Lucinda stands in front of her bedroom door. She looks down at the door knob, contemplating on opening the door. Suddenly, a knock echoes off the hardwood barrier. This startles Lucinda.
“Princess Lucinda.” a familiar, feminine voice calls out. “Your father is ready to see you.”
Lucinda swallows hard. She doesn’t understand why she is so nervous. It’s just her father. “Just a moment,” she calls back.
She grips the door knob. Slowly, she turns it, expecting to see her father behind the woman who spoke to Lucinda behind the door. As she opens the door, her stomach turns in knots. She sees Margaret. And that is all. Nobody else is with her. Lucinda exhales in relief. Lucinda grabs Margaret by the hand and pulls her into the room, slamming the door shut.
Lucinda paces the room, Margaret standing by the entrance. Suddenly, Lucinda starts to cry. Margaret holds a hand to her mouth. The princess seldom cries. Nor does she cry in the presence of others.
As tears rush down the princess’s face, she says to the handmaid, “I can’t do this.”
“Do what, dear?” Margaret says in a motherly tone.
“Any of this. I can’t get married. I can’t talk to my father. I just want to go hide under a rock and never leave.” Lucinda is shaking in hysterics. Her voice softens as the tears well in her eyes. “I want my mom right now.” She embraces Margaret and squeezes her tight. Margaret is a petite, plump demon. So, Lucinda lowers to the handmaid’s level.
“My dear,” Margaret says, stroking Lucinda’s hair. “Your father knows best, I’m certain he has something in mind.”
Lucinda sniffles. She pulls back to look Margaret in the eye. “Would my mother agree to this?” the princess asks.
Margaret ponders a moment. “I’m not quite sure, Princess.”
The princess wipes her eyes, her makeup a smeary mess.
Margaret pulls back from Lucinda and walks to the bathroom, returning with a cloth. “Let’s clean you up, dear. We can’t keep your father waiting,” the handmaid says as she cleans Lucinda’s face with a damp cloth.
Lucinda lets out a sigh. She finds herself staring at another door. This one leads to the throne room. She slowly opens the door and walks into the grand hall. As she makes her way down the corridor, Lucinda notices four figures standing before the throne.
A behemoth with sand colored skin and auburn hair; a lanky woman with skin the color of snow and hair to match wearing an elegant flowy gown; a man dressed in a nice suit, with skin the color of coal and hair the color of ebony; and the last man with skin of jade and raven colored hair. Lucinda knows these demons. She knows something terrible is about to happen when the four nobles arrive.
She overhears a bit of the conversation. A man with a raspy voice says, “She doesn’t need to be married, she needs to be punished!”
The woman speaks next. “A commoner, Lucifer. You betrothed her to a commoner. What’s next? Are you going to make her work the fields?”
The coal colored man speaks slowly. “She needs to marry one of our children. Zekiel would be a proper suitor.”
“Or Ralphael.” the raspy voiced man interjects.
“Even a royal guard would be a better suitor.” The largest demon states. “If she wants to fight, she has a proper sparring partner.”
“You all need to relax.” Lucifer says defensively. “I know more about this commoner than you know.”
The jade colored lord speaks. His voice sounds like broken glass scraping concrete. “Mai would not approve.”
Lucinda feels rage building. Before she can interject, Lucifer loses his temper first.
“You leave her name out of your mouth, Ilgore.” Lucinda watches her father hold out a finger, pointing at the lord of pestilence. “You have no idea what she would think. You didn’t marry her, spend countless hours by her side, and watch her health diminish. You have no right to say what she would or would not approve of.”
Lucinda calms some. She despises listening to her mother’s name being used to manipulate her father. But she loves to see her father stand up for his late wife, her departed mother.
Lucifer continues. “My daughter is going to be under permanent supervision from her future husband. She will not be left alone. She will be cared for and not under the supervision of one of your sons who will do what they can to take my throne.” He stands, and looks at the demons. “I will not sit here and be toyed with. You all know as well as I do that I will not take any of your grievances of my decisions into account. I am the high king. What I say, goes.”
The princess smiles. She then steps closer. The high king looks past his council and sees her standing there, dressed in a beautiful gown. The nobilities turn to look.
“You wanted to see me?” Lucinda says, pretending to not have heard the conversation.
The king smiles. “Yes, princess. I wanted to talk to you about your upcoming nuptials. I had the lords and the lady join us for the ceremony.”
“You can’t let her go through with this, your highness,” the man in the suit says in a weary voice. The nobles all nod in agreement.
The woman points a spindly finger at Lucifer. “She needs to be locked up. Not married away to some peasant.” She says with a twinge of furry in her voice.
Lucifer turns to the nobles. “Fi-fi, that is enough.” He then looks to the charcoal demon. “Astam, I did not ask for your opinion. In fact, I did not request any input on this matter!”
Lucinda grimaces. She wants to tell her father what she thinks of this engagement. But she is terrified of what he might do. She has never felt this way. Never has she quivered in fear. However, something about this does not sit well with her.
She finally speaks. “Father, I do not want to get married yet.”
The woman known as Fi-fi interjects. “You see! She doesn’t agree to this. Why force her to do something that will make her unhappy?”
