Short Story Sunday: The Forbidden Room.

The wind was frightening as it howled down the cobble-lined street. Linnea tightened her shawl, made from a light cotton material in a deep burgundy shade, around her shoulders as her two sisters and she strolled pasts all the shops. Today was a shopping day, one of Linnea's favorite days. The day usually came once a month and her mother would take Linnea and her two older sisters into town and they would purchase new dresses, shawls, shoes, you name it. She also enjoyed the outing because it usually meant a stop at the ice cream parlor which was a rare treat indeed. 

“Such a chilly day, hopefully, this is one of the last ones of the season though.” Said her sister Isabella. 

Linnea nodded in agreement. She was tired of the winter fashion of dull colors like brown or grey and wanted nothing more than the bright spring colors of pink, magenta, or even a vibrant turquoise. Hopefully, the shops still had those fabrics in stock, Linnea thought that her mother had waited just a week too long this time to take them into town. All her friends had seemed to already acquire the new styles of the coming season, but not her and it made Linnea feel utterly behind on the trends. How was she supposed to find a husband in last season's clothes?

“Come ladies, this is the shop my friend told me all about. She was wearing one of their designs the other day at tea and it was simply beautiful. I know we will find you three some good things here.” 

The shop Linnea's mother was referencing was named Stilvoll and Company. The windows had two ornate gowns on display that were made from silk with detailed lace and embroidery showcasing bees, flowers, and other springtime images. Oh, this would be a wonderful shop thought Linnea as they entered. 

The store was spacious while still being intimate. The floor was lined with dark rich cherry wood and the gowns were on display along with a wall full of various rich fabrics in every color imaginable. Her sisters squealed with excitement and ran right toward all the beautiful fabrics and styles, but Linnea just took a moment to take in all that this store was. 

They had been in beautiful stores before that had stunning gowns, but this was a step up. Father must have gotten a raise at work to afford this luxury. It was almost overwhelming to her. The colors, textures, and patterns all so different from each other but nonetheless as grand. 

She could hear her sisters scrabbling a few feet away while Linnea slowly meandered through the front room of the shop. There was a wall that housed fabrics and it was her main focus at the moment. Of course, styles would be decided upon, the fabrics were what would catch a groom's eye she thought as she stroked a gorgeous robin egg blue satin. 

“Linnea,” called her mother coming from around the corner where the dressing area was. “Come, have you picked anything yet? Both Isabella and Anne have already picked a few good dresses that will suit them to try.”

Oh of course her sisters had found their dresses. They tended to come into a store and barrel through to the flashiest and newest styles while Linnea took a bit more time to ponder what she might enjoy wearing for that season. 

“I will be right over, I just wish to have a look at the styles.” 

Her mother smiled. “Very well. Remember, even if you like a dress but not the fabric that can be changed.”

Linnea smiled back and her mother went back to help her two other daughters. She took a breath and meandered to the opposite side of the room where a few gowns were displayed along with a few styles for men.  

A gown with a fitted waist, short sleeves, and a modest skirt caught her attention. She was admiring it when the shop's door opened and everything in the room seemed to come to an utter halt. 

There he was. Linnea had only heard stories of the prince—the cursed prince. He stood there dressed in an ornate suit of gold and shades of lavender. It was tasteful when Linnea had expected gaudiness. But his clothing was the last thing anyone would notice when he walked in. The attention grabber was his beard, more specifically, the color of it. The beard was an ocean blue shade and cut in a fashionable style and well maintained. But the hair hadn't been dyed that shade for fashion, it was an occurrence of the most unnatural phenomenon. No one knew why, but the price grew blue hair and it was seen as an omen by all. 

Linnea had heard tales of people seeing him up close and they had described the experience as nightmarish. They said the Prince had such an evil presence that even the demons were scared of him. So as soon as he walked in she had no idea how to react. Did she run or hide behind a dress? Even though he was cursed, he was still to be the king and Linnea would hate to disrespect him in such a manner. So instead of hiding, she stared—utterly terrified at first, but once she took in his eyes her fear seemed to vanish.

