Never Fear by Heather Graham Page A

for her husband’s grief. The children
wept silently with them.
    Then…
    A horrific cackling burst through the
night.
    Grýla.
    The misshapen form of the aged-ageless
hag came from around the barn. She went to the still open door and
looked in. She nodded and made a gesture, summoning her
“pet.”
    The enormous head of the Cat appeared.
“Ah, my Jóla, I see you have eaten well.” She cackled again and
brushed at the gore hanging from the Cat’s whiskers. “Oh, my pet,
watch your step. It seems someone has had mutton for his meal that
did not agree with him.”
    The Cat exited the barn and went off
to the field. It sat and began to clean itself.
    Grýla approached the grieving
family.
    “ Ah, Snorri…” She cackled
brightly. “Did something upset you?”
    A soft moan escaped Snorri’s
lips.
    “ Father!” Leifur wailed,
dropping Magnús’ hand and throwing himself at him.
    Snorri wrapped his arms around the boy
and held him.
    Lilja wrapped her arms around
Berglind, mirroring father and son.
    “ Now, now, Berglind. I
warned you many years ago. I foretold you would have more children,
but they must grow up and behave. Be good children… or I would come
for them.” She gave a low laugh. Did you think I spoke falsely? For
shame. Grýla always keeps her word.” Another low laugh.
    Berglind found her voice.
“No, Grýla, I did not think you spoke false.” She stifled back
another sob. “They are good children. They cause no more mischief than any other
child. Why us?  Why us?” She could no longer suppress her sobs.
    Grýla gave a long chuckle this time,
revealing browned and violently jagged teeth. She narrowed her eyes
at Berglind. “Why not?” She let her question linger in the air. The
family stared motionless at her. “And I am nothing if not an honest
woman who keeps her promises. Now here I am on Christmas—yes, it is
past the midnight hour. It is Christmas. Look above you to the
heavens. The light from the gods shines brightly
tonight.”
    The family looked up, and indeed, the
aurora borealis flicked and shone in a vibrant display like none
they had ever seen before. Vast rainbows of ethereal lights covered
the dark sky. A magical sight amid all this carnage.
    Snorri spoke, pleading, “Grýla, please
have mercy on us. You have taken Reynir and Magnús. Surely it is
enough? The children have been behaving better. Leifur has been
most helpful and takes care of his sister. Our Lilja helps her Mama
prepare the meals and—”
    “ Enough!” Grýla snapped.
Then slowly, an evil grimace formed on her face. “I can be a
merciful woman. Since my Jóla has already eaten
heartily…”
    Snorri and Berglind let out the
breaths they had been holding. “Yes, Grýla.”
    The hag continued ignoring
them, “I am certain my pet’s stomach only has room for one more,
small… de-lec-table… child… morsel. ” She gloried at the
look in Snorri and Berglind’s eyes as she slowly drew out each
word, the last word being drawn out the longest, followed by a low
malevolent cackle. She extended both gnarled hands to the children.
“Come here, children.”
    “ No!” Snorri and Berglind
screamed and held the children to them hard.
    “ Yessss… come, children.”
Grýla’s eyes grew even darker. She raised her bony arms higher,
then paused. “Hmm… I seem to recall something similar to this the
last time we met.” Cackling again, slower, more
pronounced.
    Snorri and Berglind could not move. It
was happening again… their baby Stenn… Magnús… Reynir…
now…
    “ Come, children.” Grýla’s
fingers beckoned, and the children left their parents’ arms and
were hypnotically drawn to her.
    “ No, no, no…” Snorri and
Berglind pleaded.
    The Cat approached from the field with
a low growl of anticipation.
    The children stood side by side.
Waiting.
    The Cat stopped before
them.
    Grýla reached up and began stroking
the Cat’s head. “Now, Snorri, Berglind, this is where I show my
benevolence. You