Shadow Cursed

Chapter 38: The Royal Suite

Celeste's P.O.V.

Someone was banging at the door again when I looked up, I shouted go away in frustration and the banging stopped.

The room I was hiding away in was a pretty big room and had a balcony view too, along with a walk-in closet and a personal bathroom. The bed was a 4-post canopy bed with curtains with privacy, I wasn't gonna complain since it was soft. There was also a set of couches and a table with a tea set. The bathroom had a tub I could lay in and drown my worries away. While the closest had anything I could ever imagine trying on and I could never wear all of it before I died. Other than the fact I was going to be forced to marry this boy I just met, this was any girls paradise.

I laid on the floor staring at the ceiling high above me. There was nothing to do but wait for the day that I dreaded would come. I had always thought about getting married, starting a family, and having kids, but this was a whole other situation.

Standing up I ran my hand through my messy hair. I walked over to the standing mirror in the room and sighed. I had been refusing to eat food so I had lost weight and was thin, and paleness took the place of my once bright skin.

My hair had grown to my breasts and I didn't bother to cut it. I picked myself up and walked into the grand bathroom. Inside, one of the draws had a pair of scissors. I pulled them out. Holding my hair at my shoulders, I closed my eyes as I cut the hair beyond my hand, letting the now free falling strands fall to the ground. I opened my eyes and just stared at the result. My hand shaking a little, I did the same on the other side of my hair. It was now even, and I put the scissors down. I took deep breaths taking in the changes, it would take some time to get used to.

Walking over to the tub, I turned on the faucet and let the water run filling it to the edge. I stripped of my shirt, jeans, bra, and underwear, then sunk into the hot water. My body relaxed and I was able to think clearly for once. My muscles were aching from being curled up in the dungeon for weeks and it felt good.

I thought about Cerin, where was he, and was he okay? We had both been captured but I hadn't seen him since we had arrived. He was probably used to it here, when I was a temporary guest. I sighed, what use was escaping. They had guards outside my door and keeping track of my whereabouts while still offering me some kind of privacy. He probably was in the same boat I was in. I sunk deeper into the water and blew bubbles on the surface.

I stood up with a robe around my dirt-free body and nice smelling hair and walked back into the bedroom. There was a nice little dress on my bed and a tray of hot food and a drink in a fancy wine cup waiting for me on the table. How considerate, maybe they all weren't monsters like Damien.

I took the robe off and slid the dress over my head, it fit perfectly, like it was tailored for my body. There was also a pair of black flats on the floor besides my bed and I slipped them onto my cold feet. I admired how the dress fit my curves and didn't make my butt look fat or my breasts not too big in the mirror. I took a ribbon and tied it in my hair, perfect.

Dressed and decent enough to be seen in public, I walked over to the couch and saw the tray had a bowl of soup with two slices of bread and some crackers. I took the spoon and tried some of the strange looking soup after stirring it around a little. It wasn't so bad for food, I took a few more spoons and pretty soon the bowl was empty and I was for once full.

A knock came from the door and a familiar face came into the room. "You look different."

"I cut my hair, I didn't like how it was so long." I shrugged and stood up to walk over to Cerin.

He hugged me like a sister, "I don't want to do this either. Trust me." He let go and sat down on the love seat. I sat down next to him. "Hope they aren't treating you too bad."

"The soup wasn't too bad, and who ever made the dress knew my body exactly. It fits perfectly, not tight or loose areas." He was staring at the dress, I didn't blame him. I really liked it myself.

Cerin smiled a weak smile. "My father had the dress specifically made for you. He is also ordering a wedding dress being made also. It's supposed to be spectacular from the pictures and things I've seen and heard."

"Ugh the wedding, I'm guessing there's no way out of this." I looked over at Cerin and he had a sad expression on his face, "I mean like, I didn't wanna be forced into this. There's nothing wrong with you, you're a great friend and listener."

He shrugged, "I gotta go." He stood up and left the room letting the door close behind him.

I got up and tried to chase after him. Outside my door were no guards, and none where to be seen in the hallway, neither was Cerin to be seen. I continued looking for him, hoping to apologize for what I had said.

Cerin's P.O.V.

I ran far from her as I could. Tears pricked at my eyes waiting to fall, but I didn't want her to see me like this. I knew what she meant to say, but in a way I wanted to be a part of her world. I didn't let the tears fall until I made it to my room and slammed the doors behind me.

What was I thinking? The marriage wasn't about two people falling in love, it was for absolute power and selfishness and greed. And he wasn't even my real father, I was adopted as a baby. I never knew my real parents, supposedly they died or something that ended up with me at an orphanage. I hated him with all my guts, and that would never change.

But part of me started falling for her. It sounded stupid, even to me at first. She didn't see her true beauty the way I saw her, but she wouldn't let me into her world the way I would open my arms for her. She could come waltzing into my kingdom any day and be welcome. I sighed as I gave up on my fantasy. The more I thought about it, the closer I got to giving up on the thought of I don't love her. Pretty soon I was convinced that she was the one meant for my existence, my soulmate.

I hoped I would get a chance to see her at dinner. I didn't see her much since I arrived back home, mainly cause we were separated. If lucky I would get to talk to her, and if lucky she wouldn't ignore me. I wanted to at least prove myself worthy to her since I would be marrying her soon.