A Deal Is Struck...

Pride and self-assurance dripped off Maleficent’s angular face. Her eyes, like jewels, glittered with fervor. My attention was piqued. “Who?”

Maleficent rose from her seat and sauntered about the room, examining my possessions. “Do you recall a certain Queen who weaseled her way out of a bargain involving her newborn son?” My eyes narrowed. Treacherous harlot. “But of course you do,” Maleficent continued, answering her own question. “After all, she is the reason you exiled yourself here to hide your shame and do menial favors for milkmaids and stable boys.”

“What about her?” I asked, irritated.

“She has a granddaughter now, a little princess.” Her lips curled in a snarl as she spit out the word “princess.”

“And you’re asking me to kill an innocent baby?” After all these years, the idea was laughable. To have Maleficent, self-proclaimed Mistress of Wickedness, come to me, asking for help to off a human child, was absurd!

She was inches from my face in a matter of seconds. “She is not innocent!” Maleficent thundered, bearing her teeth and breathing fire out her nostrils. I swatted the pyres away from my tunic. “At least, not for long,” she murmured softly, turning away from me and slinking back into her chair.

I gazed at the fairy thoughtfully, curious what to make of her outburst. “What exactly do you need me for?”

“I require your spinning wheel.”

I glanced at my precious wheel. Mine. “Why my spinning wheel? Why not use one of the villager’s near your domain? It will cost much less than my price and you would not have had to travel so far to obtain one.”

“An ordinary spinning wheel will not do for my purposes; I need one that is…flame retardant.”

“In case your spell fails and you have a tantrum?” I spat.

She glared at me, “In case the king does the foolish thing and tries to stop me.” I glowered at her. Despite myself, I found my thoughts wandering to the prospect of payment. Surely, she was capable of paying more than what the peasants in the valley could ever afford. As if reading my mind, she said, “I can pay you twenty ounces of finely ground black diamond. Good luck finding anyone within a thousand miles who will pay you in such a manner.” She produced a satchel from her cloak, dipped her fingers into it, and pulled out a handful of glittering black powder.

My fingers itched to snatch the sack out of her hands. “Very well,” I sighed, feigning disappointment. “It is normally much lower than usual asking price but I suppose I can lower it for a good cause.

“Excellent,” she sneered. “I will return tomorrow for the spinning wheel,” she said, turning on her heel and heading towards the door.

“Ah, ah, ah! I require upfront payment. I won’t have you swindling me.” I held my hand out to her expectantly.

She scowled but dropped the satchel in my hand. “Pleasure doing business with you.”

“And you, Dearie.”