We entered the hushed closeness of a dusty chapel; our steps sounded loudly through the imperative silence and I subconsciously held my breath. The towering ceiling was elaborately carved with earthy imagery; severe angels gazed unseeingly from a thousand gloomy alcoves surrounded by carefully sculpted flowers, leaves, birds and fruits. The grotesque faces of gargoyles glared down from dark heights and coloured light filtered dimly through dusty stained glass windows at either end of the huge space. On entering the great room hundreds of candles flared into life, sending soft, flickering shadows dancing along the walls, and sending us skittering for cover in surprise. The air was thick with magic, and we instinctively knew that our quarry was close, and I felt, rather than saw, the impatient movements of my reckless sibling.
At the far, shadowy end of the church, in place of the altar, surrounded by the crumbling tombs of forgotten royals lay a girl of exquisite beauty. Her face had a symmetry that seemed to mirror the still, carved faces of the angels. She was surrounded by candles, and her carefully arranged hair glimmered like gold leaf in the soft light. Her bed of crimson velvet overflowed with white roses; they covered her slim form and cascaded elegantly to the cool stone floor. Beneath this veil of rare flowers the princess's heavy satin skirts and sleeves also fell to the floor, gathering in smooth cream pools on which the blossoms floated. The effect was mesmerising, and even I found I was losing myself in the perfect lines of her face; for my brother there was no hope. Where we come from I am considered a rare beauty, with raven dark hair, pale skin and exotic green eyes, but she, well, she was beyond perfection.
The two of us, Gabriel and I, have been rescuing damsels in distress for a while now; it's almost getting dull. He's picky you see, has been since he was a boy, and we've been searching for a bride for him for over a year. There was the girl in the tower...Raspina was it? Her hair was too long, silly creature never cut it, but didn't think to use it to escape either. And then there was the poor girl who lived with dwarves, choked on an apple I think, far too delicate. We've travelled the world, him and I, slain a few dragons, fought a few ogres. I think he secretly just wants to find a girl he can take on adventures with him, somebody to replace me when I marry. The trouble is that it's not really considered proper, my adventures, and it does but people off, but Gabe and I have been inseparable since we were born, and where one goes, so does the other.
I snapped out of my reverie when I realise my brother was leaning over the prone figure. 'What are you doing?' I hissed,
'I have to kiss her Celine.'
Obviously.
It's always the kiss.
I hoped he hadn't seen me roll my eyes.
Gabriel leaned forward and placed his lips gently on the princess's lips and I glanced away, noticing, as my gaze swept the chapel, that the coloured light filtering through the windows was fading quickly. I sighed at the thought of spending a night in the dark, ruined castle, but before I could ponder at how fast the sun had set, a tiny gasp from the altar drew my eyes. The princess's lips parted in a smile, she opened wide black eyes, and gazed up at my brother's awestruck face.
A/N: Another really short one, I'm kind of dividing this one up into really short sections because it means I can post more often. Please let me know what you think of the story/style/grammar/whatever, and any guesses as to the plot, I'd love to hear any theories. Thanks.
Cestrum nocturnum : Common names include Night-blooming Cestrum, Lady of the Night, Queen of the Night, Night-blooming jessamine, and Night-blooming Jasmine.