#wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

She entered the dim hallway. Scorch marks dragged across the wallpaper and ashes dusted the floors. Swallowing thickly, Hattie tried to remember the shadow Queen’s instructions. Vanessa needed someone to deliver tea to her prince. She had been very particular about making sure Hattie used a tea set with winter scenes on it so that the prince would think of his queen while drinking the tea that was supposed to ease his aches and pains that came from a terrible illness that left him bedridden.

Hattie had asked what kind of illness and if it was contagious, but Vanessa had dismissed her and gone back to the village to boss her subjects around. Normally, Hattie wouldn’t think much of it, but the fact that the manor was in such a desolate part of the forest and how everything about the manor seemed extra creaky and creepy, she was nervous about what state the prince would be in.

Or if he was even human as she suspected the queen wasn’t.

It was when she was halfway across the hallway that a crash exploded above her, shortly followed by a horrible, retching sound. She jumped, nearly dropping the thermos, as she craned her neck. Terrible sounds of furniture being slammed around, and splintering wood came from the floor above. The ceiling shook and dust and ash fluttered to the ground like snow. The retching became haggard as it dissipated. Pained, distorted groans took its place. Heavy thumping and clatters followed the groans as something large moved around the upstairs.

Hattie bolted into the kitchen.

She carefully shut the door behind her, not wanting to alert whatever was upstairs to her presence. Blessedly, the sounds were muffled down in the kitchen, and Hattie was able to calm her pounding heart.

Until she thought about how it was more than likely that the thing making those sounds was the prince. And she had to bring him a cup of tea.

Great.

Because she did not want to face the brunt of Vanessa’s ire, she shook her head and summoned her courage by searching for the specific teacups Vanessa wanted her to use. Probably since they were used so often, there were a couple identical cups in the sink, all with some sort of purple residue, and one or two clean ones on the counter. Since she wasn’t asked to clean the old cups and she didn’t want to stay in the manor for longer than necessary, she grabbed a clean cup and unscrewed the thermos.

She was supposed to leave the thermos for him too, so that when he finished his first cup, he could refill it himself, but a sudden and frightful sound of glass shattering came from upstairs. It startled her so badly that as she was finishing pouring the cup of tea, she whirled around and dropped the thermos. It tumbled to the ground and an amber tea with a twinge of purple seeped into the carpet.  

Hattie froze as a doleful lament reverberated with the wind howling outside. Even after it faded and the only thing that she could hear was her own heart pounding against her ribs, she waited a few extra seconds. Finally, she stooped down to pick up the thermos with trembling hands. There was only a couple drops left. Deflating, she poured the last bit of tea into the cup and then lowered the thermos into the sink. Now the hard part.

The teacup rattled against the saucer as she slowly exited the kitchen. In the hallway, the thumping and low, agonized groans were clearer and much more unnerving. The door across from the kitchen taunted her as she listened to what sounded like claws scraping against wooden floors.

She took a deep breath, and then another. Finally, she willed a foot forward. She jolted when a layered cry that pitched into a whine resounded above. A bit of tea sloshed out of the cup and landed onto her fingers and the plate. The liquid was hot enough to be uncomfortable, but at least it wasn’t scalding.

The cry had seemed… rather sad. And though her heartrate was as swift as the spread of wildfire, a small part of her began to worry about the ghastly creature as it thumped around with anguished cries. That worry for the creature’s sake was enough for her to overcome her fear. Carefully, she crept into a dusty billiard room.

Snow danced outside the windowpanes and the light that reflected off of the snow cast a pure, gentle light into the dark room. Hattie crossed through the room and over to the stairs, where the unnatural cries of the creature were magnified as the staircase funneled them towards her. The stairs creaked underneath her boots, and the cup balanced on the plate clattered unsteadily. The tea rippled.

Hattie reached the top of the staircase and stood, petrified, in the shadows. At the end of hallway littered with used, burnt tissues, a terrible creature hunched in the corner.

The creature was enormous in the cramped hallway, with a torso that ended in a long, winding tail. He had two lanky arms with pronged claws, currently tearing into the ground. His head was round and a mane of the same purple fur that covered his body was currently slicked back. The purple fur had a pattern of flowers printing across his arms and chest. Vines trailed down his twitching tail and petals traced an eye that gleamed gold.

