by Chris Colfer
Lucy groaned. “Okay, fine—I’ll go in by myself,” she said. “Everybody wait here.”
She proceeded into the study on her own and headed directly into the closet of jack-o’-lanterns. Lucy searched the shelves and it didn’t take long to find a pumpkin with her defiant expression staring back at her. She quickly removed the jack-o’-lantern from the shelf to show the others, but as Lucy headed out of the closet, something peculiar caught her eye.
Lucy passed a pair of jack-o’-lanterns with the faces of a refined couple. The man had a wooden pipe in his mouth, fuzzy muttonchops covered the majority of his face, and a monocle was placed over his left eye. The woman’s hair was styled into two buns that resembled horns, a pearl necklace was wrapped around her neck, and she had inquisitive eyes. Lucy was certain she recognized the couple—she couldn’t recall from when or where, but she had definitely seen the woman’s unique eyes in person.
Suddenly, the sound of a creaking floorboard came from inside the study. Lucy cautiously peered out of the closet and was relieved to see it was just the invisible butler. He was joined by Old Billie, who glared at Lucy from the wall behind the servant. As Lucy gazed into the illustration’s inquisitive eyes, it slowly dawned on her why she recognized the couple in the closet.
“Wait a second,” she said. “The people on those pumpkins—they’re you, aren’t they?”
Old Billie nodded and the invisible butler’s monocle bobbed up and down in the space above his collar. Lucy glanced back at the jack-o’-lanterns and noticed that a pendant with the letter R was attached to the woman’s pearl necklace and that the man’s wooden pipe was also engraved with the letter R. Lucy could tell the letter was significant to the couple, and she scrunched her forehead as she tried to think of the reason.
“Holy whodunit!” she exclaimed. “You guys are Lord and Lady Ravencrest! This house wasn’t a generous donation like Mistress Mara said it was—she cursed you and then stole it!”
Once again, the goat and the invisible butler nodded.
“So that’s why Old Billie led me to this study,” Lucy said to herself. “She wanted me to know Mistress Mara had cursed her and stolen her home. And on the night I got lost, I thought the manor itself was playing tricks on me, but the butler was opening and shutting all those doors! I just didn’t see him because he’s invisible! He purposely guided me to the hallway so I would hear Mistress Mara and the Horned One’s conversation! That also means he was naked while he was doing it, but I’ll save that concern for another time.”
Lucy thought she had figured everything out, but based on the couple’s somber body language, she realized there was more to the story. Old Billie’s gaze drifted past Lucy, and the butler raised his cuff link, both gesturing to something behind her. Lucy turned around, and in the very back of the closet, she saw a jack-o’-lantern that had been placed on its own shelf—it was the pumpkin she had discovered during her first visit to the study. Lucy had trouble recognizing the carving at first, but now that she was looking at it with fresh eyes, it suddenly hit her.
“Oh my God!” she gasped. “It’s Brystal!”
Lucy grabbed Brystal’s jack-o’-lantern and bolted back to the hallway.
“You guys aren’t going to believe what I just found!” she announced.
Lucy tossed the pumpkin to Tangerina and Skylene. The girls inspected the carving and then shot her a dirty look.
“Nice try, Lucy, but the witches aren’t going to fall for this,” Tangerina said.
“Yeah, this pumpkin is way too pretty to be you,” Skylene said.
“No—that’s not mine—this is mine!” Lucy said.
She tossed the other pumpkin to Stitches and Sprout. Lucy’s likeness was unmistakable and proof that Mistress Mara had cursed her. The witches moaned like their favorite sports team had lost a game.
“Looks like Lucy’s telling the truth,” Stitches said. “Check the Mara pool. Who had ‘kill the Fairy Godmother and seek revenge on mankind’?”
Sprout pulled a rolled-up piece of paper out of her bushy hair and read from it.
“Let’s see, I had ‘plague the world with exploding bats,’ Stitches had ‘fill all the rivers with blood and guts,’ and Beebee had ‘kill a diplomat and seek revenge on mankind,’” she said. “Beebee’s was the closest—she wins again!”
