The Beauty and The Ghoul

Dinner with my family used to be a much livelier affair.

Hearing the clinking of silverware be the only sound to echo through the hall was, well… off putting to say the least. I kept switching my eyes between the roast and potatoes on my plate to the woman sitting opposite myself.

The Queen of Ellister herself was sat in her chair like a doll, her holy circlet adorning the blue hood over her head. She barely moved, the only motion being that of her hand shifting to lift a morsel of food to her mouth, before slowly lowering to the plate again. I watched this happen a few more times, before getting fed up and asking.

“Mother, what is wrong?”

She blinked, as if hearing my voice reminded her that she had company and lifted her eyes to meet mine. Their corners wrinkled in a smile.

“Nothing, Allia. Why?” her voice was soft and melodic as ever. Someone who didn’t know better wouldn’t hear the lie beneath it.

“You haven’t said anything the whole meal. And father hasn’t joined us for meals or the morning prayers for the past two days. What is up with you two? Is something happening?” I pressed her for answers.

More clinking silverware, followed by a typical, “It’s been a long day, Allia. I’m just tired. You must be too. If you have finished your meal, I suggest you head on up and get a good night’s rest.”

I bit my lip, but knew not to push. I was the Princess of Ellister. The mainly ceremonial title often excluded me from matters within the palace deemed ‘above me’. If it didn’t concern me, or my chances of marrying well, I needed not be told.

So I did as my mother said. I bid her a good night, and left the table. A maid followed me as I made my way across the rug to the doors at the other end of the room, and the guards swung the them open so that I may pass.

In the Palace, everyone moved and did things around me. I was a delicate flower that would break at the first sign of stress.

There was only one person who did not treat me as such. And now was the time to go find them.

The walls passed around me as I made haste towards my chambers. I sped past the depictions of the Goddess Mother and her Angels. As a child, I was always told to portray myself as the Mother did in the many statues and paintings of her. The image of peace and serenity.

I was wondering what she thought of me as I was crossing the Palace.

I’ve walked these halls so many times that my feet took me without thinking to the last corner, beyond which stood the door of my own chambers.

In front of it stood my personal guard, who has guarded the doors to my chambers every day for as long as I could remember. I smiled as I approached him.

“Good evening, Hans. I think I’m turning in for the night.”

He smiled back, as he often did whenever he saw me. Wrinkles appeared around his mouth whenever he did this.

“And a good evening to you, Princess.” he responded as he held the door open for me. I darted inside, and shut it tightly closed.

Inside, my room was simpler than one might expect. A bed, two couches with a table between them, some cabinets, a wardrobe for everyday clothes, a small altar for private prayer, and a large window to the side, so that I may look out into the gardens while I read.

And by the bed stood just who I was looking for.

“Ezra! Oh it is so good to see you!”

An elderly woman met my gaze. Ezra had been my nurse ever since I was born. Her hands have held me as I cried when I was a baby, soothed my wounds whenever I tripped, plaited my hair, until she taught me to do it myself.

And now they were changing the silken sheets of my bed.

“Huh, and what is the reason behind your chipper attitude? I know you well enough, Allia. You want something from me, don’t you?” she’d barely given me a glance, before she flung the bedding out and spread them out.

“Oh, don’t be such a menace! Do I need a reason to want to see my favourite nurse?” I ran over to her side, leaning in close to her greying hair.

“Your only nurse, Allia. And yes, you usually do. Don’t be coy now, what is it you want? Is it lemon cake again?”

“No, something else this time.” I responded. Ezra always acted bothered whenever I begged something of her, but I knew she would always oblige, whether I wanted an exotic fruit or a specific book. Sometimes, I thought her too kind for her own good.

“Well, girl?” she rarely looked at me as she spoke, and now she was still busy with work while talking.

“It’s news I’m after. I haven’t seen father at a single meal the last two days. Mother has been awfully quiet. And worst of all, no matter who I ask, no one will tell me what is going on!” I fell back on the couch, like I always did when complaining to my friend.

