The Nutcracker King (Coming From Darkness #1)

Chapter 10 Part 1: Nutcracker

If I were human, I would have been holding my breath all the way back to the Stahlbaum home. If my dear Marie wasn't there, well, I wouldn't know what to do. But joy! She was in her bed, waiting for me.

"Demoiselle Marie?" I said gently, trying to get her attention.

"Go away Nutcracker," she whispered. Then she broke my heart. "I am to be married soon."

As I stood there, I heard a quick throbbing in my head and felt a strange sensation in my chest. My dear Marie, to be lost to me forever? No! I moved away in shock, but instead of heading back to my Kingdom, something led me to walk out into the corridor. There, in that dark empty space, I gathered my thoughts.

No, my Marie would not do this to me. She loved me, I knew that the night she sacrificed her sweets to the Mouse King for me. This had to be the work of her parents. Yes, that was the only logical conclusions. It was all her parents fault.

My sword grew warm. My legs started moving. Before I knew it, I stood in front of a room that I had not entered before, but knew belonged to the Stahlbaum parents. My hands pushed open the heavy door, and I slipped through the crack. There, at the foot of the bed, I stared up at the two monsters.

What was I doing? I should be with my dear Marie, persuading her to run away to my kingdom. If we left now, she wouldn't have to marry the odious Herr Heinrich. I turned back towards the door.

What are you doing, Nutcracker King?

A smooth, slithery voice echoed in my head. I turned around, trying to find the source of the voice, but I saw no one. The lumps on the bed hadn't even moved.

Look up here, your Majesty.

My head tilted up, I turned round the room. On my second turn, the dresser mirror caught my attention. I moved forward, and as I approached the dresser, I could see the faint outline of a woman. She was beautiful, with dark hair, dark eyes and a crown on her head.

"Who are you?"

The woman in the mirror smiled.

Like you, I am royalty. But unlike you, I was not born into royalty. In fact, my stepdaughter is the heir to the throne. But enough about me, I'm here to help you break your curse. I am also half fairy, and magic is my domain.

A fairy? What did she think I was, a child?

Her lips moved into a smile, but her eyes stayed cold.

Disbelieve if you wish, but I came here to help you. Look at your sword, doesn't it feel warm? That's because it's absorbed life. Two more lives, and it can help alleviate your curse. I swear on my fairy half, two more lives and every year, you will be human for one day.

I snorted. "Only a day? What use is that? And why are you helping me?"

The woman shrugged regretfully. Unfortunately, because I did not lay the curse, I cannot fully undo it. I can only alleviate its effects. All I want in exchange is that sword of yours. A blood sword is quite the rare thing indeed.

"What if I want to keep the sword?"

Then you'll never be human again. Here, as a sign of good faith.

Like with Godfather Drosselmeier, I felt myself stretch and grow. I grew to my rightful height, but this time, my sword barely grew. It became a little dagger that gleamed in my hand. I walked to the bed.

Should I be doing this? I was sure that my beloved Marie still loved her parents, despite the fact they were terrible people. My dagger hesitated for a moment, but I remembered what they were doing, and I thought of the promise of being human.

"This is for Marie and I," I told myself.

I continued telling myself this as I stabbed her mother in the throat. I did this over and over again until she stopped moving. Thankfully, she didn't have enough time to cry out, but the blood spurted all over the bed and me. Before her father could notice, I reached over and stabbed him in the heart. He cried out, but I stabbed him in the throat, letting him bleed out quickly.

Out of respect for Marie's parents, I stayed with them until they died. They were callous, cruel people, but they were Marie's parents, and as their future son-in-law, I would fulfil my duties to be with them when they died.

When it was done, I looked down at my bright red dagger and turned to the woman in the mirror, who wore a pleasant smile.

Pass the dagger through the mirror.

I did as she said, and the sword slipped through the mirror like a spoon gliding through custard. When my hilt had reached the glass, I felt a sharp tug, and when I pulled my hand away, I was holding a majestic red sword.

Just a little thank you gift. The woman in the mirror smiled, and with a wave of her hand, bid me farewell. Whenever you wish to claim your day as a human, just strike this sword against the great tree in the middle of the blood pond. The curse will be lifted for twenty-four hours. Now don't forget, you will return to your normal size when you pass through the gate into your kingdom. 

Ok, wow, we are actually really close to the end. Just three more parts, I think? And I'm sorry for being late to post, I got home close to midnight yesterday and didn't even turn on my computer.