bride and beast: chap 2
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2003 2:20 pm
Chapter 2
Only gasps and muffled oaths could be heard, until someone called out.
?Doesn?t he know that the invaders have drained us of every shilling we ever had??
Albert replied, ?But what of the rumors?that Kushrenada paid someone that much to confirm the location of the Milliardo Peacecraft.?
?No, he?s toying with us, making us squirm. We shouldn?t give him the satisfaction that it?s working.? Relena whispered.
?We have to appease his appetite somehow?
?Relena what does he say he?ll do if we don?t produce the gold? came the calm voice of Albert, though his eyes gave away his inner fears and torments.
?He says it will spell the doom of our village?
Her words were greeted by silence.
?I know a way to get the Dragon off our backs? came the confident voice of David. ?In those child?s stories the monster is always appeased by a sacrifice?a blood sacrifice.?
Relena would have laughed had it not been so serious.
?The curse does imply that when innocent blood is shed, then he would go away, so it must be a human sacrifice? David remarked.
?You?ve got to be joking, so now we?re contemplating sacrificing one of us?? Relena gazed out to the crowd of people. ?This isn?t real, it?s just a hoax for us to give all we?ve got.?
?Innocent blood means?yes! A virgin, we must give him a virgin? David raised his arms in triumph to gain the attention of the crowds. ?This is the only way to soothe the Dragon?s wrath.?
The villagers were sp desperate to rid of the Dragon, that they believed in any suggestions anyone had. The crowd of people all looked around in search of fresh blood, or in other words one who was pure of a man?s touch. There weren?t any young girls left in Blisslake, all of the young generation had left the destitute village in search of their futures elsewhere. David?s gaze passed Dorothy and Sylvia quickly before settling in Hilde.
?I don?t think so! You?ll not lay a hand on her.? Commanded Relena as she ran towards her sister.
?It?s all right Rellie, they wouldn?t feed me to the Dragon, I?m not?umm?I?m no longer? Hilde blushed and glared at her feet trying to avoid the angry gaze of her older sister.
?Hilde how could you, why? Didn?t I teach you to strive for more??
?Please Relena, don?t be mad. I just didn?t want to end up like?? Hilde held her tongue, she knew her words had stung Relena and she was so sorry.
She didn?t have to finish her sentence, but Relena knew what she meant to say. You, she didn?t want to end up like Relena. Hilde didn?t want to end up alone and without love liker her. She felt her eyes start to moisten, and she blinked back the tears that threatened to spill.
?Relena!? she jumped as her name was called.
David came over, malice in his eyes. His hands held her arms in a brutal fashion. His fingers dug into her sensitive flesh. He held her and pushed her towards the crowd.
?We have our virgin?
?Oh no, surely you don?t mean?? her throat was dry, and fear started to rise as she looked into the evil and happy glints in the people?s eyes. ?I can?t believe you would do this?
?I?m afraid this might be our last and only way, my dear. Please forgive us? pleaded Albert.
Relena noticed how he had avoided her gaze as he spoke to her. She couldn?t blame them for trying to give her to the Dragon, they were so na?ve and uneducated, they were merely trying to survive. She felt her wrists being tied together behind her, and she stared out into the crowd. All of them were to ashamed to look at her as she was led to her home to prepare her for her death. All of her anger was now directed to one man, him, that bully and arrogant son of a bitch, for it was he that was taking her away from her father. Her father, she couldn?t leave him. There would be no one to love him, care for him, or keep him company.
?No you can?t do this to me,? she sobbed. ?What of my father, he would have no one.?
No one answered her desperate plea.
Relena sat stiffly on her bed, the village women had placed her in a delicate white dress that had once belonged to her beautiful mother. Her eyes glared coldly at no one in particular, she had barely made a peep. Her thoughts were directed on her poor father who would awake tomorrow and call for her, only to find that she was gone. She did not hear any of the conversation that went on around her.
?A pity she never married?
?Aye, a real beauty, just like her mother, but with her father?s intelligence?that he used to have? someone sighed.
?She doesn?t even realize that she could bring a man to his knees and offer her the world? came another voice.
They had combed her golden hair out from its usual knot. Her locks cascaded down her back like a brilliant ray of light. The candlelight gave her an ethereal glow, she truly did look like a beautiful, but miserable, angel. Still there were no mirrors around, or Relena would have seen her true reflection and be shocked by how she had changed.
