Flesh Wounds, page 10
part #1 of The Vampire Elite Series
“You look absolutely stunning, my dear.” Enkil stated, meeting her at the top of the marble staircase.
“These winter themed parties always seem to suit you best.” He trailed a hand down her arm, pulling her closer to him. Akasha’s face wrinkled in disgust, but only for a split second. Then, the couple walked up to the railing, Enkil tapping on his glass of wine for silence.
“I want to thank you all for coming tonight, for braving this particular Maragret storm. It means the world to us…”
Akasha stopped listening past the opening remark, as she knew it would be Enkil rambling and bragging on about precious Maragret , but she did her best to smile and nod when prompted.
“…. welcome the King and Queen of Shadowfall and their son Robert!” That caught Akasha’s attention. Shadowfall? Why would they travel hundreds of miles for a birthday celebration, of all things?
“I hope our great houses will be joined when dear Maragret becomes of age.”
There it was, the big announcement of the night. She wasn’t surprised, given her own marriage, but wasn’t Robert closer to her age than Maragret’s? Not that she cared much for the girl’s fate, but no grown man should be saddled with a child bride.
Once Enkil’s speech ended, he escorted the two of them down the stairs and onto the main floor.
The music started, and she quickly found herself wrapped up in a waltz with her husband, the other couples following shortly.
Soon, the whole dance floor was filled, a flurry of bright colors moving in every direction, and Akasha was lost in it. Because of this, the Queen failed to notice that a certain prince couldn’t keep his eyes off her.
The ball had lasted for five hours, and as a result, Enkil was drunk.
Extremely so, Akasha thought to herself, dragging her stumbling husband back to their bedchambers for the night. She would have been as drunk as he was, if not for Maragret insisting that they spend a few dances together as mother and daughter. It sobered her up in no time.
“…you’d think after all that wine you’d get some warmth to you!” Enkil babbled, doing his very best to grope every bit of exposed skin he could reach.
Akasha had ignored him, depositing him on the bed in a very unroyal fashion- allowing her to change into something more comfortable.
“Maybe Margaret was right…” The King mumbled after a few minutes when his wife reappeared in his field of vision, a blurred mass of dark hair and blood red lips.
“Come closer, woman!” He growled, grabbing a hold of her white nightgown and pulling her to him. Akasha was taken aback by this, as Leopold was never this aggressive towards her when sober.
Before she could stop him, he had reached up and peeled her upper lip back, revealing her sharp fanged canines. The King drew back in horror, as drunk as he was.
“It’s true! You’re every bit the monster my daughter said you were!” So he figured it out, finally. The Queen wasn’t bothered by this, seeing as it was unlikely he would remember this conversation in the morning.
“Indeed, dear husband. What are you going to do about it?” Perhaps she shouldn’t have mocked him, as he leaned across the bed to the nearby chair and took hold of the silver dagger resting on top, pressing it to her neck.
“I wonder what good King Henry will think about this.” He droned on, observing the metal burn Akasha’s porcelain skin, causing her to hiss violently.
“Unless, he already knows.” Akasha’s eyes widened in shock, despite the overwhelming pain she was in. Leopold got his answer though her silence.
“Well then, looks like both of you will burn for treason.” No. Not her father, he was innocent in all of this. She had to do something: if she let this go, come morning they both could be executed, given Leopold retained the night’s events. It wasn’t a chance she was willing to take.
Mind made up, she leaned down and sunk her fangs into his neck, causing him to drop the dagger in the process. He screamed bloody murder, but she was quick- taking just enough blood to satisfy her thirst, but not enough to exsanguinate him. That way, she could blame his demise, and bite mark, on the viper the guards would find after searching the room. Not the way she initially planned it, but it worked out in the end.
The following morning, she played the part of the distraught, loving wife, exclaiming to the guards that something horrible happened to dear Leopold, and that he needed a healer immediately. No one noticed the burn on her neck, except for Maragret , who had sought out Akasha for comfort. The Princess was confused, as it looked like a fresh wound…
Enchanted Forest: Kingdom of Lunaria
Phobos Castle, 1556
The months immediately following Leopold’s death were tumultuous, only because it was so sudden. The court was in no way prepared for such a loss, and ran about procuring options for his successor, completely overlooking the monarch still on the throne. Queens weren’t fit to rule an entire kingdom by themselves, said Leopold’s advisor, and that she would either give up the throne or remarry. Akasha did neither. She stood her ground early on, establishing herself as the sole ruler of Lunaria. Leopold’s misogynistic advisor was quickly replaced with King Henry, and was never heard from again.
As ruling queen, Akasha went about strengthening the kingdom, ensuring that the economy was thriving and that her new army of Black Knights were well trained. When she wasn’t traveling to neighboring kingdoms establishing trade agreements and treaties, Akasha continued practicing magic with Draculastiltskin.
