It read:
"Just wait for me, my love. I will find a way for us to be together again."
Lytio must have had his brain replaced with one of the fishes that he captured to make such ridiculous promises.
She looked at the piece of paper blankly once again and muttered to herself, "such terrible handwriting."
She threw it into the fire, where some women were cooking for another wedding.
Then left for the library.
The moment she stepped into the library, the Librarian greeted her.
"There you are, child. My wife told me everything. That mother of yours is a witch."
Gladies, his wife, always some how knew everything that was going on in Inaymi.
Belladonna had always thought they were a match made in heaven. While she knew about the things going on in town presently, her husband knew very well about the things that happened in the past.
Soulmates, she often called them.
"And that sister of yours is a snake. Spineless man, the father you have."
"Technically, he is not my father."
"I know, I know but..." He paused before he continued. "I am Highly disappointed by Lytio and his family."
She shrugged. "Well..."
"If I could just fight all of them for you, I would."
A quick imagery of that crossed through her mind and she quickly stifled a laugh because of how ridiculous the librarian had looked in her imagination.
"The only thing I need to fight right now is being chosen."
"Oh yes, I found you a book!"
He brought out a book from his drawer and stretched it towards her. She took it from him.
The book turned out to be the same book she had found and dropped the day before yesterday.
How much things had changed from then.
"Looks like this is the only book on it."
"Sadly, it is."
She nodded, then started walking away with the book in her hand.
"I should get on reading then."
"If you need anything..."
"You've already helped me enough with this."
"You will be fine at the end of all these, child, just be strong."
"Thank you, sir."
She smiled politely, then disappeared within the shelves.
***
Every family with daughters who were eligible for the Chosing Ritual were known and it was their duty to produce a daughter for the Choosing Ritual.
If they failed to, the Dragon King's guards would usually take them away, never to be seen again.
Some said the offenders were thrown into the dungeon for daring the wrath of the Dragon king, others, as usual, said the King fed them to his dragon.
No matter what it was, the people knew that it wasn't anything good.
So for Belladonna's family not to face that kind of fate after the trick they had pulled, they prepared Belladonna for the ritual.
The ritual was tonight and since the ladies were to be at the Choosing Ground for the ritual looking beautiful in a long sleek white gown, Isa had taken it upon herself to make Belladonna look the most beautiful she would ever look in her life.
While Isa took care of everything, she kept talking about how good it would be for everyone if she became the bride.
Belladonna said nothing while she repeated the rules from the book she had read, over and over again in her head, ensuring that she wouldn't forget any.
"1. Make yourself as small as you can.
2. Do not let your voice be heard.
3. Be invisible..."
"There, done." Isa stepped back, a grimace on her face.
When Belladonna looked into the mirror, she was indeed really beautiful. Her black long curly hair had been packed and rolled into a high messy bun. Her face looked totally dolled up, she almost didn't recognize herself.
"Do you know why I made you this beautiful?"
"To be your sacrificial lamb." She replied, still looking into the mirror, watching the line where the dark complexion of her skin, met with the plain, short sleeve, gown she wore.
Isa smiled broadly, her hand tracing a line on Belladonna's arm while she locked eyes with her in the mirror.
Beneath the line she was tracing was a long healing cut that she had skillfully hid away with make up, one of the many cuts that she had designed on her daughter's skin.
It was a form of threat, a silent saying that she really had nothing to come back to.
"Yes. Now go and never come back."
***
At the ground, there were two sections. One for the families of the Possibile Potentials, with the Village Head and his family sitting at the front seat, and the other for the Possible Potential's themselves.
Isa and Jasper went to the Families' side and joined Aniya and Lytio on a long bench at the front, where they were already waiting for them.
Aniya smiled at her parents, waving her hand, that was intertwined with Lytio's, at them as they shared pleasantries. Then they settled down and looked down to where the Possible Potential's were seated.
They were twenty three maidens who were all dressed in plain white.
Belladonna joined them, making them twenty four.
As per the rules she was bent on following, she found a seat at the middle, hunched her back so that she would look small and didn't say a word while the others mumbled amongst one another.
Belladonna didn't know what to expect because this was the first time she was attending the Choosing Ritual, she had never seen the king before neither had she seen his dragon, but she had heard that the Dragon King would be bringing his dragon.
Just as he had done for every Choosing Ritual.
Her stomach twisted in knots at that, increasing her fear knowing that not only would the dreaded King be here, but he would also bring along his ferocious beast.
There was tension and fear in the air as they waited.
They would be here anytime soon.
