Sweet Sacrifice

Thanks for even clicking on my story, I hope it is of your enjoyment. Everything you're about to read is purely the product of my imagination. All names and places are totally fictional and any resemblance to anything in real life, is merely a coincidence. So if you take the time to read my first chapter, please leave a review and let me know if you liked it or not.

SkeletonPrincess


Chapter 01: Perfect Arrangement

.:~:.

Krisstine Fletcher stared unblinkingly at the closed casket that held the remains of her beloved Aunt Alison, everything around her becoming a very annoying and noisy blur. She had just flown from her home in Puerto Rico for the funeral and the eight hour flight was still weighing very much on her shoulders. Her green eyes looked around the modest house, familiar faces spotting the massive crowd which was making the small living room practically unbearable. She watched amazed as the crowd parted in two like the Red Sea and Gentlewitch’s own, King Spenser strolled inside a pair of his most loyal guards at his side, all of them dressed in mourning black, but the King’s face was heavy with a burden no one but Krisstine understood. She knew why his face was one of gloom and it only made her insides churn harder when his hard blue gaze fell upon her ill and ailing Uncle Hector, her sole caretaker after her mother’s death.

Upon the sight of the elder King, the 22-year old’s mind was instantly flooded of memories of the old Sorciere Blanche castle in old Gentlewitch, which was just a couple of miles shy of the coast of France and in practically walking distance of the Sorciere Douce castle, in which King Spenser and his family resided. It had been over a dozen years back when she ran the castle’s halls, being chased by Caleb Danvers, son of King Spenser, as they were both toddlers. Both King Spenser and King Traven had grown together, pretty much like their parents and their grandparents, a very simple yet binding promise descending generation after generation: both kingdoms would rule their sides of Sorciere until, one family had a boy and the other family a girl; if it were to happen then those two would marry and the Blanche and Douce would become known as the Sorciere and it would rule the entire kingdom of Gentlewitch. Finally in 1984, Caleb Danvers was born to King Spenser and Evelyn Danvers, just a week before Krisstine Fletcher was born to King Traven and Alinda Fletcher. After so many generations finally the childhood friends would be able to fulfill their ancestors wishes and both kingdoms would become one, which would not only open the frontier but it would also mean more business for both sides. It had been when both Caleb and Krisstine turned 10, that their lives took an unexpected turn and they would not see each other for more than a decade.

Back then King Traven’s mistress Gracelove Songsteel was mad with jealousy after the King threatened to throw her out of the castle if she kept harassing his only daughter Krisstine. Alinda had been blinded by the fury and had confronted the mistress who had only gotten even angrier as she started thinking up ways to get rid of both Alinda and her daughter. In just a few short days though, Gracelove had been able to convince Traven about Alinda being unfaithful and most importantly for her, that Krisstine wasn’t his daughter. King Traven hadn’t thought twice before sending the two into exile, neither knowing of his mistakes or the fact that he’d never see Alinda alive again, for Gracelove wasn’t done with her yet. She had planned everything perfectly and for Alinda’s last breakfast she had something special. Something the kingdom’s sorceress, Fhaathra had made for her, and she hoped for Fhaathra’s well-being that it served its purpose, and served it, it did. The same day Alinda left the castle with a teary-eyed Krisstine, headed for her brother Hector’s house just out of Gentlewitch’s borders, she fell asleep, never to awake.

From that day forward, Hector, being named Krisstine’s caregiver, decided to move out of the surrounding areas of the kingdom and start anew someplace else, leaving just Hector‘s sister, Alison behind. Easily the both of them found their new home in the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. Merely a year after King Traven’s decision of sending Alinda and Krisstine into exile, one slip up from Gracelove was enough for him to realize his mistake, but nothing in his power would be enough to undo the damage. Soon he found that his beloved wife was dead, and his daughter had disappeared along with her uncle and hadn’t been heard of ever since. Those facts sent King Traven into a black abyss of depression, after he took his anger out on Gracelove and made her be stoned by the town and then hung, never before had anyone seen such fury being unleashed and from then on, everyone feared both Kings as they were both furious. But what no one knew was that Caleb Danvers was just as angry if not more. Even though he was merely 12 years old he now understood he’d never be able to marry his Krisstine, and for that he was morbidly livid.

Krisstine shook her head, successfully riding her mind of the almost forgotten memories, just as King Spenser sat down beside Hector, and as both men conversed quietly, she had a feeling that her world was about to take yet another drastic turn.

- I was wondering about, Krisstine’s whereabouts. - King Spenser’s usual harsh voice asked softly.

