by Casey Lane
She went to argue with me but swallowed her words, lest she end up in the cage with her brother. I shoved a broom in her hands and told her to sweep. “Sweep like your life depends on it, little girl.” I cackled loud enough to startle them both.
While Hansel sweated in the cage and Gretel cleaned until her hands were marred with dirt, I watched them with a sense of self-satisfaction in my belly. These two had never had a day of work in their lives. And never had anyone spoken to them the way I had. It was the wakeup call they desperately needed.
Throughout the day, I continued to shove food into both of them. They were constantly complaining about never having enough to eat and now they had plenty. Not that it stopped them complaining, except now it was that they were too full.
Nothing would satisfy these devil children.
I worked Gretel all day and threatened Hansel until he was convinced I was fattening him up so I could eat him. They were terrified of me.
Hansel was softly crying to himself in the corner and Gretel was slumped on the floor with a scrubbing brush when I sat on a chair facing them. “I can understand why your parents abandoned you both. You’re useless. I hope you cleaned better than this at home.”
“We didn’t clean anything,” Gretel admitted. At least she was telling the truth for a change.
“You never cleaned?” She shook her sniffling head. “What good are you then? You just expect your parents to do everything for you? So you’re ungrateful children then, the worst possible kind. I would abandon you too, you deserve it.”
“We’re good children,” Hansel protested.
“You better taste good,” I replied, licking my lips. “Or all that food I’ve fed you is a waste.”
“You can’t eat me!” The statement was a mixture of a question, a protest, and a yelp. I’d never seen Hansel so unsure of himself before. It was a wonderful sight.
“I can and I will. Your parents aren’t going to miss you and you’re a fat load of good to me if you can’t even clean. Plus, you haven’t said ‘thank you’ once since you got here. A child without manners is an unwanted child indeed.”
With those words ringing in their ears, I left them to think about it some more. Maybe once they returned home, they would appreciate what they have more.
I busied myself around the cabin, snacking on gingerbread whenever I felt like it. My stomach hadn’t been so full in years. It would be difficult walking away and leaving it to rot in the woods when my plan was over.
The children started whispering between themselves, furtively shooting me glances occasionally. They were planning something, which was what I’d been planning on. As long as I could handle whatever they were about to do, I could see things through to the end.
I went to the kitchen bench and started chopping up some garlic to start the supper. Before I knew it, Gretel was behind me. She had the broom in her hands.
And she didn’t hesitate to whack me over the head with it.
Chapter 5
I saw stars as the handle of the broom collided with my head. Gretel took advantage of my dizziness and pushed me toward the middle of the kitchen. I quickly understood her intention and went limp, allowing her to shove me along.
But it wasn’t the cage where she was taking me.
It was the oven.
She opened it with her foot and then shoved me inside it.
The little girl had surprising strength for her size. I would like to say I went into the oven because I wanted her to believe she was winning. But in reality, I couldn’t fight against her.
I knew she was a demon.
My body was crumpled to fit inside the oven. The witch had one far bigger than any I’d seen but it was still a squeeze. Gretel poked and pushed me until she could close the door – which she did, with a snap.
Everything went deathly quiet.
I could picture Gretel on the other side of the door, hurrying to free her brother so they could escape. I wondered how long it would take. How long would I have to wait in the stuffy and cramped oven before I could hurry home?
The clunk of the cage startled me. Gretel must have opened the door and let it slam closed. It wouldn’t be long now. The children were terrified, they would want to run away from the cabin and not look back.
It would take them longer to return home than me. I knew the way by heart, having done it so many times now. They were just babes in the woods, they would have to stumble home in order to tell their sorry tale.
I started to picture the happy life I would have now the children had been taught a lesson. My husband would come home to a cottage filled with happiness and I would never have to look over my shoulder at the evil children again. It would be perfect, just like the life I’d always imagined I would share with my beloved husband.
Without the fear that they would kill me, I would be able to love the children and mother them the way I’d wanted to from the start. They would allow me to nurture them now, be the loving figure they needed. Maybe we would be able to add to our family with another child so I could have the baby I had longed for too.
It was all so exciting.
When I hadn’t heard any noises for a very long time, I pushed on the oven door carefully. Through just a crack in the opening, it all looked very still. Silence made my ears ring, the children had gone. I was fairly certain I was now alone.
I climbed out of the oven and stretched my sore limbs. My poor body had been in the one position for far too long and the blood had to work to flow to all areas again.
There was no trace of the children.
Carefully, I locked up the cabin and made sure it was tidy before leaving. I changed into my clothes in the woods and cleaned all the mud off my face. I was transformed back into myself again.
My feet made the leaves of the ground rustle as I hurried to get home. I ran faster than I ever had before, making it back in record time. There were no signs of my husband or the children. I had the cottage all to myself.
I started cooking, pretending I’d been there for some time. Hopefully my husband would return soon so he could see the children return home safe and sound. He would have been sick with worry all day, something I regretted deeply.
