by Kristal Lim
"You look ever so lovely, my dear." Aline felt cool metal settle against her skin as soft hands clasped a necklace around her throat. A woman then took hold of her hands and turned her around to face a mirror that covered the entire wall of this strange room she found herself in. It wasn't like any mirror she was used to, however. For one thing, it colored everything it reflected with a pale, golden glow and there were swirling floral designs on its surface outlined in shimmery dust.
There was a woman standing beside her. She was wearing a delicate-looking mask of black lace and pearls that covered most of her face except for circles cut around her eyes. She was dressed in a silken gown of the richest, darkest red with a skirt that had so many layers it was a wonder she was able to stand close enough to place her smooth cheek against Aline’s face. Her jet-black hair was caught up on top of her head and arranged in a waterfall of curls, some of which mingled with Aline’s own dark hair as they both looked at their reflections.
If the woman appeared both gorgeous and wanton, the best word Aline could use to describe her own appearance was pure. Virginal even. Her hair had also been curled but it was brushed back to frame her face and then allowed to cascade downward in waves. There were white roses and lilies woven through the dark tresses. Meanwhile, the dress she was wearing was white with a square neckline and long sleeves, and the fabric gleamed with silvery highlights. In her hands, she was clutching a small bouquet of flowers that were similar to the ones in her hair. Finally, around her neck was a chain of silver from which dangled a single leaf made of the same shiny material.
"You know what this is, don’t you, dear?" the woman said. She had a secretive little smile on her lovely mouth. "Remember, as long as you don’t give in, it will have the power to protect you. But let me tell you a secret not everyone knows." Her husky voice dropped to a whisper. "Even if you do surrender, as long as you have this little thing, you never completely lose yourself." Then she tucked the silver leaf in between Aline’s breasts. There was a hiss of heat and smoke, and Aline cried out in sudden pain. However, when she looked down at her bosom expecting to see a horrible burn, nothing but smooth skin greeted her eyes. The woman then laughed and held a finger against her lips. "Don’t tell," she said.
Aline was silent for several minutes as she just stared at herself, ignoring the woman, but her mind was desperately struggling to remember something that she knew was incredibly important. She frowned when the right thoughts she was looking for wouldn't come to her, and the woman pouted.
"Oh, you defiant little dear." She tittered and squeezed Aline in a brief hug. "So stubborn till the very end. But then it's to be expected. Which is why His Highness made preparations for this instance. Come," she suddenly tugged at Aline’s arm quite insistently. "Come now. There is something you must see."
She led the mortal girl through a door of what looked like black glass and then the two of them were walking along a familiar-looking corridor. Aline glanced through one of the openings that they passed by and she was able to catch a glimpse of the moon. It hung fat and round in the sky with a morose expression on its face as it looked at its own reflection on the dark waters of the lake. It caught her eyes for a moment and it tried to smile at her, but whatever sadness it felt quickly rushed back to its mind and it turned its back on Aline with a sigh.
"Ignore that pathetic creature, darling," the woman advised. "No good ever came out of letting oneself be swayed by its power. Or any power, for that matter. Especially if it is love." She then winked at Aline as if they shared a secret. "It is such a shame that things have to end this way now. But the future–ah, who knows what could happen then?"
No words of reply occurred to Aline and she just continued to meekly trail behind the woman. But there was a buzzing in her head that kept distracting her, like it was trying to remind her of something. However, every time she tried to focus on it so she could make out what it was saying, the woman would hum a tune under her breath that was so pretty she would forget about everything else while she was listening to it.
Finally, they reached a pair of massive doors that were made out of the same stone as the rest of the castle. Before they walked through it, the woman turned to smile at Aline one last time. "Remember, dear," she said. "Just don’t completely lose yourself, even when you surrender."
The doors then swung open before them though they never even touched it, and then the two of them stepped out into the ballroom where a crowd was gathered. Aline saw faces both familiar and unfamiliar, including her friend Gracelyn who was smiling warmly at her as she leaned on the arm of a tall, forbidding-looking man. Meran was there, too, standing beside Raven who was smirking at her. And, of course, he was there as well. The Prince. Tall and pale and dressed as ever in black. His face was solemn as he stared at her then, slowly, he approached.
He reached for her left hand and kissed it reverently as his courtiers looked on. He nodded at the masked woman and she bowed to him before she left Aline’s side and melted into the throng. Then the Prince took her in his arms and, in a low voice that only she was able to hear, he said, "Forgive me."
She looked into his eyes, confused. What did she need to forgive him for? He was the man she loved. Wasn't he? But she never got to ask any of the questions that had suddenly sprung to her mind because he linked their arms then and, much as the woman had done earlier, he began to lead her to one corner of the ballroom that was illuminated more brightly than the rest of the place. A velvet curtain concealed whatever it was he wanted to show her and, with a small gesture of his hand, the curtain slowly drew back to reveal its secret.
