Once Upon a Quest

by Joanna Mazurkiewicz

  “If you’re looking for an apology—”

  “That’s not why I called you in here,” the king cut me off. “I know about what happened between you and General Halton. While I do believe you owe him an apology, you are still the princess and I will leave that up to your discretion.” He patted the seat reserved for my mother, asking me to sit beside him. “Now, I understand this situation is not ideal, and whether you choose to believe it or not is entirely up to you. We’re all just as worried as you are, and I want my daughter back desperately.” A tear escaped my father’s eye and rolled down his cheek. I had only seen him cry one other time in my life. “I have a plan I believe may be more in your favor and able to keep you safe.”

  I raised a questioning brow. “Does it include killing Drakins and saving my sister?”

  He chuckled. “Yes, but with a bit more finesse.”

  “I’m not following.”

  “The King and Queen of the Western Kingdom invited Lucy to a ball; it’s tomorrow night. I’ve sent word that you will be attending in her place.”

  “What? A ball? Father! They’re vampires! Didn’t you just say you wanted to keep me away from danger? They drink blood for goodness sake.” Was lunacy part of his disease now?

  “Dhampirs, dear. There is a difference. They’re half human and they only drink blood when injured. It’s not a requirement. You should know these things.” He threw his hand to the side in dismissal.

  This did not make me feel any better. A ball? A dress? Just no! “Why, may I ask?”

  He rubbed his hands together like he was about to tell a good story. I couldn’t wait. “The dhampirs are allied with our kingdom and the dragons, although that part is a bit shaky. You attend the ball, and persuade the three princes to join our side, asking them to aid you in your quest to rescue your sister. You see, they’re your ticket across the Eastern Lands.” He smiled wildly, patting my leg. “You just need to put on a little charm, and they’ll come around to your way of thinking in no time at all, dear.”

  I frowned. “Daddy, you said, “charm.” You’re speaking to the wrong daughter, here. I do not wear dresses and most certainly do no not attend balls, begging strange men to join my cause using my feminine wiles.” He’d lost his damn mind. All rational thought had left his brain and something else had taken over.

  “Catherine, the dhampirs are our only shot at crossing the border right now. Please, just think about it.” He had a pleading look in his eyes and it nearly broke me in two. I would do anything for my sister, and if it meant I had to wear a damn dress and- gag—flirt—gag -to get my way, then so be it.

  “I’ll sleep on it and give you my answer at breakfast. I love you, Daddy.” I kissed him on the cheek and then stood to bid him goodnight.

  He grasped my hand. “I love you, too, my darling girl. Doing this will not make you any less brave, courageous or strong. Truly, just the opposite.”

  I nodded, attempting to hold back my tears and then turned to head toward my chambers.

  When I opened my door, Jane was sitting on my bed. “Um, hi?” I said, wondering why she was in my room.

  “I knocked but you weren’t in and I decided to wait. I wanted to apologize for earlier, my lady.” She hung her head, placing her hands in her lap. Wisps of her light brown hair fell into her face.

  I felt even more like a turdbag. “It’s all right, Jane. If anyone should apologise, it’s me. I was rude and out of line.” I sat next to her on the bed and side hugged her, sort of. I wasn’t really the touchy-feely type. It was more of a pat.

  She sniffled. “It’s just that with Princess Lucy being gone, everyone is up in arms. We don’t know what to do with ourselves.”

  “Me either. I promise you one thing: I’ll do whatever it takes to bring her home, all right?” I looked into her big brown eyes as tears rolled down her pale pink cheeks. She was quite pretty and so young.

  “Yes, madam. I’ll get going now. If you need anything at all, just ring me.”

  “Will do, Jane. Get some rest. Goodnight.”

  She bowed and then backed out of the door, closing it behind her.

  That confirmed it—sealed the deal. Thanks, Jane. I guessed I was going to a damned vampire ball. I had better not get bitten or become a vampire’s dinner, or I would certainly come back and haunt my father until the day he died, then pester him further into the afterlife. General Halton, too, just for shits and giggles.