?Are ya done yet? came a deep and impatient voice. ?A storm?s ?bout to blow.?
?Relena?? Relena was pulled from her trance by the sound of her name and a light touch on her shoulder. She looked up to see Hilde?s gloomy face.
?I promise to take good care of papa, when your?when?. Tears spilled relentlessly from her dark eyes. Relena embraced her dear sister.
?I know you will, and I will watch over you and forever take care of you. No matter what Hilde, please promise me you?ll strive for the best in life and love. And once you?ve found that one true love, don?t let go, don?t end up alone and without love like me. But you mustn?t settle for any less? Relena tried to look brave and gave Hilde an encouraging smile.
?Relena, you were never without love. You had me, I always loved you and will continue to. You?re here in my heart forever? Hilde tearfully replied.
?Oh Relena you?re doing the right thing,? Dorothy silkily said. ? I will have Ronald compose a beautiful ballad for your heroism.?
?So this is how it ends? she thought, ?me being led to my death, while my sister assures my immortality in a song composed by her lover?. She let go of a whimpering Hilde as the men came inside. They bound her wrists, she glowered at them. ?So you won?t try to run lass?.
They gloomy procession made their way up to the foreboding castle. Relena shivered for her dress felt more like a piece of sheer silk, hardly giving her the warmth she needed. But she remained strong, and continued up the hazardous remains of the path to the castle. The women wailed and moaned about how young she was, how brave she was?yes, note the word ?was?. ?People I?m not dead yet? she thought bitterly. Although the villagers thought her fate had already been cast in stone. They made their way to the courtyard, or what once was the courtyard. It was so beautiful, so alive with nature. Now there was nothing save for the broken stone blocks and a haunting statue of Venus, the goddess of love.
And that was where they tied her up and left her. She shivered as the wind gave way to lightening, and the lightening led to loud clapping thunder. ?Great, just great? she thought sulkily as the rain began to pour forth from the sky as if to mirror her mood. What was she to do? What was to become of her?
Never believing in trusting fate, she struggled against the rope wound around her. The cord dug into her wrists and she felt a burning sensation on her skin there.
?What was that? she thought she saw ( A/N: a putty tat?sorry, just wanted to amuse myself) a flicker of light in one of the castle windows. ?The breath of the Dragon? No it couldn?t be, it was just my fear getting the best of me? she dismissed the thought and concentrated on getting herself loose. ?Did they have to tie is so securely??
All her attention was upon getting herself loose that she did not see the shadow cross silently into the darkness.
?I?m just going to rest a while? she was so cold and tired, and barely had the strength to stand. She felt as if someone or something was watching her. Her skin broke out into goose bumps, and they were not from the cold. She swallowed a knot of fear as she gazed onto the courtyard, and this time she heard the rustle of something move towards her.
Panic. Fear. The two main feelings that were bubbling inside her. Her breathing became erratic and fierce, eyes wide open in search of anything. Her body tensed up as the adrenalin kicked into high gear.
?I-I-I?ll have you know, I don?t believe in you? she was surprised at how weak and hoarse her voice was.
She tried again. ?I know you not real, just a thief and a lying scum. There are no such things as dragons and curses. I believe in rationality and the science of things. I?ll have you know that I read pamphlets from the Royal Society for Improving Natural Knowledge through Experiment.? Her voice was much stronger but still held a tinge of uneasiness.
?I am not some ignorant peasant girl you can fool easily, nor am I someone you can bully into submission.?
There, she saw a dark outline of a creature, and all her thoughts of being brave and rational were thrown out the window. She began to chant. ?You?re not there, you aren?t real? over and over. But she couldn?t believe her own words. She wanted to shut her eyes and make everything go away, but she found herself unable to tear her eyes away at the shadow that was creeping closer to her.
As this shadow approached out from his hiding place in the darkness, she could only watch in horror as her fate was being sealed. And in the end it wasn?t leathery wings or flaring nostrils that proved to be Relena?s undoing. It was his face?a face more beautiful and more horrible than any in the world.
And that was the last image she saw as she slumped forward in a dead faint.
A/N: So what do u guys think? Hope you liked this chapter. I'll try to get the next one up soon.
Only gasps and muffled oaths could be heard, until someone called out.
