The Curse of Ormshire (The Beast Within Book 2)

by S. L. Perrine

  Renella looked at the walls, which were bare, and chose the one opposite the bed to hang the portrait. She studied the items on his shelves and ran her hands over the settee in front of his windows.

  “You know I could have you thrown in the dungeon for breaking into my room.”

  Renella turned to see Tyson in the doorway. “I didn’t break in. It wasn’t locked. So technically, I just entered.” She stood stock still and gave him a playful smile.

  As Tyson walked inside, he laid a hand on the door and paused. “If I close this, Princess, do you promise to behave yourself?” He laughed. She laughed as well but gave no answer.

  “I guess not,” he said as he closed the door behind him. “So, what brings you to this side of the castle, madam?” he asked with a playful tone and a forward bow.

  “I just was wondering what little things I may have to make room for after we’re married.” She teased. “Looking around in here, I can see there is not much for you to keep after all.”

  Tyson moved closer to her. With each step he took, he paused before taking another, while she stood in the same spot. Her hands were folded together in front of her, and she swayed side to side as if she were dancing to music only she could hear.

  Tyson started to move back and forth with her as he stepped closer. He took her hand in his and placed the other on her hip, sweeping her in a dance around his room, the music playing for the both of them as they danced in silence. Renella leaned her cheek against his and whispered to him. “I love you, my prince, you and your beautiful blue skies.” They both giggled.

  Tyson stopped the dance and wrapped both of his arms around her waist, holding her close. “That’s the first time you’ve said that to me.”

  “What is?”

  “That you love me.”

  “So it is.” She never realized she hadn’t said it out loud before. She thought she had felt it from the moment he brought her to the butterfly cave, but in fact, she had loved him from the moment they met. She just didn’t know how deeply until the moment he told her of his attempt at not loving her. He wanted to spare her the feeling of loss like his mother felt for his father.

  “I love you, my princess, to the moon and back a million times.” He cupped her face in his hands and brought his face to hers. “We will get through this. We will be married, and we will live happily ever after.” With that said, he kissed her lips softly. “I never said I would behave,” he retorted when he released the kiss. She laughed and then remembered the reason for her visit.

  “I did cross the boundary line for a reason,” she stated.

  “This wasn’t it?” he asked as they stood holding each other.

  “I suppose I should say yes, but no. This is just a happy bonus. I brought you something.” She nodded to the painting on the wall.

  He released her and walked to it. He studied the faces within and looked at her. “You were captured perfectly,” he said with a smile.

  “I thought while we are apart, this could be here to remind you of me.”

  He moved back to her as tears welled in her eyes. “I don’t need any reminders. I will never stop looking for you. I will never stop loving you. I will never stop seeing you in here.” He touched the tip of his finger to his temple and then wrapped his arms around her again.

  “You don’t know how long this will take. What if you find another?” She sobbed.

  “Oh, you beautifully naive princess of mine,” he said as he kissed her tear-stained cheeks. “I told you, Oma has told you, and your heart has told you: We are meant for each other; there will be no other.” His mouth found hers once again.

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Past

  “I cannot restore the land. I have all of my mother’s power as the new queen. However, as much as I may try, the land will not respond to me alone.” Calipee, the new queen of the fairies, sat before King Rowan and his lords.

  “How can that be?” Rowan bellowed.

  “I am not sure, Your Majesty, but I know it must have something to do with my mother’s passing. The important piece of this puzzle is that I can enact this curse.” She sat at the end of the table across from Rowan.

  Calipee was a petite woman, but her authority spoke volumes within her. She was well mannered, as her mother before her.

  “Then we can continue forward?” Rowan asked to be sure.

  “Yes, but make no doubt about it, I am doing this because it was my mother’s will and my revenge, not because you order me to.” Calipee sat forward in her seat.

  “I was given this post by your mother, and as king of this land, it is my duty to protect it by any means. I will not order you to do this, as I am sure you would not ask me not to avenge the death of mine own daughter and dear friend; your mother. This we will do together, because we are the protectors of the four realms,” Rowan spoke calmly.

  “Calipee, you are queen. You know what that means,” Farlow reminded his sister.

  “Yes, and as queen, it is my duty to protect my people first and foremost. We lost our mother; I will not fight another battle against magia. This I will do, but nothing more.” She sent an icy glare to both Rowan and Farlow.

  “I understand, Your Majesty.” Rowan nodded.

  “I will use the power of the heart stone with mine. We will be able to concentrate on all of those who reside in Ormshire, including the new outlands Ourobus has added to his realm,” she told the group.

  Calipee stood and paced the floor in front of the sun-filled windows. Her wings fluttered a moment in the sunlight. Rowan noticed they were the same brilliant purple as Renal’s had been.

  “Mother left instructions, in case she would not be here for this. I think she, like your queen, spoke often to the old woman.” She stopped pacing and looked at the men and women at the table. “My sisters have what they need, I presume?” she asked Rowan.

  “Yes, we spoke just before your arrival,” Rowan answered her.

