A Demon's Wrath Novella: One Night with the Demon King Read online

  “Was the food to your liking?” Cecelia asked, tucking the sheets around her mother.

  Margaret nodded and yawned. Then she closed her eyes. Cecelia sat and clasped her mother’s hand in hers. She brought it to her lips and gave it a gentle kiss. “I love you,” she whispered with her eyes closed.

  “Please don’t do it.”

  Cecelia darted her eyes to her mother in surprise. “You knew?”

  “I am your mother, Celia. You are so like your father, so determined and stubborn,” the countess said tiredly.

  “I am his daughter after all.” Cecelia smiled.

  “I know I cannot stop you. But I’m afraid. What if you are not here when—”

  “Hush, Mother, do not speak of such. Milan the healer will look after you well. I promise I will be back with the Pearl of Life as soon as I get it.”

  “When will you leave?”

  “Before the sunrise.”

  “How?”

  “As a lad. There are travelers leaving the city. I will go with them, and then—”

  “I am worried.”

  “I will find a way, Mother. I’ve already packed. There are gold coins.”

  “How will you protect yourself from thefts?”

  “I have father’s smallsword and dagger.”

  “And the creatures in the forbidden forest?” the countess prompted.

  “I pray to God for his aid.” She bowed her head as tears flowed from her eyes.

  “My darling, you will die,” the countess said in anguish.

  “Nay, Mother,” Cecelia said, shaking her head. “I will not die. I will come back with the Pearl of Life… for you.”

  “My life is not worth this dangerous journey. I am ashamed of myself. I am your mother, yet I bring danger to your life.”

  “Nay, Mother, it is the demons that should be ashamed of themselves, for they were the ones that attacked our land and killed Father,” Cecelia said bitterly.

  “You have hatred in you against the demons?” the countess questioned.

  “Aye, I despise them.”

  “Sometimes, my darling, the ugliest demon could have the kindest of heart. It is the one with beauty that is ugly on the inside.”

  “You speak in riddles. I do not understand.” Cecelia looked up to her mother, frowning.

  “You will in time.” The countess patted her daughter’s hand. “Will you look after yourself, my darling?”

  “I will.”

  “God be with you,” the countess said, closing her eyes.

  Cecelia knew her mother was tired. She leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I love you.”

  Countess Rosevalley smiled with her eyes still closed.

  Cecelia left her mother and went into her own bedroom. She saw her brother sitting on the sofa near the hearth, reading the history of Rosevalley Island by Lord Mark Van Cortlandt, the wizard, died three years ago defending her father against the demon.

  She came to sit beside him and looked over his shoulder.

  “Halfway already?”

  “Our island is interesting. I miss our home.”

  “I, too, miss our home,” Cecelia said, resting her cheek against his. “I remember the rose field in summer, the wildflowers, the vineyard, and the smells of grapes and lavender and honeysuckle. I remember our castle, our bedchamber looking over the vast blue ocean. I remember seeing Father’s grand ship, the Lady Emerald, sailing into our harbor with goods from other kingdoms. I remember riding my mare, Snow, all white and so beautiful and so gentle. I remember many things, and I wonder, Brian, if we will ever have those things again.”

  “Will the king restore Rosevalley for us?” Brian asked, closing the book.

  “I hope so. He has promised.” When she said that, she knew in her gut that the king would not help them. He was too busy trying to sort out the war between his kingdom and Virdis Kingdom to have time to think about anything else, least of all the building of Rosevalley.

  “He has done naught but promise. I do not trust him.” Brian turned to look at her, his hands clutching the book.

  “You are wise,” she said. “The last I heard, the king has ordered the rebuilding of Rosevalley Castle. But why he didn’t allow me to go and see to its progress, no matter that I’ve asked him many times, I do not know. He said I am a woman and do not know these things. He has a lord there working for him. I wonder, I just wonder if he was ever going to let us return to our homeland.” Cecelia sighed after she had said that.

