Music To My Soul

Ch. 18

Maria: 

I watched as Padre took a seat next to Tim on the bed, letting the smaller man curl into him, and it was so sweet, but the next words out of my mouth will sour their day, I just know it. 

" Well, you want to know about the Queen. She was born to a French mother and a English father. Queen Roza was a sweetheart of a girl, I was her Lady in Waiting when I first came to the Castle. The King had paid her father a dowry, as was tradition back then, to marry her. Her name before she married was Rosalina Marie Antonia LaFleur. She was a sweet girl, with a big heart, had these beautiful green eyes that spoke of innocence and joy, and long, auburn locks much like Tim's. She was human, all through her marriage and on the eve of the honeymoon, she became one of us. Three weeks go by, and they are in marital bliss, the castle was buzzing for joy at finally having a Queen of equal standing with the King. She was called the Beloved Queen of Roses, and it was this title that had caught the attention of some local holy men who were crusaders." 

I take a deep breath to steady my nerves, and continued to speak. 

" The Queen went out riding her horse with me and a guard, only to get stopped by a crusader, warning her of a trap set up ahead to catch the vampiress of the castle. As a reward for him saving her, she gave him a token, a kerchief made of olive green silk and embroidered with black silk thread roses on one corner. It was her favorite, and the knight tucked it away in his bracer. I remember how his green eyes and long blonde hair looked like summer, his skin was sunny and tanned, and I knew he had caught the eye of the Queen. The Queen had offered as thanks a meal as her honored guest, and later that night, they were caught by me talking in a manner not befit a fresh stranger and a Queen. I watched as the Queen fell in love with this handsome stranger, and eventually, under a plum tree one May night, they went too far in their affair." 

" I know all this, I read it in her journal she left in the tower. When I got to the tower, he said I was just like her, and I want you to tell me in what way he meant that." 

" Well, there's the obvious. You both have green eyes and brown hair, you both are kind and gentle souls, and you both fell for a holy man named Alexander, although, to the Queens credit, he was Alexandru." 

I watched Padre sit up straight and anger set into his eyes. 

" I know that name. Sir Alexandru,  also known as The Crooked Crusader was a man of Iscariot, back in it's youth. He is the example given to all of us as a symbol of how sin can even corrupt a pure man of God. He had been assigned to kill Alucard, and instead-" 

The amount of fear that both men felt was palpable. 

" I am no better. I was sent to kill Alucard, only to fall for his Mate, and I went out of my way to save them because they meant more to me than anything else." 

" Padre, if I may, there's more to this you both don't know. When the King found out, he rampaged, and found Alexandru trying to climb the stairs, and as punishment for trying to break her out, and for having slept with his wife, he had Alexandru impaled in the plum tree. It was said that he stayed draped there until his body withered to dust, but in actuality, I knew he had a chance, and so, I...uh, well, I turned him into a vampire and helped him get the Queen out of the tower. They both are still alive and well, but not under the names we know, and I'm the only one who know. I can bring you to them, and maybe they can help." 

" Roza and Alexandru are alive!?" 

" Yes, and so, here's the thing, they don't go by that anymore, and the only way I could bring you to them, is if the Mate's bond is broken, and the quickest I know is if we get Roza to agree to sever it as her right as queen to do so." 

" So we just need to convince her to do it and well be home free, right?!" 

" Tim, sweetie, please don't get your heart too set on this. The queen is a very picky woman and is very secluded and wants nothing to do with the King." 

Padre got up and walked over to the window, shutting the curtains and locking the window. 

" I'm going to have 4 Iscariots stationed outside your door, and two of my finest to keep you company. If you need anything, ask them, alright? Maria, Flint, you two are with me." 

" Where do you think we are going?" 

" You are taking me to Roza. If she can help us then by god fucking damn it she is going to do so." 

" As you wish, padre, but I can't promise she'll be receptive." 

" If she is anything like you've said, she'll hear us out at the least." 

" True. We can leave tomorrow. Take tonight to recover and rest. If you need us, we'll be across the hall." 

I went with Flint to our room, and thats when I broke down sobbing. 

" Shh. I know you don't like to bother her, but it is necessary." 

" How do I go visit them after so long? Its been decades, I think they might've even had a child! I don't know if they might've changed or not!" 

" Chardonnay and Andrew are good vampires, good people. They'll help." 

" I know, but she doesn't want anything to do with the King." 

" I can trust she'll be fine. Now come love, let's rest." 

We shared a hug and kiss, the both of us going to our separate coffins to sleep and wait for the eve of a very miserable day.