The candlelight flickered in and out, illuminating the cave like room and half the man’s face who was towering over the orphan children in front of him.
“So do you want revenge?”
Their faces were lit up dimly by the single flickering candlelight, which seemed on the verge of extinguishing. The light showed the man’s back who just turned to face the doorway, and then showed the cowering kids in the corner of the room, with one child standing in front shielding the rest.
“Who are you?” the brave child said to the man whose back was turned and interest somewhere else.
The man who was wearing a ragged loose fitting yellow top and what seemed to be a pair of wool like pants, cupped his hand around his chin, turning around, and pondered the question. He then turned back away into the darkness. The children sat sobbing breathlessly while the man rummaged through a container of sorts. A loud thud was heard then the man drifted into the candlelight, setting a heavy-set book down in front of the children. The slam of the book made the candlelight flicker, before regaining its natural shape of a dancing flame. The child standing up brushed the dust away from their face, causing the others to flinch and cover their eyes at the falling dust mites and dirt, stirred up by the book. All eyes fell to the book, which was slathered in dust and minor tears, causing the books age to appear nonexistent. The children’s eyes were full of tears and confusion, as they pondered the meaning of this rugged act. Though they dare not say it out loud, this was a book they knew. One they’ve read and listened to countless times. The child on their feet was looking from the book to the man back to the book.
From the dim candlelight the children could make out a sly smirk from the man who was now seated on a stool in front of the candlelight across the children.
A wretched laugh came from deep within the man, who was now seated in front of the candlelight, his features were clear to make out. The children looked on at the deep blue eyes of a bronze skinned man. He crossed his hands and legs, trying to anticipate a reaction to come.
“As for who I am? We have many a name, but as it would be, you humans refer to us as such vulgar creatures.”
The child in front instinctively took a step back, raising their hands to protect the crouched children.
They were now cowering deeper into the corner; they couldn’t believe what they were witnessing.
One of the children who was retreating into the corner asked through a strained voice.
“what do you mean, us humans? Are you saying you’re…”?
Before the child sitting on their behind could finish their question; the man interrupted with a bright sinister smile.
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“yes, I am indeed a witch of your fairytales…” He waited for dramatic effect but was sorely disappointed in their responses.
The children seemed tense at the word witch, but no other response or shock was on their faces. The man thought, of course this would be the case after what they had just encountered. But the man was still disappointed. The witch tried smiling it off waving his hands, adding.
“Don’t worry, I won’t eat you.”
The children began to sob into their hands, all cowering into their own knees and each other, but the one child’s face was full of disdain. Their murderous aroura could be felt at such a close range.
“Why did you help us?” The child asked through gritted teeth, his hands rolled into fist shielding the children below and behind.
The witch pondered this question. Thinking back on the events that had just transpired. He then took a step forward with his fingers stroking his ragged beard.
“My siblings can be quite the boisterous bunch, so out of spite, I would say.”
He then flicked his beard as if a thought hit him. “or maybe it seems you’ve got something or someone with you that has piqued my interest.” He said staring directly in the direction of one of the children cowering on the ground.
This child was frozen with their hands gripping their knees to their chest. This one hadn’t made a single peep. In fact, the witch could see trauma and exhaustion on their face.
The child on their feet followed the man’s eyes. His eyes glaring at one of the children frightened on the ground. The child stepped in front, shielding them from the intense stare of the man.
The witch noticed this and scoffed.
“where do you even find a creature like that one?” he asked curiously.
The children said nothing, but the child standing up, and as if ignoring the question with disdain, asked.
“Can you train us to fight?” their hand balled up into a fist and clinching tight enough for the skin to break and have blood drip down onto the ground.
The mans smiled turned sinister, as he clasped his hands together, and inched closer.
“Now that is an interesting proposal.”
The child took a step closer to the witch, braving his face and body for any calamity.
“can you?”
The man laughed heartedly aloud, startling the children.
“Hmmm so you all agree. You want revenge?” He asked looking upon the children.
His face and voice now filled with energy to match with gritty sinister like smile.
Through tears the child in front said. “yeah, I want revenge…” as if stifling tears added, “no… We want revenge”
This exchange seemed to break the dam that was keeping the kids sniffling quietly to themselves.
The rest of the kids were now crying loudly holding on to each other.
The man clapped his hands together with a gleeful smile, his body stretching in the process.
Now standing in front of each other, the witch and child were making a devil’s deal, a deal that could only lead down a path of, pain and unhappiness, but one that could destroy these evil witches for good.
The child outstretched their hand and shook the witch’s hand.
The witch, with a satisfied smile, said.
“welcome to hell my dear children”
As the children in this cavern made this deal with the devil, the once quiet and peaceful wooded area, was set ablaze, and an ashen sky filled the scenery.