Shackled Sorceress

Chapter 8 - Judge

WARNING: This chapter deals with trauma, s****l assaults and unhealthy coping mechanism. Viewers are warned.

Even though Kalliope had schooled her expression into a neutral mask, she knew it wasn’t difficult for Queen Virille to see through her facade. After all, she was their mother, and had endured through years of Venus’ shenanigans. 

If King Eiras noticed how stiff Kalliope’s walk was or how tightly Queen Virille’s smile had become, he didn’t make a comment.

Despite all she had heard about him, Eiras didn’t appear all that...despicable. In his late forty, the man was more or less in shape, despite spotting a bit of a gut. The King of Alari was grey around the edges, sharp-eyed and always wearing a diplomatic smile. He was a far cry from Malus’ knight-like stature, but Eiras still exerted the posture and regality of a true King. 

And, just like Malus, Kalliope didn’t think Eiras was someone to be trifled with.

“Majesties, the Princess Venus is slightly delayed. She hopes you would understand and she would be with us shortly.” Kalliope curtsied.

“Of course.” There was steel in Queen Virille’s smile, “She must want to be presentable before her betrothed. My apologies, King Eiras.”

“Not at all, dear Queen.” Eiras raised his glass, “After all, I am a lucky man to win the hand of such a legendary beauty. The lovely Princess may grace us with her presence whenever she sees fit.”

Kalliope’s stomach curdled, and she suddenly wanted to be anywhere but here. She had to keep up appearance however, and went to sit on the left side of her mother, Malus quietly in tow.

The poor man must still be traumatized by what he had seen in Venus’ room. 

Oddly, the thought made Kalliope want to laugh. She hid it behind a dainty cough instead.

“How was your night, Your Highness Prince Malus?”

Said Prince presented Queen Virille with a charming smile, “It was...magical. Though I and Princess Kalliope haven’t known each other for long, I believe we have a kindred spirit between us.”

Kalliope almost snorted into her tea. As usual, nobody paid her any heed. King Eiras’ voice boomed.

“Terrific! I am sure your union would bring blessings for many years to come!”

“Thank you, Your Majesty. I am sure your union with Princess Venus would bring prosperity and happiness to your kingdom.”

Eiras raised his glass of wine, “We are both very lucky men!”

“Indeed, we are.”

The conversation faded into mundane buzzing. It was the usual proposed deals, polite declines, information prying and subtle plotting. It was mainly Eiras and the Queen Virille who did the intergrotating, while Malus proved once again just how great he was in deflecting the subjects. 

Venus didn’t show up until they were almost done with the meal, dressed to the nine with in a sparkling golden gown that accentuated her perfectly tanned skin and blonde hair. 

“My apologies, Your Majesties and Highnesses! I was so taken by the lovely gifts King Eiras has so generously bestowed upon me, I lost track of time!”

The collection of reaction around the table could have been amusing if Kalliope wasn’t so annoyed. Eiras looked absolutely ecstatic, his eyes strained on Venus’ exposed abdomen, while Queen Virille was seething with suppressed anger. And there was disgust in Malus eyes, but he quickly covered it by sipping his tea.

Now that was interesting… Of all the years growing up together and enduring Venus’ wild streak, this had been the first time Kalliope had seen someone not taken by her sister’s sultry looks.

“Not at all, my beloved!” Eiras pulled out a chair for Venus, already fawning, “My dear, if I may, you look absolutely ravishing.”

Venus took his hand with a bashful giggle, purposely jutting out her chest to brush against the King’s arm, “Oh, Your Majesty! You’re too much!”

Eiras guided her into her seat, his hand blatantly lingering a bit too long on her hip, “What’s a little compliment to your beauty, Princess?”

“Oh, Majesty! Just Venus is fine.”

“Then I insist, you must call me Eiras.”

