۞ III ۞

SHE ATE LIKE A SAVAGE, NOT CARING ABOUT TABLE MANNERS even though she knew them by mind and was even better at them than her siblings were. When she gulped the sliced of pie, she drank a long sip of the wine, "Fucking delicious! I've drank all the wine available in the three villages around the manor. Yours is the best with no doubt."

"Ya said it, then it must be true," Grover grinned, sitting down with his wife in front of Donna, enjoying the view the best they could, knowing that in a week they would never be able to see her again. "Ya has quite the sensible tongue, and ya are able to tell when a food or drink is good. If ya say ours is the best, we'll tell anyone we have the best wine in the Marquise."

And it was true. All of Donna's senses were weirdly enhanced, way more than anyone else, so she was quite the picky eater, and when she found one that was good, she wouldn't stop eating until she was full. She thought it was natural for her, though it was all thanks to the spell casted on her and on her mother 21 years ago.

"And you should. You both are gifted in cooking!" Which is good for me so I can have lots of good foods to eat. "Do you think the Devil will also enjoy my taste because I'm honed by your food?"

They both gasped at her question, "Lil' cat, ya shouldn't be thinkin' of that kinda stuff."

"Well, it's inevitable either way. Though I'll do my best to fight him, even if it's useless. I'm good at fighting with all weapons and in hand-to-hand combat too. Of course, I don't expect to win from the freaking Devil, but I won't be giving myself so easily. He wants to kill me and eat me for dinner? Fine, but I'm not an easy prey!" She exclaimed and as she finished the entire pie with two jars of wine, she turned to Grover sulking, "Can you give me one more jar?"

"Ya knows that's called alcoholism, aigh', lil' cat?"

"I'll be sacrificed in a week, pleaseee, Groveeerrrr!"

"Aye, aye, aye. I'll get yer more wine, lil' cat!"

"You're the best!" She exclaimed beaming.

Raye giggled seeing the girl pinch her husband soft spot for her again, "Are ya gonna enjoy the festival after ya is done eatin' here, ma' love?"

A nod, "Yes. I want to enjoy it as much as I can before the Devil turn me into a pie of raw bloody meat," then she proceeded to eat a piece of the strawberry and chocolate pie. "Mmm, this amazing, Raye!" She exclaimed when she swallowed it. "Oh, my holy and unholy Gods. Keep the pie untouched. Before I go back to that prison… I mean… castle, I'll come here and take two slices back with me."

"To give to ya nanny?"

Donna denied, "No. I sent her back to the Royal Capital yesterday. It was a hard thing to do, but the best. I cannot let her stay here after I'm gone, or someone my try to do harm to her. Whereas, that won't happen in the Royal Capital, because she's from there and so is her family. She won't be alone!"

"Aye, she must have cried oceans," Raye said.

"She did," and I almost cried my eyes out too. But I didn't, otherwise, she would have refused to go and would be stubborn and stay here until the devil gets me. "But I managed to send her with the Knight who were usually around me when I was in the castle. It takes 9 days from here to the Capital. When she arrives there, I'll be gone."

Donna… the couple's hearts hurt for her.

However, Donna kept it cool, as if it wasn't important. Taking one more bite, a big one, and closing her eyes tight as she savored it. When she opened her eyes again, Grover was back with more two jars of wine, and one of them was closed so she could take with her when she left, "Thanks, Grover. And have you eaten this pie? Oh my… it's divine. The best you've ever made, Raye!"

The old woman blushed, "There ya go, makin' me blush with ya whirlwind of compliments."

"It's the truth though! Don't you agree, Grover?"

He nodded proudly, "Aye. Ma' love is the best cooker in the entire Kingdom. With her magical hands that can satisfy the pickiest lil" cat in the whole world."

"Aye," she covered her face with her hands, as red as the strawberries in the pie.

"Before I go," Donna jumped from her sit as she finished the pie and the 3rd jar of wine, taking the 4th with her, "is there anyone messing with you or with your kids? You know I like to take care of them to repay you for how good you are to me. So, just say the name and I'll get them for you!" She took her long dagger that was hidden in the side of her boot and played with it.