The creature retched. Vile globs of golden, molten liquid were expunged from the creature’s throat. The scent of burnt acid and smoking wood reached Hattie and her breath caught in her throat. The flames flickered momentarily from the puddles forming by his claws, but it didn’t burn through the wood. Squinting, Hattie could see ash crusting underneath the gold, spreading as the searing goop cooled.

“N-nesssss” the creature hissed once he spat out the last of the burning globs. His tail thrashed behind him and his claws flexed. He pulled his head back and turned, blinking in a daze as his glowing, fanged mouth pressed into a thin line. The glow highlighted the pair of sharp fangs.

The blank look on the creature’s features flashed with recognition and his gaze zeroed in on the trembling teacup in Hattie’s hands.

Her heart leapt to her throat.

“Nesssssss!” The creature’s eyes widened, and he whirled around. His tail thrashed against the walls as he clawed his way across the carpet, swiftly charging towards Hattie.

At the sight of the large purple monster lunging towards her with claws leaving scores in the carpet and golden gunk dripping his maw, Hattie did the only thing she could. She dropped the teacup and ran back the way she came.

*

Luka had been in bed, sinking back into the pillows, when his fever spiked. It started with a burning in his chest, and he began panting as he numbly tried to air himself out. His sheets were kicked off of the bed and he carded trembling fingers through hair matted with sweat. The constant aches and pains that plagued him since the illness began in earnest sharpened and he sputtered as he flew forward, clutching at his shirt.

His stomach twisted and he felt bile rising. Slapping a palm over his mouth, he stumbled out of bed. He headed straight for the wastebasket that was filled with and surrounded by tissues covered in purple snot and stained by black ash. But his legs felt like they liquified and he dropped before he could reach it.

Searing bile bubbled in his throat and he willed his legs to function, but he couldn’t separate them. He had to use his elbows to crawl within arm’s reach and barely manage to yank the wastebasket in front of himself as his stomach emptied.

It burned. He couldn’t register anything but the heat swelling in his head. He couldn’t feel how his hair lengthened into a mane. He couldn’t feel the fur spreading across his skin or how his tail thrashed behind him as his back arched and stretched. Tissue burned in the wastebasket as globs of the horrid tasting goop slipped from his open jaws.

A whine escaped as he threw up. Squinting his eyes shut, he clenched his combining fingers. They melded together and claws extracted from his pronged hands. It wasn’t until his stomach slowly settled that he pulled away from the wastebasket.

He had grown much, much larger, but as he lifted his head to dizzying heights, he could only groan as he desperately looked around for something to cool his head. His vision was blurred with gunk and his stomach still ached. His legs weren’t working but anxiety took hold over his muddled thoughts and he clawed his way through the bedroom. His tail knocked into furniture and split a stool on his way out.

“Ne-nessa.” His voice was slurred as he circled the nursery connected to the bedroom. “Pl-pleeeessss. H-hheeeennnggg.” His tongue felt thick, and he let out a cry when he knocked his head against the ceiling. His eyes burned and hot droplets of flaming gold oozed out like tears. He hissed at the heat.

“C-cooooold,” he choked out to the empty manor. The hot tears pooled, and he whined as he continued to aimlessly wander out into the hall. His tail thrashed as he tried to use his legs. It knocked into a bookshelf which toppled over with a crash. He barely heard it.

Everything was just too hot! He couldn’t focus as his whole body burned and ached. Through the fog that was his mind, he remembered the faucet in the bathroom could provide cold water! He snaked down the hall in desperation. His claws clutched the door handle and he shoved himself through the cramped doorway. Turning towards the faucet, he looked up above the sink and!

There was a monster staring back at him.

Panic overwhelmed him and he scrambled back, flipping over his tail and, for good measure, he smacked it against the monster! The sound of shattering glass accompanied a sharp pain in his tail, and he let out a wail that intertwined with the mournful cry of the wind. With fear and pain spurring him on, he darted back into the hallway, retreating from the terrible creature with glowing eyes and a fanged mouth and that horrible purple print spreading over fur.

He paced, groaning as he ached for comfort but not knowing where to find it. His stomach twisted and he pulled himself into the corner, having enough foresight to limit the mess he made, but unable to think through his actions enough to run to the toilet or wastebasket.

