Nefarious Adventure
By Evil Orange Crayon
Disclaimer: I own none of the characters present in this story, whether they are owned by Disney or other folks.
Warning: This story is rated M for mature, meaning there is mature content ahead. Really if you got this far and skipped all the sexy scenes I have to applaud you. There's none in this chapter.
So, in the event you were unable to guess just who Victor Nefarius is, I'll educated you. Victor Nefarius is none other than Nefarian, or Blackwing, a raid boss that appeared in Blackwing Lair and Blackwing Descent in the popular mmo World of Warcraft. If you are a player of the game, don't worry. I am not at all making an Enchancia/Azeroth cross over. I'm just borrowing Searing Gore and Burning Steppes and the black dragon-flight. I promise. If you are unfamiliar with the character and my description of him wasn't very good I highly suggestion you just type Victor Nefarius into google images search and see what I meant when I said, "hm... he is smexy." You might also see other familiar names, some are characters borrowed for the moment others are because well... I just needed a name.
So, in the event there is confusion as to who a certain someone is. Or what I should say. I am throwing you a bone.
After Victor's short visit and nearly disastrous exit, she had managed to find his forgotten shirt. It had been in the tangle of sheets on her bed. She had even found it easily. It left her wondering if he had left it there on purpose. She wasn't entirely sure what her father would do if he knew of their experiments. She was sure he wouldn't break the engagement, not with so much work already done. Asking was out of the question, or at least not asking her father. Amber, on the other hand, might know.
Currently, they were at the tailor with her friends Ruby and Jade. Jade was currently on a pedestal being measured. She only had on a light slip, having refused to strip all the way down. She understood, there was something uncomfortable about it. As if being put on display. They worked around it.
"Pst," her sister called to her. "Sofia," she waved her over with her fan as the girl took her friend's measurements. "Come look at this."
Curious, she went to her sister's side to see what she wanted. Then she saw it. Her wedding dress was on a sewing dummy and it looked gorgeous. The sketch that had been made of it before didn't seem to do it any justice. The tailor had done as she promised and made the bodice more modest, as far as she could tell on the dummy. Lace had been added in as a means to cover the low scooping neckline. Lace flowers were at the hips and the boning of the sewn in corset was well hidden by piping.
It left her speechless. She heard her sister chuckle, "Oh, Madam Collette, she loves it."
The tailor came to stand by her side, "It is not entirely finished, there are some things that I want to add to it. But you see how the basic structure of it and how it will look over all. If you love it now, when you see it done it will bring tears to your eyes!" She chuckled to herself, "The train is finished, of course, but I will wait until the day of the event to attach it. After we have gotten it to the castle. That way we won't have to worry about anything unfortunate happening. This is a masterpiece!"
"Oh it definitely is," Amber agreed. "I know you will out do yourself when my wedding rolls around."
"But, of course," the tailor smiled. "Would you like to see your gown, Princess Amber. I have yours completed and I will have your friends' gowns done within the weeks we have left."
She directed them into a work room, it contained multiple bolts of different colored fabric and there was several dummies standing around with incomplete gowns hanging on them. The tailor waved at one that looked as if it belonged on a queen more so than in a wedding.
The bodice of Amber's dress was made up of ruffles and pearls that went up and over the shoulders, though it really didn't provide sleeves. Bows were at the hips and ruffles flowed down from them. It was a light shade of lavender and she could see the details that clearly pointed out that Amber had been the one that designed the dress. "It's lovely," she supplied.
"Ruby's and Jade's will look similar. I suppose not all the gold will be in their gowns," her sister offered. "We need to make them just a little different."
"They will look lovely in them," she nodded.
As if they heard their names, her two friends ventured into the room. "Is that what our gowns are going to look like?" Jade asked, her eyes wide. She was still struggling into her dress and she didn't seem to be able to tie the ribbon in the back. She went to her and tied it neatly, offering her friend a smile.
"It's gorgeous," Ruby agreed, her eyes also as big as saucers.
"Our gowns will all be a little different, with a little touch to distinguish each of us. You see the gold in mine? I think we could fit in a little red and green for yours," her sister came to stand between her two friends. "We will be absolutely beautiful in these gowns. Any available men there will be smitten as soon as they see us."
"Aren't you engaged?" Jade reminded.
"I can still break hearts," Amber winked at her. "Are you two available to return to the castle with us? We could have lunch. And perhaps tea. I'm sure Daddy wouldn't mind you two staying for dinner either."
"Are you going to ask us to stay the night, too?" Ruby asked with a snicker.
"I don't see why not," her sister replied haughtily. "It has been a long time since we've had a party like that. You're never too old for fun with your girlfriends."
"I could come to the castle for as long as dinner," Jade offered with a sigh. "I managed to get today freed up. But I'm sure my dad would skin me up if I didn't show up home tonight."
"Yea," Ruby looked a little upset, too, "I've got to open up the shop in the morning."
"Well, princesses," the tailor interrupted their conversation. "I have both of their measurements. If you wish to continue to stay and contemplate the dresses feel free to. I have a lot of work that I must get to."
