Chapter XVII ~ The Star Tower

 In order to get her thoughts together, Odette had to separate herself for a moment from her flock because, even with Ida and Dorothea trying to comfort her, it wasn’t enough to suit the situation. Their spirits were all littered with concern for her, however… despite how hurt Ida felt, she was sure that she needed to be alone for a minute. This odd moment after a tense beginning to the evening did not sit well with the protective Seven Men, nor Jiminy Cricket. 

While the Knighthood was on the patrol, Odette was in dire need of some lone quiet as it was her custom in her old life to bury her feelings deep inside. That would often not bode well for her, as well as for those around her. Yet, she felt solace with Jiminy accompanying her, with him still sat exhausted in the palm of her hand. He was able to tell how shaken she was, and did his best by placing a tiny glove to her wrist with his best efforts of comfort. Odette had come to a tree and sat at its base, slowly holding her knees close to her chest as soon as she was sure they were alone; supposedly. 

Two years it has been! That fact has been screaming in her head that it has been that long since she was taken away from a life that seemed so dull, and stressful. The wonderment she had endured after her initial kidnapping — as it was — had changed her for what she had hoped for the better. 

When he felt that it was ideal, he softly rubbed a glove against her palm as soon as he found the words himself. “M’lady…” he began when he spied this distant glaze in her brown eyes.

Odette knew she had to speak up, sooner or later. “Oh, Jiminy… I never thought we would run into trouble that fast.” she told him. “… I thought —”

Jiminy’s eyes widened with worry after hearing her trail off. “Hon…?”

“ — I trusted her.” she finally said what needed to be said. “We all did…”

“I’m a bit jittery about it myself, but all that matters is that we’re together now.” he reminded her. She brought him up close to her face and she gave him a honest little kiss to his cheek. He nearly choked up at the action but he lovingly smiled up at her eyes before he was gently set down by her side still. “You dear…”

“I only had to step away, so I could think… Those birds pecked at my back, with you on me. They were smoky and faded, I could see through one. I remember. I am so glad you were not hurt.”

“And I you, hon… I wish to never have to witness you fall like that ever again~” he expressed his fears, being only one amidst many.

“We were only following Elle, but for some reason she left the men behind… I’m still trying to wrap my mind around it. That tower she called a…”

“… a witch’s tower. I remember.” Jiminy finished, with a shared dread in his tone, as if reliving the moment it was mentioned. “I hadn’t even the courage to speak it out loud in front of —” he trailed off in honest fear, especially when Odette shook her head at the possibility.

“He will find out though.” she spoke with confidence. “Even Quasimodo sounded angered,” she added, remembering the sound of his voice.

“We are going to get through this finely, Cassandra~” Jiminy stated. “… on account there is bound to be bumps along the way.”

Odette found herself very confused for a moment when he referred to her with another name. It was a certain glaze in her eye that worried the Cricket.

“Hon…?”

She shook herself awake at his voice. “… — sorry. Right… We need to focus on staying together~”

“Be that as it may,” Jiminy drawled. “… m’lady, pardon me for this, but are you feeling all right?”

“After that scramble? I feel fine…” she answered, finding this change of subject odd. Jiminy’s smile came off as worried, and frightened.

“Oh, no no no ~” he went on, with worry and waved finger in the air. “… besides all that, has your memory been getting worse, dear? Because I just referred to you by your name, and you had this glaze in your eye…”

“You called me… sir? You called me, what was it…?”

“Cassandra.”

“Oh…” she then realized. That name felt entirely new to her. 

“You do not remember ever being addressed by that name?” he asked after seeing her put two and two together.

“It’s not - just - that.” she tried to explain the feeling. “It just doesn’t feel very important. If that makes any sense.”

“Not important~? Why-why it is the name you gave me when you heard me sing from a nearby tree, didn’t you?”

“I did…?” she trailed on, settling in self doubt.

“Completely ~” Jiminy was exasperated but not directly at her. Something was amiss here. “… Hon. If you are forgetting, even your own name… we are then very deep in this spell. It’s far more than just being a swan during the day.”

“But the girls, they … They remember who they are.”

“Except you.” he pointed out. “… because as they were already living in this world, you were taken out of yours. Through a mirror as you said?” he cryptically reminded her. 

“If I hadn’t learned enough, anything used with dark magic often have consequences. The one artifact Queen Grimhilde is known of possessing is a Mirror.”

