Till Death Do us Part

Misery and dejection suffocates me; my taut corset allow me more air to breathe than these grand, historic castle walls. As if mourning a dead brother I linger in feelings of grief and despair, this is not living, it is surviving lavishly, nonetheless unhappily. Though I am spoiled with riches and wealth my sorrow grows by each passing morning. Why must I be so miserable? I ask myself this question from the moment I rise from bed to the second I lay my head to rest. Materialistic things can no longer appease me my greed grows stronger, I want more. A life in which I can be free to speak and behave the way I'd fancy, a life in which could be free. I laugh at the thought: freedom. As if it is something I can't quite reach I stretch out awaiting it's return, I peak through the apertures of the castle walls. Blue birds and mocking jays alighting atop a flower filled tree branch, bushy-tailed squirrels scampering across the wooden bark without a care in the world. I press my dainty fingers against the ancient stone. "Freedom", my voice comes out more of a whisper than a thought, quite literally. I hear the light footsteps of one of my many maids, most likely approaching to tend to my every need and want I think to myself when a soft, warm tear drips down my face, caressing my cheeks and jaw. I can't do this anymore. I can't live like this anymore. I just can't. To think that for the remainder of my years I will be forced to live a bleak, doleful life such as this. It is demoralizing. Although I can distinctly hear the light knocking on my door I ignore it, eyes wide as saucers when I realize. Either I'll be betrothed and sent off with man I don't love or I'll be killed by the Russian. This life, one that is so short, how could I possibly fathom wasting it on nonsensical bullshit? My heart races faster, my breathes quickening as my head becomes dizzy, I'm hyperventilating. Tightening my grip on a nearby wall, my sweat drips down my forehead and nape. I have to escape, no matter what. I have to, for the sake of my sanity. "So please, somebod-

Bright and sun filled, barely visible to the human eye, is where she lay. Atop a field of flowers, tulips and lilacs littered the verdant, green grass. Fluttering her eyes open she stares at the blazing sun, squinting to the light. Sitting up a caterpillar crawls on her hand, she smiles gently, beginning to pet the small creature with the tips of her fingers. Suddenly the animal is engulfed into a cocoon for 7 seconds exactly before transforming into a spotted orange and black butterfly. It flies, rising to chase after it the girls stumbles and falls giggling and cheery, flipping onto her backside, she watches the clouds pass by. How lovely she felt in that moment, aside from the royalties and formalities here she was, blissfully sunbathing carefree and happily. A young child twice as smaller as the girl stands above her peering down at her. "Hello Eloise, how do you do?" "Wonderful, and you young chap?" The young boy smiles goofily, "Good enough I would say" He offers her hand which she accepts and rises to her feet once again. "Pretty day isn't it" the young boy queries. "It most certainly is" Eloise beams. "Y'know of not for your position as royalty this could be your life." Eloise turns her head, furrows her brows and stares intently at the boy. "How would you know of such?" Ignoring Eloise's question he says "Your quite rapacious aren't you? You'll do anything to attain happiness. And so I'll tell you this, in order to escape the sad, pathetic world you live in, you must sacrifice something of great value and then you will be given happiness." "Sacrifice? Of what sort?" "One that is most valuable to you, such as perhaps a loved one." Eloise scoffs, "Love. you say? Love is something I do not poss-" Cutting her off the young boy says "And yet you expect eternal happiness without paying such a price" A silence washes over the two. "Take my hand, and you will find two of things, one will prevail over the other, the choice is yours." The airy breeze passes through my dark tresses, my skin warm from the heat of the fiery sun, as the birds chip and the stream runs, she thinks to herself: There is no price I would not pay to be free, I would rather die than to live my life despondently filled with a never ending grief. And so I take the boy's hand hesitant but decided, when a gust of wind and a unexpected surge of strength emerges from the small boy as he pulls my hand towards his petite frame and says, "The deal you have just made is unbreakable, not even a God could break it, your fate is now yours, but upon your death you shall be mines. Your greed has lead me to you, and now I, Mammon the 2^nd archdemon of Hell oath to uphold our pact till death. Do. Us. Part." I awake in a frenzy, sweat dripping down my forehead and gathering atop my upper lip, I huff bewildered at what just seemingly happened. I search through my recollection of thoughts looking for the dream I had moments ago. "Oh my lady you're alright!" I snap my neck towards the fat, chubby woman, she wore a maids dress and apron and she says "Oh I nearly had a heart attack I though you'd be asleep for days! We simply can't have that the ceremony is tomorrow." I narrow my gaze towards her and furrow an eyebrow, "Ceremony?" "Ah yes, just think, by dawn you'll be betrothed to a wealthy prince!" Shit. How could something so important slip my mind? I bite my bottom lip, slowly returning to the present, gripping the thin white sheets I say as calmly as possible "And whom may this person be?" "Well I'm not exactly sure, but I've heard rumors." "Of what sort?" "That your betrothed is man like no other one that is as beautiful as a god. I hear his waltz is so refined not even a lady of the court could trounce him." I huff heavily slamming my backside onto the plushness of the bed. "I hope he can drink, because I certainly will be doing enough of that."

