She was tasked with guarding the doorway to the Otherworld, keeping the balance of nature (as much as anyone could in these modern times), and occasionally, helping a worthy seeker.
Is he evil?” the dog asked, an eager gleam in his wide brown eyes. “If he’s evil, I’d be happy to eat him for you.
A Baba Yaga never breaks a promise. Legs, yes. Hearts, occasionally. But never a promise.
You know, like Prince Charming. Because you never know, maybe he’s an enchanted prince under an evil spell.” “Life isn’t a fairy tale, you know,” Sam said. “Wanna bet?” The teen smirked at him.
Son, if you were any farther from fine you’d be in Nebraska.
Pain is mostly mind over matter: if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.
It’s about damned time,” he said in a husky voice. “If I had to wait five more minutes to kiss you, I think I probably would have turned into a dragon myself.
So, Sheriff,” she said. “How do you feel about a life of crime?
Stu looked over his shoulder at the trailer. “She seems like a nice old lady, but jeez, that’s a big dog.” “Yes,” said Liam. “But a small dragon.
Liam jumped. “Jeez –you can talk!” Chudo-Yudo rolled his eyes. “Right. So a talking dragon is okay, but a talking dog freaks you out? Dude, you’re going to have to adjust to this crap a lot faster than that if you’re going to be any help.
Mrs. Ivanov’s gentle face was pale and bewildered, her wrinkles falling in on themselves as though they’d given up trying to hold on to any expression other than sorrow.
You’re the Baba Yaga?” He gazed at her in disbelief. “But the Baba Yaga is an ugly old crone, and you’re, you’re… not!
Something tells me this isn’t going to end well for everyone involved. Someone may get turned into a frog yet.” And that was the good news.
He strolled over to the refrigerator, opened the door with one paw, and delicately picked up a beer between his teeth. He waited until clothes had stopped arcing through the air and hand it to Barbara.
Hmm,” she said. “‘Curiouser and curiouser,’ to quote Alice.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve got plans for next Thursday. And I’m not in the mood to have them ruined by some apocalypse.
Go on, just come out with it, whatever it is.” She braced herself against the counter. Peter glanced down at the tile floor, and then back up at her, and sighed. “Fine. Here it is. Do you think Witches could have killed my father?
I want to know who killed my father,” Peter growled, shrugging off her fingers and pushing himself away from the wall to stand up straight. “If you think you can help me with that, then you are welcome to try.
Donata Santori looked down at the dead body lying at her feet and thought, ‘Damn, that can’t be a good sign.
i want you so much I feel like I’m going to explode.””I hear that Marines are good with explosions,” Beka said.
I’ve got the perfect dress. It’s going to knock your socks off.”Marcus wasn’t sure if that was good or bad, but he couldn’t wait to find out.
Not very smart,” Chudo-Yudo growled. “Stalking a Baba Yaga.” He showed a set of sharp white teeth. “Maybe he has a death wish. I could help with that You want me to eat him?
Do you want to tell me what you’re doing up here in the middle of the woods?” He gazed at her milky white skin, dark hair, and wide eyes. “If you’re looking for the seven dwarfs, they live in the next forest over.
At the sight of Day, her whole face lit up. “Mikhail! You came! Barbara said you would, but that we might have to wait for hell to freeze over first. Did it?
Thanks, Baba. You are always such a comfort.” She gave him a wry look. “I know. I’ve been considering becoming a counselor. Or possibly a nurse.” Day shook his head. “If I were you, Baba Yaga, I’d stick to your day job.
If you’re still hungry, I could probably find some nice roots by the riverbank we passed,” Mick teased. “Mind you, some of them insist on yodeling while you eat them, but you get used to that after a while.
My brother, are you aware that you are presently taking the form of a rather large and distinctly emerald-hued bear? Not that it isn’t an improvement on your usual excessive good lucks, but…
Couldn’t I just take up juggling fire over a pit of alligators?” Liam muttered. “I think it might be easier.
If you ignored the benign ghost that haunted the place and the witch who lived inside, it was practically the picture of normalcy.
Liam’s lips tightened. “She’s only a little girl. She doesn’t know anything about swords. What if she cuts herself? It’s sharp, right?” “Of course it is sharp, Liam. What would be the point ot having a sword that wasn’t?
Cookies, a dragon dog, and a sword: what every well-equipped little girl takes on a journey.
This is the strangest family vacation ever,” Liam said.
You guys must use some interesting parenting techniques.” “You have no idea,” Liam said dryly. “You have no idea.
You wouldn’t believe the things that go missing in these labs. Remind me to tell you the story about the radioactive spider sometime.