Sleeping Helena (9 page)

Hope pounded the dough. “No, I can’t say that I have.”

“Are you certain? There is no need to keep the truth from me.” Eva prodded a little harder.

“She does ask a lot of questions.” Hope shrugged and carried on.

Hope acted as though this was any other conversation and perhaps, for her, it was. Eva grew silent, fiddled with the dishcloth and absentmindedly wiped the counter.

Hope was right. Helena did ask a lot of questions, and she would ask many more as time went on. She would dig the truth out of one of them; they had given her a stunning intellect for that very purpose. Perhaps they should have considered the full implications. One day Helena was sure to outwit her own makers. What would they do then?

As Eva left the kitchen, Hope shook her head at the sorry state of things. Her strong hands kneaded the dough, patted it out in a baker’s rhythm known only to those who work their own bread. She knew all too well of Helena’s unusual behavior.

Hope knew the rules: do your job and stay out of their business and keep them out of yours. But Thekla had made the family Hope’s business soon after they’d hired her. Thekla had pulled her aside and offered a generous bargain. In exchange for a lifetime of security, she asked only that Hope be loyal to them and any they took in. It had been an easy agreement to make, for Hope was already fond of the sisters. She had grown to love Lena, and now she loved Helena as well.

The family had more sense than this. Thekla grew more agitated by the hour. Eva was a bundle of nerves and the others simply seemed fragile and, for the first time, old. Helena was a beautiful girl, but beneath that fine exterior a monster lurked unseen by any but Hope, who watched it come out in the garden every now and then. The last time it had been a kitten that had strayed into Helena’s hands. She had stroked its ears and kissed its nose and then she had snapped its neck. Hope still did not know why Helena did these terrible things, but her suspicions remained unchanged.

Quietly cruel, as though cruelty had no part in it, Helena gave no thought to the pain she caused in others. It was not in her to contemplate such things; this was something every one of them knew. Hope did not hold it against Helena, but she did want to better understand the girl so she could better provide for her needs. Eva must want something, too. But what? She’d never seen Helena’s ugliest side and in any case, it was not something Hope would share.

Hope continued to work the dough until it was soft and pliant, and then scooped it into a bowl and left it to rise. She washed her hands meticulously and dried them on the towel. In the pantry, she opened one of the drawers. Hope took out the pouch, a small square of leather tied up with a silken cord. She’d been working on it for years.

Helena did as she pleased despite the consequences, as though she had no concept of cause and effect, and Hope believed she knew why. She recalled Kitty’s words clearly, as did they all. Everyone feared for Helena, the innocent child, the victim of Kitty’s curse. They thought it was Helena’s death that Kitty wanted. After what Hope had seen, she couldn’t help but wonder. Hope put the pieces together as best as she was able and came to an awful conclusion. Kitty had created in Helena a monster, a killer with no remorse. Kitty did mean for someone to die, it seemed, but Helena was merely her weapon.

Hope frowned. None of the sisters
—
not even Kitty
—
knew Hope had weapons of her own.

Hope’s magic was of simple things. A woven thread, a thimble, stone, a snippet of hair, and a drop of earth for good measure were the tools of her trade. She’d learned it well and loyalty had everything to do with it. Hope looked at her arms, thick and strong from years of housework: wringing laundry by hand, peeling potatoes, rolling dough. Hope knew her place and was firmly planted in it.

She did more than fold the sisters’ sheets that night. By the light of a waning moon she wove her spell.

Sometimes, no matter how well we lay them, our plans fall apart because some chance thing occurs. Hope called these nuisances the spiders of fate and she was going to catch one. Try as they might, the sisters would never stop Kitty’s gift from flowering. Helena, on the other hand, could outsmart Frau Holle herself. Hope saw ahead of them just such an instance approaching, where Helena’s wit might be all that saved the day.