"Let's get back to the castle," Amber said. "We are in need of some much needed girl time," with that she turned to exit the tailor's workroom. "I assure you that this time we will not be interrupted and we will be able to properly enjoy each other's company."
They followed Amber out of the shop and to the carriage. The coachman opened the door for them, offering them a nod and tip of his hat. "What was the reason that you were summoned back to the castle for last time?" Ruby asked curiously. "Usually it's for something serious if your dad sends out a messenger all the way out here to get you."
"Her fiancé had come to town for a visit," Amber offered as she sat down. "It was a short visit. But, he wanted to spend time with her. I am almost jealous of how romantic it sounds."
She boarded the carriage and sat across from her sister, her back to the driver's seat. "I wouldn't call it romantic. I sat in dad's study and listened to them argue and complain over plans and what was needed to have a proper rest stop on a supply route."
Ruby sat next to her and Jade sat next to Amber. She had the attention of both girls. "Really? And we didn't get the chance to meet him then?" Jade's voice had a snide lit to it.
"He was only here for a day, he spent the night and got up the next morning and left," she shrugged. "I promise the next time he's in Enchancia you will know about it and you will get the opportunity to meet him."
"It was him that sent for you then?" Ruby asked and she nodded.
"There has to be more to it," her sister complained with a pout. "He gave you a gift, a book. Though I really wouldn't call that a gift. And then I heard that he was late leaving, that he woke up late. Daddy said it was because he indulged too much in the liquor he has been adding to Daddy's collection. But, I bet it was something else."
She frowned at her sister, gave the driver behind her a pointed look then shot her sister a glare. "What is she talking about?" Jade looked between the two, seeming to miss what she was trying to imply without words.
"We'll have lunch in the garden," Amber said with a smile. "And we can discuss the details then."
They rolled to a halt just outside the main door of the castle and disembarked. When they came across the castle steward her sister informed him that they were going to be taking lunch in the garden's gazebo and that's where they would be. They ventured out into the garden and her sister finally gave her a sharp elbow to her side as they came to the gazebo, "Well, Sofia. We are away from any prying ears. Do tell us what caused your fiancé to sleep in when he was due to leave."
She flushed and she could feel her friends' eyes on her as she sat down on the bench of the gazebo. "He had fallen asleep in my room," she answered honestly.
Ruby gasped and Jade looked suspicious, as if she hadn't figured out just what he was doing, "Why would he be in your room?"
She swallowed hard, "Trying to seduce me."
"He slept in your room though," her sister prodded at her. "I don't about you two, but if he stayed there I would assume you should replace try with succeeded."
"We didn't have sex," she glowered at Amber.
"Oh? Then why did he sleep late?" Her sister met her glower with a look of her own. She was testing her, though she wasn't sure about what. "What was he in there for if it wasn't for... well... sex?"
She looked away from her sister, seeing the stricken looks of her friends. They were watching the exchange with flushed faces and baited breath. She looked away from them, "He was tired and he fell asleep. When I woke up he was still there."
"Tired?" Her sister asked, "What were you doing that made him tired?"
"Why are you pushing this? Can't you guess?" She shot back at her.
"Come now, no need to be coy," she had her fan in front of her face, hiding her expression now. "You tell us that he was trying to seduce you. That means he could have been doing anything to you." Her eyes narrowed, "Give us the dirty details."
"Why?" She looked to Ruby and Jade, neither of them seemed willing to stop her sister's interrogation. They both seemed equally flustered and mortified.
"I want to know," she said simply.
She sighed, finding the desire to use one of the words she had heard Victor using when he realized he had slept in. "We kissed and touched each other, intimately," her face felt hot and she couldn't believe that she was telling them these things. "He tried to seduce me, he got me to the point where I couldn't think straight and asked if he could have me."
"Ladies," the steward came out into view. Smiling pleasantly at them. He had a rolling cart that their lunch was on, "I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long." He came to a halt just outside the gazebo and started to set the little table in front of them with an array of things for them to eat for their lunch. There was a plate full of sandwiches of different varieties, "There is some cucumber sandwiches for you here, too, Princess Sofia." And then he also set a plate of cookies on the table. He gave them each a plate and a tea cup, pausing to fill each of their respective cups. He set a tea service on the table for them and bowed to them. "Is there anything else I can get for you, ladies?"
"I believe that will be all. Thank you, Baileywick," Amber answered politely.
The steward gave them a curious look, as if he just noticed the tension. He didn't question it, though the concern was evident on his aged features. "If you need anything all you need to do is call. I won't be far."
"Thank you, Baileywick," she echoed. Carefully plucking up the cucumber sandwiches that were especially made for her. She didn't feel like she had much an appetite now, after the force that her sister hit her with. As soon as it was once again, just the four of them, she cleared her throat. "Why do you want to know the 'dirty details?'"
"Well," she ate her respective sandwich slowly as she seemed to consider her answer. "Call it curiosity if you will. I've found out about my brother's extra curricular activities with Zandar, I had the unfortunate pleasure of witnessing it. And I heard about yours. I just wanted to know the details." She looked down at her tea, her cheeks flushed to show that she knew what she was asking for, "Call it an educational conversation."
