A Collection of Odd Stories (Aim To Engage Contest - Prompts 3-30)

Maid to Heroine (Fantasy)

I watch as the water drizzles through the plate, clearing the soap. I give it a good scrub before setting it down lightly on the countertop.

The familiar buzz of the castle life surrounds me, floating through the long, stone hallways and the huge rooms. I hum silently as I continue through my chores.

As a normal kitchen maid, I didn't have much preference or dreams in life. Safety and peace were enough to keep me happy.

An orphan, I was taken in by a sweet lady named Agatha, and was raised in these walls ever since. I knew the castle like the back of my hand. I smile as I set the last plate down, wiping my hands.

My life has been peaceful ever since, no drama, no life changing tragedy, and most importantly, no demons. Definitely no demons.

My parents were brutally murdered by them, right in front of my eyes. The smile slowly disappears from my lips as I remember the horror in their eyes as the demon's claws duck into their backs.

Fire was everywhere.

I shake my head furiously, taking a deep breath. What was in the past, was in the past. The demons were gone now, sealed away in another realm. And it was my caretaker, Agatha who put them there.

She's a world famous heroine on the side. She's an interesting character, one with mystical powers. I finish cleaning up around the kitchen and head out towards Agatha's hut, waving to the other maids.

Despite being popular, Agatha refuses to take any money for her heroic deeds. She insists that it was her duty to protect the weak since she had strength. She's truly an angel. Some say her powers and attitude are from God himself.

I lightly knock on the wooden door on the hut, "I'm back!"

"Coming!" Agatha's voice responds from inside. The door swings open to reveal her glowing face. Despite her old age, she maintained a level of beauty that all women were envious of. No one knew whether it was magic or just pure genes.

Slight wrinkles in her skin give away her age, but she's still a beauty. She smiles, pulling her hair back in a bun. "Are you ready to cook dinner, Ellie?"

I giggle, giving her the vegetables I picked up on my way here, "Always."

Agatha's smile quickly drops as a large shadow passes over us. My jaw drops as I follow her gaze to the sky.

A demon.

It's red, scaly wings extend out as it soars through the sky, circling back towards us. It starts nose diving down, aiming straight for the hut.

Its black eyes absorb all light around it, while its red skin glows in the heat of the evening. Its long, sharp nose is poised to kill as it starts gaining speed. Time seems to slow.

"Move!" Agatha pushes me away from the door, making me fall back.

"No, AGATHA!" I reach my hand out to grab her, but it's too late. The demon strikes into her shoulder, puncturing a hole into it. Agatha grunts in pain.

"Agatha, why didn't you use your powers?!" I scream, starting to rush towards her. The demon climbs on top of her and snarls at me, making me step back.

"My powers... have... weakened." Agatha's soft voice responds from beneath the demon. Her eyes start losing color. "I gave them to you. Do... the... three finger-" She's cut short as the demon delivers the finishing blow with its horns.

I scream in horror, watching Agatha's body go limp. The demon pushes off of her, heading towards me.

No. No. No, no, no! This isn't supposed to be happening. Demons are supposed to be sealed away with magic!

The demon jumps into the air, quickly closing the distance. I quickly draw three fingers back as Agatha taught me, like I'm pulling an invisible bow.

She trained me in odd ways ever since I was child, stating that it was maid training. It wasn't. She was teaching me how to use her powers.

My palms warm slightly as a bow materializes in my hands, made entirely of fire. The embers float across my face as I release the arrow, and it hits the demon straight in the heart. It shrieks, falling down onto the ground, burning.

I shudder and drop to my knees. The bow vanishes into the air. I can't believe this. The demons escaped.

And only I could stop them.