Almost done writing the next chapter. About more than halfway!
Thank you Azeran and Intergalacticsupertwink for the hard beta work you guys have done! This would be a disaster otherwise!
Thank you for comments, kudos, and messages! You all make my day!
I was dropped off at the gathering point near the gate of the castle grounds. There were so many people, I could barely see the thing. I kept my hood up and thanked the gods that it was so dark. Even with all the lanterns and torches, I was certain no one would recognise me. Not that anyone really cared to look in my direction anyway. All eyes were facing forward, watching the gate. What were they going to do? I wondered. Barrel through with a battering ram? Would destroying the doors be enough? Or would they use gunpowder and blow it to smithereens as I thought at first? As it turned out, we didn't have to wait long to find out.
The guards on top of the gate came down. I couldn't see over the heads of so many people, but I knew they were ready to proceed. It took maybe twenty more minutes, and I was beside myself with anticipation. I had no idea how long Gerard would be out. I had no idea when he would come find me, and for certain, he would find me. And then who knows if I would ever get the answers I searched for.
At first, there was a sound, like a burst, and then a pulse rippled out from the direction of the gate. Some people screamed, some people gasped, some people ran away.
I took advantage of the disarray and the commotion. I pressed forward, bumping into the sea of people before me. Even with that distraction, some of the crowd tried to keep me back, berating me to wait my turn. Again I had to grit my teeth, stay put and wait. I could not draw attention. I knew that Gerard had lied to me about the plot he was involved in for tonight. Someone was bound to go and get him if he didn't show up for whatever they had planned. And I feared the worst. The King's life was certainly in danger. Although I didn't know for sure, my gut told me it was so. I've seen people afraid. I've seen people attack just because someone or something is different from them and their beliefs.
If the King really was a chimaera, which I suppose there was no doubt about it now, I feared the ball would turn into a massacre. An angry mob in a confined space, and then what would happen? Did the King prepare? Did he even care anymore? If he really was prone to grief and sadness, this night could be his last. Would he willingly give himself up to be killed? Stoned? Hanged? I hoped not.
Another pulse rippled out more screams and gasps. Then I saw it. There were cloaked figures, three of them. Each one had a rod in their hands, at least six feet in length. Once the ripple stopped, they raised their rods, and slammed them back down to the ground, chanting something I could understand. Another pulsation, but that one was much more significant.
There was a strange sensation on my body. I felt like every hair on me was standing on its end, like standing outside in a lightning storm.
"Everybody stand back," said one soldier. "The walls are going to come down. We are removing the protective magic on it first. But then there will be several explosions along the gate walls stretching a mile in each direction. It will be loud. Prepare yourselves and stand as far away as possible!"
Some people became frantic and started to run, and then others fed off of their panic as well. Soon I was being bumped and shoved, and if I had fallen, I would've been trampled to death for sure.
I tried to stay in place, but I was forced to retreat. That is when I caught sight of one of those men I thought I had recognised before. The grave men that kept hanging about with Gerard. I averted my gaze before he could catch me. I kept walking away from him but then there was another, a second man from the trio. I thought he was looking right at me, but when I moved out of the way, he'd been staring at the third associate. It appeared like they wanted to get through as quickly as possible. They were inching their way through the crowd trying to get closer to the gate.
Briefly, I thought about brandishing my pistol, but what was I going to do? Shoot a man in cold blood without him having committed a crime? Yet.
There was a wagon next to the wall of a bakery. As discreetly as possible, I got underneath and stayed there. It was hard for me to see, but the darkness was necessary for me to keep hidden. Those robed people started their task again, lifting the rods and slamming them down over and over and over until a bright purple glow expanded from the stones. The violet light retracted just as quickly into a large puff of nothing. The magical protection seal had been broken.
The guards did not wait. As soon as the magic was gone, explosion after explosion rang out through the night. The wagon shook as the ground trembled.
