Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91049 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 455(@200wpm)___ 364(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“Very well then,” I say and turn to follow her.
I notice Bach not too far away as he watches me follow after Helenier. He lifts a brow. I shrug. In the blink of an eye, he flashes to my side.
“What’s this about, princess?” he leans into my ear to murmur.
“A gift from Father,” I say happily.
“Hmm,” he murmurs and continues to follow along.
Once we enter the foyer, we are greeted by the filthy artist from earlier. He’s standing with what looks like a gift-wrapped canvas. I frown at the tattered wrapping and paint stains all over it.
“What is the meaning of this?” I say angrily.
“I’m so sorry, princess. In my rush to get here, the wrapping was damaged. However, I do believe the painting was unharmed,” the artist says.
“Place it with the other gifts. I do not desire to open this now.”
“Princess, there’s one more thing Andres would like me to ask of you, if I may?” Helenier says.
“Andres? Who is Andres?”
“I am,” the artist says and smiles.
“Oh, what is it?”
“Unfortunately, Andres’s carriage was damaged in the stalls. He has no way home. Would it be okay to allow him to use one of your carriages?”
I look this filthy man over and frown. I can only imagine how he’d leave my carriage after. This woman has lost her mind.
“Absolutely not,” I scoff.
“Oh,” Helenier says with a little smile at the corners of her lips. I’m too annoyed to pay much attention to the expression. “Well, princess, maybe he could stay in one of your rooms. I mean, the castle has so many vacant chambers. It’s the least that could be offered.”
“No, I will not allow this strange man to sleep under my roof. This is a waste of my time.”
“I understand, princess. I only wanted to deliver this painting and see the smile on your face,” Andres says.
“Ugh,” I growl and wave a hand to use my magic to tear the wrapping away.
I scowl as the painting comes into view. It’s hideous. Grays and browns cover the canvas to make… “What is it?”
“It’s a rose.”
“It’s ugly. Take it with you as you go. My father would never commission such an atrocious thing.”
“Look more closely, princess. It’s the beauty within that captures all.”
“This painting captures nothing. Especially not beauty. Go now and take that thing with you.”
“Oh, but it does capture something. Your father’s beloved roses. The very roses he grew a garden full of just for you.”
“How dare you? Those roses are beautiful. They captured the love my father had for me. A love I will always remember. This is just blasphemy. Get out.”
“As you wish,” Andres says.
However, something is off. His voice has changed from a masculine one to an eerie female voice. A slight wind picks up in the foyer and surrounds him. The next thing I know, I’m looking at a woman.
I can tell she has power and she’s beautiful. I’m thoroughly confused. Bach steps in front of me to shield me.
“What is the meaning of this, enchantress?” he demands. “You have no business here.”
“Oh, but I do. All the princess had to do was show me one single act of kindness. She could have offered me shelter in the stables and it would have stayed my punishment.”
“Punishment?” I snarl. “Who are you to punish me?” My hand sparks with magic. “Step aside, Bach.”
“Princess, no,” he warns. “You don’t understand.”
“What is there to understand? This…this… woman enters my home and speaks of punishing me?”
I’ve begun to levitate. My magic increases and surrounds me. The woman’s eyes widen. Ah, she sees the error in her actions.
Her lips begin to move, no sound to be heard. All at once, I feel as if my magic is bound. A gold-like rope captures me and I float back down to the ground.
I’m helpless to react. My arms are trapped against my sides. I growl and try to wiggle free.
“You didn’t tell me she was this strong,” the woman says to Helenier.
“Can you complete the spell?”
“I can, but I have to do it quickly, and her magic will not be snuffed out with it. I can only bind it to this castle and find a way to ground it within something here that she loves.”
“You will not do this to me,” I hiss.
“But it is already done.”
“No,” I cry out as I feel something within changing.
I’m unable to stop it. The ties on my power aren’t the strongest, but I’ve waited too long to fight against them, thinking they were no match for me. That mistake has given them time to root themselves within the core of my magic.
“Stop this,” I say, but it comes out like the roar of a beast.
“Because you are drunk off power and beauty, you will remain in this form. All those who serve you and live within these walls will be nothing more than pixies, like the magic you have floating around this night.