Prologue
The Witch's eyes lit up with fury.
"You wicked child," she shrilled. "I hid you from the world. I am the only person you have known, and you betray me!"
She struck Rapunzel with her left hand and grabbed a pair of shears with the right. She started to hack away Rapunzel's gold curls, getting so close to the scalp that she made parts of her head bleed.
Within minutes, all of Rapunzel's hair lay in long strands on the floor. The Witch looked to the sobbing child at her feet. She grabbed Rapunzel by the neck and threw her to the mirror.
"What Prince would want you now?" the Witch asked mockingly. "I hid you from the world, so no one would hurt you like they hurt me. This is the thanks I receive for keeping you safe."
The Witch threw Rapunzel to the ground as she thought of what punishment she should receive for her sin. She grabbed Rapunzel's chin so she would have to look into the Witch's coal black eyes.
"I will hide you away, so no one, not even your beloved Prince can find you."
Rapunzel grabbed the Witch's sleeve and looked up at her, her broken eyes full of tears. "Please, I beg of you. Do not take me away from my Prince."
"I never asked anything of you and what do you do? You deceive me! I was the one who took care of you, like my own child."
Tears fell from the Witch's eyes but she quickly turned her broken heart to stone. She grabbed Rapunzel and took her to a place, hidden from all of the world.

1
The town was hidden away from everyone and everything. It was a dark town due to the enormous mountains that towered over it. Though no one knew of this town, it was a rich town. Around the town stretched, the extravagant homes, the most remarkable of these homes being the Benicelaga's. Signor lived there with his wife, several servants and the couple's one and only daughter, Gothel.
From the moment Gothel was born she was like Aphrodite. She was a beautiful, darling child, with hair like black lace and skin as white as ivory. Her father cared only for her and because of this her mother tried to beat her beauty from her. She gave her the ugly name of Gothel along with her casual, hurtful insults and physical beatings at the slightest thing.
Gothel grew up quickly at the Benicelaga's estate. Her mother made sure she was never allowed out; she kept her prisoner in her own home. Signora, as well, hardly showed herself in town. Rumors became to circulate within the small town that one of the servants had seen Signora practicing witchcraft. Many people shrugged it off, claiming that the Benicelagas are good people and would never do anything like that. However, the rumor was true.

2
"Mother," Gothel asked one day. "Why can't I go out? Why must I stay here and learn about all this?"
"About what?" her mother retorted. "About where you came from?"
"I don't want to learn any of this. I don't care, I don't want to learn about witchcraft or even be a witch."
Signora reached her hand across the table and slapped her daughter across the mouth.
"I don't want to hear you say that," she spat. "It isn't about being a witch. It's about having power over everyone else. It's a tradition."
Gothel looked up at her mother with tearful eyes then looked down at the table where miscellaneous objects lay in particular places surrounding a pot of boiling water.
"Now then, if they aren't any more objections, I will get back to the spell."
"What's this one for mother?" Gothel asked carefully.
"For you, my dear. It is a spell, that might make you not as hideous as you are."
"Father says I am beautiful."
"Darling, he must say that. You are his daughter. Anyway, why would you want to be beautiful?"
"I don't know."
"You are so young, so naive. You don't want to be beautiful. You are exposed to absolutely dreadful things. Boys and men go after you, crawling and gnawing their way towards you like the last piece of meat at a dinner table. Then stories and lies are spread and soon you are called a whore or even a witch. Believe me, I know."
"If you are beautiful, why would they call you a witch?" Gothel said
"Those old hags in the village are jealous, my dear. They are jealous of beauty. No one would expect you though. You blend right in with the worst of them."
"Is that why there are rumors about you, mother?"
"Yes, Gothel. Now then, can we please get on with this spell?" Signora said raising her hand. "Or must I remind you once more of your childish behavior."
Gothel shook her head. She knew better then to ask her mother anymore questions.

3
Gothel was never allowed to go into town, except on Saturdays when the servants would go into town to get what they needed for the following week. Her father would accompany her of course, and would keep her close never letting her out of his sight.
However, one week everyone in the Benicelaga house, except for Gothel and Signora, contracted a stomach virus, Gothel was sent into town to get the necessities for the week and also the vials of medicine for the household. She had never been allowed to go to town by herself and she made sure she would enjoy it.
Gothel had never been to the apothecary before. When she entered, she stood wide-eyed at the jars filled with the most interesting things. A hand grabbed Gothel's shoulder and she turned quickly around.
"May I help you Signorina?" the pharmacist asked.
"Um...yes...I am Signorina Benice..."
"Gothel Benicelaga, I remember you when you were only a baby," he said slapping his knee. "My its been a long time. You were a weak little babe and I supplied your family with the goods to make you better, but you wouldn't remember me. Your father and I were actually good friends way back when. I am Maguire Tretle. "
He extended his hand and Gothel firmly grasped it. Her delicate hand was lost in his gigantic, calloused one. She quickly let go.
"Yes...well I am in need of..."
"I hardly see you in the town without your father," he said interrupting her again. "Let me guess the household has taken ill, wouldn't be the first one. There's that nasty illness going ‘bout the town. It's a bitch of a sickness but let me just get what you need."
Gothel shuddered at that word. Her family was proper and hardly ever swore, she was not accustomed to it.
"Caleb get your ass out here," he screamed to the back, as Gothel shuddered.
Out from the back came a young man who was about two years older than Gothel. His big green eyes stared right at Gothel, looking through her. His hair, which was pulled back was the color of fire. The young man was tall and Gothel could make out his muscles from beneath his shirt. He stared at Gothel with such intenseness that her ivory skin turned the color of his hair.
"Caleb where is you manners," Maguire spat at his son. "I am sorry Miss, this is my son Caleb, he helps run our little shop. Caleb this is Miss. Gothel Benicelaga."
"Miss. Benicelaga, it's a pleasure to meet," he said grabbing her hand and shaking it so fast and rough, she was sure it was going to fall off. His hand was calloused like his father's but she kept her hand in his until he put it back to it's right place.
"Well, I um... am just going to get those medicines for you Miss." Maguire said going to the back.
For several seconds Gothel and Caleb just looked at each other before Caleb broke the silence.
"You probably don't want to talk to me," he said looking down at his feet. "I mean you probably have many of you higher class friends, you wouldn't want to be seen talking to a lower class assistance."
Caleb started to the back before Gothel regained her sense and called to him.
"I actually don't have any friends," she stammered as Caleb froze. "I also wouldn't care if anyone saw me talking to you and you are not lower class."
"The government says different, Miss. Benicelaga"
"I don't believe in classes, Caleb and please call me by my name."
"Gothel," Caleb said advancing toward her. "That is a nice thing to say, hopefully one day, there won't be any classes at all."
"One can only hope" she said taking the rest of the steps toward him. From then on a new relationship was formed. One Gothel never had experienced before, this was new something to her.

4
Gothel never knew what love truly was but she was sure she felt it when she was with Caleb. After her first trip to town she ran home to seek her father's permission to go to town.
"Father," Gothel asked standing at the doorway of her father's library. "May I come in?"
"Oh my dear, you needn't ask," Signor said dropping everything to attend to his daughter's needs. "Now, what is it?"
"Father, I am sixteen. I think that I should be able to do things on my own."
"Such as?" Signor answered her, intrigued.
"Well... I think I should be able to go to town, without anyone." Gothel said weakly looking down at her feet. "Without anyone."
"For what purpose?"
Gothel knew this fight would not be won easily. She took her father's hand in hers.
"Daddy," she said sweetly, as her father looked up. She had not called him daddy since she was a baby, her mother forbade it. "Please, I am old enough, I want to experience everything and I won't be able to do it by staying in the house forever. Please, daddy. Please."
Signor studied his daughter for several minutes before he replied. Gothel swore she had not breathed for those minutes.
"It would fine," he said. "However, you must alert me every time you decide to go and also they will be curfews and several rules. This is a privilage Gothel. Do not make me take it away. Do you understand?"
"I do," she replied smiling. "Daddy." When Gothel spoke that last word, Signor's heart melted. However, her mother's turned cold.

