My Name is Rapunzel(4)

I lifted my head. How long had it been?

The witch turned her face to the moon and let out a cackle that sent shivers through my bones. Was she coming for me next? She shifted her gaze from the moon and locked eyes with mine. The corners of her mouth turned up in a slight smile. She’d won, and she knew it. But what did she want with me? I was no good to her. I couldn't help her. And all these years I’d thought we were friends.

Should I go toward her? Try to reason with her? Maybe I could manage to convince her that she’d made a mistake. Maybe she could bring Henry back. I shifted my weight and raised my weakened body up on my elbows. What if she turned on me?

What if she did to me what she’d done to Henry? Maybe she’d send me to the same hell where she’d undoubtedly cast him. But wouldn’t any hell be better than life without my Henry?

The witch paced at the tree line, but came no closer through the small valley that separated us. She lifted her fist and pounded it into the air. What did that mean?

I tested my feet. It seemed I was in possession of my body again. I could likely run in any direction, if I chose. Why now? Why was I able to run now, but I couldn't run to save Henry? But…running wouldn't have saved him anyway if a witch had it in her mind to do away with him.

A loud roar sounded overhead as the moon blackened. I ducked and fell back to the earth. I tugged my coat around my ears to block out the sound and scrunched my eyes closed against the sight. Who was that? Or the better question, what was that? A conjuring from the witch.

The form flowed and billowed like a cloud. Then the lights caught it just right, and I saw the reflection of piercing gold and green eyes. I watched for a moment more as he slithered through the sky. A long serpent-like tail snapped against the skyline. The beast opened his mouth and roared flames that licked the dry earth in the valley between the witch and me.

Gretta stood tall and proud, confident, as she glanced from me to the dragon.

The dragon belonged to her. A pet. He was warning me. Trust me, beast, I have no intention of getting close to that witch. I glanced in every direction. What now?

The beast slowed to an almost standstill float against the moon and watched my moves.

I pulled myself to my feet and ran. The sound of the witch’s laughter sped my feet. Should I go to Henry's parents? Or to my home? Where would I find help? Even as I asked myself, I knew the truth. There was no help to be found. I was on my own. After all, who could help against forces such as these?

I looked up at the dragon-filled night sky. A dragon and a witch? No one would believe me. They would think I killed Henry and made up a crazy story as a distraction. Maybe I should make up a story.

Oh, my Henry.

I stumbled over a tree root and tumbled down a ravine. My arms instinctively rose to shield my head, but my face took a whipping from the pebbles and twigs. Finally, the rolling ended and I lay still in the bramble.

Silence.

I lifted my head a few inches and sputtered the dry leaves from my mouth. No Gretta. No dragon. Where were my captors?

I clambered to my feet. If I ran right, I’d reach the ocean in very short order. To my left, I'd run right into Henry's parents’ estate. I turned toward the tree line. I gasped as my gaze locked with the witch’s, inches from my face. How had she gotten to me so quickly from so far away?

“Gretta. What have you done? Why have you taken Henry from me?”

She cackled. “Stupid, stupid child. You made a promise to me long ago, and marriage would have ruined the whole deal. I couldn't allow that to happen. You must understand.”

A promise I made as a small child? She’d hold me to that, even now? I’d had no idea what I was agreeing to, or who I was dealing with, when I promised I would always stay near her. Children say things like that all the time. How could she think it would hold true for my entire life. And why would she want it to? I pressed my palms to the sides of my head as if to still the questions.

There had to be a way out. “But, what if I promise…? Can't you just…? I’ll do anything.” If she wanted me to shave my head bald so she could have my hair again, fine. Anything. If she wanted to live with us…fine. Though I didn’t understand it, she could have anything she wanted from me.

The witch raised her arms above her head as though drawing power from the moon. “No. The spell has been cast. The deed has been done. Henry is no more. And you are…forever.”

***

I raced up the cobblestones to the front door. I pulled it open and thrust my body through. Please, don’t let Mother and Father be home. I tugged the door shut behind me and slumped against its wooden frame then slid to the floor. Sobs rose from my belly and squeezed the life from my chest. My shoulders quaked and my stomach threatened to revolt.