His eyes were bright gold and instead of unholiness inside of them, she saw a glimmer of kindness. As if he were just a man like any other. Linnea blinked as she realized she had caught his gaze and quickly dropped into a deep curtsy, her head bowed low to hide her burning cheeks. 

“Your highness!” cried the shop attendant who came scuttling out from the other room. “What brings you in today?” 

Peering up through her thick lashes, Linnea saw the prince’s gaze had moved from her. She released a breath and stood again, but slightly hid behind a dress so as to not catch his attention again. 

“I come to check on my order I place a few weeks ago. I was told it would be ready around this time.”

‘B-b-but of course!” stammered the dull attendant. “I just did not know to expect you, rather, I thought you would send a servant.” 

The Prince gave a loped-sided smile and waved a hand to a thin man dressed in royal servant colors of pale yellow and dark green who had come in behind him. “Yes, he was on his way, but I thought it would be a great opportunity to get out of the castle for some fresh spring air. It is alright I came, isn’t it? I would not want to intrude.”

“N-n-no! Of course, you can pick up whatever you would like to! I am sorry I have offended you.”

The Prince gave a small smile and the two stood there in an awkward silence before the prince's man cleared his throat.

“Yes, let me go grab your orders.” The shop worker scuttled into the back past the dressing rooms, which had now gone eerily quiet. Linnea knew her sisters were hiding behind the doors, afraid to make any sounds alerting the Prince to their presence. 

The rumors had not treated the Prince kindly. He was an abomination people said. A spawn of a demon that had ensnared his mother to unholy deeds. They say the moment he was born a chill encased the room so strong that it even took out the roaring fire that had been burning passionately in the hearth. The Prince had been marked by his blue hair so everyone would know he was part demon. It was also said he held no kindness in his heart and his eyes were as cold as the arctic winds. 

Peering around once more, Linnea couldn’t help but think that every one of those rumors were wrong. His eyes had a certain gleam to them, but she would have said it be kindness, not evil, but she had never been in the presence of a demon—even a half demon so how was she to know what it looked like? The most striking—and yes odd—thing about his appearance was indeed his hair color. it was a dark teal blue and surprisingly complimented his brown eyes. 

She saw her mother shaking in the corner, her back turned to the Prince and his servant. The whole affair was quite curious to Linnea. Why was he here? Was it simply to get fresh air or something else entirely? And more importantly, why did Linnea think him to be of goodness rather than evil? 

The Prince met her gaze once more and she jumped back behind the dress, her heart rate racing. 

There was a pause before footsteps neared her makeshift hiding spot. Oh, she was in for it now. Why had she needed to look and draw attention to herself? If she had just quietly slunk away the Prince wouldn’t have known where she had gone. Linnea cursed herself under her breath. 

“That dress would be very pretty at a ball this season.” Said the Prince. 

Linnea blinked and looked up to see his highness peering down at her. She was confused for a moment. What gown was he speaking of? The one she was currently wearing was hardly anything of current fashion trends, much less dressy enough for a ball. 

“The material on the sleeves was been detailed with delicate gold and is light enough for summer parties,” he commented taking the sleeve of the dress she was currently trying and failing to hide behind. 

“Oh,” she said. “Yes, it is a lovely gown, unique for the season as well. most gowns that have sleeves are only for winter.”

The Prince smiled kindly at her. “Indeed, so with that fashion norm being adjusted for the season in what I would say the first time since I dare say I’ve never laid eyes on such a garment—you are sure to capture the attention of the room.” 

Linnea was caught not knowing what to say next. He was truthful in this, Linnea now studying the dress realized it was unique and how many girls would be fighting over it just because of that fact alone. Parties were always a competition between women to snatch up the most wealthy man at the gala. 

