One Hundred refusals (16)

A serialised romantic fantasy.

Previously…Chapter 1. Chapter 15

“Gema, I want you more than ever! Meet me in the orchard at midnight!” Lord Valeur’s raspy whisper caressed Pearl’s ear. A week had passed since she announced Queen Geminaris’ and Prince Sturnus’ engagement.

They were dancing at the Engagement feast, and Val used every chance to hold her closer, and whisper in her ear. Pearl had been avoiding Val the whole week, but it only made her desire grow even hotter. Oh, she’d gladly whisper back her “yes”, if only King Olor hadn’t been staring right at her. She feared the man. Pearl said nothing, the dance ended, and yet again she was forced to dance with Prince Sturnus.

Pearl’s mind kept going in circles; she wished to give into Val’s arms whole-heartedly, but what about Sturnus? He did not deserve betrayal. He did not deserve any of this. Her treacherous desires, her filthy longing for Val, her curse… Oh, what of the curse? Sturnus did no deserve to wake near a dead wife… Pear had no doubt, Ash’s curse would kill her the moment she and Sturnus would lay in their wedding bed together. But lay there she must! Pearl had no choice – King Olor himself threatened to stand by their chamber to make sure the marriage gets consummated properly. No, poor cursed Pearl had no choice. She would die. For Avem!

King Olor kept following her every move the entire time of the feast, the food got stuck in her throat, the drink did not give her comfort.

As the midnight approached, Pearl searched for Val’s eyes woefully. He hadn’t danced with anyone else but her, his eyes followed hers lovingly, and a smile full of longing rose on his lips every time he caught her eye.

The clock rang midnight, Pearl lowered her teary eyes.

“Smile, my lady, smile!” Cinnia winked, passing her by. She approached king Olor, as if to have a conversation with him, giving Pearl another wink, just before blocking the king’s view from seeing Pearl slipping out the festive hall.

Thank you, Cinnia! Thank you, thank you… Pearl thought, running down the hallway. She did not care who sees, her desire for Val demanded to be satisfied, whatever the cost!

Suddenly someone grabbed her hand, and pulled her into a dark hallway. No words were needed, Val kissed her in the dark, squeezing the life out of her.

“Where is she?! I demand to know! What kind of guards are you, if you cannot keep an eye on your Queen?” they heard king Olor’s furious voice approaching hurriedly.

Val pulled Pearl into the darkness, she followed willingly. King Olor heard the noise of their footsteps in the dark hallway, and ran after the two.

The desperate lovers crashed into the first open doors; it was the late king Ulrich’s study. They stood listening only for a couple of seconds, before clashing in a violent kiss. Their thirst for each other had grown every single hour of them being close but forbidden to touch. Val laid Pearl on the large blackwood table, with the scrolls, quills, and ink bottles falling onto the floor. He kissed every inch of her skin, ripping the gown off her, and whispering his love into the moonlit darkness.

“Oh, my love! I think I love you even more since your coronation. You have changed but I love you insanely…oh, Gema, my Gema…”

“I AM NOT GEMA!” Pearl cried out, completely devastated by his words. She was cursed indeed, to bear the face of another, and to be loved only for it.

Her cry drew king Olor’s attention; the two lovers heard his footsteps approaching. There was nowhere to hide, no magic to conceal them, the darkness could not help them much. They stood with clothes torn, holding each other close, waiting for the inevitable. The door handle turned…

“King Olor, my Lord!” they heard Cinnia’s voice outside. The door handle stopped mid-way.

“What do you want, Cinnia?” King Olor barked at his spy.

“If you are looking for our Queen, I believe she has gone into her bathing chamber to refresh herself. All those toasts, so much wine…”

“No need for details, Cinnia! Very well, I’ll wait for her in the festive hall. Do tell her to hurry back,” king Olor grunted impatiently, and the two lovers heard him leaving.

A tiny little blue tit bird sprung into the room from underneath the door.

“You are safe, do not fear,” Cinnia whispered, turning into a Birdling woman.

“Thank you,” Pearl whispered back, collapsing into Val’s arms. The suspense had been too much even for her; she could’ve withstood fist fights, or torture, but not the fire of passion, or the dread of being punished for it by the man she feared more than anything.

“She really is gentler than she would like to admit,” Cinnia said, kneeling by Pearl, whom Val had laid down onto the floor.

“Cinnia…I must be going mad. Or maybe that insane cousin of mine was right after all… Cinnia, I must know…Who is she?” Val stuttered, caressing Pearl’s cheeks.

“Oh, I cannot lie to you, Lord Valeur,” Cinnia chirped, stunned by Val’s handsome face in the moonlight. “Her name is Pearl. She loves you, and suffers greatly because of her cursed fate.”