Far Fetched Fables

“Where There's Magic” by Michelle Ann King (Originally published in Kaleidotrope, April 2016.) The witch had a favourite saying: where there's life, there's magic. There was a second part -- where there's magic, there's death -- but she usually kept that to herself. She placed the newborn into the father's arms. He gazed upon the babe with wonder, then upon his wife with concern. "Why does she still scream?" he said. "Can't you ease her pain?" "There is still pain because she carries twins. There is a second part of this birth to come." The mother lifted her head from the sweat-soaked pillow and shrieked louder. The witch went back to her work. They called the first child Heavenly Gift. She had clothes and toys and kittens awaiting her, all stamped and stitched and branded with her name. There was also further coin for the witch, to perform magical blessings for her good fortune. Her twin, unexpected and unasked for, had none of these things. They called this girl Second Part. "That's not going to en