Desire (On Hold)

Chapter 10

Heaps happens in this chapter so be prepared!!! :D

Chapter Ten

The strong wind slapped my face as it carried my somersaulting body through the air.

Suddenly the wind froze and dropped me. I landed on a stone floor with an aching thud. I clambered to my feet, rubbing my sore backside.

“There you are Elle,” Asteria said, sounding relieved. “I didn’t know how long you would be.”

“Where are we?” I inquired curiously, looking around the room. It was set out quite similar to my castle, but I could tell it was in the past. It sort of just had that kind of feel; I didn’t know how to describe it. There was a massive window set on one side of the room – the one thing that was completely different to my castle – surrounded by royal red curtains and overlooking perfectly manicured gardens.

“This was my bedroom when I was young,” Asteria answered dazedly. She pointed over to a little girl sitting at a dressing tabled and added, “That’s me. I think I was nine at the time.”

I looked more closely at the small girl and was shocked as to how different child Asteria was to the grown woman Asteria. The young child had her red hair tied back in a thick braid that was so tight I could only imagine the headache she would have. The lavish dress she wore indicated she came from a very wealthy family.

The young Asteria sighed and the noise stopped my staring. I hoped she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable as I always did when people stared at me.

“She can’t see us,” the older Asteria informed me. “Step into her – me – and you will see the world as I once did.”

I hesitantly stepped forward and held my hand out to the young Asteria. My fingers tingled and pulled them back out in surprise. I took a deep breath and stepped into her bravely.

I was taken aback by how I could suddenly hear Asteria’s thoughts as an echo in my head. I knew nothing I thought would find it’s way to her, but I could hear everything she was thinking.

I wonder when Arthur will come to visit me, Asteria thought. She let out an audible sigh. And when will Henry leave me alone?

In my head, a playback started. The old Asteria, seeing my eyes wander, informed, “she is remembering something. Allow the images to flow freely, it’s very interesting.” I shut my eyes and concentrated on what Asteria was thinking about.

Asteria was lying in her elegant bed with a man standing beside her.

“Do you know why you’re never allowed out of this room? Answer me, Asteria!” the man said tauntingly.

“You know that I don’t, Henry,” Asteria replied tiredly, rubbing her sleepy eyes.

“It’s because you’re a girl,” Henry mocked. “Nobody likes girls. In fact, everybody hates girls.” Tears stung her eyes even though she knew Henry was just trying to spite her.

“Leave our poor sister alone, Henry,” came the voice from another man standing at the door, lazily twirling a sword around in his hands. He looked older than Henry and he was more handsome and more built.

Henry scowled in the direction of his brother. “What’s it to you?” he hissed under his breath, leaving the room.

“Arthur, why am I locked in here? What’s the real answer?” Asteria cried. Arthur sat on the bed beside his younger sister and took her hand, holding it tightly in his own.

“You’re special,” he answered simply. “Too special for Mother and Father to lose. They don’t want anything to harm you, so they keep you in here.” Asteria rested her head on Arthur’s broad shoulder.

“I just wish I could get out of here once in a while,” Asteria breathed wistfully. With her eyes shut, she didn’t see what Arthur did. The furthest window had rattled. To most people, this would mean nothing but a bit of wind, but Arthur knew better. His sister was magical and that was why she was shielded from the world. Even some of Asteria’s own brothers and sisters had no idea she existed! But it was better that way. Imagine if the public found that a princess was an enchantress! The Tudor family name would be tarnished because of it. Arthur hated how vain that sounded, but it was the truth.

Arthur arrived in Asteria’s chambers a lot later than usual. He was wearing a dashing tux and a large grin.

“Hello, Arthur,” Asteria greeted as she pulled her hairbrush through her red hair. “What are you doing here so late?”

“I have some news!” Arthur said, just about bursting with excitement at what he was going to tell her. “Catherine and I got married!”

Asteria couldn’t contain her squeal of excitement as she jumped onto her brother and gave him a massive hug. “Congratulations!” she exclaimed, genuinely happy he got married to Catherine. Catherine was one of the few people Asteria actually knew. Asteria was ecstatic that Catherine was now her sister. “Where is she?”

“Right here, actually,” Arthur replied and Catherine walked through the door, beaming. She had a beautiful white gown on. It was simple, but stunning.

Asteria ran up to Catherine and gave her a gentle hug. “Congratulations, sister!” she grinned. Catherine laughed.

Arthur slipped his arm around Catherine’s waist. “I am truly sorry Asteria, but we must leave. We snuck away as soon as we could to tell you, but we have to get back before anybody suspects anything. Good night.”

A year later, Asteria found herself staring out of the window out looking the manicured gardens longingly. She saw Henry and Arthur, concealed from the rest of the castle behind a hedge, but completely visible to her. They looked like they were arguing about something…

Henry jabbed a finger into Arthur’s chest and Asteria felt anger bubbling inside her. Henry was always stepping out of line, but sometimes he took it too far.

Arthur swiped Henry’s hand off him and turned to walk away from his angry brother. Quick as a whip, Henry turned to the hedge and his hands wrapped around something shiny and silver. He gave it a tug and out came a deadly sword.

Asteria thought nothing of it until she saw Henry turn to Arthur, a malicious glint in his eyes. She wanted to call out and warn Arthur, but nobody would hear her. Anyway, she didn’t think Henry would do what she thought he was going to do. He was too much of a coward. Whenever he visited her, he would torment her by words, but never hurt her physically.

Henry pulled the sword behind him as if preparing to launch it at his brother. Arthur spun around just in time to realise what was happening.

Henry’s arm whipped forward, sending the sword flying at Arthur until it buried itself deep into his chest.

Asteria couldn’t help the scream of terror that escaped her. She didn’t believe Henry did that.

Arthur froze in a state of shock before collapsing to the ground in a heaped pile. Henry walked up to him, and Asteria expected him to show at least a small sign of remorse, but Henry just grabbed the hilt of the sword and pulled it out of his dead brother’s chest and wiping it disgustedly on the grass before walking away.

Asteria ran towards the window, pushing it with all her might with her shoulder but it didn’t budge.

“Arthur,” she sobbed. “Oh, Arthur!”

Dun dun duuuuuuuuuun! So, what do you think? Please let me know, I wasn't sure with this chapter :)