by Alexia Praks
She sat up and nodded her head in agreement with that statement. Aye, for all she knew, he would have already forgotten about her by now. Perhaps, she thought unhappily but with relief, to reassure herself of course, that he had always done that, going out at night to make love to girls. And she was just one of those girls. Surely, he must have forgotten her by now.
She nodded at that logical reason. Aye, she needed to concentrate on her mission to find that pearl.
Without further ado, she changed into her male’s garment. A few minutes later, she poked her head out the door. Luckily, the corridor was still quiet at this very early hour of the morning. She silently made her way to the back door where she sneaked past the guards and then down the stairs. She slipped out of the palace and ran toward the stables. The stable master was still not yet up for his duty, and she thanked the Lord for that, heading straight to the black beast Wildfire. She knew it would be hard to tame him, to calm him down so she could ride him, but Cecelia was good with animals. Thus, she closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. Then she moved toward the sleeping creature. Slowly and gently, she touched its nose and whispered soft words into its ears.
“There, there,” she said. “You’re a beautiful beast, aren’t you?”
Not unlike your master, she thought. Then she started rubbing its nose gently, and before long, the beast looked at her with curiosity. She smiled. It was working. She moved around and grabbed onto his long mane.
“Will you let me ride you?” she asked softly.
As miraculously as it might seem, the beast nodded its head. Cecelia couldn’t help herself. She kissed the beast on the nose and then climbed onto its bare back, not without difficulty, however, as she was quite small next to it.
Once on, she bent down and whispered into the animal’s ear, “We must be silent, my love. We do not want to wake anyone. Understand?”
The horse snorted. A moment later, they silently headed out of the stable.
It didn’t take them long to disappear into the forest during this time of the night where guards were few and far between on their rounds. It was as if the steed knew where she wanted to go, and in only half an hour, she found herself at the cave once again. Relief swept through her as tears threatened to pour out of her eyes. She left the animal outside tittering there near a tree and headed inside with a made-shift torch in her hand. She remembered her way from the previous time the pirates had taken her here. She remembered the steps, too, and thus she was able to reach the clearing without killing herself.
Finally, she came to the pond with pristine water that sparkled with enchantment. Immediately her eyes darted to the precious gem, the Pearl of Life that resided in the giant clam in the middle of an island surrounded by magical water. Suddenly, she felt as though she were pulled by it, drawing her to it with an undeniable spell-binding bond.
She shook her head to clear away the enchantment and proceeded to search a way to get to the small island. It was then the dark cave oppressed upon her, and she felt a little dizzy. She turned her eyes back to the pearl to concentrate. It shone bright against the darkness, illuminating with power, as if to remind her of the reason she was there. Aye, her mother would live. A smile formed on her lips at the thought, and she knew she had to find a way to get the pearl without getting herself disintegrated by the magical acidic water.
She picked up a small rock and threw it into the pond. The hard item shriveled and sparks popped about everywhere, surrounding it like fireworks. In only a matter of seconds, the thing was eaten and remnants of it disappeared.
She sat down on the bed of rocks, her eyes on the glistening water as she wondered miserably how she was going to get through. She was, however, determined not to go back empty handed. She’d done so much to get this far.
It was when she concentrated on one spot for a long while, thinking, searching for a way, that she noticed all the sea creatures living within this water. It was a coral reef with thousands of polyps everywhere. The harder she looked, the more she saw. The array of color and sea creatures residing in the shallow of this pure water took her breath away. There were sea slugs, clams, starfish, sea urchins, sponges, and many types of sea fungi. Hope rose within her chest. If living creatures could survive within this water, why then would it kill her? Thus, to test the water, she closed her eyes and cleared her mind. Slowly, with her breath held, she dropped her hand into the water.
She waited for the acid to eat her flesh, for the unbearable pain to come. It didn’t. Surprised, she opened her eyes and looked. Her hand was fine. She dropped it into the water again, this time deeper, and the material of her clothing with it. Instantly, the water started eating at it. She gasped and quickly pulled back.
