[ WP ] `` You may have one wish granted . '' `` I want all my debts cleared . '' `` How much do you owe ? '' `` You misunderstand . My debts are not monetary . ''

Cassie shivered as a draught swept through the cabin. But as the witch looked at her with a small smile playing on her lips and a predatory light gleaming in her eyes, she stood taller, and tried to hide how frightened she was. 
 
 `` Well, girl,'' the witch said, rocking the small child now crying on her lap. `` You sacrificed your child to me for this favour. I can work a spell to grant you one wish - and one wish, only.'' 
 
 `` I want... my debts cleared,'' the girl said. 
 
 `` Please, Calys,'' she added hastily, as the witch's eyebrows shot up. 
 
 `` Money,'' Calys sighed, putting the child down and moving to her workstation to start putting together the spell. `` I have to admit, I am disappoint-'' 
 
 `` Not money,'' Cassie whispered, trying to ignore her instinct to go pick up her child and comfort him, as the boy gave a fresh wail. He was hers no longer. `` My debts are not monetary. 
 
 `` Oh?'' the witch said, a spark of interest returning to her eyes. 
 
 `` I... approached other witches, in the past,'' she said, not meeting Calys's eyes. `` For wishes. Beauty. The man I desired. So many wishes. But they all continue to follow me, to force me to do... things, for them, in exchange for what they gave me. There's never enough I can do. And they threaten to take my wishes away, if I do not obey. And worse, so much worse. I thought payment occurred once, and once only! So when I heard *you* only require one price, I thought...'' 
 
 `` You'd get pregnant, and pay me a visit nine months later,'' Calys said, grinning slightly as she looked at the baby. `` So, you wish your debts with my sisters cleared, is that it?'' 
 
 `` I just want to be free,'' Cassie said, blinking furiously as she tried to stem the tears that threatened to come. Witches would pounce on weakness. 
 
 `` Mmm, freedom,'' Calys said. `` Freedom from your debt to my sisters. Yes, it can be done. None shall bother you again, for the price of this little one.'' 
 
 Cassie nodded, suddenly wanting nothing more than to escape the little cabin with its strange smells and the witch's eyes boring into her. And her boy - her boy, who seemed to me looking straight at her as he cried. `` Take good care of him.'' 
 
 The witch nodded slowly as the girl almost ran from the cabin. Funny, how they always assumed she wanted the children to raise more witches or warlocks. 
 
 Calys took a bowl of blood from the table, and began drawing symbols on the ground, muttering as she worked. 
 
 `` I have one human child,'' she said. `` And in return, fifty years, as agreed...'' 
 
 She watched impassively as the crack appeared in the wood of her cabin, and an evil tendril of black smoke began inching towards the screaming child. Another tendril snaked around her. She sighed with relief as she felt fifty life years added. It was such hard work, remaining immortal. But a witch had to do what a witch had to do. 
 
 After the child was gone, Calys rose and walked from her cabin with a spring in her step. 
 
 Choices, choices. She could either go have a talk with her sisters, or simply kill the girl. Either would free Cassie of the debt. Funny how humans always failed to be *specific* when striking deals. 
 
 She considered, as the cold night air hugged her and she approached the village. She really was n't in the mood to talk to her sisters. Load of conniving old hags. She'd have to wrangle all night to strike a deal, and they'd want something in return. Of course they would. It would take so much *time*, and she wanted to be in bed early tonight. 
 
 The easy option it was, then. 
 
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 Hope you enjoyed my story! You can find more of my work on /r/Inkfinger/.
