A Grim Fairy Tale

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Meanwhile, down in the mines, the men folk were just digging away for more diamonds. Breaking and shoveling dirt, rock, coal, taking care that it was done in a way that they wouldn't be buried alive. Being a miner was not only one of the most difficult jobs but one of the most dangerous as well. Getting black lung from inhaling too much coal dust or triggering a cave in, or God forbid what would happen should an earthquake happen while they were down there. Many people were beginning to think that no amount of diamonds were worth the risks.

Unfortunately, in the cases of alps, diamonds were an essential. They needed them to absorb the light from the sun and transfer it into them to gain strength and energy. Without it, they'd have to go back to devouring human flesh for energy. So if an alp didn't want to be a man-eater, they only had two options: be a miner or be rich. This was also why Blitzo was especially frugal with the diamonds they found, they could waste them. He, Moxxie, and Millie needed them to live. Their purpose for using them was life not greed.

"Hey Blitzo, do you ever think we might rubies down here?" Moxxie asked. "Or maybe even emeralds?"

"I don't know." Blitzo replied. "Let's just hope we never find gold down here."

"Now there's something not many people would say." Alastor chuckled.

He dug deeper into the earth with a pick-axe, until he cracked open one black piece to reveal a pebble-sized diamond.

"Hey I found one!" He announced, picking it up very quickly.

"Better make sure it actually it is diamond and not fancy hunk of glass." Taking his magnifier out of his pocket, Moxxie put it to his eye and carefully studied the jewel that Alastor had discovered.

"Well? Is it the real deal?" Blitzo asked.

"Yep. 100 percent pure carbon with it's atoms arranged into a crystal structure. In other words, we've got a girl's best friend."

"Excellent, add it to the pile." Blitzo then turned to Alastor. "And is that the only diamond you found?"

"Of course."

"Really? You're not holding out on us, are you?"

"Now why would I do that?"

"Because you've done it before."

"Pardon?"

"I found a heart-shaped diamond in the room where her royal highness is staying."

"And?"

"So where did it come from?"

"She's a princess. She probably has plenty of diamonds."

"Yeah but here's the thing, I've been in royal castles and I've actually seen the diamonds and jewels that they keep and none of them have left coal dust on them. But that diamond she had did. Wanna explain that?"

"Alright, you caught me. I found that diamond working in the mine one day and I decided to give to her for her birthday."

"You have no right to give our diamonds away."

"I found it, I dug it up, I had every right to do whatever I wished with it. Besides you had more than enough to sustain you."

"How many times have you done this?"

"Only once. I swear. I just wanted to give Charlotte something really nice for her birthday that all. Just like when Moxxie pocketed a diamond so he could make it into a ring for Millie."

"You what?!" Blitzo snapped at Moxxie. "You told me that you stole that ring!"

"Thanks a lot Alastor." Moxxie snarked at him.