“Aw, man!” Stitches griped. “How does she win everything?”
“I was b-b-born lucky,” Beebee boasted. “You know the d-d-drill. Give me your m-m-money, witches!”
Stitches and Sprout each begrudgingly handed Beebee a couple of gold coins. The fairies couldn’t believe the witches had made a game out of it.
“Wait, you knew Mistress Mara was plotting something?” Emerelda asked.
“And you made bets on it?” Xanthous asked.
Stitches shrugged. “We knew she didn’t open Ravencrest out of the goodness of her heart,” she said. “Witches never help anyone but themselves.”
Lucy put two fingers in her mouth and whistled to get everyone’s attention.
“You guys are missing the important part!” she exclaimed. “Look at the other pumpkin! Recognize the carving? Mistress Mara didn’t just curse me—she put a curse on Brystal, too! I found that jack-o’-lantern three days ago but I didn’t realize it was her!”
“But how did she curse her?” Skylene asked. “Brystal doesn’t look any different.”
“Curses don’t always affect someone’s appearance,” Lucy said. “Sometimes they can disturb a person’s health, or their stamina, or their—”
“Mood?” Tangerina asked.
The fairies rolled their eyes at her remark.
“What?” Tangerina asked defensively. “I’m not trying to be judgmental, but Brystal’s been in a bad mood for weeks.”
Everyone went silent as they thought about what Tangerina had said. Brystal’s recent behavior had been extremely out of character—they knew something had to have been causing her recent mood swings, but they would never have imagined a curse could be the culprit.
“Actually, I think Tangerina’s on to something,” Xanthous said. “If Mistress Mara wanted to kill Brystal, she’d want her to be as vulnerable as possible when she did. Maybe she thought cursing Brystal mentally would be more effective than cursing her physically?”
“So that’s why she was so unhappy,” Pip said. “Just before I left the academy, Brystal told me she was feeling really negative but couldn’t explain where it was coming from.”
“Well, now we know,” Lucy said. “Brystal has always been so good about hiding her feelings. Remember last year? Brystal knew about the Snow Queen for weeks before we did, and we were completely oblivious. She bottled up all her fear and anxiety to spare us from being as worried as she was. The fact that we’ve even noticed Brystal’s behavior just shows how miserable she must be! And I’m sure all the stuff with the Three Thirty-Three has only made it worse!”
The comment triggered Emerelda’s memory and she suddenly gasped.
“What’s wrong, Em?” Xanthous asked.
“Earlier this evening Brystal asked me to take over the academy if anything happened to her,” Emerelda said. “I thought she was just tired—I told her we would talk more after she had time to rest—but now I think she might have been planning something! When I returned to her office, she had left her wand and a note behind—but I haven’t had a chance to read it yet!”
“Do you have it with you?” Skylene asked.
Emerelda retrieved the note from her pocket and read it aloud:
“Dear Emerelda,
“By the time you read this, I’ll have surrendered myself to the Three Thirty-Three, and you’ll be the new Fairy Godmother. This may seem like a drastic decision, but I promise you, it’s our best shot at defeating them.”
“No!” Skylene said.
“She couldn’t have!” Xanthous said.
“Why would she surrender to them?!” Tangerina said.
“Because her mind isn’t wo
rking like it should!” Lucy said. “What else does it say, Em?”
“Before I leave, it’s important I pass along all the information I’ve learned about the Three Thirty-Three so you’re prepared.
“The Three Thirty-Three call themselves the Righteous Brotherhood and they consist of exactly three hundred and thirty-three clansmen. The roles have been passed down from father to eldest son in three hundred and thirty-three families in the Southern Kingdom. Each clansman has devoted his entire existence—life and whatever comes afterward—to upholding something known as the Righteous Philosophy. They believe the world can only function properly if mankind is in control, and if men are in control of mankind. Over the centuries, the Brotherhood have successfully applied their oppressive philosophy to the laws of the Southern Kingdom, and they’ve eliminated any group that stands in their way.