5
Gothel ran into the house one afternoon, she had been in the town all day. She ran up the stairs into the room at the top, the room where her mother was usually found doing her witchcraft.
"Mother!" Gothel exclaimed running into the room.
Her mother jumped up as the door burst open. Within seconds her mother was up and quickly shut the door and smacked Gothel down to the floor.
"You stupid girl!" Signora spat at her. "I thought you were someone else. What do you think would have happened if someone found all of this? If I am to go down, you are going down with me. Do you understand?"
Gothel looked up at her mother, tears in hers and nodded.
"Now, what did you what to speak to me about?"
"I think...I...I... saw something while I was sleeping and... and... it came true. What I saw last night happened."
"Really?" her mother said intrigued. "A premonition. What did you see?"
"Well...there was an woman and... and..."
"You have never stuttered before. Do not make me smack it out of you."
"She was crossing the street and then there was a mounted soldier on horseback and he did not see her and..." Gothel looked away from her mother as she said the last three words. "She was killed."
"Have you ever had any of these premonitions before?"
"No mother."
Signora chortled and leaned down to her daughter.
"Do you know what this means?" she asked. "You are getting stronger, your power is anyway and soon my dear, you and I will be the most powerful women on this Earth. You can have anything or anyone."
"Just by premonitions?" Gothel asked her.
"My darling, with one power, more will soon come."

6
With each day Gothel's power became stronger. Her mother began to teach her lessons longer and harder, which meant less time with Caleb. Whenever she could, she would sneak off into town to be with him.
"What are doing that has you locked up?" he asked one day.
"My mother is teaching me the ethics of being a proper young lady," Gothel quickly said. "Things a lady of my statue is supposed to know."
"‘Statue'? What do you mean by ‘statue'?"
"Standing properly, talking properly, learning how to sew, cook and such."
"Well, you have yet to tell your parents about me, so I guess I am not in your ‘statue'" Caleb said steaming. Gothel cowered next to him, this was the first time ever she had seen him get mad with her and she was sure he would hit her.
"You aren't going to say anything? Well, I guess I really am not in your ‘statue'" Caleb said walking away.
"Caleb," Gothel said grabbing him. "That is not what I meant. I don't care about statue and being a lady. I care about you."Caleb turned Gothel toward him and sunk into a warm embrace.
In the shadows Signora stood and watched. "I will not have that boy interfere with my plans." she hissed and with that she turned her skirt and went back to the house where she would plan her plot.

7
Gothel arrived back at the Benicelaga's estate only to be greeted by one of their servants.
"Signorina, you father would like to speak to you, in the study."
Gothel went up the steps towards her father's study. Hundreds of things went through her mind, never has her father requested her presence. Gothel did not know whether she should be happy or if she should be scared. Gothel knocked on the door if the study and her father beckoned her in.
"You wanted to speak to me." she said as she entered the room. Her father sat at his desk, her mother in the chair at the side.
"Yes, it has come to my attention that you have been seeking the attention of an apothecary's son. Is this true?"
"And what if it is?" Gothel said, eyes narrowing.
"I will not have that tone with me, do you understand? You are a young lady of high statue. You will be hold up to that statue."
"I am not a lady. I am hardly a lady, I am still a child. I have yet to experience anything because you keep me locked up in this hell!"
Signor quickly got up out of his chair so fast, Signora jumped.
"You will not swear in this house. Now I know why you wanted to be able to go into town. I forbad you to see him."
"That's not fair!" screamed Gothel.
"I have my reputation to uphold and I don't need my daughter to ruin it."
"What is so bad about Caleb?" Gothel spat, tears in her eyes. "He is a nice charming young man and he loves me."
"He doesn't love you," Signora said turning around. "He loves your money."
"He doesn't, he loves me."
"The conversation has ended. You are not to go into the town unchaperoned by either your mother or me."
"And if I refuse?"
"I will disown you from this family. You will live on the streets like a peasant and a whore."
"Wouldn't that ruin your reputation anyway? Also, Caleb and his father will take me in and then we will get married"
"Gothel, you underestimate the power your father has on this town and in the country. For you, I will just say you died, if anything I can come out more noble because of this," Signora said walking over to Gothel, lightly putting her hand on her daughter's shoulder. " As for the boy and the father, he can easily have both of them removed or worse, he can have you lover killed."
Signor strode past his daughter knocking her out of the way.
"Please," Gothel begged tears streaming down her cheeks. "Daddy?"
"Gothel," Signor said his back turned to her. "I am your father and you will address me as so." With that he slammed the door of the study shut.
"You," Gothel spat turning towards her mother. "You did all this."
"How dare you accuse me of this?" Signora said as she brought her hand down to slap Gothel, however Gothel managed to grab her hand and with great strength brought it down and would not let it go.
"I hate you, you were always jealous of me and I knew it." Gothel said, tighting her grip as her anger rose. "You try to ruin everything I have but you are forgetting something. I am getting stronger and stronger everyday and I will not be your tool. I will turn you in to father, tell him everything that you have been teaching me."
"You'll be going down as well." her mother said sharply.
"I already lost everything anyway." Gothel said snapping her mother's wrist. Signora cried out.
"You bitch!" she yelled shrilly.
"I am done with you woman. If so as look at me the wrong way... God better be with you." Gothel left the room as her mother still grasped her wrist seething, loathing her daughter with every breath.
"Your life is my hands Gothel. You and the boy's."

Gothel ran up to her bedroom. The room was decorated with tapestries and ornate pieces of wood and fabrics. She quickly began to rip them all down, stabbing the pieces of wood with the knife that she kept in the drawer. She fell into the corner sobbing and screaming. She could hardly breathe.
Her entire body collapsed onto the floor. Suddenly a pang of pain hit her and she suddenly shot up.
"Oh no," she whispered. "The bitch is going to kill us." Gothel quickly got up and ran to the window where she made a ladder of the tapestries and climbed down. She was not going to let her get them. This was the one thing she could not take away from Gothel.

8
Gothel quickly ran into town into the apothecary. Caleb was in the front of the store.
"Gothel," Caleb said ecstatic. "What are you doing here?"
"My mother is going to kill us, we need to leave immediatly. Where is your father?"
"Away on an affair. You mother is going to kill us? Who gave you that idea."
"I need to tell you something but it needs to wait. She is going to try and kill us tonight, we need to get out of here. Please."
The door to the apothecary opened and two soldiers stood there.
"Signorina Benicelaga and Signora Maguire, we are required to take you both into custody."
"For what?" Caleb snapped.
"Signor Benicelaga commands it. We are allowed to use force if necessary. Now come."
Caleb grabbed Gothel's hand and led her, with the guards, back to the estate. Gothel had no idea what was in store for her, she knew whatever it was, her life and the life of that of who she loved will be in danger.