The berries I’d gathered were stewing in the pot over the fire when I heard movement outside. Footsteps. Two pairs of them. I rushed to the window to see the children approaching the house. They wore looks of thunder across their little faces as they stomped along.
I opened the door and threw my arms wide as I ran for the children. “Where have you been? We’ve been beside ourselves with worry.” I crouched down so they could run into my arms. When I hesitated, they didn’t. Both Hansel and Gretel embraced me for the first time since I’d met them.
“We were taken by a witch,” Hansel said.
“Yeah, she was horrible,” Gretel added. “She made me clean. I’m so sorry we never help you around the cottage.”
I had to hide the smile that wanted to creep over my lips. I pulled them into another hug to stop them seeing it. “That’s awful, you poor children. Come inside so I can make you some tea. That will help you calm down.”
They followed me inside and told me the whole story. Well, an embellished version of it anyway. They made the ‘witch’ out to be very wicked indeed, even biting Hansel’s finger to see if he was fat enough to eat yet.
My husband returned home just after dark. They all embraced before the children regaled him with an even more outlandish version of the truth. I nodded and gave so many looks of sympathy it was threatening to remain permanently etched on my face.
I was worried my plan wouldn’t work, I vowed only time would tell. But, three weeks passed and the change in the children was remarkable. They helped me with the chores in the morning and gave me all the respect a mother should have.
When we had supper of an evening, they thanked me for the food and then helped to clean up afterwards. It was such a delight having a good relationship with them. Their father didn’t notice
anything different, but he wouldn’t – he always thought the children were perfect anyway.
The children and I would play games together when all the work was done. Sometimes we’d just tell each other stories all afternoon. They were the children I’d always wanted, the ones I had prayed for every night since meeting my husband.
We were finally a family.
The funny thing was, the only thing they wouldn’t do was go into the woods when I went gathering food. I couldn’t imagine why.
About the Author
A self-confessed television addict, dog lover, Taylor Swift fan, and ghost hunter, Jamie loves nothing more than the thrill of sharing her stories. Quitting the rat race to spend quality time with her laptop named Lily, Jamie has written several novels and screenplays. Spanning a number of genres and mediums, Jamie writes whatever inspires her from ghost stories to teenage love stories to tantalizing murder mysteries. Nothing is off limits.
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Click here to learn more about her Fairy Tales Retold series.
jamiecampbell.com.au/
Ellora’s Tail
Blood and Snow Book 12.1
By RaShelle Workman
Author’s Note
Ellora’s Tail is the introduction to a brand new reimagining of The Little Mermaid told in the BLOOD AND SNOW world. Please be aware that you do not have to have read the previous twisted fairy tales in this world to enjoy Ellora’s Tail.
Salty Defiance
On the day my life changed forever, it started out normal enough. It was the first official day of summer. My dad had gone to work, which meant I had our large, modern house to myself. Filled with light from dozens of windows, it sparkled in the early morning sunlight.
For once the sky in Seattle shone clear and blue, without a cloud in sight. I spent the morning working out, listening to music, and cleaning my room. I’d recently bought a new dolphin sculpture and took it from its box, dusting it lightly before setting it beside the dozen others in my room. Every time I brought one home, my dad got angry. He’d even asked me not to buy them anymore, that doing so was a waste of money. But I couldn’t help myself. They called to me. With a sigh I threw the empty box away before sitting down at my desk. Glass dolphins were scattered throughout my room. The delicate crystal caught the light and lifted my spirits. I took a deep breath, resolving myself to what I intended to do later that night. My best friend Jessica was having a party on her family’s yacht. I really wanted to go. I told her I would. But I hadn’t told my dad.
The reason was complicated. It was also a little sad.
See, my dad didn’t allow me near the ocean. It was his one rule. About everything else he was chill. Parties. Staying out late. Even boys. But I was never to go near the ocean. And I’d never broken the rule. Not once. Mainly because I understood why. My mom had drowned in the ocean not long after I was born. I didn’t have a single memory of her. My dad told me stories. He also said I got my love of sweets and my exceptional singing voice from her, as well as my red hair, freckled skin, and strange-colored eyes, like rust and lavender combined. Despite my sympathy for my dad and his rule, once summer ended, I would start my senior year. Enough was enough. I was old enough to hang out with my friends on a boat. Just because my mom died there didn’t mean I would too.
My cell rang.
I stared at the screen a moment before I answered, steeling my nerve. “Hey, Jessica.”
“You’re still coming, right?” I could hear music playing in the background.
I held my breath a moment. “Yes. For sure.”
“Ellora?” She said my name like a threat.
“I’m going. I swear.”
“You’d better.” She paused. I heard her door open and knew she’d gone out to the deck off her bedroom. The wind snapped lightly against the mouthpiece. “Braxton will be there.”
I rubbed my lips together nervously. “He is?”
“He told me he was coming. He even asked if you would be there. I think he likes you.”
