Daughter of Death -Chapter 4 (Patreon)

CHAPTER FOUR

The day of her father’s wedding, Princess Reina ran away to her oasis of the forest that bordered the castle grounds. Although she knew that Queen Edeline would not be in the role of a mother towards her, the young princess still felt alienated by this whole affair. She could not understand the politics or reasoning of why her father would take another wife –not when he pined so ardently for her late mother Queen Imogene. This entire event did not sit entirely well with Her Royal Highness.

At least here in the forest, she could forget about all the pomp and circumstance and just enjoy the place she loved most. Reina was young and her chaperones had never really allowed much exploration of the forest but to this point The Princess hadn’t really minded. Just travelling down the paths they knew of and that she had almost memorized by heart was solace enough for her. In fact, she’d never really desired to travel past the existing fence that had been put into place to mark the boundaries of the royal ‘common area’ of the forest from the hunting grounds heading west and also the rest of the open more public woodland that bordered with the royal grounds of the forest north and north-easterly.

Today she’d managed to get away with only one chaperone who had given into The Princess’ demands to ride for an hour before having to join again at the ball that would commence after the royal wedding feast. Reina rode ahead much to the chagrin of her lady’s maid who lost sight of The Princess and was not terribly pleased by it. Her Royal Highness had developed a habit of doing this sometimes and it was just something that her chaperones had learned to try and put up with though they always provided a small amount of chastising or complaining to remind Reina of their position.

In this case, Reina had ridden almost out of earshot. She enjoyed the feeling of being a little naughty and also having the quiet and tranquility of being truly alone for those several seconds it took her chaperones to find her again. However, her horse almost reared suddenly and she held the reins tightly in alarm hoping to stay on her mount. She didn’t need the hassle of being found unsaddled and thus rushed back to the castle for medical attention –sometimes even in spite of little to no damage or injury. Being a Princess sometimes was vexing in that fact of being given overprotective care or attention in many situations. She sometimes felt this was focused even more because of the circumstances that she had been a ‘miracle’ to her parents and to the kingdom.

Her horse however did not buck her off and Reina managed to keep her control and stay in the saddle. A moment later, a man stepped forward and gave soothing words to the animal which then immediately calmed as the man moved forward. The Princess was instantly intrigued for who could be out on foot in this part of the forest and furthermore how were they able to calm the horse so smoothly? Was it a groom from The Royal Stables?

Indeed it was not she noticed just as he was mere feet from her horse’s snout. His manner of dress was not that of anyone working for the castle or the Bayern court for that matter. His boots were mid-calf and dark, his breeches of a different cut and style than that of her kingdom and his doublet and jacket also indicated that although he appeared to be well off, he was not of Bayern. The man had hair the colour of hazelnut shells, striking eyes of much the same colour and a long angular face. But he did not appear to be threatening and Princess Reina couldn’t quite decide for herself what gave her that impression, exactly. Perhaps it was the calming of her horse that had done it.

“Are you alone, child?” His eyes slid to gaze past her. “No.” The answer was soft from his lips. He then gazed at her once more.

Moments later, her maid Luisa caught up. She looked alarmed at seeing a man with the young woman but he carefully strode over to the chaperone murmuring soothing words to her horse that had suddenly grown antsy at his approach and once the animal was calmed his eyes fell upon its rider. “Good afternoon or is it now evening?” he greeted.

She hesitantly returned a greeting staring warily at this stranger.

“The Princess and I were just beginning conversation. Why don’t you go and take a rest there near that tree? She is most safe assuredly and will wake you when she desires to return to the castle.” To Reina’s surprise, her usually uptight guardian of the moment nodded and led her horse away then dismounted and began to rest as he’d suggested.

The man, who looked no older than two and a half dozen summers, returned to Princess Reina’s side. “Your Royal Highness,” he greeted with a flourished bow.

“Greetings,” she returned staring down at him from atop her horse still.

