Beasts Of Blackcastle

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight: In The Eyes Of Lusty Beasts

:! :! : :! :! :

As the night seeped into her skin she learnt of its darker secrets and appalled she was but nevertheless the less intrigued. The darkness lured her in with its irresistible mystery until she was too deep in and she lost herself.

_! _! _! _! _

The Slovar Full Moon Ball was a distasteful inevitably that princess Venia wished she could just forget but she could not. The Ball was on every servant's lips and when she did not get an overly healthy dose of it from them, she got it from Vye, her brothers and especially from her father. This was not her ideal of freedom. She had barely learnt and enjoyed the luxuries that unbridled fun and buoyancy has to offer, yet she was now being forced to give it up.

"A husband is not a prison."I mother had repeated to her just this morning as they were going through the candidates together and she had to pretend she was even bothered with seeing and hearing about the men who'll claim her as though she is some possession.

"If not, then what are they?" She argued in the best attempt not to sound disrespectful but she clearly felt very strongly about the topic. After all she had heard from her married cousins, from Vye and from her brothers, she was very certain that marriage was not for her. She was an advocate of liberty, she was a seeker of all the liberties and she did not just free herself from the beast just to give herself to another man who will hide her and control how she lives.

"If marriage is so bad, I wouldn't have been with your father for as long as I have. Do I look miserable and taken advantage of?" Queen Nulika spoke so softly like she was marketing the most desirable item while she brushed her hair. Princess Venia went silent until she had something more lenient to say other than the retorts coming to her that would have came across as disrespectful.

"You got lucky. I do not feel I'll be so fortunate but I'll attend the Ball, you need not to worry about that doesn't mean I'll let you have to deal with father. I'll be there and hopefully I'll be as lucky as you have been." Was there even a hint of truth in what she said? Deep within her she knew what she wanted.

_! _! _!

Elvysin time

Princess Venia's P. O. V

Despite my disdain, I knew that I had to take father's threat very seriously, but I was not aiming to impress him nor to make him think that I am happy about this arrangement he is trying to force me into. I would never call myself immature, but the decision I took was pretty spiteful, in a every way, a childish kind of spiteful. I smiled devilishly as I honed my sword, the imagery of my darling father's face distorting to a deep frown giving me a wicked amount of excitement for the next coming weeks. I knew exactly what I was going to do to avoid binding myself to a strange man who only seeks a woman like me only to have warmth he can nestle his p***s in every night. I had a strategy, as expected for a master strategist like myself, I approached this the same way I would approach any battle.

"Princess," Mordesa rushed to her knees and bowed her head, "you called for me, I came as soon as I could." She was panting, meaning she had come running at my request.

"I can tell," I chuckled lightly and she exchanged me a sweet smile, "I am surprised you didn't fall. Those Odins are quite stubborn aren't they?" I handed her my favourite sword and she quickly tended to it, fealty wiping it with a soft cloth.

"Bruss is the worst of them, but his wing is recovering quite well." She apprised and I almost squealed with excitement.

Bruss was like my baby, he was by far the fiercest, most intelligent Ordin I have ever trained. Ordins are very large creatures that look like strange, bewitched specie of dragons, except their bodies are furry instead of scaly and their wings are fleshly, yet lined with feather- like growths as well. Our kingdom is the only one that has these magnificent creatures, which are formidable weapons on the battle ground.

"That is great news! You have done an amazing job tending to his injuries. I actually called you here because I would like for you to arrange a meeting for me, make it a dinner date." I told her and she nodded her head pensively. She must be surprised, I hardly ever request dates. Everyone knows that such a scene is not for a tom- boy like myself, I would much rather be in my fight boots, wrestling goblins.

"Who do you have in mind, princess? I do not mean to be presumptuous, but I am excited that you have finally considered pleasing his highness' greatest desire." Her pine green eyes lit up as she spoke. Mordesa has been my Lady- In- Waiting since I was five years old and she has been envisioning my wedding since I turned eighteen. She has already chosen the gown for the occasion, so you can imagine just how high her excitement has peaked at the prospect of her finally getting to wear it.

It is baffling to me, why is everyone excited for me to become a bed- warmer?

"It is not like he gave me much of a choice. I will be seeing Minister Rydrin tonight." I told her.

Mordesa knitted her brows, her expression giving away her thoughts towards the mentioned man, "Forgive me for asking, princess, but will you be seeing him as a potential suitor or as a man on business?"

I shook my head. I was not foolish enough to reveal my plans to her. As much as we are close and I trust her, I cannot risk her running her lips to my father and foiling my plans. "I would rather not say, Mordesa, just make it happen, thank you." I blew her a kiss as I walked away.

•|•|•| ---- |•|•|•|

"You know, I dream of one day reaching the stars, imagine how beautiful it must be up there."

"Mhhmm…" I nodded my head absent-mindedly, Rydrin's soft voice had failed to register. We currently stargazing and I was working up the courage to ask him for a favour.

A very audacious and possibly life-changing favour.