Rumpelstiltskin

Horror

Our story starts in familiar territory - a rundown medieval village, where the local Miller attempts to marry his daughter off to The King by promising she can spin straw into gold. She is immediately locked in the castle dungeons with a bale of straw and asked to perform this miracle. If she does not, she will be executed. Of course, she can’t complete the task, but just as all seems hopeless, an Imp appears. He offers to help her - but he needs payment - a kiss. He’s a terrifying, twisted creature of the dark haunted forest…but she reluctantly agrees, and lo and behold, he spins the straw into gold. Now, The King does not want her to stop there, and demands the Miller’s daughter to do it again, and again. Each time, the Imp helps, but he also demands more in return. Eventually, desperate, she promises the Imp her first born child if only the Imp will help. The newly wealthy King decides to marry this magical woman, and so, with no choice in the matter, the Miller’s daughter becomes his Queen. Time passes, and she becomes pregnant and gives birth to a baby boy. That night, the Imp appears - he’s ready for his prize. The new Queen begs for her son’s life, and eventually the Imp relents - if she can guess his name he will release her from her side of the bargain. After many failed attempts, and with the Imp about to take her son, the Queen flees with the child into the woods. There, she sees the Imp - dancing and revealing his name to be Rumpelstiltskin. Armed with this information, the Queen tells the Imp his own name - and the Demon King of the Haunted Forest drags Rumpelstiltskin back to his domain for all eternity. And that, is where the story usually ends. But not here, for Rumpelstiltskin is nothing if not a deal-maker. And so he makes a deal with the Demon King, and seven years later, is allowed to return to the world above ground. Knowing the Queen still has the power over him, the Imp sets to killing those close to her. First, her father, and then the King, and then the Queen’s lover. And finally, he lures her now-seven-year-old son away from her, and into the forest. Eventually, she finds him, but dark magic renders her mute - unable to utter his name. Rumpelstiltskin has finally won - her son is his to devour. Until Rumpelstiltskin spies his name tattooed on the child’s flesh - the ultimate protection against his evil, placed there by his mother. Frustrated once more, the Demon King comes to claim the Imp, and, the Queen and her son are safe, for now...

More