Tomorrow morning........

My many maids crowd around me pulling and adjusting the large itchy, ivory gown. My corset was pulled tighter, but I was accustomed to it, after 19 years it gets tiring. The waistline of the cold iron crinoline presses into my hips making me wince, I suppose nothing is out of the ordinary. My mind wanders, as I put together bits and pieces of the odd dream I had the day prior. A spotted butterfly, a young chap in a blue sailor outfit, his name was....what was it? Mam- "Mammon." I whisper. "What was that? One of the maids adjusting my off shoulder balloon sleeves said. "Oh nothing, my apologies, just a bad habit." "Alright then, now be still" She powdered my face harshly, and applied bright, red lipstick which I knew I would wash off as soon as I the chance. Another maid did my hair standing on a wooden stool to create an elaborate coiffure. I slipped on my ruby embedded heels, and clipped on two pearl earrings, and a necklace to match. Everything I wore was monochromatic, I was fastidious in that way, I once attempted to hold a conversation with one of the maids, but they were far to dole to keep my attention and so I remained silent. "My lady it is time"

I gathered my dress in the palms of my hands and walked down the grand corridors of the castle. The guard I was being escorted by was stern and cold, I believe his name was Alastair. I didn't bother to engage in a conversation with him either, I was already tired and I had only awoken 3 hours before. I am escorted to the ballroom, one I was far to familiar with, the queen often held balls here, and as her "daughter" I was to attend. My father married her when I was 17 to think I've only known the avaricious woman for 2 years was baffling. I especially disliked her as she often disparaged of me behind father's back. No matter, I put a delicate smile as I step through the ballroom doors hearing the emcee announce my title. " Presenting Princess Eloise of England!" The audience applauses as I curtsey politely, occasionally flashing my smile to dukes and duchesses. Here, my life starts anew.

"Presenting Princess Eloise of England!" She curtseys respectfully and smiles one that make my heart skip a beat. I remember my father's words: "Elliot, my son, your being betrothed to woman of endless grace and elegance, she is the 3^rd princess of England, heir to the throne, her sister has been married off, and the other, bedlam." That must be her, she was more beautiful than I originally depicted, she was truly the most graceful woman I've ever seen, her long dark locks tied up with loose strands of hair falling down her face, her honey eyes sparkling with gaiety. I believe I've fallen in love. Unconsciously my body moves on it's own, I, the great prince of Scotland have fallen into a trance by this spellbinding woman. "Excuse me, my lady, may I..... take this dance?" Royalties all around waltzing, laughing joyously, "It depends on who's asking?" "Elliot, prince of Scotland" bowing and lifting my head up to see her staggered expression. "Well I suppose I would not mind, if you're a good dancer that is" She smiles, taken aback I stare for a moment before quickly saying "Believe me when I say I'll put you in awe, my lady." I take her hand gently, placing a kiss on it. The thin strings of the violin play a tune of wine and roses, as I lace my hand across her small waist and intertwine my fingers with hers, we waltz. How did such a dance land me into her chamber bed, I will never know. Ecstasy overwhelms me as I chase my release. Tonight was a good night.

She was the first to awaken from deep slumber that morning studying the man next to her. He was indeed handsome, his chiseled features and thick eyebrows. She clothed herself in a dark green, silk dress it was lengthy enough to walk outside and so she did, she had also told her maids to leave her breakfast downstairs, in the kitchen which they obliged to. Whilst turning a corner she bumped into something hard and sturdy, startled she tripped onto her sore rump from last night, peaking up to see a young woman about 2 or 3 years older than her, with pale blonde hair and the prettiest blue eyes. In awe the princess stayed on the ground admiring the young woman's features. Startled herself the woman stared right back at the honey eyed woman on the ground. A passing blue bird chirped merrily as the sun's radiant light emitted from the sky and through the glass panes of the castle walls. "Do you, need help?" Lifting her armored hand to the princess she quirked and eyebrow and bent down. Following her gaze down to the ground Eloise hesitantly took the knights hand, as if it was a predetermined fate, the two eyes widened upon touching hands, almost as if they knew, it was love at first sight.

