The Odd Sisters

by Serena Valentino

  “Maleficent,” Circe asked, her voice shaking, “is that you?”

  “No.” A familiar pale face with large dark eyes appeared in the flames. “I have not seen the Dark Fairy in the world of mirrors. I believe she has passed beyond the veil.”

  “Grimhilde!” Nanny snatched the mirror from Circe’s shaking hand. “What do you want, witch?”

  “My daughter, of course. I’m giving you one day to return her to me. If she isn’t back home safely within her own castle by this time tomorrow, you will suffer the consequences.”

  “Snow will never forgive you if you do this,” whispered Circe.

  “How dare you speak for my daughter, you spawn of guile, insanity, wretchedness! Listen to me well: I will rain terror upon your heads if my daughter is not returned to me. You have until tomorrow!”

  The wicked queen’s face disappeared into the green mists, leaving the ladies awestruck and afraid.

  Snow had been reading the book of fairy tales since Circe left for the castle, so she decided to take a break and make some tea. She had been rereading Gothel’s story, going over some of the things the odd sisters had said that she found intriguing. Things they had said to Gothel about her mother, Manea. There seemed to be more behind their words, which often seemed to be the case with the odd sisters, but something about what Lucinda had said to Gothel in her last days resonated in Snow, and she felt there was a mystery to be solved. Her eyes were tired from long hours of reading, and she squinted at the sun coming through the round kitchen window that overlooked the apple tree. She wondered if it was the same apple tree from which her mother had plucked the apple that put her to sleep so many years before.

  Snow White.

  In a bit of a panic, Snow spun around, looking for the source of the otherworldly voice. Could she have summoned her mother by simply thinking of her? She suddenly felt very afraid of her mother. She felt like a young girl again. Afraid and alone.

  “Mother?”

  No, Snow, it’s me, Circe. Snow’s heart slowed.

  Snow looked around the room for the origin of Circe’s voice. And then she found it. Her cousin’s sweet face appeared in the mirror sitting on the kitchen table.

  “Oh, there you are! Is everything all right?” Snow asked, picking it up.

  Yes, dear. Everything is fine. I’m just checking in to see how you’re doing.

  “I’m fine, Circe, really. What’s going on? I can see something is bothering you.”

  So you’ve not heard from your mother? You looked frightened, Snow. What’s happened?

  “It’s nothing, Circe, really. What’s this about Mother? Has she done something?”

  No, dear. I just…I thought I heard you mention her. Don’t worry about it. I’m sorry to bother you, we have a situation here and it’s got me all muddled.

  “You’re not a bother, Circe. What’s the situation? Has it to do with my mother?”

  No.

  Snow could see Circe was keeping something from her. “Circe, you know I love you, but you can’t keep treating me like a child who needs to be protected. That’s how my mother treats me. Now, please, tell me what’s going on.”

  Circe sighed. “We received word that my mothers may be soliciting help to break them out of the dreamscape, and I’m worried, that’s all.”

  Snow White felt as if she might faint. She put her hand on the table to steady herself and sat down in a chair. “How? How will they break out?” She could see Circe looked concerned.

  “Oberon didn’t say. We’re trying to get more information. But, Snow, I promise you’re safe. We don’t even know if that’s the plan. They may just be trying to use powerful witches to do their bidding from the dreamscape. We’re not sure.”

  Snow White could tell Circe was leaving something out. “But who? Who will they use? My mother?” Circe’s expression changed.

  “I doubt Grimhilde would ever help my mothers. No, the fairies received word they were trying to lure Maleficent back from the other side of the veil to fight at their side against the fairies. They think they will try to bring her back to the living.”

  Snow White felt the strangest sensation. A sense that what Circe was saying was not only true, but possible. “Circe, since we read Gothel’s story, I’ve had a feeling, a suspicion I haven’t shared with you.”

  Circe looked back at Snow in the mirror. “What is it? Why haven’t you told me yet?”

  “Hold on, let me go get the book of fairy tales, it’s something I read in Gothel’s story.” Snow stood up, placing the mirror on the table. She retrieved the book and brought it back, opening to the page she had been reading earlier. But the page looked different. Snow gasped and held it to the mirror so that Circe could see.

  Now there was only a single line, which read This story is still being written.

  “The page I was looking for isn’t there!” she said, shifting the mirror so she could see Circe’s reaction. “It’s gone, replaced by this one line! What do you think it means?”

  Snow could see Circe didn’t know, and she didn’t want to distract her with all her theories while Circe was dealing with the debacle of her mothers. She suddenly felt foolish for bringing it up and vowed to handle it on her own. “Circe, don’t worry. I will find the pages with the part of the story I was looking for, and when I have the information, I will share it with you. Now go, I’m sure Nanny and the Fairy Godmother are in a state.”