Yes, Hope mused, Helena was gifted, but there are times when even a prodigy needs a little help. There was no guarantee that Hope could do it, but she had to take the chance. One spider caught in the net, that was all Hope needed, and Kitty’s plan could fall apart. Hope had already seen the very spider she needed, crawling about in the pantry. She laid her trap, bit by bit, as the household carried on.

“Not the windows, Thekla. You cannot be serious!” Ingeburg stood in the hall with her hands on her hips, nose to nose with Thekla. Eva came down the steps to find them arguing. It was an unprecedented sight.

“I am serious.”

“Excuse me, I couldn’t help but overhear you.”

Eva nudged her way in between the two women, using her new cane as leverage. It was quite a nice piece, made from stout local wood and carved all over with vines. She was initially ashamed of her need for it, but it would serve well, she now decided, in cases such as this.

“What are you doing with the windows?” she asked once she’d planted herself between them.

“I am having them boarded up.” Thekla looked down her nose at Eva, daring her to argue.

“She means it.” Ingeburg almost stamped her foot in fury. “She actually means it.”

“I see that. Board them up? Thekla, you don’t expect us to agree to this, do you?” Eva’s stomach churned at the thought.

“Helena will be sixteen years old in less than a week. We are still unprepared. Kitty’s curse could strike at any time! These windows are a danger. They cannot be allowed to remain.”

Eva gaped.

“There must over two hundred of them! You’ll turn the place into a tomb.”

“Precisely. That is over two hundred opportunities for Kitty’s curse to manifest. It will not be a tomb. For heaven’s sake, Eva, we have lamps.”

“These windows are older than we are. You will only damage the house and increase all of our chances of injury with the destruction. And no, we do not have lamps. You had them removed three years ago. We have
fixtures
.” The sarcasm in her voice was unmistakable, but Eva had to say it. She felt as though she was on fire and about to explode.

“Listen to the voice of reason, will you?” Ingeburg implored.

“Please, Thekla. Let us at least discuss this before you make any decisions. Something of this magnitude involves us all.” Eva had feared it would come to this. “We will have a family meeting, tonight if you like, after Helena has gone to sleep.”

Thekla capitulated. It was beneath her to stand in the hallway and argue with anyone.

“Tonight then. Ten o’clock. Sharp.”

Thekla turned her back to her sisters and scuttled away, leaning heavily on her cane.

Eva and Ingeburg exchanged a glance, but held their silence until the sound of Thekla’s footsteps faded.

“Do you think she will do it?” Ingeburg said, trembling.

“Yes, I’m afraid I do. Let us not stand here and discuss this, however. Come with me.” Eva led Ingeburg up the stairs and locked her bedroom door behind them.

“Are you sure this secrecy is necessary?”

“I am.” Eva felt as though she’d been thrown into an old detective film. She straightened her back. She was about to do something incredible. “Please, sit down.”

In the corner of the room, two chairs and a table were arranged by an east-facing window. Eva’s bedroom was right beside Thekla’s, in the northeastern corner of the house, where the open hall met the long, north wing. Her view included a bit of the lake, but it did not disturb her. It made her feel closer to Louis, somehow, though she did not remember him. The lake was calm today, and on it two boats drifted without direction. Eva wished she had time to relax and enjoy the scene.

“Be truthful with me, Ingeburg. Don’t you find our sister’s behavior somewhat disturbing?” It was the first time she’d mentioned her concerns to any of her sisters. Eva wasn’t certain of how Ingeburg would answer, but the days of sheepishly living with Thekla’s decisions were gone.

“Of course I do. I’ve tolerated her episodes even though most have annoyed me, but only because she had Helena’s best interests at heart. I am no longer convinced that is the case, but I’ve no idea what to do about it.” Ingeburg flinched as the words left her mouth.

“Leave that to me,” Eva said.

Ingeburg raised an eyebrow. “What can you do?”

“I am going to speak with Kitty.”

“You what?” Ingeburg was suffering shock after shock, and it seemed this one would be her undoing. She put her hand to her heart, as though to determine whether or not it was still beating.

