The servants inside Nightwell Castle had long learned to ignore the feverish whispers emitting from their prince’s bedroom. To survive in a place such as this, you needed to be adept at knowing when to turn a blind eye or deaf ear. Most instances involving Prince Narcissus went by this rule.
At first glance, Prince Narcissus was a charming man. He was a tall and lithe young man, always dressed in the finest silks and adorned with the shiniest of gold. The prince’s face was perfectly structured and the long golden hair that curled around his face added to the perfection. Whenever his starry blue eyes glanced upon a maiden, she would faint in response! No one could disagree that Prince Narcissus de Vain was an amazingly handsome man.
However, the rumors surrounding him did not match his appearance.
Gossip throughout the kingdom described the prince as a man obsessed. It was rather disturbing. Day after day. Night after night. The prince spent his time conversing with his reflection. Dorthy, who cleaned the prince’s chambers, once witnessed this scene. She, with a “don’t repeat this,” said the scene looked something like this:
The prince, tired from a long day of shadowing the king, stumbled into his private bedroom. He then slipped off his boots, untied his long hair, and walked into the room’s bathroom. Of course, Dorthy didn’t see what went on in there, but when Prince Narcissus made his way back into the bedroom he looked more put together. His demeanor was still dull like he was carrying a heavy weight. However, his eyes contained a new look. It wasn’t something Dorthy saw when the prince was learning how to be king. Whatever caused his eyes to glint that way was far more important than his status as heir. So, imagine her surprise when the focus of that look was the polished mirror resting beside Prince Narcissus’ bed! The mirror itself was strange, surrounded by the kingdom’s best pillows and placed beside a table containing sweets Dorthy could never afford. None of the servants were allowed to clean the mirror.
“Only I can touch her” the prince had commanded.
‘Her?’ Dorthy thought at the time. She found the pronoun a bit weird, but it wasn’t her place to comment on the prince’s mistakes.
However, the situation before her gave a bit of context to that command. Prince Narcissus was beginning to talk. At first, Dorthy thought it was to her. She was pleasantly surprised because servants are usually treated as furniture. Dorthy opened her mouth to respond, but then the prince answered himself! His tone was slightly higher as if he was imitating a woman. “Welcome back” he had said. Dorthy was sure it was a jest, but Prince Narcissus looked engrossed in his conversation. It seemed serious enough that he didn’t even notice her presence. Dorthy was rather worried. Who was her prince talking to? Maybe the rumors were right and the castle was
haunted! However, her question was answered as the prince stopped walking. He had seated himself in front of the mirror, whose surface reflected his image. Prince Narcissus’ entire being lit up as he continued speaking to the mirror. His pale cheeks gained a hint of color and his eyes warmed. The prince’s tone of voice, even when pitched to a woman’s, was soft. It no longer held the iciness Dorthy was used to. If she didn’t know any better, Dorthy would have thought Prince Narcissus was speaking to a secret lover. It was highly disturbing. Dorthy could no longer find the cold prince she knew. The one before her was a man in love trying to court his woman! She needed to tell someone. That mirror was cursed! Why else would the prince talk so lovingly to his reflection? She (to not interrupt the cursed conversing) quietly rushed out of his chambers and reported the incident to the head maid. Dorthy hoped that the head maid could tell the king and queen. They could bring in a doctor or an exorcist to help their poor prince!
However, to her horror, Prince Narcissus continued to fall in love with his reflection. Now that she knew what to look for, Dorthy witnessed her prince talking to the mirror every evening. Doctors, priests, and it was rumored that even dark magicians came to try to fix Prince Narcissus. Each time he would insist that he was talking to his lover. A brave maid tried to take away the mirror to help her prince but was greeted with a swift execution. The prince made it clear that only he was able to touch his lover.
It was hard to keep quiet after the prince murdered that maid. So, throughout the kingdom, it became known that Prince Narcissus had gone mad. He was mocked as ‘the man whose looks were so great he fell in love with himself.’
Bless their hearts, the king and queen tried to help their only son. How was the heir of their kingdom supposed to continue his line when the only thing he loved was himself? At first, they set up meetings with every eligible maiden in the kingdom. One had to catch Prince Narcissus’ eye, right?
Wrong.
The prince became even more obsessed with his reflection claiming “Look how beautiful she is! How could I ever marry someone when my love is this charming?!” Prince Narcissus also started to see his lover in other places besides his bedside mirror. He talked to her in windows, cups, and even puddles after it rained.
The king and queen were truly at a loss. At this point, they would have to change him as heir and place their daughter in his place. It was then a trusted advisor suggested:
“If the prince is so in love with his looks, then why not find someone who fits his aesthetics?”
The suggestion became their last hope. The king and queen announced to all nearby kingdoms that no matter the status, as long as they looked similar to their son, they could try for his hand.
