The Dark

chapter ten

Chapter ten

                The dinner seems to take longer than I anticipate. The food is delicious. I almost want to sneak some into my dress, and take it back to the others. Unfortunately, the dress I am being forced to wear has no pocked, and I’d prefer to not shove meat down my corset.

                “How is it, Celeste?” Anna Maria asks.

                “Good,” I say, and nod. I remember to wipe my mouth. “It’s the best food I’ve ever had.”

                “Have you tasted the wine?” Kind Lenard asks, inspecting his own glass.

                I shake my head. “No I haven’t.”

                “Take a sip,” he nods to the empty wine glass to my left. On cue, a servant pours me wine the color of blood. “See if it takes a fancy to your tastes.”

                I take a sip. It’s bitter and burns my tongue. I force a fake smile and say, “I like it.”

                “I thought you would,” he takes a sip of his own. “It’s the finest wine in all of Europe. It comes straight from the vineyards of Italy.”

                I think I know where Italy is. Think. “I heard they made the best wine. I believe I know this for a fact, now.”

                The King smiles, as if pleased that I’ve heard about Italy’s wine. Actually, I pulled all of that out of my ass. I’ve never heard about Italy’s wine.

                I just lied to the king of Brittania.

                “How would you like some dessert,” Prince Connor asks, grinning. “Nothing is better than pastries from France.”

                “What’s a pastry?” I ask, and immediately regret it. The looks I get are as if I just announced I’d like to kill Kind Lenard.

                Eh, it isn’t a lie.

                “You’ve never had a pastry?” Prince Connor asks, completely astonished.

                I shake my head. “I might have when I was young, and lived in Audenburg. In recent years, definitely not.”

                “It’s never too late to try something for the first time.” Anna Maria laughs.

                A servant sets a platter of tiny bread-like consumables in front of us.

                I give the servant a thankful look, but feel guilty for not speaking it. I reach and grab one that is covered in red goo.

                I bite into it, and feel my mouth sing. It’s a fruity delicacy. I can taste berries. I’m going to assume it’s raspberries. The pastry is flakey, and melts in my mouth.

                Prince Connor grins at me. “The look on your face is priceless.”

                I laugh. In the midst of all of this; I laugh. “It’s amazing!”

                “You’ll have access to all the pastries you desire,” King Lenard says. “Perks of being royalty.”

                I force a smile. What I don’t say is that not a thousand pastries would be enough to keep me from my family.

                After dinner I am feeling a bit sick. I assume it’s from the fact that I am standing in the royal garden with Prince Connor. The cold hasn’t yet gotten to the green trees. There are hints of autumn peeking through the summer veil that has Audenburg engulfed.

                “It’s uh…” I stammer. “Lovely. The garden, I mean.”

                Prince Connor nods. “It’s better in the day time… at sunset…”

                “I think it’s beautiful even now,” I find myself smiling. “I can always appreciate nature.”

                He stays silent. We walk along the stone path entwining inside the garden. There are flowers and trees all around us. I feel as if I am in the forests once more. I can envisage the crunch of leaves beneath my boots. I smell the morning dew that fleeces the evergreen pines. I hear the chitter of small animals. I see Alex’s vibrant green eyes put the forest to shame. His beautiful, beautiful face…

                “How big is the garden?” I ask, gliding my hand over a tree branch, trying to forget my last thought.

                “It’s endless,” he laughs, then flinches. “It’s almost sunset. We should probably head in now…”

                “It’s so serene out here.” I sigh, not wanting to venture back into the beautiful, ugly castle.

“What is it you needed?” he asks, kicking a loose rock.

                Oh, right. “With all due respect Prince Connor…”

                “Yes?” he says, his voice deepening.

                I need a better approach. “How old are you?”

                “I’m about to turn twenty-four.” He tells me, looking at the ground.

                “I’m almost fourteen.” I tell him.

                “Yes…?”

                “I can’t marry you!” I blurt out. “I’m sorry, but I can’t. I don’t know you.”

                His head whips towards me. His eyes are black as night. “As if you have a choice?”

                “What?” I exclaim.

                “Darling, Celeste,” he chuckles. “I am the prince.”

                I stare at him. “I know.”

                “I don’t think you do,” he steps towards me, I step back. “If I am thirsty; a servant brings me wine.”

                I step back, he matches my steps.

                “If I am hungry,” he smirks, devilishly. “I snap my fingers, and I am given food.”

                I step back again, and this time I am backed against an iron fence. I feel thorns burrow into my skin. Connor’s eyes are now pitch black. I feel as if I am staring into death’s eyes.

                “If you won’t marry me,” he chuckles, and slams my shoulder into the gate. “Then the consequences will be… unpleasant.”

                “I do not fear death.” I spit. Death is a better option than a life not of my own choosing.

                “But does your family?” he asks, his face close to mine.

                He must see my expression change, because he smirks. Dirty blond hair has fallen in front of his storm-filled eyes. “You wouldn’t.”

                “Would you put it past me?” he asks, feigning innocence. “Does this face look of a murderer?”

                “It’s the face of a bastard!” I growl. I claw at his face, but he pins my arms against the gate.

                “If I want your heart,” he snaps, and places a glove-covered hand on my neck. “I’ll tear it from your chest.”