Chimera: A Dark Fairytale of Love, Part 4

Long overdue, but here it is: part four of Chimera.

©2011 By Nishi Serrano
PART 4 Maira Annwyn

The Princess Maira led William to her fortress hidden amongst tall pines at the heart of the island. William felt the length and breadth of the isle rather deceptive, as they walked quite far to arrive at her abode. It wasn’t a tall fortress, nor as expansive as a castle. But once inside, the fireplace crackled brightly, and the décor was plush. Richly colored fabrics hung from windows and ceiling, and couches stacked with pillows waited to be reclined upon. The table was set with golden wares, William’s eyes ignited.

            “You must be parched,” Maira smiled. “I shall fix you some tea. There is a pot of roast near the fire.”

            William took a bowl from the table and hungrily dished up the tasty smelling grub. He returned to the table in a state of bliss at the wonder of his fate. “Obliged your Highness, this roast is most delicious. But, where are your servants?”

            “Oh, I’ve no need of them. They tend to be bothersome, and never do as told. I don’t mind fending for myself. Besides, the boredom of someone constantly pandering after me—besides a husband mind you—would be tedious.” Maira poured him tea and sat opposite.

            “May I be so bold as to inquire… why are you hidden away on this island, instead of at Court?” William asked with the most innocent face he could muster.

            “Well, it’s a long story Sir Knight. The short of it is I rebelled. And one does not rebel against the King and Queen. Not to worry though, my kingdom is far, and they care none I’ve fled.”

            William huffed, “Surely it is not right for you to live here alone! You are far too brave and lovely to not have comfort on bitter nights. Aren’t you frightened? Tell me, how do you supply yourself?”

            Maira laughed. “Your concern is touching. I’m a modern woman dear Knight, and fear not the darkness nor storms. I’ve learned to control any tomfoolery from nearing my isle. And my considerable fortune supplies me just fine.” With a dainty hand she tipped her cup against rosy lips.

            This lady was the most perplexing creature, William mused. Her fortune must be considerable, indeed. A forlorn princess could easily be swayed, and it wouldn’t take him long to find the treasure. “If you would give me the chance fair princess, I would like to stay awhile. I’m sure the company will alter your ideas of solitude. For you are clearly divine, and deserve to be seen at Court.” William reached to place a hand over her resting one, turning puppy dog eyes compassionately to her liquid amber ones. She batted her lashes, and grinned shyly.

            “On one condition, Sir Knight,” she gravely remarked.

            “Anything, your wish is my command,” William bowed his head.

            “You must promise to never—never—eat or even think of touching one of my apples, on or off the trees.”

            Maira stared hard at his face for any deception as he replied, “An easy task. I promise beautiful princess, to now and always stay clear of your fruit.” The isolation must have touched her head. Apples he could handle, but her other yields were fair pickings!

            “Good, I’ll hold you to the promise, and in return I will shower you with youth and wealth eternal, for as long as you comply.” Her gaze was suddenly as a snake’s, tempting him of pleasures to come. William pulled his hand back. He was hoping for a challenge, but clearly this fair maid had it in mind to bed him from the very start. No matter, all the quicker to reveal the cache and dispose of her. Oh, he would surely enjoy taking his time carving the prize, bit by bit.

            The day passed gaily, and by night’s arrival William had gained Maira’s full trust. Earlier in the day he retrieved his horse and possessions, and now reposed in his personal chamber, listening to frogs and night birds lull him to sleep. Surprisingly, Maira coyly bid him good dreaming without so much as a peck on the cheek. When he slept, he dreamt of only her—wrapped in red and surrounded by sharp pointy things. It was a pleasant dream.

Sunlight woke the handsome prince, for that is exactly what he would be once he obtained Maira’s assets. He busied himself with freshening up, and noticed something odd. There was no mirror in his room. In fact, he hadn’t seen a single mirror in the entire fortress during his tour. ‘Hmm … she must be more daftly insecure than I guessed,’ He muttered to himself. The thought quickly left him as he exited the bedchamber and smelled fresh biscuits and eggs wafting from the kitchen, and always the enticing smell of apples underneath.

            Maira was as golden as a honey bee flitting around making breakfast. All bashful smiles and good mornings, she insisted they have the morning’s meal outside. Crisp beams of heat filtered spotlights through the boughs, greeting them with a perfect morning. William fancied himself almost content. A strange feeling for him, he hastily shook it off. During their meal, a large bird arrived. It soared and screeched amongst the trees to land on a perch near Maira.

            “William, I’d like you to meet my companion Augden. He is a very special bird,” she said, smoothing its giant feathers.

            The bird closely resembled a hawk, but this was clearly the largest and most menacing hawk in existence. “Hello Augden,” William said uneasily. It continued glaring at him. He decided right then he hated the bird.

            “Oh, don’t let him ruffle your feathers William. He’s harmless, keeps the vermin from messing with my orchard.” Maira cooed and rubbed behind the bird’s head. Augden chirped once and turned its head up at William, eyeing him sideways down its curved beak.

