“Why would you do this Alex!?”

“Mom I just-”

“No-no, not my son…”

She fell to her knees, murmurs filtered through the crowd around me.

My father stepped forward, the people hushed.

“You- You, all you had to do was keep this at home. I gave you your own house for god's sake! And you just couldn’t keep your end of the deal!”

The villagers gasped, shocked that the Mayor’s son would have such a hobby. My tears kept falling to the stone street.

“You even cry like a girl!? Man up already! Get a job in the warehouse, find a wife, burn those fucking dresses! Only then will I think of you as my son! As expected of the Witch's Grandson! You had your chances!”

He stalked off, people backing up allowing him to pass.

“Seriously? Just let him go like that?”

“Disgusting!”

“Can’t believe I found him cute! That's what I get for crushing on the Witch's Grandson!”

I covered my ears, wishing they would leave me alone. They kept throwing comments around, the crowd eventually left. But the damage was done, reality struck, I couldn’t possibly stay now. I had proven I was just like my grandma.

I awake in a cooling room, my cold sweat making me colder. I shiver, sliding out of bed.

Why? Again? I thought this was over with...hopefully a shower will help…

-

I pull up my brown skirt, pulling it over my button up shirt. I grab my tan corset and latch it up, making sure it is secure. I swipe up my cloth and tie it around my head, scared of what could happen. I grab the last of my bread and munch on it as I make my way to work, prepared to work upfront all day if necessary.

“Yesterday was terrifying!”

“The prince could just take one of us even if we have a spouse!”

“I don’t want to be taken away from my girlfriend…”

“Oh yeah, you were going to propose yesterday but then those stupid Kingsmen waltz in and took over the spot you were proposing.”

“SHHHH Not so loud!”

3 girls were talking to themselves, and in a way I sympathize with them. They all had someone they liked, the thought of being ripped away from this town, being ripped away from those they loved...heartbreaking to say the least. Then again we got the other side of the coin…

“Kingsmen come waltzing in here like they own the place…”

“They come in here every week and attempt to deflower one of our girls already! Now the prince wants to just steal one of our girls forever!”

“I swear if they lay a finger on Lina…”

Martin, a young boy who had been chasing me since I got here. It felt quite nice to be crushed on by a teenager. Most boys his age saw me as weird and disgusting. Even in this town I was referred to as the ‘weird lady’ by teenagers. I don’t let any of that get to me though.

“Uhhh Martin, psst…”

I heard a gasp and they quieted down immediately as I passed. Honestly it was adorable how quick he was to get embarrassed. So confident until he knew I was nearby. He always would ruffle his dirty blonde hair to make it seem like he was completely calm. He’d downcast his brown eyes when he’d talk to me, sometimes stuttering on his words. Then he’d look up at me, tilting his head higher than normal dew to my height vs. his. I know he’ll finally make a move one day. I’ll have to gently let him down when the time comes.

“Umm Lina?”

I turn around to a flushed teen, twiddling his thumbs. He shifts his feet around, obviously nervous. I really don’t have a lot of time on my hands unfortunately…

“Yes? What is it? I need to be quick here, otherwise Mr. Reed will get mad if I'm late.”

The other teens talk amongst themselves leaving poor Martin to the sharks.

“Uhh, it's fine then I can tell you later…”

The boys in the background snicker a bit.

“If it's not too much you can walk with me and tell me, otherwise it can wait till later.”

I can’t leave this poor chap with nothing, he’ll get teased later but it won’t be as bad. Plus I want to have my turn at teasing this adorable muffin!

“OH! Uhh thats fine!”

“Come quick then!”

I slow down my pace slightly to match Martin’s. His ears are blaring red, flowing down into his cheeks and neck. He’s just adorable!

“Uhh, so um…I was wondering if uhhh...you were with anyone at the moment…?”

He looks up at me, looking like a lost puppy. I hear footsteps behind us, and chuckling. My turn~

“Hmmm, not at the moment...Though there are a few people I have some interest in…”

“Really….I mean uhh who are they?”

He sounded disappointed, and his friends were laughing.

“There's one around here that has cute curly dirty blonde hair…but I only think of them as a little brother”

I glance down at him and his calmed cheeks flush up again, a small frown takes his lips. If he can prove himself a man i’ll consider him, but right now that isn’t the case. I see the bakery up ahead.

“Well if that's all I have to get to work now!”

I crouch down, minding my dress, and grab his cute cheeks in my hands. I peck his forehead, a pack of wolves called friends pounce on him pushing him around and teasing him. I hurry into the alley, Mr. Reed could be heard scolding a part timer as I opened the door. I slip inside and quickly tie on my apron. Double checking my name tag was secured.

“LINA! HELP THIS PART TIMER THEN WORK UP FRONT! THIS PART TIMER NEEDS TO LEARN HOW THINGS WORK AROUND HERE!”

“YES SIR!”

The part timer just massively fucked up not only their whole day but mine.