"It doesn't sound like this is really an educational conversation," Ruby came up to her defense. "It sounds like you're purposely trying to force something out of her. Do you not believe her?"
"Oh, I believe her," she sipped her tea. "She's a terrible liar, though I'm sure you know that."
"It sounds like you might be jealous," Jade insinuated, "Though I don't know why you would be. She looks uncomfortable. I get the feeling that anything he's done to her hasn't really been her idea."
"I don't expect you two to understand," her sister said harshly. "You don't have the same obligations or restrictions. Are you both still virgins?"
"Amber, don't be insulting," she hissed at her.
"Yes," Ruby answered, her brows drawn down. "And I can tell you that I know Sofia is as well."
"Yes, not that it's really your concern," Jade retorted. "Why are you picking this fight? Would you rather have the man she's promised to?"
Amber scoffed, "I doubt he would want me. At dinner that night he did nothing but moon over her between conversations with Daddy."
"So you are jealous?" Jade asked.
"So what if I am?" She snapped back at her. She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, "I'm sorry I made you feel uncomfortable, Sofia. I... I don't know."
She looked down at her lap, looking sighed, "I forgive you. I need you to understand that, while Victor is attractive and he may do things to me that... that I can't really explain or understand. I've not asked for the attention or affections he's given me." She suddenly didn't have the desire to eat anymore, remembering the taste of his blood in her mouth, "Remember the bite mark you saw?"
"Bite mark?" Both her friends echoed, looking concerned.
"I remember," her sister said uneasily. That was the reason she declined their change in fiancés when the dilemma between Zandar and James arose. While Amber may love her and would likely do anything for her, she was still arrogant and self centered. It would be rare that the other girl would sacrifice herself for another. The occasion against Princess Ivy notwithstanding.
"He told me it was him staking his claim on me," she said shakily, she didn't want to admit that she had done the same to him. "He left a mark on me saying that I was his."
"Primitive," she said, her brows drawn together. "But you told me this already."
She looked down at her hands, "He told me that was his kingdom's version of marriage."
"That's barbaric. But, that was just him claiming you!" She started to argue, real concern showing on her face. "Please don't tell me that he is from a kingdom where women are property."
She looked up at her, because she wasn't sure. "He wanted me to bite him in return, like I was claiming him. Staking my claim on him," she looked away from them as the realization hit her. She had done it, she had sunk her teeth into his shoulder and he had reacted as if he enjoyed the feeling. She bit her lip, she had accepted him in a manner that was based on his traditions. "He said he would respect the conditions that dad had set. That he would wait until after our wedding was done. But, as far as he was concerned I was his and he was mine."
"You bit him?" Jade asked, sounding amazed.
She winced and nodded, not able to look at her friends. Her cheeks felt hot and she was embarrassed about admitting it to someone else. "Did he force the issue?" Her sister asked, she seemed to think he would make her do a lot against her will. "Did he make you do it? If he's making you do things you don't want to do now, you need to tell Daddy."
"I'm worried what dad will say or do," she started to argue. "It implies a lot, he was in my room. We've been intimate, even if he's done things that I'd rather him not do. What will dad think? What will he do?"
"'I don't know," her sister looked just as worried as she felt. He had decreed that they be chaste, that they save themselves for their wedding nights.
"So you're stuck?" Jade asked and she looked up at her, looking the other girl in the eye. "You are stuck with him because of the deal with your dad? And then you made it worse?"
"Jade," Ruby chided. "There's more to it than that, I'm sure."
"He's persuasive," she offered. "He usually doesn't give me the chance to tell him no, I asked him to stop once and he got... he got cross with me. He didn't force it, he was just frustrated when I asked him to stop."
"There's something about this that makes me think of the wolf in sheep's clothing," Jade said, scratching her head as she thought. "Like he's more than what he appears to be, ya know?"
"That's the feeling I get," she agreed. "But, I haven't had anyone that would agree with me or they don't see what I do."
"The way he dotted on you the last time he was here doesn't seem anything less than genuine," Amber argued. "The way he looked at you at dinner was like you were the only person in the room. If he's something other than what he appears, why would he look like a man in love like that?"
"How long have you been engaged?" Ruby asked curiously.
"Four months?" She paused to think, before nodding. That was about right.
"I guess it could be possible that a person can fall for another in a short amount of time, but," Ruby looked doubtful. "You haven't spent the last four months together, have you?"
She shook her head, "The majority of the time we've exchanged letters. But I would hardly call them romantic. If anything I would equate them to something I would send to you or Jade." She flushed, "I think the majority of his fascination is sexual."
"So he doesn't love you, but he lusts after you," Amber said evenly. "It could be worse. He could prefer men." Her two friends gave her sister a confused look and she waved it away, "It's not important. The main concern you should have is that once he beds you that he doesn't forget about you."
"I don't see how that would be a bad thing," she sighed.
"I can only imagine how boring it would be," her sister leaned back into her seat.
"I don't suppose there's anything you can do to get out of an engagement that your parents set, is there?" Jade asked.
"I think it would take something really serious for me to be able to get out of it," she confided. "I've tried every angle I can think of. I can't find anything on his kingdom other than a history lesson."
"Sometimes you can learn from history," Ruby offered.
