The Enchanted Kingdoms (Haunting Fairytales Series Book 1)

by Becca Alexandra

  The flutters reappeared in his stomach, and he smiled tight-lipped. Belle reached across the table and wiped some sauce from James’s face with a napkin. He batted the napkin away and sighed. Caleb laughed and so did Edward. He wished, secretly, that his mother would have been as affectionate as Belle was to James. But having a royal family meant that you had to lock things like feelings away. Belle half-smiled as she glanced at Edward, yet something in her eyes changed. She had never looked at him in that way.

  He raised his hands in the air and made the instruments from the balcony play of their own accord. Happy, upbeat music filled the room and everyone lined up and danced. Bronze swung Lola around, and James danced with Belle. Edward walked over to them. His heart raced at a thousand beats per minute as she turned and noticed him. He took a deep breath and extended his hand. ‘May I have this dance?’

  She blushed and nodded. James nodded and walked over to the others, yet kept looking back at Belle and Edward with caution.

  Edward placed his hand on Belle’s hip and felt want surge through him. She pressed her body closer to his and looked up into his eyes. ‘I know it’s not possible, but I could swear you look different from yesterday.’ It was true. The colour in his face was returning. His scars seemed less noticeable. His eyes were more brown than grey, and somehow, his nose seemed less pointed. Even his grey hair had turned to a sweet light brown. She spoke again. Her voice even seemed to dizzy him so much so that he almost lost his footing a couple of times. ‘I can’t believe you let all the guests out tonight for me. I was wrong about you …’

  Edward gulped. ‘You were?’ He hated to admit it, but after some thought on what she had said, she seemed to be perfectly right.

  ‘Yes.’ She smiled again, making her cheeks ball up and dimples appear. ‘There’s sweet, almost kind.’ He felt himself drawing closer to her lips. Her scent took over him, and the thought of those soft, cupid bow lips on his almost sent him into a frenzy. The curse seemed to be the last thing on his mind. He shook his head and continued to dance. How could she possibly want him? No. He would just ignore it. But the glances … the blushing. Surely, he couldn’t be the only one to feel the electric pulse between them. He ran his hand around the small of her back and dipped her.

  The haggard face of the enchantress entered his mind. This was the same ballroom, the same dance when he had sealed his fate. They gazed at each other as if they were the only ones in the room. His lips were inches from hers, and his heart was racing. Her lips curved into the sweet smile that could stop a man’s heart, and he sighed. He lifted her up and ran his finger down her soft cheek. ‘Go back to your family,’ he ordered. ‘I give you permission to leave.’

  She looked at him blankly. ‘I need to tell you something …’

  He shook his head. ‘It doesn’t matter what you have to say. I want you and your son to leave. Caleb will arrange for your things to be packed.’ He walked away, leaving Belle standing alone and feeling stupid. Tears stung at her eyes. She hadn’t realised she wanted him, but the realisation hit her with that dance. She stormed over to James and took his arm. ‘We’re leaving.’ She looked at Caleb tight-lipped. ‘He wants us to leave.’

  Caleb breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Good.’

  ‘What?’ She looked at him tight-lipped. ‘You don’t want us here either?’

  ‘It’s not like that!’ Caleb called after them as Belle dragged James off toward the guest rooms. The prisoners walked back up to their rooms, all thanking Caleb for a wonderful dinner and asking him if it would happen again. He honestly didn’t have an answer for them.

  Stilt sneaked out through a door and sped up to the guestrooms. Edward finally having a conscience would ruins his plans. He scurried through the dark corridors, his light footsteps echoing maddeningly. He reached a brown arched door and pushed it open. Belle was undressing and gasped as he entered. She covered herself up. ‘Get out!’ she screamed.

  He waved his hand dismissively and made himself comfortable on her futon. He glanced down at an open book. ‘Oooh, reading a book, I see?’ He looked inside. ‘Feeling romantic?’

  She scowled. ‘I like romance books!’

  He grinned. ‘We always read what we crave …’ he trailed off, looking around the room. Finally, he raised a finger in the air and turned. ‘Ah. I almost forgot. You need to kiss Edward.’

  Belle flushed red as she pulled her dress back on. ‘He doesn’t want me to kiss him. He made that perfectly clear.’

  He laughed quickly. ‘Of course, he does, sweetheart. He won’t because he is cursed.’