Her brown eyes looked empty despite the bewildered expression she wore. It was becoming more prevalent. Even in that moment, Dopey was softly eavesdropping on them, like a shivering child nervously biting down on his sleeve covered fist. A silent one he always was, yet his gift was being in the know of certain things which did help rescue his fellows from the Queen’s dungeons for one. He was no dimwit, by any means… So, despite being noticed, he refused to scramble off, but his cheeks went desperately pink when Odette so kindly took him by the hand. Slowly, he was brought out to join the two.

“Dopey~” she sadly smiled down at the eternally besotted young dwarf. “It’s good to see a sweet face. Forgive me for frightening all of you. It seems to be an odd habit by now.”

“Hey there, sport.” Jiminy warmly greeted. “You heard a bit back there, didn’t you?”

Dopey nodded as he was invited to sit with her. “It seems my memory problem is everyone’s problem…” she sighed. “Even my own name is a stranger to me.”

“I’ll keep it safe with me…” Jiminy choked up a little. “I promise, m’lady. He will too, right there, Dopey?”

The youngling nodded, quite excitedly before one orange little elf soon joined them.

“Faer~” Odette sighed, as this was seeming to go on in a timely fashion, no doubt.  “A face I wished to see… Where is Quasimodo…?”

“He and his partners are a’headin’ to that tower ya’ll chased after,” Faer began, panting before he sat himself down. “We all wonderin’ why~”

“Me too… I don’t want to make a tear between the flock and I. I simply followed without question before those ravens appeared…”

“Someone knows you’re being helped…” Jiminy provided. “We can’t be any less careful then we were before…”

“That’s true. Neither of us would be here, alive without any of you…” Odette trustingly told them. “I’ll go see them now. I don’t know whether Elle would want to speak right now…”

“It’s either now or never,” Jiminy agreed.

“Like them, you are my family now… Which means, I do feel a need to go by another name since I’m here. Ever since my meeting them, they’ve always referred me as ‘Ette more than anything else. To you, I’ve been called Cas. If you hold that name to your heart for me, I will really appreciate it…”

“I promise, hon…”

*

Revelation

The six other Maidens awaited for Odette’s return with unease and fear, almost but they were granted a breath of fresh air when Odette finally did return to them in due time. With her was Jiminy, the youngest Dwarf and Faer. Eleonor was sat beside the bank, with her legs crossed and crouched as she rued to herself. Ida was first to stand and greeted Odette like a sister.

They were all sisters to one another at this point. The Dwarfs all awoke from their own thoughts at seeing her return.

“We worried that you ran off~” Ida spoke first.

“I’m - no, no. I had to think to myself for a moment,” Odette replied before glancing at Eleonor who only was looking over her shoulder at them with only a cheek turned. “Elle..?”

“It felt right in that moment… What would the men even do if those Ravens snatched our Voice just like that…? Shoot them off when they are just smoke?” she began.

“Not only that, but…” Odette thought carefully. “… what if it was a trap? It seemed that you were lulled to go to it…”

Eleonor was quiet, an etch of guilt appeared in her eyes as her heart lurched with some form of envy. Odette and the others, they could tell there was something she was hiding.

“I wasn’t lulled,” she admitted and a deathly silenced followed. Odette blinked at that, as Ida slowly held a hand to her lips in shock.

Grumpy turned to listen, Jiminy’s eyes were etched with disbelief. Happy and Bashful’s eyes each welled up. Dopey covered his eyes in dread. 

“Eleonor…” Dorothea gasped aloud, quiet so not to alert any of the knights.

“What…” Odette finally spoke a single word.

“I was not lulled to that tower…” Eleonor repeated before finally making eye contact with Odette, primarily. “… why do you think I am the only one with black feathers? It’s intentional, do you not see? You trust me that much to follow me blindly just shows how easy it would be to get captured again… I tried to break away from you, but you all followed me so blindly… Foolish I am to think I could just vanish… One human trait of mine is in plain sight for all to see, that will lead us all back to the Queen, no matter what we do. We’re doomed… When I saw you fall, I knew it would be fruitless.”

“You were meaning to abandon us, fleeing to hide in that place…?” Mary asked.