Suddenly, Malus put down his teacup a bit too loudly, “Queen Virille, King Eira, if you’d excuse me...It has been lovely fasting with you all, but I believe my wife and I have some matters to discuss regarding our impending trip back to Caelora.”

Not expecting this, Kalliope gave him a wide-eyed look before scrambling to go along, “Y-yes! There is much to discuss!”

Something glinted in Queen Virille’s eyes, but she nodded, “Very well. Thank you both for attending us.”

Kalliope didn’t think Eiras really noticed what was going on, by the way he was staring at the too-sheer parts of Venus’ gown. But Venus herself did narrow her eyes at Kalliope, who looked away with a polite curtsy, before taking Malus’ offered hand. The two of them hurried outside, both glad to have avoided the spectacle in the dining hall.

“You do not like my sister much, do you?” Kalliope asked as they slowed to a more moderate pace.

“After what I have seen? No, if I have to be honest.” Malus tilted his head, his brows furrowed.

“How so? Most, if not all, men would be bewitched by the beholden sight of my sister and her...passion.”

“Ah, but I am not most men.” 

Kallioped raised an eyebrow, “I am sure you are not. However, that does not answer my question.”

“I will not deny that I have indulged myself in the pleasure of the flesh before.” Malus spoke carefully, “But I also do with moderation and certainly only with those I know. There are...diseases that can be carried and passed around by carnal acts. Some can even be lethal. All greatly affects your health.”

Kalliope grimaced. She had heard about this. But it had been easier to turn a blind eye to worry about it, when Venus clearly wouldn’t listen to any reason.

“Funny how you know about my sister’s reputation, when you didn’t know about me being a Sorceress.”

Malus’ chuckle was light, “I must admit...before I arrived at Aleria, I hadn’t the slightest clue about either of you. I only came out of obligation, and was going to send my younger brother in my stead. After you caught me off-guard on that balcony, I decided to do a little digging of my own.”

Kalliope wrinkled her nose, “I imagine that didn’t take long.”

“Not at all. You would be surprised how easily a maid would relinquish palace gossip just for a few smiles.”

She huffed, “I believe you.”

Eyes twinkling, Malus weaved a gloved hand into her fluttering hair.

“Kalliope, may I ask a question?”

“If you are going to ask what I think you are, then no, I have never participated in any of Venus’ orgies.”

That earned her a startled laugh, “And I am glad to hear that, but that isn’t what I have in mind.”

Kalliope motioned him to continue.

“You and your mother clearly seem disapproving of your sister’s actions. Why hasn’t anyone put a stop to it?”

“You think we haven’t tried?” She sighed, feeling another headache incoming, “But the matter is more delicate than who my sister takes to bed.”

“How so?”

Kalliope didn’t answer him right away. Instead of heading back to her room, she took a different turn, and led Malus to the palace’s garden.

The weather was nice this time of the year. Transitioning from spring to summer, it hadn’t quite brought the heat Aleria was so famous for, but the sun was warm against the skin, whilst harboring none of the early months’ humidity. All the plants were in full bloom, in all colors that made this place a tropical country. An artificial stream was built in the pattern of a Bird of Paradise, Aleria’s national crest, running around the whole garden, with the bird’s crown being an impressive fountain, spotting marble mer-horses and sea serpents statues decorations.

She purposely slowed her pace to let Malus admire the sight. This was her most favorite spot in the palace after all, and for good reasons. The royal garden was absolutely beautiful, a marvel to behold for one. And, secondly, nobody would disturb them here, in the privacy of Kallope’s greenhouse. 

Compared to the garden, Kalliope’s greenhouse was a bit overgrown and messy. The servants didn’t dare come here, fearing that there were poisonous plants for witchcraft purposes that might kill them. Looking at how her venus flytrap was strangling her daisies, Kalliope thought perhaps they had a point.

Over the years, Kalliope stopped trying to correct anyone, and found solace here instead, where her family became a little too much to handle.

