short – Avid Procrastinator

The Royal Butler

“Stop calling me Princess!”, she yelled. “I apologise my future queen”, I replied promptly. “Stop calling me that too!!”, Was her frustrated reply. I decide it was best not to argue with the princess and left her chambers with a quick bow.

Even though I have been the princess’s personal butler for a long time. Her present rebellious phase has become a little difficult to handle. Nothing I won’t be able to handle for sure! After all, I am the best in my business.

Working for the royal family had always been my dream since I was a child. Actually, it was being a royal first but then when I figured that was too much wishful thinking, I moved on to the second best option.

I love the idea of being near a royal, the grandeur, the sense of superiority, the different protocols that establish that superiority. Even though I wasn’t a royalty, I was still better than the normal civilian people. I had my luxurious quarters, I get to keep a host of royal secrets, most of all I get to be closer to the princess.

The princess was an absolute beauty with her shimmering hair that flowed like liquid gold. Her skin so soft, so supple, so youthful. Her smile displayed that perfectly aligned pearly set of teeth with a certain kindness that graced her mesmerizing eyes. She indeed was the absolute perfection.

She looked more angelic than angels to me. I was utterly, madly in love with her. I know it is wrong but her charm, her grace, everything about her had entranced me into developing this forbidden affection towards her. At times, I could tell that she felt the same about me.

As I checked into her chamber again to collect her dinner plates. I saw that she hadn’t even touched her dinner yet. She just looked at me with those dazzling eyes and I knew that she wanted me to feed her. I know this was wrong but I couldn’t resist. I moved a chair closer to her bed and started to feed her. She seemed really surprised that I understood her hint but she readily complied. And we sat there gleefully, looking into each other’s eyes as she timidly ate all her dinner.

Just as I stood up, the princess did something rather unexpected. She reached for my hand and pulled me closer towards her. Before I could even process what was happening she stabbed me on my arm with a nail I didn’t recall her possessing. I howled in pain, for it wasn’t only physical but felt like the nail had pierced through my heart instead of my arm which had already become bloody. I couldn’t understand how she had loosened her restraints as she tried to stagger towards the door.

Despite her legs being rather weak from the lack of use for more than a month, she was quicker than I thought. I felt frustration bubble inside me. How do they always get away? Everytime, I take measures to make sure they don’t get away, but somehow they do. Now that she has gone rogue, I have to catch her before she can escape. Despite the searing pain in my arm, I rushed behind her with the knife that I always kept with me.

Given how she was weak and filled with fear, she was sure to be caught by me. She ran like a panicked gazelle who was trying to outrun a hungry lion. She couldn’t beat me at my own game. As I did catch up with her, I hesitated a little. Her pleading eyes were filled with fear, panic and a bit of regret. But it had to be done, it was her fault anyway.

With this in mind, I stabbed her – multiple times. I stabbed her until my arms felt weak and I couldn’t anymore. With the fourth princess also failing to meet my expectations, I was rightfully frustrated beyond anything.

As I prepared to disassemble the girl’s body inorder to dispose of it, I became more determined than ever to pull it off right the next time. Sure, it was going to be very difficult to find a blonde girl beautiful enough to play my princess but I will find her. And this time – I won’t fail. I won’t let the next princess join this girl’s fate so soon.

After all, it has been my unattainable dream, my fantasy, my secret vice, my passion. I won’t abandon it so easily. This time around, I’ll be more careful. I’ll be better. I’ll surely pull this off. After all, who is to say that the fifth time won’t be the charm?

This one is a little shorter than usual. Do comment your thoughts on it and don’t forget to share!

The Prisoner

The boots made little noise as they touched the snow-covered ground. The fresh dewy snow didn’t make a thick layer on the ground quite yet, but it was enough to leave his boot-prints for them to catch. If he continued on the roads, it would be quite easy to track him. As it is, he had been running long enough now- almost 4 straight miles. He had to stop and think of a better path. With fear still coursing through his veins, he paused to catch his breath.

The moon shimmered in the barren night-sky, half peeking through the few dark clouds shadowing it. The trees in front of him stood tall and proud almost as if mocking him. He looked around and realized both sides of the roads were covered with lush canopies so thick that they hardly let snow down on the ground. He tried to get his bearings straight and analyse which direction to go next. Did it really matter though? He shrugged and jumped right; into the ruddy ground of the woods.

Running in the woods was easier than the snow-covered roads. He was faster here, albeit a little noisier. It didn’t matter though. He was so far out in the woods now, there was little chance of someone waking up from the noises. The pitch darkness that had swallowed him when he entered the woods seemed to be unending. The farther he went, the darker it got. Still, he ran. It wasn’t the darkness that scared him. It was the noises in his head. He was trying his hardest to not focus on the noises on them. The rustle of the leaves, the sound of his boots hitting the ground and the occasional hooting of the owl somewhere around him. He urged himself to focus on these.

He had to pause yet again to catch his breath and to his left, saw darkness that was even more opaque. He had gotten accustomed to the night around him, but this seemed more denser than usual. Stupidly, he reached closer to investigate. With anticipation and anxiousness cloaking him, he walked closer, slowly until he realized it was just a tiny cave. He felt foolish and relieved simultaneously. After inspecting the tiny cave and finding it safe enough, he decided to sleep in for the remainder of the night. He would require all his strength tomorrow. He sat down resting his back on the cave wall and fished his pocket for the cigarette pack he had stolen earlier. There were only three left, the matches weren’t in good number either. Still, he didn’t just crave a smoke now, he needed it.

As he took a long drag in, he could feel the nicotine calming his mind and the soothing smoke filling his lungs. Resting his hands on his knees, he realized just how quiet it was in this little place. It didn’t help. It just made the voices in his head clearer. He could not take it anymore. He slumped his head on his hands and before he knew it, he was crying- bawling really. He was crying so hard his vision had blurred. With tears running through his flustered cheeks he remembered. He remembered and he regretted. But what use was this lamenting now anyway? What happened- what he had done; couldn’t be undone. There was nothing he could do except regret. And boy did he regret.

Regret- it engulfed him; it coiled around him slowly like a snake crushing him with its power. He never realized how strong the feeling of regret was until now when it was all he could feel. It was getting harder to breathe now, but he knew there was no cure for regret. He would just have to exist with this heaviness strangling his heart, slowly killing his soul within. He would just have to live with it.

This is just a short blurb that I had in mind. Do share your feedback for the same. Thanks for reading!