Series of Tales of the Lost World:

The Prince of Beast

Part I

By Matthew Shankula

Austria, 1743

It was a beautiful day in Horinton, Austria. A warm breeze filled the air. A land known for its arts and trades. A rich valley covered with tall green grasses and flowers blooming during spring. A culture filled with music ale and food. But even a great city has it’s bad days. Which reminds me of a day when a tale becomes a legend. When an ignorant Prince learns a lesson. Amongst them was Prince Eudin de Dabwa. A very handsome fellow he was. He would walk around tall with broad shoulders and would gaze at you with his dark blue eyes. His body was chiseled as though he had worked outside with the peasants for days. He always had his ways. Almost every women would blush in his presence. But his pride and arrogance would finally get the best of him. And this is when this story begins. Begins when Prince Eudin goes to the market spending his wealth as he pleases. That his hatred increases. A heart so harden with pride. That there’s a part of Eudin that he tries to hide. As this story unbends we find out that even with a harden heart there is always hope for a brand new start. That the power of love can change anyone, even a man with a broken heart.

“Make way for Prince Eudin,” informed one of Eudin’s body guards. A large built man walked closely to Eudin with fierce in his eyes. Scars bared on the right of his face. You could see that he was a soldier in his younger days. His hands clinged to the handle of his sword.

Eudin stopped his feet at a jewelry stand with interest. A merchant recognized the prince and showed off his best collection. “Here is my finest collection my honor,” he explained. “We sell the finest jewels, rubies, diamonds and precious stones in the country. Imported from India and Asia. Is there anything you are looking for in particular my honor?”

“Well I’m looking for a present for my mother for her birthday unfortunately,” responded Eudin.

“In that case here we have a 24 karat gold necklace with a ruby shaped heart with diamonds shaping around it. We also have a silver chained bracelet with quartz encircled around it. We also have silver and gold rings with up to 2.5 carat diamonds.”

“How about this one?” pointed out Eudin with curiosity. It was a swan shaped necklace.”

“Oh yes, the blue swan, shaped from blue sapphire with diamonds encircling it. Quite remarkable, isn’t it.”

“Yes indeed,” proclaimed Eudin. “Prodis, which do you prefer? What do you believe mother would like better?” He held out the blue swan on his right and the red heart on his left.

“Well my lord, they are both remarkably beautiful,” responded Prodis.

“I didn’t ask you if they are beautiful you fool, I asked you which one you prefer,” scolded Eudin.

“Yes my lord, I believe the queen would prefer the swan. It is her favorite animal after all.” Prodis stared at his prince with discomfort. He never cared for the prince much but it was his duty to be his royal guard.

Eudin just smiled and replied, “I’ll take the heart necklace.”

“But my lord, you said…”

“I know what I said, I just wanted your opinion on this matter,” shared Eudin. “I know you have a bad judgement so I just picked the opposite of what you picked. Quite brilliant don’t you think?”

Prodis bit his lip and nodded his head as a gesture of agreement. “That will be fifty gold coins my prince,” proclaimed the merchant.

“Fifty gold coins for this, you have to be joking,” fumed Eudin. “Even a peasant would know that price is rubbish. Thirty gold coins at most for a necklace like this.”

Sweat dripped down the face of the merchant with intimidation. He knew the wrong words could get him hung. “Yes of my course my honor, anything for you my prince,” arranged the merchant. He placed the necklace in a red pouch.

Eudin placed the pouch in a golden box that one of his servants was holding. “Mother will love this. But all this shopping bores me. What I need is some of the finest ale, not to mention the finest women in Horinton.”

“We have arranged that for you my lord,” acknowledged one of his servants.

“Of course you have, thats what I pay you for. Now where will we be heading? My patience is dying.”

“It is a tavern called The Love Potion, where we have arranged the finest ladies of Horinton to be in your presence. Professionals of love is what they are called.”

“I could care less of what they are called, I care more on what they look like and what they can do,” snickered Eudin. “So what are we waiting for?”

They left in a scurry. Heading northeast towards the tavern. They arrived at the doorstep of tavern with greetings of the owner. Who bowed in gesture of his presence. “Welcome back to the The Love Potion my prince. Always looking forward towards your visits. Please come in. You’re most welcomed here.”