  I flopped onto my bed and something poked me in the arse. Dammit. I was still wearing my fighting gear. Ugh. Time to strip it off. It was so much easier going on. This was going to be a pain. I decided I was too tired to whine. Just take the thing off, put on my comfy clothes and crawl into my bed.

  And that’s exactly what I did. I was asleep within minutes of my head touching the pillow.

  But not for long.

  “What the hell? I’m asleep.” A series of loud knocks interrupted my not-so-innocent dream. It was a good one, too. “Who is it?”

  “Princess! It’s urgent! The king needs to see you straight away.” It was one of his royal guards. My heart leapt in my throat. I thought for sure his illness had taken a turn for the worse due to the stress of Lucy’s kidnapping. I couldn’t lose him, too.

  “Coming!” Fighting back the huge lump in my throat, I pulled on a pair of black trousers and a white tunic, not bothering with shoes, and took off running toward my father’s chamber.

  I stopped just outside his chamber doors when I heard yelling, and, at the same time, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror across the main corridor. Holy hell! I looked like a troll! My curly red mop was sticking out at every imaginable angle possible and frizzed beyond belief. I had a large blood-encrusted gash in my hairline across the top of my forehead—and was that a knot forming? Dear God! No wonder everyone was frightened when they’d seen me earlier. I hadn’t even bothered to look at myself after I showered. I’d just thrown on some clothes and called it good.

  I mean, I was never one to really do much with my hair or wear makeup—unless Lucy forced me—if she could only see me now. That thought brought me back to why I was at my father’s door. My heart sank into my stomach with worry about him and my poor sister. Here I was fussing over my stupid hair. Maybe I was more like Lucy than I thought. God, I missed her.

  Without knocking and disregarding the shouting in his chamber, I walked right in, making my presence known. “Father, what’s going on? Are you all right?”

  “Yes, I’m fine, but you may want to sit down.” I looked around the room, seeing Halton and Fredrick, red-faced, staring at a letter on the king’s desk.

  I walked to the desk, snatching the letter, immediately noticing the green-and-black seal of the Drakin Clan, and my heart stopped in my chest. I couldn’t breathe.

  “It’s a ransom letter from the leader of the Drakin Clan,” Halton said with anger lacing his tone. “Julius is demanding we hand over two women as concubines in exchange for Lucy or she dies in a fortnight.”

  “What? He and his clan have no power over our kingdom. He has no right!” My blood was boiling, and I was ready to kill him with my bare hands. “He’d better not touch a hair on my sister’s head.”

  The king walked over to me and grasped my shoulder. “I’m afraid we don’t have much time, Catherine. I know you weren’t too keen on asking the dhampirs for help, but they’re our only hope. We will not sacrifice our people to those—”

  “It’s all right, father. I’ve made up my mind.” I set the letter back on his desk. “I’ll do as you ask. Anything to save my sister, but Julius is mine—ally to the dhampirs or not.” I glanced around the room, making eye contact with everyone, making sure there was no room for argument.

  “Understood,” my father said. “We have but twelve days to save Lucy. I have faith in you, Catherine.”

  “As do I,” the general agreed. It seemed all thoughts of our earlier disagreement had been forgotten. I was going on a dragon slaying expedition, only the drago
ns wouldn’t know what hit them. A fine plan indeed.

  Chapter 5

  I awoke to the sunlight scorching my eyelids. I’d forgotten to close the drapes when I finally went to bed at four in the morning. I rolled over, throwing my arm over my face. Today was the day of the ball, and the day I would have to meet the elusive dhampir brothers. I could barely contain my excitement. I kept having to remind myself that I was doing this for my sister and nothing more. They couldn’t be that bad, right?

  The sun was really getting on my nerves, so I jumped up and closed the curtains, ready for at least a few more hours sleep before I had to get up for the day. It was going to be a long one anyway, with having to go to the bloodsucker’s ball later in the evening. I still couldn’t believe I had agreed to this, but I could always kill them if they tried to bite me. It would certainly destroy our alliance, but self-preservation always won out, or I could suck it up and ask for their help. Decisions, decisions.

