"Do you really eat people?"

Not the most unheard question, given her nature, but in the immediate company Red had figured everyone knew that, yes, she did tend to do things to people that might fell under the category of "eating".

Of course, such information might have been kept secret from the more innocent ears. Red turned from her bored study of a dull portrait to the boy, all bright eyed and curly haired and apparently loving the idea of a werewolf.

She suppose the notion did appeal to the imagination. Ah, well. She had learned to live with it and offense was just silly. Might as well have a bit of fun. She gave the boy a proper snare and a devious curl of her lips. "Would you like to find out?"

The boy laughed, but took a few steps back. He was a cute little boy. The puppet kid, the one the Blue Fairy brought to life. Pinocchio? Was that right? "I thought you could just eat the Queen."

If that wasn't a great reminder. Still, Red forced a smile. "Nah. I only eat little boys who don't go to bed on time."

He shook his head. "I'm allowed to be up. Because of the council."

"That ended an hour ago."

Pinocchio's face reddened. "I mean, I was on my way to bed."

Red wasn't sure what room had been set aside for the kid, but she was sure it wasn't down this particular palace hall. Eh, no point in pressing it. "So let me get this straight. You're allowed to roam the royal palace hunting werewolves on your way to bed?"

He paused to consider her question. "Well, I'm not not-allowed."

"Good answer."

"Thanks!"

"Should we go find your father to check on what you're not not-allowed to do?"

Now Pinocchio's face was the opposite of a blush. Ah, the pure white of terror. "Like I said, I am on my way to bed."

Another good answer. Red had always been neutral when it came to children. Perhaps it was the late hour, the nature of the meeting resulting in some enlightment of what's-important-in-life, or maybe just the fact few kids asked her about being a werewolf. "Of couse. And how long it will take you to get to bed is completely up in the air."

"I'll get there soon enough."

"Oh?" She raised an eyebrow. "And what if the curse strikes before you get there?"

Pinocchio made a face, some little-boy combination of disgust and confidence. "I'm not afraid of the curse. I will be just fine."

Impressive. If only Red had that kind of confidence. "And what about the rest of us? Will we be as fine as you will be?"

"Of course. That's what the baby princess is there for."

Ah, the faith of a child. Red wasn't so sure she had that anymore. "I just wish we could avoid it all together."

"But it's an adventure."

Red laughed. "I suppose that's one way to think about it."

"I love adventures," Pinocchio continued. "I'm going to go on so many. In fact, I'm kind of excited about the world with no magic."

"It'll be boring."

"It will be different. And I will travel all over it and see everything." He hesitated before brightly asking "Do you want to come with me?"

She laughed again. "All right. Why not? Sure, I'll come."

"But I'm going whether or not you come," he continued as if she hadn't even replied. "I'll see all sorts of things."

"In that case, you will have to come back and tell me about everything."

He paused to consider. "I can do that."

"You promise?"

"As long as you don't eat me."

"I promise I won't."

That seemed to satisfy him, though a yawn crept out. "You're really pretty."

And a flattering little boy as well. Thank goodness for the attentions of a seven-year-old. "Thanks. Are you sure you're not tired?"

Pinocchio shook his head and yawned.

Red smiled. "Liar."

The End