The jade demon, Ilgore, smirks. “She is unhappy. Doesn’t your daughter’s happiness mean anything to you.”
Lucifer begins to vibrate in rage. “Serafina, Ilgore. Do you both wish to be escorted out of the palace?” The behemoth chuckles. “Same goes for you, Gunther.”
The king looks to his daughter. “You have done nothing but disobey me, disregarded the orders meant to keep you safe and gone out without permission. Why should I listen to your grievances on this matter?”
Lucinda is shocked. “You always listen to me.” She says with frustration. “You always want what’s best for me and want me to be nothing more than happy. Why are you taking such drastic measures?”
“Because you tried to burn your mother’s inn! You have done nothing but disrespect me and your title. You are lucky I don’t put the scar of wrath on you for that anger problem of yours!” Lucifer seethes. “The council is dismissed.” He says with the wave of his hand.
Gunther, Lord of War, says, “But your majesty, we just got here.”
Lucifer growls. “I said ‘dismissed’.”
The nobles nod and exit. The sound of footsteps echoing away is all that is heard. Soon, after the door creaks shut, silence falls upon the grand hall. Lucinda waits. Then she breaks the stillness. “Father, why marriage?” Lucinda asks solemnly.
The king sighs. He takes a seat in his throne, and presses his index finger and thumb to his temples. Exhaling in exasperation, Lucifer answers, “Because marriage will give you higher responsibility. It will give you a chance to care for another person other than yourself. It will give you someone who will not be manipulated so easily.” Lucifer grumbles out a noise. “You can learn to love your spouse. Not to mention, he is more than some peasant. He was adopted into a family of Innkeepers. And he is more than what meets the eye.”
Lucinda stands, stunned by the realization that her father is genuinely going through with this. “But why him?”
“Trust me. He is more than what he lets on to believe.” Lucifer smirks. “He could be worthy of being king one day.”
Lucinda scoffs. “Doubtful.”
Suddenly, a loud knock echoes through the throne room. The door creaks open, revealing Xylek and Zakasi. The brothers walk down the long corridor to the royal family.
Xylek speaks to Lucifer. “You wanted to see me, sir?”
“Yes, your ceremony will be tomorrow morning.”
Lucinda and Xylek make audible gasps in unison. They both prepare to protest, but are cut off.
“I will not change my mind. You both are to get married at the break of dawn.” Lucifer smiles. “What color do you want?”
“Purple.” Xylek and Lucinda grumble out in tandem. They look at each other.
Lucinda smiles subtly. “Purple compliments my eyes and was my mother’s favorite color.”
Xylek returns the smile. “It matches my eyes and has always been my favorite color.”
Zakasi and Lucifer exchange glances.
Lucifer asks next. “Flowers?”
“Wild flowers.” the couple said together.
Xylek says “Wolf’s bane.”
Lucinda smiles. “I prefer fox gloves.”
Lucifer smiles. “See? You both have some common grounds!”
Xylek looks into Lucinda’s eyes. “You have such beautiful blue eyes.” Lucinda blushes and looks away. She doesn’t want to fall victim to gazing into Xylek’s purple eyes again.
Zakasi chimes in. “We can have the ceremony at the inn. There is a beautiful garden and gazebo on the grounds.”
Lucifer claps his hands. “Yes. Mai loved the garden. We can easily do a grouping of wolf’s bane and foxgloves around the gazebo. With some purple and black fabric.”
Without warning the door opens rapidly, causing a loud slam to echo. A demon in a fine blue tail coat comes running towards the throne. “Your Majesty! The nobles said something urgent has come up that needs your attention.”
“I’m busy planning a wedding,” Lucifer says. “This is of utmost importance currently.”
The advisor kneels. “Sir, they are discussing your position in power.”
This catches Lucifer’s attention. “You three,” he says. “Go to the dining hall to discuss the ceremony. Zakasi, you are now the ceremony planner.”
Zakasi nods. “As you wish, your majesty.”
“This is important.” Lucifer stands from his throne and leaves, the advisor following close behind.
Down in the dining hall, Zakasi lays out a piece of parchment and a quill. “So, what do you intend to do for the vows?”
Lucinda slumps in a large arm chair at the head of the table. She grumbles. “Do we have to discuss this stupid wedding?”
Zakasi nods. “Princess, this was your father’s orders.”
“Stop calling me princess!”
“What would you prefer to be called? And don’t say Agatha.” Zakasi smirks.
“Just Lucinda.” She says as she leans onto the table. “I don’t want to get married.”
Xylek scoffs. “And you think I want to?” He lays his head on the table. “I have better things to do than this.”
“Like tormenting humans?” Lucinda responds.
He raises his head and looks angrily at Lucinda. “If you must know, I was trying to get something important.”
Lucinda sits up. “What’s so important that you need to bother a lowly human?”
“Something that will help me understand my past.”
Zakasi raises his hands. “Listen, you two. You need to think about this. You both get married in the morning. And we don’t have time to argue. Save that for after the honeymoon.” Lucinda and Xylek glare at Zakasi. “I’m just following orders.”
