The house was quiet and empty as Hansel pried himself off the floor. He tumbled over as he tried to get his uncooperative legs underneath himself. After several failed attempts he managed to pull himself up with the aid of the nearby table. Clutching the worn wood edge, the world tilted and swirled trying to defy the death grip the hunter had on the table. With the memory of the agony that burned itself into him a fading memory, Hansel felt remarkably better. The all encompassing need was gone.
With determination he strode out of the room to gather what few belongings he had with him; he had a sister to track down. There was no sign of Kaspar anywhere and Hansel had no clue as to where he stormed off to, but it didn't matter. There was nothing he could offer the man now and nothing he required of his odd host anymore. Kaspar's absence tickled the back of the hunter's mind as something that should garner more thought but Gretel already had a head start on him.
He hastily shoved his change of clothes and spare ammunition in his sack. He pilfered a blanket out of the wardrobe, and while theft wasn't the sibling's first choice for acquisition, Hansel's current situation left little recourse if he wanted to survive the elements. That led to a stop in the kitchen as well. Hansel wasn't greedy, taking a small loaf of bread and a chicken leg to not diminish Kaspar's supply. He wasn't a fan of the man or his methods, but Kaspar had put him up and in a strange and unique way, helped the hunter.
Tying the top of his sack closed, Hansel's eyes drifted to the door to Kaspar's study. So much had happened within those walls, the small room was practically bursting with memories, most of which Hansel would give anything to forget. Still the hunter was the consummate student and wasn't going to leave an advantage lying around.
As a small boy, Hansel had attended school and for the most part the only thing he remembered about the experience was being abruptly pulled out of the small one room school house to take his studies at home. He had protested the action, his mother's strong grip firmly around his wrist dragging him from the school house and the only other children beside Gretel that he had ever known. Their mother had taken up the sibling's lessons making time for them between their chores. Any mention of the siblings' removal from the nearby town's school house was done with hushed whispers that ended with remorseful eyes falling on Hansel. Gretel had flourished under their mother's tutelage often reinforcing the lesson for Hansel at night long after their parents had tucked them into bed. While he was slow to pick things up, the important life lesson that had been thrust upon him, always stuck.
Wrapping several bottles tightly in any rag he could find, Hansel stuffed them deep into his sac. No longer needing anything the small cottage on the mountain top could offer, he set on his lonely journey back down towards Gretel's last know whereabouts.
The early morning twilight bled the soft purples of night with the beginning rays of morning; promising another day of life to the rustic colored leaves that had curled and huddled in anticipation of their coming wintery demise. The village, if it was even big enough to qualify for that small title, was as sleepy as the vast tracks of farm land that lay fallow. The tiny community nestled in the shadow of the mountain looked to have everything required to support the inhabitants without the constant bustle of well traveled trade routes. Hansel pulled his jacket collar higher to ward off the early chill of impending winter as he traipsed across the fields; the billowing chimney's of the small collection of cottages his guiding star. The only souls brave enough to be outside with Hansel were the cows huddled together in fields.
The sweet smell of baked goods drifted down the worn path that was passing for village's main road. Believing it a good a place as any to start, Hansel pushed open the weathered wooden door to the only building displaying sellable wears in the windows.
"Morning to you," chirped a young girl, no more than twelve years of age, carrying a tray of fresh rolls over to a basket sitting on the counter.
"Felizitas!" ordered a large man with a blood stained apron, emerging from the back. "Go help your mother with the butter."
The girl dipped her head giving Hansel an apologetic look before acknowledging the man. "Right away father," she mumbled before gracefully fluttering out of the room.
The father, large butcher knife in hand, waddled behind the counter depositing the knife with a large thud as it sank into the chopping block. Never taking his eyes off of Hansel, he haphazardly wiped the evidence of his morning's work onto a discarded rag. "What can I do for you stranger?" barked the man.
There was tension in the air as the man scrutinized every inch of Hansel. "I'm looking for someone, maybe you could help me," started the hunter.
"We don't need any more trouble around here," interrupted the man, folding his arms defiantly across his chest.
"Any more?" asked Hansel. "What trouble was there to start with?"
"The kind we don't need strangers sticking their noses in, now leave!" The order was emphasized with a large meaty finger pointing towards the door.
"Please, I'm looking for my sister Gretel and if there was trouble, I'm sure she went out of her way to get involved," countered Hansel, raising his hands in a nonthreatening gesture.
"No! Turn around and leave," ordered the man, hand wrapping around the handle of the butcher knife to pry it from the block.
