Chapter 31 — The Crimson Bedchamber

The crimson bedchamber was a room meant to seduce even the most reluctant fair maiden. Red velvet draperies hung from the tall windows that were painted with an icy frost design. One candle flickered on a black bureau. A large four-poster bed with a crimson spread and white silk sheets took up most of the room. The covers were turned back as if inviting lovers to lie on the silken, billowy pillows for a night of passion.

 The guards ushered Damien and Stephanie into the room and abruptly left. She froze as she heard the click of the lock. She looked around the cavernous room with high ceilings, sensing that the danger wasn’t in the ballroom, but here with him.

“Why am I here?” she asked pointedly. 

“To pleasure me, of course.”

“I’m not a wench, like the women in the passageway,” Stephanie quipped. “We have not yet wed, and you have no right to take liberties.”

He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “It is no dishonor to be my mistress. You are unmarried without family to protect you. The wolves are already gathering—they want to buy you. They have offered me gold and silver.”

“Is that why you brought me here? To put me on display, and sell me to the highest bidder?”

 “The offers are quite high, and I would be a fool not to consider them.”

“Have you any morals at all, Damien? I’m not a whore to be bought and sold at whim.”

“Bite your tongue, woman, or I’ll have you whipped.”

When she recoiled, he gently kissed her neck. “You’re not treating me very well. You must offer me some kind of affection. I’ve sent my favorite wench, Bella Franz, to the dungeon because of you.”

Brows drawn, Stephanie turned and faced him. “What happened that you would do such a thing?”

“A spy came forward and said that Bella had gone to go to the witch’s house in the hollow tree in the forest and bought poison. Tonight, Needles caught her red-handed bribing a servant to poison your wine. The wine was to be served at the end of the evening. Had you drank it, you would be dead. Thanks to Lucifer, you will live, and she will die.” 

 Stephanie gasped. “But why would she want to kill me?”

“Jealousy and spite. Bella Franz is exquisite, but dangerous.” They call her Wicked. I had no choice but to put her in the dungeon. I will hang her tomorrow. “ 

Stephanie had seen a few harlots at the party, but they hadn’t looked dangerous. They stayed in the background, but were easy to pick out, even in their masks. Most were young and pretty; heavily made up with red lipstick and ghostly white powder covering their faces. Their gowns looked frayed and barely covered their bosoms. They kept to themselves; and she’d actually seen them with men in the passageway.

“You’re sending me conflicting messages. When I appeared in the book, you adored me, and on one occasion—you kissed me. It was the sweetest kiss I’ve ever had. And now that you’re here—you seem to dislike me immensely.”

“I find you arrogant,” she said. “You’ve done nothing to win me over,” she said, vying for time. “You might at least try to woo me.”

“I’m a prince,” he said. “I don’t have to do such things. Whether I woo you or not, the result will be the same—I will bed you.”

His smoldering dark eyes told her he was determined to have his way with her. “I need more time. We hardly know each other,” she said in persuasive voice. “Let’s go back to the ballroom and dance. Surely, they are finished with their morbid entertainment.”

“Dance with me?” he said in a teasing voice. “We both know it’s my brother you want to dance with. You chose him in front of a room full of guests. You’re not a very good liar, darling.” His lips nuzzled her smooth white neck. “Your mouth lies, and your body speaks to me of love. I can feel your heart pounding against my chest.”

It was her heart racing from the adrenaline of fear as she imagined what he might do to her. He’d sent his favorite wench to the dungeon and was considering selling her. If she weren’t careful, she could end up in the dungeon like Bella Franz, her head in a noose tomorrow.

He moved, and his head blotted out the light of the torches. Now all she saw were dark shadows climbing the wall, as his warm mouth covered hers, his tongue gently teasing. She was trembling, unsure, and untrusting. He grasped her wrists and his lips traveled to her neck. He bit her neck, and she screamed hysterical.

“Shut up, wench,” he commanded. “I have the power to send you to the gallows, to hang you— it could very well be the blade that comes down on that beautiful white neck of yours instead of Bella’s.” Then he ripped her dress off her shoulder in a flash—exposing her bosom.”

She threw her hands over her breasts, aghast. In the dim glow, she could see the excitement in his dark eyes as they traveled over her. 

Suddenly, she heard shouting and loud pounding on the door. 

“Cover yourself,” Damien said coldly, as he rose, adjusted his clothes and opened the door a crack. 

Lucifer burst through the door and quickly assessed the situation. 

“There are rules, my brother,” Lucifer said brusquely as he pushed past Damien. 

“The Feathered Pen writes, and Wizard knows what you have done. King Midas has demanded Stephanie’s presence in the ball room. He believes you have done the unthinkable—and have blemished Stephanie. You professed her to be perfect before the bidding.”