            Snobby little pecker! Maira would be short one companion soon. “Fair Lady,” William began.

            “Please, enough with the chivalry if you don’t mind. Simply call me by my name,” she interrupted.

            Right then, he’d get down to it. “Maira, shall we walk a bit. I could do with a morning constitution.” Walk they did, eventually hand-in-hand. William’s arms circled the princess’ waist, and kissed the serum of her mouth. The two found themselves to bed. Between the sheets and William’s limbs, Maira promptly alleged her devotion. By far, she was the best lover he’d ever seduced.

            The days became a blur to William in Maira’s wild passion. The damnable bird eluded every attempt of death as William searched the island for her riches, and at the end of each day he retired empty handed, exhausted, and secretly enraged to her all consuming lusts. After what seemed an eternity of frustration towards not finding the treasure, William’s last resort was to ask Maira’s hand in marriage. She gleefully accepted. William was grim. Proceedings were certainly not going as planned.

Read part five here:
http://nishiserrano.blogspot.com/2011/08/chimera-dark-fairytale-of-love-part-5.html

Chimera: A Dark Fairytale of Love, Part 3

©2011 By Nishi Serrano

PART 3 Secret Passage

William was exhausted. The lake proved to be farther from the tavern than he expected, and the road unmarked. When he did arrive, it was deep night with little moonlight to guide him. Once past the tree-line, the lake was magnificent. It appeared to stretch as far as the sky, and off in the middle was an island. William scoffed, “Ha, nothing unordinary looking about that lump of land!”  Well, these peasants could make a right yarn out of an old sock, he mused.

            Deciding it was time for a wink, William followed the shore until he found a group of enormous boulders which concealed him from sight, just in case the wench was missed. He doubted anyone would in the first few days, instead they’d probably think she had finally run off with a traveler.  William changed out of his blood soaked garments and unrolled his bedding. With a contented smirk, he snuggled in. Tomorrow he would swim to the island and find the treasure he was sure was buried there, after all, stories were woven for a reason.

The morning was cold. William sat up and wiped the grunge from his eyes and gazed about. A heavy mist rolled in from the lake causing an eerie dawn. As he gathered his night accouterments, William noticed something odd. Between the crevice of two boulders was a doorway. At night it would have been hard to see, but in the misty light, the opening glowed with a dull illumination. Intrigued, William prepared to explore.

            Standing at the opening, William stared down a flight of fifty steps cut into the rock. However, the strangest thing was he could see. Someone had lit candles sitting in alcoves in the walls, which meant as he slept, he was most likely not alone. His footsteps were hushed as he slunk into the unknown. At the bottom of the steps is a short corridor and then another set of stairs. Beyond the second set the lengthy hall wound. Drops of water fell from the ceiling into puddles on the floor. “I do believe I’m under the lake,” William uttered in awe, “How ingenious!”

            Nearing the end of the tunnel, William noticed the sound of the most heavenly voice he had ever heard, lovelier even than the voice of the homely girl with the charmed vocals who sang at the Sunday church services back home. Of course, she had vanished four days before William left to war. Though he didn’t take stock much in superstitions, William carried her dried chords in a box to insure the luck of a smooth talker. Always pays to have a bit of luck on one’s side.

            Ah, but this voice, if only it could be bottled! It was enough to make the seraphs weep. Upwards he strode upon more stairs to alight above ground. William chuckled, he was on the island! It looked different somehow, the lackluster seen from the opposite shore was gone. Orchards of apple trees stretched thick and fragrant, and in the center a gazebo garlanded in flowering vines. From the distance, he could barely make out the figure reposing in the garden covering as it sang and stroked a harp. The notes it played where so pure, the apples on the branches seemed to vibrate, adding to the mystical sound. Was he dreaming?

            Sneaking closer, William positioned himself to just beyond the harp player’s periphery. Cascades of sun-drenched locks hid the woman’s face, but the slender fingers plucking the strings glittered with a king’s ransom of jewels. William had found his fortune. Entranced by the rings on her digits, William didn’t realize the music had stopped, and the woman was staring right back at him. Oh, but she was golden! A chastely angelic, heavenly woman—and they both fronted each other with the same expression of surprise. For once in his life, William was speechless.

            “Sir, do you make it a habit of sneaking up on women?” she demanded.

            Actually … “Uh, no, forgive me if I startled you fair maiden,” William sputtered.

            “Ha, I’m a princess, sir, and you are?” The lady moved her harp to the side and stood. She waited for his reply with hands on hip, her voluminous gown spilling around her like a solar flare of sparkles.

            Never in his life had William spied a more beautiful woman. Perhaps he would take his time with this one, if she were to allow his favors. “Pardon my insolence, such magnificent beauty could be nothing less than a princess. I’m but a weary traveling Knight, on my way home from the recent war. Sir William Rourkevedin, at your service …” he bowed.

