There once was a princess named Lindsey. Lindsey was a spontaneous girl who loved to explore new places and question new things. One day she stumbled upon a part of the castle she had never seen, but her friend's older brother, Leum, told her he didn't want her to go there. She didn't think anything could harm her, and she decided to just try it out a bit. If things got horrible she could always turn back.
So Leum decided to follow her just in case she needed his help. Since she didn't notice him, she went on her merry little way. When Lindsey opened the door, she smelled the most luscious scent that had ever caressed her tiny nose. What she didn't notice was the hint of foreboding doom in the air. Whistling and humming her way down the dark dusty corridor, Lindsey started to drool, and as her eyes started to dilate she grew less aware of the eerie darkness closing in on her and her silent companion. All that was important became the fruitful, delicious scent still enticing her nostrils.
Seemingly unaware of whatever was captivating Lindsey, Leum trudged on behind her, acting as a bodyguard of sorts against invisible enemies lurking behind every shadow. Finally the hall ended abruptly into a large creepy cavern with a podium in the center. Standing with his back turned to the entrance was a dark mysterious figure of a man. Leum didn't trust this man, but he wasn't in a position to question castle authority. Perhaps this man was above Leum's rank and that is why he had never previously encountered him.
Just as Lindsey reached the steps, the man turned around. At the breathtaking sight of him, Lindsey stopped in shock. She waited as the apparently young man regally descended the podium steps. His long brown locks of hair were like a wavy haired toddler's, cascading down his temples in a frivolous manner. His eyes were a soft hazel and his skin was like velvet and cashmere.
His lips parted to speak; the scent got immensely stronger... Lindsey almost fainted at the sight of his deep scarlet tongue. As the words dripped off into the air, even Leum almost forgot to listen for their meaning, getting caught in the way the syllables danced off his teeth.
"I see you have come for me at last darling." The words seemed so simple from anyone else, but from this man, they were more precious than gold.
As he reached his new-found lover, the beautiful man reached his tan muscular arm around Lindsey's waist and drew her into his embrace. Lindsey couldn't help but stare into the vast pools of his eyes. As he brought her closer and closer, she went deeper and deeper. The pools swallowed her up. It seemed as though the man's soul was searching her own; seeking in the deep crevices of every part of her being for ... something...
Seeking and pulling, the man drew Lindsey nearer and nearer, to the point where their lips were parted by mere millimeters, ready to embrace... However, as their lips brushed, there was a rotten stench that escaped from his lungs, almost so vile as to make Leum, yards away, vomit with disgust. This was just the sign Leum was anticipating; he now knew what and who this vile creature was.
Just as the very last millimeters were being devoured, Lindsey felt a sting in her heart, like a knife plunging through her chest. Streaks of red lightning seared her eyeballs and she knew whatever the man was searching for, he had found it. As Lindsey found herself scrambling for her footing and gasping for oxygen, she saw out of the corner of her eyes a blurried figure. She flinched, ready for the blow...
But it never came, and in shock she fainted.
After the red lightning faded, and her vision came back. Lindsey noticed she could breathe, but her heart still felt like it was severed in two...or maybe more like a million. After the events of the evening came rushing back to her, Lindsey promptly sat up straight searching for signs of impending doom, but in the process knocked her head on whatever was in front of her.
"OUCH!!!" yelled someone... else.
"Leum?!" the shaken princess cried hopefully, "is that really you?"
"Princess!! are you all right?! I'm sorry I was in your way. I needed to keep an eye on you to make sure you didn't go into shock or never... wake up." As Leum said these words he realized he had almost lost the most precious thing in his life: not just his future Queen, but the love of his life. Overwhelmed with gratitude for Lindsey's safety, Leum was suddenly speechless.
"Leum?? what happened?" Lindsey vaguely remembered the lightning, and the sweet aroma, but mostly the pain that rendered her motionless and the vile scent that followed her intoxication.
The pain...
The pain kept coming in waves
Finally Lindsey passed out in Leum's arms and he silently carried her from the eerily empty cavern into the light of the courtyard. Recovery afterward proved impossible. Lindsey suffered short minor pangs in her chest constantly, and her golden brown eyes had changed to a creepy red color. Physically the doctors could find nothing wrong with the princess, but Leum knew she would always suffer these symptoms. Leum in fact was Lindsey's only comfort from the effects of her encounter; it seemed the pain dulled when she was by his side. In fact, the effects were so therapeutic, the two became almost inseparable.
As the months dragged on, cold dark winter turned into bright cheery spring. By April, Leum and Lindsey were officially recognized as a couple by the royal court. Preparations began for the most elaborate and glorious wedding on the first of May.
Like all giddy brides, Lindsey was nervous and excited up to the hour of the ceremony. There were colorful ribbons and flowers everywhere. It was the most beautiful sight she had seen, not counting the beautifully-ugly man -- but she wouldn't think of that on this day. Lindsey drew in a deep cleansing breath, drawing in the dewy may morning air. Nothing could be more perfect
The music started playing and she grabbed a bouquet of white roses and lilies. The bridesmaids were all in place. all Lindsey had left was to walk; walk and breathe.
Slowly, regally, Lindsey took her time walking up the aisle, smiling to her subjects and loved ones wishing her well on this joyous occasion. As her gaze rested on her beloved Leum, she noticed for the first time how his long brown locks cascaded down his temples. A shiver ran down Lindsey's spine. Leum's eyes... his eyes were a soft hazel, drawing her in closer, searching for... something.
Lindsey's breathing got heavy and ragged, tearing at her throat like something was clawing to get out, like the scream in her lungs was trapped inside. Her eyes, wide with fear were nevertheless locked on her "loves" eyes.
As the priest started in on the ceremony, it seemed like no one knew what agony was going on within the poor princess. No one could see she was struggling to stay sane. Didn't anyone know her well enough to know she was trapped just like before? How did Leum get to that cave in the first place? Of course he had to be the mysterious man. She couldn't believe she had never noticed the similarities.
Just as Lindsey was contemplating how she could have blocked out her terrors true image enough to not recognize him in the flesh, the priest ceased his ramblings and the whole earth caught their breath in anticipation. Lindsey couldn't move her mouth to answer, to scream in protest.
As her eyes searched any way to escape the groom's spell, a red-hot voice, not unlike lightning spoke. The voice resonated in the very core of her being. Though it seemed louder than a battle cry to her, no one in the whole palace courtyard seemed to notice it.
"Lindsey." The voice spoke her name as if it were the only true and right way it was to be spoken. "Lindsey..."
With that one name, the princess felt an instant calm within her soul. The pain, which had never stopped for one minute seemed to heal itself so that it had never been there at all. Lindsey was free to look upon her tormentor with not only courage but also forgiveness and love. She realized this man had broken her heart... almost literally, but this voice had healed months of suffering in an instant.
It was not only that, but the voice had given the princess the ability to love this man, more than she had ever loved him in the dark shadowy caves. She could love him in the open, free with the birds singing and people of the court waiting for her answer...
Her answer!
"Yes... YES!! I DO!!"
Lindsey practically screamed it when coming from her reverie. A shout of joy came from her parents and from the crowd. A short while later the ceremony was finished and celebrations began, but Princess Lindsey never forgot the voice that called her out of darkness, the voice that saved her from hate and death and brought her life everlasting.
*THE END*
