They'll pay. I'll make them pay and when I'm done with them they'll wish they'd never been born. Who do they think they're dealing with? My mother had been too easy, much too benevolent. White magic never got her anywhere. It benefited everybody but her. “A Good Witch?“ The only good witch is one who knows how to use her power and uses it to get what she wants. I'm not altruistic and when I want something I take it.

    It was time to take back what belonged to my family. It had always belonged to us and it still did. Just because my great grandfather was too mild mannered and hesitant to destroy what he had to destroy in order to keep what was ours, was no excuse to allow the Lebet Dynasty to claim our kingdom and rename it Lebetian Empire, It was a jest. An empire devoid of magic. Whoever heard of such a travesty? No magic? Why, it may as well have been a clod of mud. Even with all it's glamour and pomp it was an empty shell, a useless land of no power.

   The Krisfire Kingdom had been known throughout the Earth as the sparkling jewel of the Ancients and the seat of magic. On the day the Lebets took our kingdom and banished us to the caves of Azmar the sun's light was dimmed and the moon followed the Krisfire family to the abysmal caves where my elders sought to make themselves content with crumbs from the Lebet table. Not me, I will never be satisfied with crumbs. My name is Nova Chrisfire, princess of the old kingdom. I want the whole feast and to make slaves of the traitorous Lebets, all of them.

    Since we were exiled from the kingdom, the plight of the people has been horrible. They are taxed beyond the breaking point. They have the poorest food and not enough of it on their tables, while the Lebets feast on exotic delicacies in the palace which once was ours. The people live in hovels and cannot afford to buy wood to chase away the cold of Winter. Their children wear rags and are denied any education so to keep each generation from bettering itself, making their families eternal slaves of the Lebets. The scandal has recently come to my ears of the old men in the Lebet family taking the young daughters of the citizens as their sex slaves or selling them to men of other lands. There is no limit to, nor shame of their abuses of power.

   Two hundred years have passed since I was sent to the caves in this desolate land. I've waited for the perfect time to execute my perfect plan. I've had two centuries to plan my intrepid revenge. I am still formulating the details of my plan to take back the kingdom and I'm sure it will be a brilliant and effective plan. I will take back the Krisfire Kingdom from the Lebets and it shall belong to my bloodline forever more. I am not like the others who came before me. My magic is not diluted with goodness and peace and most especially not with weakness or hesitation. No, my magic is unfathomable in its dark power and bold in its diabolic execution just as it was in the days of the druids.

    It was a moonlit night in the forest. My black cat, Sir Hemlock, was reclining inside the cave on the large stone table. Hemlock was with me when we were first banished to the caves. He is still as lively as a kitten and not one silver hair has appeared in his shiny black coat. I gently pushed him out of the way.

      “Move, My Little Love,“ I said, “I have need of this table.“ 

    Hemlock gave me his usual hiss and batted at my arm with his sharp claws. He never actually scratched me, he just wanted me to believe he would.  

We had an understanding, he wouldn't scratch or bite me and I wouldn't behead him when I was angry. 

    "Go, Sir Hemlock, go find Lady Lotus.“  

    Lady Lotus was also my cat. She was deep blue of coat and bright gold of eyes. She had wandered into the cave on a stormy Winter's night and had stayed with me almost two hundred years. She was still as svelte and youthful as the night she appeared. She had quickly enchanted Sir Hemlock and he remains so even after twenty decades. When he heard me speak her name he jumped down and moved into the shadows to look for her. I laid out my plan on the long table, drawn on a ragged parchment I had filled with quill scribbles over the years. Yes, my plan has been in the making for two hundred years. I was close, extremely close, to implementing it. The king of Lebet would be totally taken by surprise. It's been two centuries since the Lebets have had any opposition from the Krisfires. I would take King Atlo completely by surprise when I took my kingdom back. King Atlo had replaced his wayward brother, Seymor, who left six years ago and hasn't been heard of since. Late that night I left Hemlock and Lotus curled up together sleeping. My faithful wolf, Salamar, traveled by my side to the forest close to the border of the kingdom. I called Salamar to me. It was time to take action.

    Salamar ran to me and laid down at my feet. She was a wild creature, full of cunning, fierce, having sharp claws and teeth she wouldn't hesitate to use on her enemies but she was my beautiful, adoring pet. Her vivid blue eyes contrasted with the white of her thick coat.  

   She raised her head. Like a reflection in two fathomless seas, her blue eyes gazed into my green ones. She knew what to do, this wasn't the first time I had changed her with a spell. She was happy to be by my side, regardless of what I might choose to change her into. I waved my right hand over her head while I recited the proper spell.  

    “Yes, yes My Pet. You are the prettiest little girl I've ever seen and now it's time to change me too.“  

    I held both hands over my head and waved them in unison as I repeated the incantation three times. When the mist had cleared, I held the brass mirror I had brought with me and I could see the lovely face, pointed ears and transparent wings of an exquisite elfen princess dressed in a strapless satin dress of deep pink. 

