Another Princess

A Promise Made

I have to admit, I was interested.  After all, who wouldn't be?  Not after they had gone without dreaming for so long...

"What will I have to do?" I asked him.

"Nothing much," he said, smirking at me.  "Just a pinky promise.  You can do that, can't you?"

Of course I could.  But I wasn't like those silly girls in fairy tales who gave up everything for a stranger's help.  "All right, I'll do it," I said.  "On one condition."

He seemed disappointed.  "And what would that be, miss?"

"My sister.  You can't go near her.  I know what sort of creature you are, and the last thing I want is for you to trick her"

"All right then," he said, extending his pinky to me.  "I promise that I won't go near her."

The two of us linked pinkies, knowing full well that we didn't trust each other to keep it.  

Afterward, he explained how he was going to help me dream again.  Instead of keeping the nightmares I removed under my bed, I could give them to him, and he would return with sweet dreams for my customers.  With this, I wouldn't have to give up any of my own dreams, and I could finally dream again.

It was amazing at first.  All I had to do was give him nightmares, and he would give me dreams.  It sounded almost too good to be true, but I kept watching him to see if he would break his promise, and I suspect he wanted me to keep mine.  We acknowledged each other, although I did find myself envying his ease at creating dreams.

That is, until he broke his promise.

Not the one I made to him, but the one he made to me.