CHAPTER 3
Eleanor sat in her chair, sipping away at some tea she had brewed with their lunch, her daughter playing away with her knitted dolls on the floor. She paused as she heard someone coming up the path, quickly motioning for her daughter to go to their room. The three year old gathered her dolls and ran in, closing the door behind her.
Eleanor quickly ran to the window to peak out, letting out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. It wasn't Miranda, just a simple villager, most likely visiting for some help. She quickly fixed her hair and adjusted her shawl around her, opening the door with a smile on her face. The man looked wary as he entered her home, sensing his unease she gestured towards one of her chairs, telling him to take a seat. He had only been to her cabin once months ago, perhaps his sickness had returned since then. Sitting down she asked him that very question, the man letting out a barely audible "Yes ma'am" to her pestering. She noticed he was sweating profusely, his eyes flickering around the room. Standing, she opened a cabinet nearby, browsing through jars of liquids and powders, assuming he must have been sick and needed some kind of medicine quickly. She didn't hear the man slowly approach behind her, picking her tea kettle up along the way. Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her head and her world went black.
A pair of green eyes that had been peeking from the doorway in the corner widened before the door silently shut. Emmeline quickly grabbed her doll and climbed her way into her and her mothers wardrobe, closing the doors as much as she could from the inside. She hid in the darkness, silent tears dripping down her cherub cheeks, scared for what had yet to come.
Outside the man had dragged Eleanor's unconscious body onto the porch, quickly tying her up against one of the columns holding up the roof. His heart pounded in his chest, scared to death she'd wake up and use her powers on him. He quickly brought two fingers to his mouth and whistled, a large group of villagers emerging from the surrounding forest at the cue. The group split as Mother Miranda made her way through the center, coming to a stop right before Eleanor. Miranda reached her hand out, resting it on the center of Eleanor's forehead, the blond gasping as her eyes opened and rolled to the back of her head. Miranda then smirked as she backed up, still looking down at Eleanor. Her eyes focusing on what surrounded her she struggled against the binds holding her down, tears filling her eyes as she realized her powers weren't working. Miranda had done something to her. She truly was a very powerful woman.
Her crying was cut short as a man came up and smashed the butt of a shotgun into her face, blood shooting from her nose and lips. The crowd cheered on as the beating continued, more villagers joining in. Eleanor was astonished that the people she had once helped would do this to her. She let out screams of pain, yelling for mercy. She asked them why they would do this, but none answered. Inside the home Emmeline sobbed, faintly hearing her mothers screams as she was tortured. Finally the villagers stopped, but the damage had already been done as her face was warped with blood and bruises. Blood and teeth falling from her mouth she could only mutter one thing as she looked up into the eyes of Miranda.
"Why?"
The villagers quickly threw torches onto the porch, the old wood quickly igniting. Eleanor screamed as the flames engulfed her, the pain unbearable. She imagined this must be what hell felt like. Using the last of her strength she broke free as the ropes burnt away and ran, the villagers splitting like the red sea to allow her through, jumping back from the flames that were spitting off of her. Miranda just stood back, knowing it was already too late. Eleanor fell to the snow, the substance putting out most of the flames, but it was of no use. A once beautiful woman was now charred, her hair singed off and her face looking as if it was melting off the bone. She took her last breath, fear in her eyes as they glossed over looking at the afternoon sun. The horrible smell of burnt flesh polluted the air.
That was when Karl realized how horrible Miranda could truly be. It scared him, and the way he looked at her would forever be changed at this moment. He half wondered if his parents had truly given him away with ease or if she had somehow manipulated the whole thing into happening.
He was pulled out of his inner thoughts as he heard the noise of a child crying, suddenly remembering the whole reason all of this had even happened. Some of the villagers gasped, hearing it too, a woman crying out that there was a child inside. Ever the hero Miranda quickly made her way to the front door, using her power to push the flames away from her. Making her way into the cabin she followed the cries to the back room, opening the wardrobe to reveal Emmeline. The child was shaking and coughing, tears strolling down her face as Miranda reached out for her, Emmaline blindly reaching back as the smoke clouded her vision. Miranda scooped her up and quickly made her way out of the cabin, Emmeline nestling her head into the woman's chest. Karl finally got a look at the kid as they walked out, having not seen her during their first visit to the cabin. She was a tiny thing, clutching a little doll to her chest as she looked around wide eyed, absolutely covered in soot from the fire. The thing was basically a baby, why would Miranda want it?
One of the village men quickly approached, anger on his face.
"If the witch had a child shouldn't we get rid of it too?" he belted out, some of the men around him stepping closer in agreement. Miranda quickly raised her hand and silenced them.
"I shall have it taken care of on my own, no need to make it a public display, she is still merely a child." some of the villagers bowed their heads in shame, realizing exactly what they had just wanted. Karl just laughed at how easily manipulated they were, lowering his head when Miranda gave him a look. He'd hear about this later. The villagers separated as Miranda carried the crying child past them, making her way back to the village, Karl at her heels. They had just made it to the castle entrance when the girl fell asleep in Miranda's arms. Karl supposed brats that age still took naps, considering it was mid day by now, or maybe she had passed out from breathing in smoke. Miranda carried the girl in the large doors and into the main room, going up the stairs and towards his room. Confusion filled Karl's face as he noticed where Miranda was heading.
"Where are you taking that brat?" He asked his mother, anger filling his face as she opened the door to his room. Miranda slowly settled the girl into his bed, Karl almost stomped his feet in a fit but didn't have the time to, as Miranda whipped around to slap him across his face. He had never been hit by her, and it truly shook him to the core. Looking up he could almost feel a piece of his heart break, the bond he had with this woman he called mother slowly breaking away by the day's events.
