Hansel & gretel variation

Chapter 3 - The Real Epilogue

1322…


Drucilla sat on the city walls in her ethereal form watching the chaos below. The central tower of the main temple had collapsed and people were panicking, frantic and lost in blame. Somehow the markers which plotted out the positions for the foundations of the new construction work had been moved and digging had destabilised the whole building.

As she enjoyed the taste of the recriminations and despair of the people below, a small, scruffy white and tan terrier trotted up to her wagging his tail.

“What are you doing here?” Drucilla muttered, annoyed at the interruption, and then she did a quick bit of mental arithmetic and simply said, “Oh!”

She picked up the dog and gently flew down to the ground outside the city walls.

“Their lives are fleeting,” Drucilla explained as she knelt down, absent-mindedly stroking Ellard’s head. “But it has been over seventy years and you never called out for me once, so she must have had a good life and you have kept her safe. That’s all these humans want, really.”

Ellard cocked his head to one side, as though listening and barked once, wagging his tail. She leaned forward, gently tickling the dog behind his ear.

“I will only ever say this once,” whispered Drucilla. “And if you ever tell anybody… well, you will know about it.”

The dog barked again and bounced excitedly as Drucilla stood making sure nobody was looking.

“You’re a good boy!” she said. “And now you are released from the binding.”

Instantly Ellard was gone, replaced with a giant black beast, snarling through cruel yellow teeth. Drucilla began to walk away from the city, the Hellhound padding along beside her, watching with glowing red eyes.

“You really do have to tell me how you do that!” she said.

* * * * * * * *

Thanks for reading.

This is an introduction to a series of stories I am working on about Drucilla the Demon who is an Efreet (Fire Elemental). In the introduction to the first book, she has a fight with the Queen of the Witches and promises that every witch throughout history will taste fire. I based that on the history of witch burnings. but then I just thought that given the way the witch meets her end in Hansel and Gretel, it would be a fun variation.

I realise this is not really the usual feeding and stuffing story we share on these pages, but as this is a variation of what is possibly the original feeder/weight gain story I hoped that it would generate enough interest for some feedback and ways to improve it.

All replies are appreciated.