Women and even men flocked to the castle. It was a sea of blonde hair. Among these contestants was a young girl named Helena. She had blonde hair and blue eyes like the rest of them, but she was unique in one special way. Helena was a witch.
Helena was also very bored.
She had heard of this mad Prince Narcissus despite residing two kingdoms away and wanted to see him in person. A man who was in love with himself! Maybe he could cure Helena of her boredom. Fortunately, this contest was being held. Unfortunately, she had black hair and red eyes. Nothing magic couldn’t fix, though.
However, when she showed up at the overly grand Nightwell palace, Helena didn’t expect the prince to be so charming. Her boredom as well as her apathy was cured. Each day she spent conversing with the prince (no matter how forced it was on his end) made Helena feel warm. She didn’t want to say it was love, but maybe something close to it. The prince also seemed to warm up to their conversations. Prince Narcissus got rid of the other contestants but couldn’t bring himself to get rid of his first love. He wasn’t against introducing Helena to her, however.
“Honey” he looked at the mirror “this is Helena, a new friend of mine.” Prince Narcissus nervously chuckled and waved his hands to reassure that they were just friends to Helena’s chagrin. The prince then made his voice higher to respond as his love. “It’s fine, love, I’m not so closed-minded as to not allow you to have female friends. Just don’t forget about me.” The reflection pouted. The two, no one, continued their discussion. However, Helena, no matter her original intentions, felt disturbed seeing the man she lo-liked so engrossed in madness. Although, she still tried to be polite and waved to the prince’s reflection with a kind “hello.”
Helena had a new mission. She needed to rid the prince of this mirror. Of his insanity. Despite being a witch, Helena had really come to care for Prince Narcissus. Outside of his narcissism, he was a kind prince who cared for his people. She didn’t want to see such a bright future go to waste.
That night she consulted all her spell books. There had to be something that could help her prince! Then she found it. The spell that sealed her fate. It wasn’t a grand spell. The cost wasn’t even that high, certainly not her life. It was a spell that targets the mind. The issue was that Prince Narcissus was seeing his reflection as a separate being and gender. So, the purpose of the spell was to remedy that. Prince Narcissus’ reflection would merge with his own perception of himself and he would no longer identify it as another person. Helena thought the prince would
certainly be embarrassed after learning that his reflection wasn’t another person, but she would be there to support him. Maybe he would even be saddened.
She never thought anger would be the go-to emotion.
Prince Narcissus was inconsolable. The spell worked. However, instead of acknowledging that his reflection wasn’t a real person, the prince wailed that his lover was killed. His perfect darling was gone and only he remained inside of the mirror’s reflection. Prince Narcissus was angry. He screamed throughout the castle trying to find whoever was responsible for his lover’s death. Head rolled wherever he strolled. The prince couldn’t accept it. Why? Who would want to kill his beautiful beloved? Her innocent blue eyes and blonde hair couldn’t inspire animosity! So, why!? Why would someone hurt her? He killed his way trying to find the murderer. He eventually had to kill the right target, right?
The palace was slathered in blood. The knights who arrived on the scene thought they were in hell. They expected chaos. Wailing maids and screams for help. However, it was so silent. The only sound came from the heavy pants of Prince Narcissus. He looked like a devil who had crawled its way out of hell. Blood and clumps of gore stuck to his skin like a second outfit. The prince’s blonde hair was dyed red and veiled his face. Only bloodshot and bulging eyes were seen. They were so dilated that the once famed starry blue eyes couldn’t be seen. All that was left was an angry man hell-bent on what he thought was revenge. It was the demeanor of a murderer. The pressure surrounding Prince Narcissus left the knights quaking. They had lived in a time of peace. The carnage in front of them was something they never imagined.
“Move” Prince Narcissus commanded.
The knights were so stunned they didn’t dare to move. Freeze had won over fight and flight.
“Orrrr” the prince slurred “was it you?” His head snapped up to scrutinize the knights. “Did you kill her?”
At this soft yet dangerous tone, the knights made the collective decision to shake their heads no and move the hell out of their prince’s way. The royal family’s famed strength was already exemplified in front of them. They didn’t need a more personal example.
Prince Narcissus moved ahead of these pathetic knights. They couldn’t even protect one innocent woman. After he has gotten justice, he’ll have to execute them for their incompetence. Gods above, how was he going to live without her? Their conversations were the one thing that could relax him after a long day of training as heir. The soft way she spoke his name, the way her plush lips formed-
“Prince Narcissus?”
Helena gasped. This wasn’t anger. This was rage. How could her once kind prince cause such a disaster? How? She almost felt like sobbing at the prince’s demonic visage. It didn’t resemble the man she fell in love with.
“Helena.” Prince Narcissus, despite his sorrow, was able to recognize the friend he spent the last weeks talking with. Their conversations were always pleasant. He had even introduced her to his beloved. Wait. Could Helena have-?
