Creature and The Gardener

A flower. It was thanks to my want of an illuminated charspa that I'm stuck here. As my Father tried to steal the damned thing from...from someone I have no real name for. The Creature that locked me in this terrible room and left an hour ago. Telling me that as long as I stay here, he won't kill my Father. Some part of me wished that I had simply asked for some form of clothing like my sisters had. A pair of shoes like Isabella. Or maybe a fancy dress that my older sister, Henrietta, demanded of Father.

I wouldn't have demanded but, still.

Maybe I could have been like my younger brothers, Jonathan, Lucious, and Edmund. Asking only for sweets to eat. As they hadn't had a decent chocolate or cake in so long. They only wished to have them again. Something that I somewhat had missed as well. Not as much as my younger brothers had. But, no. No, I had to have a plant that I used to have in a garden back in our old home. Back when our finances were actually stable and I could plant anything I wished for. Instead of being on that lovely, albeit rather small, farm we had. It might not have had everything that all of us were used to. Or really anything we were accustomed to, like indoor toilets.

Though that was the only thing I wasn't a fan of, admittedly.

Father had gone to check the shuttles at the station. They were meant to be traded with another colony planet for a hefty sum. And a lot of them had been stolen from him by terrible partners. Most of which seemed to disappear not that long after they stole it. So, Father couldn't have them arrested for their crimes. At least not for a good long while and we all suspected there was no way they would ever be caught. We lost a lot of money and had to move to the small farm thanks to that. We hoped that we could make some money making food for other colonists. It wasn't working as well as we had hoped it would but, it was getting us food.

About a week later, Isabella told me that one of Father's shuttles came back. That it might have things we need inside of it.

I was skeptical but, Father and the others were too giddy to care. They celebrated early. In hindsight, it was definitely too early and I should have put my foot down about the whole thing. Instead, I just let my Father talk me into getting me a gift for working so hard. My siblings urged me to agree as well. Feeling that I hadn't had a lot and deserved to be pampered by our Father.

I was so stupid to allow them to talk me into it.

As a week after he left on one of our Catros, a rather large emu-like horse-bird, he came back with several trunks full of gold. More gold then any of us were anticipating that he would be coming back with. Soon as he gave us all our gifts, he sat down at the supper table. We set out our meal as he quietly told us all that had happened during that long week away. How the shuttle had nothing on it but trash. That after he left for home, he had gotten lost and found a rather enchanting castle. One that was untouched by the snow that had fallen around at least two miles around it. That Father had gone inside the mansion and had a grand meal by himself. Wearing the finest silk pajamas that he had ever seen in his entire life. And slept in a glamorous bed that even we couldn't have afforded at our richest.

In the morning, he found his clothes were perfectly laundered. Also that he had the nicest shower that he had ever taken in years. How nice the soaps were.

His breakfast was just as divine as the dinner that had been given to him.

Afterwards, he toward this strange castle of odd beauty. The halls were void of any form of life. No guards. No servants or any form of royalty were to be found. Not even an animal was present in the whole place. If there had been a servant, maybe they could have prevented what had happened next. As my Father wandered into a room that was different from the other ones. It wasn't as beautifully decorated as the rest of the castle. In fact, the room reminded him vaguely of the inside of one of his shuttles. Metallic, cold, and void of life. The only thing that was inside the room was a single illuminated chaspa that was on a pedestal with some glass protecting it.

Without a second thought, Father lifted up the glass and took the illuminated chaspa.

A second later, there was a horrible roar from all directions. Some strange being yelling at him for his crime over an intercom. It bellowed,"I GAVE YOU SHELTER FROM SUCH A COLD NIGHT, FEED YOU, AND CLEAN YOUR CLOTHES FOR YOU!"

"AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME?!",the voice demanded. A second later, that monster burst into the room from a door that Father hadn't seen. It was the most hideous thing he had ever seen. Covered in thick white fur, with large tusks that didn't fit in his mouth, and bright red eyes. Six-fingered clawed hands, hooves instead of normal feet, and a large spiked tail. This thing demanded that he pay with his life for stealing his rose. Father pleaded that he not kill him...that he had to go home to his six children. Telling it in depth about us as it got close to him.

Seemingly interested in showing my Father some mercy.

When Father got to me, Evangeline, it seemed strangely interested. The Creature visibly calmed as it questioned,"Your youngest, this Evangeline, is she kind? Is she lovely? And is she friendly?"

"Is she a gentlewoman?",the Creature continued. Its voice so much gentler then before. But still very disturbingly gruff and raspy as it stared at Father. Father hesitantly agreed to this. Boasting about my gardening skills as he tried to understand why it wanted this information. Then his stomach dropped as it demanded,"Send this beautiful daughter of yours in your place and I will spare your life."

"Try to cheat me of what is mine, I will find you, and I will kill you.",it warned him. I'm still not sure how this animal or whatever it was could find Father. As far as we could tell, it didn't leave the castle. But, I love Father and despite my siblings begging me to not go...I did. My sisters were the most terrified for me. As they feared this horrible monster was going to work me to death. Henrietta had given me a small knife with a pearl handle. She instructed me to hide it on me at all times and to use it if this strange creature tried anything.

Isabella gave me a strong poison she got from our garden. Telling me that if it spoke to me cruelly that I should use it in its food.

I prayed that I would never need to use it, either.

Father went with me the entire way to this castle. Holding my hand a few times with tears in his eyes. I did my very best to not scream at him or hit him. It wouldn't do either of us any good but, I was so angry with him. So angry at myself for my stupid request. Being held captive by an easily angered monster over a stupid illuminated chaspa. But, I did my best to keep myself composed. Things were bad enough as is, I didn't need to lose my temper and make things much more difficult for us both. So, we just rode there in complete silence.

There was a meal for us but, neither of us could eat it. I was too terrified and Father was just not hungry. A moment after we arrived, the Creature came out of hiding. It was more horrifying then he had said he was. Its face resembled a wild choar but, its nose was more squished. The thing let out weird snorts as it neared me. And it took all my willpower to not flinch or move as it neared me. Staring me up and down as it stated,"You came. I thought you would be too afraid to try but, you did."

"My Father's life is on the line, sir.",I reminded. Keeping my tone as steady as possible. I wasn't going to let some creature intimidate me into silence. Or whatever this ghastly beast was up to. Putting my hands behind my back, I continued,"I couldn't stay away and leave him to whatever you have planned."

"Brave words for someone shaking in their boots, Evangeline.",it snapped. I wasn't that terrified of it. The thing wanted me to feel intimidated. And I suppose it was angry that I wasn't showing more signs of being cowed. My Father got between us as he pleaded for my life. That it not kill me in his place. And that he changed his mind. It promised him that it wouldn't kill me and even gave him more money in exchange for me. Then it demanded he leave or he would kill Father.

I knew Father would protest this but, I persuaded him to leave. Hugging him before he left the castle.

The Creature noticed that I hadn't touched the food it had prepared. Looking angrier then I had ever seen anyone. It demanded that I eat the food but, I refused as politely as I could. This seemed to further anger the Creature but, it didn't yell at me. Instead it just lead me to my room. My things were somehow already inside and waiting for me. I walked over to the bed, sat down, and flinched when I heard the door slam. A second later, it was locked and I prayed that I don't need to use the gifts my sisters had given me. I don't want to die in a horrible place like this.