She sat up straight, and a beautiful smile formed on her face as her eyes sparkled with realization. She quickly took off all of her clothing. Naked and her long hair flowing down her back, she dipped her foot into the water. Nothing happened. It was like a normal pool of water where one goes to bathe or swim.
Slowly, she dipped her whole body into the water, still praying very hard that the enchanted liquid wasn’t going to kill her now.
She dived deeper, her eyes wide open, marveling at the beautiful coral reef about her. It was when she couldn’t hold her breath any longer that she popped her head out again and then swam across and came to the mounted island. There, she crawled to the giant clam that was like none other she’d ever seen. This one was indeed colossus, almost the size of a child’s bed, and the interior of the thick crystal shell was perfectly white with swirls of sapphire blue. Apart from the single Pearl of Life residing in the middle of this massive bivalve mollusk, there was nothing else. This clam was dead yet still alive by some powerful magic.
Cecelia made herself comfortable inside its opened mouth. She stared long and hard at the pearl that was the size of a goose egg, fully round and pinky white, shining and translucent, swirling and radiating with powerful magic as if it were alive. So much trouble for such a small thing, she thought and caressed it. Instantly, the clam shut itself, trapping her inside.
Panic seized her and her heart raced. She frantically tried to open the shell with her hands, but it was to no avail. Suddenly, the pearl glowed, emitting a crushing fierce energy, and Cecelia felt a powerful magic saturating into her body. She felt light and tingling and, oddly enough, not so different from when the demon king had made love to her. Once the feeling disappeared, she took the opportunity and tried to open the thick crystal shell again. Immediately, it opened by itself. Cecelia sat up, surprised. Then she thought perhaps she’d gotten caught. She scanned about her surroundings, wondering if the demons had realized she was there to steal the pearl. There wasn’t a soul in sight, however, and she was relieved.
With the pearl tight against her chest, she jumped back into the water and swam as quickly as she could back to the landing. Once she was out of the water, she got dressed and then raced back out, remembering to not step on any trap.
Wildfire was still there once she was outside. Glad it hadn’t deserted her, she climbed on its back and kicked the beast to start galloping. It wasn’t long before they came to a cliff at the end of the island. Below was a deep drop to the sea, and before her to the horizon was the sapphire-blue sea. Behind her was the Demon Kingdom and Drake McNamara the demon king himself.
It is either now or never, she thought. She didn’t know how to make this beast fly, but surely, running off a cliff would be a good start. But what if she were to fall into the ocean from this great distance? Killing herself and the beast? Then her mother would die in vain. Her brother Brian would be alone with no one to care for his fragile condition.
Nay, she just had to take the chance.
Thus, she closed her eyes and said a prayer. Then she whispered into the animal’s ear, “I’m sorry I brought you into this, my love. But please just one more time, aid me. Take me home to Dardania.”
Then she made it run. As it did so, she held her breath and her heart
raced. Here we go, she thought and closed her eyes as they got closer to the cliff’s edge. Then once they were off, they were falling and falling and falling, and Cecelia knew this was it. This was the end. Her endeavor was in vain. She had failed and killed herself in the process.
Suddenly, she felt them ascending—up and up and up. Cecelia opened her eyes and shockingly looked down. They were flying. She couldn’t believe it and laughed loudly, tears in her eyes. She leaned down to kiss the beast and closed her eyes once again, pleased, happy tears streaming down her cheeks.
“Thank you,” she whispered into Wildfire’s ear.
* * * * *
Chapter XIII
IT WAS MIDNIGHT THEE DAYS later when Cecelia reached home. Since she’d left the Demon Kingdom, she only stopped to rest three times in small towns along her journey. On her first evening, she stayed on St. Bart Island, the small state belonged to the Meridianus Kingdom. There in a small village, she bought some supplies for herself and Wildfire with what little gold she had left. The villagers were very friendly to her, commenting she was such a cute demon and a lucky lad indeed to have acquired such a powerful warhorse of a demonic breed.