“The Brotherhood operates from a fortress on the shore of the South Sea. Their weapons are made from a material called bloodstone, but no one knows where the material came from or why it defies magic. The clan is currently being commanded by a man they call the Righteous King, and he wears a suit made entirely out of bloodstone with a matching mask that’s shaped like a ram’s skull.”
“What a coincidence,” Sprout said. “That sounds exactly like the outfit the Horned One wears. You think they shop at the same stores?”
Lucy rolled her eyes. “That can’t be a coincidence!” she said. “Obviously, the Horned One is the Righteous King!”
“But that doesn’t make any sense,” Pip said. “That would mean Mistress Mara is working with the Righteous Brotherhood!”
“Actually, it makes perfect sense,” Lucy said. “When I was in show business, we used to have a phrase, ‘The enemy of my enemy is the only safe understudy.’ It means people can look past their differences and work together as long as they share a common interest. And in this case, killing Brystal is their common interest!”
“Beebee, what do you think?” Stitches asked. “You’re right about everything.”
“I bet he’s b-b-backstabbing everyone in a barbaric quest for p-p-power to fill a deep-seated v-v-void caused by a lonely and loveless ch-ch-childhood,” Beebee said.
The fairies’ eyes went wide.
“Well, case closed,” Lucy said. “Keeping reading, Em.”
“Don’t let the Righteous King fool you, he’s actually King Champion XIV’s son, Maximus, in disguise. Maximus has recently framed me for the murder of his father to tarnish my name and turn people against the magical community. However, the sooner I disassociate myself from the fairies, the less damage he can do, so I’ve decided to surrender willingly and hopefully salvage what’s left of the fairies’ reputation.
“Once I’m gone, the Brotherhood plans to wage war on the magical community. Right now, the clan are convinced that fairies and witches will be weaker without me, but I know my absence will only make them stronger. I’ve made so many mistakes recently, I know they’ll be better off without me—you’ll lead the magical community in ways I never could.
“I apologize for how abrupt my departure is and hope you’ll learn to forgive me one day. I must reiterate, this is the only way the magical community can win the war against the Righteous Brotherhood.
“Please take care of yourself and keep everyone safe,
Brystal
“PS—While you keep track of the Righteous Brotherhood, it’s important to keep an eye on the globe in the office. The Snow Queen is trapped in a cavern deep below the Northern Mountains. As long as the northern lights are shining in the sky, the Snow Queen remains a prisoner, but if the lights ever fade from view, it means she’s escaped.
“I wish I had more time to explain, but if you ever need advice or guidance, find the cavern in the mountains. Part of Madame Weatherberry still exists within the Snow Queen and she can help you.”
The whole letter was shocking, but Brystal’s last line about Madame Weatherberry was the most shocking of all. The fairies expected Brystal to say she was kidding in the next passage—but there was nothing left for Emerelda to read.
“She’s not serious,” Skylene said. “Is she?”
“Of course not,” Tangerina said.
“This is the curse talking—it’s made her delusional,” Xanthous said.
“Exactly—she doesn’t know what she’s saying,” Emerelda said. “Even if part of Madame Weatherberry was alive, why would she exist within the Snow Queen?”
Lucy cringed and let out a deep sigh, already regretting what she was about to say.
“Because Madame Weatherberry is the Snow Queen,” she confessed.
The fairies glared at Lucy like she had said something horribly offensive.
“Shame on you, Lucy!” Skylene said.
“Why would you say such a nasty thing?” Tangerina asked.
“Madame Weatherberry gave us everything we have!” Xanthous said. “How could you be so disrespectful?”
“I’m telling you the truth—I saw her with my own eyes,” Lucy said. “Madame Weatherberry thought the only way we could get mankind’s approval was by giving mankind a problem that only we could solve. She turned herself into a monster so we could be heroes and win the world’s affection. That’s why I went to Ravencrest for a couple of days—I was furious with Brystal for not being honest with me.”
“Then why weren’t you honest with us?” Emerelda said. “Why did you run to Ravencrest instead of telling us the truth?”
Lucy took a moment to think about it, and the answer surprised her.