“You! Was it you Helena? Did you murder my lover? Were you so jealous of our love that you had to ruin the one good thing in my life?”
“The one good thing in your life?” Helena scoffed. She intimately knew that feeling. To live a life full of unhappiness, of boredom, but have all of it erased by a shining light.
“You were that to me, my prince.” Helena didn’t think she was the type to fall so fast, but their conversations, the stories they shared, made their way into her heart. It was so short, only a couple of weeks, but Helena thought a bond had formed between them.
“Lies.” Prince Narcissus hissed. “Answer me. Was it you?”
“My prince. Prince Narcissus. Please, listen. The person you loved wasn’t real!” Helena sobbed. What can she do for a man so blind?
“That’s not what I asked.”
Helena shakily laughed with tears running down her face. She lifted her head to stare directly into her love’s cold eyes. Helena sealed her fate and whispered “Yes.”
Prince Narcissus thought he felt his heart break a second time. This was someone he genuinely enjoyed being around. Maybe without his darling, he could have grown to love her. Alas, no one could ever top her. The reflection he saw in the mirror.
Helena went on to explain that she was a witch. A witch who desperately wanted to cure herself of the apathy that grayed her life. From changing her hair and falling for the prince, it was all said. She ended the speech by removing the magic, changing her appearance. Helena appeared before the mad prince as her original self.
Prince Narcissus couldn’t believe her. A witch! She was just like the evil being from the stories he read as a child. A jealous wench who came to separate the protagonist and his fated lover! Maybe his beloved just needs a kiss and she’ll return? His broken mind thought this to be a solid plan to use after he got rid of the obstacle in front of him.
“I truly believed you to be a dear friend Helena the witch. I’m almost sorry to do this.” The prince placed his sword at Helena’s neck, slicing a shallow cut.
Helena’s red eyes widened, shifting to stare at the man she grew to love. There were currently 56 spells at her disposal to harm him and ensure her safety. However, she couldn’t do it. Helena couldn’t hurt Prince Narcissus. All she could do was whisper “please” over and over. Hoping for true love to win over madness.
Seeing her desperation and love, Prince Narcissus lowered his sword. His mind wavered. Was he truly insane? Was his darling really fake? Was Helena telling the truth? “Are you? Can you swear that you told no lies?”
“I swear,” Helena firmly said. Her demeanor was determined. She didn’t have the appearance of a liar.
Prince Narcissus knew this. So he smiled. He smiled and smiled and smiled. He smiled all the way until he thrust his bloody sword into her chest. “I can’t accept it.” Prince Narcissus couldn’t accept that his lover was fake. So, he killed the one thing that could prove his love false. Helena.
Helena felt a fishy taste in her mouth and gagged on the blood suffocating her throat. This was the man she fell for? A man who was willingly blinding himself? She stared at the sword penetrating her chest and let out a wet laugh. She laughed just as the prince had smiled before he placed this sword inside of her. Helena looked up into the prince’s dim eyes, her own mixed with pity and schadenfreude. She didn’t have the 56 spells she had a couple of seconds ago, but there was one important spell she could use in the time she had left. Helena’s voice grew enchanting and filled the air with power.
Broken up with bloody coughs she spoke “Prince Narcissus, the mad prince, my love, I curse you. I curse you, a man willing to be blind, to never see. You will no longer gaze upon the reflection you love so. You will spend the rest of your days blind, cursed to search for the reflection you made your lover. This is the last command of I, Helena Abaddon, the Last Witch of the East.”
Her eyes, now glowing with power, slowly dimmed. Helena spent her last minutes pitying Prince Narcissus and the past her who fell in love with such a broken man. Her last thought was for a next life where they would never meet.
Prince Narcissus watched the witch’s body slump on his sword. He almost scoffed at her pitiful curse. It was definitely in line with what a villain would do. They always have to make one last haughty statement before they die in obscurity. He laughed at Helena’s corpse and pulled out his sword with a squelch. It was now time for the protagonist to save his lover! Who, by his knowledge, was waiting for a kiss in his bedroom mirror. Prince Narcissus ran the way back, avoiding the puddles of blood and corpses lining the way.
Out of breath, Prince Narcissus stared at his reflection. Who now looked like a beautiful sleeping princess in his eyes. His eyes blurred with tears. Prince Narcissus went to wipe them but only came away with streaks of blood. He was not crying. So, why was his vision blurring? Prince Narcissus thought the tunnel vision he saw his princess with was also strange. Why was everything fading? It couldn’t be Helena. He had killed her minutes ago. He avenged his lover and all that was needed was a kiss. So, why? Why was his happy ending fading in front of his eyes? Where was it?! Prince Narcissus started to panic. The prince’s body tilted away from the mirror and his bloody hands pawed at his face.
“No, no, no” Prince Narcissus gasped. “The protagonist is always happy in the end! The heroes win and the villains lose! SO? WHY?”
Why couldn’t he see?