“I am Ferdinand, Your Royal Highness. I am pleased to at last meet you. Though this be our first encounter, I have had an interest in you since before you were born, Princess. I have travelled a long way in order that we might meet.”

Princess Reina at once felt pride and importance in herself. “I am pleased that you have done so.”

“Your father is having his wedding celebration, is he not?”

Her mouth drew into a line. “Indeed he is. Have you arrived to partake?”

“In my own way,” he responded. “Might I ask why you are not in attendance, Your Highness?” The way he spoke these words made him appear meek and humble in his interest rather than at all eager to chastise or shame her for not being present for her father.

Reina decided she could trust this man with the truth: “I’ve little desire to celebrate. My father’s new wife is merely that to me and I do not see their union as joyous nor cause for genuine celebration on my part. It seems...contractual. I direly hope it shall not affect my life, additionally.”

“You do not wish to have a mother?”

“No. My mother, The Queen —rather I should now say The Late Queen Imogene—died long ago and I’ve never had need for her role to be replaced. Her Majesty Queen Edeline is no mother to me and she need not be. I shan’t allow anyone to convince me otherwise.”

A small smile crossed Ferdinand’s lips. He nodded his head slightly in acknowledgement. “Are you angry then at your father for choosing a new wife?”

“Not particularly. Though I do not understand his choice to do so, it is also none of my business whom he takes to bed.”

A little bit of surprise crossed the man’s face at these words, “And has your father made a habit of taking women to his bed, then?”

“No. He loves my mother too much to ever do so—until now... He seems...relieved in some way by this marriage but I as I have said feel it to be contractual somehow and I am not in interest to clarify or understand the politics or details. Let my father live his life as he sees fit provided it does not stifle me in some way.”

Ferdinand stared at the young girl mulling over her words in his mind. She was making an impression upon him. 

“May your mother’s soul be at peace; Bayern lost a wonderful Queen so much as it has gained such a wonderful heir to the throne in you in return.” He bowed his head to her respectfully.

“Indeed,” she murmured softly, slightly pleased by the compliment he gave her.

“Your father, The King, is blessed and must be ever so proud to have you. He must hold you so dearly close.”

“He is indeed pleased to have me but you are mistaken to suppose that he and I are close.”

Ferdinand bowed humbly in response. “I apologize to have assumed, milady. It seemed sensible that surely given the circumstances a father whether king or not would hold his only child closer.”

“Sensible yes perhaps however royal life is not what you may assume, milord.” The Princess honoured her acquaintance by addressing him as she might a nobleman despite not knowing his peerage. “Royal children, in my case particularly, are not always freely shown...” She trailed off and paused to consider how to word her explanation. “Kings and Queens are often not given a closeness to their offspring for their duties lie elsewhere in their kingdom and additionally such children are given nurses to look after them right from their births and education from tutors of various varieties from a young age. Princes and princesses need not form close bonds with their sires and mothers. I certainly have not grown a close relationship with my own.”

“I see. Are you...resentful of this fact, then?”

She shook her head; her plaits and jeweled hair net moving only slightly as she did so. “Everyone shows me affection or esteem in one way or another; even the people of my kingdom I have not met. I am beloved to all without needing to make intimate acquaintance or close bonds and I do not mind. I am cared for and I enjoy my life.”

He smiled at this. “Would you then be in opposition to deepening an acquaintance, specifically the one we have begun?”

“Truthfully at the moment, no. I do wish to know what you are doing in this forest. And, why you have travelled so far from home that you might meet me.”

“I am most eager to answer your questions, dear princess. If it should please you, I shall help you dismount and we shall walk together a short distance whilst I divulge such answers to you.”

After a moment’s thought, The Princess gave her permission.

