Page 52 of Down from the Tower

“Oh, I might just wait until Zarev gets here,” I reply, forcing a smile. “That snack was more than enough, Hansel. I’ll just sit here on the steps until he arrives.”

“Oh, nonsense dear,” Gran argues, tugging on my arm. Her grip is powerful for a portly old woman. “You look a little peckish. Why don’t we find her a slice of pie or cake to pass the time, Hansel? Go on, find her a big one.”

“That’s not-”

“No dearie, listen to your gran. You want to be nice and full before you go stomping through these woods again.” Her hands bat at me, over my arms and at my legs. “My, you’re a thin little thing! Make that two slices, Hansel! This one’s all skin and bones.”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t worry about that, dear. Helps Hansel pick the best slice. Now, in you go, in you go. Let’s get you settled down while we wait on Zarev, hmm?”

“H-how do you know him?” I ask, struggling against her grip. She’s inhumanly strong.

“Oh, old friends in passing. He travels through from time to time.”

She manages to pull me through the door, and I stumble into the house. It’s a little hard to walk, the floor feeling a bit spongy when I step in, and I note that the walls in here are the same color of gingerbread brown as outside.

It’s sweltering inside. I’m sweating almost immediately, and I’m not wearing very much.

“Come, Zelle, sit down. Gran’s going to make you the best pie ever.”

“I-”

She shoves me to sit down, and I fall into a chair near the door. Hansel shoves a platter of baked goods in my direction, along with two plates laden with thick slices of pie. There’s no way I could eat all of that.

“You’ll enjoy it,” Hansel continues, flashing me his teeth again. There’s something wrong though. They look pointy. Like Zarev’s, but somehow worse. “It’s so good, you’ll positively die.”

14 Zarev

I notice quickly that Rapunzel is missing. Modred keeps rambling, telling me all about how horrid Rapunzel and her family are for another few minutes. I’m already aware the golden princess is going to be a liability, and once I realize I can no longer hear her, my nerves stand on end.

I warned her about the dangers in the forest. She should at least scream.

I’m not really eating, but the berries should help the princess for the time being. I’ve almost given up on the task of going in search of her. I saw her snacking as she picked anyway.

“She ruined it, you know. Arthur's plan.” Modred’s voice makes me want to reap this man just for the silence, and it’s going to be the very first thing I do when my magic is stronger again.

“And what plan was that, spirit?” I ask, almost bored. Modred is a sneaky man, and he’s already tried to leer and pry too many times since yesterday. His presence is annoying, but not malicious yet. There’s days before that happens.

Modred glances towards Rapunzel, then back. “Princess is a pretty one. Camelot needs a new Queen.”

I groan. I’ve heard this story before too many times from others in Mystica playing the same game. “Tell me Arthur didn't come up with some ridiculous plan to try and marry the princess.”

The spirit nods, bobbing his head so fast it separates from his ghostly body for a moment. “Indeed. He picked me up in port and turned the ship right around. Said I needed to push her, make her upset. He could swoop in and comfort her before offering her father a deal. We expected her to be more tired than she was. Midas claims she can only use her gift every once in a while or it's not as strong.”

I scoff. “Arthur's plan was to turn Rapunzel into some needy damsel that he could swoop in and save her?”

“Yes. Arthur said if I did a good job I could use her whenever I wanted.”

I narrow my eyes. He's not descriptive about how he might use her, but I suppose it can't be good with the plan they already thought up. “This story isn't making me pity you, Modred. If anything I'd rather let you suffer a while longer.”

He scowls. “It wasn't my plan! She ruined it anyway.”

“Yes. I'll be sure to tell her of the plan so she stops feeling guilty about melting your face off.”

Modred growls, which sounds more like a wail without his lungs. A hand presses to his chest, the anger dissipating to despair. “Send my soul on, Reaper. I can feel myself starting to snap. There's so much anger burning beneath.”

I toss a handful of berries in my mouth, moving down the path towards where the princess went. There's an overhang of trees, but I don't hear anything so she can't have gotten far. “As long as I don't need to use my magic much today I should be able to send you on by the evening.”

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