She furrowed her brow. “It is beautiful,” she replied. She had never really heard a man talk that way of gowns before, a compliment of course, but the details in such a precise way she had not. 

He smiled and the shop worker came racing back in now holding a bag that was full of garments for the Prince assumed Linnea. 

The prince turned back to the shopman and nodded to his servant who took the bundle out of the worker's hands. 

“Thank you kindly.” Said the prince before he and his man left the store. The air instantly lifted and a collective sigh of relief was heard. Everyone went back to normal, but Linnea stood there, the dress's sleeve in her hand and her eyes staring through the front windows as if yearning for another glimpse of the Prince. 

The ball was boring and Linnea couldn’t for the life of her understand why. Everyone from town was here and the music from the small group of musicians was lively. The dance floor was flooded with bodies dressed in all colors and laughter filled the air. But for some reason, Linnea sat at a table alone—not motivated in the slightest to dance or be a part of the festivities. Her mother had given her a good tongue lashing when Linnea turned down dance after dance. The men who approached her had nothing wrong with them, in fact, one of them was quite cute and kind, but there was just something inside of Linnea that made the idea of dancing with one of them utterly unappealing. 

Linnea sighed and fidgeted with her dress as she watched the dancers twirl and sway to the warm melody that filled the air around them. Maybe she was coming down with something Linnea thought to herself. That was the only explanation as to why she had no motivation to dance at all this night. Maybe next time. 

She was just about to get up and tell her mother she was heading home when a servant dressed in Everest green and gold with pressed white gloves came to her side.

“Good evening Madame.” He greeted her. “I am here to fetch you for your presence is needed in the drawing room.”

Linnea blinked. Had she been that awful of a guest? She quickly did a scan of the room for her mother only to find her chatting away merrily with one of the ladies she lunched with. Linnea chewed her lip. Did she need her mother with her or was she to be chased out without her mother's knowledge?

Whatever the conclusion, Linnea couldn’t sit here fantasying about them—the servant was waiting for her to follow him.

She rose from her seat and tried to hide her anxiety as she followed the man through the crowd and into the hall where he led her to two ornately decorated doors of ivory and gold. The servant made a rapping knock and popped his head in before opening it wide for Linnea to enter. 

She took a deep breath and entered the room. What followed was pure unadulterated shock. Here she was expecting Mrs. Chanler, but instead, it was the prince she had seen a few days ago in the shop with a glass of brandy in his hand as he lounged on the sofa. 

“Y-your Highness.” She stuttered and fell into a deep curtsey. 

“I am happy to have found you.” He said. “I made the mistake of not catching your name the other day in the shop and you have been on my mind ever since.” 

Linnea was truly puzzled now. He had tracked her down? She had been on his mind? What on earth was happening?

“In fact,” he continued as he stood from the couch. “I don’t believe either of us exchanged names. I am Prince Holden.”

“Yes,” said Linnea shyly. “I know who you are.”

He stood there for a moment and Linnea’s heart raced in her chest. How could she have just said that? And to a prince no doubt! oh, she wanted to melt into the carpet. If she hadn’t been in trouble before she was now. 

But to her surprise, his lips turned upward and he laughed. 

Linnea loosed a breath she didn’t know she had been holding and nervously laughed along with him. 

“Yes,” he said. “I suppose you do know, but that doesn’t bode the answer to what your name is.”

“If you didn’t know my name your highness, how did you know I would be at this ball?”

The prince gestured for her to come sit on the couch with him. She did so while being careful that there was at least an arm's length between them. Even though there were three servants around the room along with a man who looked to be one of his palace guards in the room with them, Linnea still didn’t wish for any ill rumors to begin swirling. 

“I’ve been going to any ball for the past few days—in secret of course—but always searching for your appearance.” 

Linnea was shocked at this and slightly flattered. Why her though? What about her had caught his attention? She was fairly plain in her opinion—especially in comparison to her two older sisters who had lovely golden hair that fell in waves. She only had a muddy brown frizzy nest that took hours to make presentable. Her sisters had fair skin and Linnea had skin covered in freckles. Linnea guessed he hadn’t met her sisters and for that, she was somewhat grateful. 

