Hilda - The Challenge Read Online Free Page B

guests
very often, so you may have to help me out here at times, okay? I
know you will need a room to sleep. Got that. And a bed. Haven't
got that yet, but that's minor business. Not sure what kind of
stuff you eat in your fairy world, but you'll have to make do with
what I can cook. And from that point on I am at a loss."
    William had trouble fighting his laughter
about her upfront way of acting. At least, he thought, you always
knew what she was thinking: the witch had a charming way of making
that clear. "Well, that is a good start. And if you want, I can
cook something too. I'm not a bad cook if I say so myself. Just one
thing I am curious about."
    "Yeah?" Immediately Hilda was in battle-mode,
hands on her hips and chin up in the air.
    "Is there a mister Wicked Witch?"
    Hilda's face went through several emotions as
she worked on grasping what this strange person had said. The
goldfish almost screamed with laughter, holding on to the cup with
all fins they had.
    "You mean if there is another man living in
this house." Hilda got it. "Preposterous. Not only would there be
no man who could live with me, but also I would be totally unable
to have someone around in such a way. People get on my nerves as
much as I get on theirs." She started to turn and head for the
stairs, then looked back at William. "So don't you get any funny
ideas." As she walked to the stairs she said: "Come on, I am not
going to carry you."
    William grinned once more and followed her up
the stairs. It was a bit unnerving to him that the pictures of the
people that were floating along the wall, turned their heads and
followed him with their eyes as he passed them.
    Hilda waited for him, in front of a door. It
too looked freshly painted. "You can sleep here." She opened the
door an entire three inches before it did not want to budge
anymore. "Oh. Crap. Vacuus," she muttered and the door opened
fully.
    "As I said, you can sleep here." With her
wand she made a bed, a small table and a chair appear.
    The bed had fresh sheets and some kind of
purple duvet on it. From somewhere William thought to hear a soft
moan, as the house reacted to the purple. The table had a stack of
candles on it, a small burning stick floated over the table,
clearly to light the candles, and there were some books on it. The
chair was empty.
    "Anything else you need?"
    William took the dice that had been his
weekendbag out of his pocket. "My things, please." A moment later,
he held his bag in his hand. "That's neat. I could do with a few
tricks like that."
    "Sure," Hilda snorted. "And who's going to
teach you? You're not magical, William." Hilda laughed an extra
cackling laugh as she walked to the door and into the hallway.
"Down there is the bathroom and assorted other stuff. Don't make a
mess or you'll be cleaning it with your own clothes. I'm going
downstairs and make something to eat. I'll let you know when it's
done in case you muck about here for too long."
    The door closed itself. Hilda looked at
herself. Perhaps she should change into something else.
    William looked around the room. There were
two large windows. No curtains. He looked outside through one of
the windows and saw a lot of forest. There was something odd about
it, but he could not put his finger on what was off. Well, with the
place belonging to a witch, who would be surprised.
    He opened his bag, took out his toiletries
and left his room, in search of the bathroom "and assorted other
stuff". Down the short hall he found four doors. This in itself was
impossible already, as there was no way one could fit four doors in
that limited space. Trying to imagine that there were actual rooms
behind them, no matter how small, was asking for a headache.
William did not ask that.
    He was however not prepared for so many
doors. "I wonder which one is the bathroom," he said to
himself.
    The house, taking pity on the man who had
been tossed into this adventure, opened the right door.
    "Holy Bejeebus," William said. "Thanks,
whoever