“I couldn’t abandon… No matter what my head was screaming for, I couldn’t go through with it…” Eleonor seethed with self hatred. “I wanted to… I really wanted to. I am just a pawn for us to be easily found. It’s proof that that we’re being tracked by her and another force perhaps. My difference, and yours, Ette… for some reason it all ties to you as you were the only one kidnapped through magical means, unlike us. You dreamed of a love coming to you, while the rest of us didn’t… We only have hope from the proof of that vision. Something I’d wish I would be my own…”

Odette stood among the five other girls with tears welling up in her eyes at this revelation. In this silence, the Diamond slowly began to glow in the light of the moon, waking her from her overthinking for just a split second. Jiminy was sorely tempted to say something — Even Grumpy greatly wished to, even Doc — but Odette shook her head subtly at them.

“Even if I did manage, the men — Quasimodo would have found you, regardless… of course he would…” Eleonor sounded bereaved.

There was the mark of jealousy, right at the end of that sentence that stung Odette sharply. Ida stifled a sob. Odette blinked tears back and took in a deep breath to keep her own voice intact, gazing up at the stars to gain her resolve back.

“If you did abandon us, whether or not if we were rescued in time, we would be worse off without you.” Odette slowly stated the truth. “You came back and balanced me before I hit the water… You saved my life. Even when you didn’t want to…? By how it sounds… this spell has a deeper cause than we thought.”

“Or it would be better if I was strong enough to leave… I rather suffer forever as a swan than to see you all get captured again.”

“We don’t want that for you. Ever.” Dorothea put her foot down.

“It was a chance I had to take, but the ravens came… I can never leave, and yet I could be the reason why they were able to find us so easily.”

“Perhaps this tower could have an answer for us…” Odette hoped out loud. Overly hopeful, perhaps?

“I trust these men, do not get me wrong… which was part of why I had the idea.” Eleonor began, soon turning herself round and stood up with them. 

Odette furrowed her brow much to everyone’s surprise. Both joined hands, beginning with Eleonor. “Better yet, we should never think any less of ourselves. Goodness knows I’m trying not to.” she openly admitted, looking down at her hands holding Eleonor’s. Turning her head towards the Seven and with Jiminy still with her on her shoulder. Faer was shying beside one of the bushes, listening. Right then, she began to feel that it was just right to say what was on her heart. While tightly wiping a tear from her eye, she sighed…

“You came back anyway, but thinking that way about yourself is just - awful. It’s… it’s something I remember about my time. So much of it… I remember it more than I remember myself. Many fall from that kind of thinking… I can’t wish it on anyone~” she told Eleonor, as well as them all. “You are a sister to us…”

“There is no other way, considering — Since those Ravens came.” Eleonor deeply thought.

“If you have not known already… Eleonor — Each night, each change, my mind changes more and more. I am struggling to remember my young life before everything, even my name.”

Eleonor narrowed her brow slightly as she listened. The Dwarfs, Faer and even Jiminy who stood on a bow at a distance were all focused on this conversation. The turn they worried it would take was not unexpected yet there seemed to be a new door opening…

“What’you mean, dear?” Doc prodded, new to this news. He and Bashful ventured close to the ladies as this story went on.

“I ~” Odette’s voice stuck, struck with this decision. “I am no longer like I was…” she began, soon facing the group behind her. “… when you found me, Happy.”

“But… y’can’t be forgettin’ yourself, are ya?” he asked her, soon slowly coming to her and taking her hand. “Please, don’t —”

“But I am,” she admitted, much to the horror of the Seven. Jiminy’s eyes welled up while the lot all gasped out into the night. To hide his tears, he had to look away. Odette subtly saw him then without alerting the others to it, but she had trust. “… at this time, it doesn’t matter. Only that we need to live in the moment. Eleonor, Ida ~ Mary and Dorothy… Caroll, Mary. ‘Nette… you all know me as Odette, jokingly. I know that much.” she lightly chuckled at that. “But it’s a name I fully accept now. For, as long as I am here, that I who I am to all of you. If anything were to happen, I count you all as my family. I cannot even fathom the thought of losing you - anyone ~ please…”

Eleonor’s chest felt tight after Odette finished her plea, feeling angrier and even more hateful towards this Curse. Her thoughts fell upon the fateful vision of Quasimodo, as much as she feared of ever living normally ever again. It would seem that it was all messing with their heads at this point, so remaining in one moment at a time felt safer yet. Could a love or a bond be the very thing that could beat this in the long run, and she were to wreck it with her own self banishment? 

