The Enchantress

by R. L. Weeks

  Also available from R. L. Weeks:

  The Enchanted Kingdoms

  Journey to Neverland

  Into Wonderland

  Wicked Witch

  Once Upon a Cursed Time

  Things Only the Darkness Knows

  The Unforgiven

  The Enchantress

  Published by Zombie Cupcake Press

  83 Ducie Street, Manchester, M1 2JQ

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  This is a work of fiction.

  Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  © Copyright by R. L. Weeks 2017

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, nor be circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  Cover design © Zombie Cupcake Press

  Editing by Cheryl Welch-Keene

  INTRODUCTION

  The night the king died would remain imprinted in my memory for the rest of my days; why? Because I was the reason he fell - why his kingdom fell.

  Blood gushed in time with his beating heart, pouring through my fingers and onto the marble floor. His gaze locked onto mine with one question – why?

  I couldn’t find the words to answer in my fuzzy state. The events from the last week had me perplexed – how had I become a version of myself I didn’t recognise?

  I heard his cracked breath as his heart thumped to a stop and the blood turned black.

  Every muscle in my body screamed at me to get up, to run out of that ballroom, pull off that stupid yellow dress and leave the kingdom forever – but I didn’t. Instead, I stared down blankly at the blood and remained as still as a mannequin.

  In the corner of my eye, the dark stains swirled in a mesmerising fashion. Each drop that fell from my fingertips formed into dark red petals.

  My hands wrinkled and my vision blurred.

  “What can save me,” I asked through wisped breaths.

  The word ‘Amore’ formed before the blood disappeared completely.

  Fate wasn’t something I had ever give much thought to, until that moment - the moment I became nothing but a beggar in an empty castle with nothing but a yellow ball gown and a rose.

  ONE

  Sometimes it’s not about the ending, it’s about the journey.

  It was a story-book perfect day as we approached my new home.

  I gazed at the castle with wide-eyes as it came into view. My father, Jeremy, had sent me from Milborn to the powerful Kingdom of Beau.

  The castle’s circular towers lay beautiful against the rich blue sky. The green hills surrounding the castle stretched out for as far as the eye could see, and the forest around us swarmed with wildlife. “It is beautiful,” I said to my escort, Lord Petit.

  “It is,” he replied with a smile. His thick, black moustache looked too big for his dainty, long face. Yet, his smile was contagious. “You will love it here.”

  I nodded. “I hope so.” I leant out the window of the carriage and picked a pink blossom from a passing tree. “We do not have flowers like these in Milborn.”

  He smiled in reply and looked down at the papers he was holding. The papers to finalise my engagement to the duke of Beau.

  The roads were smooth as made our way to up to the castle. The trees became more spaced out until we finally rode through one of the villages. The houses were different from the ones in Milborn – ours were white with baskets of flowers and garlands hanging everywhere. Here, the houses were bigger and made of orange brick, there were no hanging baskets, but instead, lines of clothes left out to dry. Families sat around small tables outside their houses, laughing and joking. It seemed that everyone knew each other, here.

  “It is charming,” I said and smiled as we passed several families. They all craned their necks to look at our carriage. I sat back in my seat and stared ahead.

  I knew this was coming; unlike my sisters, I was excited to leave my family and home. I hoped that my husband to be was kind and handsome.

  This was an adventure and I loved adventure. To a new beginning where I could be my own woman – not just the daughter of a baron, the youngest daughter, or the dreamer – here I could be anyone.

  I had always been intelligent, but not as clever as Florence. I was pretty, but not as pretty as my other sister, Marie. I was sick of being constantly compared to them, and now I was somebody – the duke had picked me out of our portraits, and I was excited. Excited to see the kingdom and its people, to meet the duke, see the castle, the royal family, and try the food here and dress in the latest Beau fashion.

  The carriage growled over the gravel – we were close to the castle. Petit must have noticed my eyes light up because he smiled and took my hand.

  “You will like it here, dear Felicity.”

  I bowed my head and felt the softness of his skin against mine. He had never been the type of man to toil fields, he was a politician, a clever man who would sit behind a desk and attend fancy parties.

  “You’re sure I am dressed okay,” I asked for the hundredth time since we had left Milborn.

  He laughed, “You look wonderful, dear. As always.”

  “Merci.”

  The carriage ground to a halt and a short man with a top hat on opened our door. “Welcome back, Lord Petit,” the short man said and bowed.

  He looked at me and smiled, his chubby cheeks reminded me of a rodent as they balled up. “Lady Felicity, welcome to Beau.” I bowed my head and gave him my hand – as I had been taught. He kissed it and helped me out of the carriage. I stepped onto the stone courtyard. The bricks sparkled in the midday sun, each one lined up perfectly symmetrical.

  I looked up at the castle gate. The spikes pointed down at the bustle of people coming in and out of the courtyard of the castle. I furrowed my brows. In Milborn, only those invited could go into the castle, yet here it seemed that anyone could go in and out.