  Her eyes widened. ‘Of course! What Caleb said makes sense. If someone breaks the curse, then that person takes the curse …. Oh.’ She dropped her head. She couldn’t commit herself to imprisonment.

  Stilt smile creepily, although he thought it was kind smile. ‘Fear not, young Belle. True love’s kiss will shatter the curse completely.’ He wasn’t lying. It would.

  Her eyes sparked with wonder. ‘You think he loves me?’

  Stilt nodded and jumped up and down excitedly. ‘Yes, yes, yes. Now, go and kiss him.’

  She reached for the door and ran down the steps towards Edward’s room. Stilt followed quickly. Belle’s beautiful dress dragged along the ground and shimmered in the dim light. Her hair had come undone completely and looked a little wild, but it suited her small face. She banged on Edward’s door and waited. Her breath caught in her throat and heart thumped loudly. Her hands trembled as she saw the door creak open. ‘Edward,’ she breathed.

  ‘Belle …’ Edward’s breath hitched. ‘I told you to leave.’

  ‘No.’ She looked into his eyes with wonder, and her lips curved into a smirk. ‘I don’t think you want me to leave at all.’

  He closed his eyes briefly. ‘Oh, sweetheart, I do.’

  She ran up to him and linked her fingers with his. He tried to push her away, but she held on to him. ‘I know you’re cursed, but if we kiss, it will break it.’

  He shook his head. ‘You will be cursed.’

  She smiled. ‘No, I won’t.’ Her heart thumped, and she etched her way up to his mouth. He placed his index finger on her lips to stop her but felt himself completely intoxicated by her. The feel of her lips was enough to drive him into a frenzy. He ran his finger across her bottom lip. Her heart thumped faster as she pushed herself closer to him. He wrapped his arm around her stomach, wanting to pull away from her. To protect her from all of this.

  Her lips were just mere centimetres from his. Her eyes closed, and she pouted. As her lips grazed his, he felt his heart flutter, and it was as if fireworks had exploded in his stomach. He ran his hand up her back and through her silky hair. The strands slid through his fingers. Her lips moved with his in perfect synchrony. She had one hand on his arm and the other on his back. Light exploded around them, forcing them to separate. It invaded the space between them. Belle reached out for Edward. He held out his hand to grasp hers. Then, a splash of mist hit his face and he looked at Belle blankly.

  Edward’s featured twisted and changed. Belle looked wide-eyed at the handsome, tall man in front of her. He looked around and walked past her. ‘Edward?’ she called out, but he ignored her and kept walking. The door closed behind him, and Stilt was standing next to the door, waiting for him.

  Stilt laughed. ‘You’re welcome, by the way.’

  Edward scratched his head. ‘What happened?’

  ‘I broke the curse you had on you,’ Stilt replied.

  Edward looked at the short man, more confused than ever. ‘Who is that woman in the room? I remember kissing the enchanting woman and then nothing.’

  Stilt smiled. His memory wiping spell had worked. ‘Then I helped you. That woman is a maid. We need to leave now. The curse keeping me here broke too. I can transport us there now.’ He looked at the amulet on Edward’s neck greedily. ‘Ready?’

  Edward nodded. ‘I guess.’ He looked back at the door. There was something about that woman. He shrugged it off and touched St
ilt’s arm. They transported to Dolorom.

  Caleb ran up just in time to see Stilt and Edward vanish. He ran to the room and opened it. Belle was crying on the bed. ‘What happened?’

  ‘We kissed and then he left me.’

  Caleb gasped. ‘You’re cursed!’

  She shook her head. ‘I don’t think so. I don’t feel any different. True love’s kiss breaks the curse completely. Stilt told me.’

  Caleb extended his hand. ‘There’s one way to find out.’

  They walked down to the ballroom. The prisoner’s doors opened and they ran out of the castle. Belle found James and looked for Bronze and the maids. Caleb sighed and looked at the bronze candlestick laying on the marble floor. Next to it was mouse. ‘They’re back to what they were,’ Caleb stated.

  They walked through the meadow. Caleb held one hand, and James held the other. She crossed the border and right into the snowy forest. There was no barrier. The snow was turning to slush and some green was apparent on the trees. ‘I’m not cursed,’ she said, confused. ‘So it was true love?’

  Caleb bit his lip. ‘I guess.’

  Belle cried. ‘Then why did he leave?’

  James shook his head. ‘He doesn’t deserve you. Let’s go home.’

