“What time is it?” Prin asked. He climbed roughly over Elwin, although he could have gotten out of bed on his own side.

It was dark in the room.

“Nighttime.” Elwin said. “I don’t know.”

When Prin had gotten off the bed and turned back to face Elwin, his eyes must have caught a little sliver of light from somewhere. They glowed like the steel blue tips of fire. “I have to go.” He said. “Now.”

“Wait, put on the light.” Elwin said, still groggy, his mind barely grasping what was happening. “Wait.”

“It’s okay, you stay here and look after Valor.” Prin said. “I have to go see Aster.”

Elwin reached out and grabbed the hem of Prin’s nightshirt. “What will you even say?”

“I’ll figure it out when I get there.” Prin said.

“Hang on.” Elwin sat up and reached out for the candle holder on the nightstand. Prin was getting further away, the cotton fabric stretching between them like a spider’s web. “I said, hang on!”

Prin stopped, probably stunned that Elwin had yelled.

“You aren’t even dressed.” Elwin said sheepishly.

“Oh. Right.” Prin took the candle from him and lit it, setting it back down. “Do you think it’s late now?”

“Not very.” Elwin said. “I’m sorry.”

Prin pulled on his pants, hopping on one leg to get them on. “S’okay.”

“You don’t need to go see Aster right now.” Elwin said. “Stop that.” He reached out and took the shirt out of Prin’s hands. “Everything is fine. I highly doubt Aster has learned to talk to the fairy in just a few hours. And wasn’t she going back to bed after we left, anyway?”

“Yeah, I guess so . . .” Prin flumped back down on the bed, deflated.

“Do you really want to bother her again? It’s a bit soon.” Elwin wheedled. In truth, he was tired and didn’t feel like he could let Prin run off by himself. “Let’s go back to bed for a while, then maybe tomorrow. . .”

“I don’t want to just be annoying for no reason.” Prin said.

Elwin sat up and pulled him close, stroking his hair. “It’s not for no reason. It’s understandable. Just a little much maybe? I would tell you if I thought it was necessary.”

“Alright, fine, I give up.” Prin leaned back against Elwin, allowing himself to be cuddled. He sighed. “Poor Aster.”

“Why do you say that?” Elwin asked.

“Oh, just, it’s a lot to deal with me. Wasn’t there enough chaos in her life already? And then I come along . . . trailing my curse behind me like an ugly puppy dog.” Prin said.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Elwin tried to stop himself but couldn’t help letting out a laugh at the image. “I’m sorry. It’s not funny. Sweetheart, Aster is so glad to have met you. Everyone who meets you loves you.”

“Pfft. If only they knew.” Prin said.

“Valor knows and he still loves you.” Elwin said wryly. “Maybe more than ever.”

Prin snorted. “Oh don’t start that again.”

*

“You killed her, didn’t you? And others.” Aster loomed over him, close enough to count the freckles. Her expression was ominously blank. “I thought at first it must have been self-defense. But no, you were just hungry.” Here her face changed to a wide grin, her voice taunting.

“What? No. She was attacking me. I don’t even know why.” Prin protested. “And the one before that, he deserved to die. As for the first . . .” He put his hands up, as though afraid Aster would land a punch with her small fist and give him a black eye. She was stronger than she looked. Small but mighty.

“You’re not even going to ask me how I knew?” Aster said. “She told me.” She cocked her thumb to the side.

The fairy was hovering in the air beside Aster. Only this time she was big, the size of a human baby. She even looked like a baby, with the fat, round, how can this be staying in the air proportions of a bumblebee.

Her body looked like the segmented smooth green caterpillar Elwin had brought from the garden to show him when they were kids. With three sets of black eyes. Impossible big and mirror shiny.

The fairy opened a mouth full of sharp thorn teeth and spoke, but it was a bizarre sound, and Prin couldn’t understand a word of it.

Aster laughed. “That’s what I thought too.” She said to the fairy. “He’s just a coward, too weak to take himself out.” She shook her head, tossing around those springy red curls.

Prin felt like crying, this is just like what he thought would happen. Well, minus, the appearance of the fairy, which was a horror straight from the fairytale pages of the book on curses.

“Is that what you really think I should have done?” Prin asked.

“Isn’t that what you think you should have done?” Aster crossed her hands over her chest. “Along with anyone else who has any sense. It doesn’t matter what I think.”

The fairy spoke again. Like a kitten mewling from under water. Like the horrible clang of an axe hitting rusted metal.

“Maybe we should help him out?” Aster translated. “There’s a thought.” She grinned again. “That would make us heroes. We would get medals from the mayor!” She held her finger up in the air in triumph. “Well, I don’t know though, I mean unlike so-oome people, I’m not sure I have it in me to kill.”

The fairy came forward, closer to Prin. It reminded him of a rotten fruit, hanging from a lightning struck tree.

“Oh? You’ll do it yourself?” Aster asked the fairy. “Thanks! You should be grateful too, Prin. This saves you from consuming everyone you love, isn’t that nice?”

“No! Aster, I love you!” Prin protested holding his hands in front of his face.

“You should have thought of that before you gave in to your horrible appetites.” Aster shook her head. “Whelp, too late now!”

Prin screamed, more of broken heart than fear of death. Since in a way, he knew she was right. He squeezed his eyes closed as he waited for the blow.

“This. Is. Pathetic.” A voice said. It was a masculine voice, but with a melodic quality. Far away and near. Somehow familiar.

When the blow didn’t come, Prin slowly opened his eyes.

He was back in a cold place surrounded by crumbling stone walls. Was this the vulture? He never planned on going back there again, yet here he was.

“You have to stop being like this. It’s embarrassing to us both.” The voice said.

Prin turned around and gasped.

Someone was sitting in a gilt wood throne with gargoyles carved into each arm. The room was otherwise empty and dark, with light like a spotlight shining on the man.

It was Prin, older and with longer hair . . . but, the jolt of recognition was impossible to deny.

This Prin’s long curls spilled over the shoulders of his red velvet jacket. His eyes knew too many things. Things that Prin could never imagine himself knowing. But the shape and color where the ones from a mirror. He waved a hand, shining with rings at Prin. On top of his elegant head was a gold crown. “Hello.” He said.