disguise as a human with no button eyes or cracked pale glass-like skin or spider limbs. A human she was before, her old self. The Cat had to guide her to where her younger sister and niece lived. 

Nedra looks up to see the huge golden gates of heaven open dramatically with a whine. She was no was wearing red, but pearly white or ivory. This place was truly bright and could leave a smile onto anyone's face. 

"Nedra?" A familiar voice startled her, she turns to face she longed to see for years in the afterlife. Sean. Her husband had to made to heaven, thank goodness! They made a tight embrace, tears welling up in their eyes. 

"I thought I never see you again!" 

"So did I! Why don't we see how are daughters are doing right now shall we?" As the two find a cloud spying on their daughters from below. Sewlona and Thimbella were reunited, though Sewlona was herself again happy once more. Even more so with her niece Frimly. Frimly looked at her aunt with her doe eye and button eye with curiosity then smiled at her with closed eyes. Nedra rested her head on Sean's shoulder seeing the family back together again.

"Our Granddaughter looks beautiful like our daughters, don't you think Sean?"

Sean looked at his wife making sure their eyes meet. Showing whatever he was to say was serious.

"She sure does, Nedra. She will grow up not only with beauty but with kindness, intelligence and-"

"And Magic?" Nedra saying it with Sean knowing what the last part would be said.

Sean nodded in agreement continued to watch his daughters with his wife in peace.