Innocent Intentions
Disclaimer: contrary to popular belief I do not own a single fairy tale (consider yourself disclaimed!)
The howl of a nearby wolf signaled the fall of darkness for the so called wicked witch sitting in the cabin. This however went unnoticed for her every thought was being used up in her current situation. This was in no way unreasonable seeing as this situation of which I speak of was watching her one true love die. You may think it's a little funny that a wicked witch should have a one true love but if you believe in all that then you should also believe that everyone in fact has a true love and therefore why shouldn't a witch have one? Anyways, had this witch heard the wolf howling outside perhaps what happened next wouldn't have come as quite a surprise…
There was a loud knock on the door and the witch was forced to thick of something beside the dying man in front of her. "Who could be calling at this hour?" she wondered. The n her eyes caught the window outside and a small gasp caught in her throat.
"No…" she whispered desperately starring at the man again. Another howl of the wolf outside confirmed her worst nightmare. A knock came again and this time a little bit harder and more urgent. "Come in." the witch called trying to hide her reluctance, for in fact the last thing she wanted was for her guest to come in-but you see if there is one thing you never want to do it's refuse Death something-especially if you're planning on saving someone's life. The door creaked open and walked ( or more or less glided) Death.
He looked very much the way you would expect death to look (if you've ever thought about it of coarse): basically a long baggy black cloak which covered his entire and gave him the effect of being faceless. He was tall and his entry caused the fire in the fireplace to go out and a chill to spread throughout the room.
The witch shuddered.
" Good evening Mr. Death. This is a surprise. Would you like some cold tea or cookies?"
" No." Death moaned collapsing into a chair. "No time, I have eight more stops before the night is up-nice try though." The witch felt a chill run up her back. "I best just get straight to business."
"WAIT!" The witch screamed launching herself on top of the man's feverish body.
"Wait for what? He's dying and you know it."
" But why is he dying?" the witch screamed " This is not the first time I've watched you at work you know. And I've done some research. I know how death works: there is always a reason for someone to die! What's his?" Death seemed to hesitate for a moment. Then said, exasperated:
"I don't need to tell you that!" and began advancing again.
" IT'S BECAUSE OF ME ISN'T IT!" the witch screamed desperately. Death stopped again.
"Yes it is. What of it?"
"I've done nothing wrong!...Or perhaps…nothing wrong enough to deserve this!" Death sighed and pulled out of his robes a small portfolio.
"I have here documented" he said rummaging through it "several witness accounts proving your guilt of the following:" He paused here to loudly clear his throat. "Turning a Prince Gilbert of Phell into a frog, turning the Duke Selendrile Jaques into a beast, eating children, kidnapping a baby from a Mr. and Mrs. Legume of Delvern, turning a unknown man into a wolf, cursing a baby princess to her death, enchanting a goose and well…just generally creating fear and suspision in every village you've ever inhabited." Death finished, folding the paper and placing it back in his cloak. "Now step aside." And he began to advance again.
The witch stood in shock but only for a moment. Then she snapped back to herself again and disgust and anger overtook her.
"Death! You are supposed to be watching everyone constantly and viewing such events with your own eyes! Not using the testimony of people!" Death starred at her for a moment. Then asked:
"How did you know?"
"Because if you had been watching you would have known that everything you just accused me of doing was either completely untrue or done with perfectly innocent intentions!" Death collapsed back into his chair defeatedly.
"I can sense a lie and what you just said was not one." He pulled out a piece of paper and pen. " If you can tell of these events in your own words, justify all your actions, and I sense no lie he can live."
"What shall I start with?" the witch tentively asked.
"Start with…your transforming that man into a frog."
The witch nodded and began her tale…
