Chapter Text
A long time ago, in a far away village, lived a couple who wanted to start a family. The couple tried many a time to procreate a child, but time and time again, they were unsuccessful.
But all was not lost.
Then, on one late Summer day, the woman encountered a green witch deep in the woods of their village. The woman followed the witch, who had found a tree growing large, bountiful apples in the morning sun. The woman became intrigued, and plucked a few from its branches, marveling at the beautiful red and gold colorings on its skin. The green witch knew of the woman's struggle with bearing a child, and enchanted her clutch of apples.
"Eat one apple, my dear. And you will be gifted with a child one month's time. I know of your desire to have a family. But be warned, once you have your family, you must promise that your child will stay pure and wait until their twenty-fifth birthday to be wed." The green witch said, knowing that her words had no malice toward the woman. The woman thanked the witch, and made her way back home with her basket of apples, unknowingly the enchantment had its price for them.
She ate one, and within a month, she found herself pregnant. The happy couple became excited, and waited for the day their child would be born.
Months went by, and finally in Spring, the happy couple welcomed into their life a beautiful baby girl. But the couple were unaware of the green witch’s gaze as she stared at the small family through the dense woods.
---
Over the years, the baby girl grew up into a beautiful woman, full of chestnut hair, and adorning forest green eyes. She tended to her garden, taking everything her mother said about the green witch’s words in stride. One day, a tinkerer from the factory showed up, gray hair, jumper and long shirt, and captivating eyes that rivaled hers. He enticed her, crafting metal trinkets for the beautiful maiden. She shied away from his advances at first, afraid of the strange man and his intentions. However, she began warming up to him, falling for the gray haired man.
The pair met secretly, afraid of the green witch's words that her mother whispered to her as a child. The man proposed, and the two were ready to become husband and wife. However, the green witch appeared, changing into the dark witch that haunted the darkest woods near the village. She drew the young maiden to her clutches, enraged at the broken vow that was made.
"If thou will giveth away carelessly, then thou shall taketh away." The witch sneered, taking the pure soul of the beloved maiden, leaving her lifeless body on the ground before taking off.
The gray haired tinkerer fell to his knees, grasping the body of his beloved, wailing and feeling a charge in the air . . . .
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" The man screamed into the air, seeking solace in his factory as his heart broke for the maiden he lost. His anger took over, frustrations on the world, vowing to never be a weak man. His heart molded out of iron, crafting and tinkering . . . " The voice of Mia softly cooed as she read the story to her daughter Rosemary, already finished the first story and reading the one she was currently on.
"Ellie . . . Ellie, you're dozing off again." Mia chided the young woman sitting next to her. She poked at her side, watching her body jolt in response. The woman’s chestnut hair falling in waves around her face and shoulders, a small trail of drool creeping down the side of her mouth.
Ellie Winters rubbed her eyes between her fingers and thumb, rousing herself to wake from the spell that old childhood story still had on her. Forest green eyes opened, casting a look at the woman next to her, almost in an annoying fashion. It wasn’t her fault that the one fairytale she grew to love made her mind conjure up a vivid dream of the story in her consciousness. Her beige skin almost glowed in the light of the living room, making her look more warmly than she really appeared. Her simple olive green t-shirt, white overall jacket and dark blue jean attire made her look like she was a teenager.
“Sorry, Mia. I didn’t mean to fall asleep like that.”
“You always fall asleep to that story, every time. Almost if you’re bored of it.”
“I’m never bored of that tale, it just -”
“Always puts you to sleep. I get it.” Mia interrupted her, watching as Ellie stretched herself from the confines of the couch, side glancing at the young mother next to her before standing up and stretching her bones.
Not that Ellie didn’t care for her sister-in-law, but lately, the young woman noticed Mia acting more of a bitch than normal. She wasn’t too sure if it was postpartum depression, or if it was something else, but her and Ethan had been fighting a lot more lately. He wouldn’t talk about what happened in Louisiana in front of Ellie, but she had a suspicion that it had something to do with it. There were many times that Ellie had to take Rosemary into a separate room, all the while listening to the couple bicker and argue.
“At least it isn’t that one creepy story you like to tell Rose.” Ellie quipped, rolling her head side to side and allowing the muscles to loosen up.
“The woman said it was a local tale, a traditional story told in this part of Europe.” Mia quirked back, watching as Ellie rolled her eyes at the statement.
“Well, I think you’re taking on the whole ‘local’ thing a little too much, Mia.” Ellie stated, folding her arms in front of her chest, glancing as the woman before her stood from the couch.
“If it wasn’t for Ethan and Chris, you wouldn’t have been welcomed to this house.” Mia grieved, holding Rose as she stood up to the young woman.
“Okay, seriously? Are we starting this again? You know if it wasn’t for Chris and Ethan asking me to help, you would’ve been buried in months of daycare bills.”
“And I know you’ve been doing your little tricks again on Rose.”
“Come on, Mia. Lighten up, I’m not hexing the baby or enchanting her or anything like that, if that’s what you’re worried about.. It’s just to keep her little mind occupied while you and Ethan figure yourselves out.”
“You know you’re forbidden to use witchcraft, Ellie. They take that seriously over here.”
“It’s not witchcraft, Mia.”
“Then what do you call levitating Rose’s toys around her then?”
“Just magic?” Ellie answered, unfolding her arms and looking between the baby and Mia, hoping that they wouldn’t go into another fight. She already has to deal with dealing with her and Ethan fighting almost daily, and now this?
“You live here rent free -”
“Uh, no. Let’s stop -”
“You eat up all our food -”
“Mia, I said -”
“-And you think that because you look over Rose, you can do whatever you please? You’re nothing but a useless, deadbeat aunt.” Mia instigated, hoping to spark Ellie’s temper.
Ellie felt herself go into that mood, her hands clenching and unclenching down at her sides. Her body felt the shift of the atmosphere around her, feeling the charge of anger rising. Her left wrist tingled, and she knew her bracelets were acting up.
“Mia, for the last time -”
“What’s going on?” A familiar male voice called out, causing the two women to look at the entryway of the living room, seeing Ethan himself.
His blonde hair swept to the side, brown eyes gauging what was between the women. He knew that Mia and Ellie hadn't been on the same page for a while, but that didn’t mean it needed to be another fight tonight. His tan jacket riddled with specks of water, both arms each holding a paper bag worth of groceries.
“Nothing, sweetheart. Me and Ellie were just -”
“About to start dinner, and put Rose to bed.” Ellie finished, softly smiling at her brother before coming to help him with the bags of groceries.
Ethan could tell something was about to brew between them, but he didn’t want to dwell on it. He wanted one night where everyone got along; no fighting, no degrading each other, just a simple night to each other as a family. He scuffed his boots on the carpet, ridding himself of the dirt.
“Ellie, you promised -”
“Ethan, please . . .” Ellie whispered, silently begging him to not start in on her as she carried one bag of the groceries while she calmly walked into the kitchen, knowing that she was in for a long night.