"It would have to be something major for Daddy to agree that marrying Victor wasn't for the best. Maybe if he was abusive or something," Amber cupped her chin in her hand as she considered it, "Maybe if he was unfaithful. But, that one would be hard to prove. Whatever reason you have to take to Daddy you would have to have evidence to support it. Especially considering how hard you fought the engagement in the beginning."
She started to wave her hands, "I think the topic is beyond moot at this point. How long do I have until the wedding?"
"Four weeks," Amber supplied.
"There's no use in trying to find a way out of it anymore," she felt defeated as she admitted it. "If I haven't found any way out of it before now. I'm not going to. The best thing I can do is hope that I'm wrong and he's really a good man," She sighed.
Jade glowered at her, "I've never known you to give up on something."
"I've never really been stuck like this," she frowned at her friend.
"We'll be here for you, no matter what happens," Ruby smiled weakly at her. "Just don't forget about us."
"I could never forget about you," she said solemnly, returning the smile.
"Ladies," the castle steward had come out to fetch the remnants of their lunch and looked mildly disturbed by the faces of the four girls around the table. "Is everything alright?"
"Just some heavy conversation, Baileywick," Amber answered coolly. "Nothing to worry about."
"Alright," he sounded as if he didn't believe her. "Is there anything I could bring you? Perhaps some more tea?"
"We're fine, Baileywick," she smiled at him, trying to make it brightly lit and feeling it fail.
His brows drew together as he studied her expression and sighed, "Well, if you need anything you feel free to call on me. We have a few hours before dinner. Will you two girls be joining us?"
"Yes sir," Ruby affirmed.
"That's great to hear, I'll be sure to have the additional settings on the table for you," he finished reloading the cart that he had brought out with him and paused giving her shoulder a squeeze. "I'm sure you ladies can think of lighter topics to converse on. The atmosphere around this table is worrisome."
"You don't need to worry, Baileywick, we were just going to change the subject to something more entertaining," Amber waved her fan and turned her attention to the other two girls. "I remember the last time we were in the village someone made mention of the butcher's boy?"
The afternoon dissolved into evening and they had to venture into the castle when it became too dark to stay in the garden. They cleaned up and went on to the dinner table. Her mother seemed happy that her friends had decided to stay for dinner and had even gone as far to offer to contact their families if they wanted to stay the evening. Unfortunately, they both declined. As they got older both Ruby and Jade had responsibilities to their families. Jade spent the majority of the evening shooting glares at her father.
He didn't seem to notice.
After dinner she walked her two friends to the front of the castle where a carriage waited to take them back to their respective homes. "Are you upset?" She ventured carefully, eyeing Jade.
"I'm worried," she admitted, wrapping her arms around her. "I think of all the things that you've done for me while we were growing up, even after you became a princess, and I can't help but think you don't deserve this."
"I was so sure you would end up with your sorcerer," Ruby quipped as she wrapped her arms around her and Jade, too. It felt good, being hugged by her two friends. "The way you started to just moon over him even when you weren't here. I thought you would get a happily ever after. Cause, well... you know the princess thing."
"I think we're all assuming the worse," she winced because she knew she was a horrible liar and if anyone would know she was fibbing it would be these two. "He agreed that I could have monthly visits in Enchancia. I bet I'm just assuming all these bad things because I don't know him well enough."
"Right," Jade extended the I a little more than necessary.
"I'm sure there's a bright side to it," Ruby smiled as she released her. "We're just not looking hard enough at it. We'll see you again soon." With that she went to board the carriage. "Cmon Jade I gotta get up early!"
She let go of Jade so the other girl could follow her friend, "I'll reserve my judgements for when I meet this guy."
She couldn't help but laugh, waving as her friends were taken away in the carriage. "You guys have a good night!" She waved broadly and saw it mirrored from her friends. No matter how the situation ended seeing them made her feel better. She stood out on the front steps well after the carriage rode out of sight.
The air chilled and started to bite into her arms. She hugged herself and turned, mournful now that her friends were gone. She went back to the castle, going to retire to her room. She changed into her nightgown and was ready to climb into bed when she saw the thick tome sitting on her bedside table.
The book he had given her had proven a good distraction. She found herself learning more about dragons each time she had picked it up. She had been hesitating to pick it because of the embarrassing nature she was about to come across. But, now, without anything else to do and not quite ready to fall asleep, she decided to broach the subject of sex and reproduction.
She picked up the book and opened it to the marked section, setting aside the quill she had been using as a bookmark. Her discomfort was misplaced. The chapter was clinical and not at all embarrassing as she anticipated. It discusses the pretenses that they mated often without a season, dragons were not monogamous but often would choose favorites that were referred to as consorts. The pair would choose their consort and mark them with a distinguishing bite or a scratch.
She found herself staring at the phrase on the parchment for a long moment. The other words began to blur and all that stood out was the word 'bite.'
"You are mine," it flitted through her mind and she sat up as she stared at the book. He had claimed her with a bite and seemed to be very adamant about the fact that she was aware that she belonged to him. Did this mean she was his consort now? This seemed significant on some measure that he would claim her in the same manner a dragon would claim another. He had said it was a tradition.