Ezra just tsked me. “Your father is a busy man, Allia. It’s not easy being the King of Ellister. And Mother knows what could be bothering the Queen? A million things seem to be going through her head all the time.”

“It’s more than that, Ezra. I know there is something you’re not telling me.”

She threw me an offended frown. “There is no such thing!”

Oh now I’m sure there is!

“Please, Ezra? You know no one ever tells me anything. You’re the only one I can trust for gossip!” I skipped towards her, tugging at her arm.

“Pretty please?”

“Alright, alright!” she snapped and swatted me away. “Just settle down, will you? One day, the King will have my head for all the things I tell you!”

It was always a delight whenever Erza told me of the gossip of the Kingdom or Palace, whether it was some Lord cheating on his wife or something more sombre, such as drought or fire. Ezra was a story-teller that put many bards to shame.

She poured me a cup of tea and set it down on the little table, like she always did whenever she was about to launch into a speech. I giggled as I watched her eye the doors and window, as if checking for any potential eavesdroppers.

“This isn’t one for the faint of heart, child. I’m afraid if I tell you, you won’t sleep well tonight. Perhaps I shouldn’t-“

“No, no! Please, go on.” I begged.

She gave me a huff, now moving towards the dark oak wardrobe, never pausing between her endless tasks.

“Very well, but you have been warned. This is a story about Ghouls.”

I grimaced, puzzled. “Ezra, I want to know what has been keeping my father so occupied, not hear some children’s story.”

She lifted her hand to shush me. No one interrupts Ezra when she is spinning a good story.

“Letter after letter from all kinds of people, both lords and common alike, have been flooding the royal pigeonholes. Each and every one of them speaks the same thing.”

She paused for effect, and only then did I realise I was leaning forward in my seat.

“Well, what is it?”

She glanced about again, before flinging a dress out and folding it over.

“They all tell of a creature that has not been seen in Ellister for over two decades. A beast so horrible, the whisper of its name sends chills down many spines. Its fur black, and claws larger than knives. It is thought that the Ghouls are back.”

A silence fell as she stopped, and I couldn’t quite figure out what to say. My thumbs ran over the porcelain of the teacup in my hand, feeling its cold, smooth surface.

“Ezra…” I finally drawled, “This can’t be. I know you’ve told me many stories about Ghouls when I was a child but… I mean, they aren’t real. They’re just something used to scare children into being good. What is really going on?”

“When did I say Ghouls weren’t real?” she flipped another dress. “Yes, I’ve told you stories about them, just as many other nurses do, but I’ve never said they weren’t real. Why, I have seen one myself.”

“What, where? When?”

She looked down at the ceremonial sash I wear to the chapel, pursing her lips. She didn’t speak for so long that I thought she would not tell me, but just as I was about to urge her on, she continued.

“The Ghouls first appeared at the end of your grandfather’s reign, just a year before he went mad and had to give up the throne to your father. I was just a maid back then, cleaning up tables after a banquet that night. As I was heading inside, sa terrible howl sounded through the yard. It wasn’t like any normal howl. It sounded pained, panicked.”

Chills went up my spine. She… she couldn’t have seen a Ghoul in the Palace itself, could she?

“I turned around, and the next thing I knew something came running across the ground. It was… It looked terrible, mangy and hairless in places. Half dog, half bear perhaps? All wrong. It howled and thrashed like a cornered animal, dragging its claws across whatever came in its way. Hurt some of the other servants, before escaping through the gates and fleeing.”

She paused again.

“And?” I whispered.

“And that was that child. For many months after, people would be terrified at night. Many have been hurt or even killed by the beast people have taken to calling the Ghoul. Eventually, it disappeared, and hasn’t reappeared since. Until now.”

I sat in shock. Ezra continued cleaning, as if she hadn’t just told me that the monster from my childhood nightmares had just come to life and was now prowling the streets of Ellister. I was so taken aback that I hadn’t realised I’ve been clutching onto the cup that was by now long empty.

“How come no one has ever caught it?”

I got a shrug in return. Indeed, it seemed little could phase someone of her age.

