Once Upon A [Fallen] Time

by Samreen Ahsan

  “Dammit, you woman!” I opened my eyes, turned around, and crashed my lips to hers before she confessed more to shatter every brick around me. My heart could no longer take her words, and my hunger drove at the highest peak she and I could climb. I kissed her like a hungry beast—savaging every portion of her enlightened soul. It was as if my kiss was sucking all the light from her, showing her my darkness she hadn’t encountered yet. My hands curled around her nape, pulling her closer to me, but instead of complaining about my harsh grip, she reciprocated my act by moving her warm, tantalizing fingers through my hair. We both fell on hay, completely unaware of our surroundings. Riding on Ulysses and running away from her seemed like bygone—right now, I wanted to enjoy and cherish what life was offering. There was no doubt I was madly in love with her. Her presence, her touch, her love, her care and devotion were all adding magic to our fairytale. We were destined for each other forever. Our love had transcended time and reached the height where no one had gone before. No one would believe our story and I had no desire to share my story with anyone.

  The hardest part in this tale was to admit my love to her. I was cursed, doomed for eternity. I had already damned her by falling in love with her, but if I confessed my love, I might lose her forever. I could never have my heir with her, no matter how much I wanted to take her to the church right away and exchange vows with her. I knew my love and my curse would bring death to her and nothing else. She was the brightest star in my darkest sky, and I would never do anything to take this glint of hope away from my life.

  Our kiss prolonged for what felt like an eternity—until it broke when we heard a thunder.

  A thunder?

  I pulled away from her. She looked as perplexed as I felt. I stood up and helped her straighten her dress. Another thunder growl shuddered my heart. I had never heard a roar this loud from Heaven before. Was God trying to convey a message to me?

  Myra walked out of the stables to check. I was still too astounded to move.

  “Edward, come out,” I heard her shout from outside the stables. When I reached the entrance, I saw something that no one in two hundred years had witnessed inside Hue Castle.

  It was raining!

  It was raining inside the cursed grounds of Hue Castle.

  It was raining after two hundred years—for the very first time.

  The clouds had gathered to witness our love.

  Nature was pouring and dancing with joy—celebrating our love with us.

  I stood frozen, trying to comprehend what was happening. How could it be possible to rain here? I noticed people running behind Myra, surprised to see the miracle of nature. But I knew it was not a miracle. Perhaps, for the first time ever, I had to admit that King Stefan was right. Curse didn’t affect her. Whatever was happening was because of her presence. She was spinning around, dancing in joy, enjoying every droplet, and soaking herself from head to toe, like a green leaf enjoying the first rain of the season.

  “Oh my god, Edward.” She spun again, looking at the sky. “Do you see that? It’s raining!” Her laughter let something bloom inside me. She walked towards me and pulled me slowly into the rain.

  For the first time in my life, I experienced rain falling on my skin. Her kiss had washed away all my pains and healed all my wounds that had festered for too long. My mind and body were still not processing whatever was happening around me. I still stood motionless when she pulled me towards her and kissed me in the rain. It poured on my cursed land due to her presence, and the black desert around me absorbed all the gifts from nature—drop by drop—just like she was dissolving in me and I was no more myself. She was more in my soul than I was in me—bowing, submitting, and disarming all my shields.

  Her sweet kiss in the rain was an intoxicating drug that my body was getting addicted to. I felt my soul soaring higher into the heavens—flying through the sky, reaching the sun, moon, and stars—freed from the human pettiness of fear and grief and death.

  There was a dreamlike rightness and magic to this moment—incomprehensible madness. Her kiss flooded into every pore of my existence—wrecking all the fortresses and tombs I had built around me throughout my life. Though it was a cold rain, the heat emanating from her body seared deep in me.

  She pulled away and spun again in joy. She had an air of giddiness about her, as she laughed in the rain. I could get drunk just watching her.