9
The house itself was dark except for the light from her father's study and the light from the room in which Gothel spent hours upon hours in, learning the art of witchcraft.
The courtyard twinkled as torches lit it up. Gothel felt she was on the path to heaven or hell, the torches leading the way there. She felt Caleb's hand tighten around hers. The soldiers led them to the foyer of the estate where Gothel and Caleb stood, together as one.
Signor's voice bellowed from the study.
"Bring them here!"
Caleb still led Gothel to the study and refused to let go of her hand. Her father stood at his desk, her mother beside him.
"Gothel, you have disobeyed me time and time again. I told you not to associate yourself with him and yet, what do I see here?"
"Father, you don't understand."
"And you have been studying witchcraft behind my back."
Caleb quickly let go of her hand.
"You are a witch?"
A smile crept across Signora's face, this wasn't her plan but it was working.
"Please, I need to explain."
"Don't explain anything. I don't care. You are a witch."
"I am not a witch. You loved me before and now..."
"I didn't know you were a witch."
"Why does that change everything?"
"You put a spell on me didn't you?" Caleb said, backing away from Gothel.
"No..."
"She also sees the future," Signora said wiping tears away with her bandaged hand. "And look what she did to me."
"She made me do this!" Gothel screamed pointing to her mother. "She is the witch!"
"The girl is trying to blame me for everything," her mother sobbed "All I tried to do was make her a child of God."
"Witch!" Caleb yelled at Gothel. "Witch!"
She looked to her father who was leaning on the desk, out of breathe and heart broken.
"Everyone, please," her father said at last. "The child shall go to church and confess her sins, God will forgive her."
Gothel looked over at her father with thankful eyes. She had lost everything but her life had been spared. Her father returned her glance, however his once deep dark eyes were now hollow and were empty.
"Father," Gothel mouthed to her father. "Thank you."
"She has bewitched you as well," her mother hissed coming from around the desk. "God will not take her, she has gone too far down the path of evil, she needs to be killed. Then all spells she has put on the town will be gone. Then, we can only finally live in peace."
Gothel started to run to the door of the study but Caleb stood in the way of door.
"Please, you loved me. You cannot believe any of this, please." Caleb looked at Gothel, his eyes studying her for several long seconds before he knocked Gothel down to the floor.
"I never loved you, Witch"
"Stop, I am not a witch."
"Caleb," her mother began. "If she dies, all spells will be broken. Believe me..."
"She is the witch!" Gothel exclaimed getting up.
"Don't you spread such heinous lies." her mother shrieked hitting Gothel, knocking her down again.
Gothel looked up to her father, who shrank behind his desk. Within those several minutes Gothel had lost everything she held dear to her. She gave up, her heart, body and soul all give in, she didn't care anymore.
The soldiers grabbed Gothel and pulled her to her feet. She looked from Caleb to her mother and then to her father. Signor met her gaze, his eyes were dead, she could tell that he too had given up.
Gothel was dragged to the courtyard of the estate, a crowd had gathered in the front.
"Let this be a warning," her mother yelled to the crowd. "All those who think that things such as magic, love and all other affairs. This is what you will become. Unfortunately my own daughter must pay the price."
Signora looked at Gothel and moved her head in close, so that only she and Gothel could hear what she was saying.
"This is what happens when you try to better then you are. You are worthless, no one loves you. But don't worry I will take good care of the boy and everyone will be happy once you are gone."
Gothel looked into her mother's stone eyes. Gothel opened her cracked lips and said:
" You may torture me now but just remember I was always the one with the greater power and I will use it well."
"My dear, how do you plan to torture me when you are about to die?"
"My memory will. What you couldn't have. Go to hell you bitch."
Her mother's cockiness recoiled from her face and voice.
"Burn the witch!" she exclaimed.
The soldiers led Gothel to a tree in the courtyard and bound her to it.
"Remember me, I will see you all every night. There will not be one day when you don't think of me. You all will feel my wrath, especially you."
Gothel's eyes shot toward Caleb and her mother. The soldiers' torches lit the tree and a splitting scream was heard through the night. It made the town shudder and they all knew Gothel would be true to her word.
The flames went up the tree engulfing Gothel in its fury. When the flames finally died down the crowd came closer to the tree. She was gone and there was a burned mark, the shape of a body. Everyone looked at the tree and studied it.
A shot was heard from inside the estate and everyone knew it was Signor. His one and only meaning to live had been killed. Signora looked to Caleb and the ground and began to weep. The crowd began to move away from the tree and Caleb began to console the widow, however, one thing was on everyone's mind. Where had the body gone?

Gothel sat on the mountain that overlooked the town. There was a small puddle beside her. Gothel parted the hair on her face and looked into the puddle. Her beautiful, pale skin was now wrinkled and torn from the flames. She looked at the town.
"You will all perish," she said. "Just wait a few days and then you will all feel my wrath. My wrath will feel worse then if it was Lucifer himself!"
With that, lightening cracked and thunder bellowed through the unforgiven sky.

1
Aldabella held the tray with shaking hands and she started up the stairs. With each creak of the old wooden stairs, Aldabella began to shake more and more. She reached the top of the stairs and turned to the room at the end of the hallway. She slowly walked toward the room, the floor boards creaking louder then the stairs. Aldabella got to the end of the hallway and carefully balanced the tray in one hand so she would be able to knock.
Why does mom always make me take the tray up, Aldabella thought to herself. She was scared of their new guest, there was something about her that made Aldabella want to cower in the corner like a little mouse. Aldabella balanced herself and went to knock on the door. Before her hand could reach the door, it flung open. Aldabella stood wide-eyed at the figure standing above her, wishing she was a little mouse.

"Papa," Marcello called to his father. "I think I have found something."
"My son," Cristiano said, walking to where his son was standing. "What type of something have you found?"
"I think it is a person, but I am not sure. She looks injured papa."
Cristiano ran to his son and pushed him away. Cristiano looked down onto the grass. A woman laid there. Her black hair covered her face, her skin was peeling and red and her rich clothing was shredded and burnt. Cristiano kneeled beside the body and flipped it over and saw that there was still some shallow breathes coming from the woman.
"She is unconscious," he muttered to himself. "Marcello, I need to you listen to me. I need you to help me with her. She is badly burnt and we need to take her to get help."
"Are we taking her to mother?"
"Yes, now go grab our supplies."
Cristiano picked the woman up in his arms like a rag doll and escorted her off to their home.

Gothel gasped at the freezing water consumed her body. She could hardly see out of hers but she could make out figures.
"Aldabella," one of the voices said. "Go get some blankets, anything you can find."
"Where am I?" Gothel asked.
"We found you," the figure answered. "You are badly hurt, please relax. I will take care of you."
"No, I need to go, just stay away from me."
Gothel abruptly got up but fell back into the tub of freezing water.
"Don't try to stand up dear. I gave you a muscle relaxer, you will be able to stand up, but you are not getting that far."
"I am powerful, don't make me use force on you."
"You are to weak to do anything. Now then come here, dear and let my husband take you to your room."
Aldabella entered the room with the blankets. The figure pulled Gothel from the tub onto the tile floor. She quickly wrapped Gothel in them and then called to her husband.
"Christiano, she is ready if you please."
Gothel felt herself being picked up from the floor and moved. Her eyesight started to come back and Gothel looked up to the man carrying her. His graying hair matched his eyes and his strong arms held her like a newborn puppy.
Christiano laid Gothel down on a hard bed. The figure that had helped her in the bathtub, pulled a chair next to the bed and started to pull the blankets away. Gothel looked at the figure, now coming into a clearer view. The woman's black hair was pulled back and she could see from her figure that she too worked hard in the house. The woman started to dress Gothel in a soft cotton bed gown. Gothel looked into her blue eyes before the woman pushed a cup in front of her face.
The scent of the liquid filled Gothel's nose and she knew it was familiar. The sharp scent smelt of lilac and sage. Gothel remembered back to when she was a child and she had taken ill. Her mother had quickly put together a remedy for her. Gothel also remember the sweet taste of it.
"Are you a witch?" Gothel asked abruptly.
The woman began to laugh and shook her head.
"These remedies have something to do with witchcraft but no I am not a witch."
"Then who are you and where am I?"
"My name is Gemma and you are at my house. My husband and my son found you unconscious in the woods. You are not well my dear, you do not have a lot of strength. May I ask how you got these wounds?"
"I was betrayed." Gothel breathed as tears came into her eyes. She felt a hand wipe them away.
"Don't cry my dear. You will live here until you get the strength back. I will take care of you then you will be able to get back on your feet and do what must be done."
"And what is that?"
"Whoever gave you those wounds should be punished and my dear, if you are as powerful as you look and talk, then I am sure you will be able to do get your revenge."
"You are wanting me to hurt these people."
"Of course my dear. They deserve it. Now then get some sleep."
Gothel watched as Gemma swiftly gather the blankets. Gothel was left with what Gemma had just said and she went into a deep peaceful sleep.