During their walk, Reina learned that Ferdinand had travelled from a kingdom quite a distance from Bayern. He had wished to see The Royal Family in person and upon occasion of this wedding had opted to do so as the opportunity might present itself. He divulged that many years ago he had heard rumours of Queen Imogene and King Arnaud seeking out help to conceive a child and this news had spread out from the neighbouring kingdoms eventually reaching his. News had also eventually reached his kingdom of the death of The Queen and the birth of Reina. Ferdinand admitted the context of her birth greatly interested him and he hoped to one day in person see the miraculous child born heir to her father’s throne. He expressed pleasure at having done so now and of having the honour to speak with her.

As to his presence in the forest, he admitted he had gotten lost on his way to the court of Bayern and along the journey to find a way out of the woodland his horse had bolted from him.

The young girl admitted her reasoning for coming to the forest and her love for it. He seemed genuinely warmed by this admission and confessed that he too did not fear being alone amongst the trees; that it was almost calming to him as well.

Soon, Princess Reina and her new acquaintance had circled back around to her horse again. Finding herself satisfied with the conversation, she allowed him to help her mount once more. Ferdinand however declined her offer that he might follow her back to the castle stating that mere instruction would do just as well for him to find his way to the public side of the forest where he intended to head. He could not be swayed otherwise.

After bidding one another adieu, Ferdinand asked boldly whether he might one again see Princess Reina and she acquiesced freely. The two arranged to meet once more in secret within the forest –Ferdinand assuring her that any chaperone that might accompany her would not hinder their conversation in any way just as her maid today had not.

Truthfully from their next meeting and every encounter after that, whoever accompanied Princess Reina would always find something else to do upon Ferdinand’s word or assurance after Reina’s that Her Highness was safe. Then, Reina happily found herself more and more comfortable with Ferdinand as the two held conversation each new meeting and grew closer in privacy within the precious forest that the two were so fond of. She found that her actions were never reported back to anyone else by her companions and so her secret rendezvous were kept safe which pleased her.

When her fifteenth birthday loomed, Ferdinand revealed to Reina something that she found captivating. He told her of a prophecy given to Reina’s mother about conceiving her should The Queen exchange the three drops of blood that had fallen in the snow outside her casement when she’d attempted to save the life of the bird freezing there. He told her Queen Imogene had accepted and in payment the blood and the life of the bird were taken and Reina was finally conceived.

“This forever tied you to a fate that your mother could not conceive of. Your life, Reina, is bound eternally to blood and death. Thus, your mother died. And thus, many more may also if you hear what I have to say and accept it and me.”

Though this should have frightened the young girl, it did not. She begged him to proceed. He left The Princess in suspense however until her birthday when he would then reveal what it was he had to say.

She escaped to the forest that day in impatience arriving earlier than the agreed time only to find Ferdinand waiting anyway. He wasted no time and told her at once what he had to say: in truth his wishing to meet Reina was not fueled by the desire to meet such a renowned child and heir to the Bayern throne but desire to meet the one who he was intended to foster and care for and eventually love. “Our destinies; our paths have been predestined to fall together, Reina, ever since your mother made that blood pact. You and I have been intended to be woven with one another since the moment you were conceived. I will now tell you the truth of whom and what I am and I have a proposition for you. Should you accept it, we shall then be sealed to spend lifetimes together and share in the spoils of your inheritance both made of your birth as heir to Bayern and rightful heir to the gift I offer to you.”

An enraptured Reina listened as Ferdinand told the tale of his true nature; being unable to die or to age naturally, only able to be destroyed by pure sunlight or the removal of his heart. He explained his capability to be obeyed through any suggestion given with full eye contact to man or beast. He told her of his ability to pass on such strengths and powers to others and what sacrifices were required of him and especially of his protégé in order to do it.

He also affirmed to her of his status as a nobleman of sorts in his own society –a fact which he’d previously told her about which he now confirmed had not been a lie.

Then he paused and gave his proposition to Reina: he would turn her and give her the gifts of immortality, conclusion of aging and the ability to control others through suggestion. All that was required of her was time, trust and the sacrifice of the life of a close blood relative –in this case her father. In addition to this transformation, she would also gain Ferdinand’s unshakable loyalty and companionship alongside her as Queen when the time came for her ascension to her rightful throne.