Crouched in the corner, he trembled as he waited for the worst to pass. Clawing into the wood, he retched until his stomach was empty. Finally, the ache in his stomach abated and he spat the rest of the gnarly tasting bile from his mouth.

“N-nesssss.” He just wanted her to be there, to chase the fever away.

Leaning back and panting, he turned, looking down the hall. His gaze narrowed on the teacup.

Vanessa!

“Nesssssss!” He slurred out in excitement. Vanessa! Help! In his fevered state, it did not dawn on him that the figure in the stairway was far shorter than Vanessa, nor did he understand why she dropped the teacup and ran!

“Ne—sa!” Luka tore across the carpet frantically. “Com—commm back! Pleasssss!”

He followed the girl as she flew down the stairs and out into the hall on the first floor. Unable to redirect his momentum when he entered the hallway, he slammed into the wall. He shook his head before looking up in time to see the girl slip out the front door.

“No!” He yelled with a cracking voice. “Nesssa! Pleass!”

Please help. Please, please help.

He scrambled after and clawed his way to the front door.

“Ness!” he cried as he flung himself through the door and out onto the snow.

Snow.

He made eye contact with the girl who had already cleared the stairs leading to the porch. She watched with wide eyes. A relieved smile played across his dazed features, then he dropped.

Steam billowed around his shrinking form. Fur receded, but his skin remained purple with flowers and vines blooming across his body. His tail split and he groaned as the burning in his head and chest cooled. He was still feverish, and his head felt stuffed from illness, but it was a far more manageable temperature.

Then, the ice began to set in with an unforgiving chill. The wind bit into his skin wet with melted snow and his sweat. A violent shiver tore through his body and he pushed himself up on trembling arms, panting.

“Are you alright?” A voice called.

Luka jolted, looking up in a daze. His mouth hung open as he stared at the small child wearing a purple tunic, yellow cape, and a matching top hat. His chest burned with a golden light that cast a faint glow against the back of his fangs. He blinked, rubbing at his gunk-filled eyes with similarly glowing irises.

“Are you…” the girl paused, “the prince?”

He nodded as he rubbed his eyes. What was he doing, again? Why was he outside? He last remembered being in bed… and something about Vanessa? The wind whistled, reminding him that he needed to go back inside.

“We need to—oh!” Luka jumped when he lowered his hands, surprised to find that the kid had climbed the steps and was standing right next to him.

“Let’s get you inside,” she offered and held out her hand.

Luka nodded, letting her yank him to his feet. His brain whipped around his head from the sudden movement, and he flung himself towards the outside wall of manor for support. While lifting a purple hand to his head, he groaned.

“Sorry,” the kid said quietly.

Luka slowly shook his head, and when he was steady enough, reached his other hand out and waved it dismissively.

“W-we sh-should—” His teeth chattered. He swallowed thickly before forcing himself to articulate, “We should go inside.”

“Yeah.” The kid slipped her hand into his and gently tugged him back into the warm manor.

He continued shaking from the cold of his illness and kept his palm pressed against his forehead. The kid said something, but it was just background noise as he fought to remain conscious. He suddenly felt so tired, and his legs threatened to buckle underneath him.

“Hey!” The kid gave his hand a squeeze and he blinked, glancing down in confusion. She repeated, “I spilled your tea.”

“Tea?” Luka echoed, crinkling his nose. Suddenly, realization hit. “O-oh! Vanessa sent you then?” A wave of sorrow crashed into him and he sniffled. “That means she’s too busy to come herself, isn’t she?” Whoops. There go the waterworks.

Before Luka could stop himself, hot, salty tears dripped down his cheeks and he stumbled under the weight of despair. He pulled his hand away from the kid and tried to wipe at his tears, but they came in unrelenting waves. His chest shook from his crying as every part of him shivered.

“Hey!” The kid was startled by his emotional outburst.

“A-apologies,” he choked out.

He just missed Vanessa so much (though his fever and fatigue didn’t do his increasingly brittle emotional state any favors). It felt like it had been ages since he’d last seen her, and even though she sent others to take care of him, or he would wake up to steaming tea by his bedside, he missed being held. He missed her cool hands abating the worst of the fever. He missed hugging her tightly and feeling safe with her nearby as he slept. He missed waking up from fevered nightmares to his beloved’s soothing embrace. Lately, his nightmares were his only company.

