Khristi sat down in Clarisse's chair. She ran her hands over the top of the desk and let her fingers run down the spine of a book on International Law. A photograph of Clarisse, Rupert, Pierre, and Philippe caught her eye. The boys would be fifteen, twenty years old ... But Clarisse was practically the same, as if the years had not passed through her ... A frightening thought made her jump in the chair: Had Clarisse discovered the secret of Rapunzel? Was that the reason not to let her go? A fury filled Khristi's chest ... Clarisse would not stay with the Blossom of Youth! Never! Panic began to seize her, and she only could think of Clarisse, singing to Rapunzel and running her hands through her hair, becoming young forever and she would be doomed to dust, within a short time ...
"No!" She cried. "I will not allow it. I was the one who created that creature for 18 years. It was I who had to live in that tower of hell so that the miserable one would not be found ... "Khristi got up suddenly and, with a cry, threw everything on Clarisse's desk, to the floor. She had to think. She needed to think! She needed a plan. Recomposed, Khristi went to the window and the only thing she saw was a thick, dark fog. She tried to open the window but could not. And the memory that Torm had told her five days ago would stop, made her smile. Now all she needed was a plan to get Rapunzel and Arianna out of Clarisse's suite and quickly ... Time was ticking and she was not getting any younger!
However, the rest of the group tried desperately to understand the events of the last hours.
"I do not understand anything. I feel my head spinning, "said Clarisse. Joseph approached her, but kept the distance dictated by protocol. "Why are they all sleeping? Was it some poison? And why does your hair shine, my love? "Everyone looked at each other, looking for an answer no one else had. Arianna hugged her daughter and kissed her forehead. Anna started to cry.
"I'm Sorry. It's all my fault. I should never have come. "Clarisse approached Anna quickly.
"Do not say that, my dear. And I am sorry if my words hurt you. You're not to blame for anything. I'm confused because nothing of what is happening has a logical explanation. "Anna looked at Clarisse, let go of her mother and hugged Clarisse.
"I love you, Your Majesty!" Clarisse smiled and tightened her grip on her.
"You are a young lady, beautiful, kind, considerate, gentle, sweet ... You do not deserve to be going through all this." Then she looked into her eyes and with a magnificent smile told her...
"But I want to know why your hair shines!" And they all laughed, including Anna.
"I honestly do not know, Your Majesty. Lady Gothel sat next to me, combing my hair and singing ... And my hair always started to shine ... " Anna fell silent. Memories returned one after the other and Anna was terrified and unable to speak. Anna had even been raised by that horrible woman. And it would probably even be her daughter.
"Anna ... Is your memory returning?" Clarisse asked. Anna started to back away, but Clarisse grabbed her hands. Arianna got up and joined them immediately. Joseph, Pierre, and Frederic stared in silence. Anna closed her eyes, trying to erase Mother Gothel's image from her memory. What if she hurt her parents? What about Clarisse and Joseph? And if something bad happened to Pierre ... How could she live with that guilt? Her mother's sweet voice plucked those hideous thoughts.
"Anna?" Arianna hugged and pulled her to her, and Clarisse released her hands.
"My sweet Anna. I've been looking for you for 17 years and now that I've found you, nothing, no one is going to separate me from you. Not even to my worst enemy, I want the horrible suffering I spent, not knowing you, not knowing where to look for you, not knowing if my baby was alive or dead. No mother should go through such suffering. No mother and no father ... "And she stretched out her hand to Frederic, who looked at them in awe. Frederic took the hand his wife offered him and hugged them both without saying a word. His family was together again and nothing else mattered. I mean, nothing more than a crazy psycho who insisted on wanting to stay not just with his daughter, but with his wife. The world was going crazy! Joseph tried to open the window and could not. He pushed, shoved, shook, and nothing ... This was getting weirder and weirder. He tried to open the balcony windows and the result was the same. Clarisse and Pierre followed his every move. Pierre got up and joined him in an attempt to force the opening of one of the windows and Clarisse was increasingly frightened. Out of the corner of his eye, Frederic noticed the two men's efforts. He kissed her daughter on the forehead and the woman on her lips and he, too, tried.
"Each time I understand less ... None of the windows is locked. Why do not they open ? "
"Good question, Joseph. What I'm going to say next is a lot more strange coming from a priest's mouth, but don't you think there might be something supernatural about it? "Pierre said what everyone thought but no one dared confirm verbally.
"Supernatural or not, I do not know, but that's very strange, that is," said Clarisse pushing the window.
"At least it would explain why Khristi Gothel was born on February 11, 1730 ... it's apparently not yet dead." Pierre did not answer, but he thought things were too strange.
"And you notice how fog is thick and dark? You can not see anything beyond the Window, "said Arianna. Frederic switched on the television again and just picked up static.
"What if she's some kind of sorceress?" Anna asked shyly. Her mother shook Anna's hands and did not answer.