Hansel began to take a step back. Normally common villagers weren't a threat but this guy was a human sized Edward and the hunter wasn't exactly at his best.
"You're Hansel." Felizitas poked her head from around the corner. "Gretel said you would come."
The large butcher stopped in front of the counter, keeping himself closer to the stranger in their midst. "Felizitas, go back outside with your mother."
"But father, he can help Gretel. She said he would help," pleaded the young girl.
"I have to find my sister. Tell me what happened." Hansel tried to keep the frustration out of his voice and invoke a tone of helpless need that might garner him the kindness of strangers.
The girl looked desperately at her father. "Please. If they can really help Verena, shouldn't we let them?" Tears threatened to spill down her pale cheeks.
The butcher rolled the knife handle in his huge palm, shifting its weight back and forth. His gaze flicked between the young girl and back to Hansel several times before he slammed the knife back in the block with a huff. He left the small shop without a word but the glare he shot Hansel said more than words ever could. It was quite possibly the scariest threat Hansel had ever received.
Not wanting to squander his opportunity, Hansel asked, "Gretel was here?"
"Yes," assured Felizitas. "She came to our village almost two weeks ago."
"Two weeks?" Hansel rolled the words around his mouth trying to make them seem real. Surely he had miss heard; Gretel had just left, hadn't she.
Felizitas nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, that right. Two weeks ago just before the storm."
Gretel let out a weary sigh as the never ending wall of forest and rock finally gave way to the flat farmland surrounding the quaint village. She was exhausted after the long day's journey and looking forward to getting a good night's sleep. Hopefully someone would be able to provide her with a room for the night before loading up the wagon in the morning. Just thinking about the uphill half of her journey was exhausting.
Villagers offered her half glances as she got closer to the buildings but no one seemed concerned enough to stop what they were doing. She headed to the building that seemed the focal point of the comings and goings in the town, tying the mule o the hitching post out front. The aroma of a hearty stew danced around the large room that seemed to double as both the general store and the tavern.
"Can I get you anything?" chirped a bubbly little girl from behind the counter.
Gretel offered a warm smile in return. "Yes, I'm looking to procure some supplies." She slid the list Kaspar had written out towards the young girl who nodded as she read each of the items.
The girl's smile vanished as she reached the bottom of the list. "Just a moment." She excused herself before darting towards the back room.
Gretel tried to keep her uneasiness in check. Kaspar had claimed to have done business here on a regular basis and she wouldn't receive any trouble with any of the villagers. For first appearances they seemed like a group of quiet townsfolk, certainly nothing she wouldn't be able to handle if push came to shove. Gretel had to reevaluate her last thought as an impressively larger man came towards the counter, supply list in his hefty mitt.
"This is your list?" grumbled the large man.
Gretel licked her lip, suddenly feeling very alone. "It is," she said firmly. "Kaspar said you sell to him, unfortunately he wasn't able to come himself." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a handful of folded currency notes.
The large man looked Gretel up and down and then back to the worn stack of money on the counter. "He sent you?"
"Yes."
Pocketing the money, he gestured to the young girl from earlier and another little girl that had joined the first. "Felizitas and Verena will show you where everything is in the morning but you'll have to load it all yourself."
"That's fine," answered Gretel firmly, leaving no room for any notion that she wasn't up to the task. "Is there a room available for tonight?" she added, pulling out another note and displaying it tightly in her hand.
"Felizitas, find our guest a place to stay," commanded the large man, leaving the two girls alone with Gretel.
"Yes father," responded Felizitas. "Would you like a bowl of stew before we take you up to the loft?" she asked Gretel.
Gretel pulled the last rope hard to remove any slack before tying it securely to the cart. Leaning back against the load she let out a deep sigh. Even with the two young girls helping her as best they could, the large sacks and barrels still took a fair bit of effort load. She had forgotten just how much work some things were since they had Edward doing all the heavy lifting for the hunters.
"You should really wait," whispered Verena, shyly scuffing her shoe in the dirt laden hay. "Storm's coming in. It's going to be a bad one."
Gretel turned to look out the open door of the barn. The sun was still shining, doing its best to warm the earth but grey clouds were hanging threateningly in the distance. There was a chance it could change direction or that she could even reach Kaspar's cottage before the worst of it reached the mountain.
"She's right you know," confirmed Felizitas. "You should give some consideration to staying to staying the night. Kaspar says the trails get quite dangerous when the weather gets bad."
"You know Kaspar?" The thought of Kaspar interacting with anyone, let alone a child, in a manner in which they would speak his name fondly, was hard to comprehend.
"He gets all of his supplies here, in exchange he does wonderful things for the village."
