Chapter 8 - part viii

At dinner Gryselda came up with a new way to pamper Sarah. She unlocked the cage and led her captive by the hand back over to the large oak dining table, where she used to feed 'Gretel' when this was all just a 'dream.' Sarah was seated on the wide, cushioned oak chair and a plate piled high with buttered fish and potatoes placed in front of her. When she made start on the lovely meal, the witch told her to stop.

The witch stepped away from the table to the kitchen counter and drew a long, razor sharp carving knife from her set. When she stepped back towards Sarah, the girl winced and tensed up, expecting her end; instead, Gryselda placed her own hand on the table, palm up, and stabbed down on it with terrifying strength. The blade chipped at the end and left a faint crease in her skin, but did not cut her. She did not even seem to feel any pain.

'I've been stabbed, slashed, bashed, beaten, and... yes my dear... even shoved into an oven.' The witch said as if she were describing a calm day on the beach.

'How many... before me...?' Sarah whispered.

The witch set the broken knife on the cutting board along with the broken tip, then washed her hands gently. She came back over to Sarah and stood behind her, her hands gently but firmly on the girl's shoulders.

'Many.' She said, nonchalant. 'There was this lovely young woman last year, Rachel, all round and fat and... juicy... She found one of my books in her high school library. She was so big, especially for how short she was, that I didn't even have to feed her up.' Gryselda licked her lips at the memory.

'So... you don't usually keep girls this long?' Sarah asked, hoping against hope that her plan was working.

'Sometimes I do, when I find one as rail thin as you were to start with... but that's not the case anymore...' Said the witch as she pinched Sarah's cherubic cheek.

'Do you ever... spare... anyone...?' Pleaded Sarah.

'I have. When I find someone just too much fun to eat.' Gryselda stooped beside Sarah and placed a finger under her chins. She drew the girl in slowly, a moment at a time, and kissed her sweetly on the cheek.

For a long time Sarah couldn't bring herself to look away from the beautiful witch.

'But... why eat girls in the first place?' The girl asked.

'Because witches like to eat people. And I like to. And since it is what I like to do, it is what I am going to do.' Said Gryselda, plainly.

'To me?' Sarah asked, breathless.

'Perhaps. Perhaps not. I won't decide until I have you all roly-poly. Speaking of which...' The witch plucked a plump, golden potato up with her fingers and popped it, sweetly, into Sarah's mouth.