The Curse of Ormshire (The Beast Within Book 2)

by S. L. Perrine

  She thought of the day she was shown to her new home. It was by accident she had even come across Tyson. She had taken Xander into the tra monde to dispose of a crated beast head, and there was a new beast trying to make his way into their world. Xander wanted to be a beast slayer like Renee, even though Karen had told him time and again it was only a job for the women in the family, since they were born with added strength for the job. She couldn’t have explained to him that they were of magical decent from another world. That would have raised too many questions, even for a false world. The men and boys of Cherry Valley had no memories from their true lives either. Just Karen, because she was there outside of the curse.

  Tyson was a form of beast with horns a little larger than the rest. He had gotten away. It was her quick thinking that had Xander fumble the task. Karen and her false son had returned home that evening, only after she whispered a little spell into Tyson’s mind before they left.

  Later that night, she returned to the tra monde—the passage between the two worlds—alone. When the beast showed up, she baited him to follow her. Most of the magical community thought the beasts were a sort of apparition that Ourobus had spelled before the curse, to hunt them and return them back to Ormshire. She had only come to think of them in a different way recently. When they passed from the tra monde into Pylira, she noticed the beast change form as she suspected he would. She had spoken in great lengths to Rowan, her king and husband about the possibility of this, but he dismissed it without a thought. He should have known better than to doubt her, was her only thought.

  The plan had been easy enough, and with the help of his uncles already secured, it was easy to pull off. She was to stay behind and lift the passage spell at the appropriate moment, but somehow, she was detained just outside the veil of Ormshire. The veil was there to prevent those inside from being able to get out, and those outside from getting in. The only time Tyson had moved between the tra monde and a realm other than Ormshire was the night he followed Karen to the other side of the veil that hid his realm. The only other beings that could move freely in and out of the veil were the fae, who she thought were on her side.

  Now she lay on the cold, hard, dirt-covered ground of the dungeons below Ormshire Castle. Which meant a fae child had taken her through the veil, just after the passage was sealed. She shuddered at the thought as she lay there remembering those events. She thought she knew who the traitor was, but she couldn’t be sure. She had been spelled into a twilight slumber and her body floated above the ground all the way to the castle walls.

  Once inside and awoken, she had met with Ourobus—the self-named Buio King—for the first time since the curse’s enactment. The stench of him reached the entrance of the castle from the throne room, which he couldn’t leave. Men scurried about the castle as she was ushered to meet him. Some still wore their guard armor; others donned aprons and suits to take up the jobs the women usually bore.

  The noxious odor threatened her senses with each step she took. She knew nothing of what she would see when she finally laid eyes upon him. She only heard stories of the way he looked. Some had called him a monster, and others said he was a beast. Karen thought both were the same.

  She saw his eyes first. They glowed like red flames of fire. Then she gasped at the size of him. He more than filled the space in the throne room, and he more than likely refused to leave it for fear of destroying his castle, never mind sparing everyone in it. He slithered, more than walked, pushing himself across the small rise of the room with his hind legs, to where his throne may have sat before his cursed days. His head hung low, so as not to get hung up on the rafters. Karen watched as he moved on all fours, dragging behind him a snakelike tail covered in scales and spikes, which extended up his backside and his long neck. He snapped his head back as he caught a bird in his mouth and swallowed it whole. Karen grimaced as he brought his long- clawed foot up to his mouth to pick a feather from between his pointed teeth.

  A gust of wind swept through the room, pushing the stench of him onto Karen, forcing her to gulp a breath into her lungs. She hadn’t realized, until she choked on it, that she had been holding her breath since entering the room.

  She exhaled long and hard as she noticed where the wind had come from. Large wings moved behind Ourobus as he belched from his fast flying meal. His scales glowed black and gold as he looked upon her and opened his mouth as if he were going to swallow her in one bite as well. He drew in a breath, and as he started to speak to her, a stream of billowing smoke escaped his mouth and encircled his head. Karen stepped back, fearful of what he might do, when a shudder flew through her as the heat of flames licked her skin. She looked up, and Ourobus breathed flames of fire out the windows of the large room. They were blown free of glass.