They could sense it in the air that they were coming.
Then they heard loud marching of warriors in amours from a distance away, as their boots hit the ground in unison.
Everyone went dead silent.
Finally, the warriors arrived at the Ground, then they stopped.
Belladonna tightened her hands by her sides, holding the edge of her seat, her gaze planted to the ground.
She heard the neighing of a horse but nothing after that.
A horse? Didn't they say he would bring a dragon?
She raised her head slowly to see that it wasn't the king but a woman who was smoothly getting off the horse with the help of one of the warriors.
She was wearing an armless, long and flowing, blood red dress. It dazzled under the moonlight as it stuck carefully to her fair, slightly curvy body. It had a slit from the middle of her breast, down to the right side of her waist. Then another slit from her right mid-thigh all the way down.
She emitted power, so much power that although Belladonna was sitting far from her, she felt consumed by it.
The woman's gaze landed on the Possible Potentials section and Belladonna stiffened as she scanned them with concealed eyes.
The Village Head immediately ran towards her along with his wife, bowing lightly.
She whispered something to them and they start talking.
Now that he was close to her, Belladonna noticed that this woman was a tall one. She was taller than the village head by a few inches. Although she was wearing red heels, so she wasn't quite sure anymore.
Romina looked away from her, her eyes onto the warriors instead. She started searching through the guards for the Dragon King, so that she would know whose attention she didn't want to draw.
That was one of the most important rules she read in the book.
She searched and searched but she couldn't find him.
Just as she was about to give up and just hope that her plan tonight would work despite her first failure, she heard a distant flapping sound in the air.
It got louder and louder.
Just like many others, Belladonna looked up.
Although at first, she saw nothing because of the dark sky, soon the image got clearer and her eyes widened with surprise... and fear!
By Ignas, a dragon!
Her grip on the edges of her seat tightened as she watched the mighty beast descend.
The dragon landed some distance in front of them, its feet hitting the ground, making it shake slightly. Dust rushed up into the air, as it flapped its wide wings before closing them up to it's sides.
It rumbled lowly at that, Belladonna could almost feel the vibration.
This was the biggest beast she had ever seen in her entire life, it was even bigger than she had imagined it, adding to her fear.
The dragon had two colors, one side of it was silver and the other, blue. It had spikes all over its head, down to its neck.
That was when she noticed the man that rode the dragon.
The dreaded Dragon King himself.
He jumped off the dragon, which was a long way to the ground, landing perfectly on one knee.
Then he rose to his feet, straightening up.
He was a tall muscular man with a golden iron mask over his face, he was also fully cladded in a brown leather armour, with a huge sword hug by his belt.
Belladonna gulped.
This was definitely happening.
At that moment, the woman who had arrived earlier before him, yelled.
"Bow to your King!"
Everyone fell on their kneels immediately, their heads bowed. Although Belladonna had been a little clumsy about it, she had managed not to draw any attention to herself. "Rise." The Dragon King commanded, his voice was deep and it commanded respect, a sought of authority that couldn't be ignored even if one dared. Indeed, even a flick of his finger resonated power.They rose up to their feet."Sit."They did.Then the Dragon King started walking towards the Possible Potentials section, the woman who had arrived earlier following after him.Belladonna quickly casted her gaze to the ground, her arms around herself protectively. Then she heard them stop right in front of them."Begin." The Dragon King said to the woman that was now standing behind. She stepped forward, looking from one lady to another while she went through the space between the benches. "Up." She commanded.Now that she wasn't announcing the presence of the King, her voice sounded firm yet sultry. The lady stood u
It was all a blur, right from the moment when she realized that she had failed herself and allowed herself to be chosen. All while the seven Potential Brides were led into the long carriage that had come to take them, while the carriage journeyed into the night, through the forest, down to the castle, while the ladies sat side by side, their hands curled up in-between their thighs, their eyes fixed to the carriage's floor under the strict gaze of the woman who had chosen them, until they finally got to the castle and stepped out of the carriage one after the other.Everything just felt like a huge blur.Belladonna had expected some dark, desolate castle with distant eerie sound of a forest, in the middle of no where. She had been wrong. Very wrong.The castle was the most beautiful building she had ever seen. There was a huge beautiful water fountain and a long colorful garden along the walkway. The lights illuminated the whole castle, making it look magical in combination with the