She plucked up her bookmark and set it into the book, closing it and standing. She needed someone to toss her thoughts against and there was only one person that would listen to her reasoning. She gave the clock a fleeting glance before she went to the door and it gave her pause.
It was nearly midnight.
There was a good chance that he would be up still. But the last time she had paid him a late night visit he had scolded her. It would be inappropriate for her to go to him now. Especially considering she was currently dressed for bed.
Feeling defeated, she set the book down and blew out the candle that lit up her room. She would be better off trying to sleep. She would have to see the castle's sorcerer in the morning. Maybe then she could figure out the thoughts that plagued her.
It wasn't possible that he was a dragon, was it?
She woke up the next morning after a near sleepless night. The idea that she had come across the night before wouldn't cease plaguing her. She couldn't figure out if it had any merit to it. It didn't seem feasible. He looked like a man, there was on the brief occasion when he growled or the one occasion that he purred that he seemed anything, but what he was.
Frustrated and unsure, she dressed for the day. She decided against joining her family for breakfast and picked up the book. She had to talk about this idea with someone. She had to get it off her chest. She left her room and headed to the sorcerer's tower. It was early, but it would be within what he called his 'working hours.' She knocked on his door then stepped back, holding the book close as she waited for him to answer.
The door opened and he peered out at her with a grimace, "Of course it's you. Come in. I'm sure you have something fantastic to bother me with too early in the morning." He opened the door wider for her and gestured for her to come in, "This should be good."
She tried not to glower at him, upset that he didn't seem to take anything she had dealing with Victor seriously. She went over to his work table and dropped the book on it. She tried not to be frustrated with him as she threw the book open to the marked page and then turned to glare at him.
"Have you found something?" He asked as he came over, after closing the door. He peered at the page she had opened to, quickly devouring the information on the page. "Where did you get this book?"
"He gave it to me," she offered.
He shot her a look, "Okay, then tell me why I am reading the mating habits of dragons."
"They mark their consort with a bite or a scratch," she pointed out to him. "He bit me."
She could see his eyebrow twitch as he tried to understand what she was getting at. She was sure the subject of the conversation wasn't one he would like to speak on, "I'm aware of this. But I am not connecting the dots, princess. Enlighten me as to what you are getting at."
"He told me when he did it and then again after that it he had staked his claim upon me, that he was marking me as his," she was trying not to get impatient, but found herself failing. "He told me that it was a tradition among his people. And it's something dragons do."
"Are you suggesting that the man is a dragon?" He looked hard at her, "Are you so desperate that you are truly grasping at straws now?"
"That's what I'm suggesting," her brows drew together.
"Do you realize how ludicrous it sounds?" She felt her chin wobble uncontrollably. He didn't understand. "Have you taken this to your father?" She shook her head, looking away from him, "Then you understand how mad it sounds?"
"It's not madness," she snapped at him, shooting a glare at him. "Look at the book," she waved a hand to it. "He wrote it. How would he get all that information? Why would he do what he did to me?" He humored her, listening with a raised eyebrow and folding his arms over his chest. "It's possible!"
He waved a hand, trying to pacify her, "You know a dragon, do you not?" She nodded, knowing he was referring to Crackle. "Have you ever known her to change into a human or anything close?" She shook her head again, feeling foolish now. It must have reflected on her expression because he carefully touched her shoulder, "Are you so desperate that you dreaming up possibilities that aren't possible?"
"I don't know," she said helplessly. It had seemed probable last night.
His hand trailed down to the gem around her neck, wrapping his fingers around it. "There is a means to get out of this, if you refuse to run away from it. If your father refuses to allow you out of it," his thumb stroked over the purple gem. She felt him pull it taunt, if he tugged on it harder she was sure the chain would snap, "Give me this and I will take the crown. I will end your engagement to the beast of a man." His voice lowered and while she didn't need to strain to hear him, she did take a step closer, "You could be my queen."
"His dragons..."
"I would have all the power of the Amulet of Avalor, if you give it to me," he assured her. "His dragons, no matter the number wouldn't stand a chance against me."
"What about my family?" Rational thought finally hit her, "If you took the crown what about mom and dad?"
"I would keep them safe," his voice raised just a bit. "I would do nothing that would bring you harm or distress."
Her brows drew together as she looked at him, she saw someone just as desperate as she was. Though she wasn't sure if it were for the same reason, "I want you, but-"
"You could have me," he interrupted her. "There would be no pretenses or obligations to worry about. You could have me and all of me. I would give everything to you," emotion seemed to make his voice crack just a little. "There would be no repercussions you would have to worry about or contend with. Give me the Amulet and I could save you from this."
"But, there would be," she wanted nothing but to throw her arms around him. "This isn't the way."
He looked as if he was ready to jerk the necklace from around her neck, if he did she wasn't sure if she would try to stop him. But, after an exaggerated sigh, he released it. "Damn your sense of morals."
"I'm sorry," she cupped her hands around her necklace. "But, it's not the way out of this."
"And the madness about your fiancé," he spit out the word as if it was a foul thing for him to say, "being a dragon is?" He made a noise and moved to sit at his work table, "If you went to your father with that he would assume you were hysterical and may very well commit you to your room until you came to your senses."