  “Good, then they may be excused. They have much to do before they travel to Ormshire.” She nodded at her sisters, who nodded in response and left. “Anyone here who does not wish to proceed?” she asked the men left at the table.

  “Excuse me, Calipee, but I don’t think there is a soul in the realms that wouldn’t wish to proceed,” Cantothos answered her.

  “Be that as it may, I need to be certain everyone here will follow through. We will all be bound to this. It will be the blood of us all that will hold the curse together.” She looked around the room. “If you’re not willing to follow through, you may want to leave now.”

  She took a moment and looked around the room at each of the men. Once she was satisfied they would all keep their word, she closed the door to the room and the drapes closed. A bright red light surrounded the inside of the room, and as it dissipated, it left a hue of pink around them. Calipee took a dagger from her waist, which Rowan had not noticed until then. She said a few words over the dagger and grabbed the cup sitting in front of Rowan, which he had emptied of its contents earlier.

  “Con questo sangue mi legano tutti, con questo sangue a rimuovere tutto, con questo sangue proteggere la vita.”

  She placed the tip of the dagger into the middle of her palm and let the blood pool into her hand. She then passed the dagger to the men, who mimicked her words, drew their blood, and allowed it to pool in their hand. When all had done it, she placed the cup in the center of the table.

  “Now, into the cup.” She allowed the blood to trickle into the cup from her closed fist, which everyone copied.

  The chant of words continued, and a green glow emanated from within the cup. Light shot from the vessel and through the ceiling of the room. The ground shook, the drapes flew open, and the palace was engulfed in the green glow. Just as it faded, a white glow took its place. The white light shot up farther still, until it was above the whole of their world.

  “What is that? What is happening?” Rowan asked Calipee.

  “The curse has been started; there is n
o stopping it now. All that remains is the jobs for the few, and the waiting for the many.” Calipee released the room from her enchantment, the red and pink lights fading to nothing.

  “It will be in Ormshire when we said. All have time to complete their given tasks. I am done.” She bowed at Rowan.

  Calipee gave her leave and the men all sat in wonder. The light glowed so far up, they could see it in the horizon. The wash of it felt strange, but there was no going back, Rowan was sure of that.

  “Luce magia enacted the curse against buio magia,” Farlow started. “Now, only a power combined with both is able to lift it and destroy the Buio King for good,” he finished, and with that, he left the room.

  * * *

  Miles between the Palace of Hearthstone and the Castle of Ormshire, two women saw the green light as it left the rooftop of the palace. They worked effortlessly to ensure their plan would be a success.

  “Okay, it has started. Are you ready?”

  “Yes, let’s get this over with.”

  The two women joined hands and together, they set about making sure their own fates would be sealed.

  * * *

  “Ahhhh!” Tyson screamed in pain. His chest seared as if he had been branded. Sweat beaded across his brow, and tears welled in his eyes. He jumped back, away from Renella.

  “What… What’s happening?” Renella screamed, but the agony was too much for him to speak. “Tyson!” she called to him as he stumbled backwards and fell to the carpet of his room.

  Just moments ago, they had been dreaming about their future together. Now, the terror Renella saw in Tyson’s eyes had her frightened their future was gone. She bent over his still body and laid a hand on his head. The sweat covered him as if he had bathed in it. She wondered if the pain had subsided or if he had passed out because of it. She checked his chest and noted he still breathed.

  “Tyson, talk to me!” she pleaded with him, but it was no use. He had passed out. She took a chance and undid the buttons of his shirt. His chest was burned, but whatever magia had started had been interrupted. She could just make out the faint sigil of buio etched into his chest.

  Renella put her hands on his bare chest, and using their linked powers, she thought of the magia of luce. She had no idea what she was doing or if it would work, but she wanted to protect him from whatever buio maga afflicted him.

  The burned marks of buio faded away, and in its place, a bright white glowed on his chest. She had infused him with the sigil of luce to protect him from harm. Hoping what she had done was enough, she buttoned his shirt and went to the washroom. She returned with a washbowl full of cool water and a rag. As she rung out the rag, Tyson woke and grabbed her hand.

  “Are you okay?” he asked, concerned more for her wellbeing.

  “I’m fine.” She placed the cool rag on his brow. “Nothing happened to me; just you. The pain made you pass out.”

  “Oh.” He sat up and held the rag to his head. “It felt like someone was trying to rip through me with a branding poker.” He recalled the feeling from when he was a child and the stable hand bumped into him with a hot horseshoe.

  “Someone was trying to brand you, but with magia.” He looked down as if he could see through the fabric of his shirt. “Don’t worry, they were obviously not experienced, whoever it was. It was an unsuccessful attempt, and I was able to remove what little bit stayed.”

  He sighed. “But how did you—”

  “I don’t know, but I did. That’s all that matters, right? At least it worked when I really needed it to. I just can’t seem to control it when I don’t need it.” She laughed it off.

  He rubbed her arms up and down to remove the chill she experienced. “Thank you,” he said, and kissed her cheek.

  “I thought you were dying right in front of my eyes.” The tears threatened to fall once more. “I don’t think I could bear it.”