"Ya have nothin' to worry, lil' cat. After ya took care of the last kid that tried to rob us, none of them dared to come here again!"

"Good. If anyone tries anything until the end of the week, just because I'm going to die, you tell me, and I'll take care of them before the Devil take care of me. Thank you for the breakfast!" Winking, she ran out of the doors, tying the bottle of wide on the side of her hips, keeping her long dagger in her hands.

She passed through the local church that worshipped the Primordial Goddess of Time and saw that it was almost 10 pm, then she ran to the bakery that always stayed open this hour because she would go there every day at this time.

Karl Tyrone was a strong healer who dedicated his life to his passion for baking, instead of going down the path of becoming a physician like most of the people with Healing magic did. And his bakery was famous in the village for its breads, sweets, cakes, and pies that were able to recharge your energy, stamina, and strength, as well as to help you out on your immunity.

Every night Donna came to him and bought lots of food so she could go to the outskirts of the village where the orphans lived and feed them with enough for them to stay as healthy as possible. She's been doing that since she was 14, and she knew they would miss her for it, but she kept doing it, because if she didn't, no one would.

When she opened the door of the bakery, the familiar bell rang above her head, and the tall dark skinned and muscled chef came into view, with the kindest smile ever, "How are you hanging tonight, Donna?"

She jumped over the sit, since it was too tall for her, making her feet hang about twelve inches from the ground. "I'm good, Uncle Karl," that's how he asked her to call him when she started going there 6 years ago. "How are the triplets? Still mischievous and making a big fuss in your kitchen?"

Ah, this kid. I can tell she's hurting, but she still uses the little time she has for others. "Still mischievous. Still making a mess. But I know I'll miss it when they grow up!"

"Of course, you will. They are 7 now, until the boys grow up, you will get used to their chaos. Enough that you will miss it when they stop causing such trouble to you and Miss Iris," licking her lips, her eyes went to the sweets in display in the cold glass, which was magically cooled by his wife, who was Ice magic. Very convenient for his work.

He smiled at her hungry eyes and put a big chocolate brownie in a plate with a small fork for her, "Did you eat at Meadows' tonight?"

Without looking away from the brownie, she nods, "Yep. I ate breakfast there." Cutting a slice of the brownie, she ate it slowly, savoring with her eyes closed. "This. Is. The. Best. Brownie. You've. Ever. Made."

"Thank you, Donna. That means a lot. I know how picky you are, so it's a big compliment," how can anyone not like this adorable child? Yes, she's different and may be intimidating, but if dangerous, why cute? "Want a glass of juice?"

She opened her eyes, "What juice do you have?"

"Peach. Grape. Apple. Strawberry. Lemon. Orange." He said as he investigated the fridge his wife made for him. "There's also pineapple. Oh, and passion fruit."

"Passion fruit. With rum, honey, and mint, please!"

Incurable little alcoholic. "I'll get the rum!" After a second, he came with it and made the cocktail for her, a skill only Donna and his family knew he had. Then he put two ice cubes on it, and handed it to her, "Enjoy it!"

She winked, "You make the best cocktails ever."

"I know, I know. You tell me that every night," he grinned, amusedly. "So, how will it be tonight?" He asked when she finished it all and cleaned her lips with the napkin, he handed to her.

"Same as always. Pile the food in the long wooden trays, and I'll take them there using all the amazing strength I have in my body. Plus, the bottle of juice with the dry ice cups that Miss Iris makes. What did you make tonight?" Leaning forward, she weighed her chin on her hands.

"Ten chocolate, and ten vanilla cakes. Five apple, five pumpkin, and five strawberry pies. All family sized. Four big trays of cream cupcakes, and five of chocolate cookies. Twenty-five 10-inches breads stuffed with warm butter and cheese, to be cute in a half. Five bottles of milk and five of strawberry yogurt. Two bottles of each of the 8 juice flavors I mentioned to you. All 2-liters. Plus, ten 3-liters bottles of water." All for 6 thousand gold. Donna is my best costumer and I'll miss this kid a lot.