Betony Rue knew how to prepare meals. It had been one of her responsibilities... before. She went about it slightly differently in the mortal world. Less squeezing the blood from a cockatrice's neck and more stewing the meat till it was fully cooked instead of half raw.
She had been cooking for three, herself and the children. Now she had started feeding the whole house.
It had started out innocently enough. Someone had come down and asked her if they could share. It had been a long time since the boarding house had served meals and it was suppose to be part of the rent. The Jasons woman had, of course, told them no. Then it happened again. And again. She was almost to the point where she considered going out and buying a pot large enough to fit one of the pestering boarders in. Instead she went from room to room telling people if they wanted meals and wanted her to be responsible for them, she would require them to give her money for groceries. She didn't ask and no, she didn't care if it was already suppose to be part of the rent.
The timer rang and Betony took out the chicken breasts with spices, just as the steamed vegetables were ready. The rolls were already in a basket on the table, wrapped in a cloth to keep them warm. She placed the meal on the table, along with a pitcher of water. Butter, honey, and jam for the rolls.
Everything was done on time. Meals had to be on time. They got cold if you finished early. She served up three plates and handed them to the children who had been sitting patiently after having set the places, just as the first person was entering. Under her stare they meekly thanked her. They didn't ask about the plates, or the children she was ushering upstairs. Betony Rue wouldn't have answered anyway and she grew more menacing if questioned. They were probably her niece and nephew anyways.
The man sat down to eat, as others came to join him. He barely noticed the fading bitter taste of poison that all the food the Jasons woman prepared had.