Stepping In
He pulled a stick off the branch of an old ancient tree and chewed it up with the wickedest smile. “They tchink they know everything bout their ancestors. They scientists of the so-called modern world,” the old man dragged scientist with his false but rotten teeth. “They know nothing!”
“Why so?” a curious lad enquired.
“They talk about magic… dragons, fairies, ogres… blah! They never questioned where they got those silly crazy ideas from.”
“But they are all real,” a redhead who had been silent for hours spoke.
“Yes, but they don’t know that. They think itch’s all a myth.” The children laughed and rubbed their bellies. “Enough of thatch. It’s thicme for a tale.” The children adjusted themselves on the ground with happiness. “It’s thrue. The modern world no know of our magic and our creatchures and our lifestyle, but there is one thing some know of?"
The children looked at each other, wondering. “What’s that?!” the youngest but loudest of them asked.
The old man let out a teethy and disgusting smile. “THE DEVIL…”
***
1459, The Seven Nations, Halton, The Palace of Jabs
Alexa giggled, running around the jasmine garden like a wanted criminal.
“Alexandra! Alexandra!” Till now, the five year old always thought that Miss Rica was playing knight and thief with her. “Alexandra, come here this instant!” That was enough for today, Alexa thought. She gave the old woman a break. “I’m just forty. Why do you want me dead so early, huh?”
She giggled again. Miss Rica rubbed her own forehead and sighed.
“Sorry, Miss Rica.”
Miss Rica couldn’t be mad at that face. She was the cutest and most beautiful damsel in the palace. Her sisters envied her greatly.
They neither played with her nor gave her any prior attention. The palace was always full but still, Alexa was always alone. Miss Rica had seen her cry plenty of times. Miss Rica was all she had.
“I forgive you darling.”
“Five more minutes to play. Please, Miss Rica. Please. Please. Please.”
Miss Rica gave her a satisfied smile. “Sure, my dear. Five minutes, not more, not less.”
She giggled and ran into the field. Miss Rica watched her play till she was called into the stables.
Alexa used that opportunity to run deeper into the jasmine garden. She was a naughty girl. She took wrong as right and right as wrong.
Alexa stopped when her eyes caught a pink jasmine. “Oh, so pretty.”
She had never seen a pink jasmine before. Curiosity made her pick it. She knew jasmines smelt wonderful, she was sure this would smell even better.
Unknown to her, someone was watching. He didn’t know why he cared to look. He was on a mission but had to stare at the precious gem his eyes caught.
He had never seen such beauty. She was just a little princess but… her beauty was evident and noticeable.
When he saw this beauty, holding a pink jasmine.
Fear entered him. “What’s she doing with a pink jasmine?”
He wanted to stop her from nearing it but she already sniffed it. Due to its poison, Alexa collapsed on the floor and began turning pink.
He looked around to check if anyone was watching. Elliot was usually excited at the sight of death but he couldn’t let this beauty leave the world so easily. He just couldn’t.
He ran to her and picked her up. There was only one way to draw the poison from her. He placed his lips on hers and sucked the poison from her system into his.
Alexa was still unconscious but he was glad she would be okay. He destroyed the pink jasmine and gave the little princess a last look.
He smiled. He couldn’t help but smile. Elliot never smiled but he did it today. He was tempted to take the pretty princess with him but… voices caught him off guard.
He dropped the princess and disappeared into thin air.
Miss Rica and her parents came to carry her away. All looking worried and scared.
He was pleased he saved her. If not, they would be carrying her dead body. He turned away, but looked back. The little princess was something more to him.
Something he’d never want to find out.