  All right, I was awake. I needed coffee. I was already having thoughts of murdering our allies before I even broached the topic of rescuing my sister. Bad form.

  A soft knock sounded at the door and I knew it was Jane. “Come in.”

  She walked through the door carrying a tray with toast, eggs and coffee. Did she just read my mind?

  “I thought you might be hungry, Princess.” She set the tray on my bedside table and then busied herself getting towels ready for my bath.

  “Thank you, Jane. You’re a life saver.” I grabbed my steaming mug of coffee and inhaled its magnificent scent, then took a generous sip. Ah, just the way I liked it: a lot of cream with a bit of sugar.

  After devouring everything on my plate and finishing off my coffee, I went to the bathroom to draw myself a bath.

  Six hours later, I couldn’t believe I was riding in my father’s carriage and on my way to the bloodsucker’s—I mean, the Western Kingdom’s annual ball. Earlier on, after I was finished with my bath, Jane had brought in a dress for me to wear. A dress, as in one, not many to choose from. Not that I ever cared but dear God, it was hideous!

  I stared at the offensive garment for a good long while, willing it to change colour or shape, then realised I wasn’t a witch, and this was never going to happen. I needed to suck it up and deal. Once I’d eaten a small meal, Jane helped me stuff myself into the monstrosity someone had decided to call a dress—oh, how I missed Lucy. She would have made me something beautiful and she was the reason I was wearing said monstrosity. Moving on.

  After some time, a few stylists were brought in to do my hair and makeup. At one point, one of the stylists—her name still escapes me—had the nerve to ask if I ever brushed my hair. Had she never dealt with naturally curly hair before? It was hard as hell to keep up with the maintenance alone and—if she pulled my hair one more time, she might meet the end of my sword. I seriously hadn’t had enough sleep for this shit. Okay, not the sword, maybe the window. If looks could have killed, though, that particular stylist would have dropped dead.

  Jane, along with several others continued harping on me, telling me they would have me turned into a proper lady in no time at all. By the time I was picked, pinned, pinched, primed and curled, I couldn’t even move, I was so uncomfortable and my whole body was itchy. The dress had so many layers, and it was cream. I mean, they couldn’t find any other colour for goodness sake? A redhead wearing head-to-toe cream? At that thought, I realised I was harnessing my inner Lucy.

  I kept pulling the sleeves and bodice, attempting to make myself at least a little more comfortable, but regardless of the position I was in, I just couldn’t relax.

  Whomever invented corsets needs to be tarred and feathered, I hereby decree.

  “Princess, you need to stop fidgeting. I want to make sure your dress fits perfectly.” Jane huffed at me. I hated this, and detested that I had to look like someone other than myself. I had never in my life worn a dress, well, maybe when I was little, and had no say in it, but still. This was Lucy’s area of expertise, making dresses and looking pretty. What was wrong with trousers, anyway? They covered my legs and I could fight in them. That was what mattered the most to me.

  I looked heavenward. “I’m doing this for Lucy. I’m doing this for Lucy.” I repeated it over and over like a mantra.

  Another of our staff, Kira, was smoothing something over my face; it felt so slimy and I thought I was going to be ill. She told me she was going to put my makeup on once she was done with my hair. They wouldn’t even allow me to see my own reflection in the mirror, which I thought was a bit absurd. They said I needed to be patient and wait for the finished product. Fine. Not that I even cared.

  Jane sighed and shook her head.

  “It’s a ball and you have to present yourself like a lady—now shoes. Put them on and take a few steps, my lady,” she ordered. “We need to see if you can walk in them.”

  I turned to look at her, wondering who the princess was in here. Jane had always been a little bossy and demanding. She was right, though. I couldn’t exactly wear my leather boots. Sigh.