  “It feels wonderful.” Yes, it was wonderful she was able to give words to my feelings. She twirled around again in joy, the droplets kissing every part of her body, soaking her in admiration. The moment was seized and captured in my mind like a painting. I wanted to sketch this moment, freeze it on a canvas. “Do you see, Edward?” She held my face in her palms, drawing me back into this world. “Even God wants us to stay together. This is His way to show you that everything will be all right. There will be no pain.” And she kissed me again. Seemed like God had finally given me permission to love. Had I been angry with God all this time or with myself for punishing my soul, by never embracing love? She had the key to my heart, and she had finally opened the door. But if I let her in, could I close the door behind her, never let her escape?

  I was so lost in the rain, feeling the droplets touching every part of my body that I was not even able to fathom as what was happening around me. Everything was hazy and it was happening because of her presence. King Stefan was not here to experience rain on his body, but he’d get the news of it once he returned. If he was right that Myra had been the one to break the spell—she might be in great danger. What if instead of being a gentleman to her, he opted to be a beast? Would I be able to save her from his vicious plans?

  Although my mind was toggling between the options of saving or hiding her, my body was on fire due to her tantalizing kiss. I realized my heart—for the first time ever—was dancing in joy. And at this moment, I realized it was not only raining outside… but inside me as well. How could you be happy and gloomy at the same time?

  I wish I could drench myself in rain and feel every drop of it on my body. Veronica’s words kept churning in my mind even in this moment of delight. It seemed like Myra had the power to read everything in my mind, and I thought maybe she’d not see the tears in rain, brimming in my eyes, but when she pulled away, she looked straight into my eyes, diving right into my soul. I still stood motionless, breathless, and held eye contact with her. I was not willing to give her a chance to read what I was thinking. In this joyous moment, she was not supposed to mourn with me for Veronica. This was our moment of celebration but the harder I tried to ignore it, the more Veronica’s face came flashing into my mind. She had wanted to feel rain all her life, but it had been her death that had driven me to the chapel to meet the woman who was giving me hope to end my curse. No, Edward. Don’t go there!

  She ran her fingers through my hair and smiled sadly.

  “I understand, Edward… even if you don’t say it.” Yes, I knew it. She had read my whole life. How could she not know what I was thinking?

  And then the rain stopped all of a sudden. We both looked up as the clouds started to part their own ways. It felt like it had never rained at all. I looked back at her and felt a rush of emotion washing over me. Without giving her any hint, I scooped her in my arms and carried her back to the castle. She kept trying to interpret my expressions, but she had no idea what was in my mind now. I walked over a muddy puddle, into the castle, passing the Great Hall—our clothes soaking wet—and carried her all the way to my chamber. I didn’t look at her once but I knew she was watching me, reading my soul.

  After entering my chamber, I set her down on the floor and spun her around to untie the loops of her dress. She didn’t argue, she didn’t defy—she let me do what my heart had desired for so long. I wanted to worship this beautiful woman, kiss every part of her body, and let her know how divine she was. I saw that she had cloaked the mirror with her cape. Thank you, Myra. Our reflection would have been an ugly combination—a beast stripping a beauty naked. I
pushed the green velvet dress down her shoulders, the water droplets falling from her, down to the floor.

  “Don’t move,” I whispered in her ear and walked into the dressing chamber to grab a towel. When I returned, I found her standing exactly how I had left her. Her expression was inquisitive—wanting to know what I intended to do. But there was no hint of hesitation. She wanted to participate in this act of worship just as much as I did. I dabbed the towel first onto her hair, drying it as much as I could. Wrapping the towel around her brown curls, I untied the loops of the corset I had tied this morning.