  She looked back at the castle. ‘Actually, I was happy here. Perhaps we can get your grandpa and aunts and have them move here. There are enough jewels here for them, and we can all be together. You can continue to sword fight.’

  James grinned, and Caleb smiled. ‘I admit this is like a family I never had. I’m happy to stay,’ Caleb admitted. Belle looked out at the forest and sighed. Caleb and James were happy, and she could see her family again.

  Yet the dull ache of Edward leaving stayed with her as a truth that could never be just a memory.

  POWER ABOVE ALL

  ‘Your Highness.’ Stilt bowed his head. ‘You’re looking old.’

  ‘It would seem that way,’ she replied, tight-lipped. ‘You’re looking good, considering.’

  He arched an eyebrow. ‘I am?’

  She laughed. ‘For someone who ate his only child, yes, you are.’

  A growl escaped his thin lips, and he ran at Lori, who simply vanished and reappeared a short distance away, leaning against a tree.

  ‘Thanks to you!’ he shouted.

  ‘Yes, yes,’ she said, sounding bored. ‘Are you here to punish me, or have you called me for something worthwhile?’

  He narrowed his eyes at her. ‘I need your help,’ he admitted. ‘I have a prince with me, Edward, and I need to take his magic from him. He has an amulet that gives him unlimited power.’

  ‘Edward?’ she asked. ‘Edward of Dolorom?’

  ‘Yes,’ Stilt said and evaluated her expression. ‘Ah.’ He smiled, wide-eyed. ‘You know him, don’t you …?’ He moved closer to her until they were almost nose to nose. She shifted uncomfortably as his amber eyes bore into her soul. He laughed manically, the stench of wine in his breath made her gag. ‘Very well, it would seem. Tell me, why do you hate him?’

  She ground her teeth and pushed past him. ‘He ruined everything for me.’

  ‘Ohh,’ Stilt said excitedly. ‘What did he do? Steal from you, kill someone you love, cheat on you?’ His eyes lit up. ‘That’s it, isn’t it? He lay with another while with you. Well, no wonder you’re so bitter.’

  ‘It was more than that,’ she said. She looked up at the sky. Pain flashed across her green eyes, as if trapped in a painful memory. ‘We were engaged. I trusted him. I gave him everything. I turned him into a frog as punishment, yet he has somehow gotten around that. Who did he find to kiss him?’ She turned her gaze to Stilt. ‘Who was the unlucky lady?’

  Stilt shook his head. ‘From what I hear, the curse was tampered with. He killed a princess to become a man again,’ he tutted and smirked. ‘I looked into his soul, and he holds more darkness than even you and I do. Yet ignorance masks it. Even if it did falter momentarily.’

  ‘Falter?’ She raised an eyebrow.

  ‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘Edward fell in love. Belle is her name, but now, he doesn’t remember who she is. She’s alone at a castle, and he is here in Dolorom with me.’

  Lori pursed her lips. ‘He fell in love!’ she stated. ‘He’s not capable of that.’

  ‘Oh, I assure you he is. He really loved her too,’ he said, loving how much it was getting to her. ‘He would never have cheated on her, but then she really is something. You should see her—’

  ‘Enough,’ Lori barked. ‘He doesn’t remember her anyway. I don’t care.’

  ‘Lies,’ Stilt hissed. ‘Either way, you’re welcome. He won’t be getting his happy ending now. But,’ he said, almost dancing, ‘I will make him remember if you don’t help me take the amulet from him.’

  She gulped and ran her hand over her bracelet, which was silver with an oval blue gem on it. Unknowing to anyone else, it was the source of her unlimited power, and the lengths she had gone to acquire it had taken a lot of sacrifice. ‘I will help you.’

  Stilt laughed. ‘Glad to hear it, Majesty. I knew you cared.’ He winked, and she pouted at him. ‘So how do we take that amulet?’

  ‘A deal needs to be struck; that’s how any sorcerer gets one of the few unlimited power sources. However, mermaids have certain powers. I know one who can help us,’ Lori said, running her fingernail across the blue gem again. ‘She’s called Ursula.’

  ‘Well’—Stilt grinned—‘what are we waiting for then?’ They both clicked their fingers and vanished, leaving behind a desolate forest and two dust-like figures in the air swept away by the cool breeze.

  Lori and Stilt reappeared at the edge of a glimmering lake, looking out at the miles of water that was between them and what they need.