2
"Aldabella, what are doing hiding behind the door." Gothel asked coming from the doorway.
"I brought you a tray," Aldabella stammered, taking a step back from Gothel. "We thought you might want some food. You just scared me."
"I didn't mean to scare you but I can see I can do that without doing anything. Tell me Aldabella, why is that I scare you."
"I...I... it is not that you scare me. It is just that you have so much power and I am afraid of it."
"Don't be my dear, I would never use any of it on you. I am saving it..."
"For the people who hurt you?" Aldabella asked innocently.
Gothel looked down at the young girl. Gothel's eyes began to tear but she tucked the tears into the back of her eyes.
"Yes. Now then shall we continue down stairs."
"But what about the food."
"Bring it back down to the kitchen. I am not hungry."
Aldabella and Gothel made their way down the stairs to the kitchen where Gemma was scrubbing the kitchen and Christiano and Marcello were reading.
"Ah, Gothel, you are up," Christiano said. "How are you today."
"Just fine and you?"
"Very good."
"Gothel," Gemma said putting down the rags. "I just want to see you upstairs, very quickly."
"Of course." Gothel said questioningly.
Gemma and Gothel made their way back up the stairs as the boys resumed their reading and Aldabella took up the scrubbing. Gemma and Gothel entered the bedroom and Gemma shut the door.
"I just wanted to see how you were healing and I didn't want you to be embarrassed in front of them."
"My skin doesn't hurt as much but it is still peeling and chapped."
"Gothel, I think you might look like this for..."
"I know, I can feel it. I don't want it to go away. I think it makes me, makes me more feared and it also makes me realize something."
"What is that?" Gemma asked.
"That power makes you feared and that I have more power than anyone else."
"Yes my dear, you do."

3
Gothel stayed only two weeks in the company of Gemma and her family. Within those weeks she gained her strength and started to heal, even though she was now deformed all over her body. Her hair was still that of black silk. Her stance was still strong and in own her way she was still Aphrodite.
In those two weeks she began to plot her revenge. She knew she was more powerful than her mother and knew she was born with the ability to summon power and spells from within her.
That is after all how I had got away, she thought. She remembered how she once read in her mother's books about a spell that could project her body to another place. She had only looked at the spell once and somehow she knew she would be able to do it easily. Gothel knew that she achieved more in several years then her mother would ever be able to accomplish.
"Tonight mother," Gothel growled as she looked in the mirror and caressed her calloused face. "I will show what a true witch is. Tonight you will pay for what I did."
4
Gothel fastened her cloak and set for the tiny town where she had grown up. She stood overlooking the town. Her black skirts and cloak fit in with the night. As she looked at her birth city, like a black hawk overlooking her prey, she descended into the town.
Her feet hit hard against the cobblestone pathway. The streets starting to empty and as she walked, the townspeople separated. She walked and passed familiar faces who stared with curiosity at the hidden figure.
Gothel passed a familiar store and ran her hand on the window of it before entering. She passed the jars and vials of the objects she once showed much interest in, now they were just hurtful memories that stayed in the back of her mind.
"I am sorry, but we are closed," a familiar voice said from the back. "You are going to need to come back..."
"I am looking for your son," Gothel said in a deep voice. "Perhaps I could speak to him."
"I am sorry but Caleb has moved up," Maguire said, fussing with items in the back still. "He is now the husband of Signora Benicelaga."
Gothel clenched her hands so hard that her nails dug into her palms and made them gush. She closed her eyes and moved to the shadows of the store. She let them engulf her and soon she was gone, to a place she once called ‘home'.

5
Signora climbed the steps into the attic. She unlocked the door and lit the lamps of the old room. She looked to see a figure swathed in black before her.
"Who are you?" Signora screamed. "How did you get in here? I will have you arrested!"
"You don't remember me, do you?" Gothel asked mockingly in her deep voice.
"I will call the soldiers." Signora said running out the door.
"Mother," Gothel said in her quieter voice, the voice her mother grew up to. Signora shut the door and smiled.
"You have come back, I knew you would. I just didn't realize you were stupid enough to come back so soon."
"What can I say?" Gothel said deeper. "I don't like to leave anything unfulfilled."
"So have you come to do your mother in? Get the revenge you always wanted. You don't have the strength to. You are hurt and you don't have the power I possessed, you used it all when you did the nifty trick with the fire. Now then, let mommy see your new face."
Gothel lowered her hood revealing her burnt face as Signora started to laugh.
"Wherever you go you will be hated cause of you face..."
"Not everywhere, where the hell do you think I was for the last weeks? You forget mother, I was raised in a rich lifestyle, I am not going to change anytime soon."
"Speaking of lifestyles, have you heared the good news? About Caleb and I?"
"Yes." Gothel said quietly.
"Fine young man, if only you got to see what he was like off the street and in the..." Signora stopped and smirked at Gothel. "So, you come here to destroy mommy dearest, with what, like I said you used all of your power."
"Not all of it."
"You have a few parlor tricks up your sleeve do you? I have been studying the craft my whole life. You have no idea."
"Sorry, but I beg the differ," Gothel said her hand at her mother's neck. "I have a lot more then just strength. I know more about this craft then you do. I have more power."
Gothel's hand closed tighter around her mother's neck as Signora gasped more for air.
"I can kill without any magic what so ever," Gothel sneered. "It doesn't mean I won't however. I am going to make you suffer the way you made me suffer."
Gothel quickly let go of her mother's neck and studied her mother with deep eyes. Signora quickly ran for the door but Gothel continued her stare.
"What have you done to me?" Signora shrieked frozen, unable to move.
"No one can hear, no matter how hard you scream. That is just one of the many things I can do."
Gothel continued her stare and within seconds a flame engulfed Signora. Gothel sat and watched her mother scream with pain until her body fell to the floor, a pile of ashes.
"One down," Gothel said standing over the pile of ashes, she put her hood up once more."One more to go."

6
Gothel tramped down the hallway to the main suite in the estate. The one her parents once shared. She peered throw the doorway and saw Caleb in the bed.
"Darling, is that you."
"Yes," Gothel answered as she walked into the room. "My dear it is."
Caleb quickly shot up nervously.
"Who are you?" he shrieked
"You don't remember me do you?" Gothel said. "Maybe this will refresh your memory."
Gothel removed her hood and a flash of terror went through Caleb's face.
"Gothel," he whispered. "I thought you were dead, we all thought you were dead."
"You all were wrong. I am alive, very alive in fact. So was it easy to replace me?"
"Gothel, I think given the circumstances..."
"Circumstances! What circumstances? You betrayed me, I don't think that is a fair circumstance."
"You are witch, I had too."
"Yes, you are right," Gothel chuckled. "I am a witch, so was your ‘darling'."
"Was," Caleb said standing up and getting so close to Gothel, she could feel his breath on his face. "What did you do to her?"
"Same as she did to me."
"You killed her?"
"Yes."
"Guards!" Caleb screamed. "Help!"
Gothel grasped Caleb's face and pushed him down onto the floor.
"No one can hear you," Gothel said, her eyes starting to fill with tears. "You won't be able to hurt anyone anymore."
"Gothel," Caleb began. "I can't move. What did you do to me? What did you do to me you bitch?"
Gothel turned her back on him as he continued to scream. Gothel looked to the linens and set them afire. Caleb began to scream louder. Gothel left the estate as it burnt to the ground. Screams filled the night as people rushed towards the burning building. Gothel turned her back on the town never to look back again, she wanted to start a new life, a life without pain.