"It would be less damaging than giving you the Amulet," she said gently. She closed her book and started towards the door, she had regretted that she came to him now.
"Wait," his voice was hard and she stilled not, yet, ready to turn back to him. "I have something for you." She heard him rise and peered over her shoulder to see him approach the portrait of his parents. He gave it a solid knock, "Mother. Come now, I know you're there. I saw you peak out at us a moment ago."
His mother was suddenly out of the portrait, she looked remorseful. "Sorry, deary, you bid for me to come when I heard the Princess. I didn't mean to intrude on your personal moment."
"It's fine," he said, looking distraught at the sight of her mother. She gave his cheek a pat and a smile, "We have some work to do." He turned away from her and went to his potions cabinet, pulling two books from it. "I have something of a wedding present for you." The contempt he poured into the word wedding gave it a lot of weight.
She had four weeks before it was upon her, she grimaced as she watched him set the two books on his table. One appeared to have a plain brown cover with no distinguishing marks on it. The other was a deep violet color that had a gold inlay on it, there was swirls decorating it that sparkled and when she got a closer look she saw that her name was transcribed in the center of it. It looked beautiful.
She stepped forward, nearly dropping the book in her arms, "You got me something?"
"I started working on it once you accepted the man," he said sourly. "Well, I had mother's assistance. It's not quite finished. There's a final spell that we need to cast upon them."
"That's what I am here to do," his mother smiled at her.
"He can't cast it?" She looked curious, setting her book on her stool.
"He cannot because he is a part of it," she said as she pulled her wand from her sleeve. "Are you two ready to do it?"
"I am," he said testily, pulling a dagger from his draw. He held it up between them, as if he were offering it to her.
"I don't understand what we are doing," she eyed the dagger apprehensively. "What is this for?"
"We are going to cast a binding spell, a spell that will bind you to your journal and to my journal. But, it will also bind me to your journal and my own," he explained simply. "For us to be able to do this we will need a drop of blood from the both of us."
"You could also bind her to you," his mother offered in a seemingly helpful tone.
"That's not helping, mother," he complained. "I have no desire to be privy to any moments she might have with her husband." He sighed heavily and looked at her, "What this will do is it will connect us to the two journals so that anything you write in yours will appear in mine. And visa versa."
"It will give me a means to stay in contact with you?"
"Yes," he answered. "I find the idea of being completely without you quite a bit bothersome. Especially since you have made this grand effort to force yourself in my life." It was likely to be as close to him telling her that he was going to miss her as she was going to get. "Shall we continue or do you object to the idea?"
She offered her hand to him, "Don't be too dramatic, darling. He only needs a drop. He can just prick your finger." His mother said having her wand at the ready. He took her hand and carefully pressed the blade into her index finger. There was a sharp pain and she took a quick breath. She watched as he did the same thing to himself, not bothering with wiping the blade clean.
She watched the blood well up into a little bubble at her fingertip, captivated by it. "With this drop of blood I bind you to this parchment," he grabbed her hand and twisted it so the blood dripped from the wound onto the page of her opened journal. He then did the same, dripping his own onto it. "None shall within it, but thine eye." He shifted their hands so that blood dripped onto the page of his journal. He released her hand and allowed her to watch as the blood stood out on the stark white pages. It started to blend, or steep away as it would if the drops had hit water. It was mesmerizing, watching as the blood seeped away until it was nothing but blank parchment once again.
"I connect these tomes, with the drops of blood and make it so they are one," his mother finished, waving her wand only to then point it at the two books on the work table. The pages shuffled and glowed for a moment then settled back down as if they were ordinary.
She looked at them with interest, moving closer to inspected them. They looked like normal books, the pages blank. "Did it work?" She asked curiously.
"Of course it did," his mother said confidently. "It's not the first time I've cast that spell, I'll have you know." Her voice lowered, "It works especially well when you bind two people together."
"Not helping, mother," he gritted out as he picked up a quill and ink pot. He dipped the quill into the ink and then went to write in his own journal. 'Quite obviously, the spell is going to work. I'm insulted by the fact that you would doubt my or my mother's abilities. Where's your gratitude?' He wrote what was a clear scolding in his journal and, like magic, the text appeared in her journal as if he had written it there. "Satisfied?" He asked, glowering at her.
"Yes!" She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, "Thank you!" She inhaled his scent and breathed out a sigh, "I won't be alone, you have no idea how much this gift means to me."
Hastily, he pushed her away, "All it does is connect us for conversations. If you are in trouble I will be hard pressed to find you without some sort of direction. I cannot use the book as a conduit to teleport to you."
"But, you could use it as a means to track her," his mother offered. "So, in the event she is kidnapped and has it with her, you could use it to find her. Just of example, of course. No one would be foolish enough to kidnap the princess." She laughed lightly, as if it weren't a thought that had crossed her mind.
"That's enough of that," he glowered at his mother and started ushering her towards the family painting. "That was all I needed, thank you for assisting mother."
"Wait," she stepped around him to envelop his mother in a tight hug. "Thank you, Missus Winifred. You've helped me so much over the last few months."
