"Sophie?" Came a voice from behind her, and she quickly stopped. She had sprinted into a run as soon as she had left the castle—or what was left of it—and now felt her legs shake due to her lack of exercise.
This was why she traveled by wind. Not because a certain someone had once shown her how. But she was too weak now—she had given what last bit of magic she had at the moment to that person, leaving only enough so that she could defend herself if need be.
She turned, and found herself facing Lettie. An older Lettie—she should have known what would happen. She was taller than Sophie; her golden curls a beautiful nest on her small head. Marriage had changed her sister, transformed her pretty physique to an even more beautiful figure, one that had born a child. How she envied her sister!
"Lettie." she said softly, the word almost foreign to her tongue. Her sister opened her mouth, and then closed it. Sophie waited patiently for her sister to speak, letting a slow, sad smile overtake her weary face.
"You haven't changed." Lettie said finally, her hands trembling by her side despite the wide smile on her face.
"You have." Sophie said, a small note of sadness in her voice. "You're much prettier. Tell me, how's young Winny? The last time I saw her she was just a little baby."
"She's grown up. You should come to visit us sometime." Lettie said.
"Maybe I will." Sophie said, still smiling. But they both knew such a visit would never occur. At least not at the moment.
"It's not true, is it, Sophie?" Lettie demanded suddenly, her lips trembling. "There's been so much talk for the past two year—about you—and the Witch of the Waste—It's not true, is—it—Sophie?"
Sophie stared at her younger sister. "What do you think, Lettie?"
"I don't believe it." Lettie answered automatically. "You're not that kind of person."
"Ah," Sophie said, smiling. "You're right. Sophie Hatter was not that kind of person."
"'Was'?" Came a voice from behind her. She turned, and saw Wizard Suleiman striding towards her, his hands outstretched. Sophie whipped her head back to Lettie, all the pieces coming together.
"I'm disappointed in you, Lettie." She told her sister, and the pain that crossed her sister's face did not reach her heart.
"Don't accuse her of anything!" bellowed Suleiman.
All of a sudden winds whirled around them, and Suleiman made a feeble dash towards her, calling out strange words.
She turned towards Lettie, mouthing the words I'm Sorry, and then she was gone.