Dreaming Out Loud

Poison & Wine

Chapter 118:Poison & Wine

"What is taking him so long?" Ravenna complained impatiently, as she paced the garden.

"Patience...finding a person to trap in the tower is actually harder than it sounds," Gothel admonished. The Queen huffed.

"Have you thought about how you're going to administer the poison to your step-daughter yet? Because that will not be easy either," Gothel warned.

"No...the little retch is always surrounded by family and she'd never agree to be alone with me. It will have to be by surprise and the only time we're ever in the same room together is the weekly meetings," she mused, as she bit her bottom lip.

"But if I can get close enough by doing something to make her irate...I can thrust the vial toward her heart, assuming she doesn't have to drink it?" Ravenna questioned.

"No...if you break the vial, it takes an ethereal form and will infect whatever you aim it at," Gothel told her. Ravenna smirked.

"Excellent...then I think I know exactly how I will do this and then the Chernabog will help me make a quick escape," she replied, as they saw the beast flying over head. He had returned and there was an unconscious girl in his talons.

"You went for a Princess, I see?" Gothel stated, as he dumped the blonde youth at their feet and transformed back into his human form.

"She wandered away from her palace and into the woods. She made herself an easy target," he responded.

"Do you know this Princess?" Ravenna asked.

"I know of her. This magical forest is divided into three territories. There is the southern marsh region, ruled by Queen Eudora and her daughter Tiana. Then there is the central plains region, which is ruled by King Wesley and his son Prince Gregor. Both are benevolent rulers, but will be easily overthrown when the time comes. Then there is the northern region, Corona, which is ruled by King Frederic and Queen Arianna," she explained, as she looked down at the girl.

"And this is their daughter, Princess Rapunzel. This seems like fate," Gothel mused.

"What do you mean?" Frollo questioned.

"Years ago...I almost stole this very newborn Princess to put in the tower so I could come and go as I pleased while I cultivated by potion and ultimate plan. But then I realized that the only way I would eventually have the power I need was to have a child of my own," she answered.

"You have a child?" Ravenna asked. Gothel smirked.

"I did...but don't worry, I lack the humanity to care about her like most parents. She will only be useful to me when she is grown," Gothel replied, as she poofed the unconscious Princess into the tower.

"We should be going now. I'm eager to leave this place for greener pastures," Gothel said, as they followed.

Flashback

New York

Nearly 32 Years Ago

Kenneth Grimm arrived at the library that afternoon. His family had owned this library since its inception, but it was no ordinary library. Housed within these walls was a room that was off limits to ordinary patrons. It was the room where he housed all the books of story that his family had been long guarded with protecting. His ancestors, two brothers of the same last name, had been the original authors to pen stories based upon the fantastical things they had witnessed; such stories that were thought only to be fairy tales and myths now. His ancestors had taken a lot of creative liberties in those stories and over the years, many other authors had created their own versions. But within the last century, Kenneth's grandfather, Alistair Grimm had decided that they needed a real account of all those stories as they had actually happened and were still happening. These stories would not be for mass production or consumer consumption. These accounts were to be historical with no author manipulation. It was an undertaking that he needed help with though, so he had traveled to one of the few supernatural meccas in this land without magic.