Dawn had not yet broken when Rapunzel woke again. She groaned at the sound of a knock at the door. Of the lock being undone and the hint of a squeak it made as it was shamelessly pushed open.

"What time is it?" Rapunzel buried her head into her pillow, feeling the hands of sleep wanting to swift her away once more. Jack... She'd been dreaming of Jack standing there at her tower window. Of Liesa Rettersonne baking maultaschen in their plant-filled nook of a kitchen, smiling as she watched Jack let loose a mischievous swirl of snow. Now, in the world of the waking, she peeked over the blankets to see Gothel coming close with a silver tray in her hands.

"It's precisely two in the morning," she answered plainly. "Quite late in the night, if I do say so myself, but it would have been uncouth to keep you awake until sunrise."

"Late?" Rapunzel complained.

"Did you think Kozmotis worked during the day? Rapunzel, have some sense. And tidy up your hair, will you? You look like you've been through a wind storm."

Rapunzel quickly patted her hair down, weaving her finger through the locks to untangle some of the knots. The truth was that, after Nightlight's visit, Rapunzel had barely let herself succumb to sleep. She'd tossed and turned in the softness of this strange bed until exhaustion finally swept her out of her restless thinking.

"You slept well, didn't you?" Gothel slid the tray between them she sat down. A lovely looking bowl of semolina pudding topped with yesterday's rote grütze sat next to a steaming cup of tea. Rapunzel's stomach growled at the sight, but there was a nervous knot deep within her stomach that revolted at the very thought of what would come next.

Regarding Nightlight.

Regarding Jack.

Regarding her life.

Rapunzel crossed her legs beneath the blankets, tucking her feet close. "I slept alright," she answered finally, unable to keep herself from glancing away. "Everything's all so different. I think having something to keep my hands busy would have helped calm me enough to properly rest. It's been a while since I've had the chance to paint or sketch." Despite there being much truth in her words, the guilt associated with them was prevalent. She had to remind herself that she'd kept information from her mother before. This was no different.

Luckily, Mother did not catch on to her scent. She smiled a smile that did not stretch to her eyes and tilted Rapunzel's chin up to face her. "Of course, flower. I'll have a servant fetch something for you quick. How does that sound?"

"Wonderful," Rapunzel answered. "Perfect. Thank you, Mother."

Mother pinched Rapunzel's nose in a way that should have felt more playful than it did. "The things I do to bring you joy," she leaned back, brushing the red velvet of her skirts as the stood from the bed. "But, please, Rapunzel, no more suns. If you keep drawing those, people will start to think it's your only talent. And how shameful that would be—the Gothel's are a line that should be envied, not looked down upon. It would be good not to embarrass me, don't you think?"

"Yes, Mother."

"Good girl." Rapunzel felt a pat on her top of her head. She closed her eyes, feeling suddenly like a pet being put under very strict orders. "I love you so dearly, my little flower."

The words felt rotten in her mouth before she could even speak them aloud. "I love you more."

"I love you most." With the brief squeeze of a heatless embrace, Mother strolled out of Rapunzel's room, glancing back just before the door clicked shut behind her.

But when the quiet servants' knuckles rapped at her door mere minutes later, Rapunzel was disappointed to find a stack of loose papers and paints being handed to her. She supposed she should have expected this; if this sketchbook truly was as important as Nightlight had made it seem, neither Gothel nor Kozmotis would let go of it so easily.

Rapunzel barely had time to thank the servant before she slipped away. She'd wanted to speak with her—ask her what she knew, how she was, and why she was aligning herself with a man of darkness.

Rapunzel hugged the papers to her chest as she leaned back against the heavy-wood door. Though she'd heard the servant turn the lock, she still uselessly tried the door. She knew where the book was. She could call upon Nightlight to set her free and go fetch it whenever she could. But a feeling in her gut told her Mother would not turn her eyes away from Rapunzel's room so easily.

Rapunzel swiftly dropped to her stomach, pressing her cheek against the cold, marble floor to peer through the crack beneath the door. No shadows wandered within her field of vision. No feet were rooted by her door. But perhaps they were simply standing too far for her to see. There was no way for her to know for certain, and she couldn't send Pascal through to double check for her. The crack was far to small, even for his size.

"Come on," she whispered as she pressed herself up. She swiped her palms against her temples. "Think, Rapunzel, think."

Mother's earlier words came to her suddenly.

Did you think Kozmotis worked during the day?