The rubble and dust quickly found their way into my lungs. I couldn't help the coughing fit that came over me. But there was so much commotion, so much chaos that nobody heard me.
The explosions stopped, but the tremors continued. A mob was stampeding towards the fallen barriers.
I rolled out of my hiding spot and saw them coming, like a tidal wave headed straight for me. I turned around and ran like my life depended on it. I am sure it did. Horses bounded beside me, racing past me, jumping over the rubble. It was madness! If this is what they were like, just trying to get to the castle, I could not imagine what lay in store for the King seeing his deformity.
"Belle!" a familiar voice shouted. I turned around, looking wildly. "Over here!"
"Papa!" He was on a carriage. A strange-looking wagon of the likes I'd never seen before. There were no horses attached to it. Instead, it had legs like a spider. All steel and wood.
I cut across. Trying to get to my father and that strange contraption. Someone knocked me to the ground, and I felt someone trample my leg. Suddenly I was lifted off the floor and found myself sitting next to my father. Next thing I knew everything was a blur.
"Are you alright?!" My father asked.
"What is this thing?"
"I haven't the slightest idea! Isn't it great? I've named it Philippe! Hold tight Belle! Time to batten down the hatches!" My father cackled loudly like a lunatic, and we charged forward.
So much had happened in such little time that my frantic nerves had not settled. I looked behind us, and we were quite far into the grounds already. The thing we were on had climbed over the rubble easily and never faltered once. It was going at least as fast as a horse could go.
"What's going to happen tonight," I asked, "it seems you know more than you've let on!"
My father gave me a sideways, apologetic look. "Nobody actually knows! The King is very enigmatic, as we all already know. He's been leaking information little by little. Gathering staff over the past month to ready these celebrations. They say there are over a hundred women ready to apply for the courtship."
I couldn't believe it. People hadn't even seen the King yet. They had no idea what they were doing! And what was the King thinking? How deep did his feelings run for me if he was already planning to court somebody else? Not that I had any intention to take back my position mind you. It was the principle of the thing!
The castle came into view as the forest thinned. I was awestruck. Overwhelmed with a sense that I had seen it before.
Banners were hanging from windows, the King's crest flapping in the breeze. All the flowers were in bloom, and the aroma was so thick it almost felt like one could swim in it. My father took a hard left, steering the mechanical creature away from the castle's entrance.
"What are you doing?"
"We're going in another way. Something is happening, Belle. I've seen Gerard and Gaston and that idiot Baker gathering young men and taking them to the pubs and brothels."
"I know."
"We can't let them see you," my father added as he pulled up to a different door on the east wing of the castle.
We dismounted and my father turned off the machine. We got down and he gave it a few pats as if it were a horse. "Atta a boy Phillipe! Gods, I hope Searlus lets me take this for a ride every once in a while!"
"It's the King's?" I cried flabbergasted.
"One of his enchanted inventions! I haven't had this much fun in ages, Belle! I feel young again!" Then my father doubled over and had a coughing fit.
"Papa!" I lit his pipe for him quickly. Thank goodness it was only a short spell.
"I'm fine. I'm fine," he waved at me dismissively. "Now, let's go save your beast!"
My beast… I didn't argue. I followed him to the servant's entrance of the castle. He knocked, and the door flew open almost immediately.
Anne greeted us with a large smile. She launched herself at me and kissed me on both cheeks. "Deary, your husband is an arsehole."
I scoffed with disbelief, mostly at her foul language. It always catches me off guard. "He wasn't like this before. Something's changed him."
"Bah!" Father rolled his eyes. "He was always like that, you were just too in love to see it! And then he died , and you put him up on an even taller pedestal. I've told you before, Belle, he's a dog! A handsome dog, but a dog nonetheless."
"That's enough Maurice, she's been through so much, and there are trials yet to come. Come on, sweetie. Time to find the King and put an end to this charade before he gets himself killed."
