“You’re not strong enough to cast a spell that large,” I challenge her.
Harlow drops the mirror for a moment. “I know that. That’s why the Wicked One is here.”
A bushy, gray-haired figure emerges from the shadows of one of the cells. She’s flanked by two gargoyles that hiss when they see us. Jax begins to move our small group back. Gottie’s face, up close, is hard to look at. Warts cover her skin like freckles. Her nose twists sideways in an awkward position, and her teeth have clearly never seen a toothbrush.
“Hello, darlings.” Her full lips curl into a snarl. “Thank you, Kayla, for getting these nuisances out of the way.”
“I didn’t do anything!” Kayla cries. “You told me you were coming to the ball.”
“And so I have, but even I wouldn’t be foolish enough to announce my arrival. Not when there are other ways into the room upstairs.” Out of her pocket, she pulls a mirror that is identical to Harlow’s and aims it above us. It shoots out more lightning that makes the crack above us widen. I close my eyes to keep from seeing people fall from the sky, but so far, nothing happens. “Once they’re disposed of, I can rid myself of these horrid clothes.” Gottie shrugs. “Or I could do that now. It’s not like anyone up there will see me ’til after, and by then, they’ll only know me as their queen.”
A purple cloud of smoke surrounds her, and within seconds, Gottie’s ragged clothes, wart-covered face, and white frizzy hair have disappeared. An older woman appears in her place wearing a gown as red as fire and a cape with a collar so high it could practically be a hood. Her jet-black hair is pulled back with a gold comb covered in what looks like dragons. She has the same symbol on the thick gold cuffs on her wrists and the long necklace draped around her thin neck.
Kayla gasps. “Alva?”
Alva laughs. “Yes, my gullible pet. Gottie and Alva are one and the same.” She pulls Kayla toward her and whispers in her ear. “You were useful gathering the information that I needed, but now you’ve served your purpose.” She opens a gate to a dungeon, and Kayla is flung through the air and dropped inside. The door shuts behind her. Kayla grabs the bars.
“I did everything you asked,” Kayla stutters, her wings popping in and out. “You promised if I did, you’d help me, Gottie.”
“Gottie’s been dead for years, you fool!” Alva thunders. “I have allowed the world to think otherwise so I could plan my return without ever being spotted. I only needed a young fairy with thoughts as dark as yours to do my bidding, which you’ve done marvelously.” She looks our way and I cringe. “Not a soul is on to us, but these delinquents here.”
So Rapunzel’s captor has bit the dust and Sleeping Beauty’s dream-maker, who no one has seen in an eternity, is pulling all the strings? Talk about being duped.
“It was all so easy. When Rumpel told me of your wishes, I knew you were the one I was looking for. I suggested that Rumpel make your family forget you, and he did.” Her grin makes me feel cold. “I couldn’t risk them remembering you at some point. That’s why I eventually turned them all into hollow trees.”
“No!” Kayla crumples to the floor of her cell. Anger builds up inside me as I watch Kayla sob.
“Yes!” Alva sounds like a snake. “They had to be taken care of, just like you all will be. And then I will rule Enchantasia, and the royals will burn.” Within moments, Ollie, Maxine, Jax, and I are picked up and sent flying into the cell adjacent to Kayla. As soon as I drop, I make a run for the door and Alva zaps me with her mirror. I try to move, but it feels like I’m stuck in molasses. And that’s when Jocelyn is flung into the cell with us. She topples into Ollie and Maxine, knocking Maxine out cold.
“Alva, what are you doing?” Harlow’s voice is shrill. “My sister has done nothing to harm your plan.”
“She’s a liability, just like they are,” Alva says coolly.
“But—” Harlow moves toward her, and purple bolts shoot from Alva’s hand.
“No buts or I’ll dispose of you as well,” Alva says. “I can do this on my own, or have you forgotten how you let me down the last time?”
Harlow hangs her head.
“Harlow!” Jocelyn races to the bars and rattles them, but Harlow does not look up. I see Jocelyn’s lips start to move, and she begins to chant. I wonder if she’ll be able to break through the bars that hold us. Alva notices and flings bolts toward the bars. Jocelyn goes flying back, falling into me.
“Stop bumping into me,” I grumble, flinging her off me.