“Will that be all, your majesty?” The scribe says after safely tucking the scroll under his arm and securing the pen to his hat. “Yes, I do believe so.” Damselle answers and watches the scribe turn to leave. Then before he gets the chance to leave she calls after him. “Actually,” He turns around eagerly. “I do think there is something you could do for me. Sit.” The scribe sits back at the desk, fresh parchment and ink dripping from the pen. “I want you to deliver a letter.” T

In 1932, at the age of ten, I decided to join the medical field and be a doctor. In 1966, I took the life of my last victim and of a beloved daughter. Over the 27 years that it’s been since I’ve last seen the Lexington family, my heart has grown to know pain. My grief, though weaker now, has not subsided. And my body is starting to fail me. Although I had suspected it then, I did not pay attention to the stress that my body was under. That day, when I was starting Mary’s s

Mary should have been home four hours ago. Her father will be home if he isn’t already there, to find his wife missing and his parents frantic. A note takes the place of Mrs. Lexington and her mother as they undoubtedly and aimlessly search the neighborhood for the missing child. Another daughter gone without a single clue to leave behind. Another wandering tyke lost to the belly of the beast. I called my employers to inform them about a loss of stock, but they instructed me

I want so desperately to weigh my guilt on a scale of punishment; to torment myself, to make my mind unsafe to live. If only I could justify my actions by bringing myself to insanity, by causing the mere reality around me to collapse. In a way that is unlike the twisted manner that I have brought into existence. But I can’t, my trouble is to live with my guilt. That is a great suffering. I loved her as my own child, that is my greatest suffering. The day I abducte

All I could do was watch, stare, study. The Victorian sat on the corner of a small intersection with sidewalks trimming the edges. The yard made a slight acute angle in the left corner where two crosswalks went their separate ways. On the other side of the street, to the left of the cherry tree was the drugstore that young housewives often flocked to in groups no smaller than three. Except for Mrs. Lexington who would go in solitude, determined to convince the other wives tha

Life is fragile. I know this to be true because I have seen so many shatter, and have been the cause of shattering. I watch. I study. I learn everything about the ways that people conduct their lives. Mr. Bonofiglio shaves his mustache every Tuesday morning at six o’ four and every Saturday evening after dinner, as his wife likes. I see this from my bathroom window into his and have made note of it. Charlotte, the adolescent daughter of the Willboughs, is picked up every Frid

When the cherries came, so did little Mary and her friends to harvest them. I never bothered to disturb the children while they picked the f

“Maid!” Damselle screams from her bedroom. A young female servant scurries into her room, bowing low once she reaches the princess. The peasant girl is thin and shaky, with smudges of furnace ash on her face. She stands short in stature and is in no way unique to her mistress’ eye, other than her being the furnace girl, to which, the princess has a strong vendetta. “Yes, ma’am?” She lifts her eyes to Mrs. Charming, but only slightly, sure to avoid eye contact. “Go fetch the s

In my youth, I was trained to be a surgeon. For seven and a half years I dedicated myself to learning everything about the human physique and in my pastimes, the human psyche. To follow my dream in medicine, I took out a loan from my uncle in the Bronx, but upon his death, my debt went to some men who had invested in my uncle, and therefore in my education. I was not able to repay what I owed and so I sold them my life in order to spare it. I still had breath, but it was not

What am I going to do? Prince Charming thinks. He has been pacing in his office for the past half hour, drenched in a cold sweat. The air around him is growing warmer and warmer by the second, legal documents litter his mahogany desk, and evening light shines in through a large window in front of him. He looks out through it and observes fairytale creatures being forced into shackles in the pebbled courtyard below. These were some of the ones who organized the case against h

Forgiveness is the cruelest revenge. The words “I forgive you” burn hotter than molten glass and shatter the heart far quicker. It is easier to hate, or even forget than it is to forgive. When you forgive, all the pain you endured to get to the point of resolution will be lashed out at the inflictor. I wish I was spared such grace. Butter blonde curls and freckle-free faces were on the market. Her name was Mary-probably after her grandmother-but I never could tell.

“How can you stand idly by while such injustices prevail?” Sadzi, the former BOF attorney shouts marching down an aisle. She stops in the center of an open-air throne room. Branches above make a green ceiling, and mossy stones carpet the ground. The area is lit up by fireflies and shining sun fairies, flowers, and vines decorate the walls. There is a giant mural behind the thrones depicting the face of the queen Majesty, Mira. Sadzi continues once she knows that she has every

“Gretel! Gretel, what are you doing?” Charming calls after his sister when she walks off the witness stand. The Royal attorney sits in his chair, puzzled by what has just played out. Charming follows his sister outside of the courtroom and into the main hall. She starts walking faster, but he eventually catches up to her and grabs her by the arm. “Leave me alone, Hansel!” The princess yells and snatches her arm away from him. He snatches it back. “How could you b

The attorney’s eyes widen, and she quickly puts the princess’ hood back over her head. “Miss. It’s crazy enough that you are over here,” She takes the woman back inside the courthouse. “But, its risky to have you testify against your brother. He is second only to King Henry, and you know this. You could get us killed!” “I know. But I have solid evidence and another witness on the way! Please, let me help. He’s hurt more than BOFs you know.” “Crazy Royals and their crazy idea

“It’s monsters like her that are ruining our towns!” “She’s bringing down my property value!” “Kill them! Kill them all!” “Beasts!” There is an uproar in the courtroom, townsfolk rushing at BOFs from the left side of the room. “She killed my son!” one woman shouted. “Calm down! Calm down, everyone!” The judge shouts above the crowd, banging his gavel. They start to settle. “I know we all have grievances with these creatures, but we must act accordingly if we want the issue r

“Once upon a time, a prince saved a princess, and they lived happily ever after. That’s how it’s supposed to go, but for everyone. The end of the first story, the story everyone is taught, is a complete lie! Do you understand what crimes these two have committed? It is a complete disaster. Our economy has fallen, our children’s minds corrupted, and innocent beings have been murdered. I would like to bring the first victim to the stand. Mrs. Scorch.” A red-scaled dragon with a