  “Always remember…” I pulled one knot, “only I have the authority to undress you.” She sucked in a deep breath but didn’t argue. “Only I have the right to touch you, tease you, arouse you. And only I have the power to hurt you.” I picked up her left hand, standing behind her and gently took off the ring she had been wearing ever since I had met her, and stowed the ring in my pocket. I dropped her hand and untied knot after knot. “There will be no other man in your life, Lady Farrow.” I unwrapped her hair from the towel and took off the corset to drop it on the floor. She was wearing nothing but a sheer underdress and drawers, which were completely soaked, and I swore upon Heaven, she looked so amazingly beautiful standing like this—mine to conquer, mine to rule. I pulled her hair to one side, slid down her underdress from her shoulder and then kissed it from behind. Her heart was beating at the pace of Ulysses’ gallop, but she didn’t make any other sound. “As long as the sun rises from the east, you belong to me.” I kissed her nape, and she hummed with pleasure. “As long as the night holds the stars, you belong to me.” My lips grazed over her smooth as silk skin. “As long as this heart beats, you belong to me.” I kissed her shoulder. “Do you understand what I just said?” My voice was coarse and husky, drunk by the exuberance of owning her. She nodded silently and I rewarded her with another kiss on her shoulder.

  “Good, now take off your shoes,” I commanded. She did what I asked, obeying my every word. But then, to my surprise, she turned around, unclasped my black velvet cape, and pulled the string to unloop my soaked tunic.

  She lifted my tunic from my waist—her hands grazing my skin, setting it on fire. I still gripped the towel tightly, trying to control every dark desire in me. But when she raised the shirt over my head, I dropped the towel on the floor to let her explore me. She kissed my chest, quenching her desire from my wet body. I was not only drenched in rain, but my inner soul was completely immersed in an ocean of love, and I loved this feeling of drowning in her power. Her hands wandered everywhere on my chest as if searching for the Holy Grail. For the first time ever, l let someone touch me that intimately, and she would be the only woman who would have the power to seep into me. I let her touch me, enjoying the blessedness.

  No matter how authoritative I tried to be in front of her, ultimately, she held all the goddamn powers to control my body. She kissed my scars, her eyes glittering like diamonds, unnaturally bright—holding all the light of the universe. The air in my chamber sparked, wrapping us in a bond that no power in this world could break it. She kept grazing my chest with her lips, but it became too much for me to control. I grabbed her face and crashed my lips to hers as we both fell on the bed. She tasted like first rain I had read about in poems. Indeed, it was the first rain of my life. I would never forget this moment as long as I’d live.

  Time moved at an infinite pace of heartbeats, soulful touches, humming whispers, and smooth kisses. I worshipped her body like a sublime goddess, kissing off every drop of water on her skin, tearing off the underdress. Our bodies were soaked in water and desire, tangled in the sheets, as the fabric absorbed all the moisture from our drunken souls. I was on the edge of losing my sanity and wanted to make love to her—but I didn’t want to live only in this moment. I wanted her to live with me as long as I would live. Not only were our bodies entwined in this moment, our souls were also destined to be together… forever.

  I touched her, kissed her, teased her, licked her—pouring my heart and soul through my lips and hands. What she had given me today, unwinding my curse, she truly deserved a reward. I could never confess my love to her; never make love to her, because if she ever bore my child in her womb, I’d lose her forever. While kissing and sucking her bosoms, the moaning sound that came from her—it was so overwhelming that I had to beg my body to stop, or else, there would be no end to it. I’d keep on doing it forever.

  I had no track of time, but I could guess King Stefan would be coming back any time soon. I had spent an entire afternoon worshipping her. I’d never want to end this magical moment. I could kiss her forever, tangled in these sheets, but I also wanted to say so much… so much that I was afraid I might not have time for. My heart was bursting with emotions I had never felt before.

  I had always questioned my existence. Now I knew why…

  I was born to love her.

  I lay my head down on the pillow and pulled her head on my chest. It was in that moment I realized how easily I let her touch me. All my life, I had loathed the touch and never allowed anyone to touch my skin, apart from Veronica tending to my wounds. But this woman—with her ultimate power over my soul—was now ruling every part of my body. She was truly a mighty invader.