“Shouldn’t you be joining the demon army, my boy?” a baker asked her as she picked up a loaf of bread.
She gave him a quizzical stare.
“Aye, with a beautiful warhorse like yours,” he said, “bound to be helpful with the upcoming war.”
“War?”
The baker looked at her, astonished that she didn’t seem to be aware of the goings-on with her own country.
“Don’t you know? You’re from the Demon Kingdom, aren’t’ you?”
With Cecelia’s nod, he continued. “Marcus Arthur, the demon prince, has declared war with the demon king to claim the throne. If he succeeds, the kingdoms will return to the Dark Age.”
At this revelation, Cecelia paled and felt dizzy. “Marcus Arthur?”
“Aye, lad. Marcus Arthur is an exiled prince. He holds the blue pearl, inherited from the Arthur bloodline. The current king, His Highness Drake McNamara, holds the white pearl. It is his power.” He smiled then. “Aye, it is said his scowl is like a dark, angry storm, but he is a kind and just king. The kingdom prospers because of him and his power.”
At the mentioning of this, Cecelia tightened her hold on her satchel where she kept the pearl, her mind racing.
“Are you buying that, lad?” the baker asked.
Cecelia snapped back to reality and nodded furiously. She paid for her bread and headed out the door after thanking the man for his supply.
As she walked down the streets, Cecelia realized she was so green in the goings-on around the nine kingdoms. The Demon Kingdom was in chaos and was about to go into war. At their most vulnerable and when they most needed the power of the pearl, she had stolen it. Suddenly, tears flooded her eyes. Aye, she was the most selfish person on these nine kingdoms, and at that moment, she’d never felt so revolted with herself.
That night she stayed in an isolated cave deep in the woods with Wildfire by her side. Though Cecelia didn’t know it, the pearl had enchanted her and Wildfire, protecting them during their journey from dark magic and strange spells, and of course, thieves and murders.
As she lay there by the fire, she hugged the precious pearl within her embrace, protecting it from the harsh environment and thieves. She vowed after she’d saved her mother, she’d travel back to the Demon Kingdom to return the treasure, even if it killed her.
“I will return you to your owner. I promise,” she whispered, tears flooding her cheeks. She kissed the pearl before closing her eyes and snuggling her whole body into a cocoon within her coat.
As she drifted off into her slumber, she dreamed of the demon king searching for her. She woke early the next morning, and she and Wildfire ventured northward to St. Louis, a small town in the northern territory of Meridianus. By the end of that second day, she crossed the border to Dardania and stayed the night in a small village where the culture and people were more familiar to her. Wildfire, however, with its sinfully black skin and eyes and twisted horn, brought shocked looks and fear from everyone they happened to pass. Cecelia ignored them and, from then on, preferred to keep to isolation.
It was during this night that her dream of Drake became more prominent, his stormy gray eyes fervently searching for her. His essence and his demonic aura enticed her body with a hidden seductive power, making her restless and hot. Her aroused core screamed and ached for his touches, his kisses, and his sex to enter her, claiming her his. She was writhing and heaving with the need as the pearl glowed warmly against her chest. She woke the next morning feeling cold, alone, tired, and frustrated. She dismissed the thought of the demon king and prepared Wildfire for another long day of riding.
Finally, by midnight that day, she landed in the quietness of the night in the northern courtyard of the Van Zandt Palace. The guards, she knew, were busy with their rounds in the southern wing, so she and Wildfire were safe from their bark of attack.
Brian came running for her the moment he’d seen the shadow of her figure out at the courtyard with her newly acquired beastly steed. They hugged tightly, brother and sister, with tears in their eyes.
“You’re safe. You’re back,” Brian said. “I cannot believe it.”
“Brian, I have missed you so. But how is Mother?”
Brian’s handsome face fell immediately, and Cecelia knew if she didn’t hurry, she’d be too late.
“I will see to your beast,” Brian said. “Many will wonder where such an animal would have come from if I do not hide it.” He nudged his sister toward the door. “Hurry, Celia, before ’tis too late.”
