Chapter 11: Catherine(2)

LUANA'S POV

Ravens.

She was with a box of ravens. Why?

As if answering my question, she picked one up. The poor bird struggled, but she bit its head clean off with her teeth. She chewed and swallowed everything, blood staining her fingers and dress.

It was a gruesome sight. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Suddenly, something strange happened—I was pulled back by some sort of force.

I woke up in bed.

It was morning.

What the fuck?

Was I dreaming?

How did I get here?

I heard the clashing of swords from outside and decided to take a look. Catherine and King Riccardo were fighting.

I scoffed.

I looked over to the other bed in the room and saw Seraphina still sleeping. I wanted to go down there, but I couldn’t leave her alone.

“Luana?.”

I turned to see Queen Lavina at the door.

“Your Highness, please come in,” I said, bowing.

“Please, you can call me Lavina when we’re alone. We should be around the same age,” she said with a smile.

“But your high..”

“I insist” She cut me off saying.

I nodded. She moved over to the window. Where I stood.

“Seraphina has been talking about you non-stop, she says you read her bedtime stories and tell funny jokes.”

She laughed softly.

Seraphina must have told her one of my jokes.

“Thank you,” she continued, holding my hand. “During the time those strange incidents were happening in our town, she’s been really down. But now, she’s back to her old self.”

I couldn’t help smiling. “I’m happy to stay by the princess’s side.”

I glanced out the window, then turned back to her.

“Um… Lavina, Catherine—where was she when we first arrived?”

“Ohh She was sick,” Lavina replied. “She hadn’t fully recovered, so she stayed in bed until she felt better. But since she woke up… she feels different.”

“Different?” I asked.

“Yes. She didn’t know how to sword fight before, and she was usually timid.I mean this was someone who didn't know how to hold a knife properly.”

Where have I heard that before?

“And I know she’s always liked Riccardo, but she never made any moves. Recently, she’s been more… forward.”

Someone who didn’t know how to sword fight suddenly became skilled? A timid person became bold overnight? It's like she woke up a whole new person.

What could be her objective? The king? Seraphina?

They had finished fighting and now she was cleaning the sweat off of his face.

I nearly gagged.

Harry had the same expression as he saw them from the training grounds. We needed to talk. Something fishy was going on.

\~~~~~~~~

“I’ve noticed it too, but anytime I try to talk about it, he won’t listen to me.”

Harry said, as he brushed the mane of a horse. We were at the stables.

“I saw something disturbing yesterday, but I’m not sure if it was real or just a dream.”

“What did you see?” Harry asked

I told him everything. He looked confused and worried. Then held his chin, lost in thought.

“I think the king is under a spell”.

“A spell?” I asked.

He nodded.

“Think about it, he doesn't like people touching him but she was wiping his sweat, and previously when he knew of her feelings he rejected her but now he's accepting them. I even saw them holding hands yesterday.”

This was the second time I felt like vomiting.

“Recently, he only wants to be with Catherine”.

“So it's a love spell then?”

“Exactly my thought”. he said.

I felt like I was missing something, something I had forgotten.

\~~~~~~~~~~~

Morning passed and evening came. I felt uneasy. Seraphina was with her mother and I was with Harry in the stables. We decided to stay there and practise spells.

And then it hit me like lightning. Something we all forgot about. It all made sense now. The dots were finally connecting.

“The wizard…the wizard is Catherine”.

Harry’s eyes widened as the realization struck.

“Shit. A wizard in the human realm?! They must have followed us here to kill the king. First they wanted to overthrow him, now they want to kill him”.

What did the king do to anger the wizards?

“And Seraphina?” I asked.

“The king loves her. They'll kill her which will make the relationship between him and Adolf Thin, losing allies. Plus, her death would break him”.

I sprung up from the floor.

We have to warn him. Now!

\~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As we reached the king's room, we saw Catherine making advances to kiss him! The third time today I almost vomited. Harry moved like lightning and pulled her away from the king, holding her in the air with his magic.

“What is the meaning of this?” The King asked, angrily.

“Catherine is not who you think she is. She's a wizard. The same wizard that we felt its presence before. You're under a spell.”

The king looked to Catherine who looked like she would suffocate at any moment. He shook his head.

“Let her go.”

“What?” Harry and I chorused at the same time.

“Let. Her. Go.” He repeated, eyes red with fury.

“No!!” I shouted.

I walked towards him, moving as fast as I could. Then I placed my hand on his chest, the action startling him. Our eyes locked. I could see anger and confusion in his eyes.

“Che l'incantesimo d'amore venga spezzato”

His aura, previously dark, returned to a light shade of blue. I had broken the spell. His blue eyes were normal again.

“Welcome back your highness”.

“No!!!!!!”

Catherine screamed, her legs shaking as she struggled to free herself.

I tapped Harry lightly on the shoulder, “Release her”.

He looked confused but obeyed.

She dropped to the floor with a thud.

“You!!..Golden witch!! You ruined my plans!!!!”.

She lunged for me but I quickly used my feet to create ice that held her in place. Only her face was seen. I walked over to her.

“Show your true self”.

She looked away annoyed.

“Ohh? You want to do this the hard way then?” I raised my hands in the air, a gulf of wind over took us, breaking the ice. I still held her in place with invisible chains.

“Mostra il tuo vero io”

Her body quacked. Her face changed. Her long blonde hair was replaced with a crimson red one. Her lips had dark lipstick and her dress was very much revealing.

“What is your objective?” I asked.

“I'd rather die than tell you anything”.

I looked at Harry and he nodded. It was my signal to go check on Seraphina.

“You're a witch. So why? Why are you working with them!” She screamed. “He needs to be killed only then can witches and wizards live free”.

What was she talking about?

I looked over to the King. He was sitting quietly on his bed. I hated him. I was going to kill him. Me and only me had that right.

“Any last words?”

She laughed.

“See you in hell demon king”. She opened her mouth and lunged fire at the king. Not just any fire, dragon fire. The hottest of all flames.

“Your highness!!!!”