“I guess for the same reasons Brystal kept it from me,” she said. “When I found out the truth, I was devastated. It felt like everything Madame Weatherberry had taught me was a lie, and it made me question my relationship with magic. I didn’t want you guys to go through all that, so I thought I was doing the right thing by keeping it to myself. I’m sorry.”
The fairies stared off into space and quietly shook their heads. They didn’t want to believe a word of it, but they knew Lucy was telling the truth. Tears came to their eyes as they were bombarded with heartbreak, anger, and a sense of betrayal all at once.
“I know exactly how you feel, but don’t make the same mistake I did,” Lucy said. “Instead of blaming Madame Weatherberry, I lashed out at Brystal—I didn’t understand what an impossible situation she was put in! Living with such a big secret had to have been torture, but she sacrificed her own peace of mind to protect ours. Even while a curse was making her miserable, Brystal never stopped putting us first! And now she’s in trouble and needs our help! So are we going to stand around licking our wounds, or are we going to save her?”
Lucy’s message was more profound than even Lucy was expecting, and the fairies didn’t know how to respond. They looked to one another for reassurance, but deep down, they were all thinking the same thing. Brystal would never abandon them in their hour of need—and they weren’t going to lose her without a fight.
“Of course we’re going to save her,” Tangerina said. “You really think we’d just leave her to die?”
“What are we? Witches?” Skylene said. “Oh, sorry! I forgot where I was.”
“Compliment accepted!” Stitches said with a wink.
“But how do we know Brystal’s still alive?” Emerelda asked. “Does Ravencrest have a Map of Magic we could check before we leave?”
Lucy held up Brystal’s pumpkin and peeked inside it.
“We don’t need a Map of Magic,” she said. “The candle in her jack-o’-lantern is fading, but it’s lit! That means her curse is still active, which means she must be alive!”
Emerelda sighed and caressed the pumpkin like it was the real Brystal.
“Hang in there, girl,” she said. “Help is on the way.”
“We’ve got to act fast,” Xanthous said. “Brystal surrendered hours ago. She could be anywhere by now!”
“I bet the Brotherhood took her to a secret lair inside a volcano!” Stitches said.
“I bet they put
her in a hot-air balloon a thousand miles above the earth!” Sprout said.
“I b-b-bet they took her to their f-f-fortress by the sea,” Beebee said.
“In that case, we’re definitely going to the fortress,” Lucy told the others.
“I’m coming with you!” Pip announced. “Brystal tried to warn me about Mistress Mara, but I didn’t listen. If I don’t make it up to her somehow, I’ll never forgive myself.”
Lucy was grateful for her support, but the fairies needed a lot more than Pip to stand a chance against the Brotherhood. She turned toward Stitches, Beebee, and Sprout with large, pleading eyes.
“The Brotherhood is really dangerous,” she said. “They outnumber us by hundreds and they have weapons that defy magic. I know witches are supposed to think only about themselves, but if you could find it in your dark hearts to help us, we could really use you.”
The witches scratched their chins as they considered her request.
“How dangerous will it be?” Stitches asked.
“Extremely,” Lucy said.
“Will there be violence?” Sprout asked.
“Definitely.”
“And c-c-casualties?” Beebee asked.
“Most likely.”
The witches smirked at Lucy and cackled with excitement.
“Say no more,” Stitches said. “You had us at dangerous.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
A DEAL WITH DEATH
Brystal opened her eyes.…
It was like waking from a deep sleep, but not a sleep she had experienced before.… She wasn’t tired or groggy, but surprisingly rested and alert.… Her body wasn’t stiff or sore, but unusually relaxed and limber.… She didn’t feel anxious or gloomy, but unexpectedly calm and collected.…The temperature wasn’t too warm or too cold, just comfortable.…
Everything was so comfortable.… And it was a nice change.…
Strangely, when Brystal awoke, she was already on her feet. She stood in the middle of a gray field with a perfectly smooth surface. She was facing a magnificent white tree that was engraved with the name Brystal. A silver clock was embedded in the center of its trunk, and the hands had stopped turning at 3:33. Brystal heard ticking, and when she gazed up, she saw thousands of pocket watches hanging from the branches on glittering silver chains.