  “Shh.” He put a finger to her lips. “I’m fine, thanks to you.”

  He stood, bringing her up with him, and wrapped one arm around her waist while the other cupped the back of her head. She rested her head on his shoulder and suddenly felt sleepy from the morning’s events. After what seemed like all day, she lifted her head to face him. “We need to know who is trying to mark you with the buio sigil.” She pulled away from him.

  “Is that what was on my chest? It has to be father.” Tyson grabbed at his shirt buttons and it flew open.

  Renella rubbed her hand across his smooth chest. “See, nothing there.” She bent and kissed his collar bone. Then registering what she’d done, she turned from him and started for the door.

  “Wait.” He reached out to her.

  “We can’t.” She let him grab her hand but didn’t turn around.

  “I know. I just want one day with you. One day to be together before this madness gets to us.” He let her hand drop from his. He would not make her stay.

  “I know.” She turned. His shirt was closed and no longer exposed him. “There just isn’t enough time.”

  “Then we will make time.”

  “How?”

  “The last night. That will be our time. Promise me!” he begged her.

  “Yes, I promise. We will spend the last night together… here.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Past

  “Your Majesty, we seem to have a problem.” Ankor entered Ourobus’ chambers as quietly as possible.

  “What sort of problem?” Ourobus snapped his head up to look at his advisor.

  “The sigil won’t hold, and now there is something blocking our efforts.” She lowered her head.

  “Well, he’s fighting back, is he?” Ourobus stood from his seat behind his desk and paced the room.

  “Also…” Ankor stopped to consider her words carefully. “The new fairy queen has just been spotted at Hearthstone, and they have worked magia within the palace.”

  “So, they have followed through. Good, now you can do as we discussed. He is to never find her!” Ourobus bellowed, more for dramatic effect than out of anger.

  Ankor bowed her head and left the room. As instructed, she headed back to her cohorts. They had devised a plan to counteract the spells used against Ourobus. Ankor had learned of the curse from its inception, but to the extent of the current changes that had been made, she was unsure. She knew of the secret message handed from King Rowan to Calipee, but she never learned what was inside. The room where the spell was cast had been protected by Calipee. None outside the room was aware of what happened within.

  Ankor studied the room of misfits. They had gathered in the dungeon by means of hidden passages to avoid being seen within the castle. Fulvia, second in command, sat nearest to the door and was the first to notice Ankor’s return.

  “Quiet down!” she yelled to the room. “What are our orders?” Fulvia stood at attention. She was the tallest in the room, so this feat was difficult for her.

  The room was wide, but it could only accommodate someone six feet or shorter. Thirty or more cells opened to the room, and only one door led to the exit, save for the hidden passage just behind the first cell. There had been no prisoners for years, since all prisoners had been moved to allow the space to be used for Ourobus’ maga.

  “The king wishes for us to continue on. The girl must not find her way back to Pylira. Tyson will never be able to get close enough to her to alert her to her true self,” Ankor spoke.

  All the maga in the room—twenty, including Ankor—bellowed in agreement, “Aye.” The noise was so mighty, the room shook with it.

  “Let us begin,” Fulvia ordered.

  The women made three circles with their bodies. Candles had been lit with a whisper, and the torches upon the walls went out. The chant began. The fire of the candles flickered and sparked, and the red firelight engulfed the circle around the women as they spoke.

  “Tutto in questo posto sara lui, tutto senza non devono vagare libero, la bestia dentro deve cono indietro, gli occhi dell’uomo non vedra.”

 
“It is done,” Ankor said to the group. The torch fire ignited once again, and the candles went dark. The fiery circle faded away and all was as it had been.

  Ankor returned to Ourobus’ study, watching as he stood at the window.

  “Is it done?” He did not turn toward her.

  “Yes, my king.”

  “All were inflicted?” Ourobus turned to face her.

  “Yes.” She bowed her head. “Night had fallen before the spell was done. All within the castle have been inflicted.”

  “Then I relieve you and your cohorts for the evening. Tomorrow is a big day. We have much to prepare.”

  “Yes, my king.” She bowed her head as she backed out of the room.

  The night grew longer than usual as the fairy clan moved back to their home across the wide sea. Calipee insisted they return home as soon as the work had been done at the palace, for she claimed they had much to do to safeguard it and keep their own people safe. The throne they carried Calipee in from the shore to the palace sat upon the great ship. Calipee stood near the side of the vessel, claiming she had sat for too long, and her brother stood with her. She was in such a hurry, and she craved for their ability to fly to last over long journeys.

  Calipee would not share with Farlow what she knew of the dying lands at the palace, but she spoke of nothing else on their journey.

  “Mother’s spirit lives. Until she is put to rest, the lands will continue to die and rot,” she told her brother. “This battle between luce and buio has trapped her essence among us, and she will not rest until it is over.”

  “How do you know this?” Farlow had asked her.

  “She has come to me. She gave me the powers of the Regina Madre and told me she would see me bequeath a gift for Queen Karen.” Calipee looked out over the open water.