She clucked and patted her back, "Oh anything for you, Princess." She gave her a sad smile when she pulled back, "I will see you at the wedding, Goody and I will both be there." She started to go back into the painting, "If you need me you know where I'll be!" With that she disappeared, leaving them alone.
"This is what you have been working on?"
"Yes," he said gruffly. "Mother and I were working on the journals to be sure that they would make an adequate way to communicate as well as provide privacy from prying eyes. I don't trust that anyone that comes across it won't try to read your inner thoughts or any sort of conversation that you and I may have." He paused for a moment, before narrowing his eyes to glare at her, "Conversations that will be appropriate and not at all inappropriate in any fashion."
She smiled at him, "Of course not." Before he could protest or ward her off, she managed to wrap her arms around him again. She clung to him, foiling any attempt he might make at prying her off. Only he didn't, if anything he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pressed his cheek against the crown of her head. After shifting her tiara aside, of course.
And then, all too soon, he let her go and was able to work his way out of her embrace. "I have Royal sorcerer duties to attend to. So, unless you intend to assist me as an apprentice I suggest you run along. You've been in my hair quite enough today," he said with his usual snark.
"I can go change and help," she offered, unable to resist the sudden flutter of excitement that rushed through her. "If you'd like?"
"Hurry up then," he turned to pick up the journal he had helped create for her and offered it to her. "I expect you to take great care of this. It wasn't at all easy to make."
"I will," she took it, cradling it to her chest. "I definitely will. I'll be back," she picked her the book she had lugged up there and went to the door of his tower, turning to give him a fleeting grin before she went out it. She ran to her room, forgetting her princessly manners in her excitement to do real magic work. She threw her doors open and had just enough time to slide them closed again before she nearly tore her gown off for the simple dress she wore while doing her apprentice work. The book and journal was put on the bed to be forgotten.
Magic, even if it was just potion making, would be a distraction she needed. She was dressed, wand in hand, and out her bedroom door in a flash. She ran back to his tower, it probably took her all of thirty minutes to get changed and back. A feat considering the difficulties of the gowns that she wore.
She panted at his door, getting in a knock before she doubled over to try to catch her breath. It was a shame that his tower was so far from her room. Once he opened the door he immediately put her to work, they fell into their old routine. It was comforting. They made short work of his potions backlog, restocked his cabinet with the essentials, and he even gave her pointers on some defensive spells that he had advised her to practice. He would watch her form, correct it, then have her pretend cast. He helped her on her pronunciation. He even allowed her to cast the spells against him.
One disarmed him of his wand, he told her that it would be effective against any ruffians that may try to attack her with a sword or other weapon. Another forced an attacker away, blowing him back into his work table and blasting his hair upward. It had caused her to go into a fit of laughter, she couldn't contain. His expression deadpan, he returned the favor and proceeded to make a mess of her. It didn't break her of the giggles.
It would have been perfect if it wasn't interrupted due to the castle steward calling her to dinner. She had missed lunch due to their impromptu magic less. She gave him a last look, smiling as she did. "Thank you," she breathed. "For everything."
"It's always my pleasure, Princess," he answered in return.
Dinner with her family was less stressful or strained. Her siblings had appeared a little less at odds at with each other, though James hadn't lost the melancholy look he had to him. He still didn't drive conversation like he used to and he looked down. It made her heart twist. He had been adamant about the fact that the 'experimenting' with Zandar had been just that. But, she was starting to wonder.
As they were each going their separate ways, retiring for the evening, she found herself following him to his room. When he got to the door she spoke up, "Do you want to talk?"
He jumped as if startled then turned to look at her, "Huh?"
"I can't help but notice how down you look," she folded her hands behind her back. Trying her best to look as if she wouldn't harm a fly. "Do you want to talk about it?"
He smiled at her slightly and opened his bedroom door, "Sure. Come in."
He went in and she followed, casting a cautious look out into the empty hallway. She closed the door behind her and watched as he went to his bed and sat down heavily on it, working lose the buttons of his coat free. "What do you want to talk about?" He asked, as if his overall demeanor hadn't changed in the past few months.
"How are you handling things?"
He waved a hand towards himself, forced a smile that looked dismal, "I'm handling things great, can't ya tell?"
She stood in the outer part of his room, feeling unsure about going in further. "Have you talked to Zandar lately?"
"No," he winced, looking away from her as he shrugged out of his coat and tossed it at the end of his bed. "We hung out when he was at the castle last. But Amber hovered, like she expected us to do something out in the open or something stupid like that. We didn't get the chance to talk about everything that happened." He flopped backwards onto his bed, "I think he's decided to write off what we were doing. He's committing himself fully to Amber."
"That was the idea, wasn't it?"
"Yea," he winced. "I guess it was."
"What's the matter then?" She approached the bed carefully, as if she were approaching a caged animal, "Why do you seem so sad?"
"She's take away my best friend," he gave her an exaggerated look, looking irritated. "We hardly even get the chance to hang out. She bogarts all his time!" He stood, standing in the light linen shirt and his trousers and started to pace, "When me and him try to talk she is there listening in on all of it. There's no privacy for us to discuss anything serious. It's infuriating. And I can't ask her to leave. I know I've earned her distrust, I do. But, C'MON!" He brushed his hands over his face then went on to drag his hands through his hair, "What do I do?"
