“Tell me another story Nona!” Lily cheered from her spot on her grandmother’s lap. Her grandmother rocked with her in front of the fireplace in the living room. Her chair was next to the window where the curtains were letting in the full moon and bright stars of the night air.

“The only other story I have is a scarier one.” Her grandmother said, kissing the top of Lily’s head.

“I’m too braved to be scared.”

Her grandmother paused for a moment. Lily knew, even at her young age, that truth always sprinkled in the stories, but she could never seem to get enough. She wanted to know them all. “Centuries ago, when Kings and Queens ran the lands around us there was one monster that no one seemed strong enough to stop. They sent soldier after soldier, knight after knight, warrior after warrior to find the beast. But every nest they found was empty, every hole in the ground led no where, every house it tried to hide in was left with nothing but the bodies. There was no home to catch because this created needed no home. What it didn’t carry with it, it didn’t need. But that is before the witches decided to step in.”

“Witches!” Lily threw her arms in the air cheering.

“They knew this creature was dangerous. It could tear through towns in the night faster than anyone could stop it. When it came for you, it was said that all you could see was the shadow right before it pounced. The creature was rabid for the death and destruction it could cause. So, the witches made a plan. They decided to trap the monster. When it came for the next village, they would be read. Each night a group of witches stayed up all night, waiting for it. Then one very cold night, it came. All they heard was the scream of people and the rapid shadow moving through the light. The witches gathered, chanting their spell. The monster tried to attack but the witches were fast. Slowing the creature down to see its skinless body, long claws, larger teeth, and red eyes peered into them. It was small in size but large in its terror. The new young witch screamed out of fear giving the creature time to pounce. It fed on their friend and the witches strength grew from their grief and the knowledge that if they failed, they would be next. They slowed its heart until it curled up dying on the body of its last victim—“

“Mother!” Lily jumped being torn from her grandmother’s story to the loud sound of her mother’s voice. “You are going to scare her!”

“She’ll be fine because…?” Her grandmother look at her.

Lily smiled, reaching in her shirt to pull out the large red crystal hanging over her neck. “I have my protection charm!”

Her grandmother smiled at her. “And with that, no one can get the young witch.” Her grandmother leaned forward, pressing another kiss on Lily’s head.