“My heart is black, and I’m a master of deceit,” Damien said, “but I have not violated her. If she is blemished, it was not I.”

“Her dress is torn,” Lucifer raged. “You’ve marked her with a bite on her neck. I can see for myself that you have violated her.”

“A bite. It’s nothing,” Damien said, his voice blasé. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve changed my mind. I’m not selling her.”

“You cannot go back on your word,” Lucifer said, or King Midas will declare war. He is the highest bidder, and she goes to him.”

Stephanie sat frozen in disbelief with her arms covering her breasts like a shield. 

Lillian rushed in, and threw a black cloak around her, pulled the hood over her head, and whisked her away.

“What is happening?” Stephanie asked.

“King Midas is enraged that Damien took you to the Crimson Room,” Lillian said, as she led Stephanie down the dark halls at a fast pace. “You were to be unblemished, and King Midas has offered a ton of gold for you. He wants you for his son, Magnus, but I saw the bite clearly on your neck. You were to be perfect.” 

“It’s just as well,” Stephanie declared. “I can’t go with King Midas to the Blue Star. All of my allies are here. I would never get back to Earth.”

“King Midas is a noble man, and you would have fared better with Magnus on the Blue Star than with Damien. Damien is dark, dangerous, and deceitful. He would never sell you. It was a ruse.” 

“I don’t understand,” Stephanie said as Lillian clutched her arm tightly, now running through the dark passageways. 

“Damien believes King Midas will withdraw his bid when he sees the bite. Lucifer found out from a guard that Damien has ordered two executions tomorrow. You and Bella are to be hung side by side.”

Stephanie grew cold, but she dared not stop running. “There’s a brief time when you are unguarded—Lucifer dismissed the guards. We don’t have long before Damien will realize that he has left us on our own.”

They ran up a winding staircase. Lillian pulled her into a dimly lit room and unlaced her beautiful, torn, blue satin dress, and it dropped to the floor. Lillian slipped a light chemise gown over her head. Then she threw the black cloak over Stephanie’s shoulders, pulled the hood up over her head, and tied it tight. 

“This will do nicely,” Lillian said.

“What?” Stephanie asked, flummoxed. 

“The coven has been hard at work,” Lillian said. “Lucifer found the black book, and I sewed it into your cloak. You must keep the book safe, always. It is the heartbeat of your soul. Lucifer is your ally. He broke into the Wizard’s Den and stole the Feathered Pen and the book. Without the Feathered Pen and the book, Wizard and Damien will not know how you escaped or who helped you.” Lillian smiled. “You are free…. Almost.”

“I don’t understand,” Stephanie said, grappling with her emotions.

“If any of us goes with you—Damien will know and put us to death. And that is why you must go alone. You must take the Leap of Faith. At the stroke of midnight. The Flying Lion will pass by, as he always does—and you must jump off the balcony, and land on his back. The lion has a secret portal. It is said that he will take you to your true love.” Lillian paused. “If you don’t make it, and Owl’s powerful talons can’t catch you, you will land in the moat, and the Dragon Helser will eat you.”

Stephanie drew in a sharp breath, fear-stricken.

“It will take a great deal of courage,” Lillian said. “But you have little choice. You either jump or hang with Bella.”

“How much time do I have?” Stephanie asked.

Lillian threw open a door that led to a balcony. “Three minutes.”

Stephanie’s heart thundered as she climbed onto the balcony, searching the starlit sky for the lion. She couldn’t see him, but she heard a loud roar in the distance.

“That’s him,” Lillian said. “You must time it right if you are to land on his back.”

Stephanie started when she heard a swoosh and saw Owl’s big yellow eyes hovering above her.

“Now,” Owl cried out. “Jump!”

 There wasn’t time to think, and she leaped landing onto the lion’s back, holding onto the lion’s thick mane, as they soared through the starlit night. The feel of the lion’s muscular body against her legs made her feel powerful. It was exhilarating to be free at last—a magical feeling unlike anything she had ever felt before. 

 Owl flew beside her, and she felt safe. She buried her head into the lion’s mane and heaved a sigh. 

Stephanie could hardly believe her eyes when the lion deposited her on her lawn at Brighton House. She tumbled onto the green grass feeling slightly light-headed then stretched out, arms widespread, loving the feeling of being on her own land. She breathed in the fresh air. There’s no place like home. But she wondered where her true love was—Lillian said the lion would deliver her to her true love. 

The moon shone brightly, and it was then she saw a man’s form coming towards her—tall, broad shoulders, wearing a white shirt, and dress pants. 

“Richard,” she said. “What are you doing here?”

