A/N:
Hello everyone! Sorry it's been awhile since an update. I've just moved into a new apartment, and started summer classes, so it's been a bit hectic in my world. But I am so glad to be back writing this wonderful story that I enjoy so much. I hope ya'll liked that last chapter, and are ready for this update. It's something that I really think you will like! And so, happy reading.
Cheers.
EJ
Chapter 6
With a swirl of lashing flames, Caliban and I were transported from my room in Greendale to the throne room of Hell. Once the flames around us diminished, we stepped apart. Looking around, I noticed the band of individuals that had been awaiting our arrival. The three Plague Kings stood in a huddle next to the Infernal Throne, where Lucifer himself was casually seated. Lilith, dressed in her usual bone encrusted finery, stood beside him on his left.
"It's about time you arrived, daughter." Lucifer sighed, adjusted his posture on the throne. I bowed my head, acknowledging him, and Lucifer waived his hand to release me from the formality.
"Caliban said that you wished to speak to us." I stated, and my father nodded. He motioned for Lilith to hand him something, and she placed a scroll into his hand.
"I hold here in my hand the invitation to your wedding. Fresh from the palace's scribe." Lucifer unrolled the fine parchment scroll, and held it up for my inspection. Through the fine lines of calligraphy, I noticed my name and Caliban's, but it was the date listed that threw me.
"Next Saturday?" I asked, a bit taken aback by the abruptness of the selected date. I knew that the wedding was going to happen...just not so soon.
"Sooner rather than later seems more than appropriate, doesn't it, my dear Sabrina?" My father asked, I just numbly nodded. There was no use arguing. This had been Caliban and I's idea, and now we were facing the outcome.
"That sounds excellent, my lord." Caliban commented, and I tried my very hardest not to glare at him.
"This does mean that the Unholy Regalia must be completed within the coming week, or the alignment between Caliban and Sabrina will be void." Asmodeus spoke, which was the first that the Plague Kings had spoken since we had arrived.
"We will complete the Unholy Regalia, together." Caliban confirmed, looking to me for agreement.
"We will complete it today, in fact." I suddenly spoke, not knowing where the decision had come from. Caliban looked at me in surprise, but went along with my antic anyway.
"Yes, the Unholy Regalia will be completed today." Caliban concurred, and whispers filled the air as Lucifer turned to Lilith, and the Plague Kings conversed within themselves. It gave Caliban enough time to speak to me privately, our backs turned to our advisors.
"Are you sure you want to do this today, Princess?" Caliban asked me, a look of care filling his emerald eyes. I nodded, wanting to get this wretched Unholy Regalia over with already. Caliban nodded, and took my hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze before turning us back to face the other inhabitants of the throne room.
"We shall begin our journey to retrieve the 30 silver pieces of silver of Judas Iscariot, and bring them back together." Caliban announced, causing a ripple of applause from Lucifer, the Plague Kings, and Lilith. Though, Lilith had one objection before we began our voyage into the pits of Hell itself.
"That outfit is not going to offer you any protection from the muck of the Underworld. Come with me." Lilith motioned me to follow her. Looking at Caliban, he nodded for me to follow my father's mistress.
Weaving through the halls of the castle, we reached Lilith's chambers. She quickly got to work dressing me for my quest. Less than fifteen minutes later, I had shed my dress in favor of something more practical.
"Now you're ready."
Lilith's objection to a change of clothes had been a lifesaver, to say the least. After nearly getting the skin melted off my arm by a drop of infernal fire, I was glad for the leather padded jacket she had strapped me into. Paired with a pair of loose fitting trousers and tactical style boots, I was able to move much more freely than I would've if I had still been wearing my outfit from earlier. Caliban had taken the opportunity to change too. No longer was his chest bare, as he had added a rough linen shirt, and a pair of leather boots similar to my own covered his bare feet.
The journey to retrieve Judas Iscariot's silver pieces had been treacherous, yet uneventful. Caliban had mostly led the way, being more protective of my well being than I initially thought he was capable of. When it came to actually retrieving the pieces of silver from the cave in which they were hidden, Caliban had insisted that I stay behind as precaution. I didn't listen, of course, but the sentiment was nice.
With the pieces of silver properly retrieved, and carefully tucked away in Caliban's leather satchel, we were on the trek back through the depths of Hell. I had pestered Caliban about just transporting ourselves back to the throne room with his powers, but he had insisted on taking the time back together. Something about bonding. So here we were, traipsing through a grassy field filled with the moaning of lost souls. Quite the soundtrack to a peaceful walk, if you didn't mind the occasional wail of pain.
"I can't believe that the wedding is so soon." I mused, speaking for the first time in almost twenty minutes. I heard Caliban's signature chuckle behind me, and I stopped to face him at the action.
"It's not really funny, you know." I snapped.
"I'm sorry, Princess." Caliban apologized, giving me a show stopping smile that could make any teenage girl melt to the floor. He really was handsome, unfortunately for me. It made it that much harder to hate him. That, and his unexpected kindness.
"You're not nervous about this?" I asked, continuing on down the path back to the castle. I could see the spires of the ancient structure peeking out from behind the sky's haze.
"I have many emotions about this alignment, but nervousness is not one." Caliban responded, becoming in step with me as I walked. Looking at him, I studied his face, trying to see his emotions that really filled his mind about the whole situation. Yet, I could read nothing.
"What do you feel then, if you don't mind me asking?" I questioned the Prince of Hell. He gave me a guilty smile, but answered the question willingly anyway.
"I feel many things. But what I feel the most is excitement; we are going to change the world, Sabrina. Together." Caliban stopped walking, and took my hands in his.
"I know that you are not only doing this for the people that you love, but for the Earth in its entirety. You are a selfless, inspiring young witch Sabrina, and I am honored to be marrying you. So did some research on your world, and I decided that I should do this properly." Caliban spoke, and that's when he did something unexpected. He dropped to one knee, my hands still entwined in his own.
"Sabrina Diana Morningstar, will you marry me?" Caliban asked me, and releasing one of my hands, withdrew a ring from a pocket in the leather satchel that was slung across his body.
Looking down at the ring, I was mesmerized by its stunning beauty. A black diamond, oval in cut, was set dead center. Twining tendrils of platinum circled around the generously sized gemstone, flanking it with two circular black diamonds on each size, both smaller in size than the centerpiece. The ring was dainty, yet regal. In short, it was breathtaking.
"Oh my Satan." I breathed, and Caliban smiled.
"I had it made in the forges of Hell, from the gems of the pit from which I was created." He described the process of the ring's conception. I was still breathless over the ring's beauty.
"It's beautiful." I agreed.
"It will be even more beautiful when you are wearing it." Caliban smiled, and I nodded as he slid the stunning ring onto my left ring finger. It was well weighted, but not heavy, and fit me perfectly.
"Thank you." I spoke as Caliban rose from his kneeling position. He kissed my hand before releasing it, and bowed his head in response to my appreciation.
"We should be going." Caliban tilted his head in the direction of the castle. I began to move my feet in the same direction as him, still a bit taken aback by the splendor and elegance of his thoughtfulness.
Maybe Caliban was not who I thought he was. Maybe he was someone better, or so I hoped.
A/N:
Alright everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I was completely inspired writing about Sabrina's engagement ring, and really wanted to showcase Caliban's development as a character. I think researching wedding customs would totally be something that Caliban would do to please Sabrina...anyway, I hope you liked this, and get ready for more! Don't forget to let me know your thoughts, as I love hearing from my readers. You guys mean the world to me. See you soon!
Cheers.
EJ