All the ladies chatted happily as they passed through the majestic yet terrifying Cyclopean Mountains. They had never seen mountains so tall and craggy, and imagined the legendary giants traversing them with ease as Sir Richard’s horse-drawn carriage slowly made its way down the winding path. They passed through several kingdoms on their way to their new home, including one with a tall stone tower where a young girl with long golden magical hair was rumored to be held captive. And as if that wasn’t frightening enough, they passed the largest cemetery they had ever seen surrounded by a thicket of dead rosebushes. It gave Lady Tremaine and her daughters chills as they passed it. Even though it was an eerie place, Lady Tremaine saw the beauty in it, with its tall stone mansion, glistening solariums, weeping angels, and wild beasts carved of stone.

“That is the Dead Woods,” said Rebecca. “That is where the queen of the dead has ruled for longer than anyone recalls.” Her words made Lady Tremaine, her daughters, and Nanny Pinch shudder. Lady Tremaine was wondering what kind of place she had brought her daughters to. A place where witches hid young girls in towers, and there were queens who ruled over the dead. But they found themselves in their own corner of the Many Kingdoms at last.

“Look, girls,” Rebecca said, pointing as they passed Queen Belle’s castle. “That’s where the Beast King lives. That means we are almost home.”

“I wonder if we will see him,” said Anastasia with breathless excitement. But the moment they crested the mountain that separated Queen Belle’s kingdom from theirs, all thoughts of Belle were forgotten. They were home at last.

“Oh, Mama! Look at that castle! Is that where we are going to live?” asked Drizella, leaning out the carriage window to get a better look at King Hubert’s castle.

“No, my darling, that is where the royal family lives,” Lady Tremaine said, thinking it was the most beautiful castle she had ever seen. It looked as if it were straight out of a fairy tale, with its tall turrets and golden spires, all pastel blue with gilded trim. She had never seen so many towers. It didn’t look or feel as ancient as Morningstar Castle; it wasn’t awe-inspiring in that way, but it was, in Lady Tremaine’s opinion, much more elegant.

“Mama! The tops of those towers look like blue witch’s caps!” squealed Anastasia, pointing at one of the towers and leaning so far out the carriage window that Nanny Pinch had to yank her back inside.