She took my hand and tried to lead me inside, but my feet would not budge.
"Belle?" Father called. "Don't tell me you've come all this way to turn into squash now?"
My heart was picking up speed, and not from all of the excitement. "Papa, what if something bad did happen? What if–"
"Only one way to find out, sailor!" My father yelled, using his Captain's voice. "Belle, listen," he grabbed me by the shoulders and looked into my eyes. "He's been good to us. Anne has cared for him since he was a babe, and watched him grow up. You were besotted! Yearning and aching with love for that juggernaut! It made me sick! Do you think I had a grand time knowing that you kissed him, and who knows what else?" He shuddered.
My eyes widened at the implications. "What about the bite?" I asked quietly.
Both my father and Anne look at each other with a hint of worry.
"Girl," said Anne with conviction, "we don't know what happened between you two, but after getting to know you, and knowing how Searlus feels for you," she turned to my father, "cover your ears, love."
"Oh, no." He did as was told and even started humming.
Anne rolled her eyes and then took my hands in hers. "I'm willing to bet that's a love bite you got there. You were pretty voracious and quite single-mindedly gung ho to climb that tower, if you catch my meaning."
It was mortifying to hear those words coming out of her mouth, but it did sound like me. "Juggernaut, tower… am I assuming correctly that his majesty is quite large?"
"My girl," Anne said while dipping her chin and raising her eyebrows pointedly, "huge. Got the bits to match too."
"Shit!" My father cried. "I thought you were finished!"
I laughed earnestly for the first time in what seemed like years. Anne chuckled and tugged on my hands. "Ready?"
"As I'll ever be, I suppose." We walked through the threshold with my father in tow.
"Wait, how do you know about the king's bits?!" Papa whispered accusingly.
We walked through the kitchen, the servants paid us no mind. I'd never seen a kitchen so big and full of people and food! So much food! Delicacies at that! There were even ice sculptures! In summer!
Anne led us through a series of narrow halls until we came into some kind of parlour. Waiting inside, was the envoy that had delivered the suit I was wearing.
"Good evening, Lord Kari," she greeted me and bowed.
"I never got your name, sir," I replied with my own salutation.
She smiled at me and stuck out her hand. "You can call me Lumiere."
I took her hand and shook it. "A pleasure, Lumiere. How else should I address you? I feel like you, and I am cut from the same cloth."
"I was told we are, yes," she grinned, "I prefer male titles if it's all the same. Yourself?"
"Either." We smiled knowingly at each other before Lumiere motioned for us to sit. "Will, the, eh, king be joining us here?" I asked nervously.
"I'm afraid not," he said as he closed the doors and locked them. "No one knows where he is. Presumably, he's in the West wing, but those doors are locked. Anyway, orders are to stay away from that area."
Papa lit his pipe again and puffed nervously. "What if we take Belle there? Certainly, he'd see her."
Lumiere frowned and shook his head. "I cannot disobey my orders, my lord. But I can tell you what I know. I told his majesty that you declined the invitation–"
"Oh, dear," Anne bemoaned. "How'd he take the news?"
Lumiere shrugged. "I couldn't see his face properly, but he seemed to take it well enough. In fact, he was pretty sure you'd come regardless."
Papa barked out a laugh. "The scallywag! He's got you pegged, Belle."
"If he knew I would come, then why won't he see me?" I just could not comprehend it. "Why is he doing all of this?"
Lumiere shook his head sadly. "No one really knows, but people seem to think it's got something to do with you."
"Obviously!" My father let out with a groan. "Well, he won't let us in, and he won't come out, so, what do we do? Climb the walls?!"
"You won't have to," Lumiere pulled out a piece of paper and unfolded it. "The King will make an appearance. A public one. I have the itinerary here."
He gave me the schedule. "But it says here he won't come out until after the third dance! That could be hours away! Lumiere, people are coming to harm him, I'm sure of it. You must tell him not to leave his quarters."
