A Grim Fairy Tale

Chapter Sixteen

Alastor was relieved that Millie assigned him to only do Blitzo and Moxxie's house chores instead of working in the mines. Oh yes, I forgot to that there was one more thing about these alps that made them differ from all the others. Alps by nature, draw their powers and abilities from the energy absorbed by humans. For centuries alps had feasted on them in order to obtain strengths needed for their survival. However as time passed some alps could not help but feel guilty and ashamed when it came to devouring humans,  that's when Moxxie an alchemist and inventor who discovered a less immoral substitute. Diamonds.

As it turns out diamonds absorb light energy which alps could convert into speed and they were ten times stronger than human muscle. Moxxie then found a way to grind up the stones into dust which was mixed in an elixir which alps could drink then absorb the diamonds attributes. So Moxxie and all peaceful alps chose to use the precious stones as their source of power and strength. Even Blitzo preferred that method despite his hatred of humans. That's why he gave up his traveling lifestyle to settle down in the forest because a diamond mine was only a mile from where there house was.

Every morning he and the young couple would go down into the mine, Blitzo would dig them out, Millie would examine them to make sure that that they were real which was easy given her sharp falcon eye sight, and Moxxie would be the one to grind them up and mix them in the elixir. Now you're probably why not sell some of the diamonds? Well it's because to an alp energy from a diamond is more valuable than any kind of money and with diamonds being such a rarity, they couldn't selling what they found.

"Hey Millie." Alastor asked her as he chopped the fire wood.

"Yes dear." She replied.

"Will have to work in the mines when I get bigger?"

"You can if you want to. You can do whatever you please when you become a man. Personally Moxxie and I think you're meant for bigger things."

"Like what?"

"Well you're awfully smart for someone so young, you're skillful and you have class. Part of me thinks that maybe I should smuggle a few diamonds to save up so you can get afford an education."

"But Millie you need those diamonds. Blitzo says you can't afford to give up any of them."

"I'm sure giving up one or two won't hurt anything. Besides you can't stay with us forever. Someday you'll want to go out, make your own fortune."

"I don't know if that'll work out."

"Why?"

"Well how can I go out in the world when people scream at the sight of me? How can expect to get education or make my fortune or do anything when I look like this?"

"Now you mustn't think like that."

"But look at me Millie. You know how people react when they see me. I've seen other human children and they don't look anything like me. They're perfect."

"Perfect? There's no such as perfect."

"But Millie-"

"Don't but Millie me. Now you listen here and you listen good." She said in a tone that was firm but gentle. "There is absolutely nothing wrong with you. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being imperfect. You're beautiful as you are. With all your imperfections, you can do anything."

"But what if everyone says I can't?"

"You can't control what other people say but you can control if you listen to them or not." She continued. "You know it's moments like these when you remind me so much of Moxxie. My little diamond in the rough never believed he'd amount to anything when he was young either. All the other alps belittled him for his hobbies in machinery and alchemy. They thought he was a failure. Except me of course. I knew he was brilliant from the day we met."

"How come you believed in him when no one else did?"

"I don't know. I guess it was the way he would try to think and reason with everything before he made a decision. That was rare among alps, and I found it very attractive."

"Oh Millie!" He gagged.

She giggled.

"The point is when the world doubted him, he proved them wrong and accomplished something incredible. You'll do the same I'm sure. Who knows? You might even-"

But suddenly Millie became very quiet and still like. Then she slowly turned her head around, carefully looking and listening for something.

"Alastor get in the house." She said.

"But I'm not done chopping the wood and it's dark already. Blitzo will have a fit if there's no fire tonight."

"Alastor in the house now!" She ordered.

But Millie just grabbed by the arm and ushered him inside. After that she proceeded to lock the doors and cover the windows.

"Millie what's the matter?" Moxxie asked.

"And where's that fire wood?" Blitzo added.

"Shh! Listen!" She answered.

The other two alps did as they were told and when it looked as if they heard something, Blitzo went to look out the window.

"Shit! I forgot it's a full moon tonight!" He cursed.

"Well don't panic sit." Moxxie said. "We know what to do. We've done this many times before."

He and Blitzo immediately began to do just as Millie did. Locking up or covering any potential entrance to the house. After that they put out all the lanterns and any form of light, leaving the entire household in pitch black darkness. Next thing Alastor knew, Millie was taking handfuls of dirt and rubbing it all over his face and body.

"Millie what are you doing?" He asked her.

"Sorry dear but the dirtier you are the less you smell."

"What?"

"What she means is the dirt is to hide your scent." Moxxie explained while applying dirt to himself as well.

"It's to hide all our scents." Blitzo said. "With a nose as sharp as his, we can't afford to be clean when he's nearby."

"When who's nearby?" Alastor asked.

"He has sharp hearing too so don't make a sound. Everyone be quiet."

Alastor was confused by their actions but he said not a word. He only sat in a corner with them and waited silently for something. Hours passed and whatever they were waiting for didn't show. Sitting in the dark and the quiet for so long made Alastor sleepy and he nearly drifted off when the silence of the night was broken by an ear-splitting howl. The other alps became as statues, Moxxie and Millie cling to Alastor as if they were trying to hide him from all forms of sight. Footsteps were heard circling around the house and scratches were made at the doors and windows a few times.

"Is anyone home?" A voice called from outside. "A thousand apologies if I am intruding, I do not wish to disturb you but I'm a traveler who's had no luck locating an inn or any form of shelter for the evening. Would you be so kind as to allow access into your home?"

None of them gave the voice an answer.

"I mean you no harm and I intend to pay you twenty pieces of silver for your compassion. Your abode is most lovely but quite humble, I trust that you may be in need of a little extra finance."

But still they did not answer. The voice didn't speak again and the footsteps were now growing fainter. Fainter and fainter until they could be heard no more.

"Do you think he's gone?" Moxxie whispered to Blitzo.

"Yeah. He usually gives up when his charisma doesn't work." Blitzo said. "But God be with the fools who are charmed by that silver tongue of his."

"Do you think he knew it was us in here?" Millie asked.

"If he did he wouldn't have bothered with sweet talk or bribery. He would have just barged right in. No question, he smelled the dirt not us."

"Who are talking about?" Alastor said. "What's going on here?"

"We'll talk about it tomorrow Alastor." Millie said. "For now, let's just all get cleaned up and get some sleep."

So Alastor didn't say anything else about it for the remainder of the night, but his curiosity was ever present.