The Price of Beauty

Original Version (2016): VIII

Wretched, grotesque, monster. That's what Eva saw staring back at her through the enchanted mirror she had created on the willow tree. Her skin had turned a sickly green, her hands had grown long and thin with protruding sharp claws. Her teeth were crooked, yellow, and pointy, and her eyes were big black orbs. She truly had become a monster. She had let her outer beauty get to her head and now she was paying the steep price. Lissa was right. Eva was nothing without her magic and false beauty. She would always be nothing but ugly.

Eva ran her fingers through her mess of hair. She needed to undo this, before it got worse. Who knows what she would become if this new transformation doesn't stop.

Eva stood at the edge of the black, thick woods. She threw a hand out and blasted a path that led her back to the witch's cabin.

~~*~~*~~

Blast!

The wooden door broke off its hinges. Eva stood at the opening wearing her tattered gown, panting and gritting her teeth. Agnes looked up from the concoction she was stirring and simply smiled.

"Hello Eva," she said.

"What did you do to me?" Eva snarled, stomping into the room.

"Nothing. It seems you've done this all on your own."

Eva lifted her hand, but the witch intercepted. "I don't think so dear."

"Ugh!" Eva threw her hand down. "Just fix this! Please!"

"No can do, child. You wanted this, remember? You agreed to pay the price. Well now, here it is," Agnes cackled.

"This wasn't what I wanted and you know that! You did this to me! That strand of hair you took...you used it didn't you? To control me? To turn me into a witch like you? And don't lie to me Agnes, I know how spells work now thanks to you."

"I know I don't need to lie dear, that's exactly what I did," Agnes confirmed. "I turned you into a temporary witch. I knew that would keep you happy. You got whatever you wanted didn't you? Friends, things, love,....revenge?" Agnes sighed. "Any-hoo, you won't be needing it any longer. I have a different plan for you now."

Agnes waved her hand and Eva felt the magic leave her body. Without it, Eva felt a new sense of vulnerability and fear.

"What does that mean? What are you gonna--" And then she saw it. A hairy, beastly looking thing laying in the corner of the room, about human size. Eva turned her head and saw another thing, a skeletal creature that looked like it could have been half human, half sea monster, piled in a heap of broken bones on the other side of the room.

"What are those?" Eva squeaked.

The witch licked her lips. "My last two customers. That one made quite the delicious meal. The other one will do for tomorrow night."

Eva's jaw dropped, her head pounding with terror. Agnes' eyes grew dark and her rotten teeth gleamed by the fire lighting the cauldron.

"It's dinner time."

Eva screamed.