“Oh for heaven’s sake,” Eva said. “Calm down. It won’t be the first time. I tell you, there is a deeper divide between them than we ever imagined. Thekla has gone far beyond an attempt to protect Helena. She is out to prove something to Kitty and won’t stop until she’s done it.”

“What do you mean?” Ingeburg was astounded by her sister’s bravery.

Eva told Ingeburg the story of how Kitty had left Thekla after the death of Louis. She did not have to mention how heartbreaking it must have been to young Thekla—Ingeburg knew. She grasped Eva’s hand in sympathy as tears began to form in their eyes.

“It’s no wonder Thekla feels like she does, but that is still no excuse to wreck the place.” Ingeburg stopped, struck by a thought. “Have you asked Kitty about her gift?” Would Eva dare?

“Yes, as a matter of fact, I have. She insists her gift will not harm Helena. But I tell you, I’m not sure I believe her.”

“I certainly don’t believe it. How can her gift not be harmful? What nonsense is she speaking?”

“She seems to believe herself, and she should know.”

“But she could have been lying.”

“I agree, but I don’t think she was. It isn’t her words I don’t trust. I honestly think she believes what she is saying. I also think her definition of
harm
may not be ours.”

“Even if she is being truthful, how can she help us now?”

“I’m not certain,” Eva said, “but she must. She is part of this family, too. You let our sisters know of tonight’s meeting. Thekla won’t have her way in this. Trust me.”

The two sisters parted. Ingeburg went off to find the others while Eva took the old garden path. The lock Thekla had put on the door leading out to the courtyard had rusted, and only opened after being given a good thwack with Eva’s cane.

Kitty answered her door with a smile. Eva was prepared this time; she returned Kitty’s bright welcome with one of her own as she stepped under the lintel. Eva did not waste her words.

“I’m concerned about recent developments. Thekla’s latest idea seems a bit,” Eva hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal, “extravagant. You must help me stop her.”

She’d done it. Thekla was completely betrayed.

“Don’t you mean Thekla’s latest fit?” Kitty waved her hand at Eva as if to say
no matter, you do not have to agree
. “I already know. I am aware of how seriously Thekla takes matters. I’ve told you once before and I am telling you again. Helena is safe.”

“Thekla will never believe that. You say no harm will come to Helena by way of your gift, but from where I am standing, it looks as though it already has. Helena is a willful young woman. What Thekla has planned can only bring trouble to us all.”

“What do you mean by willful?” Kitty leaned forward in her chair and watched her sister shuffle her feet and pluck at some lint on her sweater.

“I mean,” Eva leaned forward, “if Helena disagrees with Thekla’s actions, she’s liable to burn the house down around us. It wouldn’t surprise me if she took all of the grounds with it.” She could not hide the truth, not any longer.

“I see,” Kitty said, and she did. “She’s bound to have her flaws, the way you all treat her.”

“That’s not the point.” Eva would not take the bait. “Assuring me your gift will not harm Helena is not enough. You must tell me what you meant by it, or I’ll never change Thekla’s mind.”

“Oh come now, Eva. Nothing you say about me or my gift will move Thekla in any way. Listen.” Kitty sat up and straightened her shoulders. “You do remember my gift, don’t you? Think now. What did I say?”

Eva heard the words clearly:
Death shall lead you back
.

Kitty sat in the lengthening silence until Eva suddenly clenched her hands.

I have been such a fool, Eva thought.

Kitty had never specified whose death she had in mind. But if it wasn’t Helena
—
who? It could be any one of them, or none. It was a strange game of roulette Kitty played and it thrilled Eva to think they were equally at her mercy.

Thekla knows how the gifts work, too, Eva thought, and felt a wave of compassion roll over her for her sister. Thekla feared for Helena, yes, but also for all of them and her fear had overwhelmed her reason. Thekla had spent a lifetime caring for her sisters. There was no way she would stop now. Eva came to a radical and sudden conclusion: Helena’s gift had to manifest. It was the only way to end a life of tyranny and fear.