He swept her into his arms. “Oh God, where have you been? I’ve been so worried. I’ve been up the entire night waiting for you to come home. Are you okay? Was that a lion I saw in the lawn?”

Richard had never looked so good. And she felt so safe in his arms. 

“I’m fine,” Stephanie said. “And yes, it was a lion—a flying lion.”

“Where did you get these clothes?” he asked, pulling the hood of her black cloak off her head and staring at the thin cotton chemise. 

“I’ll tell you later,” she said. “How is Parker?”

“He’s in recovery. He’ll be home tomorrow.”

“Thank God,” Stephanie said. She paused. Then she remembered the quarrel they’d had. “What happened to us, Richard? We can’t act like it didn’t happen.”

“I’m so sorry. I lost control. The pressure was too much. I promise it will never happen again.”

“We need to talk,” Stephanie said. “A lot has happened to both of us, but first I need a hot shower and a cup of tea.”

“I’m afraid to let you out of my sight.”

“It’s okay,” Stephanie said. “I think I’m home for good.”

Stephanie dipped her hand into the steaming bathwater and swirled it back and forth, thankful for modern conveniences. She added some lavender bath salts, washed thoroughly, and was soaking in the tub when Richard brought her a cup of tea.

“Thank you,” she said with a bright smile.

She watched his eyes widen as he stared at her neck.

“What happened to you?” Richard asked, as he reached out and touched the bite. “It looks animal. Does it hurt?”

“It was stinging when I washed my neck.”

“I’ll clean it,” Richard said. “You’ll need to take antibiotics for a month.”

“I have some in the medicine cabinet,” Stephanie said, yawning.

“What kind of animal did this to you?” Richard asked.

“He was half man and beast. I’ve never seen the beast, but I’ve felt it. And it’s terrifying.”

“I saw the lion, and I see the bite, so I have to believe you,” Richard said as he carefully cleaned her neck with an antiseptic.

The antiseptic stung, but she didn’t complain. Her mind was on the black book that was sewn inside of the cloak. She had to put it away some place safe. When Richard left to get her some toast and tea, she flew out of bed. 

The cloak lay on the bathroom floor where she had dropped it. Stephanie picked it up and Stephanie ran her hand along the shape of the book. She examined the stitches, and they were tight. Not wanting to damage the cloak, she went to her safe in the closet and tucked the cloak inside. The book is safe, I’m safe. Everything is fine, as long as I never open the book. 

Later, during the night, as Richard held her close, she told him what had happened at Thomas’s barn, and confessed she had told Thomas she loved him.

“When Thomas finds out I’m home, he’ll come here with full expectations of marrying me.”

“It was a silly schoolgirl crush. You told me yourself that Thomas has never kissed you. How could you know you loved him?”

“I don’t know,” Stephanie said. “I felt beholden to him for everything he did to protect me. It was a mistake.”

“You need not worry about it,” Richard said. “Emily told your father that Maddie Yoder is pregnant, and Thomas is marrying her. The wedding will be in two weeks. We’re invited to the wedding.”

Stephanie lay in Richard’s arms, barely breathing. The shock was horrible. Maddie Yoder was pregnant. The sting of betrayal hurt more than the sting that Damien had left on her neck. Thomas had known all along, but hadn’t told her—maybe it hadn’t been an evil force that caused him to hang himself, but his fear of facing her, and the Amish church. After all, he was a deacon.

Richard kissed the top of her head. “Daniel thinks we should attend the wedding as a family. It will show the townspeople that we’re committed to each other and stop the gossip.”

Stephanie was speechless. She had no intention of attending the wedding. It was the last thing in the world she wanted to do. She never wanted to see Thomas again. She jumped when Richard’s cell phone rang. It was Marsha. Parker had a temperature.

“I have to go, honey. Mother’s worried about dad. Someone should be with her. Will you be okay alone?”

“I’ll be fine,” she lied. “Call me later.”

They kissed a long, lingering kiss.

She was not fine. She was bruised and battered, and her heart was broken. She put her face in the pillow and cried heart wrenching sobs. Maddie pregnant. She could never face Thomas again. No. She would not go to the wedding. 

“Thomas, Thomas,” she called out. “How could you have done such a thing? You told me you loved me.” His words rang hollow in her mind. Her Star-Crossed Lover had betrayed her. The irony was almost too much to bear. She had sacrificed herself for his people and for him. For what? All the while—he knew he was marrying Maddie. 

She felt like a fool. 

The pain was unbearable, like a thousand knives had pierced her heart. She would marry Richard. The lion had delivered her to him. He must be her true love, though her heart told her otherwise.

Stephanie fell asleep and dreamed of a crossroads. One road was gold and led to a castle. The other path was strewn with sticks and stones. She could hear the pounding of the horses’ hooves. Damien was coming for her.