“Many have tried. Many still will. From what I’ve heard it’s smarter than any normal animal. Moves around like it knows your next move. Not only is it huge and strong, with claws the size of your hand, but it runs around faster than your eye can turn. Now you tell me, how to catch a thing like that?” Ezra huffed and picked the basket up. “Does that satisfy your curiosity?”

I stared at her for a few beats, before reluctantly nodding my head.

“Good. Now off to bed with you. If your parents find out I’ve been telling you such stories, they will have my head!”

***

That night, I knelt at my altar and looked up at the statue of the Goddess in prayer. I prayed for the rumours to be mistaken, and for the Ghouls to stay in the pages of children’s books, and not creep through the houses and homes of the people of Ellister. I prayed that she deliver us from harm, and have mercy of me, my family and our people.

At night, I thrashed around in my sheets, my dreams filled with blurry visions of that monster. It’s ugly husk, deformed, with patches of mangled fur here and there, ran towards me, claws first. I ran across the Palace, trying to get away, but it was faster than any normal animal. I felt myself lurch forward and fall down into a deep abyss, before waking up with a start.

And being met with the ordinary canopy of my bed.

When I looked out the window, the moon was high in the sky. I had awoken from a nightmare in the dead of night. Suddenly, I felt very silly.

This is just ridiculous. Ezra needs only scare me with some cheap horror and I start having night terrors like a little girl.

Knowing that this just wouldn’t do, I hauled myself over to the pitcher and poured myself a glass of clear water.

Hopefully this will rid my head of this nonsense enough for me to sleep through the rest of the night.

The air still felt too hot for me to wrap back into the sheets, so I walked over to the window and watched the gardens outside.

During the day, the front of the Palace was a wonderful sight. The gates opened onto a road, along the length of which were planted endless rows of flowers and shrubs, all arranged into different designs and patterns of all colours to please the eye. The road led straight to the front stairs of the Palace, which opened onto the main entrance, where many esteemed guests would be greeted and met.

It’s current look was much more sobering. Long shadows of trees stretched across the pavement, their raked branches stretching out to grab oncoming prey. The moonlight coloured the whole scene a watery grey, and in the dim, silhouettes and shapes morphed in the eye of the beholder into whichever demons they feared most.

I took a closer look at the stairs. Someone stood there.

What kind of visitor is so rude to turn up at this hour?

The silhouette leaned over and placed something on the stairs, before looking up.

And then I saw that it had a muzzle for a face.

“Mother have mercy…”

A scream erupted from me. I fell back.

The door burst open. Footfall beat hard on the floor. Someone ran inside.

“Princess, are you alright?!”

Strong hands lifted me up by my arms. My elbow hurt from hitting the floor earlier.

“The Ghoul! I saw the Ghoul! Just now, on the Palace steps!”

The man rushed over to the window. I saw the greying hair and recognised him as Hans. His eyes scanned the area intently, like an eagle looking for prey. He then turned back to face me.

“There is nothing there, Princess. Are you sure you are not mistaken?” he spoke gently, with concern. As though I was a frightened lamb. His hands reached out to mine, seeking to offer me comfort.

I felt lost for a moment, blinking at him in a daze. Of course, I must look so foolish right now, like any other child that screams ‘Ghoul’ and calls their parents crying. I wasn’t sure of what to say, until it hit me.

“Yes! Yes, it left something on the Palace steps!” I pushed past the man to the window, pressed my face to the glass, and then pointed.

“Right there to the left!”

Hans came to my side and squinted his eyes. They must have landed on the same black object I was looking at, because he suddenly stepped away from the window and placed his hand on my shoulder.

“I will send someone to inspect it. You should head back to bed, Your Highness. I will guard your door as always, so you may sleep soundly.”

He left as suddenly as he entered, leaving me to quell my fears alone as best I could. I heard footsteps and muffled speech outside my door. A few minutes later, several guards walked out of the front door, picked up the object and disappeared inside once more.

I’m not sure how much time passed after that, but I could not shut my eyes until the morning came and the silence of the night was replaced by the reassuring chitter of songbirds.