"You know, Anna, I never believed in these things but given the number of extraordinary events of the last few hours, I'd say that's very likely," Clarisse said thoughtfully. If it were true, she could not even imagine what that might mean.
"I do not understand about sorceresses ..." Said Joseph "But then what is stopping her from entering this room?"
"I do not know. Maybe she have limited powers. "
"Limited, Pierre? Well, maybe ... It could be ... It even makes sense. And how do you beat a sorceress? "Asked Joseph.
"I do not know, Joseph. I have no idea. But I know I'm full of hunger! "This time Clarisse could not help but burst into laughter.
"Pierre ! ? How can you think about eating at a time like this? "
"I do not know, mother, but it's stronger than me. Besides, it's almost lunch time and we have not even had breakfast yet. "This time, laughter filled the room. Once again Pierre said what everyone thought but no one spoke.
"I think we all felt the same, but no one wanted to be the first to speak," said Frederic amid the laughter. Joseph slapped Pierre on the shoulder.
"Let's then work out a plan to get to the kitchen. We can not leave the ladies without food and we really need to understand how we can get out of the palace. "
"I think she'll notice when we leave of here, do not you think?"
"Well, you may be right, my friend!" Joseph jumped at once.
"No! The ladies do not leave this room. Not even to sleep. I can not guarantee ... "Joseph was visibly agitated and Clarisse chose to put an end to his torment.
"Joseph, if we're all together, I doubt she or anyone can do any of us any harm." Joseph was getting more and more agitated but the fact that there were four more people in the room prevented him from openly saying what I thought.
"Your Majesty, I insist ..."
"Joseph ..." Clarisse approached him and grabbed his hands. Joseph closed his eyes. Clarisse was too dangerous a temptation, and he needed to get away from her. He needed to get back together. He took two steps back and went to lean against the fireplace. Clarisse looked at him in silence, hurt by the distance.
"Anyway, no one is left behind. Wherever one are, there are the six of us." said Clarisse. Then she fixed an imaginary wrinkle in her pants and reentered the bedroom. Pierre approached Joseph and patted him on the back.
"Good old man, you managed to hurt my mother." Joseph looked at the others and took advantage of their distraction to continue the conversation with Pierre.
"Pierre, please. Her Majesty ... "Pierre interrupted him immediately.
"Joseph. I do not know why you're acting like this. Any of us in this room have realized that you are crazy about each other. You are happy together. Mother did not hide her feelings for you, in front of us. Why are you doing this? "Joseph looked at Pierre and then at Frederic and Arianna. Now he was even more nervous. Was Pierre right? Did Clarisse really want him? But what if Khristi Gothel was preparing something? No ... He would protect her. Pierre was right. He was being a real bear!
"You're right, Pierre. But think about your words ... And think of a young woman, who is completely in love with you and whom you ignored and walked away from you. Do not let her go, without fighting with all your strength. Do not let her go without knowing if it can or can not work. Risk it! You're not just from your heart ... You're breaking her too." Joseph smiled, winked, and when he was about to go to Clarisse, she returned to the living room. Joseph sat on the couch next to her and slammed into the seat next to him to sit down. Clarisse reluctantly circled the sofa and sat down. Arianna noticed the two friends but pretended to remain interested in the conversation she was having with her husband and daughter.
"Clarisse, you're right ..." When he heard her address her name, she immediately turned and Joseph immediately lost himself in those dazzling blue eyes.
"I love you, Clarisse!" He murmured. She smiled, put her hand on his cheek, and kissed him softly on the lips. It was a brief kiss yet full of meaning and love. An electrifying kiss, sure.
"I love you, Joseph! And by the way, it's best to hurry up. It's almost bedtime again and I'm starving. "Joseph put his arm around her waist and pulled her to him.
"So it's best to think of a solution, my dear." And returned the kiss. Clarisse smiled and Joseph got up.
"My friends, I think we have a trip to the kitchen. Since my mistress will not let me go alone, I think we'll all have to go. "Arianna and Frederic got up and joined them and Pierre sat down next to Anna.
"My proposal is that we use the secret tunnels. If we do not make noise, we should be able to come and go without problems. The exit from the tunnel, closer to the kitchen, is at a blind spot, and even if she's in the security room, she can not see us. "
"I'm ready, Joseph. Lead the way. "Clarisse looked at Pierre and Anna and suggested that it was only the four of them. Ten minutes later, they were standing in the kitchen. In complete silence, they filled the bags with a little of everything. Only one kettle and many, many teabags were missing. Two minutes, they were back in the room. Khristi Gothel was informed that the fugitives were in the kitchen, but when she arrived she only found cabinets turned upside down.
"Incompetents!" She cried. "I'll kill them all. All! And you, your incompetents, let them come to the supplies. Incompetent! "
When Joseph and the other three entered Clarisse's room again, Pierre and Anna were seated on the same couch, but on opposite ends. Clarisse smiled. A small mark of Anna's baton on Pierre's neck was more than enough to know they were on the right track. The rest? Well, they just have to wait ...