Rapunzel, Rapunzel

Chapter 8 Unexpected Help

Chapter 8

Unexpected Help

BAM!

Gothel stumbled to the ground as the back of her sister’s hand slammed across her face. Sitting back up, Gothel rubbed the part of her cheek where the bulky silver ring on Rengonda’s hand hit.

“How could you, Gothel?” Rengonda stammered, throwing her hands in the air. “How could conceal from me the one thing I have been seeking for seventeen years?”

“She is not a thing,” Gothel said sharply. “She is a girl.”

“Fine.” Rengonda rolled her eyes. “But she is the daughter of a thief, a nobody.”

Gothel lost control of her tone. “She is not a nobody!”

Rengonda looked down at her sibling curiously and then spoke with feign sweetness. “Gothel dear, exactly how long did you hide this girl?”

Gothel’s heart started pounding heavily as she gazed down to the ground, knowing her response would not contrive a good reaction. “I have had her since she was a baby. Her parents brought her to me, knowing I would be able to keep her safe.”

“So let me get this straight,” Ren concluded, the sweetness in her tone draining away. “You purposely hid this girl, the key to the grapes I so desire, for the past seventeen years?”

Remaining silent, Gothel merely nodded, keeping her eyes to the ground. When she looked back up, she could have sworn she saw fire flaring in her sister’s eyes.

“Ren, you have to understand,” Gothel pleaded in desperation. “She is more than just a key to me. She is my…”

Rengonda kicked the table, already on its side, across the room and raised her hand for magic. “Give me one good reason I shouldn’t burst you into flames at this very moment.”

Gothel stared up at her own sister in horror. Was she actually planning to kill her?

“Rengonda, stop!” a voice came from the side as the door burst open. “What are you doing?”

Gothel turned her head to see Frederick dash forward between her and Rengonda.

“She betrayed me, Frederick,” the sorceress explained in a surprisingly mild tone. “Now, I have to punish her because of it.” She dangerously raised her hand, flames sparking from her fingernails. “Get out of my way or I will burn you along with her.”

“Rengonda, please,” Frederick pleaded. “She is your sister. I am sure she did not intend to wrong you. Please, give her a chance to make it right.”

Rengonda let out a huff, but lowered her hand. “Fine, but I want her locked up this instant.” When Frederick remained still, the witch raised her eyebrow and slammed her hands on her hips. “Frederick! Do it now!”

“You want me to do it?” Frederick asked uncertainly, taking a step back.

She took a dangerous step closer to him. “Is there a reason you cannot do this?” Rengonda then sighed, forcing her tone to soften. “Frederick, you do understand, right? She is the one who betrayed me, her own sister.” She placed her hand on his shoulder. “If anyone is the victim, it is I. Please, Frederick, help me.”

Frederick took one look into her eyes and let out a doleful sigh. “I am sorry, Gothel.”

As he knelt forward to pick her up, Gothel closed her eyes and prepared to conjure up her own magic. Rengonda, however, immediately caught sight of this and deflated it.