Her contact with Maragret was kept at a minimum, to Akasha’s relief- the girl was watched over by her governess Johanna most of the time. The exception to this was when Maragret needed “motherly” advice, or simply to make use of her authority. Like she was doing now.
“Akasha, please! You have to write to King Edward and Queen Eleanor about the marriage contract! I don’t want to marry Prince Robert!” The thirteen-year-old pleaded, throwing herself at Akasha’s skirts.
“Any particular reason why? You know, your father was very keen on establishing a Sherwood alliance.” The monarch replied, already bored with the conversation. So the brat had to marry for political reasons, didn’t they all?
“Don’t bring him into this!” The Princess snapped, still grieving his loss. “It’s just that Prince Robert is at least twenty-three, ten years older then I am!
“Is this about Prince David? King George’s son?” Maragret hesitated, squirming under her stepmother’s prying gaze, but eventually nodded.
“We met at my birthday ball. He was…nice!” Akasha rolled her eyes and leaned back in her throne. Children.
“He was just so wonderful- we talked about everything and nothing, he even likes horses and archery! Please Akasha, I want to get to know him!” The Queen sighed heavily, trying not to knock the annoying teenager out with a wave of her hand.
“Alright! If it’ll get you to shut up and leave me alone, I’ll send out a letter to Sherwood after I visit the villages.” As predicted, Maragret was ecstatic, throwing her arms around the vampire enthusiastically.
“Thank you, thank you!” Maragret buried her face into Akasha’s neck, right on top of the Queen’s other scar. Intrigued, the girl wanted to know more, but she wasn’t sure if she should voice her question. Akasha wasn’t exactly the most even-tempered woman.
“Akasha?” She asked hesitantly, poking at the blemishes on the Queen’s otherwise perfect skin. The older woman’s posture stiffened at Maragret ’s gentle touch. She didn’t like being reminded of her condition.
“What?” She sighed heavily, irritated at the young princess for having no boundaries.
“Is…this where you were turned?” There was a bit of fear in her voice, Akasha noted. Should she answer the question truthfully? It wasn’t as if Leopold was still around to behead her.
“It is.” The monarch deadpanned, deciding to inflict a fair amount of discomfort on the girl, making her understand just how much of a threat she was. But it didn’t have the desired effect.
“Did it hurt?” Was Maragret ’s wide-eyed answer, voicing her unwanted empathy. Ugh. What would it take for Maragret to stop being so aggravatingly kind?
“I’m not having this discussion Maragret , go do whatever it is you’re supposed to be doing at this hour.” When Maragret refused to move, Akasha yelled for her governess.
“Johanna! Come get your ward! I don’t have time for this!” The older blonde came running into the throne room, apologizing profusely for the intrusion.
“Next time I won’t be so forgiving. You’re lucky I have an appointment in Shadowfall this afternoon, or else we’d be having a longer conversation.”
The woman nodded, pulling Maragret along with her. Finally alone, Akasha shifted her focus to the letter- why did she agree to help the girl?
As she moved to her writing desk, the Queen wondered what had caused her to have a brief change in heart. Didn’t she want Maragret to suffer? It didn’t make any sense, so she attributed it to sparing that Prince Robert fellow a headache. Whoever he was, he could thank her later.
Enchanted Forest: Kingdom of Lunaria
Shadowfall Village, 1556
Had Akasha known that her routine trip to Shadowfall would expose her long buried weakness, she never would have gone. However, that afternoon she had, in blissful ignorance, taken a carriage out of the castle grounds with her father along for the ride.
She was meeting with Sheriff Weeker in the square to discuss the overall living conditions of her people. Were they getting enough food and water? Was everyone properly housed? Any sign of plague?
Akasha was expecting the sheriff to have no complaints, after which Akasha would reward him appropriately. This was her kingdom; she wouldn’t tolerate incompetence.
“As you can see, Your Majesty, we’ve had a successful harvest.” The sheriff of the village reported as they strolled through the marketplace, beaming with pride.
“Good. Then those coins I set aside for food can be distributed elsewhere. The sick, perhaps?” The Queen picked up a large melon and tossed it between her hands before handing it back to the farmer in approval.
“No, Your Majesty. Everyone here is in relatively good health. Might I suggest the money go towards a new school for the children?” Akasha considered this: it wasn’t a bad idea- the literacy rate would increase, at least.
“Fine. Write to the royal treasurer and work things out.” She dismissed him with a wave of her hand, causing the man to bow in reverence and go on his way.
“That went well, Akasha.” Henry commented, purchasing a ripe mango from one of the stalls, biting into it greedily.
“I agree.” The Queen responded, looking at the mango with longing in her eyes. It was once her favorite fruit.
“Shall we return to the castle? It’s almost sunset.” Akasha began walking back towards the carriage, but was stopped by a bony hand tugging on her sleeve.
“Wait, Your Majesty! I must inform you of your fate!” The mysterious woman had seemingly appeared out of nowhere, staring at Akasha with glazed over, vacant eyes.
“I don’t have time for fortune tellers!” She spat, forcibly removing the other woman’s hand from her person.
“That’s not just a fortune teller, Akasha, that’s a proper seer.” Henry commented, a concerned expression on his face.
“You should hear what she has to say, out of respect.” Her father had held onto the old superstitions that a seer’s word would eventually come to pass, and was a valued method of receiving counsel. Akasha believed it to be a hoax.
.
“A great misfortune has befallen you, child.” Akasha scoffed, misfortune was an understatement.
“But do not despair, there is hope for your dark heart. Your fractured soul has a twin, in the form of a man with a dog tattoo.” Akasha scowled, what kind of vague nonsense was this?
“Are you kidding me? That could be anyone! Come on Daddy, we’re leaving.” She began to pull at her father’s waistcoat, but the seer wasn’t done.
“A royal, with a bird for a name.” Akasha didn’t hear anything else after that, as the two of them were finally out of earshot.
“A royal? Don’t the Vampire’s of Sherwood have a dog as their crest?” Henry pondered aloud, following his daughter into the carriage.
“Don’t tell me you believe her.” Akasha spat, watching Shadowfall disappear behind them.
“Hope goes a long way, Akasha.” Henry didn’t elaborate, in fear of provoking Akasha’s temper, but he secretly wished that she would open her heart to the possibility of happiness. Deep down he knew that her vendetta against Maragret wouldn’t provide that, no matter how strongly she believed it.
Meanwhile, Akasha was replaying the seer’s words over and over again in her mind. A soul mate? It almost sounded too good to be true. After all, who could ever love a vampire?
Chapter 17
Time Is Unfolding
The kingdom of Polaris, located in the upper northwestern part of the Enchanted Forest, was one of the continent’s smaller territories. Established in the 10th century by King Godric , the land was famous for its picturesque forests and lush landscapes. It was because of this that Richard, a lord from Camelot, invaded the Enchanted Forest and built a large manor along the coastline.
When no one disputed his actions, Godric followed the example of neighboring kingdoms and named himself the first King of Polaris, establishing the capital of Shadowfall in the center of the territory’s forest. Before Godric died, he commissioned the construction of Hybrid Castle, which would end up being the home of the royal house of vampires for five hundred years.
Nothing noteworthy befell the region until Mimi was born in 1127 to Queen Sarah and King Thomas. News of her birth had attracted attention of the indigenous forest sprites, who saw that the child was special.
They blessed her with the Light of Gaia, a spiritual awareness that allowed her to become attuned to the soul of the forest. She grew to be a great healer, and encouraged the people of Polaris to embrace nature.
As a result, a great number of outdoor activities became popular traditions, such as archery and falconry until one night. The night she turned.
As the centuries went on, the Locksley’s became known for their generosity and kindness, a family that went above and beyond to ensure that their people were happy and cared for. To spread their wealth, they hosted annual jousting tournaments for all to attend, accepting capable applicants from all social classes. In addition, horse races on Lionheart Castle grounds were the highlight of the summer for many in Sherwood, including its current crown prince, Godric Jr.
“Bloody hell, Mother! Did you see that turn?” Godric shouted, hitting her shoulder repeatedly in excitement.
Will Scarlet, his best friend, had just overtaken one of the other competitors on the track, moving up to first place.
“Yes dear, now do sit down! I’m sure no one behind you can see what’s going on.” Eleanor berated, exasperated with her son’s behavior. This was a horse race, not a pub.
“Oh, let the boy have some fun Eleanor. I’m sure the Merry Men can see just fine, or haven’t you noticed that they are just as loud as Enkil Jr?” Edward laughed, taking a long pull of wine from his goblet.
“Enkil Jr’s louder!” Shouted the Merry Man called Little John, causing the group to holler their assent.
“I swear- you boys will be the death of me!” The Queen of Polaris commented good-naturedly, cheering politely when Will galloped across the finish line still in first.
“Yeah Will! Stole the right horse, he did! What a performance!” Alan exclaimed, and then he remembered who he was sharing the box with.
“Sorry, Your Majesties! He’ll give it back, knight’s honor!” The rest of the men nodded in agreement, waving Enkil Jr over to refill his goblet.
“And here I thought our knights were upstanding citizens, not horse thieves!” Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to look at the newcomer, groaning.
“Oh shove off Nottingham! This is the royal box, and tossers like you aren’t invited!” Will spat, slurring his words a bit from the ale he had consumed.
Enkil Jr sighed, raising a hand to motion his crew to quiet down, parents looking on disapprovingly.
“Why are you here, Keith? What kind of trouble did our son get into now?”
The sheriff of Nottingham looked at the prince and his gang with a scowl on his face.
“Nothing…yet. I’m here to inform you that the amount of taxes we collected last month barely covered maintenance wages. We’ll have to collect again; might I suggest this coming Sunday?” Enkil Jr looked back at Little John to see if he (and the rest of the Merry Men) were buying into Nottingham’s lies.
