Chapter 67

The Witch

Rapunzel and I had not many years together as siblings, but in our early years we were inseparable. We romped through Rhineguard’s fields, ran over its ramparts, and set the kitchens scrambling when we released a nest of baby moles under the great table. All were dear memories to me. My natural talent for potions I honed to the heights of the spell craft I possessed today, but Rapunzel’s talent was inherent. I admit there was a certain jealousy of my twin’s ease and poise in using her flame powers.

I stood glaring at her now, remembering the Rapunzel, I locked in the tower for the past many double moons. She glared back at me as well. She must have ignited her glamor charm because even I couldn’t avert my eyes, idolizing her immeasurable beauty. She appeared in her green velvet dress, breasts swelling over the low-cut bodice with the magnificent amulet beckoning between shimmering globes. The iridescent skin, a trait we both shared, glimmered like diamonds. Her lips pinked and her eyes lit a deep amethyst. I noticed that Max was unaffected by her great beauty. He was the only one immune to her glamor charm, however, Sir Reginaldo practically drooled. I was glad Jim held Mindy tightly looking the other direction. What was Reginaldo doing here? He hates the sisters Carvinalee.

“Cut it out, Rapunzel! You will have half of Earth’s population on top of us all, and I’ll not protect you,” I warned.

She dropped the glamor with a pout, but no one could deny she was still quite lovely. Max moved away from her clinging hair and busied himself regrouping the lot of us.

“You locked me up in that horrid tower and left me there to die!” She stomped her feet and glared.

I wasn’t ready for the fight. I had one leaking spell left in my bodice. “You tried to burn up half of Rhineguard when Winni released you!” I tried to reason.

Nonplussed, she wavered in her own confusion. “I would have succeeded it if it weren’t for you!” She pointed a finger and Max deflected her arm as flame shot out.

Attempting to protect me, Mindy darted in front of me. “’Punzel! This is not the time or the place to incinerate your birth twin!” She waved her arms, as though flagging down a runaway wagon.

Rapunzel’s eyes, glazed over, as if unsure why she behaved so vengefully. Sir Reginaldo approached my sister. Once he stood at her side, he stroked what hair of hers he could reach. She surprisingly petted him back as she calmed.

“I’m sorry, Phrysia. I don’t know what has come over me as of late. I’ve been more myself here on Earth, behaving as I did when we were children. The rage I felt on Ortharos changed and grew at Nestere to something I couldn’t tamp down. I have been normal on Earth, but now I feel it coming on again. I thought maybe I could stay this way. I thought maybe I could stay on Earth.” Tears fell like large, faceted aquamarine gems from her high, chiseled cheekbones. I felt a sob of my own lurking in the back of my throat for the other half of my soul long lost. I had to squash it. If this was trap, any sign of my weakness could be lethal. My twin was evil for a very long time and even a new world could not change the person within.

“Ah! What a touching reunion. It seems I lost the war on Ortharos, but that which I most value, I have found. My fortune is doubled because I now have two!”

I recognized the sly voice of the necromancer before even turning to see his loathsome face.