EPISODE 2: The Black Invitation
1238 Words
THE BLACK INVITATION
Lucia did not sleep that night.
She remained beside the attic window until the candle burned itself into darkness.
The voice kept returning to her.
"Run."
She didn't know whether it had truly spoken her name or whether exhaustion had finally driven her mind into madness.
But she knew one thing.
The voice had come from the forest.
And somehow, she wasn't afraid of it.
She was afraid of staying.
Three days.
That was all the time she had before Lord Malachi Ravenscroft came to claim her.
Lucia looked down at the wedding announcement lying on her table.
The black ink seemed to mock her.
LUCIA VALE AND LORD MALACHI RAVENSCROFT.
Her name beside his.
She felt sick.
She picked up the parchment and tore it in half.
Then again.
And again.
Until nothing remained but scraps.
A knock sounded.
Lucia froze.
The door opened.
Seraphina entered.
Her eyes immediately fell upon the torn parchment.
"You foolish girl."
Lucia said nothing.
Seraphina crossed the room and grabbed her hair.
"You think tearing a piece of paper will stop the wedding?"
Lucia winced.
"I don't want to marry him."
"You will."
"Why?"
"Because Lord Malachi has agreed to provide grain for this household."
"And what happens to me?"
Seraphina released her.
"You will have everything you need."
Lucia laughed bitterly.
"A husband who frightens me?"
"A husband who can feed you."
"I would rather starve."
Seraphina's expression hardened.
"Be careful what you wish for."
She turned toward the door.
Before leaving, she paused.
"Your wedding dress arrives tomorrow."
Then she shut the door.
Lucia waited until her footsteps disappeared.
She went to the small chest beneath her bed.
Inside was the only thing she had left from her mother.
A silver pendant.
Lucia held it tightly.
"I wish you were here."
A cold breeze entered through the window.
The candle flame flickered.
Lucia looked up.
The silver pendant suddenly became warm.
She gasped.
For one brief second, she heard a man's voice.
"Don't trust the queen."
Lucia stood completely still.
Then the warmth disappeared.
She stared at the pendant.
"The queen?"
Why would a voice from the forest warn her about Queen Vespera?
And why did it sound almost like the beast?
---
The following morning, Lucia went to the village market.
Seraphina had ordered her to buy flour.
The streets were crowded with starving people.
A mother begged for bread.
A man argued with a merchant over a handful of potatoes.
An old woman collapsed near the fountain.
Lucia rushed toward her.
"Please, someone help!"
Nobody stopped.
Everyone was too hungry to care.
Lucia knelt.
"Are you all right?"
The woman grabbed her wrist.
Her eyes suddenly became wide.
"You..."
Lucia frowned.
"What?"
The old woman stared at her pendant.
"Where did you get that?"
"My mother gave it to me."
The woman's face went pale.
"Your mother?"
"Yes."
The woman looked around nervously.
"Hide it."
Lucia touched the pendant.
"Why?"
"Because the queen will recognize it."
Before Lucia could ask another question, the woman pushed away and disappeared into the crowd.
Lucia stood frozen.
The queen again.
What was happening?
Then she heard horses.
The crowd immediately moved aside.
A black carriage entered the marketplace.
Its windows were covered with dark curtains.
The royal crest was painted across its door.
Queen Vespera's carriage.
Lucia stepped backward.
The carriage stopped.
The door opened.
No one emerged.
Instead, a gloved hand slowly extended from inside.
Lucia stared.
Then the hand withdrew.
The carriage continued down the street.
Lucia's heart pounded.
She suddenly had the terrible feeling that whoever sat inside had been looking directly at her.
---
That evening, Lord Malachi arrived.
Lucia heard his carriage before she saw him.
She stood in the hallway as he entered the manor.
His expression was unreadable.
Seraphina hurried toward him.
"My lord."
Malachi kissed the back of her hand.
"Lady Seraphina."
Then his eyes found Lucia.
He smiled.
"Lucia."
She lowered her head.
"My lord."
He approached.
"I hope you are prepared."
"For what?"
"For our marriage."
Lucia said nothing.
Malachi leaned closer.
"You tried to escape yesterday."
Her eyes widened.
"How did you know?"
"I know everything that happens in my future wife's house."
Lucia stepped backward.
He smiled.
"Don't worry."
His voice was soft.
Almost gentle.
That frightened her more.
"I don't like frightened women."
He touched her cheek.
"I prefer obedient ones."
Lucia moved away.
Malachi's smile disappeared.
"Three days, Lucia."
He turned toward Seraphina.
"Make sure she understands."
Seraphina nodded.
Malachi left.
Lucia watched him disappear.
She knew then.
She had to escape.
---
That night, Lucia packed a small bag.
A dress.
Some bread.
Her mother's pendant.
A blanket.
She tied everything together.
Then she stood at the attic window.
The forest was visible beneath the moonlight.
Black.
Silent.
Waiting.
Lucia whispered:
"If you're real..."
Nothing happened.
She swallowed.
"Help me."
The wind stopped.
Then came a sound.
A low growl.
Lucia froze.
Not from fear.
From recognition.
The beast.
Two golden eyes appeared between the trees.
Lucia stepped closer to the window.
"You told me to run."
The eyes remained fixed on her.
"Where?"
The creature slowly raised one enormous hand.
It pointed toward the forest.
Lucia's heart pounded.
She understood.
He wanted her to come.
But why?
Before she could think, the eyes disappeared.
---
The next morning, Lucia was awakened by screaming.
She ran downstairs.
A royal messenger stood in the hall.
He held a sealed letter.
"By order of Queen Vespera Nocturne."
Lucia's heart stopped.
The messenger looked directly at her.
"Lucia Vale is summoned to the palace."
Seraphina smiled.
Lucia stared at the black seal.
"What does the queen want with me?"
The messenger's expression changed.
"I was instructed not to say."
Lucia took the letter.
Her fingers trembled.
She broke the seal.
Inside was one sentence.
I KNOW WHAT LIVES IN THE FOREST.
Lucia's blood ran cold.
Below it was another.
AND I KNOW WHAT YOU WILL BECOME.
She looked toward the window.
The Blackwood Forest stood in the distance.
For the first time, the golden eyes did not appear.
Instead, a flock of black birds suddenly burst from the trees.
Seraphina watched Lucia carefully.
"You will go to the palace."
Lucia looked at her.
"What if I refuse?"
Seraphina smiled.
"Then I will personally make sure Lord Malachi knows you planned to escape."
Lucia's stomach tightened.
Seraphina leaned close.
"And believe me..."
Her voice became a whisper.
"...you don't want him angry."
Lucia lowered her eyes.
She had never felt so trapped.
The palace.
The wedding.
The forest.
The beast.
The queen.
Everything was connected.
And somewhere in the darkness, something was waiting for her.
That evening, as Lucia was being escorted toward the royal carriage, she glanced back at the manor.
Her father stood in the doorway.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, Lucia hoped he would stop her.
He didn't.
She climbed into the carriage.
As it began moving, she pressed her forehead against the window.
The palace grew closer.
The Blackwood Forest disappeared behind her.
But deep beneath the trees, Prince Azrael Draven stood watching.
His claws slowly curled into fists.
Because he knew something Lucia did not.
Queen Vespera had summoned her for only one reason.
The witch had finally discovered who the runaway bride was.
And she intended to make sure Lucia never reached the wedding altar alive.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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