  “Excuse me.” He choked back. “Where are my manners? May I offer you something to eat?” he asked, snatching up a small bird’s nest from the sill of the window. “No?” He threw the nest to the floor and stomped on it with roaring laughter, which turned into another bout of coughing smoke.

  She remembered the smell—how could she not?—as it still held in the fabric she wore. It reeked of burnt wood and maybe even flesh. She couldn’t be sure. She hadn’t dared to wonder how many had gotten just a few feet too close to him.

  He spoke to her in brief spurts, but his message was clear. He knew of the plans to reunite his son with her daughter, and he was happy for it. He wanted the curse lifted, as he despised his beast form. He did not realize by ending the curse, he would be ending himself. At least that much was not shared with him by his spies.

  Karen got much information out of him that day. Ourobus had a gathering of maga. They waited for the curse to be lifted so they could give him all their power to defeat the one who was prophesized to defeat him; the great power. In the meantime, he would use his new powers to destroy the princess and bring his son back to him, to be his prince and rule by his side. She knew his plans would include taking all of Pylira, which included killing her and Rowan, but she still hung on to the hope that his plans would fail.

  The smoke still felt as if it billowed around her. It invaded her senses at the thought, and she choked on it. She caught a strangled cough and forced herself to take a deep breath. The air in her cell was stale and cool, and it was clear of the smoke she dreamt of. The cool ground made her shiver and she wrapped herself more tightly in the fabric she wore.

  The clanking of the metal door across the circular room made her sit upright. Karen couldn’t remember when her last meal was thrown at her, but she thought it was too soon for another. The meager scraps of bread and cheese was all she was given, with a pitcher of water, which always tasted of iron. She figured out quickly that she needed to ration her meals to last her.

  As the heavy boots hit the dirt-padded floor, she could tell it would not be a meal delivery. That guard made no sound as he walked. The man entered her cell and gave her a mocking bow.

  “Queen Karen, you’re looking more like a peasant these days, Yer Majesty,” he said with a deep laugh as he kicked dirt up at her with his boot. “Maybe we should re-evaluate your accommodations.” His laughter abruptly stopped, and he reached out to grab Karen by the arm. She moved backwards, away from his grasp.

  “Your presence is requested. Get up!” he bellowed louder as he lunged for her, dragging her to her feet.

  “By whom?” She spat at him, afraid to move right away for fear of showing weakness. She knew her limbs would not be able to hold her weight without first steadying herself. She thought if she angered the guard, he might carry her up the stairs himself, but then she thought better of it.

  “The king wishes to speak with you.” He pulled Karen from her cell and stopped at the foot of the stairs outside the large metal door across the room.

  She steadied herself and straightened her frame before she started up the stairs, using the railing for support. The guard must have realized she struggled with the task, though he made no attempt to help her, nor did
he raise a hand to rush her.

  As she had the first time she was brought before the Buio King, Karen recoiled at the smell of him. She walked into the room and saw that he was already poised and waiting for her. He turned his head toward the holes in the stone walls that once held the window glass, and as he exhaled, Karen buried her face in her sleeve as the smoke and flames erupted from the great beast. He looked at her then, and she thought she saw him smile as he bared his teeth at her.

  “I heard an interesting tale today.” He began to speak even as the smoke from his mouth still billowed forth. “That at the peak of the full moon this very night, you and my so-called brothers shall enact a spell to remove the one used to close off the passage.” He raised his large tail in the air and let it drop to the floor, creating a large cloud of dust to fill around him. Then he looked back to the window once more, as if to protect her from an unexpected burst of flame.

  “I am told my son and the young princess have reunited, so this curse upon me will be gone.” A small bird flew into the window and failed to dodge the small spit of fire from Ourobus.

