Bring Me the Head of Prince Charming

Chapter 7

Brigitte was playing with her dollhouse when she heard something behind her. She turned slowly, a question already forming on her lips, a question which was lost due to the moue of surprise she gave when she saw who was standing there, tall, red-furred, with a mean smile on his face.

"Why, hello, Azzie! How are you?"

"I am very well, Brigitte," Azzie said. "And you look well. And I can hear the sound of a pen scratching in an upstairs room, so I suppose Thomas Scrivener is living up to his name and recording something about the events that have befallen him recently."

"Indeed he is," Brigitte said. "But he tells me he doesn't know the ending."

"It may surprise him," Azzie said. "Indeed, methinks it may surprise all of us. Heh, heh, heh."

"What a sinister chuckle you have, Azzie," Brigitte said. "Why have you come?"

"I've brought you a present, child," Azzie said.

"Ooo! Let me see!"

"Here it is." Azzie brought out a box made of difficult-to-acquire cardboard and, opening it, showed within the little guillotine.

"How nice!" Brigitte said. "It looks like the perfect thing for cutting off the heads of my dollies."

"And so it is," Azzie said. "But you really shouldn't do that, because you love your dolls and "would be sad to see them without heads."

"That's true," Brigitte said, and she began to snivel in anticipation of her bereavement.

"But how can I play with my new guillotine if I do not cut off the heads of my dolls?" She looked around. "Maybe one of the new puppies - "

"No, Brigitte," Azzie said. "I am evil, but I am not cruel to animals. There's a special Hell reserved for those who are. You see, my dear, these toys must be used with care, and played with in due gravity."

"It's no fun if I can't cut off anyone's head," Brigitte said.

So far his plan, which was of that brand of evil termed nasty, was proceeding perfectly.

"Stop sniveling," Azzie said. "I am going to bring you something special."

"What is it?"

"Something whose head can be cut off!"

"Oh, Uncle Azzie!" She ran to him and embraced him. "When will I get this something?"

"Soon, my dear, very soon. Be a good girl and play now. Uncle Azzie will return presently with your new gift."