Once upon a broken princess

Chapter 2

"Are you sure?" Jacks asked. He refused to believe this had actually happened. That Lyric was really that foolish.
"There is a huge fuss about it...Guards are searching all the around the palace grounds, my father is being questioned it's terrible" she cried.
"Castor, where is he?" Bellona asked, a terrible feeling crawling up inside her like a poisonous spider.
"I don't know, all your other siblings are there but I haven't seen him"
Had he helped them? Only the royal family knew of the secret passages. The only way to sneak out unnoticed.
"It's gonna be okay, Bella" Jacks squished his beloved's hand as they and Lala walked out into the main room.
Now the music had stopped, Lords and Ladies were whispering to each other. Some giggling, some sighing with grief.
Jacks quietly slipped away into the crowd while Bellona and Lala walked over to where the Bellona's siblings were standing. Queen Honora seemed very worried, while king Wolfrick probably felt as if the entire world was resting on his shoulders. He wanted to keep his promise to lord Slaughterwood while maintaining good relations with the Merrywoood family.
"Bellona" he addressed his daughter. "Do you have any knowledge on your sister's sudden disappearance?"
"I am afraid not, your grace" she managed. "I and Ariel were spending time in the gardens and didn't notice anything"
Lysander slightly side-eyed her and she responded with a look of dread. Her little brother was known not to like the Merrywooods.
"Well it seems no one seems to have any answers concerning the whereabouts of my bride to be, your grace" Vengeance's voice full of irony. His expression more bear-like than ever.
"I am sure,Sir,that Aurora will show up soon. You know how we ladies are. Perhaps she wished to fix her hair" Queen Honora tried to seem calm while a storm was brewing up in her mind.
"Perhaps, my queen. But I don't see why Sir Lyric Merrywoood has to assist her with that" Vengeance hissed.
"How dare you!" Lala spat. Bellona held her by the hand to hold her back.
"You have until dawn" Vengeance's voice loud, making the whispers in the room fade into nothingness. All eyes were on him now.
"If she doesn't show up until then, the betrothal is over. And it shall be considered treachery to the friendship my family has worked so hard to maintain with the crown"
Treacherous act were more often than not punished with violence.
"Son-" his father placed a hand on his shoulder.
"No father! One day I will take your place! I need to make my own decisions"
Vengeance made clear.
Bellona grabbed Lala's hand and walked over to where Jacks was no sitting next to Castor. The voice of Bane Slaughterwood apologizing to the king in the background.
The two friends didn't seem to be taking though, Jacks was gazing the other way, his muscles tensed, a vain appearing just bellow his jaw.
"You helped them didn't you?" Bellona resisted the urge to slap her brother.
"I just wanted her to be happy" Castor's voice barely audioable.
"You imbecile, didn't you think of the impact this would have on your family?On the whole kingdom?!" She knew Aurora was most times reckless but she expected her twin brother to be smarter.
Lala was weeping next to them, wiping her tears with the long sleeves of her burgundy gown.
"I am sorry",Castor turned to her.
"An apology can't make up for what he could do my family" she cried.
Bellona tried to wrap her arms around her friend but she pushed her away.
"Excuse me, I need to be with my father right now" she walked away.
*
What followed was a un-ending nightmare. But it was way worse than a dream could ever because it was real.
By the morning all the lords and ladies had left. The grand hall was almost empty, just the royal family, Lala and her father and of course Bane Slaughterwood with his son.
Bellona felt alone and more scared than ever without Jacks by her side in such a critical moment.
"When this mess is over I promise I will be back to you"
He told her before he left.
As the first rays of sunlight lit up the sky she was clinging on to the hand of her sister Vesper who was half-asleep, resting her head on Bellona's shoulder.
It was an agonizing scene, poor Lord Bane trying to calm his son. They left, despite the queen's desperate promise that Aurora would soon be found.
Bellona watched from one of the enormous glass windows as a carriage drove Lala and her father away from the palace grounds. She hadn't even said goodbye.
She was twisting her golden ring around her finger anxiously as she was turning away from the window, hoping everything would turn out alright.
But of course, no fairytale truly has a happy ending.
A few days later the Merrywoood manor was attacked by Vengeance and some of his supporters. Castor, who learned from a note sent by lord Slaughterwood, tried to warn Lyric but he was stabbed by Vengeance and ended up terribly wounded.

Bellona had locked herself in her room. She had grabbed her mother's spell books and was looking through them constantly trying to find an answer. Even a way to turn back time, but there was nothing. Everyone believed Honora Valor was the greatest healer but in truth, she was perhaps the greatest witch the world had ever knew. And that gift had passed to some of her children. When they were little, Aurora and Bellona came up with a spell to turn their hair purple. That, was only the beginning.

A/N:Tw: mention of bl0∆d, wounded b0dies.

When Jacks arrived at the Merrywoood manor most members of the family were long gone, including Lyric and his father, Aurora though, was nowhere to be found.
Jacks took Castor to the palace, hoping his mother could save him but by the time they got there, he was no longer breathing. Struck by the agonizing grief of a mother loosing her child, Honora did something never done before. She resurrected him, sacrificing his soul to the darkness. Castor them become something sinister, a monster feeding on blood.

Bellona, fearing for the lives of both her sister and Lala, got on a horse and rode to  Merrywoood manor. It was quiet, there was no sign of Vengeance or his supporters. She walked inside, almost tiptoeing, suspecting it might be a trap. Most halls were empty, until she walked in on horrifying scene.
There were dead bodies all around, most had arrows pocking out of them and wounds from daggers. In a corner was her brother Castor, learning over a dead body she couldn't make out who it belonged to. She feared the worst, that it was no one but her best friend. She let out a cry, covering her mouth with her hand. She kneeled next to him hoping to provide some comfort she too needed. Only when he turned around, he was covered blood, running down from his mouth, his fangs inhumanely large. Her blood run cold, she was to busy in her room to learn what had happened to him.
She tried to run but he caught up to her.
"Where is Lala??" She yelled.
"I let her go, told her to run. And you should too, sister" his voice sounding like nothing like before. The sweet brother she knew was gone, all that was left now was a growling beast with pale skin and shiny eyes like sapphires.
"Castor, please. I am sure we can sort this out. I can help you" she tried to think of a spell but panic took over.
"There is no helping me sister. I am doomed. And all blood here is drained"
He warned her.
"No, you won't be like this forever. You can fight this, I know you can" she tried to encourage him, though slowly taking steps back.
"You are wrong, dear sister. I can't"
His fangs lengthened again ,horrified, she finally tried to follow his advice. But no matter  how fast she was, parts of his new powers was supernatural strength.
He grabbed her by the shoulders and sunk his teeth into her neck. She let an agonizing scream and yet he didn't stop. He couldn't control his hunger, and thus he continued drinking until there was nothing left.
That's when the realization hit him. Her body lay lifeless on the ground, pale as snow.
His eyes widened, he tried shaking her arm and calling her name but it didn't work. She didn't move.
"I am sorry" he cried, his tears as if burning his face.
"I am so sorry"
He clung onto her body, the sight of the huge wound on her neck made him hate himself. He looked around, at all the people he had killed. He was filled with guilt, and yet the hunger was stronger. He disappeared, searching for more victims.

Bellona's body was left of the ground, her blood staining the colourful carpet that had seen her and Lala dance happily.

A/N: You didn't think this was the end of the story, did you?
Anyway, tysm guys for the all the love on the first chapter. I hope you enjoy this one <333