“So when can we begin,” barked Eudin impatiently.

“Of course my prince, ladies,” responded the owner while snapping his fingers. “Please get comfortable and bring the finest ale for our guest.” A single line of the most beautiful women walked from the hallway while a servant brought mugs of the finest ale for Eudin and his body guards.

Every women did all they could do to impress the prince. Trying to spark up a charm. They all blushed in his presence.They all dressed up elegantly and would make any mouth water of jealousy to be around such beauty. But knowing the prince. He was very picky. He wanted the best of the best. He walked around each women making absurd comments. “Too skinny, too chunky, too big of a nose, too much make up, not enough make up, too short, too tall..” He went on and on to each women. “Is this all you have. I thought you said you had the best.”

“I’m sorry my prince, this is the best horrington has to offer,” responded the owner while lowering his head with fear.

But before Eudin could scold at him he heard a voice of an angel. He walked towards the heavenly sound. A window was cracked opened and there out in the distance was the most beautiful women that he has ever set eyes on. She sat next to a well singing her voice out.

‘There’s beauty in the sky

And the world wonders why

Why burn it with fire?

And make this place drier

The clouds start to cry

When the people start to die

There’s only hope from above

Let God send us a dove

Where he waits in heaven

Our lucky number seven’

Eudin stared throughout the window motionless. He gasped in awe. Never hearing such a beautiful voice come out from a humans mouth. He became mesmerized and completely forgot why he was in the tavern in the first place. One of his body guards spoke up and asked, “Are you alright my lord?”

“Take me to her,” responded Eudin while completely ignoring his question.

“Pardon me my lord but she is a gypsy,” proclaimed the owner. “They are very unpredictable.”

“And why would a gypsy not be worthy of my presence,” scolded Eudin. “You are useless. I hire you to find women yet I am the one having to look for one.”

“You are right my lord, my apologies,” bowed the owner.

Eudin left in a hurry. Before he could reach to her an old lady walked up to her. She was old and brittle. Not the best looking grandma. Her back curved as she walked with a cane. She wore a headcloth covering part of her gray hair. She had a big nose that pointed outward, with a mole on it that would make anyone quiver. She went to the well  grabbing the rope with all her strength but before she could go any further the gypsy lady asked her, “Mam may I help you with that?”

“Bless you young child, today has been a long and dreadful day,” smiled the old lady. “May I know your name so that I may bless you and your family.”

“Thank you and my name is Eirine,” responded the gypsy lady. Her black curly hair blew back in forth from the wind. “No poor lady should have to retrieve water from the well.”

“I see that you seek a man without even knowing it,” explained the old lady. The old lady lifted up her cane and spoke some funny words. “Humninious Patonious, may you find a hard working handsome man that will take care of you. May you and your family be blessed and may you find love that you have always deserved.”

“May I get your name after all those kind words you have spoken?”

“That doesn’t matter right now,” replied the old lady. “What matters is that you get what you wish for. Now run along before you run into trouble.”

Eirene smiled again and started to departure. Eudin knew this was his chance and headed her way but suddenly a carriage nearly hit him. He fell back losing his balance. He looked around and but she was no where in sight. He saw the old lady still at the well and told his guards, “Wait here.” He hurried towards the old lady.

“Did you see where that young lady ran after?” asked Eudin impatiently.

“Sorry good sir but may you help me retrieve water from the well?” ignoring his question.

“Who do you think I am, I am the prince of Austria and I demand you to tell me where she went,” fumed Eudin. She just smiled and placed her hand on him.

Eudin jerked back and yelled, “Get away from me you filth.”

“How dare you insult an old lady like that. I give you a chance to show me what your worth and this how you treat me. I will teach you some respect. I curse you and you will become a beast. Dordious Morious.” The lady lifted her cane while yelling a spell to him. “You will become a beast and live in the wilderness. Everyone will see you for who you really are, a monster. You will be a beast till you find true love. Till you find the true meaning of life.”

“You witch I should hang you for this,” stormed Eudin. Before Eudin could reach her she disappeared in a dark cloud of smoke.

Eudin fell on his knees covering his face from the smoke. He began to cough. He felt a strange feeling. His guards ran up to and asked with concern, “Are you ok my lord?”