            “It’s not often one finds my secret passage. Welcome to my island Sir William, it’s a good thing every princess needs a Knight in shining armor … er, you do have armor don’t you?”

            “Yes, of course. I left it by the passage, as I was curious to find what lay on the other side,” William waved.

            “You know what they say about curiosity,” she said.

            “Killed the cat?” added William.

            “No silly, it questions an apple’s fall.”

            William blinked. Was this a riddle?

Read part four here:
http://nishiserrano.blogspot.com/2011/06/chimera-dark-fairytale-of-love-part-4.html

Chimera: A Dark Fairytale Of Love, Part Two

Chimera: A Dark Fairy Tale of Love
©2011 By Nishi Serrano

PART 2 Night’s Temptation

A half-moon of teeth gripped the night as William hid behind a tree. As serene as a ghost, he watched the road while puffing on a fragrant pipe. The wait was long, but eventually the barmaid traipsed nervously down the road with a small lamp as her guide. William’s horse gently snorted, alerting the girl of an unseen presence.

            She whispered, “Sir Knight, be that you?”

            William ignored the question and watched her wrap a chilled arm around her chest.

            “Who stands in the shadows?” she demanded. William smothered his pipe, and crept as quiet as a cat stalking a mouse.

            Holding the lamp higher, the barmaid squinted at the dense trees surrounding her. The night was still, unlike her heart, of which William swore he could hear galloping from her quivering chest.

            “Well then, I’ll be off …” she muttered angrily, a poor attempt at bravery. When she turned to flee, William leapt, causing the poor girl to scream and flail in terror.

            Keeping a firm grip of both arms, William covered her yowling with a kiss. William felt her muscles relax, and the scream melt in her throat. He pulled back, saying, “A warning fair maiden: a young woman could get herself killed alone at night on an empty road!”

            A slap burned William’s cheek—a saucy lass was she! “You nearly killed me with fright, where’s the honor in that, Sir Knight?”

            “As much honor as inviting a wench into the forest!” he laughed, and seeing her soured face, added, “As pretty a lass as you at least deserves a full-moon, and a bed of warm leaves.” She smiled, mistaking his words for a compliment. William clutched her hand and led her into the brush, away from the road. The barmaid was envious of his grace, his steps quiet and unencumbered by the vegetation, whereas she sounded like a cow blundering about. Passing his horse, the two made their way farther from the road. She giggled when William flashed her a smile and wiggle of brow. She couldn’t wait to taste those lips again! He was like a dream, and for tonight she was his princess, she would deny him nothing.

            “The moon is at the half, winking at my little secret!” William said.

            “Our secret!” she laughed.

            William halted next to a sprawling oak tree. He twirled the barmaid under its branches, then pushed her, squealing in delight, against its massive trunk. William hovered over her, one palm resting on the bark over her head, the other fondling locks of her hair. The lamp she clung too shook with a yearning for his intimate caresses. His hand grazed her cheek and neck as he slid it along the hair framing her face, continuing down her arm to the lamp. He imagined a hundred ways to torment her with the fire, sequestered it from her grasp, and set it on the ground.

            Her hand freed, the greedy girl clasped his neck and tugged him to her mouth, seeking to taste his love. William obliged, he was in no hurry. There was plenty of darkness to last. Her hands were all over, and William enjoyed her exploration. An owl screeched above, causing her to jump. “Perhaps it was a banshee crying for a soul,” he joked.

            “Don’t frighten me luver,” she pouted.

            William looked concerned. He put a finger to his lips, “Shh … did you hear it?”

            “Hear what?” she queried. She wished he’d stop the tossing and get on with the snogging.

            “Hmm … I swore I heard something,” William looked to the right and left.

            “I heard nothing. Stop teasing me—”

            “There it is again!” William’s wide eyes pinned her against the tree. Was he serious?

            “Nothing, I hear nothing,” she snapped.

            “There! Do you hear it now?” William barked. A Knife materialized from William’s back, held high in the air and pointed at the barmaid’s chest. She howled in terror. William’s body kept her fast against the tree, she kicked and screamed. The handsome face turned into something hideous—the face of a mad-man! “Oh, but you hear it now don’t you!” William snorted angrily. The half-smile of the moon glinted on the blade as it came down hard, repeatedly, crunching into the barmaid’s flesh and bone. Shrieking in tandem with the noise below, the owl took flight. Grunting from his hearty administrations of ghastly veneration, William smiled as he watched the owl disappear. Yes, he thought, take her soul my friend, there are plenty more.

            He gazed at the slumped, blood soaked remains of the barmaid. “Here is your warm bed of leaves my love,” he arranged her as if she were sleeping. “Now then,” William announced to the night, “Off to find that lake!”

Read part three here:
http://nishiserrano.blogspot.com/2011/06/chimera-dark-fairytale-of-love-part-3.html