Hector Bolton’s glazed over gray eyes stared up at the elder face before looking around discreetly until his gaze landed on his niece’s worried expression.
- She’s doing just fine, why do you ask? - he asked, his voice trembling, but only because of his many illnesses.

King Spenser knew better than to beat around the bush, he went straight to the point.
- Is she still available for marriage? -

Hector’s eyes widened, but only for a split second, his eyes instinctively searching for Krisstine’s green ones.
- Why do you inquire? Hasn’t Caleb found a suitable replacement? -

- Not quite… he’s fiercely adamant about not marrying anyone else besides Krisstine, and since that has seemed pretty impossible since what happened… well, he’s practically given up on looking, but I can’t have that… I’m not going to live forever and there have to be descendants for our blood and our name to stay alive… so that our traditions can be kept intact… - he sighed, his stare dropping to his hands for a short while. - Besides it was what my beloved friend Traven wanted, and I want to uphold and fulfill the promise I made him on his death bed. -

Hector’s eyes became wide once again, but this time they stayed that way.
- So King Traven passed away? When? -

King Spenser sighed.
- Just about three years after the lies. - he replied tightly, feeling his blood boil at the mere thought of Gracelove, and the destiny both Alinda and Krisstine had to suffer because of her. - He died of a broken heart. - the King furthered sadly, shaking his graying head.

It was Hector’s turn to sigh. He knew he had the opportunity to allow Krisstine’s destiny to run it’s course and raised his gray eyes to gaze upon the King’s suddenly saddened features.
- Indeed, Krisstine is still available for marriage. - he nodded. - But you have to understand that she’s certainly not up to date with the way things are done in the kingdom, for she has grown up in an entirely different environment. One of freedom and equality between men and women, one where the woman does what she wishes and is able to both go to school and work to earn her own things, and that is what Krisstine is accustomed to. She’s in her last year of college, in business administration and she’s also working, although be it part-time at some party decoration store. -

King Spenser’s had brightened considerably upon hearing the good news. So Krisstine was still available. His heart leapt with joy, for he knew that destiny would be most certainly what it should’ve been from the very beginning of both Caleb and Krisstine’s existence.
- So, you being Krisstine’s caregiver… do you grant me her hand in marriage to my son Caleb? - he asked hopefully.

Hector sighed, knowing the time had come for his decision.
- If that’s what my Lord wants. -

Krisstine’s stomach churned with every passing moment. The conversation between King Spenser and her uncle had been dragging on and she, being almost on the other side of the room, wasn’t able to eavesdrop. She wanted so bad to be a fly upon the wall just to be able to know what her destiny held for her, for she knew that a conversation between those two men, meant a certain drastic turn in her life. Instantly she wondered if she would be able to go back to her life, to her school, her work, but most importantly for her… her friends. Something deep within told her not to hold her breath.
- I’ll turn blue. - she grumbled under her breath, her gaze locking back on the casket and wishing terribly that she was back home and not here. Not even Dorothy’s trick to click her heels twice worked this time.
- I’m doomed. - she whined to herself.

.:~:.

Caleb Danvers watched as the woman lazily got out of his bed and picked up her uniform from where it had been lying on the floor, when he had ripped it off her body and thrown it there. At his 22 years of age, he had already bedded more women than most men don’t bed in a lifetime, but none of it amounted to anything important, since none of those women were the one he longed for. When he was a small boy, his Father had promised him time and time again that when the time came, he would be the one to change Gentlewitch’s fate, when he married Krisstine Fletcher in order to blend both kingdoms into one. But, when King Traven had exiled his wife and his daughter, Caleb had understood that his dream to marry Krisstine would never come true and that alone changed the way he saw his future life entirely. For many years he had ignored his Father’s plea to find a woman fit to have the heir to the throne, and he planned on keeping it that way.

Quistina Windsailor finished adjusting her uniform, before batting her brown eyes at Caleb, still lying naked between the sheets.
- Was our romp to your liking? - she asked sweetly.

Caleb couldn’t help but roll his blue eyes before staring unmoving at the service girl. Okay, so she was by far the most concurrent woman in his life besides his Mother Evelyn, but that didn’t mean that she was in any way important.
- You were the same as always. - he shrugged nonchalantly. - You may leave now. -

Quistina’s shoulders slumped forward, but after a moment she regained her confident posture, for she knew Caleb would call her soon to make her his all over again, and she would wait for that moment, and then, amidst their passion she would take revenge for this insult.
- As you wish, my Lord. - she said bowing gracefully before exiting the quiet but massively grand bedroom.

