Kingdom of Dusk

CHAPTER 3

An uncomfortable silence tainted the air of the Dusk family dinner table where only two men ate. The prince of Dusk, Erix prodded his food with disinterest as the chiming of a clock filled the eerie silence. King Dusk sat in his special chair, chewing thoroughly through his steak while observing his bored son separated from him by the excessively long redwood dining table.

"Erix, have I taught you no manners? Stop playing with your food and eat properly.'' the king said in a stern voice.

The words of his father had made the prince who was lost in thought flinch as he quickly nodded before looking back at his plate. There was nothing for him to do besides nod, going against his father was a crime punishable by death in the Dusk household after all.

''You are getting married to Princess Leora of Lorvil in order to stabilize our new alliance with the Kingdom of Lorvil." King Owan said with a sigh, as if he was just informing his son about what's for dinner. His nonchalance about the topic made him seem almost robotic, like his body was the only thing in the land of men while his soul roamed some other world.

Prince Erix choked on the food which had just entered his mouth and looked at King Owan with widened eyes, ''Father? What is the meaning of this?'' he asked, flabbergasted.

The prince of Dusk was used to being commanded by the man who fathered him, but even for King Owan this subject was too paramount to be casually mentioned during supper. His initial shock was replaced by disappointment, what was he expecting? This was the stoic King Owan after all, a ghost of the man he once was when his wife was still around. It's not like his father had any empathy to give him.

The king of Dusk looks at his son with annoyance, not willing to humor his question. "Princess Leora will be your wife.'' he said with irritation evident in his voice.

"But I've never even met her!'' Erix both protested and reasoned. His eyes were that of disbelief as he saw the insignificance with which his father was handling the matter.

"There will be plenty of opportunities to acquaint with your future wife, such as when we visit the Kingdom of Lorvil in a few weeks to discuss the alliance.''

"Bu-but I! You didn't even ask for my view on the matter of my own marriage!'' the prince of Dusk exclaimed.

The king slams his fist against the expensive redwood table, "Enough of your jests. I expect you to understand how important this alliance is. By mixing with the people of Lorvil, our influence and connections will double in numbers, we can't let this opportunity slide when we have been shunned for centuries after the pact with the Underworld. Is your skull so thick that I need to break down everything to you?'' he said while gritting his teeth.

The room darkened as Erix clenched his fists tightly, making his knuckles go white, all the oxygen from the air seemed to have diminished because it was hard for an ordinary person to breathe from the tension in the room. The prince glared at his father, his eyes blazing with frustration, his cornea started turning black as if someone had dropped a splotch of ink in it while his pupil changed to a shade of crimson which was oddly reminiscent of blood. His shadow magnified tenfold as he bared his teeth at his father which had somehow become sharp, pointy fangs.

However the king gave not even a hint of surprise and only chuckled while watching his son's angered state, his apathetic mask breaking to show emotions. In a matter of seconds, Owan's shadow grew to such a length which made Erix's shadow look like a toddler, ''Who do you think you are trying to intimidate, son?''

The King's shadow stretched out into long, thick tentacles and wrapped around Erix's shadow which was in the shape of a human, making it hastily return to the prince's body. The prince gasped in pain at the work of the tentacles, as if the agony of the shadow was shared with him.

"Do not forget who I am, boy. You will be accompanying me to the trip to Lorvil to familiarize yourself with your future wife, Leora.'' The king's words left no room for debate as he stood up from his chair and exited the dining hall, leaving behind a dazed prince who had worked up a cold sweat.

The prince stared down at his plate of cold, untouched food, gazing for what felt like eternity. He did not realize he was crying until a droplet of water fell upon his ceramic plate. Erix rubbed his palm against his eyes which were still the color of abyss, trying to save himself from the humiliation of crying. Yet his endeavors were in vain because a river of untameable tears gushed down his eyes. There he sat in his lonely dining table seat, weeping all alone while accepting his inevitable fate.

                                                                                              ****

Erix turned in his bed to meet the gaze of his obscenely enormous crow. The dreadful dire news was still etched into his mind, consuming him whole. You will marry Princess Leora.

"I feel so helpless Leila.'' he sighed, confiding in his companion.

His companion wasn't an ordinary crow. No, Leila was a peculiar crow. Its peculiarity ended not only at the fact it could speak and read like a human, the creature had magical powers like most humans as well. Its soul was infused with the power from the underworld, giving it powers.

The gigantic 20 inch bird had pitch black stones for eyes, stones which seemed to hold mysteries unknown to the oblivious mankind. The bird was covered with soft, thick feathers as dark as moonless night.

"Caw, maybe you should hire an assassin to kill this Leora girl so you don't have to marry.'' the crow suggests without a hint of hesitation. The crow had little concern for people who were not her master.

The prince looked at the crow with wide eyes before chuckling at her morbid words, ''Only if she doesn't like you, Leila."

"Do you know of her looks?'' the crow asks curiously

The prince shakes his head and exhales heavily, ''No, I am being forced to marry someone who I don't even know the face off. Maybe she is insufferable and will eat away at my ear for the rest of eternity!''

"Caw, aren't you pessimistic today? Reverse the statement, maybe she is a sweetheart who you actually fall in love with.'' The crow consoled Erix with a chuckle.

"Don't act like you aren't enjoying my dilemma Leila. Besides, anyone who my father decides is a good choice for my wife must be the devil herself.''

"I deserve a treat for listening to you never-ending problems.'' Leila says while nudging Erix to give her a treat.

"What a true friend you are.'' Erix says dryly in a satirical tone.