The two began to meet secretly, in the winery cellar of the palace, and sometimes in the princess' chamber too. They fell in love with each other, from the moment they touched, it was like a love spell had been cast on the two. One a heroic royal knight, the other a greed filled soul with an unknown intent. But their love would not last long as the princess had also fallen in love with a noble prince, the young child was indeed correct, she would find two of things, one a noble prince, the other a heroic knight, which one would she choose, or would she her happiness over the two? Who would know

7 months later........

. "Thank you all, for having me at your home, it's truly is a magnificent place, Scotland. I'm so very happy to be engaged to this man, he his the love of my life, the sun to my morning and the stars to my sky. I love you so very much Elliot, and I'm honored to becoming your wife." He smiles as the crowd woos and awes, he says simply, "Till death do us part. Cheers!" We drink away at our wine until the champagne glasses are emptied, and the lining of our stomach is filled. 5 minutes and 28 seconds Elliot drops to the floor, I counted. The crowd screams and shouts for help as I fall to my knees. Tears delicately falling down my face as I cradle his stiff, frigid body. What have I done? I cry knowing not even the finest doctor could undo what I've just done. My voice cracks, as I repeat like a broken record. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I-I'm so sorry" The emptied wine glasses shatter upon making contact with the ground, the sound of marble being ran on "Forgive me, forgive me, p-please" The guards pull me from his dead body, escorting me to my carriage, nonresistant I'm taken back home. My guilt weighing me down with every step I take. I killed the love of my life and yet, I was still in this cruel, cold world. I made a deal, a deal he said was unbreakable and yet it went unfulfilled. "Ah-ah-ah. Not true." A unsettling raspy voice fills my ears. "Perhaps you've simply gotten the wrong lover?" I stand from the ground, it was so bright. Everything surrounding me was lucid, blinding almost. "No! That was not part of the deal! You only said one sacrifice not two!" Tears flood my eyes as my cheeks become flushed. "Come now child do not cry, it is your insatiable greed that hinders you" I begin to sob uncontrollably, denying the words of the hallucinatory demon, man, whatever it was. "No. No. No." sorrow engulfs me as I fall to the ground, I cup my face with my hands, wet tears covering them. "Yes indeed, to attain eternal happiness, you know what you must do. Love is strong, but greed is stronger."

I wake up shouting and trembling as my shoulders are being shaken, "Eloise! What's wrong?! Please Eloise answer me!" I open my eyes to see her gorgeous face hovering over my own, blue eyes sparkling in the sunlight. She cups my face, kissing me passionately. Finally upon breaking the kiss, she says "It's alright I'm here, I'll protect you." The blonde, braided beauty slept with me until nightfall, making love and cuddling lovingly. "Darling meet me atop the terrace at 12:00 midnight. I have to attend a grand ceremony it should last about 2 or 3 hours. Meet me there?" "Of course." 

4 hours later.......

Waltzing with the Eloise atop this terrace in the light of the moon. She was enchanting, enthralling, and I, spellbound. Although I was taller, she took the lead; elegant as a dove, dainty and filled with grace. I remember a time when all was at ease dancing with my mother never once missing a step always in sync. She was a pale, sickly woman whom my relationship was one-sided, I couldn’t have cared less of my mother’s death, a fool she died; I did not mourn her departing of this cruel, frigid world. Instead I inherited her wealth and danced the dance we waltzed together in her bedlam. Together in silence we waltz across this terrace, stealing my lips she abruptly stops her caress delicate as if I were a porcelain doll. “Do you love me?” Her light airy voice ringing in my ears as my contrastable deep, hoarse voice rattles through the night. “More than life itself” “Why is that?” I look into her deep honey eyes placing a strand of her dark hair behind her ear. “I have no clue” She smiles, one that shines brighter than the moonlight, before I can make the realization that water is falling but not from the sky, I say “I would end however many lives for you, although I, a hero, just and righteous my love for you blinds me. I am sure it will be my demise.” She grips my shoulder tightly “You are right”. Pain. That is all I can feel as my body goes numb, my lower abdomen seemingly paralyzed I look down. A sliver knife embedded with rubies and emeralds lay deep within me. My face is lifted towards my lover, my savior and she speaks “I love you so very much, I mourn for you in tears my love. Please answer me this, will you wait for me?” My face relaxes as I wipe her tears from her small face. My suspicions were nonetheless, accurate. A hero I was, and a killer she is and yet my love for her continues to grow as her sobs grow harsher “I will wait for you until the end of time my dearest love, so do not cry, I forgive you” “Make an oath!” Raising my bloodied hand, I speak “I make an oath to you as your lover and knight, patient I’ll stay, I shall wait for you until death meets you as it did to I. Till death do us part” I smile seeing her caress my features, “Goodbye my love” 

The End!