  Circe sighed. “Yes, we have to figure out what to do about my mothers. And the last thing Nanny needs is another fight with her adopted daughter, Maleficent. If it’s true my mothers are planning to bring her back, I will never forgive them. This is just all so heartbreaking.”

  Snow White nodded. “Go, Circe, and take care. I’ll be fine here. I have a lot of reading to do.”

  Circe smiled at her cousin. “Thank you, sweet Snow. I love you.”

  Snow could see how upset Circe was. “I love you, too, Circe. I’ll let you know if I learn anything.”

  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.

&
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.

  Circe chimed in. “Oh, stop it, the both of you. I think Tulip looks beautiful. More importantly, she looks happy! And she’s living her life as she chooses. As I always wanted for her. And I think she’s right: Oberon would approve of extending the fairies’ reach beyond the princesses.”

  “Now look here! I won’t have you all ganging up on me!” said the Fairy Godmother, looking to Nanny. “Sister, I suppose you side with your blond beauties?” she squealed.

  “I’m afraid I do, Sister. You know I do! This is something I’ve wanted for our kind for a long time.”

  Circe was proud of Nanny. “I think it’s time to make the decision now to help all those in need if it’s within our power,” she said, beaming at being supported by Nanny and Tulip.

  “Something like this has to be brought to the fairy council first, Circe. But I wouldn’t do anything to upset them, not right now,” the Fairy Godmother said.

  “And why not?” Circe asked. Nanny and the Fairy Godmother shared a look. “What? What aren’t you telling me?” Circe’s smile diminished.

  “Circe,” Nanny said gently, “there’s something we have to tell you. The Council—”

  “Your mothers are about to be put on trial!” the Fairy Godmother blurted, almost happily. “The fairies are building a case against them.”

  “A trial? What do you mean? Shouldn’t we be focusing on stopping them from escaping? Keeping them from dredging up the dead to help them in their cause?” Circe’s voice rose in frustration.

  “We must go about things properly, Circe! The council must weigh in. There has to be a trial before we take any further action against them. Oberon is already angry that we put your mothers to sleep without taking everything into account, and with this trial, we will,” said the Fairy Godmother.

  “When were you going to tell me? Was I even going to be asked to attend?”

  The Fairy Godmother eyed Circe carefully. “I might have asked you, but after your remarks today, I’m not sure it’s a good idea. I don’t think you are impartial when it comes to your mothers.”

  “Now, wait, Sister. Circe is the one who took away her mothers’ powers and locked them in the dreamscape. She may not be impartial, but she wants to see justice just as much as we do. We are all on the same side. And nothing will be solved if we’re divided.” Nanny turned to Circe. “And, my dear, as much as I don’t like it, this really should go to trial. We all h
ave to decide together what should be done about your mothers.”

  The Fairy Godmother grinned smugly. “Then it’s all decided. The matter of the odd sisters will go before the fairy council.”

  “But someone has to find out what my mothers are really up to! Someone has to stop them! We can’t waste time on this ridiculous trial when there are more immediate dangers. We all know they’ve done reprehensible things, we don’t have to prove it.” Circe was becoming even more impatient.

  “You’re right, my dear, we don’t need to prove it. But we do need to decide what the consequences should be for the damage they’ve done. We must decide what should be done about them, once and for all—and keep them from ever causing this kind of destruction again.” Malice twinkled in the Fairy Godmother’s eye. “I’m sure the three good fairies will want to weigh in.”

  “Oh, I’m sure they would!” Circe was about to say something unkind. She was out of patience with the Fairy Godmother. Surely it was up to her to decide what to do about her own mothers. She didn’t want the fairies to make that decision.

  Nanny, who could read Circe’s thoughts, took her by the hand. “Circe, my darling, please don’t worry. Let me go to the Fairylands in your name while you find a way to stop your mothers. You trust me, do you not?”

  Circe smiled. “Of course I trust you.”

  “Well, then, let me do this for you. Besides, it’s been far too long since I visited the place of my birth. I might find that I feel differently about it now.”

  Snow’s mind had been flooded with questions after she read Gothel’s story, so she searched through all the odd sisters’ books, looking for more information about the dead woods. She wondered how it was that the odd sisters could enter the dead woods with all the enchantments Manea had placed on the boundaries. But even more distracting were some of the things Lucinda and her sisters said to Gothel. How did the odd sisters know so much about the dead woods and the witches who had lived there over the ages? How did Lucinda know things about Gothel’s childhood that Gothel didn’t even know?