Jiminy’s own heartbreak was obvious, as he seemed to know about something fearful. Faer’s wide eyes went all bubbly for a moment when he gazed down at something he held in his lanky paws, worried about giving whatever it was yet he remained hopeful. Grumpy took notice silently, glancing at what it was. Nodding at the elf, he motioned with a curt gesture to go and get it over with. 

“I can’t help it… I’ve been under something since I met you, Happy, and never knew it until now.” Odette went on. “… please, don’t cry. For what it’s worth, it’s the best option until this ends…”

Bashful gave a quick sob, soon able to agree to that yet this was so painful. 

“We had ya under guard as much as possible,” Doc continued. “We’re a’keepin’ that promise, no better — matter what name y’choose, ma’am. We know ya…”

“When a heart is captured by another, as plain as I can see~” Grumpy spoke up, seemingly out of nowhere. “… it’s darn near impossible to forget. A name is one thing, but a heart is another.”

Odette’s thoughts fell on Quasimodo instantly, even her fellows knew so themselves.

“That is the focus, right now.” Jiminy’s voice came in, gently. “As soon as they return from inspecting that Tower, you might need to share with him the same thing you shared with me…”

“What did she share with you, sir?” Eleonor asked.

“Her original self ~ Her old name. I’m keeping it safe until the time is right.”

It seemed to Faer that it was the proper time to approach the ladies with his contribution ~ Quasimodo’s wish, primarily. It was a wooden Rosery, one Quasimodo always wore on his person beneath his vest on the roughened journey through the last few months. So it saw it’s own wear and tear, but it held its own very well. 

“Ma’am? He wanted to give you somethin’ but hadn’t the minute ~ He wanted to give this t’ya.” Faer shyly said, holding up the Rosery to Odette. The girls all muttered, Eleonor’s face seemed to calm but kept her silence. 

“A Rosery?” Odette exclaimed, touched. It was a quaint wooden cross, and she took it with gentle hand with that blue strand still about her wrist.

“Ain’t that a fine thing,” Sneezy commented.

Odette took it and looked it over, as her heart warmed up at the mere thought of him even having thought about her.

“… wear it, he said. When y’see him next. It’ll give y’hope, he said.”

“And so it does,” Odette’s voice strained with deep emotion as she smiled at the sweet messenger. “… I must thank him~”

*

It was something Quasimodo had hoped to give at first sight, yet he needed time to consider when he was finally certain of things. It was a private thing he wished for her to hold onto on this journey, and personally kept it mind as he ventured through the glens and woods beyond the knighthood searching for this mysterious landmark. His own experiences were not anything grand, yet he was sure what he was just beginning to feel… It was deeper than he remembered at the ripe age of twenty, and with the promise he gave, it only became more apparent that he was devoted. Not for one second did he believe that any of this was magically manipulated. As far as his rekindled father was concerned, he had to hold faith and by that, keeping hers strong as well.

Because anything, at any point now, could happen within a blink of an eye. Slow, Quasimodo crouched as soon as he was able to see an opening before him. He saw a glimpse of stone brick and lowered himself down like a hunter would. This was away from the men searching nearby with their torches, as he could still hear Frollo bellow orders to search each niche and path along the way. When his curiosity was at its peak, Quasimodo had stepped out of the brush out into a new glen that was home to this new place. 

A small poorly attended garden of sorts, that housed many herbs that were wildly growing almost outside on the stone brick paths. Pumpkins, lavender and berries busheled out of their unique places, due to the small hidden creak beneath them. Clover grass made up the rest of it, leaving this beautiful garden for him to feast his eyes on. It was such a gentle sight that he released his hold on the dagger, and settled his quiver more soundly over the shoulder. Foolish, it may have been to stand out in the open then, but he only wished to gain a better look…

Trailing his eyes up the scaling tower of white stone, taking on the shape of a chess pawn. It seemed so out of place amidst the vast forestry. It’s size was understandable it was to be seen from afar. As Quasimodo stepped into the garden, the shimmering lights that appeared to hover over the plants seemed to dance, capturing the moonlight in their tiny wings. Upon seeing them, that same light drew his attention to the moon, spotting a black as onyx shape come across it within a blink of an eye. Dread lurched in his heart then as the score of horsemen had entered the abandoned garden.

“Quasimodo, speak of your findings.” came Frollo’s voice.

