The Red Cloak Girls

Seven: Crimson Ashland

Seven:

Crimson Ashland

    This was it. This was my life now. Here, in Castle Lupine. The castle was far older than I expected it to be, a labyrinth of staircases. I had tried to take in as much of it as I could when we’d arrived. But then Conan arrived, looking worried and announced suddenly that Raoul was needed in the war room. There had been no time to observe my surroundings. Instead, I was rushed up stairs, and shoved roughly into his room, like a prisoner.

    Alone in his chambers. The room was made of stone. The bed was a large, wooden four poster. With furs covering the bed. There was a large, stone fireplace. Along with a wooden desk.

    I had thought that maybe I would be given my own room. But it occurred to me that most who mated would be…mating. My face warmed at the thought of that. It didn’t matter. I had no connection to Raoul. He was so arrogant, and controlling, that I couldn’t find him attractive. All I felt when I looked at him was revulsion.

    And fear.

    I thought about going to bed, but I didn’t want to give him any ideas. I didn’t feel comfortable with the idea of sitting at his desk either. I grabbed one of the furs, then found a spot on the floor.

    I should have slept. But my mind was wide awake. All I could do was sit, curled up on the floor, waiting for him to return. The night was long, and the moonlight that filtered in from the rooms one, small window cast shadows on everything.

    My mind played tricks on me.

    At times, I thought I could hear something scratching and crawling at the door. Then it would go away. It was ages and ages before someone finally came into the room. When they did, it was early morning, and it wasn’t Raoul. It was a maid.

    The door swung open, revealing a pretty blond girl carrying a tray. She frowned when she saw me. “Are you alright, Princess Crimson?”

    I winced at the name. “I’m not a Princess.”

    She frowned. “Aren’t you Prince Raoul’s mate?”

    I stared at her blankly, saying nothing. I had consented to The Mating Season to keep people alive, but I would never call Raoul my mate.

    The maid coughed. “Well, I was told by the Prince to call you Princess. When The Mating Season is completed, you’ll wed, and you’ll be a Princess anyway.”

    “Please, just call me Crimson,” I begged.

    “Can’t do that, I’m afraid,” she said. “What are you doing on the floor? It’s more comfortable on the bed, and more practical for breakfast.”

    I shook my head. “I won’t be eating. It doesn’t matter.”

    She sighed.  “Now miss, I’ve been through The Mating Season plenty of times. I’ve seen any number of young ladies try to take themselves ill but it won’t matter. Nothing that you can do will stop them. Has there ever been a lady that’s come back to your village?”

    “I…” 

     Excluding the girl whose mate had allowed her to be with someone else because she wasn’t sexually attracted to him, no one came to mind. All of the girls who went through The Mating Season all stayed, and were never heard or seen from again.

    She smiled. “You’ll find your place here. It might take time, but eventually, you’ll find happiness with the Prince. He’s been waiting for you for such a long time. It was so hard for him when he found you but couldn’t have you because you weren’t of age yet.”

    I frowned. “Did he…did he talk about me?”

    She nodded. “Oh yes. All of the time. You see, when a wolf finds their mate, they are in constant agony until they can be with you. They can only be released of it once you mate. I’m certain you must have seen him in the village. Sometimes, he went simply so that he could stare at you.”

    I thought back to all of those times I’d seen him in the village, simply glaring at me. Watching. Waiting. Had he truly been there because he couldn’t wait to be with me, and not because he was disgusted by me? “He went there just to stare at me?”

    She smiled, then placed the tray of food on the bed. “I know he seems rough, but he’s actually quite lovely.”

    “It doesn’t matter,” I said, “I won’t live long enough for it to matter.”

    “What do you mean?” the girl asked.

    “I’m sick. I have Devils Lung. It will probably kill me before I’ll be with him.”

    “Don’t you know?” the girl said.

    “What?” I asked.

    “We’re magic. Wolves can’t get sick,” she told me, “if you become a werewolf, you won’t have to worry about being sick. All you have to do is be with the Prince. Then you’ll be fixed. You can be happy!”

    “What is your name?” I asked her.

    The girl blushed. “My name is Renia, Princess.”

    “I know what you’ve grown up being told and seeing. But I live in the village where these girls are from. I watch families mourn their daughters as if they have died. I know that my family will do the same. This isn’t magic. It isn’t happily ever after. And I---” I walked over to the bed and took the porridge that Renia had placed on there. “I am not going to simply be his mate just because he wants me to.”

    I tossed the bowl on the ground, not caring that I had made a mess. It was rude of me, but it was the most drastic thing that I could think of to do. “Now, get out!” I shouted.

    Renia winced. “Sorry, sorry.” She bolted from the door, slamming it shut. Then, I was left alone. Again.