When the Piper Got his Nose Cut Off

Rated M for cursing and some sexual themes

The Piper stood in the backyard of a well-maintained house, leaning against the dusty stone wall. He was nervous, for sure, but inspired and couldn't wait for the night's adventures to begin. He chuckled. Night's adventures. How appropriate.

When he was sure that the man of the house was gone for good, he opened his mouth and began to sing softly into the cold night.

"Stars above in the blackest sky,

You sparkle as fierce as my lover's eye.

You watch the earth with a gaze so bright.

But have you seen…my love tonight?"

The Piper paused. The white curtain in one of the window's fluttered slightly and, alas, a girl looked out. When she saw him she smiled and disappeared. The girl was young, maybe fourteen and still had the baby fat of an ignorant youth upon her rosy cheeks. It's almost a crime to seduce her in this way, the Piper thought, but in the end we shall get what we've worked so hard for.

The girl appeared at the back door, holding a candle. The fact that she was wearing a long, white night gown and had her hair down made her look all the more young. She smiled.
"Alas, my love, you have come to me

A dainty young girl, who is oh so lovely

I beckon you, miss, come with me; here

You kiss my lips, and I'll take you there."

The girl came to him, treading softly, a dazed look on her face. It was working. His voice had put her into a sort of oblivious trance. He pulled her by her hand, leading her away from the bright garden and into the surrounding woods. He kissed her.

"What have we here, a look of pure lust?

Well, lucky me, because you're so robust.

Lips like petals, a porcelain skin tone

Legs oh so long, love, you're full grown!"

She let out a small laugh. He sat her down near the edge of a creek, away from curious eyes. She flinched when he began to rub her neck, her back, and her thighs, but still smiled. However, she couldn't help letting out a tiny gasp when his wandering hands got a bit too confident. He lulled her back into oblivion with his silver voice.

"Oh, hush now girl, lie back, like that

Don't be so shy, you silly little cat.

I love you, I adore you, I promise I do

So, here, let me give…something to you.

Some call it magic; some call it true beauty,

But I call it, my dear, Lover's Duty

You show me yours, and I'll show you mine

Come now, like that, you'll do it just fine."

The Piper could feel excitement coursing through his veins as the girl lay back, letting him hitch up her dress, being much too shy to say no. She was still under his quiet spell and she would be for a while. Long enough at least. Feeling drunk with desire, he undid his own shirt, placing her small, pale hand on his stiff crotch. The girl gave a slight whimper when her dress was removed completely and for a minute or two the Piper knelt there, admiring the young, innocent, naked body.

And then he stopped.

He heard footsteps. Loud, determined footsteps. Damn it, he thought, extinguishing the candle's firelight. Whoever it was had spotted the light of the candle. The girl bolted up, the spell snapping under his agitation, and called out her father's name.

"Isa?" came the voice of the person rushing towards them.

"Quiet!" The Piper hissed at the girl, but it was too late, for a man as thick and heavy as a tree trunk rushed towards them. It was the girl's father. The man looked slightly dazed but then his eyes fell on the Piper.

"What are you doing here?" he boomed "Get out-" But his eyes had fallen on his daughter, naked, dazed, and shivering.

"Piper, you sonofabitch!"

"No! We didn't…I…I promise-"

But the man had scooped up the Piper in his thick arms and shook the poor man like a ragdoll.

"You were seducing her with your dark songs again, weren't you?" he growled.

"No! No, sir," the Piper choked. Then, to the young man's horror, the girl's father pulled out a grimy knife.

"This is to ensure that you don't cause any more trouble," he snarled. And with that he let the knife down on the Piper's nose.

xXxXx

Later that night the Piper sat in Nettle's hut, his eyes watering. He had a cloth stretched across his face. He could not smell the heavy ointment of which the woman had put on his face, for his nose was cradled in his lap, wrapped in silvery cloth. Voice quavering (he had to try,) he began to sing;

"Stars above in the blackest sky,

You sparkle as fierce like my lover's eye.

You watch the earth with eyes so bright

But have you seen, my love tonight?

Alas, oh stars you have brought her to me

A dainty young girl, who is oh so lovely

I beckon you, miss, come with me; here

You kiss my lips, and I'll take you there.

What have we here, a look of pure lust?

Well, lucky me, because you're so robust.

Lips like petals, a porcelain skin tone

Legs oh so long, love, you're full grown!

Oh, hush now girl, lie back, like that

Don't be so shy, you feisty little cat.

I love you, I adore you, I promise I do

So, here, let me give…something to you.

Some call it magic; some call it true beauty,

But I call it, my dear, Lover's Duty

You show me yours, and I'll show you mine

Come now, like that, you'll do it just fine."

His new voice was high, oddly strained. But it held a dark, handsome note that was once seductive and cruel at the same time.

Outside, Capricorn and his fire-raisers rode by. When Capricorn heard the wavering voice wafting from the Nettle's hut he felt his hackles raise. One day he would hunt out that voice and teach him to sing much, much darker songs.

Author's Note: Whoa, anybody else notice that that felt just like Romeo and Juliet? Thanks for reading! Reviews are much appreciated!