  Perhaps, she thought, her suspicion of the king trying to imprison them here had gotten to her imaginative mind. Why would he want to keep them away from their home anyway? Sure, Rosevalley was a very rich island. Could that be the reason? Because the king wanted to control their vast wealth? By controlling them here?

  “I only wish we didn’t have to live here. The place is big and nice, but the people…”

  Cecelia turned her attention to her brother then. “I know,” she said, knowing those other youths who were sons of the princes, lords, and ministers living in the palace had bullied him, as had both Lady Rosanna and Lady Juliet who had always been bullying her. Not to mention Queen Eliza herself.

  “Brian?” she started.

  “Hmm?” The youth turned to her, his brown eyes very much like their father’s, large and warm.

  She swallowed hard because she was afraid to tell him what she was going to do, afraid he would suffer without her here.

  “I must leave for a time,” she began.

  “Why? What for?” Brian frowned.

  “Will you promise not to tell anyone?” She touched him, her hands clutching onto his shoulders.

  “What’s this, Celia? Why are you being so secretive? Why are you leaving?”

  “Just promise me, please?”

  Brian stared and then nodded. “Aye, I promise.”

  She took a deep breath and said, “I am going to the Demon Kingdom.”

  He just stared at her as if she were mad.

  “What? That’s suicide!”

  “To fetch the Pearl of Life,” she explained quickly.

  “But, Celia, ’tis dangerous!”

  “I know, but Mother’s life… The king, I have pleaded with him. He would not agree.”

  “Don’t go. You will die and Mother will die. I will have no one,” he said in anguish.

  “Do not speak of such, brother. I will not die. Mother will not die. And you, Brian, will not be alone. That much I promise you.” She touched her fingers to his face and looked deep into his eyes. They stared at each other as they read each other’s thoughts and feelings.

  “When will you leave?” he said at last.

  “Tomorrow, at dawn.”

  “So soon?”

  “Promise me you will look after Mother.”

  “I… I promise.”

  “Study hard. You are going to be the next Earl of Rosevalley. I love you, Brian.” She hugged him tight.

  “And I you.”

  “Now go.” She pushed him away. “I must get some sleep before the sunrise.”

  Brian stiffly got up, clutching the book in one hand and the other still holding on to hers.

  “You must go,” she said.

  He nodded and lowered himself to kiss her forehead. “Good night, Celia,” he said and left her.

  Cecelia went to her wardrobe and took out her packing. Her satchel wasn’t large. It contained only the essentials. She laid out the man’s garments on her bed, the set she had asked her elderly maid Agnes to steal from a stable boy the other night. A commoner’s clothing was what she needed for this journey.

  “My lady, I know I shouldn’t speak,” the maid said at the door as Cecelia was brushing out her long tresses.

  “Then don’t, Agnes,” Cecelia said, putting down the brush.

  “But…”

  “Help me off with this gown,” Cecelia instructed. “I must rest before the journey.”

  The maid sighed and then said meekly, “Aye, my lady.”


  Agnes helped Cecelia take of her sack-back gown. Once the heavy fabric was off her body, she felt light and airy. A feeling she wished she could experience more often. But it was impossible with these types of gown and the many petticoats, not to mention the corset she had to wear while at the palace. If she were back home at Rosevalley Island, she’d wear breeches. She smiled a little then. Aye, she’d wear breeches again soon enough.

  “Don’t forget, if anyone asks,” Cecelia began, “tell them I’m with Mother, looking after her. I am sure none would visit her, for her condition is getting worse.”

  Agnes nodded as she untied the strings of the corset around Cecelia’s back. “I am sure they will not visit her, my lady, for I have heard the maids have rumored that the poison is contagious and will spread to others within a foot away.”

  “And you, Agnes? Do you fear the poison?” Cecelia turned to look at the fifty-summers-old woman who had been looking after her since she was a wee baby.

  Cecelia lifted her hands and Agnes removed the corset from her body.

