Hansel and Gretel by Jenni James Read Free Book Online Page B

his irritation snapped. He banged his hand upon the doorframe and shouted, “Where did you send her? What did you do to her? Does she have a place to stay? Where is she?”
    Cora did not even bat an eyelash. “What does it matter?”
    “Because she is my sister! And we did not save her life to see you toss her out the second you moved in.” He stepped toward her. “Where is my father? I will speak to him at once. You may believe you own this home now, but let me remind you, family is more important than your designs. You will not stand. Father!” he hollered.
    “Keep your voice down, boy. He is not here. It is he who drove her to a secluded section of the forest where she will wander for several days until she is ravaged by the wolves.”
    “You did what?”
    She grinned. “The poor girl simply could not do all that was expected of her. She has no reason to live, and I will not have her getting in my way. I anticipate Adale home from this errand any moment now.”
    “My father would never leave Gretel alone in the forest like that, nor would he take his cart and horse out in such a storm. You must be mad!”
    “Interesting, then.” She raised one dark eyebrow. “For that is exactly what he did.”
    Hansel took the last few steps to her. “What did you do to him? He was sane until he met you.”
    She laughed, a melodiously husky sound, and said, “My dear boy, I did the exact same thing to your father as I did to your sister. And if you do not behave, I will do the same to you as well.”
    His eyes bore into her emerald gaze. “I would like to see you try!”
    Instantly, the door behind him flew shut with a bang. He turned to see if someone had come in, but they were alone. Anger coursed through him like fire. How dare the woman perform magic in front of him? “You are a witch!” he hissed.
    She smirked. “And you will soon be a toad if you do not do what I say.” She pulled the vial from her pocket and held it out to him.
    The enchantment! He snatched it from her grasp.
    “Now, would you like to know what really happened to your sister?”
    He flinched, hating being a pawn in her game. “I thought you told me she was lost in the forest.”
    Cora laughed. “Yes, well, I had to make sure I could distract you long enough so I could shut the door. We certainly cannot have you running away.”
    He stepped back with the vial in his hand to guarantee he had an advantage. “I do not know what sorcery you are about, but I will have you hanged and tried as a witch when this all over.”
    “Do you know why your little Gretel was taken from the home?”
    “If you have something you wish to say, then say it! I will not fulfill whatever pantomime script you have written in your head as the puppet or player you expect me to be. I care for one thing right now, and that is the safety of my sister.”
    Flinging her skirts around in a large arch, she presented her back to him and walked to the window. “Your foolish temper will see you killed, boy. I suggest you play the puppet, or you will lose more than you could ever imagine.”
    “Where is she?”
    “When you in your idiocy decided to show her that vial of mine, you became a key player in this farce. For it is because of your inane ability to let things alone that I needed to remove her from this house.”
    She whirled around, her green eyes flashing a bright yellow. The long locks of her raven hair lifted around her head like a dark halo. Her voice, though soft and barely above a whisper grated and grinded, sending the deepest, vilest chills throughout his heart. Clearly she was livid.
    “I will not have my plans upset by a boy in love with my Gretel!”
    Cora stepped forward, her hands reaching out and curling around the air in front of her.
    His throat instantly tightened and he gasped for air.
    “Drink it. Drink it all, now, or you will die.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN
    LIGHTNING LIT UP THE rain-filled sky above them as Gretel leaned over and pushed the streaming