The Curse of the Goblin Prince

Chapter twelve A Deal

It wasn't until later that evening, after Clover left, that she began to feel a bit better. Just as she was climbing out of bed, she saw a glowing light coming from beneath the baseboard by her nightstand. When she reached down to investigate the source of the light, the wall opened to reveal a hidden passageway.

Dahlia glanced around before heading into the tunnel. It was narrow and the stone walls were cold. Her light footsteps sent out a faint echo that surrounded her. She shivered as she followed the faint glowing lights that led her deeper into the heart of the castle. Dahlia rubbed her exposed arms with her cool fingers. How she wished that she had worn something warmer, but it was too late to turn back now. Only an eerie darkness was behind her.

The secret passageway opened up to the catacombs beneath the castle buried deep inside the mountain. Ahead the flickering flames danced above the wooden torches that hung beside the entrance of each tunnel. They lit the dim room; casting a warm inviting glow in the center of the space. As Dahlia entered; she craned her head to peer into the other tunnels. There, in the shadows were two sets of glowing golden eyes. A small grayish-blue figure stepped into the light. It was another goblin. Older than Len. Maybe they were his family.

Dahlia stepped forward and spoke, though she couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive. She tried her best to squash it down. "Hello." Her voice squeaked so she cleared her throat as she dug her thumbnail against her clenched fist. She squared her shoulder to appear taller and gave the same smile she had seen her father give foreign dignitaries. "I'm Dahlia. Are you Len's family?"

The goblin narrowed his eyes at her.

She held out her hands for the goblin to see. "I don't mean you any harm. Len is my friend." She slid her foot forward an inch. "He has been very sick and they haven't been treating him well." She scrunched up her face as she touched her finger to her chin. "Although it hasn't been as bad lately." Dahlia smiled as she thought about how much Len's health had improved. "I've been helping him try to feel better." She felt a small sense of pride in being able to contribute.

The goblin threw back his head and laughed. "He has fooled you, child." He smirked. "He is not what he says he is." He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. Then he looked pointedly at her, a glint flickered in his golden eyes. "You are not from these lands."

"What do you mean?"

"You smell of dirt and flowers, trees and warmth. Not of the cold and barren mountains."

"That's not what I meant."

"I know what you meant!" He snapped. His voice reverberated through the room and down the corridors. Shaking Dahlia to her core.

"You are right." Her trembling voice sounded weak. She shut her eyes and clenched her dress in her small fists. She remembered what her father had told her. She represented all of her people. "I...I am a princess from the Azalea Kingdom." She curtsied. "My name is Dahlia Thorn." She glanced at him. "May I know your name?"

He studied her as she stood there before him. "I am Solark. High Prince of the goblins." He gestured to the other goblin still in the shadows. "This is my younger brother, Casmit."

Casmit stepped forward and acknowledged her.

"Prince Solark, if I may, I would like to know what you meant by what you said."

He leered at her. "He took what was ours," he clenched his bony fingers around her arm. "so we will take what is his." He jerked her forward so that their eyes met. "And there's nothing you can do to stop us." He let go and laughed maniacally.

"That is," He stroked his chin. "Unless you give us back what belongs to us." He glanced at Casmit, who grinned and nodded. Then a wide creepy smile parted Solark's devious face. "As well as something precious to you." His glowing eyes sparkled with delight. "Then the curse will be lifted. Well? What say you? Do we have a deal, flower princess, or are you willing to sacrifice a life?" He eagerly rubbed his hands together with anticipation.

"What do you want that I could give to you?"

"A promise." He nodded to Casmit, who immediately turned and left the prince and princess standing alone.

"What kind of promise?" Her voice was small but he still heard her.

"That when the time is right, you will fulfill your end of the bargain."

"How will I know when the time is right?"

He whispered so softly that Dahlia could not hear what he said. Suddenly, a searing pain pierced her back as the catacombs glowed bright red. She cried out in pain as she fell to her knees. It felt as if sharp glass were etching a pattern onto her delicate skin. Then, as quickly as it started, it stopped. A dull pain lingered as the glowing red light faded.

She hadn't noticed the goblins had poured in from the darkness to witness her deal with the goblin prince. They were now surrounded by a crowd of his subjects holding the torches that had been on the walls.

Fear gripped her chest, making it hard to breathe. "What did you do to me?"

He grabbed her chin in his hand and forced her to look into his eyes. "Making sure you don't go back on your word."

"But I didn't even agree yet." Tears rolled down her cheeks.

He released her and shrugged his shoulder casually. "The desperation in your eyes says differently. You cannot betray me now."

"I wouldn't." Her voice broke.

"I know you won't. When the dahlia is in full bloom, we will meet again." He laughed as he turned around and disappeared into the tunnel from which he came. "Goodbye, for now, flower princess!" His voice echoed behind him. The others followed behind him leaving Dahlia alone in the dark.

"But how do I get out of here?" She began to sob harder.

A faint glimmer sparkled at her feet. She rubbed the tears from her eyes. "A path." Dahlia glanced around.

There by the tunnel was Casmit. "Follow the lights. They will lead you out." He smiled at her.

She curtsied. "Thank you, Casmit. I will never forget your kindness."

He nodded before disappearing into the darkness.

She turned and followed the trail of light that led her back to her bedroom. The wall opened up and she slipped back into her room. As soon as she was through, the wall sealed shut behind her.

She crawled into her bed and pulled the covers tightly around herself. Dahlia desperately wanted to forget all that had just occurred. Just sleep. It was all a bad dream. Only it wasn't a dream.

She got up and stood before the floor-length mirror. She twisted around and tugged at her garment. Trying to see what had hurt so much on her back.

Then she saw it. Peaking out from the neckline of her nightgown was the outline of a bud in bright red. In a panic, she pulled the cloth further down. To her horror, she saw an enormous dahlia. Its petals were still tightly closed.

Her hands flew to cover her mouth as she slumped to the floor and cried. 'When the dahlia blooms, we will meet again.' His words echoed through her mind.

Sorrow quickly turned to fear as she thought of what others would think of her. She had to keep it hidden. She would never let anyone see it. She covered herself up and went to her wardrobe. She sifted through the clothing. Desperately searching until she found it.

She held it up to the moonlight. A long-sleeve brocade bolero with a mandarin collar.

She swiftly put it on and fastened it up to her neck. She wrapped her arms around herself but it did little to help. She couldn't stop shaking. "It will be okay. Everything will be alright."

"Ah, but it won't."

She spun around to see a pair of glowing golden eyes staring back at her.