Of course Rumple would have a gag built into the spell. He couldn’t very well let others know that his contract would hurt you if you didn’t return to him. That might be too far even for the royals to ignore.
I growled my frustration.
Fran’s brows rose her mouth falling open as understanding came over her face. “Oh, I see what’s happening here.”
“You do?” I said hope filling my voice.
Nodding, Fran explained, “I know all about spells. I’ve seen this kind of spell before. Someone put a spell on you. Your old master, I’m assuming.” I nodded. “You can say you have a spell but not what kind of spell.”
I sighed. “Yes.”
“Maybe I can guess?”
I shrugged. It was worth a shot.
“This spell... it hurts you?”
I tried to tell her yes but I couldn’t get the words out, my tongue refusing to obey me. I let out a grunt instead.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Fran smiled sadly. “If it hurts you, then it’s probably because it’s trying to return you to your master.”
Again, I tried to tell her how right she was and once more I felt like I had something stuck in my throat.
Fran stared at me for a long moment before bursting into tears, her arms going around my shoulders. “Oh, you poor dear. Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
I let her hug me, placing my hands on her back. “I didn’t realize exactly the extent of it until last night. I can’t even think about wanting to stay without — pickled frogs.” I groaned, lowering my head in shame.
Fran gave a watery chuckle. “At least it’s an entertaining —” Fran choked on her next words her eyes widened. “Well, shit.”
“Looks like it’s smarter than us.” I gave her a miserable smile.
Fran pulled back sniffing, her hands on my shoulders. “This does put a damper on things. But I don’t see how that should keep you from living here.” She offered me a sly grin. “I do know a thing or two about getting around magic. My grandmother was a witch, and it’s all about loopholes.”
I breathed out a sigh of relief. At least, she believed me. I didn’t want to be in pain if I didn’t have to be, which solved one of my problems. The other... I wasn’t sure if she could help me with.
“What’s wrong, mistress?” Fran’s eyes scanned my face. “Is there more to it?”
“I...” I began and then sighed, “I feel guilty about staying here because so many of the children that were tricked or sold to him don’t have anyone to look out for them now. A lot of them looked to me for help and with me being here...” I trailed off, willing her to understand my predicament.
Fran nodded fiercely. “I understand you completely. Even if you want to stay, your desire to help those smaller than you overrides your own needs. While that’s not a bad thing, mistress, it does make it harder for you to find your happiness, doesn’t it?”
I inclined my head solemnly.
“Well, then,” Fran clapped her hands together, “we’ll just have to figure out a way to break everyone’s contracts then!”
I blinked up at her, my mouth ajar. “Break their contracts? Can we do that?”
“Oh, posh.” Fran waved me off. “Your contracts are just spells and with the right words or ingredients any spell can be broken, even yours.”
Hope filled my chest, but I hesitated to let it linger. I had never in all my time at the factory thought that there was a way to break my contract with Rumple. For all of us to break our contracts.
But, if what Fran was saying was true, then it could be done, and that little flicker of hope grew a little bit more.
Chapter 15
A kind of routine began after that day. Fran would bring me food and chat with me, occasionally bringing me books on magic spells and how to counter them.
I wasn’t much help with the research since my reading wasn’t great and my lack of knowledge about magic was definitely lacking. Fran didn’t seem to mind, though. She was more than eager to help me figure out a way out of Rumple’s contract.