“This place is strange,” Quasimodo spoke. “… but not a soul is seen. Even - even the moonlight is strange here,”

“This infernal place.” Frollo growled as soon as he laid eyes on the building. “Go and investigate, and make sure it is abandoned.” he told the Leutenent who wasted no time to approach the great wood door of the tower. Gazing at Quasimodo, who held the same perturbed expression as he did. “… those beasts manifested directly out of the air. Conjured, no doubt. Having snared the mind of the black wing, there shall be no stone left unturned, for the safety of the Maidens. For anyone could be watching.”

Quasimodo held his silence and nodded in obedience, proceeding to take on the lead with the other men to search the property. They did not question when they came upon the massive wooden door when he instantly began to climb the wall, when he spotted an arch up above that was just big enough for him to fit through. Frollo observed his son so bravely climb and entered the place with no trace of fear. Yet a certain fear entered the father’s heart though, but held onto his own for the moment.

Quasimodo gingerly set his feet down to a floor of old stone, reeking of an old memory he still held onto. The home he had in Notre Dame Cathedral. The memory drew a tear to his eye, yet he had to shake it off in order to see if this place was safe or not. What would have called the blackwinged swan to even try to approach such a place? His answer drew near when he took a look around. It was a simple dwelling, with wooden furnishings about, dried flowers and plants handing off the rafters… His hearing was barely useful, not as much as his sight was and proceeded with gentle touches along the walls as he tried to see if there was any life within this place. His one good eye did most of the work, especially when it caught onto a special light. 

Quasimodo gasped when this will-o-wisp had manifested before his very eyes. It shimmered in soft blue and danced like a whipping candle flame as if in glee at seeing him. Almost having his hand on the grip of his knife, he slowly let go when he studied the spirit. Apprehensive yet, Quasimodo continued his investigation, taking note of old beakers that seemed to only gather dust, as though they had been once cleaned one day. The wisp followed him with ill will, as he had hoped after all. The Starlit woman at the lake had made herself fairly clear that she was near… He believed it to be so.

Meanwhile, four of the Seven had ventured behind the French horsemen. Doc, Grumpy, Bahsful and Happy each came on their own violition while the Maidens were resting. Still stunned at the news of … Cassandra’s plight remained though. 

“What’re we to do…?” Happy had to ask. “If she can’t remember ~”

“…guess its time f’r a change,” Grumpy roughly replied, seriously toned compared to his usual gabble. He peered over the ferns into this glen with Claude Frollo in view now. 

“I can’t take it with her talkin’ like that~ We just gotta do somethin’…” Bashful began to choke up, much to Grumpy and Doc’s annoyance.

“Cryin’ over it now ain’t helpin’!” Grumpy hissed at Bashful. 

“… which is why we came here? The lad might find somethin’.” Doc told him. Bashful shyly wiped his tears in his sleeve.

“We have to tell ‘im.” Happy regarded with hope. “His gift to her means somethin’.”

“All the more to comin’t’em…” Grumpy calmed. “Come an’git, they’re gonna know soon enough.” he urged his brothers.

From their hiding place, they could see the door being opened from the inside, revealing Quasimodo to be the first one to enter this place. So far, it seemed safe. The four watched Quasimodo come out, tying one of his bracers as he seemed to whisper something to the looming Judge’s ear. Not long after this, Frollo’s eye caught onto their movements, soon catching onto Quasimodo’s. Bashful wanted to hide until Grumpy scruffed his collar before he could try. 

“Make yourselves known to your Guardians.” Frollo’s baritone called out to them.

The four bravely set out, with Doc in the lead and with Grumpy having Bashful and Happy in tow. In respect they bowed to the father and son, as before.

“Findings?” Frollo asked, with Quasimodo as grim and quiet as the soldiers. Who knew what he told the Judge…?

“Fear here - WE are here to serve you, sire bu-but we would mention that -That uh-erm ~”

“We’ve been in view of this Tower for two years long.” Grumpy finished for Doc.

Claude shut his eyes as that speech impediment ground against his ears but he was merciful about it at this time. He was thankful for the elder to provide a clearer message on the brother’s behalf. 

“We never were able to travel this far without leaving the ladies with their own for too long.” Happy provided.

“We worried there could be someone watching for here…” Bashful bravely spoke up. 

“It would be restful for you to know that there is no soul reported in this place as my son had searched through a minor area.” Frollo told them. “Save for the Star Lady’s presence within — We shall enter. Light the torches~” came the order and there they went inside again as a search party.