Lucinda groans. “Why do we have to get married anyway?”
“Because your father is off his rocker?” Xylek quips. “Why do I have to be punished for your actions?”
“Because you were an associate to a crime?” Lucinda retorts.
“I was not! You left without telling anyone. I was hired to keep an eye on you!” Xylek exclaims.
“You fought a princess.!”
“You started that fight!”
“Want to go again?”
Zakasi slams his hands on the table. “Enough you two!” He shouts as he clenches his eyes shut. “You both are infuriating. We know you have some common grounds. Find them, stand on them and suck it up, butter cups.”
The betrothed couple both slump back in their respective chairs. Lucinda grumbles under her breath. “He should have left me alone.”
“And you should stay home.” Xylek retaliates.
Zakasi groans loudly. “Vows, you two. What vows do you want to use?”
“Something basic.” Lucinda says. “I want something that I can’t have held against me.”
“Just ask us if we will be alright with tolerating each other’s existence,” Xylek responds.
Lucinda laughs. “That’s asking a lot.”
Zakasi puts his face into his hands. “Alright. Let’s try a different topic. Cakes?”
“Cheesecake.” the couple say together.
“That is more of a pie.” Zakasi corrects them.
“Cheesecake is delicious.” Xylek says sternly.
“I like chocolate cheesecake.” Lucinda says with a mouth watering grin.
“See, another common ground.” Zakasi exhales. “Stick to that. Now, what will you wear?”
Lucinda’s face lights up. “My mother’s wedding dress.”
Xylek looks down. “I don’t have a suit.”
“I’ll help you get one.” Zakasi offers.
“Or you can borrow one of mine,” Lucifer says as he enters the room.
Xylek looks towards Lucifer. “Sir, your suits are a bit long for me.”
“Then I will have the tailor get you fitted.” the king replies. “You come with me. Lucinda, you go with Zakasi to start mapping out the inn.”
Lucinda makes a sour face. Why is she being paired with strangers today? “Yes, father.”
Lucinda and Zakasi walk into the inn. They walk towards the kitchen. Zakasi pulls out some ingredients and places them on the counter. He then gets out a few pie pans and places them next to the ingredients. As he mixes some items into a bowl and begins to wisk, Lucinda sits on a stool next to the counter top.
“So,” Lucinda starts, trying to start a conversation. “Are you and Xylek really brothers?”
Zakasi pauses a moment. He cracks a few eggs into the bowl. Finally, he answers. “By birth, no. But by law, yes. He was adopted into my family when he was just a tiny demon.” He starts to whisk the ingredients together more. “He was orphaned and left on the stoop of my parents home. I was just a few decades old, he was only a few years old, still in a swaddle. He was welcomed with open arms.
“He became a bond brother when we were just children. Xylek was always different. Smaller than the other kids. Smarter than any of us. I taught him martial arts and survival and he tutored me in school.” Zakasi prepares some dough. “He wasn’t the strongest, but he sure as hell was brave.”
Lucinda looks puzzled. “You mean to tell me you both bonded over fighting?”
Zakasi chuckles. “So to speak, yes. He was always different. He was about sixty when he learned he was adopted. That was a hard blow for his ego. He grew distant and obsessing over his biological family.”
“Can you tell me about the important thing he was looking for?” Lucinda tries to pry.
“I’m not sure I can tell you. Once you both are married, try to ask him.” He says as he lays the dough into one of the pans.
“What can you tell me about him?” Lucinda says leaning onto the counter. “I am about to marry someone who I just met this morning.”
Zakasi stops for a moment. He places his finger to his chin. “He can cook. He can clean. He makes deals with humans in exchange for gifts with magic. And he likes to walk in the woods to cool his head.”
“How does he do the gift thing?” Lucinda asks. “I thought only noble blood could do those types of deals.”
“This is true. But we aren’t too sure how he can do it. He has the ability to give extra life.” Zakasi turns to put the pan in the oven. “He can turn back the clock for some people.”
Lucinda thinks for a moment. She recognizes that ability. “Can he bring back the dead?”
Zakasi looks solemn. “Sadly, no. Only the living he can manipulate.”
Lucinda nods. Her chest feels heavy. The thought of bringing her mother back even for a day crosses her mind. “I wish he could bring back the dead.”
“I do, too.” Zakasi looks down. He clears his throat and looks back at Lucinda. “What about you, Lucinda? Anything interesting he should know about you?”
“I like to sit in the woods to meditate,” she begins. “I like to go where normal demons can go. I hate being a princess. And my mother passed away about a century ago.”
“How did she pass?” Zakasi asks while using a towel to wipe off his hands. “If you don’t mind my asking.”
Lucinda swallows a knot in her throat. “She got really sick. Went from the beautiful woman you see in the painting by the front desk, to a skeletal shell of who she once was.” Tears well in Lucinda's eyes. “She was bed ridden for about two years. My father never left her side. I could barely see her.”
Zakasi takes Lucinda’s hand. “I’m sorry to hear that. I lost my father in battle. But now is not the time to discuss that.” He smiles at Lucinda. “Maybe after the ceremony, when Xylek can be part of the conversation.”
178Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3jdponlWp
