Prince Charming Must Die

22. Ice Elves are not Adorable

Charming frequented brothels? Ashley stored that tidbit for later analysis. "Not that I remember."

"Well, if you'd had sex with me, you would definitely remember," he purred.

Ashley gagged. Quietly. "I'm sure, Your Highness."

"Everyone tells me of my prowess."

"Yes, Your Highness."

He leaned back, smiling. "Soon, I'll be back in shape. So, don't worry, my friend." He hit the top of the carriage twice.

It rocked; the wheels crunched over the pitted ground. They were on their way. And Ashley was trapped for what could be hours. Poor Louisa. What would become of her? Ashley resolved to escape somehow and rescue her unicorn.

Soon the swaying of the carriage lulled Charming to sleep, and Ashley quickly followed.

👑👑👑

A sudden jerking motion startled Ashley awake. She shivered and slowly remembered where she was. The prince's carriage. With the prince. In disguise. After throwing up on him. She sat, holding her prickling arms against her chest. Snowflake-like fronds of ice crystals bloomed on the glass windows beneath the cold moonlight. They had stopped. Outside, horses whinnied, people cried out, swords clattered against metal.

Her teeth chattered. "What's going on?"

"Quiet," Charming hissed. "It's all under control."

"What's out there?" she whispered.

"Ice elves."

"What are ice elves?"

"Nasty little creatures. Live in the frozen bits of the Forbidden Forest."

A layer of goosebumps along Ashley's arms formed above the goosebumps that were already there. "What do they want? Are the people out there all right?"

"They want our blood. We're warm-blooded, you see. When ice elves drink our blood, it warms them. Like campfires but with blood instead of flames."

Ashley cringed every time he said, "blood." She shook her head, which turned out to be a mistake. Maybe hitting it on the armrest had done long term damage. But the prince made no sense. "I thought that was vampires," Ashley said.

"Vampires don't live in the Forbidden Forest."

"What do we do?"

"They prefer women, so we're probably all right."

Oh, great. Now her secret identity would be revealed by ice elves depriving Ashley of her blood.

"Maybe I should go check on the women," Ashley said. Braving an infestation of ice elves sounded less frightening than what would happen after Charming discovered her deception.

"Don't worry. We'll toss them a wench or two, and it'll be over."

Ashley's eyes grew round. "What?" Aren't the 'wenches' your subjects?"

"Sure."

"Then why would you sacrifice them?"

"Because we have no female prisoners to offer." He chucked her chin.

Now Ashley felt guilty. If she had continued as a prisoner, perhaps an innocent maiden wouldn't be killed. Something slammed against the carriage window. Sheets of ice lost their grip and slid down the glass.

"What was that?"

"Shhhh."

A small grey humanoid with pointy teeth and a conical green hat banged his tiny fist against the glass, grinning and licking his lips.