Just like that, she turned away, up the stairs and the servants started leading each down the hallway, to seven different doors. Everyone got a male and a female servant to help them to their door. The female servant helping Belladonna was a couple of inches shorter than she was, although she looked older, like she was in her early thirties. She had bags underneath her eyes and a few wrinkles by either side.The male servant on the other hand was just an inch or two taller than Belladonna. His face was calm and he seemed collected.Asides that, they were both wearing sought of deep blue uniform and they looked like as if they are well taken care of.Belladonna got the fifth door.Hung on it was the kind of slate which had a name carved on it. Moria Nakunriver.She furrowed her eyebrows at that.That was the name of the previous bride, the one who had authored the book containing all those rules she had read. The bride whom everyone had thought would be the last.Had this been her r
The landing would have been rough had she not landed on a bundle of blankets placed just at the bottom of this crazy tunnel."Making a run for it, Lady--""I wasn't..." She jumped, startled that she was still alive and that she hadn't fallen into a dungeon instead.She stood up, looking back at the man who was sitting by the dinning table, some distance away from her. He was oddly silent and her heart started to race. Was he looking at her and thinking she was absolutely useless?If so? Good."I admit, it was stupid." She chuckled but her mischief immediately died the moment she realized something. What if he was thinking of making her his dragon's meal and not sending her home instead. Her breath hitched, trying to rack her brain for exactly what she was still doing wrong.Too bad, she couldn't figure it out through his face because of his golden mask.Was he seething in angry or was he boiling over with rage.Her eyes grew wide the moment she realized she hadn't greeted."Your Ma
"A black gown? My Lady, you can not. The Choosing Ceremony is today."Ceremony? Belladonna scoffed, internally while she looked at herself in the mirror.'sounds more like a funeral.'She had cried so much for this past one week that she now felt absolutely drained and empty. Her eyes were red and puffy. If anything were to sadden her right now, she would have no tears to shed.After her outburst in the he presence of the King, she had decided to stay in her room without coming out for anything. Her servants Plea to Lady Kestra on her behalf had been denied, not that she cared to begin with, and the rumours were flying around that the King wouldn't pardon her disrespect in any form.Rumours said that she would indeed be a dragon's meal by the end of the Ceremony, which was to happen tonight.Her punishment was sure.The rumours also conveyed that Lady Piper would most likely be the bride as Lady Kestra was most pleased with her performance at her dinner test.As much as Belladonna did
Once again, her mind went into a blur. Her environment fading into a distance while she remained stunned by the crazy thing that had just happened. How was it that she was the crowned the Bride? How was it even possible?Her mind was so occupied that by the time she realized that she had been brought into a room that wasn't hers, the guards were already gone and the door had been shut firmly. She jumped to her feet with a start, looking around the red painted room, it stung her eyes somehow considering red wasn't even really her colour to begin with.She yanked at her hair, pacing around the room, mumbling inaudible frightened words underneath her breath. At that moment, she heard horses neighing, a carriage driving out of the castle and heavy gates been pulled open from a distance away.She looked around the room quickly searching for a window, pulling open all the red curtains she laid her hands upon till she eventually from one with just the right view.From here, she could see
When next she opened her eyes she was greeted by Raquel's teary face. "My Lady." Raquel fell on her feet by her bedside. "You made me so--so--" more tears. "So worried!" She finally blurted out. Belladonna blinked, just trying to catch up with the world after returning from the land of sleep. Then she remembered, her eyes widened as the memories flooded in.She jumped with a start, looking around like a frightened deer, her head ringing from how swiftly she had moved."I slept!" She exclaimed like it was the strangest thing that had ever happened to her. Her stomach growled at that moment and she fisted her hand against it, leaning forward slightly. "I'm hungry too! Arrgh, I'm so hungry."Raquel's eyes lit up, she rushed up on her feet, stretching her hand to drag the trolley of food she had come in with. The wonderful aroma seeped into Belladonna's nostrils and it took everything in her to be patient for Raquel to hand her the plate instead of yanking it right out of her hand."I k
Red wasn't a color she particularly fancied because she believed it always clashed with her eyes, but she didn't complain about that when the dress Raquel had picked for her turned out to be a long red dress. She had bigger problems right now, like finding out why the King had sent for her and why he was been absolutely nice to her.There were so many servants in the castle and they all seem to be going around minding their business, while Colin led her to wherever it was the King was waiting for her, lighting up the way with the torch in his hand.Colin led her down so many dark stairs that she started to suspect that he might just be leading her to her death.As much as she had found the idea of death pleasing yesterday, today however, she felt totally different about it. She now had questions that demanded answers and to get those answers, she had to stay alive.They took another round of stairs lower and the whiff of a disgusting smell in the air stung her nose.Finally Colin sto