7
Gothel lived in solitude on the other side of the mountain in a small town of Girgio. The houses and people were modest and kept to themselves. Down the tiny dirt path at the edge of town, Gothel resided. She lived a half a decade by herself. Her home was dark and isolated from all other houses. She had had a twelve foot stone wall built around it, to keep curious visitors at bay. Gothel had isolated herself in her tiny fortress and was content with that lifestyle.
However, Gothel could not keep people away. People would pass the house to take a look at it and the wonderful garden that had been growing within the stone walls. No one knew how Gothel had done it but she grew the most beautiful vegetables and flowers. Some expected it to be witchcraft but all were too afraid to find out if it was true. As Gothel arrived in the town so did the facts and rumors about her.
The townspeople believed her to be the most powerful witch and all the world was afraid of her. Parents would use her name in vain to get their children to eat their dinners.
"If you don't eat your dinner," mothers would start. " Mother Gothel will come out of her home and take you away and mix you in with her finest vegetables and make a soup of you."
Gothel heard the whispers when she went into the market once every month. Children tugging on their mother's hems would often comment on the cloaked witch.
"Mama, is that the witch?"
Gothel would sometimes put on a show for the children, removing her cloak and saying aloud how she is picking up new spices for her soup. Mothers would quickly take their children and leave the market. At times, Gothel would have the pleasure of dealing with the old women of the town. They were not shy at all about how they felt.
Gothel ignored all of their sayings but one day she could do it no longer as one of them had been brave enough to come up to her.
"You know, Mother Gothel," one of them said. Gothel had to look around to make sure she was talking to her. "I don't know why you have settled in our little town. We were so peaceful and fine until you came here. When you came, a plague came as well."
That night, the old woman died. The coroners had said that her internal organs had been dried out and crushed, it was something they had never seen and that no disease or person could ever accomplish. After that, no one ever spoke to Gothel.
However, Gothel could not avoid people much longer. Soon a house stood half an acre away from Gothel's. She learned that the house belonged to a young, poor couple wanting to start a new life, which started by the inexpensive purchase of the land next to Gothel's house. The couple kept to themselves and did not bother Gothel.
Soon, Gothel began to notice that the wife would constantly stop in front of Gothel's fortress admiring the garden within.
"I will die if I do not have of that delicious rampion." the wife said one day passing the house.
Gothel had heard this but thought nothing of it, no one dared to come into her property but that morning as Gothel went to maintain her garden, she noticed that several of her rampion plants were missing.
"She wouldn't dare!" Gothel hissed.
Gothel went back into her house, thinking of what curse she could put on the young couple. However, she felt something and within seconds Gothel was looking into the future.
"Interesting," Gothel said, recovering from the nausea the premonitions brought to her. "Very interesting. The couple wants a child and tonight he will be stealing more rampion from me. I think I know of something worse then a curse. So much worse."
A smile went across Gothel's face as she started to work out her plan.

8
The young man crept over the wall and landed in the garden. He walked slowly to the rampion and began to pull the plants out of the garden, putting him into the sack he brought. As he finished and made his way back to the wall and tall figure stopped him.
"Stealing from me are you?" the figure said creeping toward him. "How dare you, you thief. I will start by chopping off the fingers you used to pry my objects from the garden."
"Please have mercy," the man pleaded, as he knelt at Gothel's feet. "Please, my wife. She said she would die if she did not have it. Please, I beg of you."
Gothel looked at the man kneeling at her feet. She quickly pulled him to his feet with one hand. The man gasped at her touch.
"I will let you go."
"Thank you, thank you. God make this day shine on you and..."
"There are conditions," Gothel screamed at the man. "And do not bless me in the name of God, I will not have it."
"What sort of conditions?"
"You will have a child, a girl. On the day of her birth, you shall give her to me. I will treat her as my own daughter."
Gothel could tell that man was in distress and could not think for himself but he agreed to Gothel's conditions. The man started to climb the wall however, Gothel stopped him with her words.
"Also, if you decide to leave and the child is not given to me. I will find you and it will be much worse for you family. If you leave you would wish that I had killed you right here, tonight, for the sake of both you and your wife."
Gothel went back into the house and the man slowly started to climb the wall to tell his wife of what had happened.

9
Gothel kept on eye on the couple, especially the wife and the unborn child. Whenever she saw the husband she demanded updates on the wife and child.
"How long do the midwives say?" Gothel demanded one day.
"They say a few more weeks," he said. "That is what they keep saying."
"The fools, they know nothing, the child will be a year before they even realize the child was born. I say a week at the most."
"They also say that this will most likely be the only child we will be able to conceive." he said solemnly.
"Don't be a fool," Gothel said harshly. "You and your wife will have at least seven kids. As soon as this one is born she will conceive again."
"How...how do you know this?"
"I know everything," Gothel said mockingly. "I will see you in another week, no more, no less."

10
Gothel was right of course. A week later the wife had gone into labor. The husband
immediately summoned the midwives. It was nearing eleven thirty at night and the baby still had not been born.
"The babe shall be coming soon," one of the midwives said. "Don't fret my dear, sometimes deliveries can take hours."
As midnight was nearing the door to the house opened and Gothel stood in the doorway.
"Has she not been born yet?" Gothel asked as she approached the bedroom.
Instinctively the midwives gathered in front of the woman.
"We do not your bad blessings," said one. "She needs peace and you bring nothing but bad. Leave this house at once."
Gothel merely looked at the midwives before they all fell to the floor. The wife shrieked as the husband knelt in front of the midwives.
"Are they dead?" he whispered.
"No merely unconscious." Gothel said as she raised her hand to one of the midwives. The youngest one sprang up and looked at Gothel as in a trance. "Help move along the delivery. The child shall be born soon and when it is, the others will awake as well."
Obediently the young midwife attended the young wife and at the stroke of midnight, the child was born. As Gothel had predicted the midwives awoke and attended the wife and the newborn baby.
Everyone in the room except for Gothel was in awe of the new child. Her eyes were the brightest blue anyone had every seen. Her hair, which was more than any creature would normally have at that age, was golden blonde spun in curls upon her head. The baby immediately let out a shrill shriek that most people would never believed came from such a gorgeous creature.
"What shall you call her?" one of the midwives asked.
Both husband and wife looked to Gothel who stood overlooking the baby.
"Surely something as beautiful as this should have a name that is an angel's name," the oldest midwife said. "Something that is beautiful and brings music to anyone's ears, something..."
"Her name shall be Rapunzel." Gothel said.
"You are not to decide," the youngest of the midwives said. "It is not your child."
"Her name shall be Rapunzel. As a reminder to what you have lost for being so selfish and stealing things that aren't yours. Rapunzel for rampion."
Gothel scooped the baby into her arms, she wrapped the blanket around Rapunzel and looked at her as if she was holding the Holy Grail.
"What are you doing?" the midwives exclaimed. "The child is not yours."
"It is," the wife cried out miserably. "It is hers."
Gothel continued to look at the child. The room stood silent as everyone looked at Gothel. Her eyes filled with something many thought was not possible for a soulless beast. They were filled with absolute love and joy.
Rapunzel fell asleep in the arms of her ‘mother'. Gothel turned swiftly on her heel and left the home. No one in the room could move. What they had just witnessed made them fall onto their knees. Never had any of them seen how one small creature could bring so much warmth into a stone heart.
As the door slammed shut, the midwives immediately left. Never did they share what they had just seen. They were both stunned and frightened for their lives at the same time. The couple did mourn over the lost of little Rapunzel, they merely kept on with their lives producing more eight children. They did often wonder what did happen to their first child, because after that night, Rapunzel and Gothel was never seen by anyone again.

