Ruined Fairy Tales

The Not-so-evil Sorcerer

Alexander began screaming as Puppy dug his claws deep into the flesh of his shoulders, blood began oozing out from around the punctures and for a moment I worried I was going to get sick at the sight. I did my best to push my nausea down at the bloodshed, with my mouth still magicked shut I shuddered to imagine where exactly that bodily reaction would... go.

The moment Puppy had pinned the prince to the floor with his impressively large claws, the sorcerer's hands had once again become incased in the purple glow, this time the light reaching up to encase his entire arm, up to his shoulders. The light gave his handsome face an eerie glow, making his dark eyes look sinister and the scars on his face stand out in a way they had not previously.

He stalked up towards the struggling pair, and all I could do was watch as he reached a glowing hand out towards the cat and prince.

"Move, Puppy." He commanded in a light conversational tone.

Puppy leapt from the prince's back without a moments hesitation and the prince only had enough time to raise his head from where it had been pinned in the dirt, his panicked gaze meeting my own for a split second before the sorcerer waved his hand as if bored.

The prince flew through the air, slamming against the wall directly in front of the sorcerer. The prince stuck there, feet dangling off the ground as he clawed at his throat, choking as if being strangled by an invisible force.

I felt the force around my own wrist loosen before releasing me entirely, and I all but sagged in relief as I brought my newly freed arm to cover my racing heart. I couldn't help but wonder if maybe he was not able to hold both of us with his powers at the same time, but when I realized I was still not able to open my lips I decided that the more likely case was that the sorcerer simply realized I was not the threat in this situation.

The sorcerer walked towards the bleeding prince, his pace leisurely as if he had all the time in the world, and I felt a shiver run down my spine at the thrill of it. No wonder sorcerers always turned out so evil, the power was intoxicating just from my near proximity to it.

The prince made a gurgling noise, his face turning a lovely shade of blue (it almost matched the shade of his eyes exactly) as he continued to claw frantically at this throat. The sorcerer came to a stop in front of the struggling prince before asking in a menacing tone that made the hair on my arms stand on end, "Who the hell are you, and what the hell are you doing in my house?"

The prince's eyes widened in horror, and, to my disgust, he started sobbing in terror with what little breath he could get into his strangled throat.

I jumped at the press of a cold nose against my elbow and tore my eyes away from the men to look down to where Puppy sat looking up at me with shining gold eyes. "Yous all good, lady?" he asked, practically mewling with concern while the prince's blood still stained his paws.

I could only nod, still spelled into silence, and I crouched to wrapped an arm around his large hairy shoulders before turning my attention back to one of the most exciting scenes I had ever had the distinct pleasure of experiencing.

The prince's choking noises turned to blubbering, the force around his neck apparently loosening, and tears began streaming down his face to drop on to his bloody waistcoat as he sucked in a lungful of air. "I am so, so sorry, your greatness." He gasped breathlessly.

I couldn't help but stare. I had never once even heard of a prince crying before. They were known for their heroics, not... dramatics.

"I would have never even dreamed of doing anything to anger someone with such power if I had known this wondrous place..." What he said next was unintelligible, as he had begun sobbing uncontrollably.