The Regal Rogue

2. Secrets Untold

I walk into the kitchen as I do every morning to over look things. It's a bit more hectic than usual because of the suitor coming in today. I wasn't entirely thrilled, but in my good nature I decided to speak to Eleanor about today's events.

It's hard to say when I was last in Eleanor's room, but just the hallway itself is enough. All the others may be dimmed by the fog in the windows, but Eleanor's are blacked out by thick carpets of some old family history.

At the end, I could hear the clank and gentle screech of her door open and close. I stood and expected her to appear from the darkness. When she did not I assumed she had taken the only other turn by her room and that was mother and father's old bedroom before his passing. Naturally mother never slept there then after.
Wondering what business Eleanor could've had in that abandoned, dusty old room I had to find out.

I make my way to the turn and see Eleanor, a black caped figure, going up the winding steps up to the tower.
Silently I follow, completely bewildered.
The faint shadow of Eleanor suddenly disappeared, then the clank of the door, and a chilling breeze caught me off guard. Not knowing what to expect, I persist to the door.
It's cracked and from it I see vibrant colors spark and smoke in light.

I put one finger on the door latch and it flew open and I was greeted by my sister's serpent-like voice.
"Crimson! Oh come, you must see!" she was saying to her own happiness as she knew I was already upset.
She was tossing several mysterious items in a cauldron and waltzing around the room.

"Sister! How could....?" I began to shout.
"Hush now. just look." She put a long, red tipped finger to her matching lips and rolled her eyes over to the cauldron.
I kept my eyes on her as I stepped towards it to look. At still a safe distance I stretched my neck and peered to see through the smoke flowing over the edge.
I saw Eleanor's delicate hand wave the smoke and I almost pulled back until I saw a face burn through the fiery colors of the contents of the cauldron.
A fair boy with brown hair and blue-green eyes stares up with a smirk. I looked straight across to Eleanor who was also staring. She finally glanced up and seeing me eye her she flicked her hand and the fiery smoke swirled up into gray and vanished back into the cauldron. It was now only lit with few well-used candles.

Leisurely she walked to stand in front of me and sat in thin air like there was an invisible chair and waited.
"I know you have questions." She kept a unpleasant side smile on.
"Eleanor! Sister, you know it's forbidden. Father....." I began to overwhelm myself.

"Crimson. Sweet and innocent. There is much you still need to learn. I remember Father's command. That's why I didn't begin witchcraft until the day he died. But on to more curious things. Don't you wanna know who was in the cauldron?" She seemed to taunt calmly and turned to recline in her blind chair.
"Sister. Father had good reason. I can't let you continue. Think of the kingdom!" I pleaded.
She stood, her face emotionless but a fire flared in her eyes.
"In a way, I am. No one could come against us with my power. Please, Crimson, understand. We would do this together." She hissed.
I may be naive, but I know my sister all too well. Whether she's tricking me or really offering, neither way ends right.

She knows me well to for when she saw my blank face she forced me out of the room.
I heard her whisper slither through the door.
"Don't tell anyone. It's not you I fear nor the people. It's just easier without the complications. But turn on me sister and I will turn on you fifty times over."

But it was her who had already turned on the kingdom, I thought. Then a single light led me through the dark hallway back to where I could see.
I was immediately met by the head maid.
"Princess. The suitor is here. Prince Desmond of Callyway." She informed.
"Make sure mother is prepared and Eleanor and I will join you in the throne room." I tell her as I scurry off to my room.