She gestured Malus to sit down at her iron wrought table. He fumbled for a bit, as his armours clearly weren’t the most comfortable to maneuver around. Kalliope’s lips quirked up as she set to prepare some tea.

Water was easy to heat when you had magic.

“My family is complicated.” Kalliope began, her back to Malus, “As any other royal family, or so they would say. But I’d have to say our case is rather unique. Since my mother is a Fae, I am a Sorceress and my sister a whore.”

Malus was quiet. Listening in all his attentiveness. Kalliope was glad. She wasn’t sure if she would want to continue if he decided to be chatty.

“My parents’ love story...I am sure even you must know this, is some sort of fairytale. A legendary myth of a Prince who fell in love with a Fae Princess, who married and lived happily ever after, with two beautiful daughters. It is wonderful, but it’s a lie.”

Kalliope put two spoons of tea leaves into the ceramic pot, mixing them with chamomile and lavender. 

“You see, my father captured my mother on a drunken voyage with my late uncle. Mistaking my mother as a regular maiden, he r***d her. The Fae King, my very absent grandfather, was enraged, and thus my father and mother were forced to marry, else Aleria would be buried under the sea. To cover up their terrible deed, my uncle spread the tale throughout the kingdom, and the union between my mother and father was celebrated in very corner of the land.”

Kalliope set the tea aside to steep. She then pulled out a bundle of parchment, carefully unwrapping the poundcake inside. 

“My sister and I grew up believing in this lie. Venus was especially taken by it, dreaming of meeting her Prince Charming one day, just as my mother did in the tale. But mother was distant. She never gave her much of a glance, often locking herself in her chambers. I do believe the only reason why she gave me the time of her day was because I have magic, and that I would be useful to her someday.”

Cutting the cake into even slices, Kalliope arranged them onto a plate, and brought it over to the table with the tea.

“My father, for all his wrong-doings and sins, for the very least, loved us with all his heart. He did his best to keep us happy, to dote on Venus when she felt left out, and made me smile when the rest of the palace was terrified of me. He was always the first to come to my defense whenever there was an assassination attempt, the first to comfort me in my terror. Unfortunately, that was also how he died. Defending me, when an assassin stuck a knife in his back.”

Carefully, Kalliope poured them each a cup of tea.

“Venus cried for days. Mother didn’t seem to care at all. If there was any semblance of love between them, it broke the day my father died. The kingdom fell into mourning. My uncle started drinking. I stumbled upon him yelling at my mother’s closed door, multiple times. Despite everything that had happened, I believe my uncle loved my mother, and had hoped that after my father died, he would have a chance. It was twisted, but so was life.”

She sat down on the opposite chair from Malus, stirring her cup thoughtfully.

“Tragedy struck on one such drunken night. Instead of going to my mother’s room, it was Venus’ room that he stumbled into. I heard my sister’s scream. I came running. I would never forget that image of my uncle forcing himself upon my sister. He would have done the same to me too, had my magic not flared up and killed him as he made to grab me. We were only nine then.”

Kalliope looked at Malus’ eyes, seeing the horror and pity swirling in deep blue. She smiled, cold and distant.

“We both changed drastically and differently since that day. Venus became who she is, and I became who I am. Without my father and uncle in power, mother can do whatever she wishes. But bitter as she is, she still understands it would not play out in her favour with the people, nor the neighbouring kingdoms, should the truth be uncovered. So she left it to rot and fester, and Venus along with it.”

Taking a sip of her tea, Kalliope waited, patiently, as Malus processed everything and overcame his initial shock.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because while I agree that my sister’s actions should be frowned upon, and my mother’s choices can be questionable.” Kalliope put down her cup and threaded her fingers together, “In the grand scheme of things, they are but victims of those who trampled upon them. If this would be how they cope, so be it. But you, and anyone else, as a stranger, have no right to judge them.”

Malus didn’t say anything. Not for a long while. But when he did, he stopped Kalliope’s heart.

“Kalliope, you are too selfless for your own good.”