  “There is also word that the so-called ‘great power’ is nowhere to be found.” He batted at the remains of the animal with his tail, moving it so he could stab it with his talons.

  “My magia does not work here. I am in no fit state to do magia besides.”

  “No need.” He toyed with his food. “I now know you are the link to the original magia used to close the passage, therefore I know how to open the passage without using magia at all. Besides, I rather enjoy making an entrance, so to speak. Imagine their surprise when the passage opens, and they are returned to me unawares.” The animal landed back at his feet and he tossed it aside.

  Karen contemplated what he said. She denied the thought before, but he confirmed it for her. Ourobus coughed and smoke billowed once more within the room. She moved backwards, hoping his breath of fire would not be her end. She still had her heart stone ring. No man could take that from her. Even as the curse had disabled her magia within Ormshire, she hoped she would be able to draw on the stone if he were to turn on her then. The power of the stone may only be able to provide her with a small amount of magia left inside, which she saved in the event she needed it for healing to escape.

  As she felt the cool stone on her back, she knew she was close to the door, which was still open. She had to move fast if he moved even the slightest in her direction.

  Ourobus calmed and would soon turn his attention to her. She opted to get out of the door before he regained himself. She crept closer to the opening just as the guard entered the room.

  “Going somewhere, Majesty?” Ourobus spat at her. “Take her back to her room!” he bellowed to the guard. “And make the necessary preparations for her to see her dear Rosella.”

  “No!” Karen screamed as the man’s hands clamped down on her. He picked her up, swung her over his shoulder, and carried her to her cell in the dungeon with her kicking and screaming the entire way. When he stopped, she found herself being dropped onto the cold, stone floor.

  “I’ll be sure to send the cook down for your last meal order.” He laughed his way back up the stairs.

  Karen sat still and quiet as she swallowed the Buio King’s last words. She would soon see her departed daughter. That could only mean he meant to end the spell himself, by killing her. She focused her energy and drew a little from the stone. She had to let Renee know somehow, even if only to say goodbye.

  Chapter Seven

  Ormshire Past

  The morning sun was not as callous as it had been previously. An overnight rain shower had cooled the air, and Renella was grateful. She never had to endure such harsh heat in Hearthstone. The four realms were surrounded by more water and at a lower altitude than her "home in the sky," which is what she called it.

  Renella woke feeling rejuvenated; she finally had a good night’s rest, the first in a year in Ormshire. Her ladies entered her chambers to bring her fresh clothes for the day and draw her bath. As they pulled the drapes away from the windows, Renella welcomed the morning light.

  She sat on the edge of her bed eyeing the cup of tea her ladies had brought to her. Before she could get up and walk to the desk to retrieve it, the cup was already on its way to her. Renella jumped from her seat and let out a startled squeal.

  “What in the world is going on in here?” Tabitha, having heard her scream, entered her room.

  “Shhhh, my ladies are in the washroom.” The noise of the water running must have concealed her outburst, Renella thought.

  “What are you doing? Have them clean that.” Tabitha grabbed Renella by the hand and pulled her up from the spilt tea on the floor.

  “I did it,” Renella said, cup in hand, and she replaced it on the tray.

  “So, what? That’s what they get paid for. What is wrong with you? You’re shaking.”

  “I was sitting on the bed and wanted the tea, but it was all the way over here.” She pointed to where the tray sat. She giggled a bit but did not mean to.

  “Okay, so you got up to get it and dropped it? Was it too hot?”

  “No, it floated to me. Or it started to… until I freaked out and it fell to the floor.” She pointed to the stain on the carpet.

  “I thought you said—”

  “Yes, I know what I said. Something weird is going on.” She left the room and went into the washroom. Tabitha was left stunned, standing in her room.

  A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. “Someone is at your door. Don’t worry, I got it!” Tabitha yelled. “Tyson. You’re calling at an early hour,” Tabitha greeted her brother.

  “What…” He looked perplexed. “Is Renella awake?”