   Ah, yes, this should work perfectly to bring about my cunning plan. I was now the beautiful Princess Ruma and Salamar was my precious, little daughter, Salina. On to the palace. I had planned my work, now to work my plan.  

    I picked up my little “Daughter“ Salina and we walked through the row of evergreens to the entrance of the palace. Just outside the palace gates there sat an old crone. She was blind and dressed in rags. As I approached her I said,  

   “We are passing by, my daughter and I. I didn't want to startle you. I have no money to give you but I promise you; I soon will have the means to help you and you will nevermore be clothed in rags nor sit outside the Palace gates and beg. I boldly knocked on the door. 

   “Who goes there?“I heard the guard call out.  

   “Just a harmless mother and her little child, My Lord“ I answered.  

   The heavy doors creaked open and a bearded guard ushered us into the courtyard.  

   “What is it you seek, Me Lady?“  

   “I seek an audience with the king. I have information he must learn.“  

   “I shall have one of the guards approach him and ask if he will see you. Who should I say is here to see him?“  

   “Tell him the Elven Princess Ruma and her daughter Salina bring him important news.“ 

   In just a few minutes the guard returned and walked with us to the King's chamber, where King Atlo was eating a late night meal. I curtsied as we stood before him. King Atlo stood and nodded his head in welcome. He was dressed in sumptuous red robes. His graying hair fell on his shoulders. His face bore the lines of age and his smile did not seem genuine. The food on his table was plentiful and savory to the smell.

    “Good evening Princess and Little Princess. Please sit and dine with me. We sat at the table, I in the extra chair with Salina on my lap. I controlled my appetite as well as I could but the food was delicious. Salina seemed to enjoy the bits of it I hand fed to her. When the meal was finished and our chairs pushed away from the table. King Atlo asked,  

    “Now, Princess, tell me why you're here and what it is that you have been so anxious to relay to me.“

    “I promise you, My Lady, we will look into it. We will try to find Seymor and we will make arrangements to help you and the child. What a pretty little baby she is. She has the look of the Lebets about her. Go now and take your rest and we will talk again in the morning. Guard, see the Princess to her chamber.“  

    Salina and I were comfortable in the curtained bed. It was warm and our stomachs were full. 

    “We have to stay as we are, Girl. This is how the plan has to unfold. You make a wonderful little daughter.“

    We both slept deeply and well in the comfortable chamber. In the morning I realized we had no more clothing to wear. I quickly turned each flower in the large vase into an array of dresses for both of us. We looked our best when the King summoned us.  

    Many days went by, spent in comfort and interesting conversation with King Atlo. I remembered every nook of the Palace and how happy I had been there in my childhood. I was more determined than ever to take back my kingdom. I noticed that the king was pulling his chair closer to mine and standing near me when we said good night. I asked him,  

    “Majesty what has become of royal compassion for your people? I have seen them in the streets, dressed in rags and begging for food.“ 

    “My Dear, there will always be beggars amid prosperity. I am not responsible to take care of the lazy who don't work and who contribute nothing to our kingdom or our coffers. Let us go for a walk in my garden, one of our ladies will take care of your child“

    When Salina had been taken away by the Lady. King Atlo took my hand and led me out to a garden, almost as beautiful as my mother's had been. 

    “Oh, how lovely. What a wonderful garden.“ I said.  

    “You, Princess are the most beautiful flower in it. I want to ask for your hand in marriage but of course, you understand, a wise man samples goods before he buys them.“ 

   He grasped me roughly in his arms and attempted a kiss. I turned my head and demanded,  

“Where is my daughter? I want her here with me immediately.“ 

    “Your daughter is being prepared for a long journey to the kingdom of a king who has been notified that his wait for a girl child has been ended. She will travel with my servant and will arrive within six days. So your concern for her should end now. I am your destiny, Princess and you will be joining my harem.... after I sample the goods.“

    So the rumors were true , he is a lecherous devil and a pedophile. He had kept us with him until arrangements could be made to steal Salina away.

   He held me fast in his arms. He was strong but my magic was stronger. I said the words of reversal for the spell I had placed on myself and my wolf. The king let go of me and stepped away. The change came quickly and I appeared to him in my true form. I could see the justified fear in his dark eyes as I raised the magic sword that had materialized in my hands. It would be the last thing his eyes glimpsed. With all the supernatural strength I had, I raised the sword and with one swooosh I cut off his evil head.

    I hurried into the palace to search for my wolf, Salamar. When I reversed the spell she would have changed from a little girl back into the wolf she really was. I found her in one of the hallways with a dead servant at her feet and blood on her muzzle.   

    I had taken the kingdom back. On the day I killed King Atlo, I opened the coffers and gave the people what was needed to sustain them. Soon there was rejoicing and dancing in the streets.