Though all of this should have seemed overwhelming, she thought, The Princess found herself in calm acceptance of all he’d just revealed. Whatever had granted her life had perhaps somehow touched her; left its mark within her to now then recognize and feel at ease with these truths.

And in fact his offer appealed to her. She could see little reason why she shouldn’t accept his gifts and in return also gain an eternal companion. Ferdinand was already so dear to her and getting to know him had felt so innate just as all he’d explained now felt natural to accept as truth.

“I’ve one question, to begin: this suggestibility of yours, have you ever used it on me?” Her tone demanded his honesty.

“No,” he replied and was truthful about it. “I would never need to and nor do I ever want to. Should you become like me you will be impervious to it as I am to it by any others like me.”

This answered, Reina found herself comfortable enough to accept. “Provided you explain further how it is that blood helps sustain this existence of yours...” she added and the pale noble easily agreed to the term she’d set.

By the time The Princess returned to her castle later that early evening, her arrangements with Ferdinand had been set. He would meet up with her a few more times during the year to indulge her questions and further explain the existence he led and too the one he imagined for the two of them joined together. He would grant her the first part of her conversion the night of her sixteenth birthday which would then be followed by the requirement that she take her father’s life through the consummation of his blood before the passing of one month’s time. Should she fail to do so, the transformation would be incomplete and her life forfeit within another month or two. After consuming her father’s blood, Reina would then have very delayed aging and the ability of suggestibility. She would not gain full advantage of immortality and a complete susceptibility to sunlight however until Ferdinand willingly gave her some of his own blood to mix with hers and complete her transformation into an essentially undead being of which, he said, many cultures had different names for.

Her companion’s plan was that time pass between the start of the transformation and thus death of The King so that when the time came for the joining of The Princess and her mate and then her ascension to her throne things would appear a lot more natural. The lead up to the final goal would lay a solid ground work to the trust and acceptance of others around them. Haste, he told her, would only brew suspicion upon the events themselves and the motives of The Princess and her chosen beloved. Reina agreed with the sensibility of these thoughts. The death of her father and her ascension to the throne with a king by her side should be thought of as sequential due to circumstance and not due to planning.

Also, Ferdinand with Reina’s agreement thought that time between the start and the completion of her transformation would be good to allow the young woman freedom to adapt to the changes she would be undertaking. He would teach her and she would readily learn how to disguise her true nature that others might not suspect it while still giving into what she had become. It would not be entirely easy to mask all that she would be in addition to her need to be sustained often by the blood of others. But it would not be impossible with guidance and practice.

By the arrival of her sixteenth birthday, there was no doubt in The Princess’ mind about her decision and their plans that would begin that very day. She met up with Ferdinand as previously orchestrated to go over the arrangements for that night. With her heart pounding from excitement of the upcoming planned occasion, Ferdinand sealed their pact with her first ever kiss. Then, she enjoyed her last evening in what she would come to describe as her ‘old existence’ before Ferdinand met her for the very first time within the castle where inside of her bedchamber he injected a sort of venom from his two sharp fanged teeth into her blood by way of biting her neck and sending it immediately up into her brain where the changes then began as she slept.

Her illness for the week following was her body merely changing from the young mortal woman she once was into the creature she was set to become.

And then with one final arrangement made and gone over repeatedly with her beloved, Reina snuck into her father’s bedchamber mere days before the anniversary of her birthday and murdered The King of Bayern silently draining him of his life to be found the next morning in such a lifeless state.

The pride Ferdinand expressed towards her following this only excited Reina all the more for the future.

Her mother had died to give Reina life while her own blood poured out and drained The Queen of her life. And now, Reina’s father had given his life and his blood that his daughter might be reborn again to a new existence. The fate of blood and death that cloaked Princess Reina’s life was now and forevermore a part of her as it orphaned her and from that moment on, bloodshed and death would be constant followers surrounding the now eternally young woman. She was now a daughter only to Death.