Devil's Dance: Revised by Shandria Katz

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She took me to her hut of spices and drying herbs and bade me to drink her potions. Only then did she ask of me why I had come.

After telling her, she tried to sway me from this path but I was adamant in will and desire. So she told me who could aid me and how to trick him. She told me how and what to watch for. Her words still freshly remembered.

"Please...for such a grand gesture I must first make my payment to my host. I could not dine with you not without repaying your kindness. I must earn your gift and provide entertainment to you in honour of such a glorious feast."

I fought for control over my body, it wanted to gorge on the shadowy delight, and I reached instead for the flute case. The pale rosewood case glowed in the moonlight and sheltered within the blue velvet was the silver like flute.

It looked as if it was made from the horn of a unicorn and it glimmered in the moonlight with such a gentle desire. But near the lip as to remind me, was the same motif my dear love made upon the sword I fought with.




The flute sparkled breaking through my want for food and the warmth of the fire dragged my thoughts back to the old witch's hut I had visited a fortnight ago. I could smell the dried herbs and spices of the hut instead of the feast. I could so see clearly the woman, brandishing my sword to the light squinting at it's worth.

‘This sword it was made with love and passion was it not?'

‘Yes...my love made it for me asking me to return swiftly and said this blade would aid me.'

‘If you take the blade to the hill, he will surely discover your intent and destroy you. But with my spells I can make this be something else till the time is right. What instruments can you play, warrior?'

I remembered quirking my lips to her words. ‘My love taught me how to sing, to drum, and to play the flute. The flute was the dearest sound next to me or so I was told."

‘The flute of desires then, your blade will sing for you in your playing and cut through any enchantments he would cast upon you. Pure love can break all spells. It will be as your love crafted. A flute powered by a unicorn's dreams.'

The creature grumbled in disappointment snapping me back to the moment at hand. His orange eyes hungrily watching every move I made.

Gently I raised the gleaming flute to my lips. I played my flute of unicorn horn, and I played as fair can be. The notes it sang wept to the night air. As it played from my soul, I remembered the days at the village that stifled my spirit. I remembered how I dreamt of adventures in far off places. I cried out to the night with my longing desires, my lust for the outside world that was outside my reach.

The final notes drifted over the hilltop when I awoke from the spell to the here and now, and returned to the pain of loss in my heart. Across from me, the feast was but a ghostly vision now and the creature more human in appearance. His glittery eyes shed one single diamond tear that fell to the stone ground. He too knew the longing desires of escape and freedom.