Dreadful Things: Bloodwood Forest

Vesper: And out in this dreadful storm, ye’ll catch your death if you’re none too careful!

I beg your pardon, Madame, ma’am— yes well, my daughters and I have seem to have become lost while searching for berries to preserve and wood for the winter — and now my youngest is badly hurt and night, the storm fast upon us—

Vesper: Come, enter— and be quick!!

I am in your debt, madame— my dearest daughter is—

Vesper: At the door of Death.

She is badly wounded, yes— but is there nothing you can do for her? With all these trinkets and bottles, perhaps? I need only keep her living until the sun rises. Madeline, my other child, can take her back to our village at dawn—

Vesper: Her life sits at the point of my needle and the drops of nectar from this ancient rind!

Enough with your riddles! Give it to me, old woman.

Vesper: You? She who carries a basket of berries, whilst the young one carries wood and sorrowful flesh?

Enough of this. I thank you for your kindness, but perhaps we had better brave the storm nonetheless.

*investigate the house, pick up a scroll and read it*

Vesper Thorne.

Madeline: Look how she bleeds so! I cannot stop it.

Where is the old hag? Hideous thing! We have no time to waste! There is no way out.

Madeline: Her warning! Mother! Remember yourself!

Silence. I am her mother; you are but half her blood. Move away from her at once before I cast you to the creatures in the shadows. Or perhaps, I shall leave you here in this musty dwelling with this gnarled and hideous thing— and be rid of you at last.

Madeline: Half her blood? Mother?

Have you never wondered why her hair is fair, and yours is the color of a raven? Or why I lost you so many times in the forest during our games of seek and hide?

Madeline: Mother, please. She dies upon me.

But, like a little mouse, you always sniffed your way back into your father’s arms. Child of another, you are none of mine.

*trying to administer the nectar*

Come here, you trembling fool, and administer this nectar! Her jaw is too stubborn and I cannot unlock it.

Vesper: Yes, little treasures, our precious ones have come at last— patience!

To whom do you speak?! Are you mad? Why do you laugh so as my daughter lies dying upon the floor?