Daughter of Death -Chapter 7 (Patreon)

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 CHAPTER SEVEN

Princess Reina’s birthday was a high success. All in attendance agreed they had not witnessed such a grand revelry in any recent memory –at least not whilst The Princess had been alive.

Her Royal Highness had appeared in the best of spirits and her lack of regard in remembrance of her mother or the anniversary of that death upon that same day was both peculiar and oddly freeing. Reina gave a toast to both of her parents at dinner but past that, she appeared unaffected by any sad thoughts of tragedy which had hung over all past birthday celebrations that had come before this. The entire festivities therefore seemed heightened in joyfulness.

In stark contrast to the happiness of this occasion, Queen Edeline’s thoughts were inwardly turned to dark deeds. Now that she had uncovered the truth about Princess Reina, she sought to destroy the young demon in the form of her step-daughter.

Her research further into the matter had concluded that to kill a vampir, the easiest way to be sure it would not again rise was to take out its heart. Queen Edeline knew this deed had to be done but she feared doing it herself. She sought help in the form of a huntsman come in from her own kingdom a few days’ ride away.

“Brother!” she greeted fondly when at last he was admitted to her receiving chambers.

“Dearest Edeline. How do you do sister?” The two embraced. “I came immediately upon receipt of your letter.”

“Yes, Baldric, I am rather troubled. In case of interception I was certain not to provide any specific details. But what I have to tell you now is dark. Please, sit down.”

Her elder brother did as he was bidden; running a large hand through his dark hair flecked with gray before scratching his short beard as he got comfortable in the chair she had provided him.

Edeline then confessed all she had uncovered over the past months and revealed her sinister conclusion: “The girl must not be allowed to live.”

Baldric had followed along thus far with everything and had seemingly been upon his sister’s side in all this. However now he cast some critical light to consider the doubts that began to creep into his mind at this. “But what of the kingdom? What of The Crown of Bayern?”

“You know Baldric that I have had no interest in the politics of nations. Whatever becomes of Bayern and its ruling class is of little concern to me. I do not do this in hopes of securing anything for myself. I don’t want a throne; I want safety with the threat of evil vanquished.”

He slowly bowed his head in acknowledgement and in further thought. “You desire my help in this?”

“Yes; your help in the deed or at the very least some council.”

He sat silently for awhile. “I will help you.”

She felt relief overtake her heart.

“What must be done?” Baldric questioned.

“Her heart must be removed.”

“And how do you intend that we accomplish this?”

“The forest. She shall be brought there of her will and then disposed of. If and when her body is ever found it shall be a tragedy blamed upon savage animals. No one ever need know what we know about her or about her fate.”

He nodded slowly.

“Give me time to think of an opportunity. Then, I will help you arrange a plan and it shall be carried out.”

“Very well.”

“In the meantime, you can be under the guise of visiting the kingdom passing through. I can arrange lodgings for you at court or better yet in the village.”

With this settled, the two departed company looking to the future.

It wasn’t long before an idea of an opportunity came to Queen Edeline. Under the guise that she wished to provide her step daughter further experience towards becoming monarch, The Queen Dowager proposed Reina take an afternoon with Baldric in learning about ‘the hunt’. True, Reina had participated in the event in months previous however this would be an opportunity for her to properly learn how to hunt herself rather than let the men in her company bring down the prey. Also knowing the girl’s love of independence, she told her that it would be possible to arrange a private audience without need of any chaperone following the two through the forest. And, she could see no reason why the girl shouldn’t learn more about a sport that was so often considered the realm of a man. 

This of course all tugged deeply at Reina’s desires; she had actively sought in the past year to learn all that her father or any king before her was learned in. The thought of participating in a hunt in a small, more intimate session without other courtiers or chaperones greatly appealed to her. She felt pleased that her step-mother was not completely shallow and useless to her. Reina accepted the proposal.

And so, the plan was made. Young Reina would be murdered on her hunting excursion and while the future of Bayern would then be uncertain, at least the kingdom would be rid of an evil creature and her demonic influence.

But Fate had always had other plans for Princess Reina. Yes death and blood would follow her and yes Bayern would lose its heir –but the unravelling of it all would be quite contrary to any expectation. Only time would reveal so.