Her waking, the ambush at Evanora Hailwell's home, the fearlings keeping to the shadows. All of her meetings with the dark man had taken place within the confines of the night.

Sunrise, then.

She would wait until sunrise, when Kozmotis's powers were refined. When Mother and the servants most likely slept. When she would now be expected to sleep.

And so Rapunzel waited in the darkness, spoke no protests when Mother eventually came to deliver her supper. Instead, she used her paints to brush life into the dullness of her papers, being extra careful as to not let her wrist flick into circular motions. She avoided the yellow paints completely, thinking that perhaps the lack of something bright would please Mother's thinking.

And it did.

Mother smiled at the dark swirls of trees Rapunzel has made for her. At the faint shadows lurking in the corners of her strokes, and the moonless night sky above.

"We leave at sunset?" Rapunzel asked before Mother could stray too far.

The edges of Mother Gothel's lips curled upward. "Yes, we leave at sunset. Do you have any goodbyes to say?"

Mother knew Rapunzel did not.

Rapunzel shifted to sit along the arm of the chair she'd fallen asleep upon but hours ago. "Will we be travelling far?" Will we be flying? She could not bring herself to voice her worry.

Mother tutted as she stepped close to Rapunzel. "Far enough," she answered, pulling the curtains shut behind her. "Further than either of us have ever been before."

The castle grew still when Mother finally latched the door shut again. Rapunzel waited ten, long breaths before she felt safe enough to stand. Delicately, she pulled the edge of the curtain open to watch as the sun crested over the watery horizon, sending beautiful beams of light shining every which way.

"Nightlight, bright light," she sang slowly under her breath, watching as the rays extended, scaring away the shadows of the night. Safety. It was a mesmerizing, gold safety, and she could feel its heat hug the beating of her heart.

You are ready? Rapunzel startled at the sound of Nightlight's soft voice in her head. He stood behind her, shining in the sliver of sunlight escaping the curtains. You have found a way to the sketchbook?

You could say that, Rapunzel thought.

Time stretches thin.

I know. Rapunzel paused. How is he?

Nightlight did not break his gaze. Safe, he answered. On his way.

Thank you. So much, thank you.

Nightlight's answer came from the click of the lock behind them. When she returned her attention to him, it was to find him gone. These spirits were quite nimble on their feet, Rapunzel had to admit, especially when the winds seemed to be on their sides.

The castle was even quieter than Rapunzel had thought it would be from the confines of her room. Though the socks she'd pulled over her feet softened the sound of her steps, she felt as if her very breaths could be heard across the castle walls.

She'd expected the curtains to be drawn over the tall windows like they'd been in her room, but the halls were drowning in the light of the day. A bushy-tailed squirrel skittered across the ledge outside of the window before her. It stopped midway, stood on its hind legs a moment as it sniffed at the air, then continued forward.

There were no servants in sight. Rapunzel thought everyone must have been sleeping, getting ready for their departure planned in a few hours... Would the servants be coming with them, or would it just be she, Kozmotis and Mother? Rapunzel supposed she would not be finding out.

She thought back to yesterday, when Mother led her through the palace, as she carefully traced her steps back to the room she'd appeared in. The sketchbook was branded in her head, her destination, her way out without risking Jack's safety. How long would it be until he arrived? Too late? Too early? Nightlight would lead her to him if anything went wrong. She would uphold her promise to him—to both of them.

The door to the living quarters was shut, but she knew for certain it was the one she'd been looking for. She tried the door, unsurprised when she discovered it locked.

"Pascal," she whispered. He moved onto her shoulder and down her arm. She made for the window to their right, bending so she could undo the golden latch. Pascal did not waste a second to scurry out. The intricate edges along the castles walls would be enough for him too move—she only hoped they continued all the way round.

Rapunzel did not sense the movement before it was too late.

First came the hollowness in her chest, like a cage snapped around her. Next came Mother's cold drawl as she gripped Rapunzel's wrist tight.

"It seems I've caught a wandering flower," she hissed. "You should be sleeping."

Rapunzel yanked herself away. "Let go!"

"No."

The word was a mockery of Rapunzel past refusal. Mother pulled her until she stood nearly pressed to her chest. Her grip did not loosen as she marched them forward. Claws stole her power when she tried desperately to reach for it again. She turned her head, catching sight of the black-eyed squirrel in the window. She turned the other way, her cheek pushing against Mother's arm. Emptiness devoured her heart when her gaze locked on the black-stone necklace Mother wore so proudly. 

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*Edited, (April 25th, 2021).