Fated to the cursed

Chapter4

The next day, the clan woke up as usual, going about their daily activities. Armonie sat in Vara’s tent, getting fitted into a dress which was going to be used for her wedding. The cloth was to be cinched on the waist, spilling into a flowing dress from the waist down and to get that cinched waist, her aunt tightened the ropes on her waist.

“Must it be this tight, Aunty?” Armonie asked.

“Yes, and you know that Armonie,” Vara answered. She grunted as she pulled the ropes and then tied them. Armonie could barely breathe. Her chest felt constricted in the cloth. It was a red in colour, which was the colour that a young human bride wore on her wedding day.

“Perfect,” Vara said, beaming at her handiwork.

The cloth was made of the finest material and it was soft to the touch. While a deep red, it still complimented her hair colour which was ginger. The sleeves billowed at her shoulders, cascading down her arms to her wrist. She fidgeted in the gown, trying to loosen the rope.

“Armonie! You should let the dress be. It is no fault of mine that you have more curves which means the ropes need to be tightened to make them smaller.”

“I just do not like the feeling of being trapped in such clothing.”

“You better get used to it as you will be wearing it all day tomorrow.”

This realization caused Armonie’s expression to darken, knowing that tomorrow was the day she would finally marry Borus.”

"Now, let me get you out of the clothes," Vara said, helping Armonie loosen the ropes.

She breathed out in relief when the last ropes were loosened and she proceeded to pull the clothes from her shoulders. The tent opened and they both turned to see who came in. It was Borus and on seeing him, Armonie stopped pulling her clothes and held them against her chest.

"It's a fine day," Vara said to him.

“Indeed it is," he said, his eyes not leaving Armonie who stood petrified under his gaze.” I would like to speak to my bride for a moment,” He said to Vara. She looked between the two of them, then she left.

“I see you are prepared for our wedding.” He walked forward to where she stood and trailed his hands down her naked arm. Goosebumps broke out of her skin as she felt irritated by the action.

“You are going to be a perfect wife to me.” He took a step backwards. “Pull off the entire clothe. ”

Armonie was appalled. “It is not appropriate, Borus,” she said with a shaky voice.

“I said pull off your clothes!” Borus said in a loud voice, his face getting red with anger.

“But…” He came close before she could complete her sentence and held her neck with both hands.

“I am your husband and you will do what I say,” he said.

Armonie began to tremble, her heart was beating in fear. She wished that there was someone who would just walk in and stop the nightmare from happening. She began to remove the gown, letting it fall and pool around her feet.

“Look at me," Borus ordered. She looked up to see the lust in his up. She had the urge to cover her body with her arms, but instead lowered her eyes to the ground in humiliation.

“Look at me,” Borus ordered. She looked up to see the lust in his eyes. He reached out and held her breast, squeezing it painfully.

There was a sound of a horn blowing outside. It was not a sound that was frequently heard as it announced that there is danger in the clan or that someone great had died. Borus stopped what he was doing. The horn was blown again and he left Armonie, rushing outside. Armonie breathed a sigh of relief. She shakily pulled up a dress and wore it.

This was the man she was supposed to get married to and he had found a way to humiliate her. She was glad for the distraction,although a dangerous one. She wondered what was going and went outside after her heart had calmed down and she was no longer shaking.

Everyone had gathered together. There was a man all in black atop a black, magnificent horse. He came down from the horse and approached her father who had come out to meet him. Her father stood with Borus, and his father and some other men.

“Clay, there’s an issue. The king, prompted by the attack on the shifter’s village has ordered his men to search the human clans,” he said. “Two clans have been burnt down already.”

There was murmuring. Armonie could see that her father’s face was masked, showing no emotion but not before she saw a flash of anger his eyes.

“Let us take this inside and discuss it, ” her father said to the man and they proceeded to walk inside a huge tent.

Armonie stood for a moment even after her father and the men had left and everyone had dispersed. Her arms were around herself.

“Armonie,” her aunty called out. “Why do you stand there? Come back in for your fitting.”

Armonie just stood there, her mind in a mess as what happened moments ago.

Armonie’s father, Clay Garon paced the tent. There was a big round table with eight chairs around it. The men who had followed him into the tent sat on them while he paced.

“We need to act fast,” he said, stopping before the table and placing his meaty hands on them, looking at Borus and his father. “You promised to get more wolf’s bane, Carus.”

Carus, Borus’ father sat upright. He was a huge man with a bald head and full beard sat upright. The chair creaked under his weight.

“And that would be fulfilled when your daughter is fully married to my son.”

“That will surely happen. You know that the Nightshade clan does not go back on their word,” Clay Garon said.

“We know that,” Borus said. He was reclining on his chair, an apple in his hands. He threw it up once and caught it, then sat up. “But this was our agreement and until your part is fulfilled, then we must hold back the wolf’s bane.”

“Do you forget that if the king’s men get here, you would burn with us?” He said, enunciating the words slowly. His face was becoming red with anger.

“And that wouldn’t happen. Unlike the Nightshade clan, we the Sun clan have a way to defend ourselves,” Borus said.

"This bickering is not helping," the man in black who had brought the message said. "We need to find a way to evade the king's men."

"What clans has the king's men gotten so far?" Clay asked, turning to the man in black.

"The Creet and the Durse clan."

"Those clans are still far away from us," Clay Garon said. "Tomorrow, you wed my daughter, Armonie and then you will fulfill your end of the bargain."

Armonie always felt close the moon, like it was watching over her. She sat on a tree which bordered the clan’s territory, looking at the moon. It was full, casting its silvery light upon the earth. She wondered why the moon always felt like a companion. Who lived there?

Humans did not worship the moon, but the sun god which was what gave them light, and made their plants grow. The night is filled with fear and creature unknown. Humans do better in the day when they can see, and so they pay homage to the god of the sun. Why then does she feel like she has a confidant on the moon? It was silly, she knew but she always looked at the moon and felt like she was meant for something more

She raised her face up, her curly hair blowing in the wind and she felt peace.

At Bloodbane, King Zared stood outside his room on the balcony. His face was turned upwards to the moon which illuminated his face. His jaws were covered in a trimmed beard, which enhanced his handsomeness. His eyes were closed, brushing his long lashes on his cheek.

His mind was so far away, and although his face maintained a calm expression, his heart was in a war. He felt like he had something precious out there that he needed to go and find. Was it his mate? His beast was clawing to rise to the surface but he needed to keep him in check, otherwise there was going to be bloodshed. He knew what he had to do to calm his beast, kill.