“Lieutenent, go search below with six as the rest follow I above… You four, you shall accompany Quasimodo with these five. Light any torches you may find on your way. Be wary~”

It was soon when Quasimodo went in with the four Dwarfs with a torch as he led on with five knightmen protecting them from both sides and from behind. It was entirely opportunistic though, given what the Maiden’s were on about tonight. Only sparingly short hours remained in the night. Any mention of the gift was not shared among the Dwarves and Woodsman, before the anxious knights, while they searched a stair that led low and deep into the basement of the tower. The four felt a stregthening trust reserved for Quasimodo even more now since their initial meeting. Such kindness delivered to once strangers was a memory each of them held, of their dearest Snow White before her rescue from her own horrible spell. Grumpy’s own trust rested in the young man far more than for the young man’s father, alone… after witnessing the their girl come to fancy him in a close manner like that Snow White had, in song.

There was hope was set that there would be a ‘breaking’ of this spell because of this. Quasimodo felt like a close friend to them, finally. 

“Grumpy,” they heard him address them, personally. “… are they safe?” he asked, while still searching with the torches.

“Always, mate~” Grumpy answered. “Two years onward, we’ve kept our promise to ‘em.”

“We regret our failure to save her,” Happy admitted. “… from suffering the same fate as the others. But we were too late.”

“The Black beast come outta nowhere,” Doc told it further. “… it took her.”

“The Black beast.” Quasimodo sighed until they came upon an old area of dust covered books. 

“It looked like a swan, then it vanished.” Bashful finished. 

“Right,” Quasimodo murmured whilst thinking to himself. He was quite enamored by the sight of this hidden library. 

Settling the torch onto a handle, he began to peer at the cases of books. Brushing webs aside, Quasimodo swept his along the spines of the books, and guides that dressed the stone walls so gracefully. 

“If this could be the home of a…” Quasimodo trailed on, breaking off as if to dread what he had to say next. “… a witch, that I hope is not the case. There could be a clue in here.”

“Of how she — er —I came upon her, Cassandra. She ‘ppeared from the air, really.” Happy spoke. “With m’own eyes.”

Quasimodo furrowed his brow, while searching. “… and she said she was taken through a mirror, thus losing memory,” he muttered before one of the books from somewhere much higher had fallen down. The four with him gasped, naturally as he backed up to inspect an odd sort of book, bitten and burnt at the edges. Looking up to the top of the bookcase, Quasimodo tried to find the source that shoved the book out but it was far too dark to see anything. 

On edge for merely a moment, Quasimodo slowly picked up the dropped book, much to the shock of the four little men. It was white, like ivory, thick and riddled with dust that he brushed off. On its front was what resembled a rune of some kind.

“What’ya find?” Doc asked, as they all peered in. 

Quasimodo studied the rune, as it resembled a crescent with a three cornered shape cradled by it. 

“Memory,” he whispered. “… this rune means memory.”

“How do you know…?” Grumpy prodded.

“I’ve been well read in Latin as a boy, and I was given access to the Cathedral’s archives. For twenty years of reading from them, I was able to become accustomed to finding runes in few of the scrolls… But th-that was a long time ago.” Quasimodo explained himself. 

At that, he dared to open the book that was written through in honest Latin, for one thing. Coming close to the torchlight, he came across an image that instantly drew him in; a depiction of a mirror. A diamond shaped shard with an angular face depicted at its center, resembling a sort of theatrical mask.

 — “Shall a shard shed into the eye~

Times young, times old shall disperse from the mind like ash~”

It read boldly beneath the eerie depiction. 

— Travelled within, pulled through a glass~

Memory of the past shall cease should such souls never travel through and back again~” Quasimodo slowly read, with a trace of fear travelling from his very soul, and into his voice. “…Never gaze into an enchanted looking glass, for darkened souls are known to have been consumed by them. Now many are few… The scried remain imprisoned, destined to serve for all eternity. All knowledge can be given for a price of the soul…” he read on until the end of the page.

“The wicked ol’ Queen, she possesses a Mirror.” Doc spoke. “She obsesses over it…”

“We thought she had died from a fall, when we chased her away… before we discovered what she did to… dear Princess Snow White,” Grumpy stated, finding it hard to look back on that memory.

Quasimodo slowly looked back at them, stunned. “… but she returned alive somehow. Something, er someone brought her back to life…” Grumpy finished.

Looking back to the book, Quasimodo silently considered before shutting it, sliding it into his satchel before searching on. There were scores of scrolls and books reaching onward into the vast dark basement. “… what did we just step into?” he asked, closely to himself.