Gretel's next question died on her tongue as the raised voices in the makeshift town square drifted towards the barn. Slinking towards the barn door, she peered around the edge to inconspicuously observe what the commotion was about.
The villagers were gathered together on one side of the square while five figures stood on the opposite side. It wasn't the best angle to see or spot to listen from but there was no mistaking who had arrived in the town. The sunlight picked up the more purple hues in the Lamiae's skin unlike the moonlight which gave then a hauntingly silver tone. Four of them stood in a rigid square with the fifth one in the middle. It was the fifth that was addressing the villagers in an eloquent voice that was softer than any other Gretel had heard from the enemy before, even if it still carried their authoritative arrogance. It wasn't the only thing different about the apparent leader of the group. Her clothing had an autocratic flow unlike the tighter and more combat appropriate wardrobe of the other, and silver horns that curled up on her head to form a crown like crest.
"They're not supposed to be here," whispered Verena, clinging tightly to Gretel's leg.
The familiarity in which the children gazed upon the intruders gave Gretel pause. There was a wariness unlike the all out fear that usually happened when someone so young and innocent lay eyes upon evil incarnate. Even the adults demonstrated reservation more so than first time fear. Trying to play catch up, Gretel remained tucked away, straining to hear any clues she could.
"What do you want?" demanded the town blacksmith. "Our agreement forbids you from venturing here."
"Our deal?" hissed the crowned Lamiae. "It's only a deal if it's honored and we find you lacking. But fear not, I have conceived away for you to be useful once again." Her eyes narrowed dangerously on the children tucked into their parents' embrace within the crowd.
"You cannot have the children," protested the blacksmith.
"I can have whatever I desire," snapped the queen Lamiae. The men of the village tightened their grips on farm implements turned weapons, raising them in preparation. The queen raised no weapons only here voice. It started out as a hummed melody before turning into a song reminiscent of the most saintly choir.
It was unlike anything Gretel had ever heard, both in its beauty and its use. Spells had a certain rhythmic quality but they were never sung like a tender love song. It quickly became apparent the song packed the same punch as any well crafted spell. The villagers, misguidedly prepared to defend themselves against an evil that made Gretel tremble, were stiff like statues. Their expression conveyed a desperate need to move to protect the young girls the warrior Lamiae were plucking from their grasp, but none could move a muscle.
Gretel turned to the two girls in her company, kneeling down before the youngest and placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Stay here and stay out of sight."
"What are you going to do?" asked Verena.
"This is what my brother and I do. We save children from monsters." The odds weren't in her favor and Gretel lacked anything to fight such a formidable enemy but she couldn't stand by and do nothing. Her own family had been torn apart by the evils of the world; she couldn't stand by and watch it happen to anyone else.
"Where is he?" asked Verena.
"Hansel? He's coming, he'll be here to help, don't you worry. Now stay out of sight and everything will be alright," promised Gretel, transferring Verena's tight grip to her sister. Taking a deep breath to steel her nerves, Gretel stepped out from the barn.
The Lamiae stopped in their tracks, surprised at the sudden movement. The queen's eyes landed on Gretel and a feral smile put all over her sharp teeth on display. "What do we have here?" she snarled, her mystical song having no effect on the challenger.
"I'm not going to let you take these girls," countered Gretel, with all the fake bravado she could muster.
In a flash, the queen was standing in front of Gretel, her chest pressed against the hunter's forcing her to take a step back. "I've never encountered someone immune to my charms before," she cooed, words dripping with curiosity.
"It's pretty normal in my world," snapped Gretel, throwing a vicious right hook that firmly found its mark.
The queen's head snapped with the blow but quickly snapped back to look at the hunter. "We're going to have fun with you."
Before Gretel could land another blow, she felt something slam into her from behind knocking her to the ground. Soon all four of the warrior Lamiae were on top of her providing her with many opportunities to kick, bite and scratch but it wasn't enough to fend them off. The world faded to grey and to nothingness.
With Gretel slung limply over one Lamiae's shoulder and several children in hand, the warrior Lamiae disappeared into the coming storm. The queen looked on at her captive audience, pacing back and forth in front of them. "I think such bravery should be rewarded, don't you?" The Lamiae placed her palms together moving them back and forth in a slow caress. A red ball appeared, fluid like water, splitting into two balls. They hovered over her palm before flying like a humming bird straight into two of the villagers, disappearing into their skin.
Verena's sudden scream pulled the queen's attention towards the barn. Before either girl could blink, the silver nightmare was standing before them with a blood curdling smile. "I think you're just what I'm looking for little one."