1
For the last six years, Gothel had lived by herself with no love in her heart and not a care for any living creature whatsoever. However, that was about to change drastically.
In a moonlight flit, Gothel moved everything. In the past nine months, Gothel had used her powers to make a new home for her and her new child. Gothel had left Girgio forever to live only with Rapunzel. Gothel carried the baby in the crook of her arms and went into the woods where she projected herself to her new home.
The stone tower was isolated from all towns. It stood tall amongst the elms and pine trees. There was a window at the top of the stone tower. Gothel flew to the top of the tower and went through the window. The baby still lay in her arms asleep. The room was filled with ornate furniture. An oak cradle stood in the middle of the room. It was lined with a pink silk and woolen blankets.
Gothel placed Rapunzel in the cradle. She looked at the sleeping baby and stroked her rosy cheek. The baby awoke and Gothel was sure that Rapunzel would start to wail however, she merely looked up at Gothel with her big blue eyes. For the first time, Gothel felt a pang of something she never felt before. The baby looked at Gothel with love.
"Hush," Gothel whispered to Rapunzel, stroking her blonde hair. "Sleep tight, my love."
Obediently, Rapunzel closed her eyes and went back to sleep. Gothel refused to sleep that night she stood over the cradle just watching her sleep. Sharing the love that Rapunzel had showed her.

2
Rapunzel was always a happy child, she did nothing to make Gothel mad, ever. Sometimes, Gothel would actually take Rapunzel outside to gather some roots and berries. Rapunzel began to speak at a very young age which did not prove well for Gothel.
"Mommy," Rapunzel said one afternoon, calling out for Gothel's attention. "I want to eat something."
"Come here my dear. Let me explain something to you."
"What is it, mommy?"
"You may not to call me mommy," Gothel sighed as Rapunzel's face dropped. "You see my dear, I am not your true mother."
"Why?"
"You were given to me with love. With true and utter love."
"But you are my mommy." Rapunzel persisted.
"You may call me Mother Gothel. Now go run along and play and I will make you something to eat."
Rapunzel ran off to her bedroom to play as a tear fell down Gothel's face.
Gothel was also fearing the day when she learned to speak. She was afraid that she might ask what had happened to her skin. Just as Gothel had predicted many things, this came true as well.
"Mother Gothel, what is wrong with your face?"
"Some people have many things wrong with their appearances. It is nothing you must worry about. People are different."
"How did you get those strange markings on your skin?" she asked again, reaching out and touching Gothel's cheek.
"People," Gothel whispered. "People are cruel and mean. They did this to me. I am sorry, do you mind. I do not want to talk about this any longer."
Rapunzel was smart enough to know never to question Gothel after she dismissed a subject.
Rapunzel was a very smart child, however she lacked the sense to live out into the world. Whenever she did something wrong she could not keep it a secret. Gothel knew that in the real world, Rapunzel would not survive. She would often lose precious items that Gothel had given her.
"Rapunzel," Gothel called to her. "Where is your locket? I haven't seen it in your bedroom."
"I don't know where I put it," Rapunzel said looking down at the floor. "I lost it, I think."
"Do you know how old that was? " Gothel snarled. "It was passed down in our family for generations."
Rapunzel fell to the floor and grabbed the hem of Gothel's skirt. Gothel pushed her away and slammed the door of Rapunzel's room.
That was the first time that Gothel had ever lost her temper with Rapunzel. She became so upset that she sat in her room crying until she had worked up the strength to go back up to Rapunzel.
Gothel knew that Rapunzel would never be allowed out of her sight. She would need to keep an eye on her constantly. Gothel knew that she would have to constantly baby her and that Rapunzel would never be able to fend for herself.

3
When Rapunzel was six, she became very ambitious to go into the outside world.
"Mother Gothel," Rapunzel asked. "Can I go outside? It is so beautiful, and I wish to feel the grass beneath my feet. I want to talk to people."
"Now why would you want to do that?" Gothel asked. "People are horrible creatures, there are only a few who actually care about others."
"I know, but it might be nice, to talk to someone else."
"What of me?" Gothel asked getting angry.
"I always speak to you, I want to speak to someone else. I want some excitement."
"My darling, you know how you are like. People would take advantage of your kindness and innocence. You are safer in here. You don't want excitement."
"I know, I was just thinking how nice it would be."
"It wouldn't be, trust me. Now I do not wish to discuss it further."

Rapunzel would often study the books that Gothel had. She loved to read and study out things. As Rapunzel was reading another one of her books, Gothel studied her.
"Rapunzel," Gothel said. "What do you think of your hair."
"My hair? I am not sure."
"You are almost seven years old and I have never given you a haircut. I just always thought your hair was beautiful. I couldn't bear to."
"I want it to be so long," Rapunzel said excited. "I want it to go from my window all the way to the ground."
"Really?" Gothel replied drawing up a plan in her head. "I think that is a great idea. It would be useful."
"Useful?"
"You see my darling. I am getting old and getting out of the window is getting tough, you are getting long hair, I think I would be able to put some sort of spell on it."
Gothel quickly got up and ran to her bedroom. Rapunzel followed her, becoming curious to see what she was doing.
"Mother Gothel," Rapunzel said sheepishly. "Could you teach me some of your spells?"
"No," Gothel replied sharply. "You will never learn. You wouldn't want to. It is dangerous and no one would understand."
"But, I will never go outside and meet anyone. You said that. So, why couldn't I learn?"
"You just can't! Magic is something that should not be taught. You don't want this... this curse. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I do."
"You are great child, my dear. You do so much for me and you don't even know it."
Rapunzel looked at the woman and went over to her side. She kissed her forehead and clung to her.
"I love you Mother Gothel."
"I love you too, my dear."

4
When Rapunzel was twelve her hair had grown the length that was needed. Gothel could easily slip out the window and back into the house.
"Rapunzel, Rapunzel," Gothel called up the tower. "Let down your long hair."
Rapunzel would go to the window and slip her hair out. She waited as Gothel tugged and pulled her hair as she climbed up. The spell had protected Rapunzel from any pain Gothel may cause as she climbed.
As Rapunzel became older, she grew restless. Books and such did not entertain her as much anymore, and Gothel feared she might try to escape one day.
"Rapunzel," Gothel asked her. "Would you ever leave me?"
"No," she replied. "Why would you think that?"
"I am getting older and I know you are getting restless."
"Teach me something," Rapunzel exclaimed. "I want to learn, please. I know you know things. Things that no one knows, please."
Gothel pondered and thought of something. Rapunzel had a sweet voice and Gothel had been forced to take music lessons as a child, part of her needing to be the perfect upperclass daughter.
"Alright," Gothel said. "It will not be spells, no magic. I think you will like what I have in mind."
Gothel gave Rapunzel the sheet music that had been forced upon her as a child. Rapunzel studied it hard and sang day in and day out. Her voice was sweet and pure and Gothel knew that one day her voice would cause her trouble, however it was a risk that needed to be taken.