  ‘How do we reach her?’ asked Stilt. Lori grinned and held out her hand. A boat appeared. It was big and wooden. The sails were red, and the seats were coated in velvet.

  ‘Ah,’ Stilt said and got in. He considered for a moment to push her overboard when her back was turned, but she was far too powerful. She would just magic a way out and kill him. He decided to use her to get what he wanted then he would one day find a way to remove the source of her unlimited power and kill her. She had an immortal soul and had managed to keep her body going despite the original curse that took her youth and looks. Stealing beauty from others by using her cursed apples, she could stay young and beautiful. But her looks were fading. He could see the crow’s feet by her eyes; her eyebrows still perfect and pointed were lighter than the usual dark brown. Her hair was a shade lighter too.

  They sailed in silence until they reached a mound of rocks by a cliff. Stilt could just make out the top of a cave as the waves drew away. Lori reached into the water and let a swirl of gold liquid circle down into the cave. Minutes passed, and finally, a head broke the surface. A mermaid with a moss green tail and shells covering half of her face pulled herself up the side of the boat until she was face to face with Lori and Stilt. ‘What do you want?’ she hissed.

  Lori’s thin lips curved into an evil smile. ‘Magic,’ she said, wide-eyed.

  ‘Magic?’ Ursula repeated. ‘You have magic!’

  Lori continued to smile. ‘A way for Stilt to take someone else’s unlimited power.’

  Ursula scoffed. ‘Why would I help you?’

  ‘A deal?’ Lori’s eyes glistened with wonder.

  Ursula looked up at her with dark eyes. ‘You’ll owe me a favour. Whatever I need, when I need it.’

  Lori raised an eyebrow. ‘Deal.’

  Stilt pushed in front of Lori. ‘I need a way to get an amulet from a prince.’ He sighed. ‘I thought that by breaking the curse completely, the amulet would be free for the taking. I was wrong.’ He ground his teeth. He hated to be wrong. ‘No matter. Well, the amulet is his, and I cannot just take it from him. It’s attached to a rose that is still at a castle.’ He mentally kicked himself for not joining the dots before they left.

  Ursula nodded and disappeared under the wate
r. Several awkward silences later, Ursula reappeared with small vial of potion. ‘Get him to take this and you will take his power for good. However, to own the power completely, you must get the root of the power. The rose you spoke of.’

  Stilt nodded. ‘Thank you.’

  Ursula disappeared, and Stilt grinned. ‘Now, we can leave.’

  Lori shook her head. ‘We need something else to bind the potion so you can hold the magic.’

  Stilt huffed. ‘You left that out.’

  Lori shrugged. ‘Oh, come on. Admit it, you secretly love spending time with me.’

  ‘Loathe, you mean,’ he muttered.

  She cackled. ‘Mermaid hair is important so one can carry unlimited power. As you well know, mermaids hold their own unlimited powers. Although different from a sorcerer’s, they can hold it because of their hair.’

  Stilt arched an eyebrow. ‘Strange.’

  ‘Yes.’ Lori grinned. ‘They are.’ She sailed to the middle of the lake. Fog settled above the water, giving the circular lake a mystical appearance. She stopped in the centre and leant over the side of the boat.

  ‘I wish …’ she hissed to the water’s surface. Stilt rolled his eyes.

  The boat rocked as hands grabbed the side. ‘You wish for what?’ the mermaid asked, her eyes greedy. She grabbed the side of the boat and pulled herself up until she was face to face with Lori.

  ‘Your Majesty,’ Lori said and smirked. ‘You are the queen of this lake, aren’t you?’

  ‘How did you know?’ the mermaid asked, her voice was floaty, innocent, but with an aggressive undertone.

  ‘The seaweed crown on your head and the gold flecks in your eyes. It’s obvious. I am a queen too. I can tell when I am in the presence of another great ruler.’

  The mermaid smiled. ‘I am Josephine.’

  ‘I am Lori. This is Stilt, Prince of Darkness,’ she stated.

  ‘Prince of Darkness, eh?’ Josephine asked.

  Stilt bit his tongue. He never had such a title, but ever since the disastrous incident, he had been known as that. ‘They used to call me the cunning snake. I always found a way to thwart my enemies, no matter how powerful they were!’ he said, staring angrily at Lori. She laughed, dismissing him, and turned back to Josephine.