The Carnival of the Damned

The interior of the darkened castle was quiet, the halls having been left to themselves for years now. Since that last time, that last gala, all had been dead. The rooms were dark and covered with the dust of time, only the flickering candles of the throne room shedding feeble light in the gloom. A knock on the door as Apothecarium entered to find his lord seated upon the throne.

"M-My lord?" Silence answered him. The crimson unicorn glancing askace out a nearby window, thoughts far from this place, this gloom. The white stallion tried again. "Lord Blood, there is a gentleman at the door, requesting an audience with you." At this, the lord looked up in annoyance.

"What do they want? Can they not leave me be in my solitude?"

"Lord, she has been gone for years now. You have seen to it, and for her good. No harm has come into that land. She is well, and you should be glad. Why continue this sorrow? Surely your time can be put to better use?" He trotted to the window. "See? The land is restored, villages nearby flourish. All is as it should be."

Ancient Blood rose form his seat, joining the other to observe the area below.

"Indeed, yet why then do I feel that I had made a mistake? Why does my dead heart pain me so?" A knock at the door, and he sighed.

"See him in then."

"Yes, my lord." Apothecarium withdrew to show the guest in as Blood took his place once more upon the throne of his ancestors.

The physician returned a moment later, a jovial looking gentlecolt with a shabby appearance and cap following him. His coat was a tawny color, mane and tail bright orange in striking contrast to the green eyes that surveyed the throne room with a low whistle. He smiled however at seeing Blood, his grin sporting a solitary fang as he gave a dramatic bow.

"Top of evening to you, my friend." His accent was thick, laden with the gypsy tongue. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Dimitri Vladislov Dragomir Horatiu. Though friends call me Dimitri." He raised his head from the bowing posture as the lord raised an eyebrow in questioning.

"Why the formal introduction, Horatiu? You have been a familiar, if not unwelcome sight in my kingdom for years, I trust then if you have shown your face, your carnival must be close by."

"Ah! Forgive me. It has been too long. I did not recognize you with the gloomy face. Too used to anger and hatred in eyes. Why the change? In fact, I have noticed many changes here. Not such a wasteland, is it. Hmm...I wonder why..."

Dimitri's keen eyes observed Blood and Apothecarium closely before he continued.

"Yes, the carnival is once again here. My Carnival of the Damned. And I am here to offer you admittance. We have many things. Rides, games, prizes, even gifts. Charms and relics from across the dark country. Ancient artifacts for sale to you."

Blood sneered.

"Costing a leg each no doubt. What is it that you truly want, Dimitri? You have never been one for generosity, and you know full well I would never set foot in your circus. Speak now, or I shall show you out myself."

This display of annoyance only brought out a hearty laugh.

"Ah! See? This is good! You are beginning to show your old self! Cheers!" He stamped his hooves on the ground in delight. "Very well. I have come to pay my tribute, see a familiar face, perhaps a new one." He paused to look around the darkened room. "So? Where is she? Rumor in town is you had taken a young mare as guest in your castle. I want to greet her, myself. After all, a friend of the lord's is a friend of mine."

Ancient Blood's face showed surprise, his eyes widening before he calmed himself to an emotionless facade.

"You are mistaken. There is no one here. Not anymore."

Dimitri feigned shock. "Oh! That's right! How could I forget. They had mentioned that. Ah, shame. It would be nice to see less gloom and more cheer in this place. If only there was something I could-"

"There is nothing you can do, nothing anyone can do. It was my decision and all is well. Apothecarium, please show him out."

The white stallion moved close, laying a hoof on the visitor and beginning to guide him out. However, Dimitri protested.

"Ah! One moment please! I have brought you a gift!" He maneuvered out of Apothecarium's grasp, producing a small box that had been hidden under his cap.

"See here! It is for you!" He laid the box on the stone floor, grinning as he did so. "Please, see here. It is a music box. An old relic from my country. We had found it buried far away, across the Sanguine Sea." He nudged it closer, Ancient Blood rising from his seat for a better look. "I would play it for you, but it is gift for you, and you alone." He glanced back to Apothecarium, who looked at the Lord in hesitation. Blood nodded, and the white stallion gave a bow, leaving the room.

Dimitri grinned, hovering a hoof to open the strange object. "May I?" Blood remained silent, examining the object before him a few moments longer.

"Very well.."

The gypsy opened the box as immediately the throne room was flooded with a strange green light. A lilting tune began to play, soft, olden, and hypnotic. The green glow danced about with the music as Dimitri hummed.

"Is pretty, no? A strange item not seen in my land for many many moons. I had saved it special for you. Music yes, but more. Look inside, this box has a gift to it. It can show what you wish for. Whatever you want, it can grant. But only once. What is it that you would have, my friend? Wealth, you have this. Power, of course. But what are you missing here, hmm?"

The light of the box increased, a glowing sphere forming above as the music still played. A single rose was clearly visible within the glowing orb. Dimitri griining all the wider.

"Ah, I see! It was mistake then to send her away. You want her back? The box can do this."

Blood struggled to look away from this, the mysterious notes clouding his mind and making such an effort difficult.

"No.. my decision was for her good... I-I cannot risk her life. Her blood..."

The gypsy's ear twitched. "Blood? Oh! I see! So she.. the fabled one? I have read your history, your legends. Then all this, the land's life, it her doing? Interesting..."

The Lord growled. "She is gone. Leave her out of this, Dimitri." With an intensive effort, he slammed the box shut. Immediately the music stopped and the room was dark once again.

"Leave, and take your box with you." He turned away, back to his throne as Dimitri gave one more bow.

"Oh, but of course! You need not worry about me. Was good to see you yet again." He scooped the box under his cap once more, letting himself out from the throne room and leaving Blood to his solitude. He passed Apothecarium, assuring the physician that he was perfectly capable of letting himself out.

It was not until he was well past the castle's gates did he once more remove the strange box from under his hat.

"Ah, the season is good and the time is right. It is good to have returned here once more." Dimitri gave a self satisfied chuckle as he looked once more at the moon.

"This year's carnival will be quite an interesting one...."