She smiled a smile that made his body heat. It was a smile that held as much kindness as his own mothers’. She was different than him. If he didn’t know better, he would’ve confused her for one of the young matriarchs who resided in the human part of the village. The young mothers were known for taking care of their children by themselves due to the fathers either being killed or nonexistent. The tip of his right lip slightly curled. He didn’t expect to be welcomed so warmly by one of the evilest of witches in all of Vardym.

     It was a rumor that she had caused the first disease that still ran ramped in the Eastern parts of Circula City nearly one hundred years ago and possibly is the creator of The Hatred. A giant horned beast who could be seen walking amongst the tall trees in the forest that some believed belonged to the Gods.

     But now he believes the rumors and the fears of the other Kinder were misplaced. The real threat could be her son.

     “And what is your name, dear?” she happily questioned, not seeing that her son had turned his attention away from both of them and was staring blankly at the soot-covered fireplace.

     “Amythst Roth…?” He spoke with uncertainty, wondering if telling her his name would be a good thing or a bad thing.

     “Nice to meet you! Are you going to be staying for lunch? I’m making strawberry omelets with Miss Wisewoman’s strawberries!” She lifted up the basket.

     Joy’s eyes shifted from the empty fireplace and to him. The color of his eyes changed from the dark red to now a pink gold. It was said that the eyes of a Witch or Wizard could change due to their emotional state.

He quickly stood up, “No, I think I should leave…”

     “Oh come on! I’m not going to eat you!” she laughed, swaying her body around and walking over to the table.

     “Joy sweetheart stop glaring at your friend and go upstairs to freshen up.” She ordered.

     Without a word from him, he scooted his body off of the chair. Amythst watched as his forest green hair glinted in the suns light and his eyes, changed one more time to a mixture between purple and pink. When he hit the steps, he placed his right foot on the first stair. He took one long look at the Fiend, as if he was warning him not to stay despite his mother’s request. Finally he started to move again and disappeared to the second floor.

     “Don’t worry about him,” She suddenly spoke and his attention turned to her who was cutting the strawberries on a small wooden board, “He’s not going to hurt you.”

     “Miss Danse are you sure this is a good idea? I am a stranger after all.” He brought up and she stopped slicing the strawberries.

     She turned around, and lightly tapped her left foot on the ground, “That you are but your heart is kind despite why you came here.” She chuckled at the end of the sentence and he knew she had read his mind.

He held his down in shame and stuttered to get out a small, “I’m sorry…”

     “Don’t worry about it. We all did stupid things when we were younger,” Her eyes wandered off and she nodded her head. Reminiscing about the times when she was a few fifty years younger and the amount of ridiculous things she used to do, “However, there is something I wanted to ask you a favor.”

     “What is it?” he gulped, thinking the utmost worst.

     His own mother, Charlie Roth, a woman who appeared to be a thorn had warned him about taking favors from any of the Kinders that might not have his interest at best. 

     “My son…as you can see he is....different. He doesn’t enjoy socializing and I would like it if you can come by and try to be friends with him!”

     He took a step back. Being friends with the witch’s son wasn’t one of the things he wanted to do. Instead, he wanted to run away. Miss Danse was a sweet person, her son was not. He was a bottle of poison, ready to kill anyone.

     “I know it sounds weird but as a mother, I just want him to have all the skills he needs. You don’t have too but I would prefer if you did.” She folded her arms and nodded her head, “Anyway that was all! You can think about it as much as you want.” She tapped her foot on the floor again.