Jonathan

I crept down the crumbling stone steps. This part of the castle was old. Nobody had been down here except those left to rot. My father had not been a nice man. That was fine, because neither was i. I lowered my candle to see into the darkness. The door i wanted was just down this corridor. I hoped my guest would be excited to see me.

I slipped the key from my pocket and inserted it into the lock. I opened the door and peered inside. Jace was still lying in the corner. His back was to the wall. He looked at me warily. I smiled and shut the door.

"How are we today?" i asked pleasently. "Im doing very well myself. My bride and i shared a wonderful time together." Jace's eyes turned angry. Good.

"What...did you do?" he croaked.

"Only what was required of me. I assure you she enjoyed it just as much as i did."

Jace tried to move toward me but failed. His body slumped to the ground. With barely any food or water to sustain him, he was now weak. He couldnt crawl out of the door even if i left it wide open. His hair was a scraggly mess and he was a sight for sore eyes. His face had healed somewhat from the last thrashing i had giving him. I would have to remedy that.

I crossed the room and knelt next to him. His hand feebly tried to grab my face. I pushed it away. His hand as strong as a childs. I liked this state that he was in. I liked the fact that he was now broken. What would Clarissa say now? Would she still look at him the same way?

His eyes were dazed and angry. I reached into my robe and pulled out a parcel. Inside was his food for the day. It was the same as it was last time. I dropped it to the floor. He didnt go for it in the same way he did before. His hands moved slowly as if it were too much energy. He was slowly dying right in front of me. I loved every minute of it.

He chewed as best as he could until the bread was all gone. I next slipped out a waterskin and gave it to him. A little of his energy had now returned. He still couldnt move or try and escape, but he wouldnt die just yet. I let him eat in peace.

When he was done. His eyes still proved hostile. How nice of him to treat me as such, when i kindly offered him food. But that was the way off the common people. They would take whatever they could and not be thankful for a penny of it. I hated the low born. What use were they except to toil our fields?

I raised my arm and cracked it once down the side of his face. He hadnt expected it and his head rolled with the impact. I wanted him dazed. I slipped the rope out from a hidden pocket and quickly tied his hands behind his back. He was no immobile. His eyes were glaring with defiance, but perhaps not much longer. I made sure he was securely bound while i took out my blade.

It was a beautiful dagger. Its point sharply made, its handle made of glass. My father had given it to me for my fifteenth name day. It was the same dagger that i had murdered him with. This daggers legacy was built on blood, and i would have it no other way. Jace's eyes widened at the dagger. He thought his time was near.

I knelt next to him and slid the dagger gently down his face. I didnt cut him, just yet. I loved seeing the fear grow as i played my little game. I dug the blade deeper and cut a thin line. He grimaced and tried squirming away from the blade. I didnt let him. I put one leg over him until i was straddling him. He couldnt move even in the slightest. My knees were keeping him in place.

I had cut a little line down the side of his chin. I needed something more, something bigger, something greater. I positioned it right in front of his throat. One cut would all it take. One clean cut and all his lifes blood would spill out onto the floor. I could do it, i should do it. But i didnt want too just yet.

This was the man who had taken what i prized most. I wanted him to suffer for what he stole. A quick death would be better then he deserved. I took the blade away from his throat. I could see his pulse thundering in that sweet spot on his neck. He would live another day. But that didnt mean he would have to be as before.

I held is head down with the palm of my hand. He was too weak to move. His dry cracked lips begged for mercy. His pleas fell to deaf ears. I would have my vengeance. One way or the other. I would have my atonement in any way i saw fit. I placed the tip of the blade right under his eye lid. He begged and pleaded but i didnt listen.

I slid the blade into his eye socket and rotated it. Blood gushed from his face in a torrent. His screams coming loud and thick. I ripped his eye out with one pull. Blood cascaded down his face. His screams were music to my ears. I took his eye and examined it.

Such a fine color for a low born. Such a pity it was wasted on him. I crushed the eye in my palm. It squeezed out between my fingers. He would have no use of it now. He would have no use for it anymore. At least i was kind enough to leave him the one eye.

I exited the room and pulled the door closed. Jace's soft whimpers still could be heard. I smiled and slid my blades edge down my robes hem. I didnt want his blood rusting the edge. I made my way happily back up the winding stairs. I had had the best night in such a long time. Could this night get any better?

I made it to the top of the steps. I opened the dungeon doors and stepped out. I sighed a breathe of great release. My life was getting better every minute! I now had the crown, the princess, and my sweet revenge. I chuckled at the thought of what Clarissa would say to him now. Surely the loss of one of his precious eyes would make him less desirable. Maybe i should have taken it to her? Offered it as a wedding gift.

I walked slowly back to the royal chambers. I needed some time to cool my blood. I could hear it pulsing madly inside my head. The rush i got from others pain put me into a state of nirvana. I needed to hear their screams.

I made my way down the royal quarters. When i got to the door i noticed something was amiss.

"Guards! Guards!" i screamed until my throat hurt. Four men came running, their armor clanging together as the moved. The guard at the chamber door had been bashed in the head. His body now dead or unconscious was lying slumped against the wall. Someone had been very very naughty.

I kicked the door open with all my might. I gestured for the guards to check the room. They moved as quickly as they could. They knew my anger could be something fierce. I made sure the whole room was checked before i finally realized, Clarissa had escaped.

I slammed my fist into the chambers bed post. The clang resounding all through out the room. The guards looked at me and each other nervously. They knew this would not end well.

"I want this whole castle checked. The first person to find her will be rewarded. Anyone who is not trying hard enough will die. Go now! Find her!" I screamed.

The guards rushed to action. They ran to sound the alarm. I waited and heard the bells clanging throughout the castle. She would not escape me. Too much was at stake here. I couldnt let her slip between my fingers. She was mine forever.

I crossed the room and picked up her torn nightgown. I brought it under my nose and sniffed twice. Oh how i loved the smell of her. I needed her, just like i needed the crown. We would be the Morgensterns, we would further the legacy. Our children will be the most hated and feared of all the realm. How could she not see the greatness in all this? How could she not see the power that i was giving her?

She was destined to be sold of to a lesser house, but here i offered her the best reward of all. She could have everything as my Queen. She could have all she ever wanted except one thing. Jace had to die. Sooner or later, his life would bleed away into the afterlife. It was only a matter of time.

I shook my head. She was proving to be more strenuous than i had imagined. I thought my lovemaking would have broke her spirits. But it turns out that she was alot stronger than i thought. I would have to break her more before she would ever bend to my will. It saddened me that she couldnt be more cooperative. We could have it all. We should have it all.

I was Jonathan Morgenstern. I was the best being in all creation. The Devil himself is deep in fear in the pits of hell. The Angels weeped as i was spat from my mothers womb. I was born out of greatness, and out of greatness i shall rise. I was the King of Shadowmoore, but someday i will be King of the realm. Let anyone defy me, and you'll see their heads on spikes before the day ends. Clarissa would be the only exception.

I needed to find her, i needed to have her safe. She was the piece to the legacy that i could not let go. She was my Forever Queen, as i was her Forever King.

Authors note: I am glad so many people are eagerly reading this story! I would love it if some of you would kindly review and tell me what you think! I always read my reviews and take each one into thought. Thanks a bunch. And sorry for the few days wait. Thanks!