5
For the next four years, Rapunzel's voice changed and became something of pure passion and true beauty. Gothel would constantly listen to her sing and became so enveloped in her song that time would fly by.
Gothel had climbed down Rapunzel's long train of hair. She had told Rapunzel that she would be gone for the day.
Rapunzel sat by her window and sang, waiting for the return of Gothel. Rapunzel stopped as she heard the sound as an approaching horse. She looked down to see that a young man on horseback stood below her.
"Please," he called to her. "Continue your song."
Rapunzel started to sing, never taking her eyes the young man. She finished her song and waited for what the young man would instruct her to do next. For several minutes he stood at the foot of the tower looking up at her.
"What is your name?" he called.
"Rapunzel," she said. "My name is Rapunzel and you?"
The young man looked up at her and saw that Rapunzel had a beautiful long strand of blonde hair that covered part of her face. He had not answered her question, he was too busy staring at the beautiful golden strand of hair.
"Oh, Rapunzel," he said longingly. "Rapunzel, Rapunzel. Let down your long hair."
Rapunzel knew that this was a command she could not refuse. She pulled her hair out from behind her and let it fall to the ground. The young man looked at it and began to climb. Rapunzel didn't it mind, he was quick and did not pull as much as Gothel did.
When the young man reached the window, Rapunzel quickly moved away from the window. As he entered the room, the smell of sage and pine filled the room. She studied him and noticed his piercing blue eyes and chocolate brown hair. Rapunzel noticed his strong muscles beneath his clothing.
"My name is Raoul," he said. "Do not be afraid. I am one of the princes of the Kingdom of Christo. My kingdom is the largest kingdom of all the land it contains..."
"These woods and anything North of it up until the peninsula," Rapunzel said quickly. "Also, everything south of it until it reaches the bluffs. Am I right?"
"You are very smart child. Tell me Rapunzel do you live here alone?"
"No, I live with a guardian."
"Your mother?"
"My adopted mother."
"Where is she?"
"Out, she always goes out for the day."
"Everyday?"
"Yes, until a two hours before sunset."
"I see," Raoul said coming closer to Rapunzel. "What is she called?"
"Gothel, but most of the people think of her as a witch."
"A witch? Is she one or is she just hated?"
"Both. People hate her because she is powerful and could kill anyone in such a heinous way. She is powerful and her soul is black as the night sky."
"My father has spoken of a witch like that. The all townspeople constantly speak of this witch, fearing for their lives, afraid to angry her. Tell me Rapunzel, is she horrible deformed?
Rapunzel nodded, still looking down at the ground.
"They say she is the most powerful and feared witch in all of the world. Is she the most horrible and feared witch?"
Again, Rapunzel nodded, never looking up. In her heart she felt as if she was betraying Gothel, however she could lie to him.
"This witch is not your guardian. Aren't you afraid of her? Afraid for your life?"
"No, she takes wonderful care of me and she truly loves me, as her own daughter."
"Yet she locks you up. That doesn't seem as if she cares for you.
"But she does. She is keeping me safe."
"Safe from whom?"
"People." Rapunzel said solemnly.
"Why?"
"They hurt her. She doesn't want to see the same thing happen to me, people are cruel and will always be cruel."
"What of me?" Raoul asked approaching her. Rapunzel could feel his hot breath on her face. His long calm breaths were in rhythm with her short nervous ones. "You are truly beautiful. Has she ever told you that?"
"No," Rapunzel said sadly.
Raoul leaned in slowly and Rapunzel made no effort to stop him as he kissed her. Rapunzel felt like she was lifted miles off the Earth. After a long embrace, Raoul let go.
"I must go," he said. "May I come tomorrow?"
"Yes," Rapunzel said quickly, knowing soon that Gothel would be home. "Come earlier. She leaves two hours after sunrise, please come early."
Rapunzel threw her hair down and kissed her prince goodbye as he climbed down her hair. She watched her prince ride away and knew that everything was about to change for the worse, however, she couldn't stop her love for him.

6
The following day her prince came an hour after Gothel had left. He saw Rapunzel sitting by her window, waiting for him.
"Rapunzel, Rapunzel," he yelled up to her. "Let down your long hair."
Obediently, she let it down and waited patiently as he climbed up. When he reached the top, the two of them sunk into a long kiss.
"Come away with me," he said to her. "I will take you away from this place. We will live in peace and you will be able to run freely and do what you choose. Please, come with me."
Rapunzel looked at him with solemn eyes and knew she couldn't betray the person who had raised her, but deep down she wanted to run. Run away from the witch and be in the arms of someone she loved. She loved Gothel but loathed her even more."
"Bring a silk rope the next time we meet," Rapunzel said at last. "We will escape on your horse and your will take me away."
Raoul quickly kissed Rapunzel. They kissed for the longest time and before Rapunzel knew what was happening, they had slipped into bed, lost in a lover's embrace.
Rapunzel awoke quickly and realized what time it was. It was an three hours before sunset and Rapunzel knew Gothel would be coming home. She quickly threw her hair down and made her prince leave. She told him that they mustn't meet for one week, so Gothel would not suspect anything. Rapunzel watched as her prince rode away on his horse. Soon after Gothel returned.
"Rapunzel, Rapunzel," she yelled up to the window. "Let down your long hair!"
Rapunzel did as she was told and winced as Gothel pulled and made her way up the tower. Gothel entered the room and studied Rapunzel.
"You seem happy, very happy," she said as her eyes narrowed. "What is going on?"
"Nothing," Rapunzel said with a smirk. "Absolutely nothing."

7
The days without her prince seemed to go on forever for Rapunzel. She sat by the window waiting for Gothel to arrive home for the day. The first several days went by and Rapunzel managed to keep her busy. When Gothel returned at the end of the seventh day, Rapunzel became annoyed at the pulling of her hair and spoke out.
"How is it that you take so long to climb up here," she said irritated. "And my prince is able to climb up so quickly?"
"What did you say?" Gothel said sharply.
"Nothing, it is just you pulled my hair and it really hurt." Rapunzel whined.
"You said something about a prince, did you not?"
Rapunzel looked down at the ground and did not answer. Gothel started to breathe heavily as her rage grew and grew. She thought in her head and demanded she saw what was going on and within minutes, Gothel got a full picture of the past and the future.
"Oh," Gothel hissed. "I see. You have found love and the warm embrace of a young prince. How lucky for you and not only that but you are expecting twins. How fortunate. Aren't you excited."
"Please, Mother Gothel. Do not be angry. I am a young child I cannot stay up in this tower forever. I have found love, you must understand."
"I understand perfectly." Gothel said politely, as she walked over to the bureau and stroked the pair of shears that lay there. "I understand everything."

8
After Gothel had taken Rapunzel to the wasteful and barren land where she hoped Rapunzel would live a life of great misery and woe, she set to work on her plan. She knew she would have a guest the next morning and decided to make all the preparations need to welcome him to her home.