"I have no way of doing that. And, as for the culprits, he knows."
"Gods be merciful!" Anne breathed and placed a hand to her chest. "I knew it. It's suicide!" She burst into tears and my father went to her quickly to comfort her.
"Lumiere," I pleaded, "tell me he has his soldiers at the ready. Tell me he has prepared for an attack."
He sighed and shook his head slowly. "There are guards but not nearly enough to control a mob, should there be one. And I'm afraid, when I brought up the possible assassins, the King's words were 'let them come.'"
Anne gave another cry and began sobbing in earnest.
I felt something cold and ugly in the pit of my stomach. I did not know this man, beast, King, whatever, but my whole being trembled with fear for him.
"There's nothing for it then," I muttered, "we'll have to wait. Then maybe Lumiere can get me an audience with him before things get ugly."
Lumiere was able to get someone to put me back together after the harrowing journey to reach the castle. I was a right mess! I had them put excess powder on me and directed them on how to make me up. One of the servants tutted about me looking like a man, to which I responded, "that is the point." Not even Gerard would recognise me should he arrive.
There was no possible way that everyone would fit in the ballroom. I thought it would be limited to lords and ladies, or at least those who wore formalwear, but apparently it was first come first serve. The entire evening only got stranger. No one was announced. Anyone had access to the whole castle except the West wing. When the palace became overrun with people, the guests who arrived later were restricted to the gardens. The King was surrounded by strangers who could all turn on him. It was madness.
I didn't eat or drink. I wandered about, waiting, looking around for clues to my memories. The library and dining room gave me pause. I thought about searching for my room, but there were so many! I would have never guessed which one it was anyway. Nothing came to me. Just a sense that I'd been there before.
I was in the ballroom when I abruptly felt a twinge in my head. I flinched, and Lumiere said something, but I could not concentrate on what he was saying. The air itself seemed to have thickened. I looked around to see if anyone else was affected, but everyone was just going about their business. I closed my eyes against the sting, and that's when I saw a red glow. In my mind's eye, the red aura had just exited the West wing.
"He's coming, "I gasped as I grabbed onto Lumiere for stability. He looked at the clock and nodded.
The final dance before the King's arrival was almost complete. At the rate he was walking, he'd be in the room just at the end of it. I had trouble breathing. The anticipation was too much.
"Lord Kari," Lumiere pulled me aside, "I must announce the King. Stay here until I signal you to come forth."
I nodded my head, but I panicked all the same when he left me, fearing I may have misunderstood the instructions, and wondering what the blasted signal was supposed to be.
The music stopped. People laughed and clapped. Then the band started up again and played as soon as the doors opened. The King's personal guard appeared first. They marched inside, and a trumpet called everyone's attention. When Lumiere appeared at the entryway, the whole room quieted.
"Ladies, gentlemen, and everyone in between," he called out loudly, "you are all honoured guests at the King's castle. And now, you will have the honour to meet your King for the very first time! Announcing the arrival of His Majesty, King Searlus!"
There was no warning. No code of conduct. No announcement whatsoever to prepare the crowd for what they were about to see.
King Searlus entered the ballroom.
I'd been holding my breath already, so I did not gasp or make a sound. Surprisingly, neither did most people.
Save for some gasps and murmuring, the room beheld the seven-foot-tall beast-king with awe. It seemed they were all waiting for someone to take the lead on how to react. When I started to notice some panicked yelps, I heard my father yell over the crowd.
"LONG LIVE KING SEARLUS!"
Anne followed right behind him, and then so did most of the sheep gathered there. Some stayed, some left as quickly as their dignity allowed. But most stayed. They stayed and stared at the King as he walked toward his table reserved in the back of the room. The sea of people parted for him. Many bowed and curtsied, others were too stunned to move, but no one took their eyes off him.