  Agnes said, “Nay, my lady, I’ve known of the Westwick’s poison. It will kill the person it has infected but will not spread to others.”

  Cecelia had to smile then. “You are not dimwitted like they are,” she said.

  The maid grinned at the compliment.

  Once Cecelia was in her nightgown, she turned to the older woman and said, “Do you think I am dimwitted, Agnes?”

  Agnes looked at her beautiful lady long and hard. She sighed, her heart heavy in her chest. Then she shook her head and said, “You are not dimwitted, just too brave for your own good and for loving your family too much.”

  “Thanks, Agnes.” Cecelia smiled.

  “Sleep well, my lady. I will pray to God for you every night. May you return unharmed.”

  “Thank you, Agnes,” Cecelia said as she climbed into bed.

  * * * * *

  Chapter III

  CECELIA WOKE UP JUST BEFORE dawn and dressed herself in her male garments. The tight breeches fit her just right, though the shirt and coat was a bit loose on her small frame. The tall boots and hat completed her attire. She inspected herself in the mirror. She widened her eyes as she gazed at a young lad staring back at her.

  I’ll fit in as a young man just fine, she thought proudly, thankful for her small breasts.

  She inserted the dagger and then the smallsword beneath her belt at her waist and then turned to grab for her belongings. All set, she thought as she took a deep breath. She walked to the door and slipped out. She tiptoed across the corridor and then down the grand stairs. All were in quietness, and she was pleased the guards were fast asleep at their post.

  The sun was starting to rise when she was standing just outside the palace gate, looking up at her mother’s window from the north side.

  “I will bring back the Pearl of Life, Mother. Stay alive,” she murmured and turned toward the sleepy street of Zakynthus City, the capital city of Dardania Kingdom.

  It didn’t take her long to get to the harbor. There were people everywhere, all of different color and dressed in different styles of garments. There were many ships ready for sailing that morning—all to different cities and kingdoms. She was thankful she had found a ship boarded to Kingsbridge City of Meridianus Kingdom, a route to the Demon Kingdom.

  She bought herself a passage, and not long afterward, found herself in a small cabin with nothing more than a bunk. The bed itself was hard on her back, which was uncommon to her since her bed both back home and at the Van Zandt Palace were made of goose feathers. She sighed and closed her eyes for some sleep. It wasn’t long before she was swayed off and landed hard on the floor. She looked about her, her mind in a muddle of confusion. Where am I? Then her memory rushed back. She was about to get up when the ship swayed again and she was thrown on her backside.

  Outside, she heard the ruffling of sea washing up on the floorboards and thunder booming. They were in the middle of a sea storm, she realized. Great, just what I needed. She hoped she wasn’t going to die before she reached her destination.

  Staggering to stand, she went back to the bunk and lay still, trying very hard to ignore the motion of the ship rocking and the storm unleashing its anger on them.

  It was bright and sunny after the night of horrible tornados. Cecelia found herself out and about, offering her fair and flawless cheeks to the sun to kiss.

  On her fifth day, she was on the deck, looking down at the deep-blue ocean, when she heard a group of men talking behind her.

  “It’ll have ta be done tanight.”

  She glanced over her shoulder and saw five men talking. They were all dressed like commoners: boots, breeches, coat, and hats. Their clothing, however, was well worn, which indicated they had spent much time in the streets and seas. Their very stance was suspicious to her. It looked like they were conspiring.

  “I dunno. What if t’ey found out?”

  Ah, that certainly confirmed her suspicion. She moved closer to the corner so she could hear better.

  “They’ll not find out. They’re dumb beasts,” one said, presumably the leader of the bunch.

  Cecelia flicked her eyes to the five men again.

  “What abou’ ta ‘reasure?”

  “Nay, not talk ‘ere. Dangerous ‘ere. My cabin tonight…” the leader said.

  Cecelia turned and saw they had already parted ways. The treasure? Were they intending to go to the Demon Kingdom to steal the Pearl of Life? The object was a rare piece indeed and would fetch a high price.

