The Jester

Once upon a time. long ago. A kingdom of beauty and sirens were told. The royals were all fair, but a plague drew near. The people begged and screamed for the royals did not make a beep. Unknown to the people. The fairest daughter fell ill. The King journeyed far and away. A little doll was gifted to the fair daughter. She loved it so, the doll was odd to others, for it did not match the princess. The princess had hair of ocean blue. She wore dresses of vibrant hues. The doll, however; was avoiding any color at all. The doll was dressed in a dark shirt with a face on it. Monstrous like with boots of black and a jester’s crown.   As the royal family grew sicker. The people grow in power. No one knew what happened to the royal family after that, and neither did the people of the kingdom, for they had long since forgotten.

A few years later.

The doll is now on sale at a little booth. a small girl, with dark hair as night and eyes of rubies walked over. She was dressed in darkness with a red bow in her hair. She picks up the doll. for its smile never faded. The girl’s parents bought the doll for her. Even though she did not want it. She played with the doll, but she never slept with it in her small bedroom. It scared her for some unknown reason. After a few weeks. Her family started to change. Her parents fought with each other, daily. Until her mother called for her.

She yelled: “Ally, sweetie! Come downstairs, please! Dinner’s ready!”

Ally walked down the stairs with the doll in her left hand.

She whispered: “Coming Mommy.”

Her mother set the table with beautiful china plates and utensils. Ally sat down in her small chair as she sat the doll next to her on her left. Her mother places down one plate for Ally and a small cup to drink from.

Ally said: “Mommy, Jester needs a plate and a cup too.”

Her mother confused by the new request, ask her daughter: “Jester? Who is Jester, honey?”

Ally pointed to the doll next to her. She said, cheerfully: “That’s Jester!”

Her mother nodded. She looked at the doll. It did look like a jester. Her mother brings another plate and cup for Jester the doll as her parents silently eat dinner. A giggle here and there was heard by their daughter of night. She seemed to enjoy chatting with Jester. They smiled as they watched their daughter play. It was the only time their fighting would stop as night grew closer. Ally places Jester outside of the bathroom as she ready her bath. Ally would never bring Jester in the bathroom too. For she feared that something would go wrong if she ever did.  As Ally was adding the bubbles and bringing out her hair soaps. Outside of the bathroom door. Jester began to stand up. It walked back into the room where Ally’s parents were. As they fought again. Jester’s smile grew wider and wider with a puff of dark smoke entered the room. Her mother and father cough heavily. Until Her father noticed that there were no candles or small fires that would make this kind of smoke. He noticed a long, tall figure. It looked like Jester, but different. The creature was taller than him by 2 inches. Its clothes were baggy and long. Its hat falls gently against its dark curls. Its hair was a dark blue color, but what was the most terrifying of it all, was its eyes. Crimson as blood. Its nails are long and sharp, painted in black and red. The creature spoke, harsh as darkness but with the voice of a young child. A young girl’s voice came out of its dark red lips. Its fangs are sharper than a blade.

It said: “Father, Father. How cruel of you to make my sister so sad. For shame. FOR SHAME ON YOUR NAME!”

He is paralyzed in fear as his wife yells his name. He couldn’t hear it over the sound of his heartbeat. The creature walked forward towards him. It said:” Father, Father. You have made my sister so sad. She cries at night. She pleads for your fighting with mother to stop. I’m here to help her.”

It smiled wider than before. He tried to speak but his throat was too dry to speak out.

It spoke once more: “Have you forgotten me, Father? Why, I will remind you! I’m your daughter’s best friend! I’m the doll you brought home that fated day! I’m The Jester. Do you remember now, Father?”

His started to scream.

That was the doll his daughter held and care for?!

There was no way, that…

That thing is it!

The next thing, Ally’s father knew. His head was off his shoulders. The Jester picked up his head. As he was still in shock.

The Jester said, quietly: “Shush! Sister Ally is trying to take a bath; I don’t want to disturb her with loud noises like screaming. It’s late. She needs her rest from playing all day, after all.”

The Jester turned to Ally’s mother and said,” Mother, Mother. Would you be so kind as to help sister Ally with her bath? I will clean up the mess that Father and I made.”

The Jester walked closer as it placed its lips to her ear.

It whispered: “Don’t tell sister Ally, about this, or you will be next. Please, Mother?”

As Ally’s mother heads to the bathroom door. She knocks three times.

Ally replied: “Yes?”

Her mother asked: “Do you need any help in there, honey?”

Ally replied: “Can you wash my hair, please Mommy?”

Her mother enters the bathroom with a small smile. As her mother washes her hair. She helps her get dressed for bed. In a light blue nightgown with two bows on her shoulder. Her mother helps Ally dry her hair with the towel and hairdryer. She puts Ally to bed with a big hug. After her mother leaves Ally’s bedroom. She heads downstairs to see The Jester sitting on a chair in the Livingroom. The mess in the kitchen that was once there, looked as if it was never there in the first place. Ally’s mother sat across from The Jester.

She said: “What is it that you want with my family?”

She tried to sound determined and stern, but The Jester’s laughter rang.

It replied: “I want Ally. I want a family of my own. Ally is the perfect sister, and You will be the perfect mother to us both! What do you say, Mother? Do we have a deal?”
Its smiles turned into a smirk. Its red eyes glow like flames in the night. A darkness could be felt in the room. Chilled and cold.

Ally’s mother replied: “Deal…”

The Jester smiled, for it had won today; but what The Jester didn’t know it that Ally was at the top of the stairs and heard it all.

Will The Jester have the prefect family?

Will Ally’s Mother find a way out of the deal?

Or

Will Ally have to save them all?

Until Next time, Let the Shadows Fall; and the Kingdom of Nightmares rule overall.