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Maleficent was shocked. “The odd sisters? The authors of all those spell books? They’re coming here?”
“Yes, I thought they would be a lovely surprise for your birthday! I know how well you love their books of magic. They are old friends of mine and I haven’t had them over for quite some time. I figured this was a lovely opportunity for a visit. I had thought to cancel after you told me you planned to take the exam. I know my sister won’t like their being here, but the odd sisters insisted. I just hope my sister doesn’t take her frustrations out on you tomorrow when she’s grading your exam.”
Maleficent wondered how Nanny had been able to send the odd sisters an owl while her sister was there.
“She sent us the message telepathically, of course, little one!” a trio of voices called from outside.
Startled, Maleficent jumped back. Three women appeared at the door. They were Lucinda, Ruby, and Martha. Identical triplets. The odd sisters. The authors of some of her favorite spell books! She had never imagined being able to meet them. And she wondered why Nanny had never told her she knew the famous witches. Maleficent looked over the odd sisters. She hadn’t expected them to be identical, but there they stood, a trio of beautiful women. All of them had pitch-black hair and overly large black eyes lined with black coal. Their tiny little rosebud mouths were colored with red lip paint, which was striking against their very pale skin. Their skin was almost too perfect, and they looked like porcelain dolls. Everything about them matched, down to their hairstyles and their dark green voluminous dresses, embroidered with rusty autumn leaves that seemed to change color depending on the light. They wore their hair in intricate buns with green and orange gems woven into their springy curls. Maleficent had never seen such beautiful women in her life, and she hadn’t expected her favorite spell casters to be so lovely.
“Thank you, my dear,” the triplet in the middle said. She seemed to be the eldest.
“Come in! Come in!” Nanny said excitedly as she pulled out more cups for their guests. “Let’s sit down and have some tea. I would like you to get to know my daughter, Maleficent. It has been far too long since I’ve seen you, and introductions are far overdue.”
“Oh, we know all about Maleficent,” Lucinda said.
“We watch her in our mirror!” said Martha.
Ruby hushed them. “Shhh! Don’t tell them our secrets!”
Maleficent laughed. She had never met anyone like the women, and she’d instantly fallen in love with them. It seemed they were mind readers, like Nanny. Maleficent was used to being in the company of someone who knew her thoughts, so it didn’t bother her at all.
“We love you, too! Happy birthday, Maleficent! Happy birthday! Tomorrow is an extraordinary day!” sang all three sisters. “Sixteen is a very special age. Very special indeed. We wouldn’t miss it, my dear!”
“So, One of Legends, is your sister still up to her old tricks?” Lucinda asked as she intently watched Nanny set out the teacups. Nanny smiled to herself, knowing one of the witches would slip a cup into her pocket, as they did almost every time they visited.
“What does she mean by ‘old tricks,’ Nanny?” Maleficent asked.
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bsp; Nanny gave the sisters a sideways look. “Nothing, my dear. It’s nothing.”
“Don’t lie to the child!” Lucinda screeched.
“Never helps to tell lies…” Ruby sang.
“Never helps!” Martha chimed in. “You can’t protect her forever, Granny!”
Nanny laughed at the “granny” remark but didn’t take it personally. She knew Martha was just being silly. Besides, she was much older than even the odd sisters probably suspected. “Come now, ladies. No one is lying to the girl,” Nanny said, trying to calm the odd sisters.
“She’s becoming a woman tomorrow! Sixteen! Sixteen! Sixteen!” The sisters were all chiming in as if in a chaotic choir. The rhythmic canter of their voices was intoxicating to Maleficent.
“Protect me from what?” Maleficent asked.
“From the truth, my dear! The truth!” The sisters laughed so loudly Maleficent’s crows scattered from her tree house. Their caws echoed throughout the Fairylands.
“Ha! That will cause those simpletons a fright!” the odd sisters cried.
“What? My crows?” asked Maleficent, taking in everything about the sisters she could. She examined their eyes, their expressions, the way they moved their hands. The women were a marvel to her.
“Oh, yes! Everyone knows crows are evil,” the sisters said, and laughed.
“Oh, stop this foolishness!” Nanny cried as she poured the tea. “They’re laughing at the fairies’ expense, of course, Maleficent, not yours.”
Lucinda seemed to be scrutinizing Maleficent even more closely than Maleficent had been scrutinizing the sisters. “You have yourself a smart young witch here, my friend. I think she was already aware of our intent.”
“I’m a fairy, not a witch,” Maleficent said.
“Oh, you are a witch, my dearie! A truer witch than we’ve ever met!” Ruby exclaimed.
