Chapter 7: Disowned
The King walked up to me, and lifted his hand to my face. I thought that he was going to touch me again, but instead he lifted it higher and removed a twig from my hair. And showed it to me saying,
"Been running around in the woods have you?" With his tone it came out more as a statement then a question.
"For your information, it seems to me that when you say 'running around in the woods' you are implying that I am 'playing' in the woods. But in fact I am not 'playing' in the woods." My parents gasped at the tone I was taking with the King. I knew that I should not be speaking to him like that. But he seemed more like a boy then a King.
"Well then what are you doing?"
"It is none of your business."
"None of my business you say. Well then…not anymore."
"What do you mean?" I asked him, but he turned around and began walking away. I turned to my parents. "Mom, Dad what does he, mean when he says that?" They just shrugged at me. They had no idea. They were as clueless as I was. He turned around and was now holding a clear sphere.
"This, my dear is the tool that I will use to find you anytime I please. I will know exactly where you are at all times."
"What? Why are you doing this? You don't own me. I am not one of your goblins." I cried. Again looking to my parents they turned their heads away from me. I knew at that moment they had given me to the King I was his to do what ever he pleased. I was screaming on the inside. A tear fell from my eye, and streamed down my face. He walked over to me and stoked my cheek, smudging the path that the tear had left.
"It is okay Nicolle there is nothing to worry about. You will be fine, with me". And he grabbed my chin and pulled me in, kissing me. My father saw this and tried to hurry over to stop him from kissing me, but the King just turned to him and smirked.
"What are you going to do? You can do nothing. She is, mine now."
"You lied to us! You said that you would make all her dreams come true; that she would never have to suffer!" My father yelled.
"I did not lie to you. I will do everything I promised." He smirked once more and stroked my arm. I could not take it any more. I was afraid and my parents could do nothing. And I felt that if I tried to do something he would kill my parents, and then probably kill me. I cried harder, but this only made him smile more.
"I hate you." I whispered.
"I know." He stated. Then he took my hand and kissed it. "I will be back tomorrow, to help you gather your things". Transforming into an owl he flew out the window, leaving us with an echo of his laugh. I fell to the floor crying. And my father who was ashamed of what he had done stormed outside and walked to the barn. My mother ran after him, to get him comfort. And I was left alone, to ponder about what had happened. I was so angry and scared. I did not know what to do; my only solution was to cry.
The next day I awoke in my bed, in the middle of the woods. I sat up and looked outside. It was sunny and beautiful out. This was something that I needed to cheer me up. Steph walked into the room.
"Well good morning Nicolle."
"Steph what am I doing here. I remember being in my real home."
"Well we were watching what was going on. And when your parents left you there on the floor to cry, we waited till you fell asleep. We opened the door and picked you up and brought you back here."
"Oh I see."
"Why do you ask?"
"He is coming back today, to help me pack my stuff, to move into the castle."
"What do you mean?"
"My parents gave me to him. They think that it would be better for me to go and live there, because I can get things there that I could not get at home."
"So what are you trying to say?"
"I am saying that I can't stay here with you. He knows where I am Steph. He has this crystal thing that he looks in and it tells him exactly where I am."
"What?"
"Yes, I can never hide. He will always know."
"This is not good."
"Tell me about it. But at least the "man" will never know that I am at the castle right." I smiled. But Steph only frowned. "What is it?"
"Oh yes he will."
"How do you know?"
"Because, Nicolle the "man", is the…is the King! Don't you see? That is how the "man" watches you. It is the crystal. " She yelled.
"I don't understand."
"Why do you think that the king has all the sudden wanted you to go and live with him at the palace?"
"I don't know I never really thought about it."
"He has watched you. He knows what we are plotting and now his only way to get you faster is to have you live with him."
"But I don't understand what is going to happen if I go with him?"
"He is going to be the bringer of death to our people." She whispered.
"Well that is just silly Steph, do you really think that?" said another voice. Steph and I both turned to see The Goblin King standing there in the doorway.
"Your Majesty." Steph curtsied to him.
"Is there really any meaning behind that Steph, really? You don't think I know better than that?" He laughed.
"Leave her alone." I stated. He turned to me and smiled.
"Well hello there, precious." He began to walk towards me. "What will happen if I leave her alone hum?" He asked. He waved his hand and Steph was gone, out of sight.
"What did you do to her?"
"She is having a little time to herself. That's all." When he said that I could only think of one word and that was 'oubliette.' "Come, now Nicolle we must go and gather your things." He said taking my hand and trying to pulled me with him.
"I am not going anywhere with you."
"We'll see about that." He looked me up and down and then threw me over his shoulder. I thought I was going to be sick. I did not expect him to do that and I lost my stomach. The wind got knocked right out of me.
"Put me down, you bastard!" I began to hit him as hard as I could. But I was going no where. He stormed out of the cottage and carried me back to my original home, and dropped my on the bed.
"Now gather up your things…Only the things that matter to you the most." He stated after looking at me picking up my night gown. I gave a sarcastic laugh and set it down. Then I walked over to my trunk and looked through it. I did not know what to pick out. There were many things that I wanted to bring.
"Come now, it does not take this long." He said sitting in the chair at the corner of the room. I gave him an evil glare and said,
"I thought that you were going to help me, pack up my things?"
"I did till I changed my mind." He smirked.
"Well then it is going to take twice as long then. And you can just sit there and complain." I said staring at him. I watched as his expression changed. He stormed over to me and grabbed my wrist.
"Listen I don't know who you think you are. But I can erase you from this world as quickly as you came in!" He screamed, slapping me across the face.
"You will not speak to me like that again. Understand?!" He said sternly, backing away. "Now hurry up." I was rubbing my cheek that had the imprint of his hand across it. I nodded my head to him and resumed my packing.
"That's good enough let's go." He ordered picking up my bag and walking to the door.
"Wait!" I yelled, than paused. "Wait. Please." I walked over to my bed, lifted the mattress and pulled out a box. I gently rested the box on my bed and opened it. I looked inside to see a whistle and a locket. I closed the box again and placed it under my arm. "Okay. I am ready."
"What is that anyway?"
"It is a whistle and a locket."
"Why are you taking those?"
"They are dear to me."
"Okay then lets go." When he spoke he did not have a harsh voice. It was very gentle. I grasped to my cloak and followed him out of the cottage.