Cursed

Chapter 2 - Truth

Picture above: Katie McGrath who plays Evangeline

Evangeline lay on the cold stone floor in the King's chambers. It was where he had angrily thrown her after she had resisted his attempt to have his way with her.

Evangeline's hands muffled her cries, desperate not to wake the devil from his sleep. She couldn't leave in fear that she would be caught and offered an even more severe punishment.

So she continued laying on the floor, debating whether or not to act. Quiet sobs escaped her lips, she didn't know what to do. But she had to do something.

---

That night Alexander retired early to his chambers, the events of the day and the whereabouts of Evangeline still playing on his mind.

He swore he could hear muffled cries echoing through the halls, but he put it to exhaustion and soon fell asleep.

However, in the early morning a knock on his chamber door woke him. "Yes?" Alexander groggily answered, rising slightly in his bed.

The door opened revealing Christopher, once his Father's oldest friend. Now he spends his days in the library looking through records and keeping to himself.

"Is everything alright?" Alexander questioned. The old man shook his head and took a seat on the chair next to Alexander's Bed.

"Xavier is not fit to rule this kingdom" he stated. "I remember when your Father ruled and everyone was happy with what they had. No one cared for anything but their friends and families. Then slowly your Father got sicker, he lied,cheated and his greed grew until he locked everyone out, even you."

It was true. Alexander could remember his Father pushing him out of his way as he entered the throne room, saying he was a pest, a distraction. But Alexander told himself that it was stress, after all the whole kingdom depended on him.

That was why Alexander was so effected when his Father disappeared. He nodded his head, urging Christopher to continue.

"I believe that what this kingdom needs is a king with a good heart, someone like your Father." "Yes..." Alexander mumbled, confused.

"Your Father did not simply disappear" he stated, causing Alexander to laugh. He knew that, otherwise he wouldn't be wasting every night searching for information.

"He was taken...to purgatory."

Alexander shook his head in disbelief, "Purgatory? The place of suffering, inhabited by the souls of sinners, who are making amends for their sins?"

Christopher nodded his head. "You're joking right? You know that place doesn't actually exist."

Christopher sighed, "oh, but it does. I was the one that entered his room, only to find that he was gone. The only evidence ever found was a broken mirror. A doorway to purgatory."

Alexander's eyes widened, "Why did you wait so long to tell me?"

"I had to give Xavier a chance to prove himself, and today's events have certainly proved that he is unworthy of the throne. He is unfit to rule this Kingdom. We need to get your Father back" Christopher explained.

Alexander turned red with anger. He had been wasting his time researching, while the answer had been right in front of him all along.

What about him. Was Alexander not fit for the throne either?

He took a deep breath before continuing, "well, what happened to the mirror?"

"It was burnt."

"Are you kidding me? The doorway was destroyed. What you want me to do is impossible, how will I get to purgatory if there isn't a doorway" Alexander exclaimed.