Shackled Sorceress

Chapter 1 - The Royal Family

Kalliope’s encounter with Prince Malus was quickly forgotten in the morning’s preparations. She was woken up at the crack of dawn, almost slept through the entire process as maids busied themselves with her gown, and cussed under her breath as she was tasked with waking her sister.

Trailing down the hall, Kalliope bit back a yawn. It was only well-practiced routines and instinct that reminded her to cover her nose and mouth before pushing Venus’ door open, not bothering with a knock.

As expected, the carnal mess inside was difficult to stomach. There were men, and women, strewn all around Venus’ vast chambers, same as the various discarded articles of clothing. Some were still shamelessly rutting, one of whom was over Kalliope’s beloved sister. 

Venus wasn’t even conscious, and yet the man on top of her was still thrusting between her open legs, lazily tugging at her abused breasts. Another man had her lax hand wrapped around his erection as he kneeled above Venus’ face, jerking with the rhythm of a mad man.

For a moment, Kalliope seriously contemplated drowning the entire room in flame. 

She kicked the door loudly instead.

Groans and murmurs rose around the room. The small crowd of debauchery Venus had gathered seemed confused as to why they were woken up. 

“I’d suggest you leave Her Highness’ chambers, ladies and gentlemen.” Kalliope spoke, mouth and nose still wisely behind her sleeve, “Her Highness is due for her duties, and it would be a shame if the Queen herself has to come and summon her daughter in person.”

There were addled arguments. Most weren’t fully awake yet and some were still drunk. On wine or s*x, Kalliope wasn’t entirely sure. But her patience was running thin.

The air in the room suddenly dropped several degrees colder, enough for steam to gather above naked flesh. It was the same effect as dousing them all with a giant bucket of ice water. If Kalliope didn’t get everyone’s attention then, she surely had now.

“Out. Now.” Eyes glowing, she let her power bled into her voice. 

Almost immediately, Venus’ orgy gathered whatever cloth for modesty, before pouring out of her chambers, terrified. The only one left was the Princess herself, cussing over being rudely woken.

Rolling her eyes, Kalliope held her breath as she quickly strode across the room, and pulled the heavy curtains open.

Venus’ screech filled Kalliope with vindictive satisfaction, which was immediately chased away by disgust as the naked Princess pulled her quilted comforter over herself. The same comforter that was still wet with every bodily fluid imaginable.

“You are such a slop.” Kalliope complained, pushing the windows open, which earned her another cuss from Venus.

“And you’re such a killjoy.” Venus’ voice was muffled, further disgusting Kalliope, “Can you please release whatever crazy hex you cast? I’m freezing my t**s off.”

“Maybe you wouldn’t have if you went to bed clothed for once.” Kalliope retorted, but dispelled her magic anyway. 

Squinting green eyes peeked at her from under the blanket, “Only a prude like you would suggest such an outrageous notion.”

“Have you ever considered it is your fault that I am such a prude?” Kalliope sighed, then came over to offer Venus her hand, “Come, let’s get you into the bath. Mother would be furious if you miss breakfast. Again.”

“Mother this, mother that...Has it ever occurred to you that you’d go so far if you stop doing whatever that pleases her?” Venus grumbled, but took Kalliope’s hand anyway. The latter chuckled airily, and passed her sister a robe that wasn’t, for the most part, soiled.

“So you have reminded me every chance you have.” 

“And I would continue to do so every day, until you listen to me for once.”

As always, the bathhouse was ready upon their arrival. Discarding their clothes, the sisters slipped into the steaming water. Venus hissed.

“Ow, ow, ow...My n*****s are chaffed!”

Kalliope raised a pale eyebrow at her sister over the mist, “You are lucky they are only chaffed. With the way that animal was pulling at them, I thought they would have fallen off.”

Green eyes glared at her blearily. But the glare soon turned into a leer as Venus slithered over, nudging at Kallope’s thigh with her hip. Suspicious, Kalliope edged away, which only made Venus’ grin grew wider.

“So? How was it? Did anyone special catch your attention last night?”

Kalliope scowled, “Hard to, when all of them were so busy buzzing around you.”

“Aw...Is my baby sister jealous? But I saw a hunk of a man following you, though. Wasn’t he Caelora’s infamous War Prince?”

Damn Venus and her nosiness. If Kalliope wasn’t so annoyed, she would have been impressed with her sister’s acute attention.

“First off, I am only four minutes younger than you. And maybe. But I definitely did not invite him.”

Venus’ leer intensified, “You’re being pricklier than usual. Do you liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiike him?”