-

I am adjusting the baskets of bread when 2 merchants come in.

“I heard the prince actually stopped by Lethan yesterday! Apparently he found something there.”

“I’ve been through there, quite the enchanting place. Quite wealthy there too! I can’t believe I saw some ram getting kicked out though…”

“Really? Those people seemed so happy there...then again, there's a dark side to every town. What was the Ram getting exiled for?”

“Well you’ll be shocked, but somehow the Ram found pleasure in wearing women's clothes. Kinda nasty when you ask me…”

His voice dies at the end, the last sentence a strained attempt.

“Really!? The hell...I understand why they would kick him out. Anyway we need some wheat rolls right?”

The first merchant comes up to me and taps my shoulder.

“Miss? Do you know where the wheat rolls are?”

“Uhh, yeah right here actually!”

They were talking about...that….

The second eyes my head suspiciously, glancing at my chest and sizing me up.

“What was the name of the Ram?”

“Well, a bit complicated, one lady, I'm assuming his mom was crying out the name Alex. Where it gets complicated is he said his name was Lina when I helped him up, what of it?”

I quickly covered my tag and started to bolt for the back. The second merchant grabbed the cloth covering my horns, it slipped off and exposed my identity.

“I think I found him.”

“What do you mean-”

Silence.

“Now. What's the fuss now!-”

Mr. Reed comes out and sees the terrified look on my face. He hurries and stands in front of me protectively.

“What did you two gentleman do to my beautiful employee!”

“Is that you Lina?”

The first merchant speaks up, a shocked look on his face. His blue eyes wide and his long blonde hair pulled up in a tail. Caleb.

“It’s fine Mr. Reed, I know them…”

“Why do you look like a plucked chicken then! I want you-”

He points to the second merchant.

“Out of my bakery! Now!”

“Just go...I want to talk to Lina here quickly.”

Caleb directs the statement other merchant.

“You aren’t doing anything to Lina right?”

“He’s fine, it’s been awhile Caleb…”

The second merchant huffed and walked out, Mr. Reed patted my shoulder and gave Caleb a deadly glance. He went back to the back and yelling ensued, leaving me and Caleb in the shop. The faint pleading cry of my coworker also echoed through the shop. Caleb raises his eyebrow but chooses to ignore it.

“It has been awhile Lina, I’m glad you found a place to settle. I’m sorry for talking about you so openly, as well as back talking to you...”

“It's fine, I understand it's hard for you too...Plus you gave me a quick getaway...I don’t know what would have happened if I stayed…”

“It's completely fine! I’m sorry we couldn’t go back to get your grandmother's necklace. But it was your safety vs. a necklace. I value your life more than a necklace.”

He grabs onto my shoulders and gives me a sympathetic look. I wrap my arms around his torso and he embraces me back.

“Thank you so much Caleb…”

“Like I said it was no problem, you're my best bud, boy or girl. I couldn’t just let you get mauled!”

He hugs tighter, making sure I understand his feelings before he lets go. I hug back and he lets go, resting his hands on my elbows.

“What's going on over there anyway?”

“Oh, hahahaha. All the ladies were piling on the prince apparently, he couldn’t go anywhere. Except, this is the rumor, he went to the south of town, where the oddballs are, and found a necklace in an abandoned hut that was fenced off.”

“Really? That's strange…”

“Lina, the house he went to was yours.”

I froze.

The prince stopped through exile lane, and went to my now fenced off cursed hut, and took my grandmother's necklace...

“People told him not to go into the Witch Hut but he said he felt something in there. Then he came out with the Witch's necklace. Everyone scattered after that, I heard a guy even spat in the prince's direction. Who knew that you would still cause chaos even when you're gone! Karma is even hitting that damn city. Suddenly all their money got wiped in a robbery, now they are struggling over there to make ends meet.”

“Well my grandma did put a curse on it,”

“Whoever dares hurt my grandchild will cause this town to face misfortune!”

The words echo in my head, as my grandma was burned at the stake. Her body turning to ashes, blowing in the wind. The wind whipped around me, floating me into the air. I was only 5 but I remember her loving face clearly. The horrified faces of women and men, her necklace floated in the air, letting out a howl. It vibrated through the air and made the ground tremble. The sound of wolves surrounded the city. Caleb looked at me with concern and seemingly didn’t care about what was going on around him. The necklace raised itself off my grandma's neck and flew up to me, placing itself on my hand.

“Be who you are Lina, even if you can’t…”

The last of her smoldered away, the wind calmed and I fell. Caleb caught me, people looked at me with fear ingrained in their faces.

I was the Witch’s Grandchild.

Caleb shakes me, snapping me back

“I hope your grandmother doesn’t attempt to hurt the prince in any way…”

“She's a bit of a firecracker so I don’t know…”

“Well, we gotta pray to your gran to not hurt him then!”

He laughs and I chuckle with him, my day just a bit brighter with his company