I’d had a crush on Braxton since sophomore year. We’d spoken a few times, but never anything more than friendly banter. He’d already graduated, and the party tonight might be my last chance to see him before he went away to college. “What should I wear?” I didn’t know what was appropriate yacht attire.
“Whatever.”
I rolled my eyes even though she couldn’t see me. “Jessica.”
“It’s casual. Shorts would be fine.” She went back inside. I could tell because the sound of the wind disappeared.
“Kay, I’ll see you at seven.” It would take me forty minutes to get to her house from mine. Mainly because the roads were winding and the speed limit was only forty miles an hour.
“Why don’t you come over now? You can help me pick out my outfit and I’ll do your hair.”
“All right. I’ll leave in ten.” I hung up and rushed to my closet, a large walk-in. Clothes were everywhere, organized into sections. But as I stared, I calmly determined I didn’t have a single thing to wear.
After twenty minutes, I finally picked out a jean mini-skirt, wedge sandals, and a red and white striped shirt that hung off one shoulder. It was cute. Casual, like Jessica said. For makeup I applied some waterproof mascara, eyeliner, and a little lipstick, going for fresh and understated.
The drive went by quickly. Since it was still sunny, I put the top down on my azure mini cooper and messed with the radio until I found a station playing the latest song by Blake Shelton. I hummed along, my thoughts wandering to Braxton and what it might be like if he kissed me. Would his deep brown eyes stare into mine before he leaned in? Where would I put my hands? In his hair? On his well-sculpted arms? Would he pin me against a wall like in the movies? Or would his fingers caress my cheeks?
By the time I got to Jessica’s I’d worked myself up into a bundle of nerves.
“What is it,” she asked, putting her hands on her hips.
Jessica was a couple of inches shorter than my five foot six. Her hair was blond and cut short, bangs swooping to one side. It enhanced her large blue eyes and heart-shaped face, making her look almost ethereal. She had on a white skirt that came to the middle of her incredibly tanned thighs. Her top was navy with spaghetti straps and she’d wrapped a slim white scarf around her neck as well as several silver necklaces of different lengths.
“I’ve never kissed a guy before.” My face got hot at admitting that fact out loud. I placed my hands on my cheeks. “What if he kisses me and then laughs at my inexperience?”
Jessica grabbed my arm and pulled me inside. “He won’t. You’ll do fine. Kissing should be the least of your worries.” She dragged me up the stairs and into her sprawling bedroom suite.
Her house sat on the edge of a cliff that overlooked the ocean. It was just her and her parents in the enormous house and they’d given her the whole upstairs.
“What do you mean?” I threw myself into the window seat, focusing my attention on the view. It was my favorite place to sit. I craved the ocean and the view allowed me to feel close to it.
“That outfit? How many times have I told you not to wear red with your red hair? Not to mention it dulls your amazing eyes.” As she spoke, she moved into her closet and her words became muffled.
I glanced down. “I thought—”
“It clashes. Get in here. I’ll find you something.” She practically snapped her fingers at me as she dug through drawers and flipped hangers aside.
She spent an hour making me try on clothes. Jessica and fashion were like spaghetti and meatballs. She’d been drawing and designing clothes since I’d met her in junior high. It was her calling in life. I envied her passion, especially since I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to do. I’d been accepted to UC, Berkeley, but time was running out to declare a major.
Finally, Jessica put me into a rose, sleeveless trapeze dress. It had a square neck and flirted with my thighs. It felt too short, but Jessica assured me i
t was perfect. I wore my own shoes since Jessica had smaller feet. She’d curled my hair, pinning the sides back so that it was off my face.
After texting her boyfriend, Travis, we set out. I’d never been so excited, or nervous. It was the first time I’d ever so blatantly defied my dad. If he found out, I’d be in so much trouble. But he would never know. I’d make sure of that.
Jessica parked, grabbed her large bag from the backseat, and walked toward the dock. I followed, slowly, enjoying the salty breeze filled with moisture. It tugged at the edges of my hair, sending it fluttering over my face. I pushed it back, feeling my enormous smile grow impossibly larger.
“You coming?” Jessica turned back and stopped. “Whoa.”
“What?” I crossed my arms, trying to hold in all of the giddiness.
“You’re practically glowing.” She smiled and tucked her arm through mine. “Tonight is going to be life-changing.
I giggled, leaning into Jessica. “I feel it too.”
Stupid Party
Jessica gave me a tour of her family’s yacht. I half listened, unable to do much more than focus on the water outside the windows. I was distracted by sound of the waves slapping against the boat and the shore while the birds talked to each other. She didn’t seem to mind since she was obviously distracted as well.
“Everything okay, Jessica?” She was glancing at her phone again. Distracted as I was I’d lost track of the number of times she’d pulled it out during the tour.
“Travis can be such a jerk when he wants to be.” She shook her head, throwing her phone on the counter.
“What’d he do this time?” Travis and Jessica had been together since freshman year. It was obvious they loved each other, but they also got on each other’s nerves. A lot. When they weren’t fighting, they were making up. By junior year, I’d stopped trying to figure them out.
