"I have many; I belong to many." The sorceress stared at the ruined legs, curled up on themselves as they were. She could do this so easily to any creature she wanted; she could do it to Dexter if she wanted. She could rip him to shreds, but she felt a need to change the boy, a need to guide him, to help him along to the next step in his personal evolution. The fact that it was a dark evolution didn't bother her at all.
"I am a Fable. Capital 'F'. I come from a different place, which isn't all that amazing in this City. I come from a world, many worlds, vast worlds, all inhabited by what you might call fairy tales, stories, fables, dreamings, rare parables, tall tales. I'm sure you catch my meaning. I have seduced Little Boy Blue, who trust me is not so little." There was a naughty little smirk at that one. "I have led hordes of goblins and trolls against the rebels. I have held the power of the Adversary's vast resources, spanning kingdoms you could not begin to imagine. I have done many great things. But who I am and always will be is Baba Yaga, the old Crone in the woods who eats children, helps lost girls, guides or misguides errant knights." Her voice was almost bitter, but it didn't last long. She looked up at him, smiling finally, triumphant or daring.
"I could give you my life's story, but in it, there is nothing to defeat me. I am not one of those silly witches who can be tossed into an oven by impertinent, or resourceful depending on how you see it, little girls. Nor am I to be captured under a house, melted with water, or any other bit of drivel used against witches." She stepped close to him, still smiling. "Dexter, I am a mighty power, and I am not boasting. I can help you find who you truly are; again, I am not boasting."
She could be caught; she wasn't perfect, but none of her enemies were here. None knew the binding spells; none knew that even she had her limits. Yet, she was going to fix that; she'd meet the City. She would know it.
"The question becomes, do you want to know who you are?"