"You will NEVER" she put extra emphasis on the never as she got in Karl's face, putting her finger inches away from his eyes "EVER act the way you did today in front of the villagers. And you will treat your sister" Karl almost cringed as she referred to the brat as his sister "with utmost respect and integrity. You are a gentleman and you will act as such"
Karl could have puked at the thought of being a gentleman. He was only eight but he even knew he was too bold and brash to be such a thing. It just wasn't his cup of tea. He was raised by a factory man who drank, whatever Miranda tried to implant in him personality wise would never stick now.
"She will finish her nap here while you watch over her, I have some work to do in the lab. I'll be back by dinner." She quickly shuffled from the room, the door shutting behind her.
Karl's eyes zoomed over to the lump on his bed, letting out an annoyed sigh. He definitely didn't sign up to be a babysitter, that was a woman's job anyway. Quickly realizing he had better things to do, and knowing Miranda was most likely out of the castle by now, he shuffled over and shook the girl's shoulder, stirring her awake. She looked up at him, fear and sleepiness in her eyes.
"Get the fuck out of my bed." he boldly told her, the three year olds eyes widening as she knew that was a bad word. She quickly jumped up and shuffled away from him, grasping her doll to her chest. "You can get out of my room too!" he yelled as he pushed her down, the child hitting the floor with ease, Karl's strength much more than her own. Emmeline quickly stood and gathered herself, grabbing her doll off the floor and making her way to the door. She struggled to open the large door, and jumped back in surprise at the women who stood on the other side. It was the same one who had saved her from the fire, she wondered if she knew where her mama was. She jumped behind this woman as she entered the room, grabbing onto the back of her skirts to hide her face from the boy who was just so mean to her. She didn't like him one bit.
Miranda entered the room and Karl's heart sank, he realized way too late this had been a test of some sorts, and he had most definitely failed. Darkness entered Miranda's eyes as she looked down at the boy. Choosing to be silent she turned and grabbed up Emmeline, quickly leaving the room. Karl took a deep breath, thinking he had just got away with hurting the kid, but dread filled him as he heard the door click. He was locked in from the outside.
Miranda carried Emmeline down the stairs, through a passageway and down a long set of stone steps. Emmaline gripped the woman's collar as it got darker, the child getting more scared by the second. Suddenly they entered a room lit by candles lining the tables, books upon books scattered about, weirdly shaped glasses holding mysterious liquids. Emmeline looked about, scared even more as she noticed a cell on the left side of the room. The woman carrying her set her down, and Emmeline looked up at her, realizing now would be a good time to ask about where her mama went. All she remembered was the screaming and the harsh heat, the air was so heavy to her if felt like she was choking. .
"Excuse me lady," Miranda raised an eyebrow, smirking at the girl's words "do you know where my mama is?"
Miranda pulled a nearby chair closer to Emmeline, sitting down and leaning towards her to speak.
"My child, your mother is gone, she left you with me to take care of you for now on, now could you tell me your name by chance? "
"My name is Emmeline Theodora Sputnik." She recited exactly as her mother had taught her "will i get to see my mommy again some day?" her face fell as the thought of her mother entered her head once again. Miranda paused as if to think it over for a second before answering.
"I suppose you could see your mother again one day." she shrugged her shoulders as she turned away from the child. "For now though, we have things to work on." picking up something off the table she turned back to Emmeline, shielding what was in her hand from the child's view.
"Tell me Emmeline, what do you know about your powers" the child looked shocked that the woman would even know of such a thing "I'm not supposed to talk about those with anyone other than my mommy"
"It's okay," Miranda smiled at her "I have powers too" she said as suddenly her form changed, her feathers surrounding her as her golden crown appeared around her head. Emmeline gasped, looking up in awe. This lady looked beautiful in her eyes, like an angel or a princess. Deciding this lady was of no threat Emmeline did her own display of power, making a nearby book lift into the air as she pointed her tiny little finger at it. It wobbled towards them, struggling as the girl concentrated as hard as she could, before finally landing with a crash on the table, knocking a few vials over. Emmeline gasped, looking wide eyed at Miranda, afraid of what kind of punishment she'd received. But instead Miranda laughed with joy, happy with what the girl had shown her.
Emmeline giggled along with her, Miranda's laugh contagious. She quickly went to her journal to write something down before coming to stand in front of Emmeline and reaching out for her hand. From behind her back she pulled out a small scalpel, putting a quick cut into the girl's palm. Emmeline screamed as the pain rushed her senses, nearby glasses shattering from the force of power thrown off the girl. Miranda simply let the girl cry, writing down some more in her journal. She mumbled something to herself about how Emmeline's powers were stronger when led by emotions.
She ignored the three year old sobbing on the floor holding her bloody hand to her chest until she was done writing her entry, finally making her way over to pick her up a minute later. She ignored Emmeline struggling against her as she carried her to a nearby bench to pick up some gauze to wrap her hand in.
"This is all for a good cause and one day you will realize that my child." Miranda whispered to her, putting her hand to the child's head. Emmeline quickly calmed down, and an almost sleepy effect washed over her. Miranda then carried her back up the stairs and into the castle, they walked past the main room and into a dining room, the large table having three spots set up with plates of food already laid out. A woman Emmeline had yet to meet was standing nearby. She quickly realized the woman was a maid of sorts and had set the food out for them. Miranda sat down and settled Emmeline next to her, pushing one of the plates towards the child to convince her to eat.
"Karl will not be joining us this evening." Miranda spoke to the maid, the older woman quickly gathering the plate intended for him off the table.
"Would you like me to bring his dinner to his room?" the maid asked.
"There will be no need, he isn't eating tonight."