?Doesn?t he know that the invaders have drained us of every shilling we ever had??
Albert replied, ?But what of the rumors?that Kushrenada paid someone that much to confirm the location of the Milliardo Peacecraft.?
?No, he?s toying with us, making us squirm. We shouldn?t give him the satisfaction that it?s working.? Relena whispered.
?We have to appease his appetite somehow?
?Relena what does he say he?ll do if we don?t produce the gold? came the calm voice of Albert, though his eyes gave away his inner fears and torments.
?He says it will spell the doom of our village?
Her words were greeted by silence.
?I know a way to get the Dragon off our backs? came the confident voice of David. ?In those child?s stories the monster is always appeased by a sacrifice?a blood sacrifice.?
Relena would have laughed had it not been so serious.
?The curse does imply that when innocent blood is shed, then he would go away, so it must be a human sacrifice? David remarked.
?You?ve got to be joking, so now we?re contemplating sacrificing one of us?? Relena gazed out to the crowd of people. ?This isn?t real, it?s just a hoax for us to give all we?ve got.?
?Innocent blood means?yes! A virgin, we must give him a virgin? David raised his arms in triumph to gain the attention of the crowds. ?This is the only way to soothe the Dragon?s wrath.?
The villagers were sp desperate to rid of the Dragon, that they believed in any suggestions anyone had. The crowd of people all looked around in search of fresh blood, or in other words one who was pure of a man?s touch. There weren?t any young girls left in Blisslake, all of the young generation had left the destitute village in search of their futures elsewhere. David?s gaze passed Dorothy and Sylvia quickly before settling in Hilde.
?I don?t think so! You?ll not lay a hand on her.? Commanded Relena as she ran towards her sister.
?It?s all right Rellie, they wouldn?t feed me to the Dragon, I?m not?umm?I?m no longer? Hilde blushed and glared at her feet trying to avoid the angry gaze of her older sister.
?Hilde how could you, why? Didn?t I teach you to strive for more??
?Please Relena, don?t be mad. I just didn?t want to end up like?? Hilde held her tongue, she knew her words had stung Relena and she was so sorry.
She didn?t have to finish her sentence, but Relena knew what she meant to say. You, she didn?t want to end up like Relena. Hilde didn?t want to end up alone and without love liker her. She felt her eyes start to moisten, and she blinked back the tears that threatened to spill.
?Relena!? she jumped as her name was called.
David came over, malice in his eyes. His hands held her arms in a brutal fashion. His fingers dug into her sensitive flesh. He held her and pushed her towards the crowd.
?We have our virgin?
?Oh no, surely you don?t mean?? her throat was dry, and fear started to rise as she looked into the evil and happy glints in the people?s eyes. ?I can?t believe you would do this?
?I?m afraid this might be our last and only way, my dear. Please forgive us? pleaded Albert.
Relena noticed how he had avoided her gaze as he spoke to her. She couldn?t blame them for trying to give her to the Dragon, they were so na?ve and uneducated, they were merely trying to survive. She felt her wrists being tied together behind her, and she stared out into the crowd. All of them were to ashamed to look at her as she was led to her home to prepare her for her death. All of her anger was now directed to one man, him, that bully and arrogant son of a bitch, for it was he that was taking her away from her father. Her father, she couldn?t leave him. There would be no one to love him, care for him, or keep him company.
?No you can?t do this to me,? she sobbed. ?What of my father, he would have no one.?
No one answered her desperate plea.
Relena sat stiffly on her bed, the village women had placed her in a delicate white dress that had once belonged to her beautiful mother. Her eyes glared coldly at no one in particular, she had barely made a peep. Her thoughts were directed on her poor father who would awake tomorrow and call for her, only to find that she was gone. She did not hear any of the conversation that went on around her.
?A pity she never married?
?Aye, a real beauty, just like her mother, but with her father?s intelligence?that he used to have? someone sighed.
?She doesn?t even realize that she could bring a man to his knees and offer her the world? came another voice.
They had combed her golden hair out from its usual knot. Her locks cascaded down her back like a brilliant ray of light. The candlelight gave her an ethereal glow, she truly did look like a beautiful, but miserable, angel. Still there were no mirrors around, or Relena would have seen her true reflection and be shocked by how she had changed.
