Rapunzel Untangled by Bennett Cindy C

Author:Bennett, Cindy C. [Bennett, Cindy C.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781462103621
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Published: 2013-02-12T08:00:00+00:00

* * *

Darkness pervaded the room when Rapunzel opened her eyes. She lay on her side, facing the wall. Her head throbbed, her body ached, and the strange plastic tubing was still stuck to her arm. But at least she wasn’t burning or freezing, though her bed was damp beneath her. She decided to lie still until she knew whether moving was going to hurt. When she felt ready, she rolled over, facing her door where ambient light came into the room.

Voices filtered in from the next room. She felt as if she were listening to them from underwater. One voice belonged to her mother—she could recognize that. But the other was unfamiliar, deep and masculine.

“Why isn’t she getting better?” she heard her mother ask urgently.

There was a pause, then the man spoke again, his voice much closer as if he’d moved closer to her doorway. She slammed her eyes closed. “You have to understand that she hasn’t built up a normal immunity, being confined as she is. Flu and strep throat aren’t easy for even a normal person’s body to deal with.”

“How did she get sick?” her mother hissed.

Again silence, broken only by rustling. She opened the smallest slit and saw the man holding his arms away from himself, as if to indicate his confusion.

Her mother’s head came into view, and she closed her eyes again. When she spoke, her voice was a harsh whisper. “She cannot die. Do you understand that?”

“Yes, I do, but—”

“There is no but, Henreich. Much rides on Rapunzel. If she dies, you know the consequences.”

The man sighed, and a memory niggled at Rapunzel’s memory. The name Henreich struck a note with her. Who was he?

“I’m well aware, Gothel. But perhaps it’s time to reconsider your actions. It seems very unfair and potentially dangerous to keep the girl locked up—”

“You dare to question me?” Rapunzel flinched at the venom in her mother’s voice. She dared to peek again and saw the man twisting his hands. “You have much to protect yourself by keeping the secret, Henreich. Or do you need to be reminded?”

Secret? What secret? Rapunzel felt nauseated, her stomach clenching at the words.

“Listen, Gothel, I appreciate what you’ve done. But now, perhaps—”

“You listen to me, Henreich. You will lose everything; your sons will lose everything. Do you think they will allow you to continue being a doctor?” Rapunzel suddenly had a vague recollection of him from when she was a young girl. He’d come once when she was young, but the memory was too unclear. “How is your family going to survive with you in prison? What will they think of you then?”

Henreich’s shoulders drooped, and Rapunzel wondered what her mother was talking about. “It just doesn’t feel right to keep her here, Gothel,” he muttered so low that Rapunzel wasn’t even sure she heard right.

“But?” Gothel prompted.

“But I’ll keep your secret,” he said.

“Our secret,” she reiterated.

The man turned toward Rapunzel, and she quickly slid her eyes closed. She heard him move across the room and felt his hand on her forehead.

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