  Cecelia returned to her room, deep in thought. She must find out more about the men. If they were intending to go to the Demon Kingdom, then she would be able to journey with them.

  It didn’t take her long to learn of the men’s intentions. Two days later, she found them talking again, in a very secluded spot. Their talk concluded her suspicions. They did intend to go to the Demon Kingdom to steal the Pearl of Life. Knowing this was her only chance to have travel companions, she worked quickly in finding a plan to join them.

  The next day, she pretended to bump into one of the five men. She introduced herself as a young lad in the process, traveling to different kingdoms to learn the art of exotic plants and such like. She explained she was particularly intrigued with the Demon Kingdom where various and unknown plants were located. She said she didn’t know how to get there, and she certainly didn’t know any ship that was going there anytime soon, which was true enough.

  The man with the thick black beard looked at her, his large ears going quite red and his gray eyes sparked with interest when she mentioned she was quite rich and would offer any amount of gold coins, a universal currency in the nine kingdoms, in order to get there.

  “Oh, aye, I do know of some who intended to go there.”

  “Do you?” Cecelia smiled. “I would offer any amount as long as I get there and do some study of the plants. Surely you find them interesting, too? Such a mysterious place, don’t you think?” she said further.

  “I will ask my people and give you the answer on the morrow.”

  “Marvelous, my friend,” Cecelia said and turned to go. “Until the morrow, then,” she said over her shoulder.

  It was midafternoon the next day that she saw the man she had approached the other day coming toward her.

  “They agreed,” he said.

  Cecelia smiled. “Good indeed. How much have they agreed on?”

  “Ten gold coins.”

  Cecelia raised her brows. The price was expensive indeed. But she wasn’t one to argue when her chance of getting to the island was more important.

  “’Tis expensive.”

  “The voyage is dangerous and long. Looking after a wee lad like ye would cost us much.”

  “Indeed,” Cecelia said, nodding. “I will pay half when you get me to this ship that is to go to the island, and I will pay the rest once I land there, safe and sound.”

  “I dunno.”

  “I can always find another. How do I kn
ow to trust you? For all I know, you could be tricking me to steal my gold.” Cecelia narrowed her eyes at him.

  “What cabin do you stay in?”

  “I will not tell you. What is the answer?” She stared at him sharply.

  “’Tis a deal,” he said. “The ship arrives at Kingsbridge City on the morrow. Meet me at the port, and I will take you. We sail then.” He turned to go.

  Cecelia sighed with relief. She returned to her cabin and packed her belongings she had unpacked when she’d arrived.

  The next day, the ship arrived at Kingsbridge City. She waited at the port. People were everywhere, shouting and cursing, jostling and running, shoving and pushing each other to get to their destination. There were carts loaded with stacks of hay, family’s bags, vegetables, and animals like pigs, chickens, and goats zigzagging hazardously along the so-called roads. There were men on horses making their way toward the city streets. Never mind that they might step on beggars with their begging bowls. There were drunken sailors singing and shouting to whores who happily yelled back with their rusty voice, luring these poor, stupid sailors of their money. Cecelia felt, for the first ten minutes, very confused and dizzy. When she got her bearings back, she looked for the man she’d talked to on the ship the previous day.

  “Come this way. The ship’s not far,” he said, leading her through the massive crowd.

  He took her for a great long walk, away from the main port, until there was no noise of any kind made by human, except for the waves of the ocean water lapping onto shore. Then she saw a ship. It was small, very easily hidden in the dark and behind cliffs or cave. As she came closer, she saw men at work. They were in the process of packing and setting sail.

  Upon the deck, she gave the man her promised five gold coins. He grabbed the currency greedily and showed her to her cabin. As she was about to enter, she saw a man with a thick dark beard and piercing blue eyes staring at her. He was big and tall. What a menacing-looking man, she thought and then shivered.

  “How long will it take to get to the island?” she asked, turning away from the imposing stare.

  “Three days,” came the quick reply.