Cecelia nodded and ran to the castle, her aching body and tiredness forgotten. Inside, she raced up the three flights of stairs, taking two steps at a time. Once she had reached her mother’s bedchamber, she stopped, took a deep breath, and then opened the door.
The figure of her mother so frail and small on the bed made Cecelia’s stomach knot with dread.
“Oh God, please let me not be too late,” she chanted to herself. “Please.” She rushed over to Countess Rosevalley and took the woman’s cold hand within hers. She watched her mother’s sleeping form, noting the deep lines and dry, pale skin. When the woman opened her eyes, they were clouded and dull.
“Mother,” Cecelia whispered, her voice weak. “I have returned. I’m back with the Pearl of Life.”
Lady Rosevalley blinked for a moment, not registering what her daughter was saying, for she could not see nor hear clearly now that the poison had damaged most of her being. She stared at Cecelia long and hard. Then slowly, as if she finally recognized who the girl was, she smiled. Her pale hand, shaking and trembling, reached out to touch Cecelia’s cheek.
“Why, Celia, my darling. You’re safe,” she whispered weakly, tears rolling down her cheeks as her heart soared with relief.
Cecelia nodded. “I am safe, Mother. You will be healed. I have retrieved the Pearl of Life.”
It was then that Brian came into the room, followed by Martha, Milan, and Agnes. Cecelia looked up and said to Milan the healer, “Quick, we must prepare the potion.”
“Aye, my lady,” Milan said.
“Boil some water,” Cecelia said to Martha. Turning to Agnes, she instructed, “Bring some lavender, rosemary, sage, and honey.” Then back to Milan, “I will show you how to make it.”
The two maids and healer rushed to do as they were instructed. It wasn’t long when the water within the small clay pot started boiling in the burning hearth. Then Cecelia started making the potion according to the recipe she’d memorized. First went the single gem. The instant this particular jewel hit the water, it glowed as if by magic of different shades of colors. Cecelia herself had never seen such enchantment before and stared in wonder, as were Martha, Agnes, and Milan. Next, Cecelia dropped in the lavender, rosemary, sage, and honey. Then she stirred, as according to the recipe. It wasn’t long when the solution boiled onc
e again within the little pot, turning the liquid a golden syrup color and giving off a sweet scent that none had ever smelled before. Once the potion was made, Cecelia herself fed it to her mother, slow and gentle, a few sips at a time, whilst Brian sat beside her and watched.
“Rest now,” she said finally, once the last drop in the small bowl was spooned cleaned. “You will have to take this potion thrice daily for eight days for it to be effective.”
Once her mother was again asleep, she turned to Milan and Martha and told them to bottle the remaining medicine for her mother to drink for the next coming days. The two did her bidding, and once everything was in order, Agnes begged her to retire to her own room for some rest.
“Agnes is right,” Brian said. “You look exhausted, Celia. Please rest. Mother is well taken care of.”
Martha nodded. “Milan and I will be by her side, my lady. Have no worry.”
At Milan’s nod, Cecelia gave in, for she knew she couldn’t very well hold out much longer. She was barely holding on by a thin tread before she’d collapse.
Agnes, after preparing a hot bath for her, helped her undress.
“My word, my dear lady, but dressing as a lad?” the woman said. “I have never seen such a thing. I suppose the situation calls for it. But you must never again, my lady, dress yourself as men. And God, I prayed every night for your safety, my lady. I feared you might have been hurt whilst on your journey, pirates and thieves and all. I feared you would be killed by those demons if you chanced upon one, which I prayed you did not. Monstrous creatures they are, my lady. Did you happen to chance them, my lady?”
Cecelia turned to look at her maid now, wondering if the old woman would still think demons were monstrous creatures if she were to see the demon king himself, or Gerick, Adam, Julius, and Leon for that matter. Then, of course, there were Vera and Lucifer. They would surely shock the old maid with their undeniably gorgeous guises.