Ah, the forbidden wood. Many times young Keroh had been told by his elders to steer clear, but Keroh was a bratty snot nosed prat of a boy and laughed at the sincerity of their warnings. On one such occasion, Keroh kicking mud as he walked down a dark path, came across a poor disgruntled witch. She had been badly injured and looked in desperate need of help.

“You there! Boy! Fate has whisked you to my aid!”

“Fate you say?” Keroh snickered. “Fate has certainly dealt you a lousy hand!”

“P-Please,” the mangled witch stammered, “help me child and I will give you something to unlock your deepest desires! Entrance to any door, access to any lock dear boy!” She held out a shiny silver key with a hideous grin plastered across her face.

Keroh eyed her suspiciously, smiled hungrily, then snatched the key from the witch’s grasp and kicked her hard in the tush. He laughed, “Won’t be needing this much more now then will you?” and off he went down the shortest path out of the woods, the witch’s screams echoing through the trees. “THEEEEEEEIF!!!”she cried.

“I certainly am.” Keroh knew exactly where he was going. The Royal Pantry in the Royal Castle. Much of his time had been spent there exploring the grand halls and stealing food and coin whenever the opportunity presented itself. It had been days since his last meal and if this key could truly unlock anything, he was in for a meal worthy of a king. Now this, however, was quite the dangerous task. You see it was well known that the princess of the land was a vile, loathsome beauty that had come of age for suiting. Boys that ventured to the Royal Castle lost their heads if she found them unworthy of courting her. So it was pretty safe to assume the princess would have his head for stealing from the Royal Pantry. Keroh grinned as he sat and ate. The key had worked easily on the Royal Pantry door. He was feeling full and content as an idea came to mind. Keroh confidently strode to the princess’ court.

“Salutations fair lady. I am your prince. Favor me and no door will be locked unto you.”

The princess was moved by his boldness but unimpressed. “My prince? Dressed in rags? No doubt pig’s blood runs through your veins. I will have your head this night!”

Before she could call her Royal Guard, Keroh was down the hall unlocking the servants’ quarters. He cleaned himself up, helped himself to the servant’s fine clothing and hastily returned to the court.

“Salutations fair lady. I am your prince. Favor me and no door will be locked unto you.”

She was intrigued at his persistence, but still unimpressed. “Swine is swine no matter how well dressed, and clearly your shallow pockets are empty!” It seemed the princess was mildly entertained and giggled softly when Keroh bolted from the room. Down the hall and around the corner he unlocked the treasury and filled his pockets with gold, then snagged the most extravagant ring he could find, and pocketed it. He grinned at the thought of being a thief turned prince and truly began to fancy this foul mouthed princess.

Again he was at her feet, pockets brimming with gold and offering the fancy ring. “Salutations fair lady. I am your—“

“THEIF!” she cried. Of course the princess would recognize a ring of such grandeur from her own treasury. Her intrigue dissipating, her taste for blood returned accompanied with rage. “The hour is late but by the morning, your head will join my collection! Take him away!” The guards were on him before he knew it and Keroh swiftly found himself in a murky dank dungeon feeling sorry for himself. This key of his had brought him good food, fancy clothes, and wealth. Yet all that mattered to him now was the admiration and love he felt for the seedy contemptible princess. Suddenly, his eyes lit up with anticipation. Brandishing the key with a smile, he escaped from the dungeon and found himself in the princess’ quarters, her snores assuring him of a sound slumber. With a leap he was on her bed with the key raised high above his head. Before she could fully awake, he aimed where he thought her heart should be, plunged the key in to the hilt, and turned.

A cold sense of impending doom gripped Keroh’s spine. Gazing into her peaceful face, he could have sworn he heard the cackle of the bent, broken witch from the wood. Keroh could not pull his hand from the key. The princess continued her slumber undisturbed as he fought to disengage his hand. Almost at once, a ghostly putrid air seized him and pulled him…deeper, deeper into a cloudy darkness. Keroh was gone. As the princess rolled to her side, the key slipped into a crack in the floor.

Perhaps it is to be expected, attempting to unlock a heart so dark. How unfortunate for poor Keroh. One should be properly prepared when opening doors such as these. But perhaps that is a story for another day.