Kalliope’s stare was frosty, “I do not. And have you forgotten? The party was for you to find a suitor, not me.”

All traces of smiles slipped away from Venus’ face, “Don’t remind me. Ah, here goes my freedom! My ability to f**k whomever I choose! My free and lustful nights! My daring escapades and sated womanly desires! My-Gack!”

She sputtered when Kalliope magick-ed a ball of water in her face. 

“Treason! Treason I say! My dearest sister, my future Sorceress Supreme, is plotting to drown me in bath water!!! Oh, the woes!”

Delirious, Venus giggled at Kalliope’s unamused stare. Still, as tough as she wanted her facade to be, Kalliope’s mask was soon chipped, and she found herself smirking at Venus’ idiocy.

“I think it will take more than that to kill you.”

Venus let out one last chuckle before sobering up. Turning to face Kalliope, who turned away, because she hated it when Venus looked at her so adoringly. With a sigh, the elder twin used both hands to coax her sister to look at her.

“But I’m serious, Kallie.” Venus called her childhood nickname, leaning down to peer into Kalliope’s eyes when she tried to divert them, “You’re old enough to make your decision now. Wouldn’t you be happier? Away from Aleria? Away from my madness?”

“...I told you, I wouldn’t.” Kalliope shook her head, wincing when she felt her cheeks being squished, “I wouldn’t be happy, having to serve some King or Prince so far away.”

“But what about your adventures? Your wish to travel and explore the world? You wouldn’t shut up about them when we were young, and-”

“And I wouldn’t be able to fulfill them anyway, should I agree to be someone’s broodmare.” Kalliope pried Venus’ hands away. But instead of dropping them, Kalliope clasped them with her own, above her heart, “But once you are Queen, then perhaps I can do so. Not only for my selfish desires, but for the good of the kingdom as well. Besides...Someone has to watch your back, right?”

There was something in her sister’s green eyes. Something sad, old and piteous. Kalliope finally let go of her sister and turned away.

“Kalliope...You are far too selfless for your own good.”

They finished bathing is silence.

Breakfast with their mother, Queen Virille, was stiff. Especially when they turned up a whole eight-teen minutes late. There was a firm line to Her Majesty’s lips, and though she did not voice her displeasure, it was unspokenly understood that the Queen knew of Venus’ debacle last night.

Despite being in her late fifties, the Queen didn’t look a day older than a twenty-something maiden, due to her fae blood. Fair-skinned with pale hair, she could have been mistaken as Kalliope’s twin instead of Venus, if it wasn’t for her glowing green eyes.

There wasn’t a shred of conversation between them, despite the two Princesses sitting on either sides of the Queen’s chair, closer than they usually were due to the preparations needed for the day’s activities. And there wouldn’t have been a conversation, should there wasn’t a need for one.

“Venus. I trust you have a prospective suitor list in mind?”

Carefully placed her cutlery down, Venus straightened her posture and threaded her fingers over her abdomen, “Yes, Mother.”

“Names and reasons.”

Venus’s shoulders stiffened for a second. Kalliope directed her focus on the tiny slice of smoked salmon on her plate, her gut heavy for her sister.

Sideliner or not, at least Kalliope wasn’t the one forced into a marriage out of convenience.

“In order of importance: King Eiras of Alari. His trading land routes combined with our sea routes would bring great wealth to both kingdoms. Alari is also known for its prosperous lands. With careful negotiations, we can bring settlers deeper into mainland, and solidify our claims.”

Kalliope winced at the monotone in her sister’s voice. Even she knew who Eiras was. He was a just King, but also an old one, and his dalliances were infamous. 

“Second would be Prince Elraq of Imgroth. While not being Crown Prince, he was the General of Imgroth, commanding a great army that could secure our borders.”

Kalliope tuned out her sister’s droning, knowing that Venus was not happy with any of the options. 

But Venus’ marriage wasn’t meant to be happy, was it?

“...What about Crown Prince Malus of Caelora?”

Kalliope blinked upon recognising the name. Somehow, people were awfully interested in mentioning this man’s name today. She looked up, and saw her sister tensed in her chair.

“Caelora is a bit too far away. Despite their military might, I do not think-...”

“If he offers to take your hand, agree.” There was no room for argument in Virille’s voice, “The Empire of Caelora is growing far too rapidly for us to turn down an offer. Should he offer to take you, that is.”

“But Mother, I-”

“You will marry him, should he ask for your hand. That is not up for discussion.”

Hatred swirled in Venus’ eyes. If she gritted her teeth any harder, they would have cracked under the pressure.

“...As you wish, Your Majesty.”