  “Thank you,” she whispered and kissed my bare chest. I hugged her tightly but was unable to say anything in return. I should thank her—for sowing seeds of hope in my barren world, for bringing rain into my life. I didn’t know what was yet to come. Would I ever hold a flower like Veronica had wanted? Would I ever feel the warmth of sunshine? Would I ever walk barefoot on green grass? Would I ever be able to see my face in the mirror?

  She played around with my chest hair… twirling her finger round and round… creating a timeless, magical world. We absorbed the silence, consumed the heat between our bodies, and let the time pass by. With her head on my heart, it was certain she was aware of it racing.

  I took her left hand and traced the ring mark on her finger, which I took off some time ago.

  “Who is he?” She knew whom I was talking about.

  She took some time to respond. “His name is Steve… Steve Bernard.”

  “Is he the same man who sent you a note through Haakon?”

  She took a deep breath but didn’t say anything.

  “I see he is concerned about how I’m treating you,” I commented. Internally, I was jealous of that man because he seemed closer to her than I was. I didn’t give her a chance to respond. Instead, I continued, “When was the wedding supposed to take place?” I used ‘was’ specifically because there was no way she’d marry him now… whoever he was.

  “Next year.” She rested her palm on my chest.

  “You’d have married him if you weren’t trapped here,” it was not a question—it was a true statement.

  She raised her head from my chest and it started aching all of a sudden.

  “If it weren’t for Steve, I wouldn’t have met you, Edward.” Was she in love with that man? What was she trying to say? I drew my eyebrows because I honestly didn’t understand what she meant. She sighed, pulled the sheets to her chest to hide it from me—as if I hadn’t seen how beautiful she was—and sat in an upright position. Her dark brown curls fell flawlessly on her marble skin. Her body was like a smooth white canvas—mine to paint. Her hair glowed in the daylight behind me—she was a goddess. “It’s hard to explain. Steve and I have a very different relationship. Not like lovers.”

  “He is still a man and you were wearing his ring,” I interjected.

  “That’s not what it is, Edward.” She licked her soft lips. Oh, how much I wanted to lick them again. “My parents wanted me to marry Steve. I had no man in my life. I didn’t even know you existed until Steve came into my life and introduced me to you.” This attracted my attention. I straightened my body and rested against the headboard. “Steve is…” she looked around the room, “I don’t know how to explain… he makes games.”

  “Huh?” I was clueless. What kin
d of business was that?

  “See… it’s hard to explain, Edward. Let’s just put it this way… he creates plays, shows… for entertainment…”

  “You mean he runs a theatre?”

  “Umm…” She bit her lip. “Something like that.” Either she was not able to explain it to me or I wasn’t getting it. “So, when we met for the first time, our parents wanted us to like each other. And then, he told me he’d visit Hue Castle and wanted me to act as a princess.”

  “In his play?” I was trying to understand.

  She sighed again. “Yes, you could say that. And like I told you, Hue Castle was closed for the public visit after you disappeared and Hue reign ended. So, because of Steve, I got a chance to go inside Hue Castle where no one had gone in so many centuries. I was desperate to see it and Steve was my only chance. I thought if I’d refuse to marry him, I might not get this chance again.”

  “Why did you want to visit it?”

  “Temptation, Edward,” she smiled. “Forbidden things are always enticing. There were rumours about the curse… about its darkness…”

  “It isn’t a rumour,” I stated. “It’s the truth.”

  “Yes, but in my time… no one knows if the curse is actually true or not, and no one has the privilege to visit Hue Castle. People in my time don’t believe in curses.” Really? Weren’t they cursed in her time? “Steve belongs to a very wealthy and noble family, so in order to make his play successful, he got the permission to visit it. And I was so greedy that I didn’t care if I had to spend my whole life with him without loving him, because that’s how I traded my desperation to visit this castle for my marriage.” I was just staring at her. The way she spoke, she had this flamboyant appeal in her voice that drew you in. I was hardly grasping what she was saying, but I knew for sure that whatever she was telling me was the truth. Maybe it was the difference of centuries between us that made it hard for me to understand her situation. Who would trade a marriage for a visit at a cursed castle?