“So, your name?” 

“Oh, my name is Linnea, your highness.”

“Linnea.” He said softly. “What a lovely name you have. A name based on a flower in the country if I’m not mistaken.”

She was shocked he knew this. The flower was rare and not well known in these parts. “Yes, it is. How did you know that?”

The prince set his brandy upon the glassy oak table before them. “My mother had an affinity for flowers so she would collect them. Many politicians would bring them to her as gifts when they would visit. I still have her collection, my mother had each plant dried and preserved inside the pages of a book she called her garden.”

Linnea could hear the love in his voice for his mother. The queen had passed five years ago and the whole nation had gone into mourning. She was loved by all the people, but it was her son that wasn’t. There were rumors that the queen had tried to have more children but never was able to again. Some said her womb had been cursed after the birth of her only son who was an abomination in the town's eyes due to his abnormal birth defect. 

“Your mother was a kind and wonderful queen.” She said softly. 

The prince nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with a faraway look to them. 

“Now,” said the prince suddenly. “You are probably wondering why I called you in to see me.”

Linnea nodded. 

“I am here to ask your hand in marriage.”

She became speechless and her mouth nearly fell open in sheer shock. Her? He wanted her to be his bride? Out of all the women he had available to him of much more noble blood than she yet he picked her. 

“Your Highness.” She said still reeling from the proposal. “I do not know what to say other than to ask why would you choose me?”

He smiled. “I chose you because out of everyone I have ever met, no one—regardless of their status in society—had shown me the kindness you have. Most women would run away from me, let alone talk to me.”

His admittance made her heart fall. She knew it was considered proper in their society to shun the prince for the odd hair color, but Linnea just hadn’t been able to. To her shunning and being cold to someone for no reason was horrible and unjustly behavior so it made her sad to think of how lonely he must have been all these years. 

“Well,” Linnea said, taking a deep breath. “I accept. I will marry you.” 

The days after Linnea had accepted the Prince for a husband were a whirlwind, to say the least. Her family was just as shocked as she was and although Linnea’s mother didn’t want her daughter to marry someone who was looked at as a sort of outcast, there was no doubt that one day Linnea would be the queen and that was something her mother couldn’t let go of. 

So they married, and it was a happy marriage. Linnea and the prince got along well together and he made her happy as did she to him. It was a perfect unity in the towns peoples eyes and their union even had the opinion of the prince start to change. No longer did people immediately turn away if he walked by them, but instead they raised their hats or gave a small bow of their heads. 

Linnea lived happily inside the palace walls and her family was well provided for—they often stopped in for tea and her sisters always had the most fashionable dresses in town.

Everything was a fairytale. 

Until the truth came to light. . . 

“Linnea,” called Prince Conall in the grand entryway. “I’m leaving for that hunting trip, would you mind joining me before I leave?”

Linnea was working on some needlework but hoped right up at her husband's call and headed into the foyer. 

“Have a safe trip.” She said as she kissed him. 

“thank you. I wanted to put some ground rules up before I left since I haven’t been away alone since we married.”

Linnea furrowed her brow. “Do you not trust me?”

“No I do,” he said as he put on his coat. “I just wanted to let you know that you can enjoy my time away and I wish you to throw a ball or two—anything you want. I just have one request.”

“Anything dear,” Linnea said.

He raised a brow and looked deep into her eyes. “There is a room, on the second floor behind the gallery. I know you will probably want to give your guests some tours while they are here but I ask you not to open that door or enter that room under any circumstances.” 

Linnea was taken aback by this. She didn’t remember ever knowing about a room of such description. How had she not known about it and why wasn’t she allowed to have guests view it? 

“Well, I have never even been in this room before. I am fine to go see it, yes?”