  I felt Petit place his hand around my waist. “Shall we go inside?”

  I pressed my lips together. From nowhere, my nerves got the better of me. Up until now, this had just been a dream, something I had spent four months thinking about – making up scenarios in my head and imagining my first meeting with the duke. I hadn’t seen a portrait of him, but I was told he was handsome so I had painted a picture in my head. He would have brown hair, a big smile, pearly white teeth, strong, muscular arms, and he would be dressed in the finest suit. He would welcome me into his arms and show me the kingdom.

  A thin, blonde man in his forties approached us. He wore a green suit and his greying stubble reached around his gaunt face.

  I forced a smile to another of the men sent to fetch me, probably by my fiancé. “Felicity,” the man said in a deep, smooth voice. I bowed my head and extended by hand. He took it, kissed it, and then – oh, my! He had leant in to kiss me.

  Alarmed, I jumped back and looked up at Petit for some clue of what was happening.

  Petit laughed nervously and squeezed my shoulder. “I do apologise, Your Grace.”

  Your Grace?

  “She’s a little nervous,” Petit said.

  The man’s smile turned into a hard line. “It is understandable. She has travelled a long way.”

  “Felicity?” Petit's voice dragged me back to reality. “This is Duke Lepaul, your future husband.”

  My stomach knotted. I gazed at the man with
a childlike curiosity. His eyes reminded me of those of a snake. His hair was slicked back with something – oil perhaps? His fingers were long and pointed, and his skin was so pasty it looked like he hadn’t been outside in years. His gaze was locked onto me, he looked me up and down like I was an object, something he owned. I guess he did.

  I was led to believe the duke would be younger, more handsome. I had been lied too.

  I quickly forced a smile. “I do apologise, it has been a long journey. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

  “I have some people I would like to introduce you too,” he said sharply. “Come.”

  He took my arm and I looked back at Petit. Petit looked down at the floor and headed back to the carriage. I was on my own.

  We walked in silence. My polished heels clicked against the wood as we walked over the drawbridge and into the courtyard. My head spun, his grip tightened as I slowed my pace. I hurried to match his and looked around.

  People were gathering various market stalls, buying jewellery, food, trinkets, and other things. I couldn’t get a proper look as I was hurried into the castle.

  He leant in, the overpowering stench of his floral cologne made me feel a little nauseous. “You are beautiful, Felicity.”

  I flushed red. “Thank you, I- “

  “However, don’t make the mistake of thinking that you can ever act in the way that you did back there, again.”

  I opened my mouth but closed it again. I felt tears prick my eyes.

  He continued as we walked into the ballroom. “As my wife, you will worship me, you will act as a wife should, and if you don’t, I will punish you.”

  He pulled away and I looked around. We were in front of a group of elegantly dressed men with powdered wigs and purple and green waistcoats. I tried to smile, but it was hard.

  All I wanted to do was run away.

  “Guran,” one of the men said with a wide grin to the duke, “is this your beautiful fiancée? You said she would arrive today, but who knew she would be such a beauty.”

  I wanted to thank the man for the comment, but on meeting the duke cold stare, I knew it best to keep quiet.

  “She’s a beauty, alright,” he said with a sly laugh. “Young too. We will have a child within the year, I am sure.”

  I could throw up. Instinctively, I placed my hands over my stomach. I didn’t want a child just yet, especially not with him, but it was my duty as a wife.

  ❦ ❦ ❦

  After a long day of being dragged around to meet the duke’s friends and acquaintances, I was exhausted.

  He walked me up to my room and I couldn’t wait to have a bath and sleep for ten hours.

  We arrived at the room and he opened the door. “Thank you, for today,” I said.

  “Come here,” he ordered.

  The duke pulled me close to him. I tried to smile, but my lips couldn’t lie for me anymore. Instead, I just stared at him blankly. His breath smelled awful – like fish – as he placed his lips on mine. I remained still as his hand snaked down my back.

  I felt the skirt of my dress lift and felt his cold hand on my leg. “Please don’t,” I squeaked without thinking.

  His expression darkened. “What did you just say,” he asked through clenched teeth.

  I panicked. My face was so hot and my hands were shaking. “I just- “

  “Do not tell me what I can or cannot do to you!”

  I closed my eyes, but I couldn’t stop the tears from trickling over my lids.

  He growled. “If I knew you would be such a problem, I would have never picked you!”

  I wiped my tears and stepped backwards.

  That was when it happened. He pushed me back onto the bed. The air was forced out of my lungs as I landed on the bed. He climbed on top of me a ripped up my skirt. “Now, show me what I paid for.”

  For a moment, my brain fuzzed. Paid for? Then I remembered the dowry. I said nothing. Instead, I just laid there.

  “You want me,” he asked with greediness in his eyes.

  “Yes,” I lied. What else could I say? He would be my husband, so it had to happen sooner or later.