A hand gently patted his hair, and the touch was enough to cause his tears to falter. He looked up at the kid, eyes wide.

“Let’s get you to bed,” she said matter-of-factly.

He nodded. Right. Bed.

She helped him up again, slowly this time, and gently led him down the hall and towards the billiard room.

“Do you always turn into a monster when you don’t feel good?” she asked as they reached the stairs.

“What?” He tripped on the first step and immediately thrust out his arm to catch himself on the railing. His head throbbed with pressure and he paused, waiting for it to disperse. While he waited, he muttered, “you certainly have an active imagination!” He couldn’t help but crack a smile, baring one of his fangs. It dug into his lip and his smile fell.

No… no! Haha… it was just her imagination. He would remember if he had turned into a monster, right? But it was disconcerting that he couldn’t remember how he had gotten outside… No! It was probably just sleep walking or something.

He eyed his purple hands with an edge of nervousness.

“Hmm.” The kid sounded unimpressed. “Well, anyway, I was supposed to deliver tea, but I spilled it all. Vanessa’s gonna be mad.”

“Oh, I’m certain she wouldn’t be.” Luka smiled as they slowly climbed the stairs. “She would understand! But if you’re worried, you can tell her you delivered it and I won’t say anything to the contrary.”

“Really?”

“Really.” His stomach wasn’t feeling well anyway. He would manage with just water.

“You’re a nice prince, then! When you aren’t being scary.” She nodded like she just discovered something.

Luka quirked an eyebrow. He didn’t really understand what she meant by scary, and it made him a little anxious to think about what the answer could be, but he let it slide.

“Thank you! But you don’t have to call me Prince, or anything. My name is Luka.” He forced a smile.

“I’m Hattie!” She beamed up at him.

“Very nice to—” a tickled rose in his throat and he turned away and into his elbow. He slowed to a halt and Hattie waited with him as he coughed. His chest rumbled with his haggard wheezing, but finally, he expelled a glob of purple phlegm tainted with more ash than usual. He wrinkled his nose before lowering his arm with the goop clinging to his sleeve. Clearing his throat, he weakly said, “Nice to meet you, Hattie.”

“Nice to meet you, too!”

Hattie kept him steady as he stumbled towards the bedroom. They were both surprised to find the furniture a mess. The bedside table was overturned, and the poor stool was merely splinters! When Luka expressed his bewilderment, a knowing look flickered across Hattie’s features, but she kept her thoughts to herself.

Deciding to worry about the furniture later, he shuffled over to the large canopy bed. He dropped down, going limp as soon as he reached the mattress. His uncontrollable shaking grew worse, as if knowing he was too weak to fight through it any longer. He numbly yanked the sheets around himself and grunted as he nuzzled into a tight cocoon.

Hattie told him to wait a moment and he nodded, slipping into a bit of a stupor as he shivered under the blankets. In what simultaneously felt like ages and no time at all, Hattie appeared with a glass of ice water.

“Drink!” she commanded.

He shifted, extending a hand and accepting the glass. He was too tired to sit up properly, so he drank at an angle that left him spilling a bit onto the mattress next to him, but he didn’t care. The water was sweet and refreshing and felt good on his raw throat. He drained the glass in seconds. After, he blindly reached for the bedside table, forgetting it had been knocked over. He dropped the glass, and Hattie had to hurry to catch it before it shattered against the floor.

“You need sleep,” she observed.

He nodded, flopping back into the pillows.

“Thank you, Hattie,” he mumbled, feeling his fatigue slowly overtake him.

“Do you need anything else?”

He shook his head, meeting her bright blue gaze.

“I’ll be back, probably!” She waved as she headed for the door. “Try not to be scary next time, okay?”

He returned the wave weakly as she slipped out of the room.

He watched Hattie leave with fear squeezing his chest. He didn’t want to be left alone again, but she was just a child. Certainly, she shouldn’t be taking care of him and, heaven forbid, she shouldn’t risk catching whatever he had. No. She needed to leave.

He shifted under the covers, pulling them tightly over his eyes as he squeezed them shut. He tried to force his ailing body to sleep. If he was asleep, he couldn’t feel the acute ache of loneliness.