From where I stood, I couldn't make out much, but I saw his large golden crown, shaped like a ring of antlers that wove around two stumps on his head, where I guessed his horns should have been. His expression was blank, his posture was straight, and his steps were surefooted. There was no sign he was distressed or insulted in the least.
A nervous-looking servant moved forward to pull out his large chair for him. He sat, gazed around the room, and made a motion with his paw-like hand. "Proceed," he said with a low baritone that needed no loud-hailer.
It took a few minutes, but the orchestra finally began to play again. I paid no mind to anyone else. My eyes were fixed on the panther-like man, sitting so poised, and unbothered. How could he be so calm, I thought to myself, when I was fit to faint from anxiety!
Lumiere approached him. The King nodded him forward. Lumiere bent and spoke close to his ear that peeked out of his glorious black mane. Briefly, the King scanned the room with his eyes. I thought I was going to retch. I swore my heart stopped dead in my chest when his eyes finally locked on mine. He closed his eyes in what seemed like prayer and then turned to Lumiere. I could not read their lips, but some decision was made. I expected for Lumiere to wave me over, but he merely looked my way and gave a slight shake of his head.
I was utterly bewildered. He did not wish to see me. He never looked at me again. I felt a pain in my middle that I could not understand. His rejection should not have hurt so bad, I didn't know him, but it did. I thought about leaving, but I held on to my purpose. Warn the King. I had to find a way to speak with him.
"Fuck it," I muttered as my feet took action and stalked in his direction. I was stopped by a guard.
"My lord," the man said, "all will have a chance to meet His Majesty after this dance.
I glared at the King while he leisurely took a sip from his goblet, but he paid me no mind. I looked at the guard and seethed. "Does it look like anyone is dancing?" I hissed. The guard didn't even make to look around. He stared at me, blankly. I turned on my heel and marched to the wine kegs. I allowed myself half a glass to fortify my nerves. I planned to run straight through. Undoubtedly, the King would not let his soldiers slay me in the middle of his debut!
It turned out that I didn't have to resort to such theatrics. The trumpet sounded after the dance was over and Lumiere took to the centre of the room.
"Before we continue with the celebrations, I call on all who applied for the courtship ceremony."
"Unbelievable," I whispered with an eye roll. A ruling monarch's life was in danger, and they were going to parade a bunch of ninnies before him now?!
But the ninnies did not come forward. No one did.
Lumiere cleared his throat. "It appears there are no applicants, sire."
"How shocking," the King deadpanned.
Some people had the nerve to chuckle but quickly smothered it with coughs.
"You may line up whoever wishes to approach me," the King instructed.
That is when Lumiere looked directly at me and gave me a curt nod. I nearly ran there, and still, others beat me to the front of the line. I was practically dancing with frustration. It was utter nonsense! I heard some pleasantries exchanged. No one got too close. By the time it was my turn, my temper was almost beyond my control.
"May I present, Lord Kari, your Majesty."
I didn't wait for the King's permission. I strode up to the table, gave a quick bow. I had every intention of giving him a tongue lashing! But as soon as I reached the table, and found myself so close to the fantastical creature wearing an enormous crown, with an even more gargantuan sword at his side–I lost my voice completely.
His green, human eyes, bore into my blue ones. We just stayed there, staring at one another. He didn't twitch or blink. His face was as it had been all evening–blank.
I opened my mouth, and an embarrassing squeak came out of me. I heard a few sniggers, which made things worse on my nerves. I closed my eyes and took a breath. When I opened my eyes again, my mouth followed. I thought I was going to say something along the lines of, "Greetings, sire. I have something urgent I must speak with you about, preferably in private."
That is not what I said.
Instead, what came forth was, "Blast this shite, you daft brute. Can we talk without all these landlubbers listening to my every word?"
It was as if someone had stopped time. The music died off dissonantly, and no one breathed.
I'm dead, I thought to myself as the King blinked once, slowly.
And then, he laughed.