"Have you tried opening up to Maya?" As far as she knew he hadn't made any effort to connect with the Khaldoun Princess. She rarely saw the other girl and she couldn't think of any time he mentioned her. "Maybe try connecting with her emotionally?"
He gave her a look, as if she hadn't just offered him viable advice and suggested that the sky was purple and not at all blue. "You're kidding right? Maya is not a big fan of me and has made that pretty clear. I guess since the tri kingdoms picnic all those years ago she decided she wasn't my biggest fan. When we were engaged she made it perfectly clear that it wasn't something she wanted." He started to look sad again, "It looks like none of us are really benefitting from the plans dad's made for us."
"I can offer you an ear and a shoulder if you need it," she closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly. "You know I'm always here for you, right?"
He leaned against her, and she had to struggle because it was like he suddenly became dead weight. His head rested on hers and she had the sudden urge to hit him, "Yea… You're here for me until dark and creepy marries you and takes you away." From his tone, and the fact that he was making her struggle to hold him up, she knew he was joking. "I keep thinking that I ought to get revenge on Amber and start screwing all her friends."
She pulled away and gave him a shove so he didn't stumble onto her, "That sounds like a terrible idea. And not at all like you. Besides, what will you do if… If you have an accident?"
"I'd be willing to bed that dark and creepy isn't innocent. Am I wrong?" She swallowed then shook her head, "I bet he's probably got a few bastards running around. Besides, I can't say it wouldn't serve dad right to have something embarrassing to deal with, don't you?"
"James," she sighed, giving him a hard look. Even if he gave her something to think about. "You are better than that. That sounds like Hugo and you know what a big jerk he is. You don't want to be like him, do you?" She kept a hand on his shoulder, trying and hoping to evoke his better way of thinking. "If you make an effort with Maya, I bet she'll meet you halfway at least. You're going to be married."
He deflated, as if he realized the truth behind her words. "Why can't everyone be understanding like you?" He stuck out his bottom lip and proceeded to pout at her, "Can't I be like Hugo?"
"You're too good for that," she smiled at him. "Try Maya. She has to give you the chance I know she does." She gave his shoulder a pat, "I'm going to go to bed. Perk up, really I promise things could be worse than they are. Amber will let up. I promise."
"You promise a lot, but what if you can't keep your promises," he frowned at her, watching her go to his door.
"Be optimistic. If you expect the worse than the worst will happen," she leaned her back against his door, wanting more than anything for him to understand and stop looking so down trodden. "There's always a bright side, right?"
"Do you believe that? What with your upcoming wedding?" He folded his arms over his chest.
She hesitated then looked away, "I've got to, don't I? There's a bright side to everything. The world is only as dark as you let it be."
"So, you are saying that you're not afraid of dark and creepy?"
"James, his name is Victor and you know that."
"Don't avoid the question."
She winced, "He said he wouldn't hurt me. I can only hope he'll keep his word."
"Right," he extended the I longer than necessary and she glowered at him. Growing up with Jade has apparently rubbed off on him. Or maybe it was the other way around.
"I'm going to bed," she repeated, glaring. "If I can accept Victor, you can make an effort with Maya."
"Fine," he sounded sour and turned back to his bed. "Good night," he didn't wait for her to leave he started undressing.
She flushed and turned, opening the door. "Good night," with that she slid out the door and hurried to her own room. She shouldn't be noticing such things about her brother. Her face felt hot. She couldn't fathom why she was noticing the attractiveness or appeal of others.
She opened her own door and she was in her room. She pressed her back against the door and tried to get a reign the sudden flood of emotions and hormones. The view of the books neatly stack on her bed caught her attention. Someone had been in her room. She approached the bed and noticed the folded parchment on top of them. There wasn't a doubt in her mind who the letter was from or who had placed it there, likely the castle steward. She hadn't been making the effort to keep in contact with him.
It had been a few days since she last sent him a letter. The letter was probably concerning that. She picked it up and set it on her bedside table, not at all ready to read it. Then the book he had given her followed, while her sorcerer had provided a good distraction for her for the day there was still the uneasy thought. Could he be a wolf in sheep's clothing?
She tried to banish the thought, because it sounded ridiculous. Even in her rational thoughts. She knew dragons, she's met them before. They never appeared to look like a person to lure princesses away from their kingdoms. Nerves had her envisioning things that weren't there.
She went about the last bits of her evening routine, changing into her nightgown and brushing out the day from her hair. She picked up the gifted, magic journal and pulled back the blankets. She sat down and opened up the journal and re read the chiding he had given her. Below it in smudged lettering, as if he wrote it then changed his mind and tried to wipe it away. But, even with the smudges it was easy to read in his compact neat hand.
'I love you.'
She stared at the words, her heart fluttering in her chest. She had known, on some level, that he cared for her. But to see it, in his handwriting left her feeling heady. She laid back against her pillow and held her journal to her chest. She fell asleep that way, clinging to his words that she wished she had heard him say.