“Yes I’m fine. One of you find that witch and bring her to me. Make sure she gets hanged for this. The rest of you help me find that gypsy. Wherever she is.”

Before he could say anything else his guards yelled, “There she is.” There at a fruit stand was the most gorgeous lady. Her eyes gazed towards the sun. Her eyes were forest green. She bared darker brown skin. Her lips moved with desire. She had the beauty of an angel. Her skin appeared silky smooth while her body would make any man’s mouth water.

“Stay here,” commanded Eudin again.

“But my lord. It could be…”

“Don’t ever question my authority.” Eudin ran over to the fruit stand. Eirene grabbed a few juicy apples and placed them in a bag. Eudin walked up with his chest high and tried his best to charm her. “Amazing how tempting a delicious apple could be yet it amazes me how a snake could lure Eve to eat from the forbidden fruit while tempting her husband to do the same.” He grabbed an apple and took a bite. “Yet it’s so delicious and tempting.”

Eirene just smiled and responded, “Yet you got a few facts wrong. The forbidden fruit was not an apple. No one knows what it is. Artist assumed that the forbidden fruit must be an apple from misinterpreting a translation.”

Eudin chuckled, “You’re quite the smart one. So my lady. What is a fine lady like yourself doing in a part of town like this. You should be dining in a palace as a guest with the prince.”

Eirene suddenly recognized the prince and bowed down, “Sorry my prince, I did not recognize you.”

He lifted her chin up. “No need to bow.” He walked around her and pulled out a necklace. “A beautiful lady as yourself deserves something of beauty.” He placed a swan necklace around neck. “It’s my mothers favorite animal. One of the most beautiful creatures. A treasure that I am honored to pass on to you.” He began lightly placing his fingers down her neck to her shoulders.

She turned around and slightly pushed away. She detached the necklace placed on her and said, “I’m sorry but I have to humbly reject your offer.” She handed the necklace back to him.

He looked at her with discontent. “How could you reject such an offer. I am wealthy and powerful. I can give you whatever you want. I am the Prince of Austria. Any lady would do anything for this honor and I offer it freely.”

“There are things in this world that are more important than money and power and there is one thing you can not offer and that is love. It doesn’t matter how poor they are. It matters how rich their heart is. Something that you obviously don’t have.”

Eudin lifted his arm as a signal to slap her. “I could have your tongue for this. I give you this generous offer and this how you repay me. I didn’t say you had an option. He grabbed her hand and she reacted back by slapping him in the face. He let go of her hand and yelled, “How dare you.”

Eirene ran fast knocking over the fruit stand. Eudin tripped and fell slipping on the oranges and apples that were rolling. He looked up and she disappeared in the distance. The merchant at the fruit stand came over to the prince trying to help him up. “Are ok my lord?”

“Get away from me,” fumed Eudin. His guards ran to help also. “No one rejects me. Take me to my palace and if I ever get my hands on her, her and her stupid witch can hang together.

Eudin arrived at his palace more angry than ever. His guards feared for their life. After dinner he went straight to bed. He felt a growl in his stomach. Something didn’t feel right. He rushed to the bathroom and began vomiting everywhere. He felt tremendous pain and began to scream. One of his guards and servants were walking and were talking about their concerns. “The prince appeared to be sick. Might be a good idea to check on him to make sure he is doing alright.”

“He had a rough day,” implied one of the guards. “Be careful on what you say to him or he’ll have both of our heads.”

They suddenly heard a loud scream. The guards all ran in hurry towards the sound of terror. They broke down the door and what saw was something out of the ordinary. There on the sheets was filled with blood and there stood a terrifying beast. He stood there with his gnawing sharp teeth. Covered in heavy fur and blood dripping down his face. Eudin screamed for help. But no one understood him. He looked at his hands with terror. And there in front of him was his guards with muskets pointed at him. He heard gunfire. A tremendous pain of lead pierced his skin. He jumped out of the way as the next musket was fired. He screamed, “It’s me Eudin.” But all they could hear was a beast roaring. He ran for his life and jumped through the window shattering the glass into a million pieces. He sprinted as far as he could with his four legs. Didn’t matter how much pain he was in. He ran for his life. Eventually slowing down next to a pond. Eyes started to blur as he fell down onto the hard rocky ground. “What a terrible dream.”

Part II coming soon.