It was times like these when Caleb found himself wishing he knew something about his beloved Krisstine. He had the same recurrent daydream where he would find her and finally be able to marry her and fulfill both of their destinies. Then they would be able to rule Gentlewitch and provide it’s people with a suitable heir. One they would look up to and adore just as they did him. He wanted so bad to be Krisstine’s Prince Charming, as he was when they were children, but that dream seemed every day more farfetched. He still remembered vividly, when Alinda and Evelyn would sit together at one of the many balconies of either castle and both mothers would tell the children stories of how they were destined for each other and how they would keep their family name going, thus keeping the promise that had been passed down from generation to generation.

But the day Krisstine left Gentlewitch, his heart had frozen over and the only love he allowed himself to show was that to his Mother, but nothing else. Caleb Danvers became void of any other emotion besides lust and anger. Many of his lovers were driven away by that simple notion, while many others were quite simply, but not kindly, told not to come back. As he slid down on his bed, the rumpled sheets twisted wildly around himself, he wondered quietly how Krisstine’s life had gone. Then he was struck by the unnerving thought that maybe, she wasn’t even alive and his blood ran cold. He could clearly remember, when King Traven had found out about the deceit he had been victim of, he had tried everything within his power to find her, he’d sent out the royal guard to the outsides of Gentlewitch, in order to find out any information about either Alinda or Krisstine.

Shivers ran down his spine as he relieved in his mind the moment he’d heard the horses hooves loud clanking on the castle’s stone entrance. Even today the sound made him shudder. The royal guards had entered the castle in a somber mood, their faces betraying the nature of the news… they weren’t good.

- Well… - King Traven spoke anxiously, King Spenser standing a few feet behind him, while Caleb hid behind a column, wanting to know what the news were. - Tell me what you found out, immediately. - he ordered.

Xanfire Wyvenjack cleared his throat, for he didn’t want to have to repeat the disgraced news he beared. - Miss Alison was kind enough to instruct us upon Queen Alinda’s whereabouts. -

- And? - King Traven asked, feeling the tight grip he had on his composure slipping away.

- We’re saddened to inform you, my Lord… Queen Alinda has passed away. - Xanfire finally said.

King Traven’s face became instantly pale as a ghost, and the royal guards stood on the edge of their feet, ready to rush to catch him if he fainted, which he looked just about to do. But he never did. - Give me the details you’ve gathered, Xanfire. -

- She passed away the same day she left the castle per Miss Alison’s words, my Lord. The local doctor said he found traces of poison in her blood… - Xanfire furthered.

- And what of Krisstine? Where is she? - King Spenser demanded, seeing that Traven had lost his voice. Caleb’s ears perked up.

- Young miss Krisstine was sent away with her uncle Hector. - Xanfire said. - Miss Alison says they keep contact but was unable to recall where they’re currently residing as all the contact has been made through phone calls. -

Life at the castle’s was no longer the same after that fateful day. Caleb felt as if not even the birds sung anymore. He hadn’t woken up a single day with a smile on his face. And it had been long since he’d last seen a true, honest smile on either his Father’s or his Mother’s face. Of course, for the media and the local press they would put the happy-couple front, but behind the safeness of the castle’s walls, they allowed themselves to be.

.:~:.

Krisstine’s eyes looked up when suddenly the source of her light was blocked. She was currently in the middle of exchanging text messages with one of her most truest friends, when she found herself in quite a tumbling shock, none other than King Spenser stood beside her in all his imposing and royal glory, and she slowly stood up to meet his gaze.

- Good evening, Krisstine. - he spoke softly, his eyes glazed over with unshed tears, upon seeing his best friend’s daughter alive and well.

Krisstine was about to open her mouth, when Hector appeared beside King Spenser, noticeably relying on his cane.
- You have to forgive her, my Lord, for she has forgotten the proper way to act around you. - he apologized.

- There’s no need to apologize, for she doesn’t have to act in any special way around me. - King Spenser smiled. - For she is just like me in more ways than one and she’ll become family in due time. -

Realization hit her like a ton of bricks, but it wasn’t until King Spenser spoke the words that she truly felt like she was going to be utterly and disgustingly sick.

Hector moved forward and placed a consoling hand upon his stricken niece’s shoulder.
- You are to marry Caleb, just like it was meant to be. -

Krisstine’s mind became a whirlwind. A fast, mad, blurry whirlwind. She couldn’t become a princess overnight. She was used to doing things on her own accord, they couldn’t really expect her to rely on a man to tell her what and what not to do, when for pretty much the entirety of her life she’d done as her heart pleased. Of course, none of this stopped her uncle from deciding the rest of her life for her and giving her hand in marriage to none other than Caleb Danvers. But as she stood face to face with King Spenser, she could decipher whether the dance her stomach was doing was one of happiness, or if her lunch was deliberating on whether to make an appearance or not.