His stare didn’t waiver. “No. No one is to enter that room. Is that understood?”

Linnea opened her mouth and then closed it. She didn’t know what to make of her husband's odd request. But at the end of the day, it was his manor that they lived in so she nodded her head in agreement.

“Thank you,” he said kissing her on her forehead. “I am off now, I will see you in a few days.” 

She walked down the marble front steps with him and waved as his carriage drawn by two horses headed off into the distance. Linnea had some balls to plan.

The next few days were full of festivities and joy. Linnea had invited practically the whole town into their home and hosted one of the grandest parties the townspeople had ever seen in quite some time. The ballroom had been decorated with three massive chandeliers all with diamonds that glittered in the candlelight. Music played till dawn and people didn’t leave till almost noon. Linnea had been exhausted for a day after such a grand event. But it was the talk of the town and Linnea was looked at favorably in the people's eyes. 

The trouble came a few days after. 

Linnea couldn’t curb her curiosity about the matter of the mysterious room. She searched the second floor until she found it. The door in question was located in one of the spare apartments that were reserved for guests. Linnea assumed that she had mistaken it for a closet, but this door was ornate as any within the house with polished gold handles and a fresh coat of ivory paint. Closets were usually a dove grey color with a silver handle. 

Her dress whispered against the thick carpet as she made her way toward the forbidden room. Once before it, she reached out to grab the knob only to stop right before. 

Her husband asked her not to enter, practically forbidding it. Then why was she itching to pry it open and peek inside this mysterious room? Why secrets could it hold? Was there another woman inside that he kept here to do unholy things with or was it simply his collection of hunting rifles she had yet to be introduced to? 

Oh, it was just too tempting and Linnea just simply couldn’t help herself. He didn’t even need to know that she had a peak inside. She wouldn’t touch a thing.

And so with her heart fluttering nervously in her chest she turned the knob and swung the door wide. 

Her mouth dropped.

Knees gateway and she dropped to the floor with her eyes wide soaking in a site she wished she could erase from her mind forever. 

Linnea couldn’t process what was in front of her. It was just blood and bones and bodies torn from ear to toe. 

What hell had she uncovered?

The room was lined with bodies, both fresh and old, hanging like limp trophies. Four wooden tables were stained red from blood and the stench was enough to make Linnea empty her lunch from her stomach. 

How?

Why?

What was she looking at? So many questions swirled in her head and she didn’t know what to do other than sit on the floor horrified. 

“I told you not to enter this room, Linnea.” said a voice coldly from behind her. 

Linnea's face paled and her heart nearly stopped. When had her husband gotten back?

Slowly she turned to see him towering behind her, his face hard. 

She began to shake uncontrollably. 

“What in the hell is this?” she asked hoping for some explanation that it was not at all what it looked like. 

He ignored her question with his own. “Why did you disobey my request?”

“Why is this even a room in this house Conall?” 

He was silent and tears began to flood Linnea’s eyes. It was all too much for her and she began to feel nauseous once more. 

“I hoped I would never have to explain why my dear.”

“Don’t call me that!” she snapped, anger now replacing the terror. “Don’t you ever call me that until you explain this? Explain yourself now!” 

His eyes flicked to the room and then back to her tear-streaked face and he sighed. “Very well, but let’s get you into some clean clothes and a cup of tea first.” 

She batted away his hand and rose from the vomit-covered floor by herself. Her dress was sticking to her legs as she stormed away from him, but a nice hot wash did sound lovely and she knew she needed the tea to help her process what she had just witnessed.

Wrapped in a plush blanket and new clothes with a pipping hot cup of black tea with a splash of lemon, Linna sat by a window in the drawing room with her feet curled beneath her. The day was beautiful and she was catching the sun setting beyond the horizon, its dying light washing the sky in pinks and yellows. She took a deep breath and finally turned her focus to her husband who was sitting across her on the sofa. 

“I’m ready now. What is that room?” she asked.