  His fingers slid up the inside of my thighs. With no care, he pulled my lace panties to the side and forced three fingers into me so hard that I cried out with pain.

  He didn’t care, he kept pushing in until, for some reason, he gave up.

  He stood up and left the room without saying anything.

  I sat up, a little dazed, and pulled the skirt of my dress back over my legs. What had I said yes too? I looked over at the window and a part of me wanted to leave – if it meant that I had to spend the rest of my life married to that man, then I didn’t want to stay. Could I leave? Would my father accept his shamed daughter who left her rich fiancé? How would I get back to Milborn?

  I walked over to the window and looked out into the night. That was when everything changed.

  That’s when I saw him.

  TWO

  The night lured him like a moth to a flame.

  I had seen him earlier that day – the prince. The duke introduced me to him. The prince had given me a quick greeting before walking away as if we bored him. He seemed stifled and didn’t walk with any grace at all. Seeing him now, though, he looked different.

  I watched him from the window as night fell over the kingdom and everyone put out their candles, leaving the villages illuminated by the glow of the milky white moon.

  He rode off into the distance, his soft, brown hair dancing behind him, his dark eyes focused only on the forest ahead of him. He danced with the wind, moving so gracefully with his horse as if he belonged to the night. He was out, chasing a life after the sunset, something most were scared to do.

  Was he searching for something or trying to escape?

  He rode so fast. As if he were being chased by shadows I couldn’t see.

  I blinked and he was gone, lost in the darkness. I turned around. My bed called to me after a long, horrible day. I stripped, dressed in my nightgown and slipped between the silk sheets. I closed my heavy lids and let sleep take me; hoping that I would wake up tomorrow and everything would be different.

  ❦ ❦ ❦

  “You have such beautiful, golden blonde hair,” one of the maids exclaimed while pinning my hair up. It was long, I hadn’t had it cut since I was a child, so it reached down to the bottom of my back.

  I envied the maids straight hair. I had always had loose curls, and no matter what I did, I couldn’t get my hair to look straighter. I guessed straight hair was the fashion in Beau. All of the ladies here had poker straight hair, loosely fitted silk dresses of blues and greens, and their cheeks always looked pink.

  “Ouch!”

  The maid pinched my cheeks. “Now you look perfect.”

  I rubbed my face and scowled. “Why did you do that?”

  She looked at me with confusion. “To give you red cheeks. You have to keep doing it every so often, though.”

  That seemed like a lot of pain just to look a certain way.

  “Thanks,” I said without meaning and looked in the mirror. My hair was pinned up so tight that I looked constantly surprised.

  She pulled my corset strings until I could just about breathe, and then I told her to stop. I wanted one of those silk dresses the other ladies wore. They looked so much more comfortable. “Do you think I could get some new dresses,” I asked the maid.

  She smiled sweetly. “Why of course. You are the duke’s fiancée. You can have anything you like.”

  “Can I get one of the dresses the other ladies wear? The silk ones.”

  She nodded and finished tying my dress. “I will have the dressmaker make you some. What colours do you like?”

  I looked over to the window. “Pale blue, like the sky.”

  I was finally ready and looked at my reflection in the mirror. My golden curls were pinned up into a pretty bun, with little ringlets hanging down, dancing every time I moved. My cheeks were darker than usual, thanks
to the pinching, and my figure looked wonderful in my pale-pink dress.

  I walked out of my room and looked around. I was unsure of where I should go or what I should do. I didn’t even know what my schedule was. Would I even have one?

  I walked around aimlessly, foolishly hoping to see someone familiar. I reminded myself that I didn’t know anyone here and walked down to the ballroom.

  Beautiful ladies with tall hair and thin, pointed faces, watched me as they fanned themselves.

  I really did stick out here.

  I kept walking until I found myself in the banqueting room. I looked over and saw the king sat with some dukes and lords. He was eating breakfast without his queen. Come to think of it, I hadn’t seen the queen once since I had been at the castle, but, it had only been a day.

  “Felicity,” A man's voiced resonated behind me.

  I turned and saw the man who had helped me out the carriage.

  “Hello,” I said and bowed my head. “I never got your name, I do apologise.”

  He smiled. “It’s Gerard.”

  I smiled. He looked flustered.

  “His Grace has been looking for you. He would like for you attend an elite party with him.”

  “Now?”

  It’s too early for a party.

  “Now.”

  I followed Gerard over to a part of the castle I hadn’t explored yet. It was quieter than the rest of the castle. We stopped in front of two double doors.

  “Felicity, Duke Lepaul’s fiancée.”

  The guard nodded and opened the door.

  Nothing, I mean nothing, could have prepared me for what I saw.

  Several men were frigging onto silver platters, ejaculating over and over. On the other side of the room, couples were tying each other up and one was hitting the other on the bottom.

  “I… am I in the wrong place?”

  Gerard looked down, ashamed. “No, Madame.”

  I saw the duke at the other side of the room, he had his length in his hand as he watched a man push himself into a red-headed woman.