La Sorcière et la Bête-English story - Marvel Wiccan fanfiction, Agatha Harkness

Part 1

Once upon a time there was a Prince of both the Skrull and Kree empires who made his home on earth. On the North American continent he had a palace-like embassy from where he ruled so neither race felt favored over the other. Even though he had servants who did everything he bid, brought him everything he wished and he grew up never wanting for anything the Prince still felt alone and unloved. His father had been killed before he was born and his mother had died when he was very young. The deaths of his parents was one of the reasons his guardian Kl'rt brought him to Earth and raised him to be strong as stone, knowing if he weren't he could never keep peace between two empires with such a long history of war and violence.

Even after Kl'rt had died and left the Prince the empire to command on his own he felt no joy in his rule, and everyone who encountered him could see it in his cold face. Nothing it seemed could make the young prince happy, especially not another lavish party. . .

"Sire, it's time." One of his most trusted advisors, Elijah told him from where he stood looking at the clock on the wall noticing the time.

Prince Dorrek sighed and stood from his chair where his servants had been helping him get ready for the festivities and took one last look at himself in the mirror. Thanks to the Skrull's ability to shapeshift Dorrek had gone most of his life under the guise of a human. It was easier for aliens to be accepted on Earth if they looked just like humans. And after so long on Earth and surrounded by human butlers and maids Dorrek found he preferred the human's appearance over his Skrull form any day. It was a bit like dying your hair, when you found a color you liked you stuck with it, and for Dorrek he favored his human appearance.

In the mirror his blonde hair was perfectly combed, his skin was free of any blemish and his formal clothes were ironed and without a single wrinkle. His blue eyes were dull just as they always were and his mouth held no hint of a smile. Part of Dorrek just wanted the night to be over with but the other part of him asked what was the point? There was nothing he was looking forward to after the party so why wish it to go by quickly? What a depressing thought, he pondered, knowing there was nothing in his life that brought him joy, nothing that excited him. But alas, that was the life of royalty. That was something Kl'rt had taught him. While some noble houses on Earth believed they were entitled to the best of everything the Prince of the Skrulls and the Kree had been taught that his purpose was to ensure the safety and protection of his people. The fancy clothes, lavish lifestyle and crown were just ways to display power so that no other planet would dare interfere with yours. They'd see the expensive things and assume your wealth, and wealth meant armies and armies meant power. And power was safety. That was his role, that was his purpose. To exude power and strength.

At some point in his life Dorrek had forgotten where the line was between the misery he experienced and the misery he inflicted on others. Kindness was weakness, Kl'rt often said, a smile on your face would mark you a potential sucker for someone looking to take what you had. Pity for the less fortunate would move you to spend your wealth on them instead of on your military and if a military wasn't well supplied your doom was certain. But a cold stare and a sneer were tools that could break your enemies and any schemes they might try to hatch in their infancy, killing the plans to subdue you before they could take root and strangle you with their weeds. And of course, fear. Fear was the greatest tool of all, for if people feared you then you must truly hold all the power. And power was safety.

Dorrek sighed, pushing away the thoughts of his deceased guardian and his upbringing. He made his way to the ballroom grabbing the lapel of his dress coat and giving it a final tug to make sure it was straight. The tall ornate doors opened and his guests bowed and curtseyed as he passed them and made his way to the throne at the opposite end of the room. Once he was seated he raised his hand once and the music started to play as several of the young ladies began to dance across the floor. Dorrek knew his advisors were hopeful that all he needed was a companion in his life to bring him the joy that had always evaded him. However, as the young maidens danced and twirled he found himself just as bored as ever as the pianist played and his wife sang an exquisite tune.