Two well-known faces gazed back at Aline with blank expressions. Her father was sitting on a chair, his mouth slack and his breathing deep and regular, like he was sleeping. But, once in a while, he would put on a vague smile and murmur a name that she hadn't heard him say in years. His head was thrust back at an awkward angle, though he didn't seem to be uncomfortable, and he also didn't seem to mind the knife pressed against his throat.
The other person with him, the one holding the knife, was Trevor.
"These two," the Prince said into her ear, "caused me great grief when they tore you away from me. I would prefer to destroy them, but my hand has been stayed because of my love for you. I know it would pain you if I harm them, but I will not hesitate to do so if you persist in your defiance." He suddenly squeezed her hand with enough force to break her bones. She was so stunned that she even forgot to cry out. All she could do was stare at him in pain and confusion.
"I now give you a choice, my Princess," the Prince said loudly enough for his voice to ring throughout the silent ballroom. "Stay here, with me, until the sun rises, and I will release these two. I will even grant them the mercy of forgetfulness so they will never be troubled by thoughts of your fate." His tone hardened as he spoke his next words. "Defy me again, and I will make your lover kill your father then turn the knife on himself while you watch. Your answer will decide whether they live or die." He released her from his grip then and she collapsed to the floor, her entire body weak and trembling.
"Why?" she gasped, terrified yet furious at the ease with which he wielded fear against her. "Why won't you just let me go? I am not the Princess you loved. She's gone. She let her memories and her love for you be erased to save your miserable life. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?"
"I do not care," he replied gently, almost as if he felt sorry that he was causing her such anguish. "I just want her back. That is all I have ever wanted."
"If you are able to somehow resurrect her feelings for you within me, that could make the witch's spell work again. Haven't you ever thought of that?" she said angrily. "I would then have the power to kill you." And she shot him a glare that let him know she would be more than happy to hurt him in any way she could.
He bowed his head. "That is a risk I will gladly take."
The look in his eyes told Aline clearly that he was telling the truth. He really didn't care what happened to him, or how many live
s he destroyed, as long as he would get back the love he once had. Raven was right. The Prince had gone insane from all the centuries of yearning for a woman who was long gone.
As if he heard her speak his name in her mind, Aline saw Raven move away from Meran's side. His amber eyes were hooded as he gazed down at her, but she could tell that he was looking pointedly at her chest. No. Wait. Not at her chest, she gradually realized. He was staring intently at where the silver leaf had been burned into and concealed within her skin. He was frowning as he lifted his eyes and met hers. There was a question in his gaze, one that she herself was asking.
Aline tried to search for the woman who had been her companion earlier, but she didn't see her masked face among the people watching her intently. Then she couldn't really think clearly anymore. Everything was a confusing blur of dreams and memories, and she couldn't even be sure if they were truly hers or if they belonged to Rosamund. Her unbroken hand reached out to touch the spot where the silver leaf had been hidden and, remembering what had happened the last time she had cut herself with it, she wished fervently that she had it in her hand instead so she could escape. But she knew she couldn’t run away anymore. Not this time. If she even tried, the Prince would be true to his word and he would make sure she would never see her father or Trevor alive again. So she couldn't leave them. What else could she do?
She really had no other choice.
"Release them," she whispered, her voice breaking, "and I will stay with you. I'll do anything you want."
"Do you swear it?" the Prince demanded, a hot light starting to burn in his pale eyes as he leaned over her.
She didn’t think she had ever hated anyone as much as she hated him in that moment. "I swear," she said through gritted teeth. "Just let them go. And my friends, too."
"I would not deprive my faithful courtiers of their favorite dancing partners," he said, brushing her last words aside like they were nothing. "Only these two will be released from the spell because I do not desire to keep their company." He pulled her up to her feet and kissed her on the cheek. "You have made the best choice, my Princess. You will see," he promised, "we will be happy."
He made her face the crowd. "My bride!" he proudly proclaimed and they erupted into cheers. He looked at Raven then and smiled. "Lord Raven, your service is finally at an end, for my love has at last been returned to me." But it looked like Raven didn’t even hear him. He was still staring at Aline with too many questions in his amber eyes.
The Prince, however, didn’t notice this, and he instead ordered the revel to begin. The musicians started to play something sweet and lilting, and the Prince led her to the middle of the room. They began to dance and, soon, everyone else was dancing with their partners, too. Aline tried to see what had happened to her dad and Trevor, but the Prince spun her around so fast that she only saw colorful blurs whirling around her. His voice joined the music and the song he was singing in a strange language seemed to wrap itself around her physically, until she felt as if she was cocooned by a layer of sound. And, eventually, she stopped thinking about the people who were important to her and she only cared about being held in his arms as they danced and danced.
When the sun rose, they were dancing still, and she was lost.
~~~
Chapter 15