  “She is in a bath at the moment. You’re not married yet, so you’re not supposed to be looking for her in her room. What do you want?”

  “Well, we were going to spend the day together,” he said, still looking quite confused. “What are you doing in there?” he finally asked his sister.

  “I heard her screaming her head off. So, I came in to see why.” Tabitha stopped, and Tyson made a gesture for her to elaborate. “She spilled her tea, it was hot; she screamed. End of story.”

  “No, it’s not the end of the story.” Tyson heard Renella from behind the door. She pulled the door open and Tyson got a clearer look at her. She was definitely in one piece, so nothing to worry about obviously, but she was flushed and out of breath. She wore a pale green dress that gathered at her waist with a gold belt. Without thinking, he took her hand and kissed her knuckles with a bow.

  “Good morning, Princess,” he said in a formal greeting.

  “Good morning, Tyson,” she greeted back.

  “This would be sweet and all if we were standing somewhere else. So… can we go somewhere please?” Tabitha pointed out that she was also standing between them.

  “Of course… Renella?” Tyson offered her his arm as he did the night before, and she hooked her arm into it.

  “So, it’s begun. Just call me miss third wheel,” Tabitha said as she followed the couple down the hall.

  “We should probably walk into town, ladies. Less… er…um… crowded,” Tyson whispered and made note of the guards all around them to his sister.

  Catching on to his cue, she boasted, “Renella and I were headed to town this morning, Tyson. Would you care to join us?”

  “I’d love to, Tabby. Thank you,” Tyson said, and Renella chuckled.

  “What?” Tabitha asked her.

  “Tabby?” she shot back.

  “Yes, it’s a nickname Tyson has called me since we started talking. He was good with the 'T'; he just couldn’t get the '–itha' part down.” She laughed a little at the memory.

  “Well, I like it… Tabby.” Renella smiled and nudged her friend with her shoulder.

  As they walked to the village, Renella felt out of sorts. Each time her hand would touch Tyson’s, she felt a jolt of energy surging through her body. Finally, after walking almost a
n hour, she had to stop. The overwhelming dizziness from the night before had returned.

  “Renella, are you okay?” Tabitha asked her as they stopped walking.

  “Yes, I’m fine.” She pressed her hand to her temple and held it there for a moment. Tyson moved away from them to sit down on a nearby stump.

  “What is going on with you two? You both look ill.”

  It took them the better part of the hour walk, but they had managed to lose the guard detail that accompanied them on outings. Now that they were nowhere in sight, they could speak freely.

  “I think we should have asked mother to join us on our walk. Maybe she would have an idea, because you two have me stumped.” Tabitha led Renella to a large rock opposite where Tyson sat.

  “No,” Tyson said. “It would be better if mother knows nothing. Then he can’t hurt her for information.” Tyson’s head had finally started to clear.

  “What? Why would father hurt mother? Tyson, what is going on?” Tabitha became fearful and started to yell.

  “Shh, we don’t need anyone overhearing us.” Tyson calmed his sister. “I had a discussion last night with our lord father. He’s gotten so much worse, but he’s no closer.”

  Renella felt better, but the discussion confused her, which made her head throb again.

  “What are you talking about?” she asked them, dazed.

  “Renella, our father has been gathering followers,” Tabitha answered her.

  “Why is that bad?”

  “Because they are of the old lands, and they are buio,” Tyson said solemnly.

  “What?” she shrilled.

  Tyson explained his father’s power struggle. The fact that Tabitha was not born a maga and that Tyson was stronger than even his father. He told her everything about his conversation the night before, and how his father threatened her and how Tyson snapped.

  “What do you mean ‘snapped,’ Tyson?” Tabitha asked, fearful of what he would say.

  “I used my magia. I pinned him to the throne and told him if he harmed her, I would end him.” He looked deep into Renella’s eyes. He had never realized they were the deepest green he had ever seen; far more beautiful than the rarest emerald.