“That room is a room I wish you never would have seen.”

Linnea rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes you have already mentioned this, but answer my question.”

He raised a brow at her. “I was before you cut me off.”

Oh. Heat flooded her cheeks. 

He sat back on the couch. “That room is my torture room of sorts. Its purpose is to punish my enemies who seek me and or my family harm.”

Still, she did not understand. 

“You have a legion of soldiers at your beck and call, there is rarely a room without more than one guard in it at one time. Tell me the meaning of having such a room in our home?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Un-complicate it.”

He pressed his lips together and stared at her, anger rising in his eyes. “I have a gift, Linnea. A gift I have had since birth and when It began to show signs to the people around me they took it as a sign that I wasn’t human, but instead the spawn of the devil himself. The blue hair was just a marking of it. So in the typical fashion of those who are shown things they do not understand, they put a bounty on my head. Assassins were sent from every corner of this world, every kingdom—even those who were supposed allies. That room is a diary of sorts. I know how sick and twisted it may be, but it stands as a reminder of how many people tried and failed to kill me, to take the crown from me simply because I have a gift they do not understand. I use it for good, but that hardly matters to people who only feel fear when in uncomfortable situations.” 

Linnea was silent, steam curled from the delicate bone china cup held between her petite hands. His words needed to process inside of her. She had an answer yet she still didn’t know what to make of it. 

At first, she had been afraid of him, thinking he was a mass murderer of some sort and that she was to be his next victim. But she had been wrong, instead of merciless killing it was a form of self-defense. But did it change the fact that he had a room full of bloodied bodies and skeletons hanging from the ceiling? To her it was morbid and disturbing, to say the least, and what did that say about him?

“So you are the one who kills the assassins?” she asked, her voice small. “Not your guard?”

“Correct.”

Linna furrowed her brow. “Why? Wouldn’t your guard be better suited for protecting you?”

“Not in these instances. The assassins aren’t always assassins of the typical sort. It started with my nursemaid as a child. She tried to stifle me with a pillow.”

Linnea raised a brow. “You killed your nursemaid as a young child?”

He laughed. “Goodness no. Thankfully someone heard the commotion and came to investigate. The nursemaid was simply let go and banned from returning. It was when politicians visited and they noticed.”

“How have I never noticed if you say it is so obvious to those around you?

“Because it was when I was younger, about eight or so. My mother and father would always have some sort of visitor and I simply didn’t know how to hide it or that I needed to. Word got around to certain circles, but when it trickled down the grapevine to where the common folk heard the rumor of my blue hair marking me as a devil's heir was the reason to fear me, not what the leaders were actually terrified of.”

“Then what is your gift?” 

I can move things with my mind, small things of course. A block, a fishing rod, those types of things. I also can sense danger before it shows itself. That is how I manage to catch them all. I usually only get the feeling a few hours before someone in the building or at least on the grounds gets close to me to strike. I always wait, and I always win. That is the part the politicians don’t know about.” 

Linnea sat there dumbstruck. He could move items with his mind? Simply with a thought? She could see why many wished him dead, for only the gods alone could do such deeds or so she had been taught. 

But did this gift make him any different? Did it make him evil? She had never been mistreated by him and this to her knowledge was the only thing he had ever kept from her. He had given her his trust. He could have killed her upstairs when she opened the room, but he hadn’t nor had he threatened her in any way. 

Linnea looked at her husband. From what he told her it must have been terrifying for him as a child. As she studied him, she looked for any flicker of malice or evil and yet found none. Was he odd of course—he had blue hair. But that fact didn’t make her love him any less.

“I understand now why you hadn’t wanted me to enter that room. But I want to make it clear I wish for there to be no more secrets between us, even if they are ugly ones.”

The prince nodded in agreement and she could see a weight practically lift from his shoulders. 

“Now,” she said with a smirk. “I want to see these mind tricks.”

He smiled back at her and they ended up living happily ever after.

THE END