Chapter Thirteen

“Everyone out!” Rapunzel yelled, opening a ceiling exit with her golden hair just as the carriage fell entirely, so that the roof was now the door.

Madeline gathered the folds of her dress and scrambled out. The wolves clambered onto the side- now the roof- of the carriage, howling like the kings and queens of the world. Madeline gasped as a girl slammed the roof-door shut, trapping Varian inside!

The woman seemed to be in her early twenties, tall and lean. Her hair fell down just past her shoulders, and her eyes pierced straight into the depths of Madeline’s heart. She looked strangely familiar.

“Let him out!” she screamed despite her fear.

“Eventually,” the woman said, “but I’m on a mission. You see, I’m here to retrieve my sister.”

Madeline drew a small pocket knife. “And who is that?”

“You,” she said.

“I don’t have a sister!” Madeline claimed.

“Yes, you do, and she’s me. I’m your father’s daughter from his first marriage. I’m Skye, and I want you to join me.”

“You’re lying,” Madeline whispered.

“It doesn't matter, because you’re coming with me regardless.”

“No!” Varian yelled from the inside.

The woman whipped out her sword, pressing it to the glass. Small cracks began to form, and Madeline gasped quietly, not only because her boyfriend was in danger, but because the sword was made of the very same rocks she could control.

Reaching out, she summoned the rock to her. It started to glow and shake, until it was pulled out of Skye’s hands and into her own. Straining her arms, she managed to pull the sword until it was pointed at the woman’s chest. “Let. Him. Go. Take you wolves and leave.”

She considered. “My mistress will be disappointed if I return without you… but she’ll love the news of your strength. So I suppose… but I’ll be back.”

She snapped her fingers, and fire erupted on the handle of the blade. Shrieking, Madeline dropped the sword, and Skye retrieved it, whistling to her dogs, disappearing in the distance.