  She set a pair of higher-than-high, high heels in front of me; they were designed with delicately inlaid gems that looked like shiny diamonds. When I slipped them on my feet, I instantly felt taller—I mean, I was, but they were so pretty. I titled forward slightly, swaying for a long moment, but managed to keep my balance. That was really close; I nearly did a faceplant.

  “I don’t think I can do this. I’m going to bust my arse in these things,” I muttered more to myself than to anyone else. Kira left the room and then brought in a long mirror, so I could finally get a good look at myself.

  Woah! There was some strange red-haired woman staring back at me. She was beautiful, but her expression was filled with uncertainty and a hint of sadness. What had Kira done to my hair? It was shiny and curly—how and, where was the frizz? And my face! It wasn’t dirty-looking, and my eyes looked huge. Boy, the wonders of makeup.

  The women were silent, and when I glanced at Jane I noticed she had tears in her eyes.

  “Oh, lady Catherine, you look stunning. I can’t believe it. Your father is going to be so proud,” she whimpered. I bit my bottom lip, thinking she was being a bit overdramatic.

  I looked nice, but oh, so damn itchy. I had no idea how I was going to survive the next several hours at that ball. I love my sister. I love my sister.

  The carriage bumped, and I was brought back to the present. Jane had wished me good luck, and my father kept staring at me with a mixture of amazement and pride. I may have even seen a tear escape his eye. That was just… strange. He told me how he should have insisted on me wearing dresses years ago. Like that would have done any good. I contained my eye roll and kissed him on the cheek instead.

  I leaned out of the window, looking ahead not seeing anything except trees and more trees.

  “How much further?” I shouted at Tom, who was driving the carriage.

  “We’re nearly there, my lady,” he shouted back.

  Deep down I was scared, petrified that the three dhampirs wouldn’t even hear what I had to say. If I didn’t humiliate myself at the ball it would be a small miracle. Either way, I had to do whatever it took to save Lucy; she was my top priority. On top of that, my father told me I needed to use my charm, which meant I was supposed to flirt with them. This was just great. I did not flirt. I would try talking, using my witty intellect or negotiating skills. I’d made up my mind. No flirting. The dress was a must, the flirting? Not so much.

  Okay, men to me were just men. I had never really been romantically involved with anyone. After I turned twenty-two, I had a brief encounter with a warrior from the Northern Kingdom who was visiting General Halton. He was a good-looking man, and he charmed the pants off me—literally. We slept together a few times, but then he had to go back to his own kingdom. It was a fleeting affair and nothing more.

  I was sad for a few days, but it wasn’t like I was in love with him or anything. At least my first time was done and dusted
. Love just wasn’t in the cards for me. I didn’t believe in it; besides, right now I had more important things to worry about.

  An hour and a half later, after struggling to remain still in the carriage, and a very bumpy journey, I’d finally arrived. When I looked out the window, my jaw dropped. Right in front of me, there was a huge three-story castle built from white stone, stretched across an expansive manicured lawn. There was a long red carpet rolled down the front steps; people and not vampires, were walking in and out. It was just after eight p.m., so I was expecting to see a lot of vampires. As far as I knew, they could go outside after the sun went down.

  Wait, did I just see stone gargoyles perched near the front entrance? Nope. Not creepy at all.

  My stomach made a funny jolt when Tom opened the carriage door and smiled. Father wanted to send an entire entourage with me, but I’d told him absolutely not. The dhampirs needed to see that I wasn’t afraid of travelling alone.

  I had to take Tom’s hand to get out of the carriage because of the damn heels.

  “Good luck, my lady,” Tom whispered in my ear and I nodded to him. I lifted my dress a little and started walking. It was a damn struggle up the stairs, but at least I didn’t fall on my arse. I said a silent prayer of thanks.

  People were staring at me. I was late, but other carriages were arriving, too and, more guests were coming in behind me. My heart was pounding loudly in my chest, because men seemed to notice me or maybe they were laughing at me. Jane must have done something wrong or Kira had used too much make up. Did I look like a clown? I was going to kill Jane!