?Are ya done yet? came a deep and impatient voice. ?A storm?s ?bout to blow.?
?Relena?? Relena was pulled from her trance by the sound of her name and a light touch on her shoulder. She looked up to see Hilde?s gloomy face.
?I promise to take good care of papa, when your?when?. Tears spilled relentlessly from her dark eyes. Relena embraced her dear sister.
?I know you will, and I will watch over you and forever take care of you. No matter what Hilde, please promise me you?ll strive for the best in life and love. And once you?ve found that one true love, don?t let go, don?t end up alone and without love like me. But you mustn?t settle for any less? Relena tried to look brave and gave Hilde an encouraging smile.
?Relena, you were never without love. You had me, I always loved you and will continue to. You?re here in my heart forever? Hilde tearfully replied.
?Oh Relena you?re doing the right thing,? Dorothy silkily said. ? I will have Ronald compose a beautiful ballad for your heroism.?
?So this is how it ends? she thought, ?me being led to my death, while my sister assures my immortality in a song composed by her lover?. She let go of a whimpering Hilde as the men came inside. They bound her wrists, she glowered at them. ?So you won?t try to run lass?.
They gloomy procession made their way up to the foreboding castle. Relena shivered for her dress felt more like a piece of sheer silk, hardly giving her the warmth she needed. But she remained strong, and continued up the hazardous remains of the path to the castle. The women wailed and moaned about how young she was, how brave she was?yes, note the word ?was?. ?People I?m not dead yet? she thought bitterly. Although the villagers thought her fate had already been cast in stone. They made their way to the courtyard, or what once was the courtyard. It was so beautiful, so alive with nature. Now there was nothing save for the broken stone blocks and a haunting statue of Venus, the goddess of love.
And that was where they tied her up and left her. She shivered as the wind gave way to lightening, and the lightening led to loud clapping thunder. ?Great, just great? she thought sulkily as the rain began to pour forth from the sky as if to mirror her mood. What was she to do? What was to become of her?
Never believing in trusting fate, she struggled against the rope wound around her. The cord dug into her wrists and she felt a burning sensation on her skin there.
?What was that? she thought she saw ( A/N: a putty tat?sorry, just wanted to amuse myself) a flicker of light in one of the castle windows. ?The breath of the Dragon? No it couldn?t be, it was just my fear getting the best of me? she dismissed the thought and concentrated on getting herself loose. ?Did they have to tie is so securely??
All her attention was upon getting herself loose that she did not see the shadow cross silently into the darkness.
?I?m just going to rest a while? she was so cold and tired, and barely had the strength to stand. She felt as if someone or something was watching her. Her skin broke out into goose bumps, and they were not from the cold. She swallowed a knot of fear as she gazed onto the courtyard, and this time she heard the rustle of something move towards her.
Panic. Fear. The two main feelings that were bubbling inside her. Her breathing became erratic and fierce, eyes wide open in search of anything. Her body tensed up as the adrenalin kicked into high gear.
?I-I-I?ll have you know, I don?t believe in you? she was surprised at how weak and hoarse her voice was.
She tried again. ?I know you not real, just a thief and a lying scum. There are no such things as dragons and curses. I believe in rationality and the science of things. I?ll have you know that I read pamphlets from the Royal Society for Improving Natural Knowledge through Experiment.? Her voice was much stronger but still held a tinge of uneasiness.
?I am not some ignorant peasant girl you can fool easily, nor am I someone you can bully into submission.?
There, she saw a dark outline of a creature, and all her thoughts of being brave and rational were thrown out the window. She began to chant. ?You?re not there, you aren?t real? over and over. But she couldn?t believe her own words. She wanted to shut her eyes and make everything go away, but she found herself unable to tear her eyes away at the shadow that was creeping closer to her.
As this shadow approached out from his hiding place in the darkness, she could only watch in horror as her fate was being sealed. And in the end it wasn?t leathery wings or flaring nostrils that proved to be Relena?s undoing. It was his face?a face more beautiful and more horrible than any in the world.
And that was the last image she saw as she slumped forward in a dead faint.
A/N: So what do u guys think? Hope you liked this chapter. I'll try to get the next one up soon.
creepy(even though I have already read the book) 
Elyn Yuy
I can't believe the villagers chose to sacrifice
Heero better make things good for her now!! :evil: