Page 203 of Castings & Curses

“Run!” yelled Bellatrix as they took off down the hall. They were almost at the door to lead outside when an invisible barrier appeared before them as if they had run into a wall, but there was no wall, only air.

Bellatrix fell to the floor slightly dazed.

As she began to become more aware of her surroundings, she realized they were no longer in the corridor. They were in a different room. Her mother and sister were beside her, and their father rested on his pile of blankets in close proximity to them. The princess sat up and put her hand to her head. She groaned, unsure of what had happened.

Opening and closing her eyes, she looked around to see that they were in the throne room. The high walls were etched in gold tints, and tapestries appeared before them like ghosts. A giant chandelier dripping with crystals hung above their heads, lit by dozens of candles. A red carpet was beneath their feet, and, directly in front of them were a set of steps that led up to the throne. The chair was covered in red satin and trimmed in gold. Behind it were large paned windows that reached to the ceiling.

“Ah, finally! My queen has returned home,” a slick voice sneered. Leather shoes appeared in front of Bellatrix, and she looked up to see Prince Roarke standing over her.

The Prince, who now deemed himself King, wore a tunic with gold trim and a satin sash. His fingers were adorned in gold rings, and her father’s crown was perched on his head. He was medium built with a reddish beard and hair. He waved his hand. Bellatrix felt invisible hands lifting her to her feet as she stood face to face with him.

“I am sure you have a good explanation for why you disappeared from me for over a year. Did you not realize we were supposed to be married?”

Bellatrix looked at her sister and mother who stood against the wall. Her father watched intently from his blankets.

“I am sure you have a good explanation for why you cursed me and my sister,” hissed Bellatrix.

Roarke looked at her twin. “Jaiyana, I see you have healed from your limitation of mobility. You will make a fine wife for another fellow. I know a few princes if you are interested.”

“You’re a pig!” hissed Bellatrix.

“As for the answer to your question,” continued Roarke as he circled around her with his arms behind his back. “It is very simple. If I cannot have you, then no one else can.”

“That is not love,” cried the princess.

“Yes, it is. I love you enough to make sure no man can ever be with you. You were promised to me. We were officially betrothed.”

“I am not an object,” hissed the witch princess, “and I want a future with someone else!”

“Tisk, tisk, a future with someone else, you say? Could it possibly be one of these men my guard captured trespassing into my domain?”

The wizard waved his arm. Through the open doors a group of guards came in holding Eryx and Grün captive. Their hands and feet were bound.

“The man on the right,” continued Roarke pointing to Grün, “also happens to be a wizard; therefore, we had to bind him with special rope making him incapable of doing magic. Now you are telling me one of these men is the one whom you desire?”

“The one on the left is mine,” hissed Bellatrix, “The one on the right is in love with Jaiyana.” Her sister’s cheeks turned pink, and a blush crept across Grün’s face, as well.

“Oh, well, I don’t care about him, then. Put him with the rest of them, but keep those ropes bound,” ordered Roarke as the guard dragged Grün next to Jaiyana.

The wizard stepped closer to Eryx who struggled to get out of the guard’s clutches and loosen his own bonds. “You are the man who has stolen my queen from me,” hissed Roarke.

“He did not steal me!” shouted Bellatrix. She gave Roarke a hostile glare. “He is supposed to be with me.” She bared her teeth as she struggled to get the words out. “Eryx and I are meant for each other. You and I are not meant for each other. Nor is Maldinia rightfully your domain. It belongs to me and to Jaiyana!”

“Oh, is that so?” asked Roarke who stepped closer to Eryx. “Yet you cannot possibly tell me you love this man, a common laborer, an armorer!”

“That is because you put a curse on me that prohibits me from saying it, and I will break that curse if it is the last thing I ever do!”

Roarke sniffed. “You foolish girl. You expect to break a curse from a powerful wizard like myself?” He pulled from his belt a sword. “You princesses are so dramatic. Now I am going to end this man, Eryx, you say? I shall end his life forever. Then you and I shall be wed! And then I do not want to hear any more insinuations about True Love. You are mine and will forever belong to me! Princesses are to be looked at for their beauty and leave the decision making to the men.”

He turned back to Eryx. “Now you will watch as I chop this man’s head, and you can help me bury him. I could have used magic, but this is more personal and brings me more delight.” He raised his sword. “Armourer! How foolish of you to think you could ever take Bellatrix away from me.” The wizard moved to bring the sword down onto the armourer’s neck, but his hands were empty and he stumbled forward off balance.

Using magic, Bellatrix called the sword to her hand and now stood before the wizard with the weapon in her clutches. “You are not the only one who possesses the gift of magic, Roarke! I am a witch, and so is Jaiyana. And I will never be silent. Women are capable of ruling an empire, and all of us can defeat men just as I will destroy you!”

Launching the sword forward, the weapon raced at the two guards holding Eryx captive. The soldiers backed off in fear, and the sword cut the bonds that held Eryx immobile. Then the saber flew over and freed Grün from his bonds. Finally, the sword rested in her mother’s hands.

“I am taking back this castle, and once I do, you will forever be banished from this realm,” hissed Bellatrix. “I will NEVER love you!” Surprised she was able to get the words of negative love out her mouth, the princess looked to see Roarke's face turning purple as he clenched his jaw.

He waved his arm, and she was turned against the wall as an invisible force held her captive. She felt the heavy weight pressing against her chest, and she struggled to breathe. Eryx ran at Roarke, but using magic, he swatted the armorer away like an annoying fly. “You stupid little princess! You think that just because you have been given powers of witchcraft that you can defeat a magnificent wizard like myself. It will never happen….”

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