The Samodiva And The Dragon

2. Birthday Gift

-Diva-

A couple of months after my first ritual, my so-called coming of age as a nymph, my mom was killed. It was said that she passed away from unknown reasons and it was never found what happened to her. Everyone knows she was killed, even though they have no idea how and who really did it. People like talking and spreading rumors. Especially if it is for the royals. The one that they love the most is that my mom - the queen, was a witch, and my father - the king, finally fell out of her bewitchment and that's why he killed her. She was found in the throne hall, laying on the floor as if she had just fallen asleep there, with her hands neatly put on top of her chest - as regal as ever. It was obvious that her body was left there or laid out to look as it did. Nobody dies like that if not from a natural death. I guess that was the purpose of arranging her body the way it was. The thing that bothered me the most was that her beautiful golden hair was cut at the base and missing. There were hundreds of stories people spread about it. According to one, my father killed her, because he had a mistress and the said lover of his demanded to possess the queen's beauty. That's why she was deprived of her luscious blond hair. There was a lot of gossip, they said my mom was a spy and another spy was sent to take her out. And just like that, all kinds of crap poured on my family from no other than our own "loyal" subjects. The worst thing about all of it is that my father never proved them wrong, or denied any of those accusations.

Many times I thought he had killed her and kept the hair to make him stronger, but the magic of it doesn't work like that. He would actually have to keep her alive to be able to suck from her life source. By killing her, yes, he would suck her life out of her, but that would eventually exhaust. Or maybe there was some magical incantation that my father used to be able to feed on the chopped hair. I don't know, but I doubted him so many times through the years. I'm not even sure he knows what she was, what I am. I never had the chance to ask my mom if she shared this secret with him. I did ask Aunt Yaga. And she was reluctant to answer my questions, any questions concerning my mom, as if she knew too much, and I was allowed to know too little. If that even makes any sense. She definitely knows what happened to my mom, but is refusing to tell me, and all she said was that she knows nothing about my parents' relationship and what they used to share with each other. Which I'm sure wasn’t very true, because she was my mom’s best friend, if not the only one. She was more than that, she was as close to her as a mother is, but she was as cold as stone to me. She keeps our relationship strictly teacher - student, no strings attached.

I tried to confront my father several times about mom's death, but he would dismiss me saying I was acting childish. I did not understand why he would treat me as an inconvenience. Well, I still don’t understand it. I remember playing with my parents all the time. After she wasn't around anymore, he withdrew himself. I would see him only at meals if he was in the palace. The last time we spoke more than just empty greetings was... Not even sure we ever have had a real conversation.

I'm already seventeen. Well, today is my birthday. In a little over a couple of months it will be ten years since somebody killed my mom and I still can't forgive my father, that he couldn't find who was responsible for ripping her away from me. I still can't forgive him, he didn't care enough for me, to put in the effort to be around.

It is time to get ready for dinner. That’s the only occasion - my birthday, I know he would show up for, even though I somewhat resent him, I'm also excited. But it could be as well because tonight is a new moon, and I am already feeling the need to go into the forest, under the dark sky, and let go of all the built-up frustrations.

Every month around this time, I'd feel the need to dance, to let go. I would feel the nymph calling in my blood. And it is not only a spiritual need, it is a physical one as well. It feels somewhat like stomach cramps, but it also comes with a slowly intensifying burning sensation, and it goes away only if I dance. The first time it happened, I was so scared, but back then my mom was still here, told me what it was and helped me slip out of the castle through secret passages that I guess the guards had no idea of. Since then, I have been going into the woods every month with the help of aunt Yaga. She would watch out just in case someone was looking for me while I was gone. Here and there when I was sure no one would look for me, I would slip out of the castle using the same tunnels and go explore the village, but it was on very rare occasions. It was very difficult to blend in. Blond hair is not very popular around here, and I’m too noticeable in a crowd.

I felt anxious while waiting for Father in the dining hall, so we could "celebrate" together. I know those walls as well as my own palms. Light brown in color with golden swirls around the windows and heavy velvet drapes hanging from the ceiling all the way to the floor. The curtain by the servants' door is missing a thistle and the one it has left is faded. There is a bunch of art hanging with heavily decorated frames, and all the pieces are war scenes between mythological creatures. I’ve never seen any other art around the castle. I’ve spent so many dinners in this hall all alone and my only companions have been the walls and the paintings.

A servant comes in and tells me he is running late, and I could start my meal. Even though we grew apart during the years, this is what never changed - he would be here for my birthdays. I felt sad that he left me alone exactly on that day. Being a nymph is something that connects me with my mom, but separates me from my father. It doesn't matter if he knows about it or not.

While I am still eating, Aunt Yaga enters the hall, and it makes me happy that someone is going to share this evening with me, even if it is her, but when I look at her face, her lips are pressed together in a line with a sorrowful expression in her eyes. Before I even open my mouth to ask what was going on, Father comes in with a couple of more men following him. I have never seen those men before. They are in their early forties and have bulky body structures, very muscular and rough. Their hair and eyes are dark, almost black. Their clothing is different from ours. While the men here wear wool pants and cotton shirts with woven tops. Those men have leather trousers, their upper bodies also wrapped in leather and some metal embellishments. They seem out of place, but at the same time very confident and at ease.

My father smiles widely at me and says:

"Sunshine, today is a big day! Very soon two kingdoms are going to become one!" He hasn't called me "sunshine" since I was seven. I can't understand what he is talking about. Is he remarrying?!

"Diva, these gentlemen are from the Zmey kingdom, representatives of the crowned prince. As it appears, the Zmey royal males could marry only females that are born on the same day as them. And today is the crown prince's birthday."

At that moment, I finally got where this conversation was going. After a brief pause, he continues:

"Diva, prince Trak Zmey chose you to be his future wife!"

I feel my whole world crumbling down. My father is voluntarily sending me away to no other than the Zmey kingdom. They are famous as the most ruthless and vicious people of all the kingdoms around. A loving and caring father would never willingly send his child to them. But he hasn't been such since my mom died. So he really hates me for looking just like her and being just like her. He truly doesn't want me around. I am shocked, and have no words. His voice takes me out of my stupor.

"Of course, the prince is older than you, and he would have to wait till your eighteenth birthday to be able to claim you as his wife."

I feel warm liquid sliding down my cheeks. I reach to wipe it and realize it is tears. Briskly, I pick up the bottom of my dress and run out of the dining hall. I can’t stand and listen to that nonsense. I feel betrayed. Betrayed from the only person I have left to be there for me, and he doesn't want me at all! I run, and run. I have no idea when and how I went through the tunnels and out into the forest. Tears kept rolling down my face. I get to the lake shore and drop on my knees in the mud.

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess and on her seventeenth birthday her father gave her one of a kind surprise. An unforgettable gift - a husband, most likely double her age if not more, heartless and malicious, who would want to use her only for breeding!