A Brief History of Monsters

Neighbor

 I remember the day I left my home for good. I was just getting back from working in the market. I hadn't even taken off my boots when someone knocked at the door. My father, who was looking over my newest work at the loom, went and answered.

There stood a messenger with two knights by his sides. The messenger, clearly for the royal family, was holding a scroll.

"May I help you, fine sir?" my father asked, and my mother came beside me, looking concerned.

"This is the Abram household, am I correct?" the messenger questioned, raising an eyebrow in suspicion. My father nodded, swallowing audibly. I looked at my mother and she looked at me, smiling wearily.

"Ah, yes," the messenger started before unrolling the scroll, "Mr. Abram, by decree of the king of this land, it is known you owe a handsome fee to his kingdom. Now," he said, seeing my father opening his mouth in protest, "I know it seems far too early for you to have paid this back, but it has been seventeen years. However, your gracious king has decided to make a deal with you. Your debt will be paid in full, along with an extra hundred to keep you going. But only if you do one thing."

"Yes, I would do anything," my father said, looking at the man eagerly.

"Nothing terribly important. He has just asked you for one measly thing. To deal with our neighbors to this kingdom, we have to keep a promise. In this case, we will be taking your firstborn," my mother clasped one hand on my shoulder and the other over her mouth, holding back an audible gasp, "You see, she is the closest age to our beloved princess, even having similar facial attributes, and we are needing of her help." he looked to me and smiled, but I could not even force a smile onto my face. The only look I could muster was pure disgust.

"Absolutely not! My daughter will not be given away to pay off some debt, no matter how big!" My father yelled, and the two knights drew their swords, expecting him to attack.

"Well then," the messenger said, continuing to read the scroll unfazed, "The king has then written that you are to be hung for your disobedience." The two knights grabbed onto my father, grabbing him off the floor with ease. Without my mind being able to protest, my body stood.

"I'll do it. I'll go with you. Just don't hurt my father." I said, and my father looked back at me, bewildered.

"Eda, I can't let you do that. You have so much more to live for. I have lived my life happily."

"Living a life knowing you have died because of me is no life to live. I love the both of you dearly and I'll sacrifice myself so you can live comfortably," I then looked to the messenger, "just let me pack a few of my belongings." He nodded and the knights let go of him and came to my side, to see if I would escape. I led them to my room and grabbed my knapsack and packed it with things I knew I needed. My other pair of boots, another dress, my two books and journal, my ink and pen, and finally, my wooden flute. I walked beside these behemoths of people and was not allowed to say goodbye. My mother was barely able to shove something into my hand as I went through the door. I was then rushed into a carriage and, before I could look back at them for seemingly the last time, it began to go. I felt tears start to fall but I quickly wiped them away.

My mother had given me her necklace, along with my father's ring. I placed the ring on the chain of the necklace and clasped it around my neck, holding it the entire ride. The ride itself was long and quiet; the two knights that rode with me spoke very few times in hushed tones. I only picked up the words, "mansion, king, monsters" from their silent speech. I wondered where they were taking me or who this mysterious "neighbor" was. I watched as the kingdom outskirts became more and more unfamiliar.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked, but they did not respond. Instead, they looked onward with cold stares.

"Who is this neighbor..?" I asked, and the same occurred. It was a long time before one of them, the one on the left, whispered in a hushed tone,

"He wanted the princess... You have to understand." the other one looked at him, shocked, and then he looked to me.

"Who's he? What does he want from the princess? From me?" they both put a finger up to quiet me, and the messenger looked back from driving the carriage before looking back to the road.

We pulled up to a mansion, huge and covered in climbing ivy. It seemed abandoned, going by the looks of the outside, but the lights inside shone unwaveringly. We stopped just outside the gates to the mansion and the messenger came in, holding an ornate dress.

"You'll have to change into this before you meet him," he said, and I held the delicate material to my chest, enamored. The two knights stepped out, but their presence was still known, they stood in front of the doors, facing away. The dress was a gorgeous periwinkle with cherry roses and olive green leaves embroidered around the square neckline. I carefully changed into the dress and put my other dress in my knapsack. I felt uneasy. This was to make me look more like the princess.

I knocked on the door and the knight helped me out while the other bowed, as they would to a princess. They walked me through the gates and knocked at the enormous mahogany doors. They all seemed uneasy, the knights holding the hilts of their swords and the messenger losing color to his cheeks. What could be so bad about this mysterious neighbor?