The Forgotten Kingdom

Chapter 12

Grimm watched as his Grimmkin worked quickly, preparing to act as the grimm troupe. Brumm was playing his accordion, humming along to a well remembered melody. He approached the musician, eyes narrow. "Brumm. Come with me." He turned and walked away to the castle, hearing Brumm follow, thinking. He was unable to stop thinking of this strange girl who kept coming to the Nightmare Realm in her sleep. He wanted to keep her here for a time. Find out who she was and what she wanted. 

Brumm followed him quietly, knowing this was probably about the girl. He thought about it as he followed. The whole Nightmare Kingdom had heard her thought when she had fallen from the window, the sound had echoed through their minds clear as day, and it made them all uneasy. Normally only the king could broadcast his thoughts in such a manner, that a mortal from the waking world had been able to do it left them shaken. 

Grimm was shaken as well. Her scent now permeated the air of his room, making it hard for him to rest. Her slim form had been seen in brief flashes in his bed, there one second and gone the next. Her voice echoed in his head. 'I don't want to die!' Only to awake just as she hit the ground, saved from the gruesome fate that any other denizen of his realm would have encountered. Her eyes wide eyes staring up at him as she fell, tears sparkling in the air.

He longed to know her name, despaired over what her coming meant, pondered her presence when he felt it oh so briefly in his mind. He feared secretly what his fate would be, should the others know how crazy she was driving him and he didn't even know her. He opened his door, entering the room, focus on the ground as he tried to think of what to say to Brumm to start the conversation. He heard the door shut, then heard from his bed, a small squeak, eyes snapping up to see the girl, standing at his bedside, looking frightened and confused. 

"Um... Hi?"

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A click behind her startled her and she turned, a frightened squeak leaving her as she spotted two bugs.They both look at her, seemingly startled, the thinner of two blinking then speaking awkwardly. 

"um... Hi?" 

He flinched just barely, feeling stupid for the lame reaction to a stranger in what she assumed was his room. Carina glanced around quickly, trying to find a way out, away from the strange bugs that put an odd feeling in her gut. She found none, then looked back at the thinner of the two. "Hi..?" She felt small, and helpless. They had a staring contest for a moment. The larger of the two clearing his throat awkwardly. 

"Hello... Who are you? I'm Brumm." Brumm. She had the first name, feeling a bit more relaxed knowing his name, looking at the other of the two. "Oh, um. Pardon my lack of manners... I am Nightmare King Grimm. And... You are..?" He stepped closer, making Carina step back in alarm, falling to sit on the bed, her voice barely making it past her throat. "C-Carina..." 

She looked over the bugs. Brumm was a larger build, an accordion strapped to his back, looking well used and cared for. He was dressed as someone might dress in a circus, his mask leaving her unsettled and wary, her eyes drift to Grimm. His crimson eyes seemed to glow as they watched her. He wore a red cloak, lined within in black, large, threatening red horns curved from his head,  his voice was low and raspy, like that of an old bug who inhaled too much fog, and became sick with a cough. But his thin frame did not make him seem at all frail. Her heart was pounding in her ears, her mouth dry. She was afraid, and had no idea what to say, where to go, or what these strange bugs were going to do to her.

"Master Grimm, she looks ready to faint... perhaps we should back up a little?" Brumm spoke softly to the thinner bug, not taking his eyes off Carina as he spoke. Grimm only nods slowly, the two stepping back slowly, Carina scooting back until she could stand on the opposite side of the bed. Grimms eyes followed her every move, glowing with a strange light, like that of a starving hunter staring at his next cowering meal as it scurried upon the ground, looking for scraps.

She swallowed thickly. "W-What... What do you want...?" Her voice shook, and she felt even smaller now. The two blink. "Odd. We were wondering the same thing, saying as you seem to keep coming here. To my room. In my bed." Grimm narrowed his eyes a little, sending a chill down her spine. "I'm not doing it on purpose!!I don't even know where I am..." The two look at each other for a moment, Brumm stepping closer. "You are in the Nightmare Realm. Home of the Nightmare Heart." 

Carina frowned. "Nightmare...." She turned her head to look out at the large beating heart that hung above them. "How... This is.... A dream...? I'm sleeping..." Brumm nods. "You are asleep. And somehow you have subconsciously come to our realm. We will not hurt you. But your presence here is odd. Mortals cannot normally enter the Nightmare Realm without being invited here by the king." He looked at Grimm. 

The king watched her with interest. His eyes gleaming. 

He didn't like that look.