Raoul led his horse through the woods to the tower. It was three and a half hours after sunrise and he knew his love would be expecting him. He approached the tower and looked up to see if Rapunzel would be waiting for him at her window, however she was not. He waited several minutes to see if she would approach it. Finally, he decided to call up to her.
"Rapunzel, Rapunzel," he yelled up the tower. "Let down your long hair."
The golden locks rolled out of the window and hit the ground. Raoul thought something was different about today, however he did not want to keep his love waiting. He started to climb up the hair. As he was climbing he looked down at the ground and noticed the thorns that lined the bottom the tower. He had never noticed them there before. Raoul looked up the tower and saw that the thorns continued up the tower.
He reached the top of the tower and rolled in through the window. He looked up to see Rapunzel's face only to see the witch's.
"What have you done with Rapunzel?" Raoul cried out taking his sword out valiantly.
"My son," the Gothel said sweetly before magically pulling the sword from his hand. "Your useless weapons cannot even harm me."
"Where is she?" he spat.
"Somewhere, no one will ever find her. So, my young prince, Rapunzel tells me that I am the most powerful and feared witch in all the land. Are you afraid of me?"
"No, I think you are a sick woman. In love with your precious fantasies that someday someone will love you."
"A lot of audacity for someone so small as you." She hissed at him.
Raoul quickly thought of something that would make Gothel furious. No, she takes wonderful care of me and she truly loves me, as her own daughter. Rapunzel words echoed in his head.
"Your aren't her mother. She hates you, she doesn't love you."
Gothel looked as if she had been shot several times. Raoul smiled at his own genius but it didn't last long. He felt like a bullet had been pelted into his heart and was going slowly in deep, soon to kill him. Gothel stood across the room staring at him wild-eyed.
"You have come for your darling," she cried mockingly. "The sweet bird has left her nest and can sing no more. For you see, the cat has got her. It will scratch your eyes out as well. Rapunzel is lost to you; you will see her no more!"
Raoul fell to the floor gasping as the "bullet" pushed harder and harder into his heart.
"You think that you are so clever," Gothel spat. "You forget your own words!"
Raoul managed to get up off the floor and over to the window. He looked down at te bushes that he could fall into. He knew that the fall would be better then the pain he felt right now. The prince threw himself out of the window.
He had made it down fine but knew that the thorns had been added. When he hit the ground, thorns jabbed up into his eyes. Raoul let out a shrill scream as crimson blood dripped from his sockets. He tried to run away from the horrible place but ran into right into Gothel. He fell to the ground but Gothel stood over him, still, not budging from the impact of the two bodies.
"You are truly a dumb ass," she said. "I am the most powerful being on this earth. More powerful than God himself. You will not win against me. Rapunzel is gone forever, the bitch betrayed me. She will live the rest of her life thinking of you and the fact she thinks I killed you slowly and painfully.
"But you know what, I won't kill you. I merely got the tombstone, you are digging the grave. You children are so stupid and naive. Love is worthless, no matter how much you believe someone loves you they don't. They never will."
Raoul merely sat on the ground listening to the witch speak. He was scared and knew that she was going to do something and he was fearful.
"Run," Gothel said after several minutes of silence. "Leave me."
"You are letting me go?" Raoul questioned. "You aren't going to kill me?"
"Just leave," Gothel said. Raoul noticed the tears and sadness in her voice. "Go now! Just leave me be!"
Raoul quickly got up and ran in the direction away from Gothel. He ran and felt his way around the trees. He acted as a scavenger over the woods, eating anything he could. His eyes had healed and soon he was able to navigate his way through the woods. Several years had passed and the prince walked through the woods miserable, hoping someday he would find Rapunzel.
As he walked, he heard a sweet voice. It was in the distance and he knew it sounded familiar. He walked, following the voice, as he got closer and closer to it, he knew whose voice it belonged to. He began to run, crying out.
"Raoul," he heard a voice call back. "Raoul!"
The two lovers ran into each others arms.
"I thought I lost you," Rapunzel wept. "I thought you were gone."
Raoul buried his face into Rapunzel's neck, letting her tears fall onto his eyes. His eyes stared to have a searing pain. He pulled away and winced his eyes, crying out. When the pain subsided, he opened his eyes and saw Rapunzel's giant blue eyes looking into his.
"I can see again," he yelled ecstatically. "I can see your beautiful face, your eyes and your hair!"
Raoul picked up Rapunzel and swung her in his arms, both laughing and crying.
"Mommy," Raoul hears a voice behind him say. "Who is that?"
Rapunzel went over to the four year-old girl and knelt down beside her.
"This is your daddy," she said. "Now run along and get your brother."
The little girl ran to get her brother, who was still in the old home.
"Our children?" Raoul asked.
"Yes, a boy and girl, twins."
"We will go to my kingdom. We all will live there as a family, happy. Just us. Would you like that?"
Rapunzel nodded, tears streaming down her face.
"What are their names?" Raoul asked, smiling uncontrollably. "I must know what our children's names are."
"The boy's name is Raoul. I named him after you because I thought I would never see you again."
"And the girls?" Raoul said ecstatically. "What is her name."
Rapunzel looked down at the ground before uttering the name Gothel.

9
After Gothel sent Raoul away, she stood and cried. Screaming at the God that never helped her.
"I tried to be brought up the right way!" she screamed at the sky. "I tried to be what you wanted. It isn't my fault. I was good until you betrayed me! All I wanted was to be loved. I wanted a family. I wanted to be normal, but you denied me all those things! You are not a God but an enemy!"
The sky split with lightening and the winds became stronger and stronger, imitating Gothel's anger. She turned to the tower, her deep black hair clung to her face as the rain pounded down on her. She looked at the home she shared with her ‘daughter'. She dismantled it, brick by brick until there was nothing left. She had the lightening splinter Rapunzel's wood furniture, before falling onto her knees.
"I thought you loved me," she cried, breathing heavily. "I thought you looked onto me as a mother."
Gothel moved away from the shambles of the tower and wandered into the nearest town. She didn't care that she was soaking wet or that her face wasn't covered. She wandered into the town like a lost soul. She followed the street to the pub and went in.
As she walked in, all the heads turned to her. She maneuvered her way through the staring bodies up to a barstool.
"You look like you have had a very bad day," the bartender said politely. "What can I get ya sweetheart?"
"Anything that would dull a pain," Gothel said looking down at the counter. "Anything strong, the strongest liquid you got."
As the bartender looked through all of his alcohol, searching for something, when a man approached Gothel.
"We don't get much women in here," he said. "So what brings you here?"
"The wind," Gothel hissed. "Leave me be."
"Oh, you are smart," he said caressing her arm. "You ain't that pretty, but I won't mind, so, what do you say? You want me to take your troubles away?"
Gothel grabbed the man by the neck and threw him onto the bar counter.
"You know what, I have been trying to be good and I thought I had everything I wanted, but apparently not."
A crowd drew near Gothel but she merely put up her hand, pushing them back with force. She plunged her nails into the man's neck and ripping her hand across it.
"You see," Gothel said smiling, putting her blood-soaked hand up in the air. "I am a murderer. I hate this world and I hate people. Would I be doing God a favor by getting rid of your race? Would that secure me a seat in heaven or just another excuse to send me to hell?"
The crowd started to break away and scurry to the door, but Gothel stopped them again.
"I hate this world, I hate everyone in it but taking your own life is the ultimate sin and I wouldn't want to do that. Not to mention I don't think I am ready to die. I still have so much to do. Maybe I should start now."
Gothel looked at the bar counter and set it afire. The men in the bar tried to run but Gothel merely held up her hand and they all froze. Everyone started to scream, but Gothel merely listened to the screams as if it were music, humming along with the screams. She backed into a flame and was gone.
Gothel stood outside the bar and looked at the flaming building. She didn't know why she did that. She felt a power surge come over. Most of the people in the bar where completely innocence. Gothel quickly fled from the scene. As she was running from the bar she heard a whimper in the alley. She walked quietly into the alley and saw a peasant sitting against the alley wall. She had blood on her skirt and in her hands she held a crying infant.
"Please," the peasant said. "Take my child. Please, in this life or the next, I cannot care for her. Please let her live."
Gothel took the baby from the woman and scurried it away with it. She held the child in her arms and managed to look at it in the moonlight. Her hair was black as a raven and her eyes were a deep black as well. She crinkled her face and screamed in the night.
Unlike Rapunzel, thought Gothel. She looked at her new daughter and knew that for once, God had answered her pray. She found a river and cleaned up the child. As she looked down in the water she caught her own reflection. She saw that her scars had subsided and that her face was no longer chapped or peeling. It was the ivory color it once was a long time ago.

Epilogue
"Who is that?" Maria asked her friend as they sipped they lemon drink watching a young woman carry a young child past her house. The woman waved and the two old women waved back.
"Didn't you hear?" Giovanna asked. "We got a new family town. A young woman with her young babe."
"And the husband?" asked Maria.
"Well, you didn't hear this from me, but the poor bastard left her as soon as the baby was born."
"How horrible, the poor thing. What are their names?"
"The mother is Gothel, oh don't look at me like that, it is a very peculiar name but not as peculiar as the child's. Her name is Grimm. I do not know where it is from but they are such a delight though."

Gothel returned to her house at the end of the street and put Grimm in her basket. The baby looked up at Gothel and began to cry.
"Oh Grimmy," she cooed to the baby. "Don't worry about a thing, I will keep you safe. Mommy is here. You don't have to worry about anything, I will always be there to protect you."
Gothel put the baby back into her basket where she shut her lids and went to sleep. Gothel ran her finger down Grimm's cheek and put her hand flat on her stomach.
"I love you," she whispered as Grimm's hand gently moved over to her mother's finger and enclosed it. Gothel looked up.
"Thank you," she whispered up to the heavens. "Thank you so much."