Happy Valentine's day! Have fun today.
"Do you believe he has a hold on me?""Once he appears, he already has a hold."His gaze became fixed on her necklace before he looked up at her face.When he spoke this time, his voice sounded a little cheerful."But he no longer appears to you in your dreams. You are save, with me."But she wasn't save!Her heart pounded in her chest, the thundering filling her ears. "Have you been able to save any of brides before?"He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, patting her hand that was in his. "No.""Oh."His hand went around her, pulling her towards him in a hug while she rested her face against his chest, listening to the beating of his heart and the vibration of his voice."Please, worry not. You are different. You, my Donna, will be my last bride."Different. She really wanted to believe that but she knew she wasn't.She wasn't different.She really wanted to tell him that, but then again, she couldn't. What if the Bride Thief getting to them had something to do with the King? She
"Lavender oil, Milady." Another said, eagerly pushing a carefully wrapped gift into her hands. The face that looked back at hers had wrinkles by the corners of her eyes that seemed to twinkled with abundant happiness, her grin wide. Which only got wider when she realized that she had Belladonna's attention fully to herself. Her hands became a little shaky in Belladonna's own."You'll certainly love it, Milady.""Thank you." Belladonna smiled back in appreciation, taking the gift, as she looked down at the package. Something caught her attention at that moment though. Right on the woman's wrinkly left wrist, was a tattoo. Moderately small, but artistically and beautifully drawn. She couldn't make out what exactly it was, or where she had seen it before but it did hold a sense of familiarity.A scream snapped Belladonna's attention.Something was heading right for her.Swooshing in the air like---Her eyes went wide and she froze.FIRE.She staggered back in a quick response to avert
Belladonna didn't have to watch the burst of flames for long, the King was in front of her in a flash, blocking the sight away, so that all that was left to see was the golden brightness that reflected from the fire.The agonizing screams from the woman ablaze was something he couldn't prevent her from hearing though. Cries of anguish that cut sharply into the night's former peaceful ambiance, ripping it into shreds, till all that was left was nothing. Then, silence.When the King took a step away, no longer blocking her view, the woman was gone, the guards must have taken her away, even the path that led to her had been filled with people again. The fearful look gone from their eyes, their faces filled with smiles once again like nothing happened, cheers pouring out of their mouths as they directed their gifts towards her. Everything just like when she had first stepped out from the carriage, in fact, more cheerful this time.Belladonna could feel a gift being pressed into the pa
"If anything had happened to you tonight, I would have never forgiven myself." He sighed, his voice causing a sort of vibration to her ears that was pressed against his warm chest. "I really wanted tonight to be perfect. Now, it is all ruined.""It's not.""It is. Her screams will give you nightmares." He moved his hand over her hair, brushing it lightly. "I am so sorry." He paused, his hand on her hair going still for a moment. "Will you like to pass the night in my room?"Her heart skipped a beat at the offer and she shook her stiffly. "I'll be alright in mine." The idea had sounded so tempting, in fact, she could almost feel herself in his bed, having him so close by made her feel so safe, but with how close they had gotten tonight, sleeping in his room might be pushing things to a direction she still didn't want to head to yet."I'm confused by how the people switched quickly from the tension to the cheers again like..." her voice became lower as the memory played again in her he
"But do you feel strongly that it is a curse?""Yes. I mean, why would he consistently stand in my way of getting a bride if that wasn't the solution?"That made sense. There was also the possibility that he could be doin that to distract the King from the actual solution, but how long this had been going that. That would most likely not be it."If she is not convinced, why does she participate in the ....hmm...""Choosing Ritual and Ceremony.""Yes. Thank you. I don't know why I keep forgetting things lately." She chuckled."You are overthinking." He said, sounding worried, as he leaned forward towards her, taking in the look on her face. "Stressed," he commented, leaning back, tapping his fingernails against his mask again.She nodded. She could be."I worry about you."He lips stretched into a smile that quickly fell. "I'm alright. So tell me, why?"He caught on where they had left off quickly."Simple. Because I am the King and I commanded that it shall be."That oddly filled her
Belladonna pulled away from him to look up at his face, her gaze fixing upon his mask instead, the image of the expectant look that would be in his eyes, taking form in her head."That you will not take any more brides after me."He stared back at her, studying those eyes that held a sought of fire in them when she had said out her demand firmly.Was it selfish that she wanted to be his last bride so much, that she wanted him to give her his word on it? Maybe. But she certainly didn't want any other woman to have to suffer an unsure fate, also she had every intention to end this curse, as soon as possible, with whatever it was that it would cost her.Promising to do as she had requested right now, would mean that he had as much trust in her as she had in him. With no response still given, she shifted uncomfortably in her seat under his smoldering gaze.Her gaze was fixed on the floor of the carriage, the sound of the carriage's wheels on the rocky road filling her ears, while she w
The hand that clamped tightly over her mouth was sweaty and a little shaky, yet too firm under her quick attempt to yank it away. The saltiness of sweat that jammed on her tongue as her teeth locked on the flesh, was disgusting, but she was ready to withstand anything to ensure she wasn't taken away from the palace or harmed right here. The threat of the villager rang in her mind over and over again, making her struggles increasingly frantic and rough, before a strained voice cut through her thoughts, and seeped into her ears though her struggles."...Raquel!" Came a painful squeak. "Pl..please stop! It is yo--ur ma--id, My Lady!"Raquel?She loosened her teeth's grip around her flesh, as she stepped back quickly, wiping her mouth with the sleeve of her gown. She could still taste Raquel's sweat and nothing about that did she find pleasant. Panting from her earlier struggles and still feeling very on edge with the dark, Belladonna's hands moved on the surface of her dressing table
It was spiral line, that extended to three different angles, curled at each end. It was small, black. She had never seen it before until tonight."You have it too." She looked up at Raquel, but when the oblivious look in her eyes didn't change, she added, "the tattoo.""Oh, that." Raquel chuckled. "Everyone has it." She squinted her eyes, looking at Belladonna as if searching for something that should be there, before she relented and looked back at her quizzically. "You don't?"Belladonna dropped her hand from Raquel's shoulder, shaking her head. "No.""B-but everyone has it." A grin stretched across her lips, one too wide "Once a child is born, he gets the tattoo. It is a sign that you are one of us.""One of you. You mean the people?""Yes, people of Ignas. I thought everyone had it." Raquel moved closer, her eyes searching desperately this time, the urge to find so immerse that she held Belladonna's wrists in her shaky hands before dropping them. "You don't have it in Inaymi?"B